Chapter 35: The Devil’s Home Ground
Torches, smoke, drums, banners—and those blood-red, enormous posters covering half the stands, emblazoned with "Welcome to Hell!" in bold, crimson letters. Countless flames danced in the stands, with dense smoke billowing across the stadium. The deafening drumbeats began at kickoff and didn't relent until the final whistle. Flags fluttered furiously in the wind, filling the air with an overwhelming sense of foreboding.
This was the scene at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. The match pitted Galatasaray against Serie A giants AC Milan. Though AC Milan had underperformed in the previous two seasons, they bounced back last year to claim the Serie A title and were determined to make a strong showing in the Champions League. However, after being drawn into a group with Hertha Berlin, Chelsea, and Galatasaray, their performance was mediocre at best.
Despite this, AC Milan still had a chance to qualify for the next stage if they defeated Galatasaray in the final group-stage match. But in the devilish atmosphere of Ali Sami Yen Stadium, they crumbled, losing 3–2. The oppressive atmosphere of the stadium nullified the skills of Milan's star-studded squad. With this loss, AC Milan not only missed out on advancing but also failed to secure third place, which would have earned them a spot in the UEFA Cup. They were instead eliminated, finishing last in their group. Galatasaray, riding the momentum of this victory, secured their place in the UEFA Cup.
The video footage in question wasn't a typical match recording. It didn't focus much on the game itself but instead vividly captured the terrifying atmosphere of the stands. This compressed version was procured by José through his ESPN connections, with a singular purpose: to give Mallorca's players a taste of the cauldron that awaited them.
The effect was immediate.
The Mallorca players stared at the TV screen, wide-eyed. Even though the sound and visuals couldn't fully replicate the live experience, the intensity was still palpable.
Most of the Mallorca players weren't new to the big stage. Aside from rookie Diego Tristán, even a young Samuel Eto'o had sat on the bench at Camp Nou and experienced the electrifying atmosphere of a major stadium. However, they had to admit that Spanish fans weren't particularly rabid. In Spain, football fans were relatively civilized. While England had its hooligans and Italy was known for unruly ultras, the Bundesliga's disciplined fans and La Liga's generally mild-mannered supporters rarely caused disturbances. There were chants, even discriminatory ones, but outright chaos was uncommon.
"AC Milan's team bus was pelted with stones on the way to the stadium. The night before the game, their hotel was bombarded with noise. These guys don't care about consequences, so I want you all to be mentally prepared. We won't just be facing opponents on the pitch but also those off it," José said, observing the players' increasingly serious expressions.
Satisfied with their reaction, José allowed a slight smile. The players' heightened alertness was enough for now. He didn't want them overly cautious or restrained.