Sure Thing • Gavi

Chapter 83: Gala Night

🎶 Cheri Cheri Lady — Modern Talking 🎶

Another matchweek, let's do this. For me, it started off on Saturday, Barca was playing Villareal at home. Arriving at the stadium was pure stress, the club had made a huge party out of the game today, hoping to attract more fans. But it just wasn't Camp Nou - never a full attendance and I guess that hasn't really helped the team either in these times.

I did have VIP access and Luis had insisted on me watching the game together from there, but basically the whole Barca board and top staff was attending the game tonight and I didn't feel comfortable to sit between them as a journalist. He understood and we gave each other space, each one doing their job.

The game was a disaster from start to finish. We gave away the lead too easily and were down by one goal at half time. The complete left side wasn't working and got substituted at the start of the second half. Villareal soon shot a second goal however and I put my head in my hands, what was going on. But the players somehow pulled themselves together and Gundogan and Pedri shot two goals in eight minutes, the score was even again. An own goal in the 71st minute put Barca in the lead again - yes! I wildly tapped all the happenings into my computer, including Roque coming on for Lewandowski, to my dismay.

But then, everything went down the drain, Villareal shot a goal, making it 3-3. At least it looked like we could take home at least one point, but no. During injury time, the opponents shot two goals and completely humiliated Barca with a 3-5 loss at home. Murmurs were swirling through our media panel, everyone was on their phones, Xavi's position seemed heavily unstable after tonight's performance, even though the players were completely at fault today. My phone dinged and I quickly pulled it out.

Luis Laporta
Uncle called in an emergency meeting
He is fucking pissed
U can use the info

Victoria Hernandez
Thx and good luck

I immediately tweeted the news, getting a lot of retweets and reactions - my colleagues just eyed me angrily and probably with envy about what the could only presume were my connections. I made my way downstairs to get some comments from the players - Frenkie once again taking the fault and admitting they were completely shit, however also Cancelo and Araujo took blame on themselves - good, they were getting better in that aspect. We were now patiently waiting for Xavi's press conference but he took his sweet time. I anxiously tapped on my phone screen, hoping to see a message pop up from Luis, or... I don't know who - was I hoping for someone from the players? Pedri? Fermín? Were they my friends?

But finally, Xavi appeared, and his words broke my heart. He was leaving. Just like everyone else. And it was our fault - the media's. I had really tried to not blame him in my articles for the past streak of bad results and performances, but in the end, he was the coach and he needed to glue the team together - and that today, was more like shards scattered across the pitch.

On Sunday, after meeting with Irene and Chiara (who was floating on cloud nine with Mateo), I travelled to Madrid for Atletico's game against Valencia. I stayed for another night, as Getafe played Granada on Monday evening, but made my way back home on Tuesday morning.

I immediately drove to the office as I had scheduled that job interview with Martin, the ex-ESPN intern for a possible internship at La Vanguardia, with me as his supervisor. He came very prepared and I immediately saw that he knew a lot about football. The essay he had submitted was also really good, he had an interesting way of writing that was refreshingly different and very welcome.
"Ok, so: you have the job. You will come with me to a few games, maybe we could start with Barca's game against Osasuna on Wednesday as it will be at home anyways. You'll be writing the articles based on my coverage and interviews so that you can see what I would like you to emphasise. We have too little staff and I can't go on travelling around every day, so you will be on your own quite soon, do you feel ready for that responsibility?" I asked seriously. His face lit up and he quickly nodded.
"Thank you so much for this opportunity, Miss Hernandez... Vicky? Is it first-name basis here at La Vanguardia? At ESPN everyone is but, I mean, they're Americans..." he asked cautiously and I shot him a warm smile.
"For the time being, I am Miss Hernandez for you and you are Martin for me, that's how we usually handle it with interns. Once you're getting junior reporter it's first-name basis with everyone except for the heads of department... and people even further up obviously" I replied and smiled.
"Wonderful, I can't wait to get started" he said and I stood up to extend my hand, which he shook firmly.
"See you on Wednesday. Now, go to HR and ask for Monica, she'll show you your desk and will get you settled in with an e-mail address and the details for Wednesday" I said and opened the door for him. After saying goodbye again, accompanied with a small wave, I got back to work. It was rare for me to have an office day, but Irene was ecstatic and she kidnapped me out for dinner.