Jan Wouters sat in the dimly lit press room of Stadion Galgenwaard, running a hand over his face as he rewatched clips of FC Utrecht's recent humiliation. Just days ago, his team had been thrashed 3-0 by lowly De Graafschap.
The loss left morale in tatters – players trudged off in Doetinchem to a chorus of jeers from traveling fans. Injuries had ravaged the squad's spine: star striker Jacob Mulenga was out, having torn his ACL back in November and sidelined for eight months good thing is he is still recovering at a good pace, but still not match fit, and other veterans nursed pulled hamstrings and sprained ankles. The club's form had nose-dived with those absences; a relegation fight loomed if nothing changed.
That Saturday, Stadion Galgenwaard buzzed with an uneasy energy. The sun dipped low over Utrecht, painting the April evening in hues of orange and gold. Despite the team's poor run, nearly 19,000 loyal fans poured into the stands, hoping for a spark to revive their season.
