Michael Sterling stood in the away dressing room, adjusting his purple tie in the mirror.
His hands weren't shaking but his stomach felt like it was hosting a cage fight between Diego Nunez and a bear.
"Boss," Arthur Milton squeaked from the corner. The assistant manager was currently sitting on the floor, hugging his knees. He looked like a garden gnome that had seen a murder. "I checked the team sheet again. They have Jude Bellingham. And Vinicius. And Rodrygo. And Mbappe on the bench. Is that legal? Can we call the police?"
"It's the Champions League, Arthur," Michael replied, his voice calm despite the internal screaming. "The police can't help us here. Only God and Diego can help us."
"God is busy," Diego Nunez grunted.
The bald center-back was doing push-ups in the center of the room. With every rep, he shouted a Spanish obscenity. He looked terrifying. He looked ready.
