Rain poured without a moment of rest from the dark sky above. Soaking everyone the players, coaches and fans but Aditya Bansal didn't feel it. He couldn't as his eyes were focused on the scoreboard.
88th Minute : Novara FC 1-0 Atlanta BC
2 minutes of normal time, just 2 minutes more and he will be able to get his redemption.
The away fans screamed until there throat hurt. They couldn't believe what they were witnessing. Atlanta BC a Serie A club who finishes mostly in top 5 in the Serie A league were losing.
Not to AC Milan, Inter Milan or Juventus.
But to Novara FC a Serie C team.
Losing to a manager who has not won a single match until now. Losing to Aditya Bansal.
The man everyone had ridiculed.
Two years.
Two years of humiliation of not winning a single game.
Two clubs he managed - relegated
Every interview - mocked
Every tactical move - ripped apart by analysts
They had made memes around him regarding him as a Farce manager, which trended the times he got sacked by a team.
Tonight wasn't supposed to be any different.
And yet today he was not loosing but winning a match.
Rain poured on his head making his clothes soaked and wet, clanging them to his body. Still he didn't move and blinked.
On the touchline he was just like a statue following the game with utmost concentration waiting for the final whistle. He had hands in his pockets and his jaw clenched.
The pitch was in chaos as Atlanta tried to counterattack to even out the score line for a Coppa Italia First round match.
Their defense has long gone above the half line to pressure the leading team to concede a goal.
It was a do or die situation as a loss would mean elimination from the Coppa Italia.
Sensing the oppositions intention and plan, Aditya's assistant manager - Jake Preacher rushed to his side. "We need to shut them down", he shouted over the sound of rain and storm. "Throw in another defender and shut down their attack, Park the bus."
The textbook move in this kind of situation.
Aditya didn't respond. His gaze shifted to the bench.
A player sat there nervous shaking his legs continuously.
He was a young center back and Aditya intended to sub him in.
"I know this is a tense situation for you but I need you to hold out Atlanta's attack till the referee blows the final whistle" Aditya instructed the young defender.
Commentator appreciated this tactical adjustment.
Atlanta had committed everyone to attack but with the addition of a defender they were not able to breach the final line to score a goal.
Atlanta frustrated with there inability to score attempted a long range shot but it went into the stands of the football stadium.
At 93:15 with the addition of injury time.
The referee blew the whistle three times to indicate the end of the match.
The stadium exploded.
Aditya didn't move, Didn't blink.
He had done it. Being ridiculed for 2 years, he won his first match as a coach not against any opponent but against a Serie A Giant.
The crowd chanted his name.
"ADITYA BANSAL! ADITYA BANSAL!"
But suddenly Aditya felt on the ground front faced, He gasped for air.
Jake tried to stop him from falling.
Aditya couldn't breathe, The lights blurred, The rain felt colder.
His mouth opened but no sound came other than grasping for air.
The pitch greeted him with a wet slap. Grass in his face and mud in his mouth.
Voices around him shouted.
"GET THE MEDICS!NOW"
Someone dropped to his side. Pressed on his chest. More voices.
But Aditya wasn't able to move as he suffered a heart attack.
But he wasn't able to respond to anyone as his soul floated above all of them.
The roar of the crowd, the sting of the rain, the fear in Jacks voice, it all drifted away.
Only the scoreboard remained.
Novara 1-0 Atlanta BC
Burned into his mind.
VICTORY.
His final breath escaped his body.
Then complete darkness surrounded him.