The Tuesday morning after the Bernabéu miracle wasn't just a morning; it was a global hangover of hype.
Michael Sterling sat in the living room of his new lakeside mansion staring at a 100-inch television screen. The volume was turned up to a level that vibrated the coffee table.
On the screen, Sky Sports News had replaced their usual yellow ticker with a purple one. The headline ran on a loop: THE PURPLE REVOLUTION: HOW BARNSLEY BROKE THE KINGS.
Arthur Milton sat on the floor, surrounded by newspapers from every country in Europe. He looked like a conspiracy theorist trying to solve a murder, except he was smiling like a toddler who just found a hidden stash of chocolate.
"Boss," Arthur whispered, holding up L'Equipe.
"They called you 'Le Professeur du Chaos'. The Professor of Chaos. Is that a compliment? It sounds like a Batman villain."
"It's French, Arthur," Michael replied, sipping his coffee. "Everything sounds like a villain or a dessert. Take the win."
