Chapter 139: The Journey to the BayArena
The morning after the win against Walsall, a quiet, almost respectful calm hung over the Crawley training ground.
The usual post-match buzz, cheers, jokes, and playful banter was missing.
The win had been tough, earned through sheer determination, but the toll it took was written on every sore muscle and tired face.
Jamal Osei sat on the sidelines with ice on his knee, frustration showing where calm usually lived.
Around him, the players moved slowly, worn out, their thoughts already turning to something bigger than League One.
Niels stood at the edge of the pitch, watching his tired squad ease through a light recovery session. But his thoughts were far away in the sleek, modern BayArena.
The Europa League.
It still felt unreal. A dream born from their incredible FA Cup run. But now, that dream was about to collide with a harsh reality.
