Chapter 12: Vs Cagliari (1)
As the players filed out of the tunnel and onto the pitch, Alex Walker emerged from the dugout for what felt like the second first time of his career, of course it actually was. The buzz of the Unipol Domus filled his ears, a cocktail of jeers, chants, drums, and whistles. It wasn’t Old Trafford or the Bernabéu, but it had the same sting of anticipation, the same pre-match crackle in the air that reminded him why football was both a drug and a curse.
He followed his team to the bench, one slow step at a time. There was something sacred about this walk. It reminded him of a hundred Saturdays from a lifetime ago, when he still laced up boots instead of barking orders. He couldn’t help the little smirk that touched the corner of his lips.
Patrick Dorgu gave him a sideways glance, as if trying to gauge the gaffer’s mood. Alex just nodded.
As he reached the touchline, he glanced once across the pitch, soaking it in. He felt the sun warming his face despite the late-November air. The grass looked healthy, fast. A good pitch for pressing. He could already imagine how quickly the ball would move across it, how it would zip into feet, encouraging his side’s quick combinations and sharp transitions.
The announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium speakers, interrupting his thoughts.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Sardegna Arena for this crucial Serie A fixture between Cagliari and U.S. Lecce!"
Alex inhaled deeply and took his seat on the bench.
"And now\... the starting eleven for Cagliari Calcio!"
The home fans roared as each name was read out. Alex barely listened. His eyes flicked between his players warming up in position and the System interface faintly visible through his smart glasses. The familiar HUD blinked gently in his periphery, displaying player stats, heart rates, positional heatmaps, all updating in real-time.