"He is not tired," Julián Álvarez declared with the absolute certainty of a man who has just uncovered a great cosmic truth.
"He is contemplating the existential weight of the FA Cup. It is the oldest cup competition in the world. It is a 'senior citizen' of trophies. Does it get a pension? Does it have old-fashioned opinions? These are the important questions that are clearly weighing on our playmaker's mind."
The group around them chuckled.
"Or," Trent Alexander-Arnold chimed in with a grin, "he's just hungover from celebrating his eighteenth birthday a month ago."
Leon forced a laugh, the sound feeling hollow and strange in his own ears.
"Something like that," he managed to say. He was an actor, playing the role of 'normal, world-class footballer'. He wasn't sure he was very convincing.
Later, in the pre-match briefing for their upcoming FA Cup tie, Arne Slot was calm and professional.
"Alright, lads," he said, tapping his tablet.
