The Greater Good

Alex reached his front door just as the evening chill wrapped itself around Lecce like a thin blanket. The cold air kissed his skin, making him shiver lightly. With a tired sigh, he fished his keys out of his pocket and slipped them into the bowl by the entrance. The soft clang echoed across the apartment, followed by the familiar creak of the old floorboards beneath his feet.

He walked straight to his bedroom, his steps heavy, shoulders low. The weight of the past week had finally caught up to him. It wasn't just physical fatigue, although that was part of it. It was everything. The tactical experiments, the ongoing recovery sessions, the mental preparation for the upcoming showdown against AC Milan. His brain had been in overdrive for days, constantly juggling the needs of the team, the pressure from the board, and the countless whispers from fans and pundits alike.