Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 115



Only Krnovel

Episode 115 Crack

In soccer, breaking through is a battle of spacing and reaction speed.

Even if you can fool your opponent with fancy footwork and steal their rhythm, you will eventually have to pass them by to open up a path for them.

How much distance is there between me and the defender, and when will I make a decision and stretch my legs?

The former is constantly changing.

From six steps to four, in an instant two steps.

As I kicked the grass and sped up my body, it narrowed down to the point where it felt too fast. The latter was entirely my choice.

Bam.

In the middle, he twists the dribbling path with the top of his left foot, and then pulls it inward with his right foot… … and starts a fight.

It is a threat to not approach recklessly and is intended to dazzle the minds of defenders.

“Don’t rush in! Cooperative defense!”

“Just keep your distance!”

In response, Hoffenheim’s defensive leader took a step back.

And so, I start from the right flank of the second line and run quickly to the penalty box line.

Toouk.

Direction of travel is left.

It’s about penetrating the center at the very moment when the opposing defender is retreating and trying to defend.

In the best case scenario, you can connect with a direct shot, and in the worst case, you can have the option to pass.

Tick!

Then, suddenly, a strange sensation rose from the tips of my feet.

Looking back… … the first ball touch was perfect.

He slightly turns to the left by about 30 degrees, but he uses his speed to suppress the defender’s attempt to challenge him and enters right in front of the box.

I was immediately given a second choice: shoot or pass. My choice was obviously a direct finish, so I attempted a second touch to twist the space where the central defenders were crowded.

One more to the left, with a light tap.

The idea was to kill the spin and speed of the ball while creating a new shooting angle, and right then-

I made a mistake.

‘You made it too long, you idiot.’

Regret is always too late, no matter how fast it comes.

The ball rolled one and a half steps further than the intended distance, and inevitably the subsequent play became a mess.

Shooting?

Since the position of the foot has changed, the steps have become tangled. I wanted to correct it and shoot again, but the opposing defenders had narrowed the space.

The goalpost… … disappeared from sight.

Then reluctantly switch to team play.

Maintaining his running posture, he glances up at Modeste, who has penetrated deep into the left side of the box.

I hate that guy, but I hate incurring the hate of Steffen Baumgart even more.

So just this once-

Clang, clang!

“Big!”

As I said, regret always comes too late, and the same goes for judgment.

The dedicated defender who followed late did not miss my mistake and showed a bold sliding tackle, and achieved a worthy result as a defender of the first division.

Lose possession of the ball and turn it into a defensive play.

It was a clean tackle that didn’t even require the referee’s whistle.

Wow!

As the home fans’ spirits waned and a small cheer came from near the away stands, I lay down on the grass and chewed on the feeling of being a beggar.

There is no excuse.

Because it wasn’t just this one failure, it was a mess the whole time.

I felt like something was broken. No, it didn’t matter that it was broken, but it was annoying and frustrating that I couldn’t concentrate.

Are you saying this because you heard something from Mom and Dad?

Just because of that?

Transferring is just a simple thing. Bayern Munich is a world-renowned powerhouse. What’s the big deal?

“I guess I’m not feeling very well today? Oh, or am I blocking it too well?”

“… … .”

“You’re so well-behaved. Keep doing that. Live humbly.”

The evil sweet potato… … no. Even though the evil sweet potato, my dedicated defender and the one who made the tackle, was twitching his beak, I couldn’t think of anything to refute.

Actually, I didn’t even feel like doing that.

okay.

I didn’t feel resentful towards that person.

This is entirely my own problem. Maybe it was because something serious had gone wrong in my mind.

* * *

After a while, I leave the stadium after exactly 60 minutes.

Considering the content of the game, it is surprising that they gave 60 minutes. The Cologne fans also did not cheer, except for a few who applauded.

That was to be expected, as the score on the scoreboard was 0-1. Hoffenheim had taken the lead by scoring a header from a corner kick.

“great job.”

“……huh.”

I am not happy at all when Baumgart pats me on the shoulder or when André Pollack gives me a padded jacket.

I’ve never shit two games in a row.

Today, it’s so extravagant that it feels like a feast made of human excrement. I would be upset if it were someone else’s, so how can I feel good when I’ve made this mess myself?

“ha.”

dump.

Naturally, even the act of sitting on the bench is permeated with anger.

“… … .”

“… … .”

It was annoying that Ehijibue, who was sitting next to me, was watching me closely, and it was even more annoying when Arei Mbi, who was on loan from Munich, kept glancing at me.

If there is any consolation… … it is the existence of Anthony Modeste.

Instead of coming to the bench, he stood inside the sideline and glared at me fiercely.

It stings.

What do you want me to do?

If you mess up, ‘make’ it better.

Sure, I just can’t continue doing it.

“… … .”

This is a joke.

I couldn’t accept losing my spot to my position rival, Ljubicic.

* * *

Personally, I would like to say that it was just a simple incident. It was really hurtful to my pride that my personal life was shaken up and even my performance was affected.

But this time… … something was really different.

After the 25th round of the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim, FC Köln faced strong teams in the league one after another over a period of about two weeks.

Round 26 was an away game against Bayer Leverkusen, and the following week they hosted Borussia Dortmund.

The result was 1 win and 1 draw.

In the away game against Leverkusen, winger Kingsley Schindler, who had not been able to play properly, scored a surprise goal to secure a 0-1 victory. In the home game against Dortmund, despite conceding an early goal in the first half, Sebastian Andersson scored a header to narrowly secure a draw.

The Cologne fans were elated after securing four points against a strong team, but I couldn’t even show a semblance of a smile.

‘My name isn’t there.’

Yeah, that’s the problem.

The fact that Kingsley Schindler, who had long since been pushed out of the starting lineup, scored the winning goal, and that Andersson, who was known only for his height, scored the equalizer, were all because I failed to do my job.

Thanks to that, Anthony Modeste’s gaze becomes more fierce by the day, but is it any consolation that it only aggravated the gorilla’s temper?

“Okay, again. Look at the camera here!”

However, the rewards for your efforts tend to come a beat slower. One Monday in March, I was heading out for a drink in Düsseldorf, a city near Cologne.

The reason is commercial filming.

In a city of fashion, finance, and hospitals (Seong Ha-jun), there was a mix of old buildings, such as spires, and modern buildings. They had come to the filming location after receiving a call from a clothing company.

Although the national team call-up date is approaching, it can be said that it is a good thing that they have some way to earn money by asking for understanding.

“Hanul, look a little harder! You have that rebellious look in your eyes! I won’t leave this kid alone. Something like that!”

“… … .”

Somehow, I didn’t like the clothes or the photoshoot concept at all.

Don’t I have a face that suits a suit?

The clothes I’m wearing now are so saggy around the elbows… … that I don’t think it would be uncomfortable at all even if I stuffed four or five chestnuts in them.

What about the trousers? They had puffed-out knees, as if they had been pumped with air, and they looked like they could have been used as life jackets.

Then, suddenly, the photographer who was hiding in the dazzling lights tilted his head. It seemed like he had been thinking about something else.

“It’s a little ambiguous… Have you been stressed out recently? I’d like it if you could tell in your eyes that you’re going to give me a good beating.”

“……okay.”

It’s stressful, it’s overwhelming.

Lately, I’ve been slurping down the games like I’m drinking meat soup, and there have been some weird rumors going around at Kimnasium about me (like that I dated two or three girlfriends at the same time).

Is that all?

It was also a bit stressful to see my parents wipe their mouths and act as if nothing had happened.

So, is it okay to transfer to Bayern Munich or not?

Looking back, they were all things I would laugh at as nothing special, but when several of them piled up at the same time, my mind was shaking.

Even I, who used to live in luxury… I guess there are limits.

Click, click!

Then, suddenly, the sound of a camera shutter rang out.

“I love you so much!”

I’m not good.

“This is the best! This is what teenage rebellion is all about!”

Is it rebellion? I would like to use the word reflection on life. Or enlightenment.

One’s inner grumbling is drowned out by the cinematographer’s shouts.

“Okay. Now let’s change into new clothes.”

“Is there still a lot left?”

“No way! It’s almost over.”

“… … You said it was almost finished three hours ago.”

“Change the settings!”

Every moment is a new experience, and I realize that making money is never easy.

Swish, swish.

While the staff was changing the background and lighting, I came out to the side and changed into new clothes… … and with this, the commercial filming time had already exceeded six hours.

So I’m in a bad mood and I run away to the waiting room to catch my breath.

That was when.

“Hanul.”

“… …Alex? When did you come?”

“I just got here. I came to see how you were doing.”

When did you get here? Agent Alex Pasek gives you a sly smile. You don’t have the energy to smile back.

Just stretch out on the chair as long as your clothes don’t get damaged.

“Don’t you think it’s hard? That’s a problem in its own right.”

“Haha. That’s right. You earn as much as you work hard.”

“… … But why did you come all the way here? Aren’t you busy?”

“I’m busy. But I still have to take care of what I have to take care of.”

Then, suddenly, a wad of paper was placed on the dresser. At first, I wondered what the paper was, but I was able to see what it was through the wall mirror.

As I suddenly got up from my seat and reached out my hand, a ticket filled my field of vision. It was a direct flight ticket from Frankfurt to Seoul.

at las!

“You made it out. I thought you might be discharged because your recent performance has been so poor.”

“The national team isn’t a place where you get selected based on one or two performances. That doesn’t matter. Rather, it’s a good opportunity for you.”

“season?”

“The national team has a completely different atmosphere. You’ll be able to recover your condition. Oh, psychological condition, I mean. Personally, I want you to feel comfortable, like you’re going to change your mood.”

Oh my, what a change of pace.

According to what my mother told me, not only the Koreans in Cologne, but also my family in Korea will all watch my matches.

relaxation?

No, that’s not it.

As I was about to answer that I wasn’t going out to play leisurely, a filming staff member came over a beat earlier and cut me off.

“Ha-nul, is it hot?”

“Uh… … Yeah. I was sweating a little bit.”

“That’s how studio shoots are. The lighting makes it so hot that you have to keep the air conditioning on even in the winter. So I think I’ll have to touch up my makeup a bit. Is that okay?”

“… … .”