Luciana and the players gather around with the substitute players and myself.

Captain Isabella break the silence first. “The have two players on me, I can’t touch the ball without them breathing down my neck.”

Luciana take over. “I know but this creates more space to play to the sides. We need to distribute more balls to the wingers.”

“Johanna Erikson, I need you to distribute balls in leu of Isabella. We need to use more space the break up their formation. We allow them to stay in position and go for counter-attack, this can’t stand.”

I jump in. “We should consider pulling back our centre backs more, closer to our own goal. As is we are vulnerable to their fast striker.”

Luciana sighs, probably already aware. “Yes, but this is our home ground, I won’t yield the initiative, even less now when we are behind.”

She suddenly stands straight and declare. “This is what we are going to do. Left and right back, go more attacking for the 2 half. Johanna, you distribute balls while Isabella make runs and force their markers to follow. Should they stop marking Isabella then we go back to our original plan. We play our game, always.”

“I believe in you ladies, crush em!” Luciana raise her voice to pump up her players, with some success. This team is not yet beaten.

The players have some time to drink and discuss various things about the opposing team.

I make my way to Hannah, currently engaged in small talk with the goalkeeper.

“Hannah, you did good. Conceding a penalty was a given in those circumstances.” She looks as me like I’m an alien.

“Good?” She sneers. “No, Alicia that was not good otherwise we wouldn’t be down by a goal.” She ends our little chat by walking away in a huff.

Okey so now I know she is one of those people who take all the responsibility on their own shoulders. Not really healthy but maybe vice-captain material. I dub you miss perfect.

The second half begins.

Much like before Uppsala FC controls the ball most of the time but fail to do much with it. Bad passes or poor movement stops any possible progress on our side. It looks better for Peking, their long balls for their strikers continue to strain our defence. Only Hannahs resolute defending keep us in the game.

In one of our defensive measures Hannah clears to ball and gives away a corner. Most players operate by having a zone they are responsible for except for Hannah, the strongest header, who mark their greatest threat.

This is pretty nervy, we can’t concede on the first corner since I was put in charge. It certainly wouldn’t make me look too good.

One of their players make an attempt at a corner but the ball goes way to far, swishing past the penalty box. For a moment I almost forgot what low-level football this is but that corner made me painfully aware again. I could probably make a better go at it than that. All good I suppose since we didn’t concede but I would have rather seen how we managed defending it.

The game continues in something of a stalemate until we finally have a breakthrough. Isabella break free with a spurt and receive the pass from Johanna. She dribbles past a midfielder and cut a diagonal pass along the ground that cut through their central defenders. Chione gets the ball first and shoots at goal from 10 metres away, she shoots wide.

Damn it, that was a good attack but our striker missed her shot. Our first real chance in the game came after 71 minutes, that’s way too little. This team might be weaker than I thought or we’re just having an off day. At least get us a corner so I can witness it in action so I know how to improve it later on.

The more time pass the more desperate and sloppier we become. It’s closer 0-2 than 1-1 at this point. We manage a few shots from range but they never challenge their keeper. Peking play even more on the defensive with a lead making our job that much harder.

And that’s game. The whistle blows and our players vent their frustration while Pekings players walk around with a strut.

We lost with 0-1 but it’s worse than the result indicates, I think. We never really threatened them as we should.

“This was not good enough. Your passes are to weak and slow, we can’t brake forward unless we can go with higher tempo.” Luciana is disappointed and angry.

“We need to pass through them not around them.” Isabella adds.

“That’s right, we become passive when we only play the safe pass in our own half of the pitch. We need to make brakes from time to time and cross the ball from side to side to get them out of position,”

Yeah, that’s my analysis too. So, we know what we need to do the only issue is to actually do it. I’m sure the players know that too so I can only imagine they lack confidence and skill to get it done. Well, our opposition played a great counter to us. In reality we might be a bit too ambitious, we don’t have the players to dominate matches. Not that I’m going to tell the players or Luciana that they are too shit to play good football, can’t see that one go over well for me.

We all leave VR after a bit more depressing discussion of our failure. I should probably be more upset about the loss but I can’t shake the feeling that this was really enjoyable. During my training we did a lot of theoretical work but it doesn’t compare to the real thing. The chaotic reality of a game clash with the structured idea you have.

When I wake up from my armchair I see Emma and Milly sitting in the kitchen.

“How did it go?” Emma turned around to ask.

“We lost.” I make a beeline for the liquor cabinet.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Emma offers a sympathetic smile.

“It’s okey, I think. I learned a lot from it, I hope the team did too.”

“Haven’t seen you dressed that nice before, Alicia. So you make an effort to impress sweaty girls playing games but not me.” Milly makes a fake unhappy face.

She’s not half as funny as she thinks she is. Why the fuck would I ever dress nice for her.

“Those sweaty girls are much more appealing than you, Milly.” I open a mini-bottle of red wine.

“Yes, I heard about your girl, Sasha?”

“Shh, you’ll embarrass her.” Emma, please. You’re just making this more fun for her.

“She is not my girl, she is my player.” With that I take my bottle and take my infamous spot on the coach. I turn on the TV and change the volume setting to insular sound so the sound won’t bother the bothersome ladies in the kitchen.