Chapter 262: [262] "MEDIA OBLIGADO"

The final whistle still lingered in the evening air as the SC Valois squad came together. The hostile noise of the FC C?te d’Azur supporters had largely evaporated as thousands of local fans headed for the exits.

The stadium was emptying rapidly, leaving behind a vast feeling of the residual tension of a bitter home defeat.

In the far corner, flanked by lines of yellow-vested stewards, the traveling SC Valois supporters remained firmly in place. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder, waving black and gold scarves, their voices carrying clearly across the vacant pitch.

Luc walked toward the away end. The adrenaline of the match was beginning to fade, allowing his seventy-minute shift to settle into his muscles. The tightness in his calves was standard.

Klaus Becker came up beside him. The German was covered in dirt and sweat, his captain’s armband bestowed by Luc was secured tightly around his bicep.

Amadou Fall and Hadj walked a few paces behind, their massive frames casting long shadows under the stadium floodlights. In the center of the defensive unit walked Pinto. The backup goalkeeper still clutched his gloves in his hands. He looked exhausted, but the crippling anxiety that usually accompanied his posture was gone.

They reached the edge of the penalty area in front of the away supporters.

The fans escalated their chanting, recognizing the players. They banged their hands against the fencing, creating a rhythmic drumbeat that synchronized with their voices.

Luc raised his hands above his head, clapping firmly. He did not execute any theatrical gestures, only offered genuine applause to the people who had traveled across to watch them secure three points.

Klaus whistled loudly, pointing specifically at Pinto. Th midfielder stepped behind the goalkeeper and pushed him forward, isolating Pinto at the front of the group.

The away fans caught the cue immediately. The chants shifted, dropping the standard club anthems and replacing them with the goalkeeper’s name.

Pinto froze for a second, entirely unaccustomed to receiving the primary adulation of the ultras. He looked back over his shoulder at Amadou. The center-back offered a firm nod, pointing back toward the stands. Pinto turned forward, raising his gloves into the air. The fans roared in approval, acknowledging the monstrous punt that had fractured the C?te d’Azur defense and secured the victory.

Luc dropped his arms, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling in his chest. The defensive cracks should now be sealed with Pinto’s awakening and boost in confidence.

Before they could turn away to head down the tunnel, a media official wearing a branded Ligue Alpha vest jogged onto the grass from the touchline. The official moved with urgent purpose, cutting through the group of players until he reached Klaus.

The official spoke briefly to the acting captain. Klaus listened, then pointed at Luc and Pinto.

"Broadcast wants you two," Klaus relayed, stepping aside. "Post-match flash interview. They set up the sponsor board near the technical area."

Pinto’s eyes showed slight shock. Flash interviews were typically reserved for the goalscorers or the manager. A backup goalkeeper rarely faced the live cameras immediately after the final whistle.

"Just follow my lead," Luc instructed quietly, stepping next to Pinto. "Keep your answers short. Don’t let them bait you into criticizing the defense for the goal we conceded."

"Short answers. Right," Pinto muttered, wiping his forehead with the back of his wrist.

They walked across the pitch, leaving the remaining squad members to head down the tunnel. Near the dugout, a mobile media station had been erected. A backdrop featuring the logos of Ligue Alpha’s primary sponsors stood on the grass. A cameraman was currently adjusting a his setup, while a sound technician tested the audio levels on two small microphones.

Standing in front of the camera was Julian Rossi, one of the primary broadcasters for the league’s flagship sports network. Rossi was a veteran journalist known for his sharp questions and his ability to extract headlines from tired players. He held a microphone with the network’s logo cubicly attached to the top.

"Gentlemen," Rossi greeted them as they approached, his professional smile locked in place. "Congratulations on the victory. If you could just step onto the mark here, we will be live in thirty seconds."

Luc stepped onto the designated piece of tape on the grass. Pinto took his place beside him. The sound technician quickly clipped the small microphones to the collars of their sweaty jerseys.

Luc looked straight ahead at the camera lens. He regulated his breathing, dropping his heart rate, preparing his mind for the verbal sparring that always accompanied these media obligations.

"Live in five," the cameraman announced, raising his hand and counting down with his fingers. Four. Three. Two. He pointed at Rossi.

"Welcome back to the post-match coverage," Rossi began, his voice projecting smoothly over the ambient noise of the stadium. "I am joined by SC Valois captain Luc Beaumont and goalkeeper Pinto, following a grueling 3-1 away victory over FC C?te d’Azur. Luc, let us start with you."

Rossi shifted his posture slightly, angling the microphone toward Luc.

"Welcome back to the pitch," Rossi continued. "After spending ten days sidelined with a bone contusion, there were massive questions regarding your match fitness and whether the knee could hold up against a side like C?te d’Azur. Not only did you play seventy minutes, but you are officially our Man of the Match today. How does the body feel, and how crucial was it to secure this result today?"

Luc did not hesitate to answer this particular question.

"The body is fully restored," Luc stated, his voice calm and devoid of the fatigue he was currently managing. "The medical staff at Valois, Detone and Juliette, executed a flawless recovery protocol. There was never any doubt about my fitness today. As for the result, taking three points away from home against a team like C?te is the standard we have set for ourselves. We dropped points last time out. That was unacceptable. Today was simply a correction of that."

Rossi nodded, seamlessly transitioning to the next angle. "It was certainly a correction, punctuated by what will undoubtedly be the goal of the gameweek. That header from twenty yards out defied expectations. But the sequence began at the opposite end of the pitch."