"First match back, and we'll show them that nothing has changed," Yves said as the players gathered in the dressing room.
The Stade Louis II buzzed with anticipation, even with a reduced crowd. Cup football brought a different energy than league matches—rawer and more desperate—where smaller clubs could challenge established hierarchies with a single moment of brilliance or luck.
Clara took her place in the press area, notepad ready and recorder checked. Their reconciliation just twenty-four hours earlier required her to maintain professional boundaries. She was here as a journalist, not his partner, and that distinction would be tested every time their eyes met.
Morientes laced his boots with deliberate care, each movement a reminder of the hamstring injury that had sidelined him for weeks. His return offered tactical options that cup football's unpredictability often demands. His experience in high-pressure situations could be crucial against opponents with nothing to lose.
