Chapter 99: A Night of Champions League
Chapter 99: A Night of Champions League
Friday, May 28, 2010
Niels settled into his seat on the short flight from London to Milan. As the plane hummed quietly, he stared out at the clouds below. His old backpack was in the overhead compartment, packed with a few clothes, a battered novel, and a notebook he’d sworn was just for thoughts, not football tactics.
He’d left Crawley the night before, quietly slipping away after a week of calm following his decision to stay. The "Niels Stays!" banners, red-iced pastries, and kids chanting near Broadfield Stadium had all faded, leaving behind a quiet that made him crave some distance from the weight of the town’s hopes.
He hadn’t gone anywhere since deciding to stay in Crawley just kept to himself, letting the town’s quiet support settle around him. Now, Milan was his first real break, a short escape before the season’s demands pulled him back to Broadfield’s empty pitches.
The plane landed at Milan Malpensa, and Niels stepped into the busy terminal, filled with the smell of espresso and the buzz of travelers. He’d booked a small hotel in the Navigli district, drawn to its quiet canals and cobbled streets far from the spotlight of football.
As the taxi carried him through the city, past a mix of old stone buildings and sleek glass towers, he felt something rare: lightness. No media, no pressure, just a city that didn’t know who he was.
But football was never far behind.
Tonight, the UEFA Champions League Final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich would set the city roaring. Niels, with his strange gift of knowing the future, was certain Inter would win, a masterclass crafted by José Mourinho. But it wasn’t just the score that held his attention.. it was the unfolding battle of tactics, the heartbeat of a game alive with passion and precision, one that could ignite a fire within Crawley’s dreams.