Late September 2013 carried a cool breeze that hinted at autumn's arrival, but inside San Lorenzo's training headquarters, the air crackled with upheaval. Lucas arrived before dawn, the sky still brushed with stars, and felt the weight of yesterday's news settle on his shoulders. The corridors, once alive with chatter and laughter, held a wary silence. Today, everything would change.
He met Sosa and Duarte outside the reserve locker room. Their faces were drawn, eyes rimmed with fatigue from sleepless nights. Each of them had watched the front‐page headlines in disbelief:
> "San Lorenzo Parts Ways with Romero: Club Pays $800,000 Indemnity"
"Ríos Appointed Interim Manager of the First Team"
Lucas nodded to his friends. "Let's get to work."
---
Morning Briefing
Inside the familiar locker room, Ríos stood before the reserves, his posture straight but his eyes softer than usual. Behind him, on the wall‐mounted bulletin board, the official club communiqué was pinned:
> "Effective immediately, Señor Bernardo Romero's contract has been terminated by mutual agreement. The board expresses gratitude for his service. Señor Gabriel Ríos assumes the role of Interim First Team Manager until season's end."
The players read the notice in hushed tones. Ríos turned and cleared his throat.
"I know this is a shock," he began. "Change at the top can feel unsettling. But I need you to see it as an opportunity. San Lorenzo needs unity—more than ever. Starting today, our reserves will serve as the heartbeat of this club's resurgence."
He paused, looking directly at Lucas, Sosa, and Duarte. "I want you three integrated fully into first-team training. Vargas and Cavallaro will lead the reserves and maintain standards here. Understood?"
They nodded. It was time to step forward.
---
First‐Team Integration
A short bus ride later, Lucas found himself back in the first‐team changing room. This time, it was different: where uncertainty had reigned, now a sense of purpose smoldered. Ríos's name and title were printed alongside the veterans' on a fresh whiteboard in the tactics room.
They completed dynamic stretches under Ríos's watch: hip rotations, groin openers, explosive lunges. Lucas felt the springiness in his legs—renewed energy that hummed deep in his calves. Today's session opened with a pressing pattern built around Ríos's favored 4-2-3-1: midfielders sprint from the deeper pivot, forwards collapse the channels, fullbacks pinch inside. Lucas remembered the notebook entry: "Cover the lane, then burst forward."
When the whistle blew, the first-team players sprang into action. Lucas fell in beside Sosa as one of the double pivots. The drill began with a simple possession circuit—three touches max, tight angles. Then, on Ríos's signal, one player dropped out to press a turnover, and the cycle reset in the opposite direction. Every turnover triggered a high-intensity sprint; every successful pass demanded composure.
Lucas found himself chasing a loose pass toward the sideline. He slid in, toe first, and steered the ball to Cavallaro, who reversed play with a single flick. Ríos raised his hand in approval. Lucas inhaled, exhaled, and readied for the next shift.
Later, they moved to a tactical positional exercise. The field was segmented into four vertical channels. Ríos explained: "When we lose possession, channels three and four must collapse. We suffocate them in narrow spaces and force the ball back wide." Lucas watched Torrico arrange his defensive line, saw Buffarini jog to his fullback slot. He recorded every call and gesture in his mind, knowing these would guide him for Saturday's match.
---
The Squad Meeting
After water breaks, the squad assembled in the small meeting room beneath the main stand. Ríos stood before a projection of the current league table: San Lorenzo teetered just above the relegation cut-off by a single point. Three home games remained under closed doors; the next away fixture loomed heavy.
He cleared his throat. "Gentlemen," he said, "we have a chance to redefine ourselves. We can't change the past loss, but we can command these next weeks. Our priorities: 1) Solidify defensive shape, 2) Maximize set-piece opportunities, and 3) Harness the spirit of every player, from the veterans to our five juniors."
Lucas shifted in his seat, feeling the gravity of Ríos's words. The meeting continued with tactical specifics: zone assignments, pressing triggers, exit strategies. Lucas mentally drilled each scenario, picturing his position when the ball broke loose, ready to step into the rotation.
At the end, Ríos addressed the juniors directly: "Lucas, Sosa, and Duarte—you'll continue training with us every morning. Vargas and Cavallaro will run parallel sessions with the reserves this afternoon. This club needs every pair of legs and every ounce of belief. Are we clear?"
Voices responded in unison: "Clear, coach."
---
Afternoon Reserve Session
Lucas and the other juniors returned to the reserve pitch for a lighter training session. The day's intensity had been heavy; this was a chance to rebuild. Vargas led a series of tight rondos and positional rotations. Lucas found solace in the familiar rhythm, but his mind remained tethered to the first-team vision.
Between drills, Lucas confided in Sosa: "This feels different. Like we're part of something bigger." Sosa nodded, eyes bright. "We are. We've earned it."
They wrapped up with a shooting circuit—one touch, volley, power shot. Lucas executed a perfect half-volley that dipped under the crossbar. The reserve coach erupted in applause. It felt like proof that he belonged on the twin stages of first-team and reserves.
---
Off‐Field Adjustments
After training, Lucas changed and headed to the club's administrative offices for a brief contract meeting. Ríos's promotion had triggered updates to the board—football operations needed to formalize Lucas's involvement. Lucas sat with the head of youth development as they completed paperwork: permission slips, insurance forms, AFA registration updates. Lucas's dossier now listed him as a first-team trainee eligible for matchday squads.
Walking out, Lucas stored the papers in his folder. Each sheet represented a step closer to his dream: the official nod that he was more than just a reserve. He felt the surge of pride—but also the weight of responsibility.
---
Evening Reflections
That night, Lucas met his parents at home. His mother hugged him, worry etched in her eyes. "Are you alright, hijo?"
He nodded. "It's a big change. But a good one." His father, usually reserved, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your coach believes in you. So do we."
Later, Lucas sat at his desk and opened his notebook. He paused on yesterday's entry, then added:
> September 23, 2013: Today we began a new era. Ríos leads the first team, and we juniors stand with him. This club's heart beats in every drill and every meeting. I'm ready to make it count.
He closed the book and leaned back, listening to the murmur of the city outside. The path ahead promised challenges, but Lucas felt a fire kindling in his chest: a conviction that, together with Ríos and his friends, he would help San Lorenzo rise from the brink.
[End for chapter 31]