Chapter 222: Europa League Draw
December 10th, 2010
The canteen at the Crawley training ground was unusually crowded for a Friday morning.
Normally, players drifted in and out in small groups. Some would be in the physio room, others lifting in the gym, a few still half-asleep over breakfast.
But it wasn't like that today.
Every chair was taken. The rest of the squad stood along the walls or perched on tables, arms folded, coffee cups forgotten in their hands. Even the staff had squeezed in near the doorway.
All eyes were fixed on the large flat-screen TV mounted near the window.
The UEFA Europa League Round of 16 draw was about to begin.
On the screen, the familiar Europa League theme played softly as the camera panned across a polished stage in Nyon along with glass bowls and officials.
"Alright, calm down, calm down!" Max called out, trying to restore some order as voices overlapped across the room.
The excitement was hard to hide.
