The victory against Arsenal was a statement, a brutal, hard-fought declaration of intent. We had proven we could win without Nya, that our system was adaptable, that our spirit was unbreakable. But the win had come at a cost.
The physical and emotional toll of that defensive masterclass was etched on the faces of my players. As we trudged back to the training ground on Monday morning, the aches and bruises were a testament to the war we had just endured.
The System's post-match report had been a sea of red flags: five players in the "High Injury Risk" category, their stamina levels dangerously depleted.
We had a home game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, followed by a trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City the following week.
