The team bus pulled away from the Rising Stars training complex at 3:00 PM. Maddox sat in the front row, watching the countryside roll past the window. Two days of rest had done the players good. Their muscles were loose, their minds sharp.
Behind him, the squad was quiet. Some players wore headphones, others stared out the windows. The usual pre-match nerves were setting in.
Teddy Johnson sat across the aisle, studying his tactical notes. "Journey should take about two hours," he said quietly.
"Good. That gives us time to go through everything again."
The bus was comfortable. Leather seats, air conditioning, enough space for the entire squad. Markus Webb had spared no expense for away trips.
Maddox turned to look at his players. Jack Stones, the captain, sat with Finnley Mayers, discussing defensive positioning. Harvey Quinlan was reading a book. Zayn Carter had his eyes closed, visualizing his runs.
"How are they looking?" Teddy asked.
"Focused. That's what I want to see."
