Post Game
The room was packed with journalists, all eager to dissect the game and get Rose's thoughts on the defeat. As Rose took his seat, the questions began to fly.
"Coach Rose, what do you think went wrong tonight?" a journalist from Kicker asked.
Rose took a deep breath before answering. "First of all, we have to give credit to Ajax. They came with a game plan and executed it well, especially in the first half. We were too slow to react, too passive in our pressing, and we made some uncharacteristic errors that cost us dearly."
He paused, then continued, "That being said, I'm proud of how the team fought back in the second half. We showed character and determination to get back into the game. Unfortunately, we couldn't complete the comeback."
Another journalist, this time from Sky Sports, chimed in. "Coach, we noticed a brief but heated exchange between you and Luka Zorić during the latter stages of the game. Can you tell us what that was about?"
Rose's expression tightened slightly at the question. He knew this was coming, but it didn't make it any easier to address. "Look, Luka is a young player with an incredible amount of talent and passion. We've all seen what he's capable of this season. In just 16 games across all competitions, he's scored 12 goals and provided 16 assists. Like, wow, these numbers speak for themselves, he's special."
Rose paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "But with that talent and passion comes a lot of emotion. In the heat of the moment, when we're chasing the game, sometimes that emotion can spill over. What you saw was a young player desperate to make a difference, to change the course of the game."
A journalist from Bild pressed further. "But coach, it seemed like Zorić was disagreeing with your tactical instructions. How do you handle that kind of situation?"
Rose's jaw tightened slightly. "Look, tactical disagreements can happen. It's part of the game. Players on the pitch sometimes see things differently than we do on the sideline. But it's crucial to maintain respect and discipline, even in the most intense moments of a match."
He leaned forward, his tone becoming more serious. "While I appreciate Luka's desire to influence the game, the manner in which he expressed his frustration was not acceptable. It's disrespectful to the coaching staff and can be disruptive to the team's focus. We'll have a conversation about this privately."
Another journalist jumped in. "Do you think this incident will affect Zorić's playing time or his relationship with the team?"
Rose shook his head firmly. "Absolutely not. Luka is an integral part of this team, and one heated moment doesn't change that. He's young, he's learning, and part of our job as coaches is to guide players through these moments. We'll use this as a learning experience."
He then added, "What's important is how players respond to these situations. Luka has always shown a great attitude in training and a willingness to learn. I have no doubt he'll take this in stride and come back stronger."
A reporter from ESPN then asked, "Coach, given Zorić's impressive stats and his impact on the team, do you feel pressure to give him more playing time or to build the team's tactics around him?"
Rose considered the question carefully before responding. "We're always evaluating how to best utilize our players' strengths. Luka has certainly made a strong case for himself with his performances. But football is a team sport, and our tactics are designed to bring out the best in all eleven players on the pitch, not just one."
He continued, "That said, Luka's versatility and creativity give us a lot of tactical options. His ability to create chances and score goals all the while moving from different areas of the pitch is a valuable asset."
As the press conference wound down, a final question came from a local Dortmund newspaper. "Coach, looking ahead, how do you plan to bounce back from this defeat, and what role do you see Zorić playing in the team's recovery?"
Rose straightened up, a determined look in his eyes. "We'll do what we always do - analyze the game, learn from our mistakes, and work hard to improve. This defeat hurts, but it's also an opportunity to grow stronger as a team."
Regarding Luka, Rose added, "As for Luka, I expect him to respond the way he always has - with determination and a desire to improve. He's a special talent, and I have no doubt he'll play a crucial role in our upcoming matches. But more importantly, I expect him to show leadership by how he bounces back from this."
Rose concluded the press conference with a message to the fans: "To our supporters, I want to say thank you for your unwavering support tonight. We heard you throughout the match, even when we were down. We'll work tirelessly to make you proud in our next outing."
<>
As Luka entered the locker room, the frustration and anger that had been building throughout the match finally boiled over. He threw his towel forcefully at his locker, the soft thud doing little to alleviate his pent-up emotions. The room fell silent as his teammates watched him slump onto the bench, his head in his hands.
Luka sat there, his mind replaying every missed opportunity, every misplaced pass, every moment where he felt he could have done more. The silence in the locker room was deafening, broken only by the occasional shuffle of feet or the sound of equipment being packed away.
Jude sensing his friend's distress, made his way over to Luka's locker. He sat down next to him, close enough to offer support but not so close as to invade Luka's space.
"Tough night, mate," Jude said softly.
Luka didn't respond immediately, but Jude could see his shoulders tensing, then relaxing as he took a deep breath.
"Yeah," Luka finally muttered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Tough doesn't even begin to cover it."
Jude nodded, understanding the weight of Luka's words. "Look, we all have nights like this. It's part of the game. What matters is how we bounce back."
Luka lifted his head, his eyes meeting Jude's. There was no anger there, just a deep, gut-wrenching disappointment. "I know," he said. "It's just frustrating to lose."
Jude put a hand on Luka's shoulder. "But you didn't give up. That second half... man, you were everywhere. That assist for my goal, the chances you created... that's the Luka we know."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Luka's face, but it quickly faded. "Thanks, Jude. I just... I feel like I let the team down."
"You didn't," Jude said firmly. "We win as a team, we lose as a team. And we'll bounce back as a team."
Luka nodded, grateful for his friend's words. He was about to respond when the locker room door opened, and Rose walked in.
The room fell silent once again as Rose made his way towards Luka, who tensed, knowing what was coming.
"Luka," Rose said, his voice firm but not unkind. "We need to talk about what happened out there."
Luka nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He could feel the eyes of his teammates on him, and he wished he could just disappear.
Rose took a deep breath before continuing. "I understand you were frustrated. We all were. But what happened out there... that can't happen again. Do you understand?"
Luka nodded again, his jaw clenched. He knew Rose was probably right, but a part of him still felt justified in his actions.
Rose continued, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. "When I give instructions from the sideline, I expect them to be followed. It's not about stifling your creativity or passion, it's about working together as a team. Your reaction was disrespectful, not just to me, but to your teammates as well."
Luka sat there, listening but not really hearing. In his mind, all he had done was express his frustration in the heat of the moment. Five- six- seven words maybe? that's all he had said. Yet here was Rose, talking as if he had committed some grave offense.
"I know you're young, and you're still learning," Rose continued. "But part of being a professional is learning to control your emotions, even in the most difficult moments. We can't have outbursts like that on the pitch."
As Rose spoke, Luka found his mind wandering. He thought about the chances he had created, the passes he had made, the runs he had tirelessly made up and down the pitch. He thought about the frustration of seeing his teammates miss opportunities, of feeling the game slip away despite his best efforts.
"Luka, are you listening?" Rose's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Yes, coach," Luka replied automatically, his voice devoid of emotion.
Rose sighed, sensing that his words weren't really getting through. "Look, Luka, I'm not saying this to punish you. I'm saying this because I care about your development, both as a player and as a person. You have incredible talent, but talent alone isn't enough at this level. You need discipline, you need to be able to work within my system, even when things aren't going your way."
Luka nodded again, wanting nothing more than for this conversation to be over. He understood what Rose was saying, somewhat, but in his heart, he felt that his passion, his desire to win, shouldn't be something he had to apologize for.
"I want you to think about this," Rose said, his tone softening slightly. "Think about how you can channel that frustration, that passion, into your game without letting it affect your decision-making or your interactions with the coaching staff. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes, coach," Luka replied automatically.
Rose nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Good. We'll talk more about this tomorrow. For now, get some rest. We have a lot of work to do to prepare for our next match."
As Rose walked away, Luka remained seated. He knew Rose probably meant well, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being treated unfairly. All he wanted was to help the team win, to make a difference on the pitch. Was that really so wrong?
Jude, who had remained silent throughout Rose's lecture, gave Luka's shoulder a supportive squeeze. "Hey, don't let it get to you too much, alright? Rose is just doing his job. He sees your potential, same as all of us do."
Luka managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Jude. I just... I need some time to process all this."
As the locker room slowly emptied, Luka remained seated, lost in thought. He replayed the match in his mind, analyzing every decision, every touch of the ball.