The small contingent of Palace parents and staff who had made the journey to Norwich erupted, their cheers a constant, rhythmic backdrop to the beautiful football that had unfolded on the pitch.
On the touchline, I didn't celebrate wildly. I just watched, a profound sense of relief washing over me. We had done it. We had finished the first quarter of the season in style, with a performance that was a testament to the courage, the character, the sheer, undeniable belief of my players.
The system's notification was a quiet, almost imperceptible whisper in the back of my mind. First Quarter Complete: 3W-1D-1L (10 points). Position: 4th. Squad Harmony: 82%.
I smiled. We were not just surviving. We were thriving.
That evening, back in London, Emma and I celebrated with a quiet dinner at the same small, unassuming Italian restaurant where we had celebrated her new job just a few short weeks ago.
