7 Chapter 7

I was still full of adrenaline after the great victory against Manchester United. We celebrated a little on the field and took some photos with the fans, but we needed to get back to reality and focus on the next game.

I took the players to the locker room and we started talking about the match. "Congratulations to everyone, you played with a lot of tenacity and determination. But we're not going to be bragging for too long, we have more games ahead and we need to keep that fighting spirit in every game."

I praised some players in particular, such as Peter Enckelman, who had an amazing game and received the Man of the Match award. "Peter, you were incredible today. Those two saves you made were decisive for our victory. Keep it up and you will go far."

But I also made sure to bring the players down a notch so they wouldn't get too arrogant. "We can't get too comfortable with this win. We still have a lot of work to do and we need to maintain our focus and determination in every game."

After the talk in the locker room, I left with Peter Enckelman towards the press room. I knew I would have to face the press and answer questions about the game. But for now, I was still savoring the victory and feeling very happy with my team's performance.

When we arrived at the press room, I noticed that there was a separate compartment for me, while Peter Enckelman was taken to the area reserved for players. I was a little nervous but ready to face the press questions.

A reporter from The Guardian newspaper was the first to approach me. "Congratulations on the win, coach. What was the key to this important victory against Manchester United?"

"Thank you," I replied. "It was a great victory for us, but the credit goes to the players. They played with a lot of grit and determination throughout the ninety minutes, and deserved the win."

Another reporter, this time from the Daily Mirror newspaper, asked, "You must be very pleased with Peter Enckelman's performance today. He was instrumental in the victory, wasn't he?"

"Yes, Peter had a great game today. He made some spectacular saves and helped us maintain the result. But I don't want to individualize the win. It was a collective effort, and all the players contributed to the victory."

A BBC Sport reporter asked, "Are you excited about the future of Aston Villa after this win?"

"Definitely," I replied. "This was just one game, but it's an important win against a great team. We still have a lot of work to do, but this victory gives us a lot of confidence for the next games."

The interview continued for a few more minutes, with questions about tactics, strategy, and individual player performance. I tried to answer all the questions as best I could, and left the press room with a sense of accomplishment.

...

Peter Enckelman, the Aston Villa goalkeeper, was ecstatic after putting in an excellent performance in the match against Manchester United. He had just received the Man of the Match award and was being interviewed by The Sun, one of the largest newspapers in the UK.

The Sun reporter introduced himself and began asking Peter about the match. However, before getting into the game itself, the interviewer made a point of mentioning Peter Enckelman's unfortunate performance in the match against Birmingham City, in the 6th round of the Premier League, in the 02/03 season.

"Peter, before we begin, I have to say I'm surprised to see you making two sensational saves today, considering how horrible your performance was in the match against Birmingham City last season. Do you remember that?"

Peter, still smiling with the award in his hand, shook his head and replied, "Yes, of course, I remember it. It was a bad night for me, but I learned from it and moved on."

The Sun interviewer didn't seem satisfied with Peter's answer and continued to question him about that game. But Peter didn't let it get to him and answered calmly and elegantly, showing that he was focused only on his great performance that day.

"Yes, I know I made a mistake that night, but as I said, that's part of football. I worked hard to improve since then, and today was proof of that. I'm happy to have helped Aston Villa secure the victory and to have done my part."

The Sun interviewer seemed to finally give up trying to destabilize Peter and shifted the interview's focus to talk about his great performance in the game against Manchester United. Peter Enckelman spoke passionately about his love for football and how he felt on the field that day. The interview ended with a smile on Peter's face.

...

Doug Ellis, Aston Villa's president, was ecstatic after the new interim coach of the club's first game, which had achieved a surprising victory against Manchester United by 1-0 at Villa Park. Although it was only a victory, the team's performance was remarkable and indicated great potential for the future.

As he watched the game from the presidential box, Ellis could hardly believe what he was seeing. The team was organized, aggressive, and united, playing with an intensity that he hadn't seen in a long time. The defense was solid, the midfield controlled the game, and the attack created dangerous chances.

After the festivities and interview, Ellis went down to the dressing room to congratulate the coach and players for their exceptional performance. He knew that this victory didn't mean that Aston Villa was back to the top of English football, but it was an important step in the right direction.

Ellis knew that there was still much work to be done for Aston Villa to compete regularly with the best teams in England, but he was confident that the new interim coach would be able to lead the club into a new era of success. For him, the future looked promising, and he was eager to see what else was to come.

...

I sit at my desk with a hot cup of coffee in my hand and a pile of reports and analyses in front of me. They are information collected by the Analyst about Southampton, our next opponent. I am carefully studying every detail of their style of play, trying to find any advantage we can exploit.

From what I can see, Southampton uses a 4-4-2 tactical system and prefers a more direct style of play, looking to launch the ball forward and take advantage of their attackers' speed. They also have a strong midfield that likes to press and recover the ball quickly.

Based on this information, I begin to develop a plan for our next away game. We need to prepare well to deal with the pressure in midfield while exploiting their defensive weaknesses. I'll have to work hard with the players during training to ensure we are ready to face Southampton.

As I continue to study the reports, I take another sip of my coffee. There is still much work to be done, but I am confident that we will be able to come up with a winning plan and bring the three points home.

After my players arrive on the field and do their stretches, I gather them in front of me and start talking to them: "In two days, we have an important game against Southampton. I hope we come back home with the three points, and I don't want to see complacency during training."

I observe my players during practice, monitoring their performance on each play and movement. Some players stand out for their skill and dedication, like Peter Enckelman, the goalkeeper who has been training with great determination. I feel that he is ready to show his best performance in the game against Southampton.

Other players are also standing out, such as the young Peter Crouch, who has demonstrated excellent teamwork and finishing skills. And I cannot fail to mention Gareth Barry, who is leading the team with his strong character and on-field abilities.

Although I feel confident in these players, I cannot let complacency set in the team. We need to maintain focus and discipline, train with intensity, and respect our opponents. It is essential that we prepare well for the game and that each player gives their best.

I continue to monitor my players carefully, observing each movement and thinking of strategies for the game against Southampton. With confidence in our performance and good planning, I am sure we can achieve victory.