A man stands near the dugout, greeting the players.
'Excuse me, Che?'
Che looks up at him.
'Your name is Che, correct?'
'Yes, that's me.'
'I'm Sebastian Krämer, a reporter from Fundamental Soccer. We cover youth football, and I watched your match today. Would it be alright if I interviewed you?'
'I'm not sure. You could ask my coach.'
Sebastian approaches the coach, explaining that he'd like to interview both him and Che. The coach agrees.
'Thank you, thank you. Please, follow me,' Sebastian says, leading them to the stands. They sit down, and he begins the interview with the coach.
'Okay, I'll ask a few questions, and I'd like to jot down your answers.'
'No problem.'
'First question: Congratulations on the win! This was your highest-scoring match so far, but it wasn't all smooth sailing, was it? It took an exceptional performance from your debutant, Che, to secure the victory. How were you feeling throughout the match, particularly during the second half?'
'Yes, it was definitely an outstanding performance from Che. I believe he inspired his teammates, which improved everyone's game in the second half. As for my feelings—well, I won't lie, I was nervous in the first half (chuckles). I knew we needed creativity up front to change the game. Even though it was his debut, I trusted Che to make an impact, and he delivered, which boosted my confidence in the team.'
Sebastian nods, making notes.
'You mentioned trusting Che, but why didn't he start the match from the beginning?'
'Simply put, I didn't want to throw him in unprepared. He's still young, and I wanted him to understand the circumstances before diving in headfirst.'
'Okay, understood. Last question: Your next opponents are among the tournament favorites, and to be fair, your team wasn't expected to advance this far. With your opponents known for crisp passing and an intense press, how do you plan to counter their tactics?'
'Yes, we've done our research on them, and I have to commend their discipline. As for our countermeasures, we've developed a plan. I expect it to be a tough, physical match for both teams.'
'Thank you so much—that was excellent. Now, young man, it's your turn. Are you ready?'
Che nods hesitantly.
'First time being interviewed?'
'Yes. But my sister's done many.'
'Did she give you any tips?'
'No, she said I wouldn't be good at them.'
'She said that? Don't you want to prove her wrong?'
'I'm not sure… She might be right.'
'Come on, you've got this.'
'Okay.'
'First question: Today was your debut for the U18 team, and if I'm correct, you're only 14. How did it feel to play at such a high intensity against bigger and stronger opponents?'
'I… I'm only small because I'm younger. But that doesn't matter in football. In this game, size doesn't determine greatness—the smartest players are the best ones, not the biggest. If physicality is my weakness, I'll focus on excelling in everything else.'
'Great answer, Che!' Sebastian smiles.
Che grins shyly.
'Next question: You had an incredible debut—two goals and an assist. How does that make you feel as a player?'
'Like everyone else on the pitch. My job was to lead my team to victory. Whether that means scoring two goals or ten, I'll do it. At the end of the day, all that matters is my team winning.'
'Final question: Your addition seems to have sparked something in the team. Do you believe you're ambitious enough to go all the way and win the trophy?'
'Whether my addition sparked anything or not, I expect my teammates to have the will and ambition to win this competition. If they didn't, I wouldn't be motivated to play for them.'
'Fantastic, we're done! Thank you both for your time—I hope to see you again.'
'Thank you, too,' the coach says.
'Thank you, mister,' Che adds.
Sebastian shakes their hands and departs.
'Coach, how was I?'
'You were great. I loved it. Now, let's head to the changing room—the others are waiting.'
Sebastian comes running back, camera in hand.
'Wait!'
They turn around.
'I almost forgot to take a photo of you with your MOTM trophy. Could you hold it up? Coach, feel free to join him.'
They pose, smiling, as Sebastian takes the picture. After thanking him, they return to the changing room, where the players burst into applause for Che's performance. Che awkwardly bows his head in gratitude.
'Okay, boys, congratulations on the win! I'm proud of your second-half performance. But our focus now shifts to the next match. We're up against tough opponents—the cup favorites. So, I expect your mental game to be sharp from the first minute. Understood?'
'YES, SIR!'
'Good. Now let's go home and rest. See you Monday for training.'