May 15, 2023 - La Liga, Matchday 36Barcelona vs Espanyol - Camp Nou
Three weeks before the Champions League final, Barcelona still had La Liga to secure.
They led Real Madrid by four points with three matches remaining. One win guaranteed the title.
Espanyol, the local derby rivals, came to spoil the party.
But Ethan was in the form of his life.
He scored in the nineteenth minute. A brilliant free kick.
He scored again in the forty-fifth. A tap-in after Lewandowski's shot was saved.
He completed his hat-trick in the seventy-eighth. A solo run from halfway.
Final score: Barcelona 5-0 Espanyol.
BARCELONA - LA LIGA CHAMPIONS 2022-23 (Third consecutive title)
The title was secured with two matches to spare. The treble was on.
Potential Treble:
✅ La Liga Champion ✅ Copa del Rey Quarter-Finalists (eliminated earlier) Champions League Final pending
Okay, not a treble. But La Liga + Champions League would be incredible.
May 28 - Final La Liga MatchBarcelona vs Real Betis - Camp Nou
The season finale. Barcelona celebrating their title. Fans partying.
Koeman rested his stars. Saved them for Istanbul. Ethan didn't even dress.
Barcelona won 3-1 with a rotated squad.
Season Statistics - La Liga 2022-23:
Ethan Loki - Age 23-24:
37 La Liga appearances 43 goals (New personal La Liga record) 16 assists Pichichi Trophy (Third consecutive) La Liga Champion (Third consecutive)
Forty-three goals in a single La Liga season. Only Messi (50 in 2011-12) and Ronaldo (48 in 2014-15) had scored more.
Ethan was rewriting Barcelona's record books.
June 1-9 - Champions League Final Preparation
Barcelona set up a training camp in Antalya, Turkey. Close to Istanbul. Acclimatize to the heat. Focus entirely on the final.
Koeman worked them hard. Tactical sessions. Set pieces. Pressing drills. Everything prepared meticulously.
"Manchester City are the best team in the world," Koeman told the squad. "Guardiola is a genius. Haaland is a machine. De Bruyne is world-class. But we have something they don't."
"What's that, Coach?" Pedri asked.
"Hunger. Desperation. Barcelona hasn't won this trophy since 2015. Eight years. You feel that weight. That hunger. City have never won it. They're nervous. We're desperate. Desperation beats nerves every time."
He looked at Ethan. "And we have the best player in the world. When it matters most, champions deliver."
June 8 - Pre-Final Press Conference
Ethan sat beside Koeman at the press conference in Istanbul. Hundreds of journalists from around the world.
"Ethan, you've scored fourteen Champions League goals this season. Are you feeling confident?"
"I feel ready. We're ready. This team has fought all season for this moment."
"You've won the Champions League twice before with Monaco. What would winning it with Barcelona mean?"
Ethan's expression became emotional. "Everything. Monaco made me who I am—I'll always love that club. But Barcelona is different. This is one of the biggest clubs in world football. They haven't won this trophy in eight years. Winning it for Barcelona, for these fans, for this city—it would be the pinnacle of my career so far."
"Manchester City have Haaland, who's scored 52 goals this season. How do you stop him?"
"You don't stop Haaland. You just try to stop his service. Cut off De Bruyne's passes. Press their defenders. Make it difficult for them to create. And at the other end, we have to be clinical. Score our chances."
"If you win, are you the favorite for the Ballon d'Or?"
"If we win the Champions League and I've had the season I've had—43 La Liga goals, potentially 15+ Champions League goals—then yes, I'd be the favorite. But that's not why I play. I play to win trophies. To bring joy to fans. To create memories. Individual awards are just consequences of team success."
June 9 - The Night Before
Ethan couldn't sleep. Too much adrenaline. Too much anticipation.
At 2 AM, he called Mbappé in Paris.
"Can't sleep either?" Mbappé answered immediately.
"Too nervous. Too excited."
"You're going to win tomorrow. I can feel it."
"How do you know?"
"Because you're Ethan Loki. Because you see three moves ahead. Because when it matters most, you deliver." Mbappé paused. "Remember when we were kids at Monaco? We promised each other we'd become the best in the world. You're living that promise tomorrow. Go win it."
"Thanks, brother. That means everything."
"Always. Now get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."
After hanging up, Ethan felt calmer. Ready.
Tomorrow, he'd play for Barcelona. For the fans. For history.
Tomorrow, he'd win the Champions League.
End of Chapter 44