“I know I messed it up,” he said. “I’m sorry. I don’t?—”
“Apologies don’t make us safe,” Shaun cut in.
“Hey,” Javier barked. “I won’t have this. Adam’s right, no single player loses a game. Shaun, you’ve missed plenty of goals in your time. I don’t remember anyone in this room laying into you.”
Shaun reddened and sat down. He scowled across at Udo.
If the negativity had come from one person, Steven wouldn’t worry about containing it. Everyone knew Shaun could be a moody bastard. Unfortunately a few other players were glaring too.
They really didn’t need a split team.
“There’s no point in talking today,” Javier said. “Everyone get on the coach and calm down. On Monday we’ll go through this match. See where we need to improve. Remember, Jerzy scored, so we’re not going down yet. We can do this.”
They all dispersed. Steven went and sat next to Udo. The dirt from the pitch still daubed over his bronzed skin.
“It’s been a rough day for you,” Steven said.
Approaching his mid-thirties, this was Udo’s last chance at playing at topflight level. When the end of their career came in sight, it did strange things to footballers.
“Another one,” Udo said bitterly. “Shaun’s right. He should be able to expect more from a teammate.”
“Shaun is perfectly capable of giving you grief all on his own. You don’t have to help him.”
Steven glanced around. “Listen. I’d like you to come in early on Monday.”
Udo snapped to attention. “Why?”
“Relax. It’s nothing bad. I want to spend an hour with you each morning before the others show up.”
“Won’t that set me apart from them even more?”
Even more? So he’s definitely feeling it.
That saddened Steven. At Brockton FC they prided themselves on welcoming new players.
“They don’t need to know,” he said with a wink. “It’s nothing major. I want to talk tactics with you.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Absolutely not,” Steven replied.
It would not do to share Jamie’s threat. He took his job very seriously and often threw threats like that around. They rarely came to anything.
“Go and get showered,” he continued. “I’ll see you Monday.”
Udo nodded and got up.
“Thanks.”
Steven watched him walk away. Sometimes, a locker room could be the best place on earth when the team bagged a win. It could also be one of the harshest environments on the planet when things didn’t go their way.
He would absolutely turn Udo’s game around. He’d seen plenty of players struggle during his playing career. Now was his biggest chance to prove himself in management and Steven Cox had never shied away from a challenge.
TWO
UDO
The footpath snaked around a small hill before the view opened up to the whole valley. Udo stopped jogging and leant against a dry-stone wall. The sun was high and sweat soaked his top.
