Chapter 108: The world reacts
Tuesdays and Thursdays are for the UEFA Champions League, and the next day is for the reactions that were sure to ripple across the world of football.
Just like expected, the morning after, football didn’t sleep.
It raged, it roared, and it exploded.
From Paris to Madrid, from Manchester to Lagos, every screen, every sports channel, and every social feed pulsed with one story.
[Two nights. Two games. Two epics.]
The Headlines had FC Barcelona and Real Madrid plastered all over it.
["MOSES SAVES BARCA – AGAIN."] Blared L’Équipe across France.
["DE BRUYNE OUT, TIJJANI REIJNDERS THE CONDUCTOR AT CITY."] The Guardian in England read.
["EL CLÁSICO IN EUROPE? BARÇA, MADRID, CITY, PSG — TITANS COLLIDE."] Marca wrote.
As for ESPN, they headlined it win. ["THE AGE OF SUPERCLUBS."]
These 4 clubs were not the only big clubs who were on action for the final Matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase, but due to Real Madrid and Barcelona’s inclusion, the media fanned the flames of their participation.
Apart from them, big clubs like Liverpool also played their final Matchday game and unlike them, they secured an emphatic victory at home.
Chelsea also stole the headlines after an 8-1 thrashing of Napoli after the Italian club got 2 red cards in a row.
The headlines were on Cole Palmer who took the opportunity to plunder a hattrick and an assist, getting a perfect 10/10 rating.
Even Sam didn’t get a 10/10 rating despite his performance against PSG.
Big clubs like AC Milan and the likes also stole headlines in their part of the world as like most big clubs, they secured their qualifications to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the 2026/2027 season.
And yet, despite the multiple news across Europe, most of the attention remained on the game between the 4 big clubs.
Clips of Sam’s two late goals in Paris flooded TikTok and Instagram, slowed down with dramatic filters, layered with captions that read, "Clutch Player."
Sam had always built on the reputation of a clutch player all the way from his early days at Enyimba FC to his days at Fulham FC in England. But now, he seemed to have taken it one step ahead.
He was pure menace during the closing stages of games.
And just like they replayed clips of Sam’s two late goals, on another side, Haaland’s duel with Courtois, Tijjani Reijnder’s goal, and Mbappé’s relentless pace also filled reels across Twitter and Facebook.
The world didn’t just watch, it lived the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League, a matchday that they won’t forget in a hurry.
Pundits didn’t skip the fun as they also chipped in with their opinion as the studio shows turned into battlefields.
In Spain, El Chiringuito almost combusted live on air.
"Samuel Moses is UNREAL!" One pundit screamed, slamming the desk.
Another shot back. "Mbappé was better, but Courtois saved Madrid!"
Voices clashed, hands waved, and coffee spilled, but the argument energy didn’t relent at all. The host just sat back, grinning at the spectacle.
In England, Gary Neville shook his head.
"Damn man, that was Champions League football at its peak".
"Barcelona proved their pride, Madrid showed their madness. But for me... Tijjani Reijnders announcing himself to Europe remains the standard moment. I mean, the man’s unreal for Manchester City".
Jamie Carragher cut in. "And Sam Moses? We seem to forget, but he’s still just 21. He’s dragging Barcelona through European nights like Messi once did, tell me that’s not frightening."
The fan reactions were also loud.
After the game, the streets of Paris were quiet as they didn’t get the revenge that they sought. It was almost too quiet as PSG ultras painted graffiti across the city.
["KVARA + VITINHA ≠ ENOUGH."]
After failing to beat Barcelona at home, they were once again beginning to doubt their own club.
In Barcelona, plazas filled with flags, as chants filled the air.
"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"
The chants echoed through the Gothic Quarter.
Kids practiced his celebration in schoolyards, arms wide, and eyes blazing.
In Madrid, chants of "Courtois! Courtois!" also rang out, their giant of a goalkeeper now a folk hero all over again. Meanwhile, City fans back in Manchester flooded pubs, half proud, and half gutted.
The legends also said their piece, Lionel Messi leading the pack from Miami.
"Sam’s goals in Paris... they reminded me of why the Champions League is the greatest stage. He is making magic, and magic is what survives."
Cristiano Ronaldo also said from Riyadh. "Madrid, City, Paris, Barça... this is football. But if you want to be remembered as the greatest, consistency is everything. Sam, Mbappé, Haaland, Bellingham, they have to do this for years".
Xavi, watching as a pundit now, added.
"I see shades of Messi and Iniesta in Barça’s midfield, but what Sam adds is belief. His goals in Paris... that was belief made real".
At the end of the matchday, the Champions League table updated again, and all 4 clubs sat at the very top after having a very impressive league phase run.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City still stayed in prime position occupying 1st to 3rd, and clubs like PSG, Bayern Munich, and the likes of Liverpool took the rest of the top 10.
...
Back in Spain, at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Hansi Flick gathered his men. "The world saw what we can do," he said, voice calm but eyes sharp. "But pride doesn’t win trophies, consistency does".
"You have five days, then La Liga returns. Elche won’t fear you, they’ll try to break you."
...
In Valdebebas, Xabi Alonso’s voice carried steel. "We went toe-to-toe with City, but we dropped focus. That won’t happen again" He said seriously.
"Valladolid, Celta, Osasuna... every game matters now. We cannot let Barcelona get ahead".
...
At home, Sam finally breathed.
He scrolled through his phone, flooded with congratulatory messages. His teammates spammed him with laughing emojis and voice notes.
Kayla nudged him. "You do realize you’re everywhere, right?"
Sam grinned, tossing the phone aside. "Let them talk, by now I’m used to it. I’ll let my feet do the rest".
He leaned back, eyes closed, already feeling the pulse of the system urging him forward.
DING!
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[System Remark: "Clutch Player — Confirmed."]
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