A week had passed since the shocking departure of Vincent Kompany.
The media was in a frenzy.Speculation, rumors, shortlists, interviews.
Bayern Munich — one of the most powerful clubs in the world — was suddenly without a head coach in the most critical phase of the season.
But Mateo?
He didn't flinch.
In the Gym, Not the Headlines
While sports channels debated who would take over —while fans argued over formations and resumes —Mateo was up at dawn.
Stretching.Plyometric drills.Stability training.Resistance band sprints.Ball touches with his non-dominant foot.
He wasn't cleared for contact yet,but he was doing everything else —and doing it faster than anyone expected.
A Different Kind of Fire
His old fear — of being forgotten — was gone.
So was the pain of falling behind.
Now, it was something else:
Focus.
He no longer cared who was watching.Or which young player was trending.Or what the system said about him.
He cared only about the ball.His body.His next step.
The System Responds
After a long sprinting drill, the System interface shimmered into view.
[Rehabilitation Progress: 82%][Projected Clearance Date: 1.6 months]
Passive Effects Triggered:– Recovery Optimization– Discipline Loop
⚠ Optional Quest Available:"Return as the Storm"Objective: Reach match fitness before official medical clearance.Risk: Minor strain.Reward: Advanced Skill Unlocked – Based on training performance.
Mateo stared at the prompt.
His heart beat faster.
A challenge.
A test.
He accepted.
The Club Shifts
Meanwhile, the Bayern front office moved swiftly.
Rumors swirled around high-profile names:
Xabi Alonso
Hansi Flick
Julian NagelsmannEven foreign giants like Mourinho and De Zerbi were mentioned.
Mateo caught whispers from staff.
But no one approached him directly.
He wasn't part of the discussion.
Yet.
Klara's Words
That evening, after dinner, Klara noticed the tension in his shoulders.
"You're not worried about the new coach?" she asked gently.
Mateo looked at her.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "Whoever comes in… I won't let them overlook me."
She smiled.
"That's the Mateo I love."
The Mirror
Later that night, Mateo stood shirtless in front of the mirror.Lean muscle had returned.His ankle looked almost normal.His stance — steady.
He clenched his fists.
"I don't care who leads the team...""...because soon, they'll know who leads the field."