Chapter 123 – Something to Prove
The morning air was crisp and sharp in his lungs as Thiago stepped onto the training pitch. The grass beneath his cleats was still damp with dew, each blade glistening under the pale September sun that struggled to break through the Dortmund clouds. His breath came out in little white puffs as he tugged his gloves on tighter, the leather creaking slightly from the cold. Around him, teammates were slowly trickling onto the field. Some still yawned and rubbed sleep from their eyes while others were already warming up, lazily juggling balls or jogging in slow circles to shake off the morning stiffness.
"Looks like someone finally slept in his own place, eh?" Sven Bender said as he came up beside Thiago with a slight grin.
Thiago smirked. "Yeah. Still feels weird not hearing hotel doors slam shut every five minutes."
Bender nodded knowingly. "You’ll get used to the quiet. Just be careful. That’s when the homesickness sneaks in."
"Already called my mom," Thiago said, laughing. "I’m not taking any chances."
Behind them, Kuba let out a dramatic scream as Subotić launched a ball straight at his back. "Animal! Absolute savage!" he shouted, clutching his side like he’d been shot.
"Relax, drama queen," Subotić called back, rolling his eyes. "You’ll live."
"Barely!" Kuba groaned, flopping onto the grass like a dying man.
The mood was light, the kind of easy banter that only came when the team was in good spirits. Thiago could feel the difference in the air today. There was an energy, a buzz that hadn’t been there before. Maybe it was the upcoming match. Maybe it was the crisp autumn air. Or maybe it was the unspoken knowledge that today, things might change.
Klopp emerged from the building with his staff, his usual wool cap pulled low over his forehead and a clipboard tucked under one arm. The moment he stepped onto the pitch, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations dropped to murmurs, feet shuffled toward the center, and the ball juggling stopped. Everyone stood a little straighter, eyes locked onto their manager.
"Alright boys," Klopp said, his voice loud and bright despite the early hour. "You know what week it is. Bundesliga, Matchday 4. We’re playing Hamburger SV. And after two hard-fought matches in five days, we’ve earned a bit of rotation."
That got a reaction. A few eyebrows shot up. Players exchanged glances some hopeful, others wary. Thiago felt his stomach tighten just a little.