Matthew's team had started the season on a high note, with several consecutive wins. But as the season progressed, Matthew began to struggle with his form. He was no longer scoring goals, and his speed and agility seemed to have deserted him.
At first, Matthew tried to brush it off, thinking that it was just a minor blip. But as the matches went by, his struggles continued. He was missing easy chances, and his teammates were starting to rely less on him.
Matthew was frustrated and worried. He had never experienced a slump in form before, and he didn't know how to get out of it. He started to doubt himself, wondering if he had lost his touch forever.
Alex, his coach, noticed Matthew's struggles and tried to offer words of encouragement. "You're just going through a rough patch, Matthew," Alex said. "You'll come out of it stronger than ever."