Monday morning arrived with the same 5:30 am alarm, but this time I didn't feel the usual dread. I felt something else. Anticipation, maybe. Or nervousness. Today was the day Rebecca and Michael officially started, and for the first time since arriving at Crystal Palace, I wouldn't be managing alone. I'd have a full coaching staff. A proper team.

I ran my usual 6k, pushing myself harder than normal, trying to burn off the nervous energy that had kept me tossing and turning all night.

The system tracked it as Fitness 46/100 and Cardiovascular Endurance 44/100, but I barely paid attention. My mind was already at Copers Cope, already running through the staff meeting I'd planned, already worrying about whether I'd be able to manage the dynamics between four strong personalities.

By the time I arrived at the training ground at 7 am, Sarah was already there. She was always there early, always prepared, always one step ahead. I found her in the video analysis room, looking at training footage from last week.

"Morning," I said, setting down my bag. "You're here early."

"Couldn't sleep," she admitted, looking up from her screen. "Wanted to review last week's sessions before Rebecca and Michael arrive. Make sure we're all on the same page."

"How are you feeling about today?" I asked, pulling up a chair next to her.

"Good. Excited, actually. It'll be nice to have more hands on deck. You can't do everything yourself, Danny. You've been trying, but it's not sustainable." She closed her laptop and looked at me. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrified," I admitted. "What if they don't get along? What if they don't buy into the tactical system? What if I can't manage the dynamics?"

"Danny," Sarah said, her voice firm but kind. "You hired good people. Trust that. Rebecca and Michael wouldn't have accepted the jobs if they didn't believe in what you're building. Just be yourself. Be honest. Let them contribute. You don't need to have all the answers."

I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn't loosen.

Rebecca arrived at 7:30 am, carrying a large duffel bag filled with fitness equipment. She was dressed in Crystal Palace training gear, her hair pulled back in a practical ponytail, and when she saw me, she smiled with genuine warmth.

"Morning, boss. Ready for day one?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I said, returning her smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Excited. I've been thinking about the fitness program all weekend. I want to get baseline measurements for all the players' speed, agility, endurance, and strength. Then we can build individualized programs to address weaknesses."

She set down her bag and pulled out a tablet. "I've also been researching pressing systems and the physical demands they place on players. High-intensity sprints, rapid directional changes, and sustained work rate over ninety minutes. We need to make sure the lads are conditioned for that."

I felt a surge of relief. She got it. She understood what we were trying to build.

Michael arrived at 8 am, carrying his goalkeeping equipment with the easy confidence of someone who'd done this for years. He was older than the rest of us: mid-forties, maybe with greying hair and the kind of calm presence that immediately put you at ease.

"Morning, all," he said, setting down his bag. "Where do you want me?"

"Conference room," I said. "Staff meeting at 8:15. We'll go through the tactical approach, roles and responsibilities, and start planning the training schedule for the next few weeks."

He nodded, and I saw something in his eyes; respect, maybe, or at least willingness to follow my lead. That was a good sign.

At 8:15 am, we gathered in the small conference room adjacent to the video analysis suite. Four of us around a table... me at the head, Sarah to my right, Rebecca and Michael across from each other. I'd printed out agendas for everyone, along with copies of the tactical philosophy document I'd been refining over the past seven weeks.

"Right," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "First of all, welcome. Officially. I know we've already met and discussed the roles, but this is the first time we're all together as a staff. So, welcome to the team."

They nodded, and I saw Sarah give me an encouraging look.

"I want to start by being honest with you," I continued.

"This is my first time managing a full coaching staff. At Moss Side, it was just me. Here, I've had Sarah for almost two weeks, but now we're four. I'm going to make mistakes. I'm going to need your help. I'm going to need your expertise. So please, don't hold back. If you see something that needs addressing, speak up. If you disagree with a decision, tell me. We're a team, and I want us to function like one."

Michael nodded approvingly. "Appreciate the honesty, boss. That's the right approach."

"Second thing," I said, distributing the tactical philosophy documents.

"This is what we've been building for the past seven weeks. High pressing system, organized in a 4-3-3 formation. The core principles are here: pressing triggers, recovery runs, transitions. Sarah and I have been drilling this with the players, and we're starting to see real progress. The pressing is working well in training, the lads are buying into the system, and they're starting to understand the tactical concepts. But we need your expertise to take it to the next level."

Rebecca flipped through the document, her eyes scanning the pages. "This is comprehensive. Really well thought out. Where do you see the fitness component fitting in?"

"That's where you come in," I said. "The pressing system is physically demanding. The lads need to be able to sprint repeatedly, maintain high intensity for ninety minutes, and recover quickly between matches. Right now, they're fit, but I think we can push them further."

"Agreed," Rebecca said, making notes on her tablet. "I'll start with baseline assessments this week, then build individualized programs. We should also look at recovery protocols: nutrition, sleep, and active recovery sessions."

"Michael," I said, turning to him. "Ryan Fletcher is our starting goalkeeper. Good shot-stopper, but his distribution needs work. He's nervous playing out from the back, and that's causing problems when teams press us. Can you work with him on that?"

"Absolutely," Michael said. "Distribution is technical and mental. We'll work on his passing technique, his decision-making under pressure, and his confidence. Give me two weeks, and you'll see improvement."

I felt the tension in my shoulders start to ease. This was working. They were engaged, they were contributing, they were buying in.

We spent the next hour going through the details training schedule for the week, player roles and responsibilities, and communication protocols. Rebecca would lead the fitness sessions in the mornings, Michael would work with Ryan and the other goalkeepers separately, Sarah would continue with tactical sessions, and I'd oversee everything while also working on my own technical skills.

At 9:30 am, just as we were wrapping up, there was a knock on the conference room door. Gary walked in, and immediately, I knew something was different. He had that look the one that meant he was about to drop something on me.

"Morning, all," he said, nodding to the staff. "Sorry to interrupt. Danny, can I have a word?"

"Sure," I said, standing up. "We were just finishing. Sarah, can you take the lads through the warm-up when they arrive? I'll be out in a minute."

Sarah nodded, and the staff filed out, leaving me alone with Gary.

"What's up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual even though my heart was starting to race.

"I've got an opportunity for you," Gary said, and there was something in his tone that made me nervous. "Millwall U18s. They've had a friendly cancel on them, and they're looking for a replacement. Wednesday afternoon, 2 pm, at their training ground. Closed doors, just staff watching. I told them we'd do it."

I stared at him. Wednesday. That was two days away. Two days to prepare for my first proper match as Crystal Palace U18s manager.

***

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