David didn't respond immediately. He was deep in thought, contemplating the dilemma. After a moment, he finally spoke slowly: "The league is definitely the top priority. Our goal is promotion, and we must focus on that. As for the British Championship, I think we can completely disregard it—it's meaningless. But the League Cup and FA Cup, I'm torn. I personally hope the team can make a deep run in one of the cups, even win it, but I know that's a long shot."
"The depth of our squad just isn't enough for us to fight on three fronts," he continued. "We can only afford to focus on one—either the League Cup or the FA Cup. If we're eliminated early from both, we'll be left with nothing but the league."
A heavy silence hung in the air as both men understood the stakes. This was a tough decision.
Finally, David, making up his mind, muttered like he was taking a gamble, "Let's go for it, even if we end up with nothing in the end."
Löw nodded, a solemn look on his face. It was clear he had wanted to take this route as well, and with David's support, he felt emboldened.
"Let's create a miracle together, a miracle that belongs to Notts County!"
They both knew what that miracle would be.
The third round of the league arrived quickly. Notts County, fresh off their intense League Cup battle, seemed to have found a new energy. The recent training sessions had impressed Löw, and he was optimistic about the upcoming match.
Their opponents in the third round were Reading, a team with a reputation for being hard-hitting and aggressive. David had vivid memories of Reading's brutal playing style, which even led them to the Premier League in his past life.
But what stuck with David the most was their nickname, the "Cookie Men." Reading was far from soft, despite their name. If Notts County couldn't match their physicality on the field, they would be in for a tough match.
David couldn't shake off the concern that Reading would be a challenge, especially after their famous clash with Chelsea. It had been a game where Reading's rough tactics had been on full display, forcing Chelsea's goalkeepers into injury and causing Petr Čech to wear a helmet for the rest of his career. David could only hope his team wouldn't suffer the same fate.
Despite his worries, David didn't let his concerns show. He repeatedly warned Löw and spoke to the players, urging them to stay aware of Reading's aggression and to protect themselves on the field.
Neither Löw nor the players took David's warnings seriously, dismissing his concerns with a lighthearted chuckle.
The match began, and Notts County looked poised and ready. The main lineup, fresh from the midweek League Cup, was now fully focused on the league. Löw had been refining his tactics, and it was clear that the team was beginning to find its rhythm.
Notts County quickly dominated possession, with Alonso orchestrating the midfield like a maestro. Together with the support of Merelles, Alonso controlled the tempo of the game, while Reading seemed content to sit back and absorb pressure. They weren't interested in possession; they were focused on grinding out a result with their physicality.
Reading's rough tactics soon came into play. The moment they lost the ball, they resorted to pushing, shoving, and elbowing their way through Notts County's smaller, more technical players. The physicality of the game escalated quickly, with the Reading players' elbows and knees becoming dangerous weapons.
Despite understanding England's notorious rough football culture, Notts County's players were caught off guard by Reading's extreme approach. Of course, Notts County wasn't without its own rough tactics, and when the game got physical, they weren't afraid to retaliate.
The match devolved into a battle of attrition, with both sides seeming less concerned with the ball and more focused on outmuscling each other. Notts County, despite their smaller stature, fought back with vigor, using their home advantage to stay level with Reading.
The referee struggled to control the growing chaos. Less than 20 minutes into the match, he had already issued four yellow cards. But despite the warnings, the intensity only grew.
At the 35th minute, Alonso broke the deadlock with a long-range shot that flew past Reading's goalkeeper, giving Notts County a 1-0 lead. But this only seemed to incite Reading further. They grew even more aggressive, showing their frustration with violent tackles and brutal challenges.
As the first half neared its end, Reading's style became even more physical. The game had turned into more of a wrestling match than a football game. Notts County players were repeatedly knocked down, but the referee failed to impose any real control over the situation.
At the 40th minute, disaster struck. Di Natale received the ball and attempted to drive forward but was viciously tackled from behind by a Reading player, who slid in with his studs up, catching Di Natale squarely on the ankle.
Di Natale screamed in pain, rolling on the ground, clutching his ankle. The Reading player, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He shrugged and turned away, seemingly unaware of the damage he had caused.
This was the breaking point. Merelles, standing close by, rushed in with fury and punched the Reading player squarely in the face, knocking him to the ground.
A full-scale brawl ensued. Players from both teams piled into the fray, throwing punches and shoves. The benches emptied, with substitute players charging onto the pitch to join the chaos.
The crowd roared in anger, booing the Reading players and shouting insults. Some fans even crossed the barriers, storming the pitch to express their outrage.
Amid the chaos, the referee lost all control. His whistle blew frantically, but no one paid any attention. In the midst of the melee, David rushed onto the pitch to protect his players. He saw the Reading player who had fouled Di Natale struggling to get up, and without hesitation, David landed a punch that knocked him back to the ground.
David's anger only grew as he spotted the Reading assistant coach nearby, seemingly encouraging the aggression. He charged at him, intent on teaching the assistant a lesson. Unfortunately, the Reading chairman, who might have been an even bigger target, wasn't present, leaving David to vent his frustrations on the next best target.
The scene on the field was pure chaos. The match had spiraled out of control, and it was clear that the only thing left was to fight for pride. The football had been forgotten, replaced by raw, unrelenting aggression.