"I love your passion, Mateo," he said, his voice filled with a paternal warmth. "I love your determination. But you must also be smart. You must listen to your body. You must rest. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. And we need you for the final push."
Mateo understood. He knew that Klopp was right, that he could not afford to burn himself out before the most crucial part of the season. But it was hard to hold back, hard to temper the fire that burned within him, the desire to prove himself, to atone for the defeat, to lead his team to glory.
Isabella's return to Spain had left a void in his life, a sense of emptiness that was hard to fill. Their daily video calls were a lifeline, a connection to a world beyond the bubble of professional football, a reminder of the love and normalcy that awaited him. But it was not the same as having her there, her presence a calming and grounding influence in his otherwise chaotic life.
