“What about?”
“Udo hasn’t exactly set the grass on fire since he’s been with us. I can’t understand it.”
The thought had crossed Steven’s mind too. There had been a real buzz amongst the staff and supporters when they’d secured him. His stunning German features had featured in many advertising campaigns over the years. People thought they knew him.
Now, three months on and he’d only scored twice. Steven had lost count of the opportunities that he’d squandered.
“The lads won’t put up with it forever,” Steven said. “Shaun looked fit to rip his head off when he missed that goal.”
Shaun Riggs had always been about winning. Nothing else seemed to matter to him. It was a useful trait if directed properly. It might also result in yellow or even red cards when it wasn’t.
“Can you do some one-on-one work with Holtmann?” Javier asked.
Steven frowned. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Firstly, find out what the fuck is blocking him,” Javier replied. “Give him some tactics talk. You’re great at all that. Look at Colin and Edi. That’s down to the work you did with them last year.”
A flash of pride swelled in Steven’s chest. The team were remarkably open to his advice. He supposed having wins in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup gave him a special kind of kudos.
“It’s a good skill to have, Steven,” Javier added. Really hammering his point home.
Steven dreamt of managing a club himself one day. Learninghow to get through to such a variety of players would only stand him in good stead.
“Fine. Have it your way.”
Javier stood. “Good stuff. Now come on,” he said. “Let’s go and speak to them.”
Steven followed Javier out of the office and into the locker room. As usual the smell of sweat and the steam from the showers assaulted his senses. He never got used to it. Windowless rooms where greatness was formed or lost.
Yet something was wrong.
The players wandered around getting showered and dressed in silence. Usually banter ricocheted across the four walls. About someone’s latest girlfriend or car. Today nothing.
Udo had his head down and was still in his kit. Steven’s heart went out to him. The team meant everything and letting them down hurt. He’d been in that position enough times in his life to understand.
Javier clapped his hands together. The sign for everyone to congregate on the benches. Which they did.
“A draw is not a bad thing,” Javier began.
“Should have been a win,” Shaun replied.
A few stared at Udo, who hadn’t raised his head.
“All losses or draws should have been wins,” Javier continued. “But they weren’t. We’re not in the relegation zone yet, lads. The next few games have to be ours.”
There were murmurs around the room. Steven glanced nervously from one player to the other.
“If you guys aren’t a team, everything’s fucked,” Steven said. “We’ll work on passing and finishing this week. I want you to know what the other is going to do before they do.”
Shaun got up. “What’s the point if some of us are gonna throw it away?”
Before Javier or Steven had a chance to respond, Adam stood.
“That’s enough, Shaun,” he said. “We don’t do blame in here. You know that.”
“Yeah, I do, but for fuck’s sake. My kid would have scored that goal and he’s two.”
Finally, Udo looked up. He was ashen-faced.
