novelraw Chapter 210: Ready to Play
Chapter 210: Ready to Play
Niels was already awake when his phone started vibrating. He hadn't slept much.
Sunlight came through a gap in the curtains and lit up the room. He stayed in bed, listening. Far away, he heard a tram bell. The city was waking up, and he knew he didn't have much time.
The meeting with Langley the night before still stuck with him. It didn't feel heavy anymore, it felt sharp, like it was keeping him alert.
He got up slowly and then went through his usual routine, and looked over his notes one last time.
The plan was set.
Now it was just about doing it and believing the team.
He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and stepped out of his room. The hallway was quiet, just the soft hum of the hotel waking up.
A cleaning cart stood parked near the elevator, but no one was around.
He made his way to the dining room.
Downstairs, the mood was calm but tense.
The players sat together in their club tracksuits, focused, their heads down over breakfast.
No one was joking.
No one was on their phones.
There was a quiet energy like everyone knew exactly what today meant.
The hotel staff moved gently around them, speaking in hushed voices and clearing plates without fuss. They could feel it too: this wasn't just another matchday.
Niels filled a cup with coffee and sat at the edge of the room, watching his team. He didn't need to say anything. You could see it in their faces, in the way they carried themselves.
Niels sat next to Thomas, the fitness coach. They went over the pre-match warm-up plan one last time. It was all familiar, but reviewing it helped.
They nodded to each other, both knowing what needed to be done.
Niels looked around the dining room.
At one table, Tom Whitehall and Kieron Marsh were talking quietly, heads close together. They were deep in discussion about formations, focused and serious.
Nearby, Thiago and Korey Henry sat side by side, eating fast. They didn't talk much. Their nerves showed in how quickly they ate, but they stayed calm on the outside.
Niels walked over to Dev Patel's table. Dev looked calm on the outside, but his knee was bouncing under the table—showing he was a bit nervous.
"Morning, Dev," Niels said, leaning on an empty chair. "How was your night? Did you sleep well?"
"Morning, Coach," Dev replied with a small smile. "I slept okay. A little restless, though."
"That's normal before a big game. Just don't let it get to you. Today, keep it simple. No need for fancy tricks, focus on breaking their defense."
Dev nodded, his eyes serious. "I know. I'll stick to the plan."
"I need you to control the space between their lines. You're the engine that feeds Korey and Thiago. If you do your job, the rest will fall into place."
Dev took a deep breath. "I'll make sure my runs are sharp and well-timed."
"Good. Stay calm, trust yourself, and don't overthink it. Eat well, and we'll talk again before the warm-up."
Dev smiled again, more confident this time. "Thanks, Coach. I won't let you down."
After breakfast, the team moved to a small ballroom that had been turned into a stretching area.
Thomas took the lead, guiding them through light warm-up exercises easy stretches and gentle movements that woke up their muscles without tiring them out.
Niels walked quietly among the players, offering soft words of encouragement.
This was their last physical check-in, the final chance to get ready and clear their minds before the noise and pressure of the game began.
Niels paused near the center of the room and watched the players move.
Some faces were calm and focused, others showed a flicker of nerves, but all were ready.
He caught Thiago's eye and gave a small nod. Thiago nodded back, steady and confident.
After the warm-up, Niels called the team together for a short talk. His voice was calm but strong. "This is the moment we've prepared for. Trust each other, play smart, and remember why you're here. The plan is simple, but your belief will make it work."
He looked at each player in the eyes. "Now let's go and show them what we can do."
The team stood up together, ready to face what was coming.
By mid-afternoon, the team was all packed onto the bus, heading to Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The tension inside was easy to feel.
No one was joking around.
Some players wore headphones, trying to shut out everything. Others just stared straight ahead, lost in their own thoughts.
As the bus got closer to the stadium area, the outside world changed. The streets filled with loud, passionate Fiorentina fans.
What started as a quiet hum of chanting quickly grew into a powerful roar.
Purple scarves waved from every balcony and window.
Inside the bus, with its tinted windows, the players were protected but they could still feel the energy.
Fans shouted chants and sometimes raised fists in challenge as the bus passed by.
'This is Italy', Niels thought, feeling the bus shake from the fans' energy. Their loud cheers and chants showed how much they cared. For these fans, this wasn't just a game, it was everything.
The bus parked in the safe garage under the stadium. When the engine stopped, it went very quiet. The noise outside was gone.
The players sat still for a moment, letting the silence sink in. Niels took a deep breath and stood up. "Alright, everyone," he said softly. "Time to get ready. We know what to do."
The team gathered their things and started to move toward the tunnel that led to the field. The quiet was gone now, replaced by a low buzz of excitement and nerves.
The away locker room was cool and smelled like fresh paint and medicine. There was also a faint metal smell in the air, like something big was about to happen.
The players' gear was ready boots in a row, numbered shirts hanging on the chairs, and water bottles waiting on the benches.
Niels walked over to the tactics board and put up the team sheet. He confirmed the starting lineup: a 4-3-1-2 formation, shaped like a diamond.
Position
Player
GK: #1 Adam Fletcher
LB: #3 Callum Haines
CB: #4 Liam McCulloch
CB: #5 Harry Thompson
RB: #2 Reece Darby
CDM: #6 Jamal Osei
RCM: #8 Tom Whitehall
LCM: #15 Nate Sutton
CAM: #10 Dev Patel
ST: #11 Thiago
ST: #21 Korey Henry
The players slowly came into the locker room, changing out of their tracksuits and putting on their gear.
Nate Sutton carefully strapped on his shin guards, moving with steady focus.
Meanwhile, Dev Patel paced in the small space, rubbing his hands together, clearly restless.
Niels waited until everyone was seated. He looked around at the players—the steady, calm experience of McCulloch and Fletcher, and the bright energy of Dev, Thiago, and Korey.
He placed his hands flat on the tactics board and leaned in.
"Boys," Niels began, his calm voice cutting through the nerves in the room. "You know the plan. You know the pressure. This game is all about control."
He looked straight at Dev. "Dev, this is your moment. You create the chances. Thiago, Korey, you run until they can't keep up."
Then he turned to the midfield. "Jamal, you stay back and protect the defense. Tom, you run up and down the field, helping both attack and defense. Nate, you use your speed and skill to create chances and find openings."
He looked at the defenders and goalkeeper. "Liam, now that Max isn't here, you're the captain. It's your job to lead the defense and keep everyone organized on the field. Stay focused, communicate clearly, and set the example.
Harry, you need to stay sharp and strong, don't give them any chances.
Adam, as our last line, stay calm under pressure and keep a clear head. No mistakes from any of you. Stay disciplined and play smart."
"This game matters more than just the score. People are watching closely, the ones who will decide what comes next for you. Today is about showing our true strength and who we really are."
He looked at each player, his voice steady but full of fire. "Go out there, feel every step on that pitch, and hear the roar of the crowd.
Remember what this moment means, why you fight, why you never give up. When you come back, we leave everything on that field."
The players stood up together. The soft squeak of their boots filled the room as they walked toward the tunnel, nervous but focused.
After the players left, Niels took a deep breath and followed. The room was quiet now. He felt the weight of the moment but also calm because the team was ready.