September brought a different vibe—more relaxed, yet still demanding. The team had started to move with a newfound understanding that was missing in August. Their patterns were sharper, distances more precise, and the frantic improvisation of those early matches had transformed into something much more intentional.
The draw at Camp Nou lingered in the background rather than dominating their thoughts. Laurence made sure of that. When they returned to the island, families and journalists were waiting at arrivals, but he kept his players focused.
"We haven't achieved anything yet," he reminded them once they were back in the dressing room. "Respect every opponent. It's points, not praise, that will take us to the top."
They took it in. The atmosphere wasn't one of celebration; it was grounded.
Their first challenge ahead was the second leg of the Europa League playoff against Rapid Wien. Tenerife had secured a solid 2–0 lead from the first leg in Austria—thanks to Griezmann's neat finish and Quaresma's clever curler—but Laurence wasn't about to let anyone treat the return match as a formality.
He made a few adjustments, resting Neymar and giving Joel a start alongside the regulars. The message was clear: finish the job.
The match itself wasn't a spectacle, but Tenerife managed it with a confidence that pleased the coaching staff. Casemiro and Kikoto worked well together, shutting down transitions before they could become threats. Luna kept the defensive line steady, Koulibaly attacked aerial duels with determination, and De Vrij slotted in comfortably on the left of the back three, reading passes like a pro.
Rapid Wien tried to ramp up the pressure early in the second half, pushing their midfield higher, but Tenerife remained patient. They moved the ball around, spread it wide, and reset when necessary. Aragoneses hardly had to step in.
The breakthrough came from a detail they had practiced over and over during training. In the seventy-third minute, Tenerife executed a clever short corner routine. Quaresma played a backward pass, pulling Rapid's defenders out of position, and Joel sent a curling ball toward the far post. Bony leaped up, powerfully heading the ball past the keeper, having outjumped his marker.
Bony had followed the game plan, and Laurence responded with a quick thumbs-up before turning to Victor to discuss the next defensive setup.
The match wrapped up smoothly. Tenerife didn't push for more goals; they kept their rhythm and let the clock run down. The final whistle confirmed what everyone already sensed: a solid 1–0 victory, a 3–0 aggregate, and Tenerife had made it to the Europa League group stage for the first time ever. This achievement meant a lot to the club, even if Laurence kept his face expressionless.
Next up was the league match at home against Granada. The island's weather was thick with humidity, making players' shirts cling to them and slowing down the early pace of the game.
The stadium was packed, with supporters buzzing with fresh hopes thanks to Tenerife's recent form. But Laurence's mind was still on the tactical session from three days prior. He had drilled the midfield hard on quick release passes—receive, turn, outlet—before Granada could tighten their grip on the central lanes.
The match played out almost exactly as he had envisioned.
Neymar, back in the starting lineup, showcased a different aspect of his game. His trademark speed was still there, but he was more selective about when to use it. He often drifted inside to create overloads, connecting smoothly with Kikoto, who was having one of his best matches of the month.
When Neymar found himself under pressure, he didn't go for a flashy dribble. Instead, he nudged the ball to the side, sped into the next lane, and drew defenders with him.
Granada held their ground well in the first twenty minutes, keeping their formation tight, but Tenerife slowly started to exploit the gaps.
Quaresma became the key player on the right—receiving the ball wide, cutting in, and delivering passes just quickly enough to keep Granada's full-back on edge.
The first goal came in the thirty-first minute after a sequence that stretched the play from one sideline to the other. Casemiro made a sharp switch to Grimaldo, who advanced before slipping it to Quaresma. Instead of charging forward, Quaresma executed a clever backheel into Neymar's path, who then shifted the ball onto his right foot and calmly slotted it low past the keeper.
It was a straightforward finish, but the movement leading up to it showed a maturity that Laurence appreciated, especially from the 18 year old. Neymar acknowledged the crowd with a wave but kept the celebration low-key; he jogged back, giving Quaresma a friendly tap on the shoulder.
The second goal highlighted Tenerife's fluidity even more. Cancelo sprinted down the right, drawing two defenders. He played it inside to Kikoto, who quickly turned it toward Casemiro. The ball went wide again to Grimaldo, whose first-time cross sliced through Granada's box. Griezmann read the play perfectly, gliding into the space and sweeping the ball low into the far corner.
Laurence was in high spirits, celebrating with his coaching staff after the match.
The second half was all about control. Granada attempted to push forward, but Tenerife's pressing game quickly reminded them that mistakes could be costly.
Casemiro was on fire, intercepting two dangerous passes, while Neymar effortlessly slipped through the lines, and Bony consistently held up the ball to ease the pressure. The match wrapped up with a 2–0 victory, another clean sheet, and Tenerife continued their ascent up the table.
As the month came to a close, they faced an away game against Osasuna. The difference from the Granada match was striking. Pamplona welcomed them with a biting cold breeze and a packed, noisy stadium.
Osasuna came out swinging from the first whistle, challenging every touch. Laurence had seen this coming in advance and set up his midfield accordingly.
Kante teamed up with Casemiro—two players who thrived in duels. They tackled the early challenges head-on. Casemiro intercepted Herrera twice, stopping counterattacks before they could even start, while Kante covered ground with his usual tenacity, cutting off passing lanes and forcing Osasuna to play wide.
Tenerife didn't dominate possession, nor did they aim to. Laurence's system was all about efficiency—recover the ball, make one or two clean passes, and then move forward quickly.
Neymar delivered the standout moment of quality in the first half when he drifted into a central pocket, let the ball roll across his body, and sent Bony through with a clever pass that slipped between two defenders.
Bony's shot was saved, but that chance shifted the match's momentum. Osasuna's defense started to track Neymar more closely, which opened up small spaces for Griezmann to exploit.
The deciding moment eventually arrived from the right flank. Cancelo, patient until then, finally broke forward at pace after receiving from De Vrij. His overlapping run pulled Osasuna's left-back out of position. He whipped in a cross that deflected off a defender, altering its flight. Bony reacted quickest, muscling through a challenge and bundling the ball over the line.
It was enough to seal the match.
The final twenty minutes demanded concentration. Osasuna sent long balls into the box, but Koulibaly cleared repeatedly, and Joel—subbed in late—handled his aerial duels with composure beyond his years. Aragoneses made one firm save from a late header, and Tenerife closed out the match intelligently.
The whistle blew. A 1–0 win in difficult conditions. Three more points.
Laurence didn't ask for more. The rhythm suited him. The team was growing, step by steady step, into something capable of handling whatever the season would bring.