As Luka left the stadium, his mind still reeling from the night's events, he was intercepted by a persistent reporter.
"Luka! Can you comment on the heated exchange with Coach Rose during the match?" the reporter asked, thrusting a microphone towards him.
Luka, still raw from the night's events, brushed past the reporter. "No comment," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration.
As he made his way to his car, his phone buzzed with messages. One from Jorge Mendes, his agent: "Tough night, kid. Don't let it get to you. We'll talk tomorrow." Another from his father: "Proud of you, son. Keep your head up. Call me when you can."
Once home, Luka headed straight for the ice bath, hoping the cold would numb not just his aching muscles but also the disappointment and anger that still lingered. As he lowered himself into the frigid water, he winced, the cold shocking his system. He set a timer for 15 minutes and reached for his phone, almost instinctively opening Twitter.
The first tweet that caught his eye was from @BVBFanatic:
"Tough loss against Ajax tonight. 4-2 doesn't reflect how close it was in the second half."
The responses came flooding in:
@MarjoVokavic: "That second half was something else. Zorić's assist to Bellingham was pure magic. If only we'd started like that..."
@TaalTim: "Rose's initial setup didn't work against Ajax's press. Adjustments came too late."
@FootballScout: "Zorić's heat map in the second half is insane. Covered every blade of grass trying to make something happen. Kid's got heart."
As Luka scrolled, he saw more tweets analyzing the match:
@Nameyelus: "Ajax exposed Dortmund's weaknesses tonight. But that second-half comeback shows the potential of this team. Zorić and Bellingham connection is something special."
@Staveman: "Luka Zorić created 5 chances in the second half alone. More than any other player on the pitch."
@SunWukong: "Thread: Breaking down Dortmund's second-half resurgence against Ajax:
1/5 Zorić's positioning wider opened up space for Bellingham to exploit centrally.
2/5 Haaland's runs stretched Ajax's defense, creating pockets for Zorić and Reus to operate in.
3/5 Rose's adjustment to a more direct approach caught Ajax off guard.
4/5 Zorić's ability to switch play quickly helped Dortmund bypass Ajax's press.
5/5 Despite the loss, lots of positives for Dortmund to build on."
But not all the tweets were positive. The controversy over Luka's exchange with Rose was heating up:
@BVBInsider: "Anyone else catch that heated moment between Zorić and Rose on the sideline? What was that about?"
@FootballDrama: "Clip of Zorić and Rose's sideline spat going viral. Not a good look for the youngster."
@CCO: "Rose needs to manage this carefully. Zorić is a special talent, but discipline is crucial at this level."
@DortmundDaily: "Sources say Rose and Zorić had words in the locker room post-match. Developing story. #BVB"
Half of these people don't even know what they're talking about, it was me who made those changes happen.
His timer suddenly went off, signaling the end of his ice bath. He gingerly lifted himself out, his muscles protesting after the grueling match and the shock of the cold. He dried off quickly and made his way to the kitchen, where a meal prepared by his nutritionist was waiting for him.
As he reheated the carefully balanced meal of grilled chicken, quinoa, and roasted vegetables, Luka found himself drawn back to his phone, unable to resist checking the ongoing commentary.
@Qweku_v had posted a video analysis: "Breaking down the Zorić-Rose incident. You can see Zorić's frustration, but Rose's tactics were starting to work. Communication breakdown or something more?"
@Moustrell: "Zorić needs to cool it. Respect the coach, kid. You're good, but you're not bigger than the team."
@Demotrell: "This is a crucial moment in Zorić's career. How he responds to this will show his true character. Talent isn't everything. #BVB"
As Luka sat down to eat, he found the usually appetizing meal tasted like cardboard in his mouth. His phone kept buzzing with notifications, but he forced himself to put it aside and focus on refueling his body.
Just as he was finishing his meal, his phone rang. It was Mendes.
"Luka, how are you holding up?" Jorge's voice was calm but concerned.
Luka sighed. "I'm fine, Jorge. Just frustrated with how the game went."
"I understand. Listen, we need to talk about what happened with Rose. It's all over social media."
Luka felt a knot forming in his stomach. "I know, I saw. It wasn't as bad as they're making it out to be, honestly."
Jorge's tone turned serious. "Regardless, we need to get ahead of this. I think you should post a statement, clear the air."
Luka hesitated. "I don't know, Jorge. I wasn't really in the wrong."
"Trust me, Luka. In situations like this, silence can be misinterpreted. We need to control the narrative."
As they discussed the potential statement, Luka's mind wandered back to the match, to that moment on the sideline. He hadn't meant to disrespect Rose, he was just so caught up in the game, so desperate to make a difference.
After hanging up with Jorge, Luka found himself back on Twitter, unable to resist checking the latest reactions.
@TacticalTIM had posted a long thread: "1/10 Let's break down Dortmund's performance against Ajax, focusing on Zorić's role:
2/10 First half: Zorić struggled to find space, often isolated on the wing. Ajax's press nullified his impact.
3/10 Second half: Rose's adjustments allowed Zorić more freedom. His heat map shows a significant increase in touches across the final third.
4/10 Zorić's assist to Bellingham: A moment of brilliance. The vision to spot the run, the technique to execute the pass - world-class.
5/10 However, Zorić's frustration was evident. Multiple instances of visible discontent with teammates' decisions.
6/10 The sideline incident with Rose: Appears to be a disagreement over tactical instructions. Zorić clearly wanted to play more centrally.
7/10 While Zorić's passion is commendable, challenging the coach publicly is a concern. This needs to be addressed internally.
8/10 Despite the loss, Zorić's impact is undeniable. Created 5 chances, 2 assist, 89% pass accuracy in the opponent's half.
9/10 Moving forward: Rose needs to find a way to maximize Zorić's talents while maintaining tactical discipline.
10/10 Conclusion: A learning experience for both player and team."
As the night wore on, Luka found himself unable to sleep, his mind replaying every moment of the match, every word of his exchange with Rose. He knew he needed to make things right, but the path forward seemed unclear.
Just before he finally drifted off to sleep, his phone buzzed one last time. It was a message from Jude:
"Tough night, mate. But we're in this together. Tomorrow's a new day. We'll bounce back. 💪"
The next morning, Luka arrived at the training ground, the crisp autumn air nipping at his skin as he made his way across the dew-covered grass. His muscles still ached from the previous night's match, a constant reminder of their defeat. As he approached the training area, he spotted Erling and Gio already there, casually juggling a ball between them.
"Ja, Luka!" Gio called out, a sympathetic smile on his face. "How are you holding up?"
Luka shrugged, forcing a weak smile. "I'm here, aren't I?"
Erling trapped the ball under his foot and turned to face Luka. "Mate, we saw what happened last night. With Rose, I mean."
Luka tensed, bracing himself for another lecture. But to his surprise, Erling's next words caught him off guard.
"You know, you didn't get nearly enough credit for turning that game around," the Norwegian striker said, his blue eyes serious. "Those changes in the second half? That was all you."
Gio nodded enthusiastically. "Seriously, man. The way you read the game, the passes you were making... it was something else."
Luka felt a small warmth of appreciation, but it was quickly extinguished by the memory of Rose's stern face and harsh words. He shook his head, kicking at a tuft of grass. "It doesn't matter. We still lost."
"But-" Gio started to protest, only to be cut off by Luka.
"Look, I appreciate what you're saying, but it's done. Let's just focus on training, alright?"
As if on cue, Rose's voice boomed across the field, calling the team to gather. Luka's jaw clenched involuntarily at the sound. As they jogged over, he could feel Rose's eyes on him, disapproval radiating from the coach's gaze.
The training session began with their usual warm-up routines, but Luka could sense an underlying tension. Rose's instructions seemed particularly pointed, especially when directed at him. Every time Luka touched the ball, he could feel Rose's critical gaze boring into him.
During a passing drill, Rose's voice cut through the air. "Zorić! Sharper passes! You're not in a Sunday league anymore!"
Sharper passes? What is this guy talking about?
But Luka bit his tongue, fighting the urge to snap back. He knew Rose was trying to provoke a reaction, to assert his authority after last night's confrontation. But Luka wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
As the morning wore on, Luka found himself instinctively tuning out Rose's voice. He focused instead on the feel of the ball at his feet, the rhythm of his teammates' movements, the satisfying thud of a well-struck pass. He poured all his frustration into his play.
Rose's irritation was clear for all to see. His instructions to Luka became more frequent, more pointed, but Luka remained impassive, responding only with silent nods or brief "Yes, Coach" replies.
During a short water break, Jude sidled up to Luka. "You alright, mate? Rose seems to be riding you pretty hard today."
Luka took a long swig from his water bottle before responding. "I'm fine. Just focused on training."
Jude raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. As they returned to the field, Luka could see Rose deep in conversation with his assistant coaches, gesturing animatedly in Luka's direction.
The final part of training was a full-sided scrimmage. Luka found himself on the opposing team from Erling and Gio, with Jude as his midfield partner. As they took their positions, Rose's voice rang out once more.
"Zorić! I want to see you tracking back on defense. No more of this lazy forward play!"
Luka felt a flash of anger. Lazy? He'd run himself into the ground last night trying to salvage the game. But he pushed the thought aside, channeling his frustration into his play.
The scrimmage began, and Luka was everywhere. He dropped deep to collect the ball, sprayed passes across the field, and made darting runs into the box. When his team lost possession, he was the first to press, harrying the opposition and winning the ball back.
At one point, he received the ball on the edge of the box, three defenders closing in on him. With a quick feint and a burst of acceleration, he slipped between two of them, leaving them stumbling in his wake. The third defender lunged in, but Luka was ready. He flicked the ball over the outstretched leg, spun around the defender, and coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.
His teammates erupted in cheers, but Luka's eyes were drawn to Rose. The coach's face was a mask of conflicting emotions - grudging admiration warring with lingering frustration.
As the scrimmage came to an end, Rose called the team together for a final debrief. His eyes locked onto Luka.
"Good work out there, Zorić," he said, his tone measured. "That's the kind of effort and focus I expect to see in matches."
Luka nodded silently, unwilling to give Rose the response he was clearly fishing for. As the team began to disperse, Rose called out again.
"Zorić, a word please."
Luka suppressed a sigh and trudged over to where Rose was standing. The coach's face was stern, his arms crossed over his chest.
"I hope you've had time to reflect on your behavior last night," Rose began, his voice low but intense. "That kind of disrespect cannot happen again, do you understand?"
Luka felt a surge of frustration. After everything - his performance in training, the way he'd turned the game around last night - Rose was still harping on about this?
"With all due respect, Coach," Luka said, struggling to keep his voice level, "I think we both said things in the heat of the moment. Can't we just move on and focus on the next match?"
Rose's eyes narrowed. "This isn't about moving on, Zorić. This is about accountability. I need to know that you understand the gravity of your actions."
Luka could feel his patience wearing thin. He was about to respond when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Dr. Braun, the team's physiotherapist.
"Sorry to interrupt, Coach," Dr. Braun said smoothly, "but I need to steal Luka for his ankle exercises. We can't afford to skip a session, especially after such an intense match."
Rose looked like he wanted to object, but he knew better than to interfere with the medical staff's recommendations. With a curt nod, he dismissed Luka, who gratefully followed Dr. Braun to the medical room.
As they walked, Luka's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Jorge:
"Good news, kid. Puma wants another meeting to review the deal. They're open to making some adjustments based on your requests. Meeting set for the day after your Bielefeld match. Keep your head up and your feet on the ground."
A small smile tugged at Luka's lips. At least something was going right. He pocketed his phone as they entered the medical room, ready to focus on his exercises and put the drama with Rose behind him for now.