June 13th, 2026

On Saturday morning, while the children were still asleep, Julien joined a Teams meeting with his core staff. Assistant Manager Fritz Schmid, Director of Football Roger Stilz, Chief Scout Nnamdi Aghanya, Head of Youth Development Mario Gilli, and Loan Manager Renato Fusco all connected. The main objective of the meeting was to review the squad and decide whose contracts should be extended and whose should not. The discussion began with Stilz announcing that Amiens, who had finished 10th in Ligue 2, had submitted a £54,000 offer for Jésah Ayessa. The staff quickly agreed to accept the bid.

Stilz continued. He announced that Albert Vallci had accepted an offer from Anderlecht, adding £1.1 million to St. Gallen's transfer budget. Furthermore, offloading both Vallci and Ayessa had a positive impact on the payroll, instantly freeing up a combined £12,000 per week in the wage budget.

Right at that moment, Nnamdi Aghanya spoke up. He calmly reported on a phone call he had received the previous evening: AC Bellinzona, who had finished 6th in the Swiss Challenge League, had offered him their vacant manager position. Julien and Roger Stilz almost fell off their chairs. While they were aware of some interest, neither expected an approach this quickly. The news brought mixed emotions to the call. On one hand, everyone was thrilled for their colleague’s great career opportunity—Aghanya had been a loyal servant to St. Gallen since 2013. On the other hand, Julien knew they were losing an incredibly knowledgeable specialist, though the club would at least be due £130,000 in compensation. One by one, the screen filled with smiles as the entire staff congratulated Nnamdi on his well-deserved breakthrough into management.

The meeting continued with a review of the club's financial situation. While Vallci's sale left St. Gallen in a comfortable position, a quick calculation of incoming player salaries against the departures revealed they would be overspending by roughly £10,000 to £12,000 per week. To fix this, they decided to adjust the budgets by moving £2 million from the £4.02 million transfer budget to the wage budget to secure their long-term financial stability.

Next, the staff evaluated the players whose contracts would expire by the end of the 2026/27 season at the latest. It had already been decided that Probst and Höhener would leave the club this summer, while Becker has been put up for sale, and Efekele would be sent out on loan. Shqiprim Vladi's loan deal would not be extended, meaning he would return to Lugano. Meanwhile, Fehr, Ambrosius, Faber, Stanić, Fazliji, Witzig, Gaal, Watkowiak, and Boukhalfa would all be invited to contract renewal talks early next week. Aside from the five departures, the club aimed to extend contracts with everyone entering their final year.

Finally, they reviewed the players whose contracts ran until the end of the 2027/28 season. Ayessa was close to joining Amiens, and Simone Giordano was transfer listed earlier. Albian Ajeti had already signed his permanent contract, ensuring his future with St. Gallen, while Aliou Baldé would return to Nice. Renewing Chima Okoroji, Hugo Vandermersch, Behar Neziri, and Lukas Daschner was a priority, with talks scheduled for early next week, whereas Vinni Triboulet’s future would only be decided at the end of next season. On the recommendation of Loan Manager Renato Fusco, Julien agreed to give Kevin Csoboth a chance during pre-season following his return from loan, though the French manager remained unconvinced that the Hungarian winger had a future in his squad. The biggest question mark remained the club captain, Lukas Görtler. He would turn 32 on Monday and be 34 by the time his current deal expired. Despite his immense popularity among fans, players, and staff, extending his contract right now made no financial sense. Julien decided to speak with him face-to-face on Monday about his future.

"That concludes today's meeting," Julien announced, before asking Mario Gilli to stay on the call for a minute. "Wait, I have one last surprise for you," Aghanya interrupted. "I know how disappointed you all were when we missed out on Gbamin, so as a parting gift, I found you a new central defender." He presented a scouting report for 34-year-old Stefan de Vrij. "You're funny, Nnamdi," Julien smiled, looking at the Dutchman's £115,000-a-week wage demand, before wishing him the best of luck in his new managerial career.

Gilli stayed on the call. Outside of football, he owned a small pub in St. Gallen. Julien asked him if he could gather the staff there tomorrow evening for burgers and beers to give the chief scout a proper send-off. Mario was always happy to do so. Since Julien was also traveling to Switzerland on Sunday evening, he welcomed the plan; it meant he wouldn't have to spend his first night alone in that large, empty apartment.

Julien was sitting in the living room, when the front door opened. Laura had secretly organized an early birthday celebration for him, bringing together the family to give him a proper send-off. Walking through the door was Julien’s sister, Léa. The surprise deepened when Léa announced her plans: Laura asked her to travel with Julien to Switzerland the next day. Working in an art gallery, she volunteered to spend her week off helping to design and set up the new apartment in St. Gallen. The joyful atmosphere, however, took a turn when Laura’s brother, Paul, arrived. Paul immediately began pushing Julien to "strike while the iron is hot," urging him to leverage the recent Brack Super League championship title to secure a more lucrative contract at a bigger club. Julien refused to even consider the thought. Arguments flared up, voices were raised, and an uncomfortable disagreement temporarily ruined the afternoon mood before Paul finally backed down.

Fortunately, Laura saved the afternoon with his favorite dish Bouillabaisse, packed with fresh Mediterranean fish and a homemade birthday cake.

As the afternoon rolled on, the family gathered around the table for a long board game session. While the dice rolled, Julien looked across the table and noticed asome sadness in his children's eyes. Sunday's farewell was clearly weighing on them, turning their laughter into quiet smiles.

A sudden realization struck his mind as he went to sleep. Pre-season training was starting in less than 48 hours, yet the club had not scheduled a single friendly so far. He sent an SMS to Assistant Manager Fritz Schmid: "Fritz, sorry for the hour. We have zero friendlies locked in for the schedule. We absolutely must resolve this first thing tomorrow morning."

At this moment I've hit continue and a day has passed. See you on:

June 14th, 2026

Laura pinned a note to the fridge for Camille and Louis before they left, she drove Julien and Léa to the Charles de Gaulle airport. They just had a short goodbye before Laura had to leave. Julien watched her car pull away turning toward the security gates with Léa.

They were both reading on the flight to Zürich, but Julien stopped for a moment. "Mario Gilli is hosting a farewell to a colleague tonight" Julien told his sister  "Just a few close staff at his pub in town. You should come." Léa looked up from her book. "I’d love to. It’s better than sitting in an empty flat."

They took the train from Zürich Airport to Gossau, caught a taxi, and arrived at the apartment around one o'clock. "Well, this is it," Julien said. "I have two beds ready, and we can eat at that table." He pointed to the garden table with four chairs sitting in the middle of the dining room. Their footsteps echoed through the flat. "Julien, this is beautiful," Léa said. "Don't worry about the furniture, that's why I'm here." They ordered pizza for lunch and ate it straight out of the cardboard boxes.

After lunch, Julien cleaned the cardboard boxes off the garden table and unlocked his phone. A few new scout reports filled his inbox, forwarded by the recruitment team. He skimmed through them quickly, dismissing most because of high transfer fees or wage demands that St. Gallen simply could not afford. However a notification from Elena Meçe, the club's press officer, made him stop. It was official. Bellinzona had just released the formal press announcement. Nnamdyi Aghanya was their new manager. Julien locked the screen and tossed the phone onto the plastic table. 

Before Julien could stand up, his phone buzzed on the table. The screen showed Fritz Schmid’s name.

Julien answered, putting the call on speaker. “Hey, about your message from yesterday. I've planned something” he started

"I was thinking we should book a match for the very first weekend, we need to make sure the boys don’t get bored with just fitness training. They need to play, and they need to play a lot."

 Julien leaned over the garden table. "Agreed, but I don’t want a meaningless kickabout. At the same time, let’s not pick an opponent that is too big a bite for the opening week." 

They debated names for a few minutes, filtering through regional options and Swiss lower-league sides. 

"Stade Lausanne-Ouchy," Julien said. "They just finished third in the Challenge League. It’s a proper test but manageable."

"At home?"  Schmid asked. 

"Yes. We start the preparation at home."

The conversation with Fritz Schmid lasted nearly forty-five minutes. They went back and forth over dates, travel logistics, and squad rotation before finalising the summer schedule. The plan was built to gradually increase the intensity:

• June 20: Stade Lausanne-Ouchy (Home) – A solid opening test against the side that finished third in the Challenge League.
• June 28: Stade Nyonnais (Away) – A short break from the training camp to build match fitness.
• July 4: Neuchâtel Xamax (Away) – A trip to face the newly promoted Super League side. Julien would already be away on his family holiday.
• July 8: Grasshoppers (Home) – A mid-week fixture at Kybunpark against a recently relegated giant looking to prove a point.
• July 11: Red Bull Salzburg (Home) – A test against European regulars.

Neither of them was entirely sure when their first Champions League qualifying round would take place. They decided to wait for the draw, to finalise their plans.

"We leave the rest open for now," Julien said. "Let's talk again once the draw is out."

“Tonight at Gilli's” Schmid asked.

“Yes, 6PM sharp”

They hung up, and Schmid started to organise the matches.

The phone rang again. It was Sebastian Rickenbacher from The Swiss Football Free Press.

"Nnamdyi spent thirteen years building the scouting foundations of this club. He earned this opportunity, and we respect his decision. We wish him nothing but the best in the Challenge League." Replied Julien, and he hoped that was it for today.

Fritz Schmid did not waste time. By late afternoon, he had already worked through the contacts and booked all the friendlies. Julien checked his phone one last time before leaving the flat. A series of short confirmation emails sat in his inbox. Every invited club had accepted the proposal for the friendly fixtures.

Julien grabbed his jacket and nodded to his sister. It was time.

On the train  from Gossau to St. Gallen, Julien checked the  World Cup news. Lawrence Ati-Zigi played in Ghana's opening group match against Qatar at the Estadio Monterrey.

Ghana secured a 3–1 victory, and Ati-Zigi delivered a solid performance.

By 6:00 PM, the usual staff had gathered at Gilli’s Pub & Bar.  The pub belonged to Mario Gilli, the club's head of youth development, whose family had run the place for generations.

The core of St. Gallen’s staff was there. Mario Gilli, Fritz Schmid, Elena Meçe, Pascal Zuberbühler, first-team coach Alain Meyer, loan manager Renato Fusco, and U18 manager Nicolas Lüchinger were already settled in. Léa sat next to Julien. Nnamdyi Aghanya sat at the head of the table, raising a glass as the Gauthiers walked in.

The evening ended in heavy drinking and lot of football talk. By midnight, the entire table was drunk. Julien called an Uber to take him and Léa back to Gossau.

Inside the quiet car, Léa leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, looking out at the passing streetlights. "Elena likes you," she said, her voice slightly slurred. "My brother has an admirer, that’s for sure." Julien didn't say a word.

When the Uber dropped them off in Gossau, they they went straight to sleep.

"My God, how am I going to get up tomorrow?"

At this moment I've hit continue and a day has passed. See you on:

June 15th, 2026

Julien woke up with a headache. He took the train from Gossau to St. Gallen. The journey took only a few minutes. 

He bumped into Jan Breitenmoser, the technical director, by the coffee machine. 

"This coffee is still absolute shit," Julien said, rubbing his temples as they walked toward his office.

"We need to replace Nnamdyi," Breitenmoser said, cutting straight to business.

"Let's see if we have anyone in-house we can promote to chief scout." Julien leaned against his desk. 

"Honestly, Kei Tamura would be the logical choice. But he just signed with us. It wouldn't be fair to the scouts who have been here for years, but I expected we'd talk about it" Breitenmoser replied, opening a profile on his laptop. "So I did some homework. Haris Louris. Currently at Reggiana. He has seventeen years of experience, worked in several countries, and his knowledge base is incredibly broad."

Julien looked at the screen. The 38-year-old Greek scout had stints at Torino, Norwich, and Trabzonspor. His scouting network covered England, Italy, Germany, and France. He looked exactly what St. Gallen. They reached an agreement quickly. As soon as Breitenmoser stepped out of the office, he mobilised his contacts. Before the morning was over, St. Gallen had already submitted an official contract offer to Louris.

Before the morning training session, Julien had a meeting with Lukas Görtler. They spoke for a long time. Julien was completely honest with him.

"Look Lukas, a few new players are arriving this year, but you remain our captain, our highest-paid player, and our most important asset," Julien said, leaning back in his chair. "We are talking to a lot of players today about the future. Some will get new contracts. But Lukas, you will be thirty-four by the time your current deal expires in two years. We might only discuss an extension closer to that date. Do you have a problem with that?"

Görtler leaned back and shrugged. "Thanks, boss. As long as I'm playing, I don't care about that. Who knows what the next two years will bring. Maybe I won't be able to, or won't want to play at this level anymore. I just ask you to tell me when I'm no longer needed."

They shook hands, and then the real work began. Roger Stilz arrived at the office, and the players started coming in one by one. They scheduled strict thirty-minute meetings with each of them. Fehr, Ambrosius, Stanić, Fazliji, Witzig, van der Gaal, Watkowiak, Boukhalfa, Vandermersch, and Daschner all signed their new contracts. The renewals added a combined £3,050 per week to the club's total wage bill. However, negotiations failed with three players.

Julien stayed in the office with Stilz to discuss the remaining three names. Konrad Faber was the easiest case. The German wing-back had just returned from a loan spell at Dynamo Dresden, where the team finished dead last in the 2. Bundesliga. Despite the relegation, Faber refused to back down on his squad status. He demanded to become an "Important Player," but in his position, Vandermersch was the number one choice. Julien put Fritz Schmid on speakerphone.They refused to lie to a player about guaranteed minutes just to force a signature. Faber was placed on the transfer list immediately. With only one year left on his contract, St. Gallen needed to sell him now before losing him for nothing next summer.

Chima Okoroji’s situation was similar, but it required a different approach. He had been the first-choice left-back, but the arrival of Mads Pedersen meant Okoroji’s playing time would likely drop. He also demanded guarantees that Julien could not provide. However, unlike Faber, Okoroji’s contract ran until 2028. Julien and Stilz decided not to rush a sale. They decided to keep him as cover and re-evaluate his situation at the end of next season.

The final meeting was with Behar Neziri. The negotiations collapsed quickly over his wage demands, as the two sides remained too far apart. Julien and Stilz decided not to force the issue immediately. Neziri was a young talent with time on his side, so they chose to pause the talks and planned to restart contract talks in a few weeks. 

"This was easier than I expected," Stilz said, closing his briefcase.

"Yes, but we probably overstretched the wage budget," Julien replied. He rubbed the back of his neck, the hangover finally fading. "Can you run the scouting department until we find Nnamdyi’s replacement?"

"Of course," Stilz nodded. "I know... we need a right-back to compete with Vandermersch. I’ll handle it."

Stilz had barely stepped out of the office when the corridor rumors began to circulate. Julien was back at the coffee machine when his phone rand.

The DoF called him. Behar Neziri was clearly furious about the morning’s failed contract discussions. Instead of letting the situation sit for a few weeks, the young Albanian midfielder took immediate action and sacked his agent, Manfred Bär. Neziri wanted a deal with St. Gallen, and he blamed his representative for the breakdown.

In the afternoon another notification arrived from Roger Stilz. Jésah Ayessa had agreed terms to leave the club and return to France, signing with Ligue 2 side Amiens SC. He had been a fringe player in the title-winning squad.

Before leaving the facility, Julien met with Fritz Schmid to review the squad's daily training metrics and begin basic preparations for the weekend friendly against Stade Lausanne-Ouchy. They did not dive as deeply into the data as they would for a league fixture, but a report from performance analyst Jonas Maier highlighted something interesting.

The Challenge League side shoot often last season, but these were mostly low qualities.

"They manage more shots on target per match than the league average," Schmid noted, pointing at the analytical scatter plot on the monitor. "But their average chance quality is worse than most teams. They take low-quality shots from distance."

"We pack the box and force them wide," Julien said, shutting down his computer. 

At this point I've hit continue, and a day has passed, see you on:

But before that, as mentioned earlier, I ve added the Austrian league:

This time we will look a few days ahead

June 16th, 2026

On Tuesday morning, they were still eating breakfast at the same plastic table they had used for Sunday's lunch.

"I wasn’t resting while you were working yesterday," Léa said, pulling out her tablet. "I already showed this to Laura. Look, if you like it, I’ll start ordering the furniture, and I’ll finish both kids' rooms by tomorrow."

She turned the screen toward him, showing the visual plan of the living room and the kitchen.  Julien had a sip of his coffee and nodded. "Get it done. It looks like a home."

Shortly after breakfast, an email arrived from Roger Stilz. For the first time in weeks, a scouting report actually caught Julien’s attention. 

Lassine Sinayoko had been a squad player for Auxerre, who just finished fifth in Ligue 1. Julien liked the profile of the 26-year-old Mali international, who had already earned thirty caps for his country. If they could pull off the transfer, Sinayoko would fight for the starting spot on the right wing with Fabio Fehr. On the left, Tiamoko Ouattara and Christian Witzig would compete for the role, leaving Kevin Csoboth as the versatile third option capable of covering either flank during injuries or suspensions. Julien asked the DoF to contact his agent straight away.

However, the representative demanded an immediate "Star Player" status for his client, a condition Julien refused to meet. The negotiation collapsed before it could even start. Sinayoko was moved to the primary shortlist instead. Julien and Roger agreed to step away for now and try again once his contract officially expired at the end of the month.

Tuesday’s training session could not have gone any worse. Head physio Stephan Oberli brought the bad news right after the squad left the pitch.

Lukas Daschner had suffered a groin strain after twisting sharply during a possession drill. The medical staff estimated a recovery time of two to three weeks, meaning the German attacking midfielder would miss the training camp.

Later that evening, there was a World Cup match at a reasonable hour. Julien and his core staff ended up back at Gilli’s Pub, with Léa joining them once again.

They watched France face Italy over a few drinks. Didier Deschamps' side secured a tight 1–0 victory, decided by an Ousmane Dembélé goal. Right after the final whistle, everyone headed straight home.

June 17th, 2026

Léa finished the digital renderings for Camille and Louis’s bedrooms right after breakfast. Julien reviewed the layout on her tablet. The designs looked great.

"Perfect," Julien said.

Roger Stilz sent an urgent notification regarding the academy setup. Four lower-league Swiss clubs—SC Binningen, FC La Tour/Le Pâquier, FC Châtel-St-Denis, and FC Unterstrass—have offered a contract to seventeen-year-old youth striker Jonas Nushi. His youth contract was set to expire at the end of the month.

Julien called Mario Gilli.

"Nushi has real talent," the head of youth development said over the phone. "We shouldn't let him walk away." Based on Gilli’s assessment, Julien instructed Stilz to counter the interest. St. Gallen also offered a contract to keep him at the club.

The UEFA Champions League Champions Path second qualifying round draw took place later that afternoon.

St. Gallen learned their European campaign would officially begin on July 21st. The draw paired them against the winner of the first qualifying round tie between Northern Irish side Coleraine and Lithuanian champions Žalgiris. 

"Manageable," Julien said, staring at the official UEFA confirmation sheet on his desk.

When Julien arrived home on Wednesday evening, his phone rang again. Laura and the children were on the screen, calling from Le Havre to wish him a happy forty-sixth birthday. Camille and Louis took turns showing him their final school projects. Before they hung up, Julien mentioned the apartment progress. "Léa is almost completely finished with the design" he said. It was the best part of the day.

June 18th, 2026

When Julien woke up on Thursday morning, he reached straight for his phone on the floor. He had been too exhausted to stay up for the late-night (or early morning) World Cup match. The screen showed a disappointing result. Switzerland had lost 2–1 to Germany in their group stage match. The German's opened the scoring in the 5th minute, and though Miro Muheim managed to equalise from the penalty spot in the 64th, a late 88th-minute strike meant Germany won 2-1. Julien locked his phone, stood up from his mattress, and headed to the kitchen to have a coffee. “I'd need a proper bed” he told Léa. They laughed.

The headline of the day arrived in Julien's inbox before the morning training session began. Haris Louris had agreed to terms to become St. Gallen's new Chief Scout. The Greek scout rejected a renewal offer from Reggiana to make the move.

At this moment I've hit continue and a day has passed. See you on:

(we will play this on Thursday)

Today we reach Monday, June 22.

June 19th, 2026

On Friday morning, Léa showed Julien the finalized interior designs of the apartment. "Laura and the kids will be at her parents' house tomorrow," Léa said, packing her tablet into her bag. "I’m going to stop by Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse for a couple of days too before heading back to Lyon. I always like staying with the Morels." She paused, "I forgot to give you this on Wednesday. It was meant for your birthday."

 She handed Julien a photograph of their parents, smiling together during their last holiday in Nice back in 2019. "I never thought it would be their last one," Léa whispered.  "Thank you. I’m taking this to my office. It will always be on my desk." Léa picked up her luggage, Julien drove her to the train station before he went to Kybunpark.

Julien and Fritz Schmid met early to finalise the line-up for the opening pre-season friendly against Stade Lausanne-Ouchy. The starting eleven was pinned to the dressing room noticeboard before the players arrived. Lots of subs at half-time. Julien added to the bottom of the sheet.

Later that morning, the squad for the upcoming pre-season training camp in Monthey was finalized. There was very little debate between Julien and Schmid regarding the selections. The criteria remained simple: every healthy player who had not yet agreed to terms with a new club was included. Youth team midfielders Marko Starčević and Nevio Scherrer were called up to gain first-team experience. The injured Lukas Daschner, along with summer signings Gaetano Castrovilli, Marcus Mathisen, and Mads Pedersen will join later.

The staff and the squad shared lunch together in the club canteen before heading out for a light afternoon training session. After the training session, Julien stopped by Gilli's Pub later that evening with goalkeeping coach Pascal Zuberbühler. They spent the hour looking over the World Cup standings and debating the prospects of both France and Switzerland. "I think we will win it," Julien said, pointing to the Group G table on his phone. "Anything less than the semi-finals is a complete failure for this squad. We started well against Italy—our toughest group opponent. It wasn't smooth, but we got the three points. That victory should secure us the top spot in the group."

"Easy for you to say," Gilli laughed, wiping down the counter. "France is a serious contender, but Switzerland shouldn't have any issues either." Julien glanced at the Group J standings on the screen. Switzerland sat third after their defeat to Germany, with Algeria leading the pack. "Absolutely," Zuberbühler added, leaning over his beer. "We almost snatched a point against the Germans. There is no way we drop points against Jordan and Algeria. With a bit of luck in the knockout draws, this Swiss team can reach the quarter-finals." Julien nodded, finishing his drink. The tournament was a welcome distraction, but his mind was already shifting toward the morning and the reality of the pre-season match.

"What do you think about Lawrence's chances?" Gilli asked, nodding toward the Group F standings.

"They started well," Julien said.

"Yes, and Lawrence made some crucial saves," Zuberbühler added. "But I don't know. That group is incredibly tough."

"True," Gilli agreed. "Portugal and Croatia are still the clear favourites of this group."

Julien stared at the screen, watching Ghana sit level at the top with Portugal after the first round. "If Lawrence shuts up shop against the Croats..." he muttered quietly.

"To Lawrence," they cheered, clinking their glasses together before finishing their drinks and heading home.

June 20th, 2026

Matchday at Kybunpark, St. Gallen

The match itself was complete trash. It was probably the most boring football match ever played on Earth Carlo Boukhalfa scored in the 92nd minute to seal the win.

"An incredibly boring match," Julien said in the dressing room after the final whistle. "We struggled to create, and we should have scored more. Maybe we shouldn't have played this game at all."

"At least nobody on our side got injured, That’s the only positive from the opening week."

Julien thanked the players for their physical effort, told them to forget the performance, and gave the entire squad Sunday off to rest.

When Julien arrived home after the match, an email from Roger Stilz was waiting in his inbox. SG Dynamo Dresden activated the release clause for Konrad Faber, submitting a formal bid of £300K. When the German wing-back refused to sign his contract extension he was transfer listed anyway, so everyone was happy. Then Julien kept reading the mail. Faber wasn't interested in joining Dresden permanenly so now they have to wait.

In the afternoon, Julien tried to call Laura from the flat, but they could barely hold a proper conversation. The line was noisy, and the kids were shouting in the background. Laura, Camille, and Louis were already on the road to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse to stay with the Morel grandparents.

"I'll call you once we arrive," Laura said before they hung up. Julien tossed his phone onto the mattress.

Later that night, Julien sat alone in the flat to watch Ghana face Croatia in their second World Cup group match. To everyone's surprise, the Africans took the initiative early on. The match went into half-time at 0–0; Ati-Zigi had very little to do, but he handled his few interventions with absolute confidence. In the 63rd minute, Mohammed Kudus broke the deadlock to give Ghana the lead, and the midfielder struck again in the 93rd minute to make it 2–0. Ati-Zigi finished the match as one of Ghana's standout performers. With six points from two games, his country qualified for the Round of 32 regardless of the final group stage results. Julien was genuinely happy for his goalkeeper, but he held his head in his hands. He knew what this meant. A Swiss league title followed by a clean-sheet masterclass at the World Cup would inevitably draw attention from the Top 5 European leagues.

He opened his phone and sent a message to Roger Stilz: Start drawing up a list of alternative goalkeepers. Just in case.

At this moment I've hit continue and a couple of days have passed. See you on:

June 22nd, 2026

The previous afternoon, Julien finally managed to speak with Laura and the children. They discussed the details of the upcoming trip to Como; Laura and Julien would travel there, while Louis and Camille would attend a summer camp in Bordeaux. During the video call, Julien showed the family around the apartment once more. Camille seemed to have accepted the move, liking the designs for her room that Léa had prepared. Louis and his father talked about the World Cup matches. Despite not being a skilled football player himself, the young boy was highly interested in the games. In the evening, Julien watched France play against Nigeria, a match that secured France's qualification from the group stage.

The previous evening, Julien received the match reports on Stade Nyonnais from Jonas Maier. On Monday, he began analyzing them with Fritz Schmid. The first notable detail was that the upcoming opponent was one of the teams that attempted the most headers and had the highest heading accuracy in the Swiss second division. They decided to prepare the players to keep the ball on the ground, avoid forcing set-pieces, and concede as few of these opportunities to the opponent as possible.

The second notable statistic was that Stade Nyonnais had a very high tackle success rate. To counter this, they decided to place the tactical emphasis on quicker passing sequences and shorter individual ball retention.

Roger Stilz, the Director of Football, replaced Schmid in Julien's office. They sat down at the negotiation table again with Behar Neziri, who had fired his agent a week prior because he could not reach an agreement on a contract extension with St. Gallen. The negotiations did not proceed any easier with the new agent. Playing time remained the central point of contention. They demanded an important player status, whereas Julien only intended to offer a regular player role. Ultimately, Julien convinced himself that he needed the 23-year-old Albanian international, who had appeared in every match during the previous season. Furthermore, Neziri had been one of the lowest-paid players in the squad; his new salary of £4,000 per week almost doubled his previous earnings. They finally signed a new contract running until 2029.

While reading the Swiss sports portals, a piece of news caught his eye. Thun, who had been relegated in last place, appointed Dennis Hediger as their new manager. Julien reflected on this for a moment. He had no prior managerial experience either when he started, and Aghanya, who was appointed by Bellinzona the previous week, had spent 13 years as chief scout at St. Gallen. He thought about how much more courageously teams here turn to rookie managers compared to anywhere else he had worked before.

In the early evening, Switzerland played their World Cup match against Jordan. The coaching staff and the players watched the game together in the video room at the Kybunpark. 

Christian Witzig, who had suffered a severe lower leg fracture during a tackle in the final match against Luzern, also attended. He arrived on crutches, having missed out on the final World Cup squad despite being named in the preliminary selection. The frustration was visible on his face; he had been in the form of his life at the end of the season. Julien pulled him aside for a brief conversation. He told Witzig that at twenty-five, time was still on his side, and his immediate focus had to remain entirely on his rehabilitation with the specialist. Julien emphasized that the team needed him fully recovered for the upcoming Champions League qualifiers, as his return would be crucial for the squad. 

Goals from Andi Zeqiri in the 74th minute and Nico Elvedi in the 79th minute secured the three points, allowing them to look ahead to the final group stage match against Algeria with confidence. After the match, Julien got into his car and drove back to the Gossau apartment, which still echoed with emptiness.

At this moment I've hit continue and a day has passsed. See you on:

June 23rd, 2026

On Tuesday morning, Julien met with Renato Fusco to evaluate the loan players returning in a week and determine their plans for the upcoming season. Out of the ten players on loan, some had already been discussed briefly, but it was time to focus entirely on their future roles.

They began with the goalkeepers. In the case of Bela Dumrath, who was returning from a loan spell at German lower-league side Stuttgarter Kickers, they quickly established that the 22-year-old was not at the level required for the first team. As a result, he was placed on the transfer list.

The situation was different for Gentrit Muslija, who had spent the season as the starting goalkeeper at Wil, a side relegated in last place from the second division. Both men knew the 20-year-old was close to first-team quality, but Julien maintained that keeping him on the bench would be a mistake.

"It is not fair to Watkowiak either," Julien said, leaning back. "He covered for Ati-Zigi in four competitive matches last season and kept three clean sheets. He earned his place as number two, and he just signed a new contract with us"

"Muslija played through a difficult relegation battle and held his ground. We should integrate him now, let him challenge Zigi. He needs to feel the pressure of the top tier here, under your eyes."

"He needs ninety minutes every weekend, Renato, not the bench," Julien countered. "A young goalkeeper stops developing the moment he sits down. We loan him to a club where he plays."

"Fine," Fusco said, his voice tightening. "But that means we must sign a third-choice keeper. You already refused to extend Höhener’s contract because you do not value his quality. Now Muslija is too good to keep, so you send him away again."

Julien understood Fusco’s frustration. The loan manager had found the perfect loan deal twelve months ago to trigger the player's development. Now, despite proving his capability, the hierarchy of the squad left no room for the academy product.

Next on the list was Tarik Seferovic. The 19-year-old Bosnian Under-21 international defender had spent his loan spell at Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy, making 12 appearances as the club narrowly missed out on promotion from the second division. Seferovic had two years remaining on his contract with St. Gallen. Julien and Fusco agreed to send him out on loan for another season, though neither man anticipated a long-term future for the player at the club.

There was one more defender left on the list, Konrad Faber. The club had wanted to extend his contract, but negotiations had broken down because Faber demanded an important player status. Julien refused to grant it, knowing the player would never reach that level in this squad. He was currently on the transfer list, and Dynamo Dresden had already submitted an official bid for him.

"If he rejects them, I think you should try to convince him to accept a squad player role," Fusco noted.

"Yes, I have considered that," Julien replied. "But I am definitely not giving in to his demands. We will see what happens with Dresden first, then we figure out our next move."

Four central midfielders were among the loan players. The 23-year-old Edis Bytyqi had played alongside Muslija at Wil, making 28 appearances, while 18-year-old Jan Schultes had played in a lower division for Rorschach-Goldach. Both had contracts running until 2027, but Fusco and Gauthier agreed that keeping them would be pointless. Both players were placed on the transfer list.

The remaining two central midfielders were 18-year-old Bosnian Under-21 international Benjamin Kadiric and 19-year-old Nino Weibel. Both had spent the season playing in the Swiss lower divisions and held contracts running until 2028. Julien was particularly impressed with Kadiric’s performance, but recognized that the midfielder would receive limited playing time at St. Gallen under the current circumstances. They agreed to try to loan both players to second-division clubs for the upcoming campaign.

Two wingers remained for the end. Kevin Csoboth, a 26-time Hungarian international whom Renato Fusco had been trying to pitch to Julien for a while, and 21-year-old Enoch Owusu, who spent the previous season at Stade Lausanne-Ouchy. Now that they were less occupied with the immediate demands of the first team, Julien found himself increasingly impressed by the Hungarian international's profile.

"He is quick and dribbles well," Julien said. "He is genuinely going to get a chance. I will watch him closely over the summer."

"Yes!" Fusco said, triumphantly clenching his fist.

"Owusu, however, we send out on loan for another year, and then we decide next season," Julien added.

"He only has one year remaining on his contract, Julien," Fusco countered.

"Even so. In his case, I think we should wait it out."

With that, they concluded the meeting.

"Thank you, Renato, I think we will be strong again next season," Julien said.

"Just think about Muslija again," Fusco replied as he left.

Julien grabbed a coffee, and his next meeting began immediately after with Stephan Oberli, the head physio. Lukas Daschner would likely be able to join the team for the second half of the pre-season training camp. Christian Witzig, however, still faced nearly two months on the sidelines. It would take a full month before he could even begin light movements without the ball.

They did not have to wait long for Konrad Faber's decision. He rejected the offer from Dynamo Dresden. Julien immediately asked Stilz to try and convince the player to accept their original proposal, though Julien did not attend the meeting himself this time. The Director of Football later notified him via message that Faber refused to sign under those conditions.

"That is that, then," Julien said.

By that afternoon, the player found himself training with the Under-21 squad.

Julien rushed home after the training sessions. In the late afternoon, the first pieces of furniture ordered by Léa arrived. Slowly, the apartment began to resemble a home, or at least it now had a sofa and a proper dining table. A proper bed would be the next necessity. In the evening, he turned on the television but fell asleep during the late match, missing the biggest upset of the World Cup so far: 

Thomas Christiansen's Panama defeated Lionel Scaloni's Argentina one-nil in Houston.

At this moment I've hit continue and a couple of days have passed. See you on:

June 25th, 2026

The previous day passed without incident. After the afternoon training sessions, Julien, Gilli, Alain Meyer, Zuberbühler, and Schmid headed straight toward Gilli’s Pub. Their new Greek Chief Scout, Haris Louris, joined them for the first time. Gilli stayed away from the bar counter tonight; a bartender served the drinks, which were a necessity in the 35-degree heat. Zuberbühler looked over at Julien. After defeating Italy, France had comfortably beaten Nigeria as well, making their group victory almost guaranteed ahead of the final match against New Zealand.

"We told you it’s easy for you," Zuberbühler said. "You are massive favourites."

Louris cut in immediately, showing how quickly he had integrated into the group. "It is easy for all of you here. My national team did not even qualify."

The comment triggered a round of old anecdotes about Greece’s Euro 2004 triumph. Zuberbühler, who had been the starting goalkeeper for the Swiss side that finished dead last in their group with a single point during that exact tournament, chose to stay out of the conversation.

"But returning to the actual chances," Julien said, shifting the topic back to the World Cup. "I said it last time, and I am saying it again. France is going to win this World Cup."

Julien then shifted the conversation toward the Swiss national team. "But Switzerland looked confident against Jordan too. Algeria is almost guaranteed to win the group now, especially after that surprise two-one win over Germany."

"That is exactly our luck," Schmid said, finishing his drink. "Christian would easily fit into that squad," he added, referring to the injured Witzig. Schmid then excused himself and left; he was the oldest in the group and never lingered late.

"We are better than you think, Fritz!" Gilli called out after him. "I think we can easily reach the quarter-finals."

"With a bit of luck, it’s possible," Zuberbühler added.

Louris leaned forward over the table. "You would need to beat Algeria for that, and then you could even win the group. But if the team just plays for a draw to secure the four points and qualification, the knockout phase will be hell."

"I agree, we have to win," Meyer added, gesturing to the bartender for another round. "And what do you think about Ati-Zigi and Ghana?"

Zuberbühler took the floor immediately. "He completely shut up shop against the Croats. I think his performance was brilliant. Ghana is already guaranteed at least second place. If they avoid defeat against Portugal, they go through as group winners."

"We can be proud of him, I am fully rooting for him," Julien said.

"But you are also worried," Louris noted, leaning in. "I heard from Roger that we are actively looking for a goalkeeper."

The comment caught everyone at the table off guard.

"Don't get me wrong," Julien explained, looking at his staff. "I have no intention of replacing Lawrence. But I wouldn’t be surprised if top-five league clubs start sniffing around after the tournament."

"What about Argentina against Panama?" Gilli asked, throwing the latest headline into the mix.

They debated the biggest upset of the World Cup so far, finished their drinks, and headed home.

Back at the flat, Julien turned on the television for the 9:00 PM kickoff between Mexico and Chile. The South Americans secured a tight 3–2 victory in an open, attacking display. With Cameroon defeating Austria in the other fixture, the result confirmed that one of the tournament hosts was officially knocked out, finishing dead last in their group. Julien shut off the TV and went to bed.

Roger Stilz, the Director of Football, sent a scouting report on Thursday morning. Severin Ottiger, the Luzern right-back, had appeared on their radar multiple times, and Julien had already noted his profile near the end of the season. The 23-year-old Swiss defender was a product of Luzern's youth academy, establishing himself as a first-team regular over the past four years despite his young age. While he would not start ahead of Vandermersch at St. Gallen, Julien needed a reliable option to cover the position. Julien instructed Stilz to initiate contact with Luzern, and the Director of Football submitted an official bid of £550,000 for the right-back.

Luzern accepted the offer almost immediately, and Stilz reached an agreement with the player's agent that very afternoon. Ottiger would hold an Impact Sub status within the squad and earn £4,800 per week, provided he signs the contract offer running until 2028.

The remainder of the day passed quietly. Julien went to bed early at home and set his alarm for 3:45 AM, when Lawrence Ati-Zigi would be in goal for the Ghana national team against Portugal.

At this moment I've hit continue and a day has passed. See you on:

June 26th, 2026

The alarm went off at 3:45 AM. Julien woke up early in his flat to watch the match between Ghana and Portugal. In a major upset, the African side secured a stunning 4–3 victory over the European heavyweights. 

Despite conceding three goals, Lawrence Ati-Zigi was one of the best players on the pitch for his team. He put on a heroic performance, saving 15 out of 18 shots on target, playing a big part in Ghana's victory.

The squad gathered at Kybunpark at 10:00 AM before departing for the pre-season training camp in Monthey. Everyone looked sleepy. The players kept talking about the Ghana match on the bus, asking each other, "Did you see Zigi?" They were proud of their teammate's performance. 

In a positive turn of events, Lukas Daschner received clearance to travel with the team, with medical staff projecting he could resume full training sessions in five days. During the journey, Laura called Julien. They discussed her upcoming travel plans for Sunday, when she would leave her parents' house in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse to join Julien, after spending a few days there with Léa and the children. Their conversation shifted toward their reunion and the details of their upcoming holiday at Lake Como. Upon arrival in Monthey, the team completed a light afternoon training session, followed by a squad dinner. In the evening, the group gathered to watch France's World Cup fixture against New Zealand. Theo Hernández scored the opening goal in the first minute, but the match offered zero entertainment after that. In what was widely considered the worst game of the World Cup so far, France secured a boring 1–0 victory, guaranteeing the top spot in their group with a perfect record of nine points.

At this moment I've hit continue and a couple of days have passed. See you on:

June 28th, 2026

Matchday at Centre sportif de Colovray

The previous day focused heavily on physical conditioning drills. Between the afternoon training sessions, Julien and Schmid finalized the starting lineup for the friendly match against Stade Nyonnais. Lawrence Ati-Zigi remained at the World Cup, Lukas Daschner and Christian Witzig were sidelined with injuries, and the new signings could not feature until July 1st. Julien fielded the strongest available team under the circumstances, while planning for a lot of substitutions during the match to give most of the players a run.  Julien instructed the squad not to play for set pieces, to keep the ball in play whenever possible, and to completely avoid high balls.

In the evening, the players and the coaching staff gathered to watch the decisive World Cup group match between Switzerland and Algeria. The Swiss team controlled the tempo from the kickoff, but a late first-half penalty converted by Ramy Bensebaini in the 44th minute allowed Algeria to take an unexpected lead, temporarily pushing Switzerland down to third place in the live group standings. The Swiss side maintained their dominance in the second half, with Roméo Beney equalizing in the 49th minute. Beney struck again in the 57th minute after an assist from Noah Okafor to turn the scoreline around before the “hydration break”. The 2–1 victory created a complex three-way tie with three teams finishing on six points in the group. 

(In a separate post, we will review all the World Cup groups and see how the knockout rounds are shaping up.)

The Sunday morning routine was interrupted by a call from Elena Meçe, the club's press officer, who wanted to prepare Julien for potential media questions. The Belgian league runners-up and fellow Champions League qualifiers, Royal Antwerp, had shown strong interest in Alessandro Vogt, with rumors suggesting they were ready to offer £2.8 million.

Julien immediately spoke with the 21-year-old striker to clarify the situation before the afternoon friendly. Despite his young age, Vogt was already entering his fifth season with St. Gallen.

"Alessandro, have you seen the press this morning? Antwerp is seriously looking at you, and the media claims they are preparing a bid. I need to know your stance on this," Julien asked directly. "You are my absolute first-choice striker for this project, and I am building this attack around you."

Vogt looked completely calm and shook his head. "Yes, Boss, I heard about it from my agent, but you don't need to worry. The offer does not interest me at all. I love playing for St. Gallen, we are champions, and I have no intention of leaving."

Shortly after the Antwerp rumors, Roger Stilz approached Julien with another transfer update. The French third-division side Rodez AF had submitted a loan offer for Malamine Efekele.

Julien shook his head. "Reject it, Roger," Julien said without hesitation. "First, if Malamine goes on loan, it needs to be at a higher level than the French third tier to actually aid his development. Second, I have an idea. I think I’ve found his place in our squad for this season. We'll discuss it during tomorrow's meeting"

Before the friendly against Stade Nyonnais, Julien spoke to the players in the dressing room. He stated that despite the lack of competitive stakes, he expected a victory, and these summer pre-season matches were a crucial opportunity for everyone to prove their worth. There was no reason to alter the tactical plans; the starting lineup finalized the previous afternoon took the pitch.

As the teams walked out, Julien heard familiar voices calling his name from directly behind the dugout. Laura, the Morel grandparents, and Paul had traveled to the match. Nyon was only a two-hour drive from their mountain home in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. The children, Camille and Louis, were already in Lyon staying with Léa, preparing for a summer camp in Bordeaux where they could say a proper farewell to their friends before the permanent move to St. Gallen. Julien walked over to the stands for a brief conversation with the family, holding his wife in a long hug before the referee blew the opening whistle.

The match against Stade Nyonnais started quietly. The breakthrough came in the 12th minute when Tiemoko Ouattara suddenly shifted gears on the left flank, cut deep into the penalty box, and delivered a low cross to Carlo Boukhalfa, who timed his run perfectly to tap the ball into the net from close range. Stade Nyonnais struggled to respond, but the rhythm of the game remained flat. In the 31st minute, Alessandro Vogt received a long pass, he drove into the final third, and fired a clinical strike into the back of the net. However, the assistant referee immediately raised the flag for offside, and the goal was disallowed.A few minutes later Hugo Vandermersch found Malamine Efekele with a throw-in on the right. The young French winger controlled the ball and immediately swept a cross into the center of the box toward Boukhalfa, who directed a sharp header into the net from seven yards out to double the lead.

At half-time, Julien made the planned changes, introducing Albian Ajeti, Vinni Triboulet, Fabio Fehr, Betim Fazliji, and Jozo Štanić. Early in the second half, the Stade Nyonnais defenders were passing the ball slowly in their own half. Triboulet broke their passing line, intercepted a pass, and drove directly into the penalty box, but his shot went straight into the goalkeeper's hands. The match remained under control until the 68th minute when Carlo Boukhalfa cut into the box from the right flank and was brought down by a defender. The entire St. Gallen bench stood up as the German midfielder hit the ground in pain, but the medical staff quickly confirmed it was nothing serious. Lukas Görtler, who had entered the pitch just minutes before, stepped up and converted the penalty to make it 3–0.

In the dressing room, Julien praised the squad for their discipline and performance. The players received a free evening, while Julien joined his family for dinner at a local restaurant, ordering an authentic Swiss fondue. The dinner passed in a relaxed atmosphere; even Jean-Pierre withheld his usual cynicism toward Julien's career choices. After the meal, the Morel grandparents and Paul began their two-hour drive back to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. Laura stayed behind at the team hotel. The logistics for the upcoming short holiday were set; Julien and Laura were scheduled to depart for Lecco on Tuesday morning.

At this moment I've hit continue and a day has passed. See you on:

The 2026 World Cup in the Gauthier Universe

And now, as promised, a look at how the 2026 World Cup is unfolding in Julien Gauthier’s world. Just as the football community experiences tournament fever and participates in prediction leagues with friends and colleagues, Julien and his staff frequently stay up late into the night to watch the matches and debate the potential outcomes. St. Gallen's first choice goalkeeper is competing on the global stage, Switzerland is actively participating, Julien naturally follows France, and the club squad contains several German players. Many members of the squad and the staff have direct personal ties to this tournament, leading to constant banter and arguments during the late-night viewings about whose nation will lift the trophy.

In Group A, Mexico crashed out in last place in a huge upset. After 2 rounds they had 3 points; a draw would have been enough against Chile, but the South American side managed to win 3–2.

Canada's elimination in Group B cannot be called a surprise, since Serbia, Uruguay, and Sweden all represent greater footballing quality, but they had no luck. Against the Serbians they managed to equalize once, but the South Slavs scored the winning goal in the final minutes, and against the Swedes they even led 1–0.

Group C was complete form book. Brazil finished with 100%, Iran with 0 points, while Ivory Coast and England decided the fate of 2nd place between themselves.

In Group D, the United States advanced confidently, ensuring one host nation will be in the knockout stage. 

In Group E, Spain, Egypt, Peru, and the Dominican Republic mirrored the standings of Group C. 

Group F completely turned everything upside down. Cristiano Ronaldo retired before the World Cup, leaving the Portuguese to line up without him. Thanks in part to Ati-Zigi's brilliant performances, Ghana finished as group winners, but that was not the biggest surprise in the group. Qatar defeated Croatia 2–0, finishing in 3rd place and advancing.

In Group G, everyone won the match where they were the favorites. France finished with 9 points, Italy with 6, Nigeria with 3, and New Zealand with 0 points. This group was a bettor's dream. 

In Group H, the Netherlands and Jamaica advanced easily. Senegal and Uzbekistan could have both advanced if either of them had won their head-to-head match in the final round, but they could not beat each other, drawing 1–1 and thus both crashing out. 

From Group I, Colombia and Morocco advanced ahead of Australia and Ireland.

In Group J, Jordan finished with 0 points and was eliminated, while the other 3 teams beat each other in a circle, meaning Algeria, Germany, and Switzerland all advanced with 6 points. 

The biggest surprise of the group stage came in Group K. Scaloni did not take Lionel Messi to the World Cup, and the Argentinians lost to both Japan and Panama, only managing a draw against Ukraine. 

From Group L, Ecuador and Belgium advanced, while South Korea and Suriname can pack their bags.

With this, the field for the round of 32 is fully set. Let's look at how the knockout stage is shaping up. On the first bracket, even if it won't be easy, the highest probability is a Spain vs. England quarterfinal. Ati-Zigi and the Ghanaian national team will play against England for a place in the round of 16.

On the second bracket, the highest probability is that the winner of the Germany vs. Netherlands match will face France in the quarterfinals, though Belgium cannot be counted out either. One thing is certain: the entire squad will watch the Switzerland vs. France match live, whenever it takes place. Furthermore, the following round will not be easy here either, as the winner of this match will likely have to defeat an ecstatic United States team.

Out of the four, this bracket appears to be the most clear-cut. The winner of the Brazil vs. Portugal match has a massive opportunity to march all the way into the semifinals. With Morocco facing Egypt, an African nation is guaranteed a spot in the third round.

On the fourth bracket, an Italy quarterfinal appearance seems almost certain, but from the Uruguay, Nigeria, Japan, and Tunisia quartet, anyone besides the latter could make it there.

So this is where we stand. If Julien had to make a prediction, he would expect a Spain vs. France and a Brazil vs. Italy semifinal, with France defeating Italy in the final once again, just as they did in the group stage. But we will see. Before the semifinals, we will take another look at how the tournament has unfolded. After all, this is exactly why we love this game so much, isn't it? In a single match, the decisive ball can bounce anywhere. Anyone can become a hero, and anyone can beat anyone in a knockout game.

Who do you think will win this? And in real life?

We will continue the Gauthier Story tomorrow!

June 29th, 2026

Julien stood by the whiteboard, a black marker in hand on Monday's recruitment meeting. Around the table sat Fritz Schmid, Roger Stilz, Renato Fusco, Mario Gilli, and Haris Louris. 

"Gentlemen," he began. "Let's map out the squad matrix. Every position must have a clear hierarchy."He wrote GK on the top left of the board."Goalkeepers," 

Fritz Schmid tapped his pen. "Lawrence Ati-Zigi is our undisputed number one. Lukas Watkowiak just extended his contract; he is the perfect backup who accepts his role. But what about the third slot?"

"Gentrit Muslija has great potential," Renato Fusco added. "He cannot sit on the bench."

"Agreed," Julien said. "Muslija goes on loan to the Challenge League for regular minutes. Jordan Höhener’s contract expires in four days, and we will not renew it."

Julien turned to Mario Gilli. "Mario, do we have anyone in the Under-Twenty-Ones or Under-Nineteens ready to step up as the third choice?"

Gilli nodded, opening a player profile on his laptop. "We don't need to buy anyone, Julien. Janis Widmer is already with our U21 team. He is eighteen, Swiss, and ready for a professional step."

Julien moved down, writing DC on the board.

"Central defense is locked," Haris Louris reported. "Stephan Ambrosius, Jozo Štanić and Marcus Mathisen are going to fight for the 2 starting spots. Behind them, Tom Gaal is our fourth choice, a perfect 193cm tower for the final minutes. Albert Vallci was sold, and Dominik Becker is on the transfer list."

"Perfect," Julien nodded, writing LB and RB. "The fullbacks."

"On the left, Mads Pedersen’s free transfer is a major coup," Schmid said. "His perfectionist attitude and long throws give us an edge. Chima Okoroji will rotate with him. We are selling Simone Giordano."

"On the right," Roger Stilz intervened, "Hugo Vandermersch is the established starter. Severin Ottiger arrives from Luzern for 550,000 to be his backup. If a crisis hits, Štanić can shift to the right, and Fabio Fehr can cover the left-back slot. We are safe there."

Julien then wrote DM / CM / AM in a single row.

"This is the heart of our system," Julien said. "Gaetano Castrovilli arrives as a free agent on a twelve-thousand-a-week contract. He is our starting Attacking Midfielder. Lukas Daschner will be his high-quality rotation once he recovers from injury. In the deeper roles, we have Betim Fazliji, Carlo Boukhalfa, Lukas Görtler and Behar Neziri."

"What about the loan plans for Corsin Konietzke?" Fusco asked. "And the Luzern deal for Demir Xhemalija?"

"Luzern asked for more than our entire transfer budget," Julien stated. "The Xhemalija deal is dead. Therefore, Konietzke stays with the first team. He will learn directly behind Lukas Görtler."

Julien scratched his chin, then wrote AMR, AML, and ST on the  the board.

"Now, the wingers and the attack," Julien said, looking at Fusco. "Christian Witzig is our star on the left, with Tiemoko Ouattara as his direct backup. On the right, Fabio Fehr is ourstarter. Malamine Efekele stays as his rotation. We didn't extend Aliou Baldé's loan deal, so he is going back to Nice."

"Are you sure you don't want to move Fabio back to the right side of the defense?" Schmid asked."

Remember, Fritz, that was the plan late last year," Julien replied. "Then Aliou got injured, Fabio had to step in, and his performances made it impossible to drop him. We count on him as a winger."

Renato Fusco cleared his throat, leaning forward. "Julien, we are missing someone. Kevin Csoboth. He deserves his chance during pre-season. We can't just discard a national team winger."

Julien looked at his loan manager. "Renato, I wanted to give Kevin a chance. We both did. But he doesn't fit into our plans. Out of possession, we drop into a four-one-four-one often. The wingers must track back constantly. He will leave Vandermersch completely isolated on the right flank."

"He can adapt, Julien," Fusco argued. "His speed can save us in tight Champions League matches."

"Speed is useless if the defensive structure collapses," Julien replied calmly, drawing a circle around Vinni Triboulet’s name. “Look at Vinni. He is our third-choice striker behind Alessandro Vogt and Albian Ajeti. But he also plays comfortably on both the right and left wings. He accepts his backup role. If we keep Kevin and Vinni, one of them will spend the entire year in the stands.”

Fusco looked at the board, studying the lines connecting Triboulet to all three attacking positions. He slowly nodded, the tension leaving his shoulders. "You're right. Vinni is the universal backup. Keeping Kevin would just create frustration in the dressing room. It's better to sell him now while his value is high."

Julien walked over, putting a hand on Fusco’s shoulder. "We sell him to a club where he can actually play every week, Renato. It’s the best choice for him and for us."

Julien capped his marker and looked around the table. "Then we can agree that if Ottiger signs, with the arrivals of Ouattara, Pedersen, Mathisen, and Castrovilli, the squad looks ready for next season can't we? 

"I don't think Konietzke will get many opportunities behind Fazliji, Neziri, Boukhalfa, and Görtler," Schmid added. "I think you should reconsider this. And in my opinion, Efekele just does not reach the level we need here."

"You might be right about Konietzke, but if we loan him out, we have to think it through very carefully," Julien replied. "He needs to go to the right place where he will actually play. Efekele, however, is a completely different story. There is a reason he started yesterday. I wanted to test him because we cannot find anyone else for that position."

“What about Petar Pušić? ” Gilli asked."

We missed out on him," Stilz interrupted. "He signed for Bolton."

"I am more than happy to give this kid a chance," Julien said. "I believe he can be the future of this club."

"This all looks very good on paper, but you forgot one thing, Julien," Stilz said. "Montpellier, Sassuolo, and Atalanta are all heavily interested in Vogt. It is not certain at all we can keep him. And Ati-Zigi is outstanding at the World Cup."

"That is why we keep our eyes open on the market, focusing on these two positions," Julien replied. "But we will try our best to keep them here."

Once the afternoon training ended, the squad and the staff gathered in the complex's small lounge, they turned on the television to watch Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Ghana face England—one of the tournament favorites—in the World Cup knockout stage. Julien leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed, watching his number one goalkeeper on the screen while he was still thinking about Stilz's warnings about the transfer market. 

Just before kickoff, Alain Meyer walked over to Julien. 'We need to talk, Julien," Meyer said. “I accepted Schalke's offer. I will be their Head of Sports Science. I pack my bags tomorrow.” The words caught Julien completely off guard. Meyer was the first real friend he had made at St. Gallen. Early on, Julien had seriously considered naming him as his assistant manager. But when the opportunity arose, Fritz Schmid's immense experience was impossible to ignore, and Meyer had remained in his coaching role.

"Let's have a drink and talk after the match," Julien said, with disappointment in his voice.

Meyer only nodded quietly, then the game started.

Declan Rice had broken the deadlock in the 30th minute, and Marcus Rashford settled the tie in the 90th. Even Ati-Zigi’s heroics could not prevent it. Ghana was out, meaning the goalkeeper would report to the St. Gallen training camp next week.

The players slowly cleared the room, leaving Julien and Alain Meyer alone. Later that night, they sat in the quiet corner of the hotel bar. Julien ordered two beers.. They talked for an hour about Julien's first days in St. Gallen, and the Schalke contract. There was no anger, just the quiet acceptance of professional football. Meyer was leaving for Gelsenkirchen."

Julien finished packing his bags early morning. Laura was already waiting in their room. In the morning, they would leave in the Peugeot 5008 and begin the 300km drive south. It was the long-awaited vacation to Lecco, a five-day escape before their return on Saturday. Until then, the staff would handle the routine of the Monthey camp.

It turns out Julien isn't the only one going on holiday tomorrow, so I won't be posting for a few days. Thanks to everyone who is reading this story!

At this moment I've hit continue and went on holiday. See you on the 5th!

June 05, 2026

But first, let's see what's happened while Julien was away with Laura.

June 30th, 2026

The 300-kilometer drive south was behind them, and the tranquility of Lecco finally offered a brief pause. Yet, the reality of the upcoming season was already waiting in Julien's mailbox as soon as they checked into their room. He had discussed the club's expectations verbally with President Matthias Hüppi before leaving, so the official board overview brought no surprises.

Elena Meçe contacted him shortly after. A journalist from The Swiss Football Review, Loris Kurmann, wanted to ask a few questions regarding the transfer window, but Julien requested the press officer to reject all media inquiries for the rest of the week.

From this day on, Mads Pedersen and Tiemoko Ouattara officially became St. Gallen players. Pedersen arrived from FC Augsburg for a fee of £900K, while Ouattara, who had already been playing for St. Gallen on loan, finalized his permanent move from Servette FC for £220K.

The schedule for the Swiss Super League was also drawn on this day. St. Gallen was set to open the campaign at home against Sion on August 2nd, followed by fixtures against Lugano and Neuchâtel Xamax. The first major clash against Young Boys was scheduled for the fourth round, while the team would face Basel for the first time in the eleventh round. The regular season was set to conclude on April 11th with an away match against Lugano.

After arriving on Tuesday, they took some time to rest before spending the afternoon and evening exploring Lecco. They headed toward the Torre Viscontea, walking down to the Lungolago afterward with the finest gelato in their hands. They paused frequently, sitting on benches along the lakeside promenade to take in the scenery. For dinner, they found a restaurant by the water; Julien ordered filetto di manzo con salsa al gorgonzola (beef fillet with gorgonzola sauce), while Laura chose lasagne alla bolognese. They walked through the town a bit longer, eventually returning to the shore at night, completely captivated by the lake and the reflection of the city lights on the water.

July 01, 2026

On Wednesday, the club confirmed the arrivals of Gaetano Castrovilli and Marcus Mathisen. Alongside them, Robert Geller arrived from Karlsruher SC, a transfer that had been finalized before Julien's appointment, a player he had no plans for at all. The final addition was Martin Plata Garnica from Neuchâtel Xamax, who joined to strengthen the youth academy.

Later, Julien received unsettling news through Elena Meçe's reports. 1. FC Nürnberg had declared a strong interest in Alessandro Vogt, with a potential deal worth £2.3M. Fortunately, the young striker was reluctant to move to the 2. Bundesliga outfit, preferring to stay at St. Gallen to play continental football.

Then Roger Stilz got in touch. Clermont Foot had made an official offer of £115,000 for Dominik Becker, which could eventually rise to £150,000. Since the center-back was already on the transfer list, Julien replied with a single word: 'Sell!'

Julien and Laura had barely finished breakfast when Stilz got in touch again. Fortunately, Laura was still getting ready; Julien had promised strictly no football, but the transfer market did not stop. Sassuolo had made an official offer for Alessandro Vogt worth an initial £1.2M, potentially rising to £1.8M, and reports indicated that Alessandro would become unsettled if the club blocked the move. Julien, however, refused to lose his prodigy for that amount, valuing him much higher and truly intending to build St. Gallen around him. This time, he had to call Stilz. 'Demand five million,' Julien ordered. 'Let's see how serious their interest really is. However, Julien had overlooked the fact that it was a non-negotiable offer, which ultimately resulted in its automatic rejection.

Lukas Daschner resumed full training on this day, finally clearing his medical restrictions to join the rest of the squad on the pitch.

Severin Ottiger also finalized his signing with the club, but Julien received the confirmation while already aboard the lake boat from Lecco to Bellagio. Laura was beginning to realize that it was simply impossible to have her husband entirely to herself, even for a few days, but she was too captivated by the stunning scenery to complain or slide into a sullen mood.

In Bellagio, they walked along the promenade before stopping for espresso at an upscale cafe near the water. They took the small tourist train to navigate the steep, narrow mountain streets, then boarded another boat to continue their journey across the lake to Varenna.

In Varenna, they walked along the Lovers' Promenade (Passeggiata degli Innamorati) directly to the famous botanical garden of Villa Monastero. They returned along the same path, taking a boat back to Bellagio before heading back to Lecco. For dinner, they chose pizza, then they sat on a bench at the lakeshore, just like the previous evening.

July 02, 2026

The following morning, Charlton Athletic also submitted a bid for Vogt. It became increasingly clear that keeping the player would be an immense challenge. However, since the young Swiss forward showed no interest in this offer either, it was rejected with a light heart.

During the morning, Laura and Julien just relaxed, getting ready to head toward Como when terrible news arrived from the training camp. Mads Pedersen had suffered an injury in training. The injury meant the newly signed left-back would miss the entire summer pre-season and the opening matches of the campaign, sidelined for five to six weeks.

In the afternoon, they walked through the streets of Como, starting at the towering Duomo di Como and crossing the lively Piazza Duomo. They made their way toward the historic Basilica di San Fedele, before taking a stroll down to the lakeshore. Later, they rode the Brunate funicular up to the mountain village of Brunate, where they had dinner while taking in the stunning panoramic view of Como's evening lights below.

July 03, 2026

Matchday at Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel

On Friday, they traveled to Bergamo, where they were completely left in awe. They had seen beautiful places in their lives before—having visited Japan in the past, and more recently, Mont Saint-Michel, followed by the shores of Lake Como—but the Città Alta surpassed everything. They had lunch at Dai Gustosi, sitting among the centuries-old walls, and spent the rest of the day walking through the narrow cobblestone streets, thoroughly amazed. While the rest of Bergamo was equally beautiful, they lacked the time to explore it entirely. They wanted to return to Lecco for one last look at the sunset over the water.

Meanwhile, back in Switzerland, the squad played out a 1-1 draw against Neuchâtel Xamax in their third pre-season friendly, though the final score remained secondary to building match fitness. Betim Fazliji sustained a minor injury during the match, but the medical staff confirmed he would be able to return to full training within a few days.

July 04, 2026

On Saturday, following a quick breakfast and a final gelato, Julien and Laura headed back toward Gossau. Julien insisted on showing Laura the new apartment himself, as his wife had only seen it in photos. He spent the night there with her before departing for the Monthey training camp the following morning.

July 05, 2026

Julien arrived at the training camp late in the afternoon. He had wanted to wait until the children returned from Bordeaux with Léa, but their timelines crossed, and they missed each other. Julien shared the highlights of his trip, while Schmid and Stilz provided their own updates on the week's events. The main topic of conversation quickly became the highly anticipated World Cup round of sixteen match, where France comfortably defeated Switzerland 4-2, with Kylian Mbappé dominating the pitch.

The rest of the day passed without anything else to mention.

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