Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 46: First Of Many European Nights

Chapter 46: First Of Many European Nights

Benjamin woke the next morning to a soft stream of sunlight filtering through the hotel curtains.

For a moment, he lay still in the warm embrace of his duvet, letting the quiet hum of the city outside calm his senses. His body felt lighter and refreshed, as if the influence of the previous night had evaporated with the dawn.

The scenes of Adam’s banter with the Anzhi fan were already a forgotten haze which was tucked away in some unimportant corner of his mind.

"Yawn~"

Benjamin rose from the bed while stretching his arms above his head as he made his way to the small kitchenette where he began his morning ritual.

He squeezed half a lemon into a glass of lukewarm water, and the faint citrus scent filled the air. The sourness hit his tongue as he sipped slowly. This was now his grounding routine before the day began.

The Europa League qualifying play-off match loomed ahead, but he was feeling ready.

The team gathered downstairs for a light morning exercise session arranged by the coaching staff. The atmosphere in the training hall was a mix of calm focus and quiet anticipation.

Conversations were almost non-existent, limited to quick nods and murmured instructions from the coaches. Benjamin moved through his stretches with ease, his muscles responding smoothly after the previous night’s rest.

The light drills were perfectly balanced and were designed to get their blood flowing but not to exhaust them. The Passing drills, light jogs, and quick tactical walkthroughs ate up the hours.

As the session wrapped up, Coach Jansen clapped his hands once to draw their attention. "Good work, everyone. Breakfast’s in fifteen minutes. Don’t be late," he said with a slight edge to his tone.

Benjamin nodded to himself. He grabbed a towel to wipe his face, and joined the stream of players heading to the dining area.

Plates piled with scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruits awaited them in the dining area, and the disturbing scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the room which brought down his rating by three star. His distaste for coffee influencing his evaluation.

He slid into a seat across from Adam, who was already halfway through his plate with a smug grin from the night before still lingering on his face.

Benjamin said nothing and instead, he focused on his own meal, letting the chatter of his teammates wash over him like background noise.

*****

[Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to tonight’s Europa League qualifying play-off match between Anzhi Makhachkala and AZ Alkmaar. I’m Paul Richards, and alongside me is former Dutch international, Willem de Graaf]

Paul’s voice carried a mirrored excitement of he spectators, setting the tone for what is expected to be an intense match.

[Good evening, Paul,]" Willem replied, his voice sounded calm but was layered with much anticipation. [This is a high-stakes match, especially for AZ Alkmaar, who’ve struggled for form in the early phase of the Eredivisie. They’ll need a strong showing tonight to turn their season around]

Paul nodded in agreement as the camera panned across the imposing Anzhi Arena. The floodlights illuminated the field, and the crowd’s energy buzzed through the screen.

[Meanwhile, Anzhi Makhachkala are sitting third in the Russian Premier League and have been playing some of their best football in recent years. With the likes of Samuel Eto’o leading their charge, they’ll look to capitalize on their home advantage tonight]

Willem interjected, [Absolutely. AZ Alkmaar’s defense will have to be at its very best to contain Eto’o and the creative midfielders behind him. On the other hand, AZ Alkmaar has Jozy Altidore up top—if and only if he’s on form tonight, he could cause problems for Anzhi Makhachkala’s backline]

***

Benjamin walked briskly through the players tunnel, his boots echoing softly against the concrete floor. He kept his head down while focusing on his breathing to calm his nerves, Afterall, this was his first European night experience.

Alongside him, the bench players filed out of the tunnel silently.

As they emerged into the cold evening air, the roar of the Anzhi Makhachkala crowd hit them like a surging wave.

Benjamin glanced toward the stands, the sea of yellow and green scarves, and tifos fluttering in unison, a stark contrast to the small pocket of AZ Alkmaar supporters braving the hostile environment.

He followed the group toward the dugout where his seat among the substitutes was already marked. Coach Verbeek stood nearby, arms folded and his gaze fixed on the field.

Benjamin could feel the weight of the occasion pressing down on the old man, but he kept an expressionless faces, refusing to let it show.

He didn’t make the starting lineup which came as a shock to him, but he reminded himself to remain calm as his chance might come later in the game, and if it did, he would be ready.

***

[And here’s the lineup for AZ Alkmaar tonight,] Paul continued as the players began lining up on the pitch.

The camera zoomed in on Alvarado, the goalkeeper adjusting his gloves.

[In-between the sticks is Esteban Alvarado. The back four consists of Marcellis, Viergever, Reijnen, and Gorter. In midfield, we have the experienced Martens paired with the debutant, Adam Maher. Beerens, Henriksen, and Gudmundsson will support Jozy Altidore up front in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation]

Willem added, [Henrikson will be key tonight. His ability to transition quickly from defense to attack could open up opportunities for Altidore. But let’s not forget Beerens and Gudmundsson—they’ll need to exploit the wide areas if AZ Alkmaar is to stand a chance tonight.]

The Anzhi Makhachkala lineup followed, the names of their star players met with deafening cheers from the home crowd.

[And for Anzhi Makhachkala,] Paul began, [they have Gabulov in goal. Their backline features Logashov, Samba, Joao Carlos, and Zhirkov. In midfield, we have Lassana Diarra and Jucilei sitting deep, with Shatov, Eto’o, and Willian supporting Lacina Traoré up front in their 4-2-3-1 setup]

Willem nodded thoughtfully. [Despite being at the closing stages of his career, Eto’o’s experience in these high-pressure games is invaluable. He’ll be the focal point, but keep an eye on Shatov—his creativity could unlock AZ Alkmaar’s defense]

The players shook hands, and the captains exchanging pennants as the referee prepared for the whistle.

[It’s a classic clash of styles tonight,] Paul remarked as the teams took their positions. [Anzhi Makhachkala’s physicality and flair against AZ Alkmaar’s disciplined, tactical approach. It’s going to be a fascinating battle]

[Indeed,] Willem agreed. [The first goal could decide the momentum. Let’s see who takes the initiative]

Fweeee!~

The referee blew the whistle, and the match began as both teams fought for control in the opening minutes.

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