The rumor of Real Madrid's interest hung in the air, a dazzling, unsettling thought. Leon felt a thrill of both excitement and apprehension. Real Madrid.

The ultimate club. But he was only just finding his feet at Aston Villa, just settling into their new house. It was a lot to take in.

The next morning, the academy was buzzing with nervous energy.

The Arsenal title win was yesterday's news; today's focus was entirely on Aston Villa's final push for Europe. Leon, still processing the Real Madrid rumor, walked into the tactical room for their team meeting.

Coach Emery stood in front of a giant screen displaying the Premier League table.

Arsenal - 72 points

Manchester City - 70 points

Liverpool - 68 points

Tottenham - 62 points

Aston Villa - 54 points

Chelsea - 52 points

Brighton - 50 points

Manchester United - 48 points

Fulham - 46 points

Newcastle United - 44 points

"Okay, lads," Emery began, his voice cutting through the murmuring. "We are 5th. Five points behind Tottenham in 4th.

And with three matches left, that means Champions League football is still within our grasp. It will be incredibly difficult, but it is not impossible." He looked around the room, his gaze resting on each player. "Our next match..."

A collective intake of breath.

"...is against Chelsea. At Stamford Bridge."

A low murmur went through the room. Chelsea. Their direct rivals for that 6th place spot, and a team they had only narrowly beaten 4-3 at Villa Park. Now, they faced them away from home, in their own fortress.

"They will be seeking revenge," Emery continued, his eyes sharp.

"They are a formidable opponent, with players like Enzo Fernández (Current: 87), Raheem Sterling (Current: 86), Reece James (Current: 88). But we beat them before. We showed our quality. We showed our fight."

Leon felt a surge of determination. This was it. The crucial match. His 'Help System' quest was to secure 6th place, but his personal ambition, now burning brighter than ever, was 4th. Champions League.

During the tactical discussion, Coach Emery went through Chelsea's weaknesses, their patterns, how they could exploit them. Leon absorbed every detail, his 'Current: 92' visualizing the plays, the potential openings.

"We need to win this match," John McGinn (Current: 84) stated, his voice firm. "We need to go for it. Europa League is good, but Champions League... that's the dream."

Ollie Watkins (Current: 86) nodded. "Exactly. We push for 4th. This Chelsea game is like a final."

Leon spoke up, his voice calm but resolute. "We have the quality. We have the desire. And we will go to Stamford Bridge and we will fight for that Champions League spot.

Every single one of us." He looked around at his teammates, a silent challenge in his eyes. Their 'Current' ratings, though varying, pulsed with shared ambition. They wanted it. They truly did.

The next few days were a blur of intense training. Coach Emery pushed them relentlessly, focusing on defensive solidity, quick transitions, and clinical finishing.

Leon spent extra hours in the gym, building his stamina, knowing that he would have to play a full 90 minutes at peak performance to control the midfield against Chelsea's formidable lineup. He also practiced his long-range shooting, visualizing the gaps, the angles, the way the ball would curl past a diving goalkeeper.

He called Byon (Current: 85) that evening, his mind buzzing with the upcoming Chelsea match. "Big game tomorrow, mate. Chelsea away. We need three points."

"You guys can do it, Leo!" Byon said, his voice full of encouragement. "You beat them before. Just do your thing. My '48 Million' is rooting for you! Don't let those Chelsea boys outshine my Man City teammate, Mark, who's now a Premier League champ!"

Leon chuckled. "We'll try not to. And you just keep an eye on that Champions League final. Real Madrid versus Bayern Munich. That's going to be something else."

He scrolled through his Facelook, seeing the constant stream of football discussions. Pundits, fans, other players – everyone was talking about the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The anticipation was palpable. Leon imagined himself there, at a match of that magnitude.

Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich... in Japan? Leon paused, seeing a few posts mentioning the location. Heh, that's interesting.

I will make Villa in the 4th place, then fly to Japan to see this match. The thought, half-joking, half-serious, sparked a renewed fire within him.

Champions League football with Villa, then a trip to Japan to watch the final. It was a tempting vision.

He thought about Emre Demir (Current: 86) playing for Real Madrid.

Lamine Yamal (Current: 84) for Barcelona. Kylian Mbappé (Current: 91).

He went to bed, his mind racing. Stamford Bridge. Chelsea. Champions League dreams. It was all on the line.

He closed his eyes, picturing the intricate dance of the midfield, the ghostly projections of tackles and passes, the elusive openings he would have to find.

He would lead his team. He would fight for that fourth place. He would bring Champions League football to Villa Park. And then, maybe, he would fly to Japan.