Dad was a Genius - Chapter 29
Only Noblemtl
My Dad Was a Genius Episode 029
“What a huge crowd. Look at it. You can’t find a single empty seat.”
“Yes. I think this is the first time I’ve seen Cheonan Stadium this full.”
“They say this is the first time in the history of the stadium that all the tickets have been sold out. They have been breaking the record for attendance numbers all the time, and now they have finally set a record of selling out all the tickets.”
“Isn’t this the Taesan Cheonan effect? They say that on days when Cheonan has a game, the viewer ratings go up significantly. And today is a historic day, as they are on the verge of a 10-game winning streak.”
The match between Cheonan and Ulsan.
The huge crowd that filled the stands clearly showed how much interest this match had in many people.
[Fly like an eagle~ Cheonan! Cheonan!]
Cheonan’s cheering songs rang out from the stands and even on the streets, and as customers flocked to chicken restaurants and other restaurants to watch the game while eating something, the restaurant owners’ gums were in full bloom.
Cheonan City even installed a large electronic scoreboard to broadcast live the match between Cheonan and Ulsan.
That’s what everyone was looking forward to and hoping for.
This is the unprecedented K League first 10 consecutive wins.
“… … .”
Outside, the atmosphere was already festive, but inside the locker room, it was as quiet as a mouse.
Before the game, I believed that we could definitely achieve 10 consecutive wins.
But as the match date drew near, the players felt suffocated.
In addition, Kang Dae-ho, the key player of this team, was excluded from the starting lineup.
“after-.”
I feel more nervous than when I set the record of 8 consecutive wins.
The number 10 is like that.
It also feels more full and seems more meaningful.
Moreover, as Ulsan continued their winning streak, they were also on the verge of setting a new record.
That’s why people are paying attention to the match between these two teams.
“… … .”
As more attention was paid to the team than during the 8-game winning streak, the players’ shoulders naturally became heavier and their tension grew.
When you feel so oppressed that you feel like you might collapse from suffocation if you continue like this,
“This must be the weight of the crown.”
The players suddenly came to their senses at Cha Seong-eun’s voice.
“It’s a burden that Cheonan has never felt before. It’s the pressure that comes with being a winner.”
Cheonan was a team that had almost never had a winning streak and was always losing.
Then, under the great director Cha Seong-eun, the current miracle was achieved.
This burden was unfamiliar to them, as it was something they had never dared to imagine.
“You will feel as if something is squeezing your throat and weighing down your shoulders.”
It was just as Cha Seong-eun said.
My body felt so heavy that I had difficulty getting up from my chair.
“But don’t try to push it away. The harder you try to push it away, the more it will crush you.”
Don’t force me out?
“You must not reject that burden and pressure, but accept it. Relax and accept it. And you must realize that this pressure is not for the loser, but a privilege that only the winner can have.”
The winner’s privilege.
Why do they feel pressured now?
It’s all thanks to the winning streak that seems to have no end.
It was a burden that only a winner who is running towards a 10-game winning streak can feel.
As I thought about it that way, I felt like something that had been blocked was slowly being cleared.
“Close your eyes for a moment. Picture yourself holding the league trophy high. The heavy burden you feel right now will eventually come back to you as the trophy.”
A picture of himself holding the league championship trophy high.
The players each had a smile on their faces.
In the past, it was difficult to even think about the trophy, but now it seemed right before my eyes, within reach.
“Today will be an important step towards us winning the trophy. And today, like every other day, we will win.”
When they opened their eyes, the players felt the weight on their shoulders lift.
A surge of emotion came with it.
I once again felt confident that I could win against anyone I faced today.
As Cha Seong-eun said, we will win today.
“Let’s go. To the fans who are waiting for us.”
The players stood up at the coach’s words.
* * *
Fortunately, Kang Dae-ho’s injury was not that serious.
However, it was concluded that he needed some rest, and he was eventually left out of the starting lineup.
But I still aspire to it.
I want to go to the game.
I want to run like crazy on that field!
“Player Kang Dae-ho.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Save your strength.”
“yes?”
Does conserving your strength mean getting plenty of rest?
“Once when it matters.”
“… … ?”
“That’s exactly what Kang Dae-ho needs today,”
Just once when it matters.
It was a meaningful statement.
“So, gather your strength.”
Cha Seong-eun’s back as he left the locker room was as mysterious and majestic as ever.
* * *
Before entering the stadium.
The two teams were lined up, ready to go out.
“… … .”
Although no words were spoken, a fierce war of nerves ensued as sparks flew between the two sides.
However, the Cheonan team players could tell just by looking at the opposing team’s faces.
This means that they feel more burdened than others.
Their nervous expressions were clearly visible.
And it reached its peak when I stepped into the field.
[Cheonan! Cheonan! Cheonan!]
“… … !”
The whole place is filled with sky blue uniforms.
Spectators wearing the sky blue uniforms that symbolize Cheonan were all shouting “Cheonan.”
The thunderous cheers shook the eardrums, and the players’ hearts raced as they felt this overwhelming home team atmosphere for the first time in their lives.
In contrast, Ulsan players had no choice but to swallow their saliva.
“This… is more incredible than I expected?”
The same goes for director Jo Tae-il.
It felt like we were facing Suwon and Seoul, which have the largest number of spectators.
No. It was more overwhelming than that, and I could feel how passionate their love for Cheonan was with their whole body.
“Taesan Group employees also came in droves to watch the game today. They even handed out hamburgers to fans who visited the stadium today.”
“To all these tens of thousands of people?”
“Yes. They advertise their brand very heavily. I heard that the chairman of Taesan Group is a huge fan of soccer, especially since his youngest son is showing such good results, so he must be spending money without holding back.”
Director Cho bit his lip slightly.
In this respect, I was quite envious of Cheonan.
Should I say that I feel like the owner takes great care of the team?
In fact, there is probably no moment when you feel deeper affection than when the owner of a club personally steps in and takes care of something that is insignificant.
“The person holding a megaphone and cheering enthusiastically in the stands is the Vice Chairman of Taesan Group.”
“Haha. I know that too. He’s famous in the soccer community. He’s said to be better than most cheerleaders. Anyway, the Taesan Group family is really interesting. They’re different from the conglomerates we know.”
Maybe that’s why.
The team called Cheonan felt even more frightening.
A father who invests in his son without sparing any effort, and his family and supporters who enthusiastically cheer him on.
The game of soccer is never just about the skills of the players.
It is because they have supporters who cheer them on that they gain more strength and create miracles.
In that respect, it was a stroke of genius for Cheonan to appoint Cha Seong-eun as its coach.
Because he brought about the tremendous change we have today.
“But that doesn’t mean we, Ulsan, will be discouraged.”
Director Jo Tae-il analyzed Cha Seong-eun’s tactics so thoroughly that there was nothing left to unpack.
And the more I looked at it, the more I couldn’t help but admire the tactic.
How on earth can such a young and inexperienced manager use such sophisticated tactics?
In particular, it has the detail to directly adjust the balance during the game to ensure that the players do not have any physical problems.
‘But that’s also a story that only happened when Kang Dae-ho was around.’
Kang Dae-ho, the key figure in Cheonan.
With him on the bench today due to injury, Ulsan has less pressure on their defense.
This means that you can fully unleash Ulsan’s powerful attacks.
Their crazy attack tactics will break down Cheonan’s pressure defense today.
[For the victory of Cheonan! Please cheer with cheers and applause!]
“Waaaaaaaaaah-!!”
Before the game starts.
Once everyone is seated, the MC takes the mic and starts to liven up the atmosphere until the game starts.
The players waited quietly for the game to begin, hearing the cheers, but something was different today.
“hmm?”
Aren’t all the players except the goalkeeper standing at the halfway line at the same time, ready to run from the center line like runners?
“What are you trying to do?”
And the moment the whistle blows to signal the start of the game.
“Oh!”
“Wow!”
The players all ran forward together aggressively.
[Yes! The game has started! Cheonan is heading for the long-awaited 10-game winning streak! They are very aggressive from the start!]
[Haha. That kind of tactic is very unique. It really feels like they’re only going to attack.]
The rapid succession of Cheonan attacks.
At that moment, the Ulsan players were confused and their defensive line became tangled.
“These guys have been showing off their skills from the beginning… …!”
Coach Cho, feeling a sense of crisis, shouted loudly.
“Don’t panic! Just block like you usually do! Keep the line straight!!”
But once the lines were tangled, they were not easily restored.
The Ulsan players’ positions ended up overlapping each other, like a tangled web of threads.
And then, Lee Su-yong, who broke through on the left, crossed the ball and accurately hit the head of Ko Jin-cheol, who was digging into the center.
Crash~!
“!?”
[Koooooooool!!]
“Wowaaaaaaaaaaaa-!!”
The crowd jumped to their feet, roaring as if the Cheonan home stadium was going to collapse.
It happened just one minute into the first half.
“… … .”
When Director Cho saw that sight, he felt a thrill run through his whole body.
He placed all his players on the half line and had them run forward as soon as the kickoff was taken, confusing the defense. Then he created a quick attack led by Lee Su-yong, who has quick feet.
‘It’s not just a quick attack.’
Even in that short moment, there were two 2-on-1 passes.
I have never seen tiki-taka played at such a fast pace in Korea.
Isn’t this the kind of development you would expect to see in Barcelona, the originator of tiki-taka and the strongest team?
“Wow, I didn’t think I’d get a goal this quickly… … .”
“What just happened?”
The coaches who were watching the game were also dumbfounded.
It was such a quick attack that I didn’t even know what kind of attack I was hit with.
“this.”
Director Cho bit his lips hard.
I forgot for a moment.
The scariest thing about this team wasn’t striker Kang Dae-ho.
“This kid is the best… … .”
It was Cha Seong-eun who was fiercely directing the players right there.