The flight back to Dortmund was a somber affair, the usual post-match banter replaced by a quiet introspection that reflected the weight of the defeat.
The players sat in their seats, some sleeping, others staring out the window at the clouds below, each one processing the loss in their own way. For Mateo, the journey was a continuation of the emotional rollercoaster that had begun the moment the final whistle had blown at Stamford Bridge.
He had barely slept, his mind replaying the match over and over, the moment of his crucial error etched into his memory with painful clarity.
The conversation with Klopp had provided some comfort, a reminder that failure was not final, but the shame of letting his team down was still a heavy burden to carry.
