In the away team's locker room, City's players rested as the masseurs went around helping them relax their muscles, asking how they felt physically.
Richard lingered outside the restroom, listening closely to everything happening inside. He didn't need to step into the locker room to know the players were exhausted.
Although this wasn't the longest they had run or the most intense 45 minutes they had ever played, it was certainly one of the most draining. The long journey had worn them down physically, while the psychological pressure had quietly chipped away at their energy.
The situation was worse than he had expected. If they wanted to avoid defeat, they couldn't afford to take reckless tactical risks.
City had used their best 4-4-2 formation and patiently tried to create chances, but they had failed to apply any meaningful, continuous pressure. This forced a series of fierce midfield battles toward the end of the first half.
