Impressive

I’ll admit that I was a little worried after our last game. Seeing the team that I coached put up such a poor performance in one of our most important matches of the season was one of the last things I would have expected coming into this season.

However, watching Ria captain this side in today’s game was a recovery that made me truly proud.

It wasn’t just Ria as well, while her five goals and all around world class performance were incredible, there were a large handful of good performances throughout the team.

“This is a great start, but we need to keep this momentum throughout the second half of the season now.” I said, giving a post match team talk in the locker room.

Ria, seeing that I’d said my final piece, stood up to address the team as their captain.

“Good work today, everyone. Like coach said, it's a great starting point, but what really matters is how well we can keep this going. I want to see the same level of commitment in training and in our match next week, and the week after, until we walk away with the national championship.”

Her emphatic final statement turned the expectant silence of the room into a roaring of agreement, and the room quickly turned into a somewhat reserved celebration.

Meeting Ria’s eyes as she sat down, I nodded towards the door, signaling that she’d been requested to attend the interview for today’s match, which was almost always the case for the captain.

Though even if that wasn’t the case, I had no doubt that her performance would have earned that honor regardless.

A few minutes later, Ria was accompanying me down the hallways that separated the locker room and the interview room. Her eyes seemed focused on the task ahead, but the rest of her expression betrayed a well deserved giddiness.

“You were truly impressive today.” I said, trying to impress that my meaning wasn’t simply focused on her individual play, but her team play as well.

It wasn’t often that I got to see performances like hers in games, even at the highest level of collegiate competition.

Every move she made was either efficient or spectacular, and resulted in a level of productivity that I doubted we would see from an individual for the rest of the season.

“Thanks, coach.” She said brightly.

I was certain that she knew just as well as I did, that her performance was incredible. Despite this, it was always good to compliment a player when they perform well, especially when they perform this well.

I could only hope that those waiting in the room before us would be as kind to her.

The interviewer from last time, Liam I think his name was, didn’t have such kind words prepared, and I didn’t want her to always expect harsh feedback like that.

I still had to admit though, that Ria had especially tough skin. Not only had she managed the situation better than most would, but she even seemed to get along with him well since.

Maybe too well, even, though that wasn’t my area of expertise nor my concern in the slightest.

Even if it did surprise me, finding those two in the middle of what appeared to be a rather romantic moment, I could only hope that he wouldn’t bring her into a negative mindset, which appeared to be unlikely given today’s events.

Finally reaching the door to the interview room, I opened it and led the way, introducing Ria to those gathered waiting for us, as is expected of me.

I saw only a few journalists, which wasn’t much of a surprise.

Today’s game was an expected win, and there was no added rivalry or stakes that warranted media attention, therefore most would have written it off ahead of time.

Looking at those gathered, I recognized a few faces that attended every one of our games, and one unexpected one who usually attended only the biggest of games, that Liam guy.

I was shocked to see him here, but noticed no such surprise from Ria, who waved and took her seat as if she knew everyone in attendance would be here ahead of time.

I think that, more than anything else, allowed me to let my guard down.

I’d always been a little overprotective of my players, but I also knew that my players were more than capable of handling themselves, and this was one such case.

Even taking the liberty to lean back comfortably in my chair as the beginning of the interview was announced, I felt confident that I had nothing to worry about.