"So here's what we're going to do," she said, leaning forward. "Today, I observe. I watch you coach, I see how you interact with the players, and I get a feel for your system. Tomorrow, we sit down and figure out what you can hand off to me. Wednesday, I start taking some of those things. By Friday, we'll have a rhythm. Sound good?"
It sounded terrifying. But also... right.
"Yeah. Okay. Let's do that."
"Good. Now, walk me through your whole system. I want to understand your philosophy, not just the tactics."
For the next hour, I explained everything. The pressing triggers, the defensive transitions, the counter-attacking patterns. But more than that, I explained why. Why I believed in proactive football. Why I thought winning the ball high was more than just tactics; it was a mentality. Why I wanted these kids to play without fear.
