As the international break drew to a close, the focus of the football world began to shift to the upcoming Champions League quarter-finals. The draw had pitted Borussia Dortmund against Chelsea, a clash of styles and philosophies that was being billed as one of the most intriguing matchups of the round. The English media, in particular, was in a frenzy, their headlines filled with stories of the German upstarts and their teenage prodigy, Der Maestro.
Klopp's tactical preparations for the Chelsea tie were the most intensive Mateo had ever experienced.
The manager's attention to detail was legendary, but his analysis of Chelsea's system was on another level. He broke down their defensive organization, their attacking patterns, and the individual tendencies of their key players with a level of granularity that was both intimidating and inspiring.
