CHAPTER FOURTEEN — After the Break

October 19, 2003 — San Siro, Matchday 6

The international break stretched like a calm lake after a storm. San Siro had fallen silent for two weeks, its roaring pulse stilled as national teams took center stage. For Luca Bellini, it was time to reset.

No call-up yet to the senior national side, but rumors buzzed around Milanello. His performance against Lazio had made headlines: "Bellini — The Wall of Rome."

He stayed back at Milanello, training with the others who hadn't gone abroad — Gattuso, Pancaro, Serginho, and Kaladze among them. The sessions were lighter but surgical. Individual drills. Positional correction. Vision and distribution.

He spent the first few days tightening his short-passing angles with the assistant coach. In the afternoons, he ran laps around the training ground with Gattuso, both of them dripping sweat by sunset.

In the evenings, he read. Reviewed clips. And once, on a Thursday, he met Sofía in the Navigli district. She had just begun her medical internship rotation — her white coat too big for her frame, stethoscope clipped around her shoulder bag.

"Still chasing monsters in your notebook?" she asked over coffee.

Luca smirked. "Not monsters. Patterns."

She sipped. "Well, the newspapers think you're the next Paolo."

He looked down. "I'm not him."

"No. But you're someone. That matters."

They walked along the canal for an hour. He didn't tell her how nervous he'd been before the Lazio match. He didn't tell her that she was in his thoughts during the warmup. He didn't tell her how many times he'd opened the newspaper just to see his name beside the player rating.

Instead, he said, "It felt right."

And she nodded. That was enough.

—

Back in Milanello, the full squad returned by Thursday.

Ancelotti gathered them in the video room. Footage of Sampdoria played on the screen.

"Compact midfield. Wide backs. They press early, then drop and hit on the counter."

Pirlo raised an eyebrow. "Still using the 4-4-1-1?"

"Yes," Ancelotti said. "Diana's dangerous on the break. Bazzani wins aerial duels. Watch their second balls."

Luca took notes in his lap. Kaká leaned closer and whispered, "Feels like school, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Luca said. "But with tests every Sunday."

The squad trained with intensity that week. Shevchenko returned looking sharper. Cafu's legs buzzed with energy. Nesta joked more than usual. The team smelled victory in the air.

Saturday night before the match, they stayed at the club hotel. Luca shared a room with Kaká. They didn't speak much — just music and stretches, then lights out early.

In the morning, Luca woke before his alarm. 6:03 AM.

He stared at the ceiling. His thoughts weren't about the match. They were about a moment along the canal. Sofía's laugh. Her hand brushing his arm when she pointed to a street artist painting in red and steel tones.

He dressed slowly. Ate oatmeal. Joined the others on the bus.

San Siro loomed large in the morning haze.

—

Matchday: AC Milan vs. Sampdoria.

Inside the stadium, the crowd swelled to near-capacity. Flags waved. Flares flared. The Curva Sud roared with the voice of a thousand hearts.

Dida stood in goal. Cafu and Maldini flanked the defense, with Nesta and Luca at center-back.

Midfield: Pirlo deep, Gattuso and Seedorf on either side, Kaká the trequartista.

Up front: Shevchenko and Inzaghi.

Sampdoria set up with Antonioli in goal. A flat back four. Volpi and Doni central, Diana and Tonetto wide. Bazzani the lone striker, flanked loosely by Gasbarroni.

—

First half:

Milan started fast. In the 7th minute, Shevchenko burst past his marker and rifled a shot off the post.

In the 15th, Kaká danced through midfield and fed Gattuso, whose cross found Inzaghi — header wide.

Sampdoria were disciplined, but Luca could feel the cracks forming. Their right back struggled against Seedorf. Their midfield wasn't tracking Pirlo's movement.

In the 28th minute, Milan struck. Pirlo split the lines with a pass that found Kaká, who drew two defenders and slipped it to Shevchenko. This time, the Ukrainian didn't miss. 1–0 Milan.

Luca focused. Sampdoria hadn't had a real chance yet, but he saw how they built pressure in transitions.

In the 35th, it came: Gasbarroni broke down the left, cut inside, and lofted a cross to Bazzani — Luca rose above him and cleared it with a clean, powerful header. The stadium clapped. Even Nesta muttered, "Good."

Five minutes later, another scare — Doni launched a shot from distance. Dida dove. Tipped. Corner.

Luca organized the box. Pointed. Shouted.

He was becoming louder. Clearer.

Before halftime, Milan added a second. A corner flicked on by Nesta — Inzaghi tapped it in. 2–0.

—

Halftime. Locker room hum of voices and the hiss of spray bottles.

Ancelotti said, "They'll come out angry. Hold the line. Win your duels. No gifts."

Nesta added, "Keep the spaces small. Let's kill the tempo."

Luca sat still. Eyes forward. He felt steady.

—

Second half:

Sampdoria pressed harder. They clawed for momentum. In the 55th minute, Luca intercepted a through ball, then dribbled forward and launched a pass out wide to Cafu — a surge of confidence.

In the 61st, Gasbarroni finally got past Pancaro. Cross into the box. Bazzani leapt — Luca met him again. Shoulder to shoulder. Clean win.

Pirlo turned and shouted, "Bravo!"

In the 70th minute, Ancelotti made substitutions — Serginho for Seedorf, Ambrosini for Gattuso.

Luca remained.

In the 78th, Milan scored again. A dazzling one-two between Kaká and Shevchenko ended with the Brazilian lifting it over Antonioli. 3–0.

The crowd sang.

Luca smiled. Not because of the score. But because he belonged here.

In the 84th minute, Sampdoria clawed one back. A corner swung in. Chaos. A deflection. Bazzani poked it in. 3–1.

Luca slammed his hands together. He wanted the clean sheet. He hated that goal.

Ancelotti called from the touchline, "Calm down. Don't chase ghosts."

—

Final whistle.

AC Milan 3 – Sampdoria 1

The team walked off satisfied. Not perfect, but dominant.

In the dressing room, Gattuso handed Luca a water bottle.

"You wanted that shutout bad, huh?"

Luca nodded.

"You'll get it next time," Pirlo said. "They didn't get past you."

Kaká added, "We've got Roma next. Bigger stage. You ready?"

Luca nodded again.

"I've been ready."

—

That night, he didn't open his notebook until late.

October 19 — Milan 3, Sampdoria 1

Minutes: 90

Duels won: 10

Interceptions: 5

Clearances: 7

Blocked shots: 2

Rating: 7.5

Conceded goal: yes, team error

Growing voice in the back line

Sofía: kind eyes

Held the line. But I want more.