Chapter 106: Emma’s Call

Chapter 106: Emma’s Call Chapter 106: Emma’s Call Wednesday, June 30, 2010 The energy of Rotterdam’s busy streets lingered with Niels as he packed his worn backpack in the quiet of his hotel room, getting ready to return to England. The lessons from his trip, Milan’s bold drive, Genoa’s calm focus, Utrecht’s clear vision, and Eindhoven’s youthful energy blended with memories of Thomas’s smart advice and Erik’s wisdom about creating a lasting culture. His notebook, full of promises to help the team embrace tough days and build a staff committed to their shared story, lay next to a book on football psychology, each page a step toward the legacy he was creating with Crawley. Outside, Rotterdam’s canals sparkled under the late June sky, with bicycles weaving through busy streets, their bells a soft reminder of the calm Niels had found on his trip. The season was coming, transfers, matches, and the tough grind of League One and this quiet morning in the Netherlands was his last moment of peace before the chaos of Broadfield’s muddy pitches. He folded his clothes carefully and packed his backpack, his mind replaying moments from the trip: Thiago’s smile in the beach video, Max’s passionate sunset in Spain, Luka alone in a Croatian field, and the bold run of the young midfielder in Eindhoven. Rotterdam was a short but bright stop, with its modern bridges and waterfront cafés standing out against Crawley’s rough, hardworking spirit. The night before, he walked across the Erasmus Bridge at dusk, the Maas River glowing with city lights. His mind buzzed with ideas a fitness coach like Thomas, a youth coach to connect the academy and first team, hungry U23 players, and smart loan signings for squad depth. The note he’d written in Eindhoven ’Build a staff that fights for the story, not just the scoreline’ shone like a guiding light, a promise to build a culture that would take Crawley beyond League One. But as he zipped his backpack, his phone buzzed loudly, breaking the morning’s quiet. Emma’s name appeared on the screen, her call pulling him back to Crawley’s challenges. Niels took a deep breath, sat on the edge of the bed as the floor creaked beneath him, and answered. "Niels," Emma’s voice crackled through, warm but laced with the urgency of the training ground, a tone that could rally a squad or silence a room. "Hope you’re squeezing every bit of that break, because things are heating up here." She paused, papers rustling in the background, and Niels tensed, feeling trouble ahead. "Levante, from La Liga, has made a big offer for Max. The board is tempted. They say he’s their kind of striker, full of grit and passion. They want him to lead their attack." Niels’s chest tightened, the weight of losing Max, the club’s captain, heart, and driving force hitting him hard. He remembered Max’s relentless runs, the unforgettable Wembley strike that sent Broadfield into a frenzy, and the fiery Spanish sunset that had always symbolized his burning hunger to lead. Losing Crawley’s captain, the heart of the team, to La Liga? It felt like a punch to the gut. Emma’s voice pressed on, steady but pointed. "That’s not all. Parma, from Serie A, is serious about Luka. They’ve been asking around, testing if we’d be willing to let him go." Niels’s breath caught as he pictured Luka a young, talented midfielder whose keen vision and precise playmaking controlled the rhythm of the game, quietly guiding Crawley’s flow with intelligence and skill, a steady presence amid the chaos on the pitch. "And there’s more," Emma said, her tone dropping, heavy with the weight of the news. "José Baxter’s loan is officially done. He’s heading back to Everton. We knew it was coming, but it’s left a gaping hole in midfield. We need to reinforce, and soon." Niels leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his eyes drifting to his packed bags. Max, the captain and heart of the team, courted by La Liga. Luka, the young midfield playmaker with a vision that shaped Crawley’s attack, eyed by Serie A’s Parma. Baxter, the midfield spark, gone. The transfer window was no longer a distant game of strategy; it was here, a tidal wave of decisions that could make or break Crawley’s season. Emma’s voice softened, though the urgency stayed sharp as a whistle. "I’ve managed to hold them off for now, told them you’re away and we need more time. But they’re growing impatient, Niels. Levante is pushing hard for Max, and Parma from Serie A won’t wait much longer for Luka. We need answers soon." Niels’s throat tightened as the weight of it all pressed down, the trust of his players, the roar of Broadfield, and the legacy he was working to build. "Alright," he said, his voice calm but firm, like a coach steadying his team before a crucial play. "We’ll talk properly when I’m back. I’ll be there soon." He hung up, the sudden quiet crashing over him like a wave, Rotterdam’s distant hum fading beyond the window. Standing there, he stared at his packed bags as the weight of Emma’s call slowly sank in. The break was coming to an end. The calm of Milan’s cafés, Genoa’s cliffs, Utrecht’s seminars, and Eindhoven’s pitches was fading, making way for the tough challenges waiting at Crawley. Max’s possible departure felt like losing the team’s soul his grit, leadership, and how he’d fought for Crawley in tough battles. Luka’s Serie A interest showed his quiet strength, but letting him go risked breaking the defense Niels had worked hard to build. And Baxter’s leaving left a gap in midfield, a problem that needed fixing before the season kicked off. Niels slung his backpack over his shoulder and took one last look out the window. Rotterdam’s skyline gleamed with modern towers and sleek bridges, the Maas River catching the morning light, a world away from Broadfield’s muddy pitches, yet both beating with the same passion for the game. Emma’s call sharpened his focus—the challenges were clear: hold onto Max and Luka, find a midfield replacement for Baxter, and build a staff who shared his vision. His notebook held the blueprint staff roles, U23 scouts, loan strategies but now it was more than ideas from Eindhoven’s calm; it was a battle plan ready for action. He pictured the 16-year-old midfielder’s fearless run and the fire in his eyes, seeing Crawley’s future, a team built on heart, a lasting culture, and a legacy strong enough to resist the pull of La Liga or Serie A. The transfer window was coming, and it would challenge everything. But Niels felt determined. He wasn’t just going to protect what they had, he wanted to build a stronger Crawley, a team that could not only survive but win, making other teams afraid to face them at Broadfield. He left the hotel, the cool morning air brushing his skin as he made his way to Rotterdam’s central station. The streets buzzed with life, commuters rushing, cyclists weaving through traffic, trams clattering along but Niels’s thoughts were already back at Broadfield, imagining the muddy pitches, the crowd’s roar, and the hard work waiting for him. A street vendor’s call caught his attention, selling fresh stroopwafels. Niels stopped and bought one, the warm sweetness a brief comfort against the heavy news from Emma. At the station, he got on a half-empty train to Amsterdam’s airport. The smooth motion of the train reminded him of the trips that had shaped his ideas, Milan’s passion, Genoa’s calm, Utrecht’s teachings, and Eindhoven’s energy. As the Dutch countryside passed by green fields and canals sparkling in the sun, Niels felt calm and focused, not worried. The note in his pocket, the trust of his players, and the ideas in his notebook all formed the foundation for Crawley’s next Chapter. Max and Luka’s futures were uncertain, and Baxter’s absence left a gap but Niels saw a chance, not a setback. He would build with his players, his staff, and his town, creating a team full of heart and ambition. The train arrived at the airport station, and Niels stepped onto the platform. Around him, travelers moved about, and the distant roar of planes filled the air. His backpack felt heavier not from weight, but from the meaning it carried: promises, plans, and the trust of a team and a town. A sudden gust of wind caught his jacket, pushing him forward. He walked toward the terminal, steady but with a quickened pace. The news about Levante’s offer, the Serie A interest, and Baxter’s departure were tough challenges not losses, but chances to show what Crawley was really made of. The season was approaching, with tough battles ahead, but Niels felt ready. As Rotterdam’s skyline disappeared behind him, Crawley’s story stayed alive in his mind, ready to be written on Broadfield’s muddy pitches where heart, trust, and love for the game would shape the next Chapter: one of strength, unity, and a legacy reaching far beyond League One.