The atmosphere around Utrecht had shifted dramatically in the week following their cup triumph. What had once been a season focused purely on survival and respectability had transformed into something far more ambitious. The KNVB Cup victory had not only ended nine years of heartbreak but had also opened a door that few at the club had dared to dream about - European football.
Coach Wouters stood before his squad in the team meeting room at the training ground, a tactical board behind him showing the current Eredivisie table. Utrecht sat in 4th place with 52 points, just three points behind third-placed AZ Alkmaar. The mathematics were simple, but the implications were enormous.
"Gentlemen," Wouters began, his voice carrying a new sense of purpose, "we have already achieved something special this season. But we have the opportunity to achieve something even more special. European football. The Europa League."
