His words were a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the darkness. Mateo knew that he was right. He could not change the past, but he could shape the future. He could not erase his mistake, but he could learn from it. He could not undo the red card, but he could use it as a catalyst for growth.
He returned to Dortmund a different person. He was still quiet, he was still reserved, but there was a new-found maturity in his eyes, a new-found steel in his spine. He had been to hell and back, and he had emerged stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever.
He knew that the road ahead would not be easy. He would have to face the criticism, the scrutiny, the doubts. He would have to prove himself all over again. But he was ready. He was ready to face the challenge, to embrace the struggle, to fight for his redemption.
