THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Post Match Recovery

Friday is a holiday for Zachary and his team-mates. Even the usually no-nonsense Coach Johansen had advised the players to take a break after playing the final group game the previous day. They could rest because the quarter-final match against Zenit— was scheduled on Sunday afternoon.

Zachary wakes up late, at 9am, cleans up, and has breakfast. His muscles were tense, and he still felt sullen after losing the previous day. However, a night of sufficient rest had calmed his mind.

"Zachary, here we go" called Magnus, interrupting his breakfast. "We have to go to the gym with Coach Bjorn."

"Isn't this our day off?"

Magnus smiled sadly. "Coach Bjorn says it's a day of rest, not a day off. There's differences. As part of our schedule, we had to do some exercises to recover faster from fatigue."

"What time should we go to the gym?" Zachary asked, on the sidelines of his breakfast feed.

"Now," answered Magnus, staring at a plate full of eggs, bread, and fruits before Zachary. "Most of the other players are already waiting on the bus. I'm gathering slackers. You must hurry."

"Damn," sumpat Zachary. "Why weren't we told about this yesterday?"

Magnus stretched out his hand, his shoulders raised with relaxed shoulders. "I heard about this gym work today as well."

"I'll get there in 10 minutes" said Zachary, increasing his speed while devouring his breakfast.

"OKAY. But hurry. Coach Bjorn is waiting." He added before rushing out of the deserted restaurant.

Zachary smiled— pathetic while emptying his milk glass. He just remembered that he had a date with Marta Romano. He called her to cancel and reschedule for the afternoon as she ran to the bus.

"Good morning, players," Coach Bjorn greeted them at the gym.

"Good morning, coach," all the players returned the greeting more or less in unison. They sit on mats in the load section at the People Fitness Gym.

"I'm sorry to call you for some training on your day off" Coach Bjorn began. "However, you are an academy player above all else. It's important for me to teach you how to speed up your recovery after a tough 90-minute game. I don't want there to be a case of players limping in the hotel lobby the day after the game. . The ultimate goal of the exercise we're going to do is to relax tired muscles."

He smiled at the players, moving through their ranks. "It is very important to recover your energy reserves right after each game. We often give you a milk chocolate drink for protein and carbohydrates in one hit during that critical time for the muscles to recover energy after the game. We also advise you to soak. Ice bath to relieve aches and pains in the short term during this tournament."

He raised an eyebrow, letting his gaze explore the players. "How many of you take ice baths after every game?" He asked after a little pause.

Most players, including Zachary, raise their hands. Zachary had been soaking in ice water for ten minutes after each game, even in his previous life. He has found a useful tactic for quick recovery from muscle fatigue after intensive training.

"Good." Coach Bjorn agreed. He flexes his muscles, covered only in a vest, making him look like a bodybuilder rather than a soccer coach. "We have also advised you to eat a highly nutritious meal within two hours of the game to replenish depleted energy reserves. That's why the dinner and lunch menu you agreed on consists of a meal rich in carbohydrates and protein and plenty of leafy greens."

Coach Bjorn folded his hands in front of his chest and continued his lecture. "I'm telling you all this to give you an understanding of the kind of routine you need to do to recover quickly from burnout when you become a professional. Being a professional involves intensive consecutive matches as you have experienced in this tournament."

"However, food and rest are not the only ones you need to recover quickly after an intensive game. We're here today to help you recover faster."

"We'll start by hitting the bike for 30 minutes. Let's keep the exercise at moderate intensity. The goal of this exercise is to warm up a little. Then, we will stretch all of our important muscle groups for 30 seconds. I'll lead a stretching routine and use a foam roller to guide your posture. After that, our massage therapist will help you relax your muscles. Any question?"

"I hope you've noticed stretching exercises. Follow my lead, and don't stray. For now, let's start with the bike." He clapped his hands to drive them away.

They spent the next two hours following Coach Bjrn's routine.

He is in charge of physical fitness at the academy. Zachary does not doubt the efficacy of his muscle relaxation exercises in post-match recovery. He started by cycling, then stretching using a foam roller, following the direction of the coach.

When he—finished, he headed to the massage room. In the room with scented candles, overwhelmed by soothing music, the massage calmed his body in a way no one else could. His body responds to the services of a massage therapist. Zachary doesn't know him—but his muscles and joints fall in love with his hands.

The massage stretched his muscles, trained the knots, gave his body a well-earned happiness. Although the pressure is sometimes painful, it leaves a sensation of overall health. When the session ended, Zachary felt light as a feather, all the burden on his mind gone.

He had done a lot of exercises, which weighed down on his body. He looked great but felt like a car in need of service. He just realized that professional sports massage therapy could be his service.

He walked out of the massage room haughtily, rivaling any world-famous hip-hop artist. Massage therapy has taken him out of time and space to live without worry. He made a mental note to add more massage sessions in his future training routine.

"The massage is the paradise of the world" Kasongo commented as he stepped with her as he walked towards the bus. "I feel ready to face Zenit now." He smiled like an asshole and did some basic stretching of Coach Bjorn's routine.

"I want more time, but the masseuse refuses," Paul comments, sighing from behind him.

Kendrick, by his side, nodded. "What are you going to do with your free time? Should we play table tennis?" She asked, rubbing her disheveled brown hair by hand.

"Count me," Zachary was the first to resist, raising his hand in a calming manner. The four of them stopped right outside the gym, waiting for their teammates.

His friends raised their eyebrows in a questioning manner.

"You're not dating us?" Paul asked, furrowing his brows. "What are you again?"

"Don't ask" Zachary replied firmly. "I have some plans of my own for today." He decided not to tell them about his date with Marta Romano. He was not ready to be the next hot topic of gossip among his team-mates.

"Why secret?" Kasongo interrupted, smiling shyly. "Have you met a sexy Latvian supermodel that you didn't want us to see and report to the coach?"

"That's a possibility" Kendrick sidelines, nodding his head like a chicken pecking at a grain.

"With the way he plays, I wouldn't be surprised" Paul added with a serious face. All three rhymed like they came from a music band.

"Okay, guys," cut Zachary. "Stop joking. You know me. I just need time alone to calm my mind for Sunday's quarter-final. I thought taking a walk around town, alone, would make me wonder. That's all." He lied with a flat face.

"Hmmm!" Those people expressed their doubts, more or less simultaneously.

"Let's get on the bus" Zachary said, changing the subject. "Coach Bjorn just got out of the gym. I'm hungry and need lunch." He added while leading the way to the bus.

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