Pirlo, Savage, and Van Bommel, Who is the Best?

The day before the Lincoln City match, at precisely 7:30 AM, Andrea Pirlo locked the door of his dormitory room in Manchester and made his way down the staircase. He felt light on his feet—recharged from a hearty breakfast of yogurt, whole-grain toast, creamed rice, tinned fruit, and fresh juice.

He took his nutrition seriously. The club's dietician was strict, insisting that every player begin the day with energy-rich foods. Sugars and starches quickly converted to glucose, fueling high-intensity training. Pirlo didn't complain—he embraced the structure.

As he bounded down the last flight of stairs and reached the lobby, he was about to push open the front door when something caught his eye.

A familiar figure stood near the mailboxes, thumbing through a stack of envelopes.

"Joan!" Pirlo called out.

The man looked up. It was Joan Capdevila.