Chapter 128: Chasing the Breakthrough
Chapter 128: Chasing the Breakthrough
Friday, August 20, 2010
Friday morning arrived with a restless start, following a week of tension. Broadfield Stadium buzzed with anticipation, the training pitches wet from overnight dew, and dark rain clouds filled the sky.
Niels drove into the training ground, the tires of his pickup crunching on the damp gravel. The air was thick with the smell of wet earth and coffee from a nearby van.
Inside, he felt a mix of hope and pressure, the match against Preston could either spark Crawley’s season or push them further into doubt.
The media’s criticism hadn’t softened, Friday’s papers hit hard: "Crawley’s Stumble Continues, Can Niels Find the Spark?" and "Midfield Muddle Dooms Niels’ Dream."
The jabs hit hard, but Niels could sense a change in the squad, a determination to prove the doubters wrong after Thursday’s dinner.
Friday’s training was precise, with Niels refining the tactics. In the meeting room, he diagrammed on the whiteboard, his marker squeaking as he spoke.
"We drop the defensive line Liam, Reece, keep it compact. Midfield, form a tighter block. Pogba and Nate, screen the spaces. Freeman, exploit the gaps between their defense and midfield."
The squad Max, Pogba, Freeman, Thiago, Dev, Nate, and the others studied the board, absorbing every detail, their expressions set with tactical intent.
Pogba, more subdued since his outburst, asked, "How aggressive should we press, Coach?"
Niels locked eyes with him, his tone controlled. "Assess the situation, Paul. Press only when we can win the ball, break their tempo."