The journey across London was a familiar one, but the atmosphere on the bus was anything but. The usual pre-match tension, a heavy blanket of silent nerves and quiet contemplation, had been replaced by a low, confident buzz.
The 6-0 demolition of Sutton United in the FA Youth Cup had been more than just a win; it had been a revelation, a collective release of pressure that had washed through the entire squad, cleansing the doubt and fear that had taken root before the Chelsea Match.
Laughter echoed from the back of the bus, a sound that had been absent for too long. Players were chatting, listening to music, a sense of relaxed focus replacing the gnawing anxiety.
I watched them from my seat at the front, a small, private smile on my face. This was the team I knew we could be. This was the spirit that had defined our early success. Today, we faced Tottenham away.
