Chapter 12 : For A Comeback

The press conference room was buzzing with excitement after yet another victory for Real Betis. The team had been on an incredible winning streak, and today's 2-1 victory over Zaragoza had further solidified their dominance.

The Betis coach took his seat, adjusting the microphone as the media prepared their questions. One of the reporters was quick to bring up the winning run.

"Coach, that's now sixteen consecutive wins for Real Betis. How do you feel about the team's performance today and throughout this incredible run?"

The coach nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. "The players have been fantastic. We've built momentum, and we're showing our quality game after game. Zaragoza is a tough team, but we stuck to our plan, played with intensity, and got the result we deserved."

Another reporter leaned forward. "Nico Cruyff provided two assists today. He now has 19 goals and 9 assists this season. Did you expect him to make such a massive impact when he joined?"

The coach chuckled. "I knew he had talent. Anyone who watched him train could see he was special. But for a 14-year-old to step into senior football and deliver performances like this? It's rare. His vision, technique, and decision-making are beyond his years. He's been a crucial part of our success."

A different journalist followed up. "Do you think he's ready for La Liga next season?"

The coach didn't hesitate. "If he keeps progressing like this, absolutely. But let's not get ahead of ourselves—he's still young, and development takes time. Right now, we're focused on finishing the season strong."

The questions continued, ranging from tactics to the team's chances of securing promotion. But there was no denying it—Nico Cruyff was becoming the story of Betis' season.

_________

Nico sat comfortably on the couch, his legs stretched out as he sipped on a cold glass of apple juice. The soft glow of the television illuminated the room, and the atmosphere was peaceful. His grandmother sat beside him, knitting quietly while occasionally glancing at the screen. 

After a few minutes of silence, she suddenly spoke. "Nico, do you have a girlfriend?" 

Caught completely off guard, Nico nearly choked on his drink. He coughed a few times, setting the glass down as he turned to look at her with wide eyes. 

His grandmother burst into laughter at his reaction, her shoulders shaking as she enjoyed the moment. "Oh, Nico, your face! You look like I just asked you to solve the mysteries of the universe!" 

Still recovering, Nico wiped his mouth and frowned slightly. "Where did that come from, Grandma?" 

She gave him a knowing smile. "You're growing up so fast, and you're quite the handsome young man. I'm sure there must be a girl who has caught your eye." 

Nico sighed, shaking his head. "I'm focused on football, Grandma. No time for distractions." 

His grandmother simply chuckled, patting his arm. "That's what your grandfather used to say too... but love has a way of finding you when you least expect it." 

Nico groaned, leaning back into the couch. "Can we just watch TV?" 

She laughed again, but she let it go—for now.

__________

May 10, 2015 - Iberostar Estadi

As the players emerged from the tunnel, the crowd inside Iberostar Estadi roared with excitement. The Betis fans who had traveled to Mallorca were in full voice, waving their green-and-white scarves and chanting loudly. It was a crucial game in the Segunda División, and all eyes were on Real Betis, the league leaders.

The camera panned across the players lining up, and the commentator took the opportunity to go over the starting eleven.

"Real Betis, playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, have Dani Giménez in goal. The backline consists of Bruno, Perquis, Figueras, and Varela. In midfield, N'Diaye and Lolo Reyes will provide the defensive cover, with Portillo, Cejudo, and the sensational Nico Cruyff playing behind the striker, Jorge Molina."

The second commentator chimed in.

"And speaking of Nico Cruyff, what a revelation he has been! The 14-year-old wonderkid has taken the league by storm. 19 goals and 9 assists in just 17 matches—for a kid playing in his first professional season, that's simply unheard of!"

"Absolutely," the first commentator agreed. "He was an unknown talent just four months ago, and now he's one of the hottest young prospects in world football. His dribbling, his vision, and most importantly, his finishing—it's been nothing short of spectacular. Today, he'll be playing in his preferred attacking midfield role, pulling the strings for Betis."

The camera cut to Nico standing in the lineup, adjusting his socks as he looked up at the stands. The crowd was buzzing, with Mallorca fans hoping their team could pull off an upset while the Betis supporters were expecting another moment of magic from their teenage star.

"Can he add to his tally today?" the commentator continued. "Can Mallorca find a way to stop him? We're about to find out!"

The referee blew his whistle, signaling for the final pre-match handshakes. The players took their positions on the pitch, and anticipation filled the air as the match was about to begin.

____________

The game kicked off with Mallorca immediately asserting their dominance in possession. Their midfield trio moved the ball around with confidence, dictating the tempo and keeping Betis chasing shadows. Betis, on the other hand, struggled to gain a foothold in the early exchanges, forced to defend deep and look for counterattacks.

Nico, playing as the attacking midfielder, found himself dropping back more than usual to help Betis regain possession. He constantly scanned the field, looking for pockets of space, but Mallorca's pressing was relentless. Every time a Betis player received the ball, they were instantly surrounded by two or three Mallorca shirts.

As the minutes ticked by, Mallorca began increasing their intensity. Their passes were crisp, their movements fluid, and their intent was clear—they wanted the opener. Betis, meanwhile, was holding on but had yet to test the Mallorca goalkeeper.

In the 27th minute, Mallorca finally broke through.

A Mallorca defender, standing near the halfway line, spotted a gap in the Betis defense and played a perfectly timed through ball between the two center-backs. The ball zipped across the pitch, bypassing the Betis midfield in an instant.

Marco Asensio, Mallorca's young midfield prodigy, made a clever diagonal run to meet the pass, splitting the Betis defense apart. With a single touch, he controlled the ball in stride before exchanging a quick one-two with their striker.

The return pass was precise, and before the Betis defenders could react, Asensio was already inside the box.

The stadium held its breath.

Asensio took a composed touch, steadied himself, and then slotted the ball past Dani Giménez with a calm and clinical finish into the bottom corner.

The Mallorca fans erupted, their celebrations echoing through the stands as their team took the lead.

"GOOOAL! Mallorca strikes first!" the commentator shouted.

"What a beautifully worked move!" the co-commentator added. "That through ball was exquisite, the one-two was pure class, and Asensio's finish was top-notch. Nothing Dani Giménez could do about that!"

The camera panned to the Betis players, disappointment visible on their faces. Nico stood near the halfway line, hands on his hips, staring at the scoreboard.

1-0 to Mallorca.

The Betis defenders exchanged frustrated glances, knowing they had been carved open too easily. The coach on the sideline clapped his hands, urging his team to stay focused.

After conceding, Betis knew they had to respond. They started pushing higher up the pitch, increasing their attacking intensity. The full-backs advanced, the midfielders pressed aggressively, and Mallorca suddenly found themselves forced to defend deeper.

Nico, stationed centrally as the attacking midfielder, became the focal point of Betis' buildup. He demanded the ball constantly, threading precise passes and trying to create openings. With every passing minute, Betis looked more and more dangerous, pinning Mallorca back into their own half.

In the 34th minute, Betis nearly found the equalizer. Jorge Molina, the veteran striker, received a lofted cross inside the box and fired a powerful volley. The ball was heading straight for the top corner, but Mallorca's goalkeeper, Rubén Miño, produced an incredible diving save, pushing it over the bar.

The Betis fans groaned in frustration. They could feel that a goal was coming.

But then, disaster struck.

Two minutes later, in the 36th minute, Betis was caught out trying to force the issue.

Álvaro Cejudo, playing on the right wing, received the ball near the sideline and attempted a risky cross-field switch to the left flank. He saw the left winger making a run, but the pass was poorly hit, lacking both power and accuracy.

A Mallorca midfielder intercepted easily, chesting the ball down before immediately launching a counterattack.

Betis was in trouble.

The moment the interception happened, Mallorca's wingers exploded forward, taking advantage of Betis' high defensive line. The ball was quickly played out wide to the left, where Brandon Thomas sprinted down the flank with lightning pace.

The Betis defenders were scrambling to recover, but Mallorca had numbers.

Thomas cut inside, drawing one defender toward him before sliding a perfectly weighted pass across to Marko Šćepović, who had made a run into the penalty area.

One-on-one with Dani Giménez, Šćepović took a touch to set himself before calmly placing his shot into the bottom corner.

GOOOAL! Mallorca doubled their lead!

The Mallorca fans erupted, while the Betis players stood frozen, hands on their heads in disbelief.

"What a nightmare for Betis!" the commentator exclaimed. "They were pushing so hard for an equalizer, but one misplaced pass from Cejudo, and Mallorca punished them in ruthless fashion!"

The Betis coach was furious on the sidelines, shaking his head in frustration. He clapped his hands, urging his players to refocus, but it was clear they had been stung badly.

2-0 to Mallorca.

Nico exhaled, looking up at the scoreboard. Betis had been the better team in possession, but two moments of carelessness had left them in a deep hole.

They needed a response. And they needed it fast.

______

As the referee blew the whistle for halftime, Betis trudged off the pitch, trailing 2-0. The players looked frustrated, some shaking their heads, others staring at the ground. Nico wiped sweat off his forehead, knowing that the second half had to be different.

Inside the Betis locker room, the atmosphere was tense. The players took their seats, catching their breath, while the coaching staff quickly analyzed the first half.

The Betis coach, Pepe Mel, stood in the center, his voice firm but calm.

"Alright, listen up," he began. "We're not losing this game because we're being outplayed. We're losing because we're making mistakes."

He turned to Cejudo, who had misplaced the pass leading to the second goal. "Forget it. It's done. We focus on what's next."

He clapped his hands, looking around the room.

"We're going to change the shape."

The team leaned in, listening carefully.

"We're switching to a 4-2-3-1, but there's a key change." He pointed to Nico. "Nico, you're moving to the right wing."

Some players exchanged glances. Nico had been playing centrally as the attacking midfielder, but Pepe Mel had something in mind.

"I want you cutting inside every chance you get," he continued. "We know Mallorca likes to keep their full-backs high, so we'll exploit the space behind them. When you get the ball, take them on. Draw fouls if you have to. We need to put them under pressure."

Nico nodded. He understood exactly what Pepe Mel was trying to do.

Then, the coach turned to the rest of the team.

"In the last five to ten minutes, I want everyone dropping like flies."

Some of the players chuckled at the phrase, but they knew what he meant.

"They're going to be desperate to hold on to their lead. If we keep attacking and force them into making reckless challenges, we'll get free kicks. And we all know who takes those."

The team collectively glanced at Nico. His free kicks had been deadly since his arrival at Betis. If they could just win a few good set pieces, he could change the game.

Pepe Mel clapped his hands again, bringing their focus back.

"We get an early goal, and they'll panic. We get a second, and they'll collapse. So let's go out there and play our game. No more stupid mistakes."

The players nodded, some slapping each other's backs as they stood up.

Nico took a deep breath. He could feel the pressure, but at the same time, he thrived on it.

It was time for a comeback.

As the second half kicked off, the new formation immediately made an impact. Betis looked like a completely different team.

They pushed forward aggressively, pressing Mallorca high up the pitch. The away side, which had been so composed in the first half, suddenly looked shaky. Their midfield was struggling to keep possession, their defenders were being stretched wide, and their attacks were breaking down before they could even reach the final third.

Nico, now operating from the right wing, was proving to be a nightmare for Mallorca's defense. Every time he got the ball, he drove forward, his dribbling and quick feet making it almost impossible to contain him. He was weaving past defenders, cutting inside dangerously, and creating constant chaos.

The tension in the stadium grew as Betis kept pushing. The fans could sense that a goal was coming.

And then, in the 73rd minute, the moment of magic arrived.

Betis' midfielder, Xavi Torres, spotted Nico making a run down the right and sent a sharp, grounded pass his way.

As the ball approached, Nico didn't even touch it—instead, he let it roll past him and turned in one motion.

His marker was completely caught off guard, momentarily frozen as Nico spun past him like a phantom.

The stadium erupted.

"OH, HE LEFT HIM STANDING!" the commentator shouted.

Now in full stride, Nico accelerated down the wing. A Mallorca defender came sprinting back, desperate to stop him.

Just as the defender lunged in, Nico slowed down slightly—then, in a flash, he cut inside with a lightning-quick motion.

The defender's momentum carried him forward—but the ball wasn't there anymore. He stumbled, lost his balance, and collapsed onto the grass.

"OH MY WORD! HE'S BROKEN HIS ANKLES!" the commentator yelled in excitement.

The crowd gasped, some fans getting out of their seats.

Now, Nico was through on goal, the goalkeeper rushing out to close the angle.

Nico slowed down, squared his body, and executed the Pendulum—his feet dancing over the ball, faking one way before slotting it calmly into the bottom left corner.

The net rippled.

2-1.

The stadium exploded. The Betis fans roared—but Nico didn't celebrate.

He simply picked up the ball, tucked it under his arm, and ran straight back to the center circle.

His expression was stone cold—eyes locked in, focused.

He wasn't done yet.