Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 126



Only Krnovel

Episode 126: Strong, weak, medium strong, weak

The physiotherapist’s boast was not a lie, because ever since returning to Cologne, the training grounds have been swarming with black-haired Asians.

‘Awesome!’

‘I told you that I missed you so much that I followed you all the way from Korea?’

‘That’s right. We even changed our travel plans.’

It’s not like there weren’t any fans waiting before, but it was surprising that so many people were flocking in even on a weekday.

Compared to the fan base of key players in the team, such as Modeste and Jonas, it’s about 8 to 2? That’s a drastic increase from the previous 5 to 5 ratio.

As the fan service time increased, the amount of gifts also increased excessively, so now there are times when I wave my hand and refuse them.

If it were up to me, I would have just left it in a corner of the room, but I couldn’t help it because the gifts for the day were filling up the car trunk.

But the good news ends here.

With the 28th round of the Bundesliga just around the corner, I leave the corner of the room carrying my luggage for the trip to Berlin.

“I’ll be back~”

“… … .”

Friday afternoon.

After I got back home, I went out again less than 48 hours later.

Mom, Dad didn’t come home from work so I didn’t hear any greetings in return, but whatever.

‘My mom’s friends contacted me saying they saw you.’

‘is it so?’

‘They praised me for being a good person.’

‘… … We only talked about faces? What about the game?’

‘… … .’

Mom looked happy for the first time in a while because she got a call from her friends who live in Korea, and Dad also expressed it in his own way.

‘Thank you for your hard work.’

‘……yes.’

It’s definitely been hard. And it’s still going on.

After playing two national team matches in a short period of time, taking a long flight, and then heading back to Berlin.

Where can you find a seventeen year old as honest as me?

Of course, my peers in Korea are also in their second year of high school, so they must be having a hard time studying… … Anyway.

Whistle.

Then, soon, I exchanged greetings with Mr. Gunther, who was clearing out weeds and dead branches in the yard right next door.

The unspoken communication of ‘do well’ and ‘I will do well and come back’.

Obviously, there wasn’t much need for words between us.

* * *

Saturday, April 2, 2022, Stadion An der Alten F?rsterei.

I travel to Berlin, a historic city in eastern Germany, and settle into a plastic chair.

It’s already April. Spring is in the air in Cologne, but Berlin, perhaps because it’s in the northeast, is unusually chilly.

So, I had no choice but to wear a thick coat at the wrong time and squat down on a bench.

[Union of Steel, Union of Steel, Long Live!]

[We will advance towards victory once again!]

[Forward, one step forward-!]

[The Steel Union advances towards the end!]

The home fans’ cheers echo throughout the stadium, but despite their passionate voices, a sense of indifference cannot be erased.

The soccer-specific stadium has a seating capacity of 20,000.

Even without having to look around every corner of the stadium, you can tell that it is a small stadium just by looking at the gentle slope of the stands across from the benches.

It’s not threatening at all.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the game is going smoothly.

“It’s not good. If it weren’t for Whibus and Schwabe, we would have scored three or four more goals.”

“Yeah. A game where the central defenders and goalkeepers shine is definitely a bad sign.”

“… …Why are you admitting it so readily?”

As I nod my head at the remark of Remperle, who was sitting next to me, a puzzled expression suddenly returns to me.

Even if you agree, it’s chaos.

“what.”

“No, if it were normal, I would have been yelling at you, saying, ‘Why aren’t you letting me go?’ But you seem quiet today. Are you feeling unwell? Then tell me. This away game was tight. Given the manager’s personality, I would have taken you off the roster right away.”

“It’s not that I’m not feeling well.”

“then?”

“After experiencing the national team match, my mindset changed.”

“you?”

“… … Yes, me.”

One instance of rudeness will be overlooked.

“We have to be realistic. This expedition was a mess from the start. Schmitz left the day before the game due to knee pain, and Ondrej Duda was also left out of the roster due to Gorilla’s temper.”

“… … It’s because the muscles are raised-”

“Okay. Don’t interrupt me.”

“… … .”

“Moreover, Modeste is also benched for his temper tantrum. In this case, based on the typical 4231 formation, Anderson is at the front, and Ut supports him… … .”

“however?”

But what is that?

From here on out, we’ll get right into it.

“Even though right-back Ehizibue is barely doing his part, wingers Ljubicic and Kainz are performing mediocrely. The offense is not sharp, so Ut, the second-line center, is also on the verge of being suffocated, but Andersson… … Oh, Andersson played? I wonder if he’s playing.”

“… … You’re a real punk. You criticize as easily as you breathe.”

“It’s not a criticism, it’s a critique. Choose your words carefully. Even I, a foreigner, know the difference.”

“Andersson… … Okay. Anyway, I’m telling you, he’s really great.”

okay.

I admit I spoke ill of Andersson.

But even though he was rude, he didn’t lie.

This game was completely under control from the first half.

More than anything else-

“The left side in particular is a mess. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Hector take a shit. No, it’s almost the first time.”

“… … I have to admit that. Berlin’s right flank is quite strong. Number 28 and number 3 both seem to be in good condition.”

“Hmm, in a way, it’s not that I don’t understand. I can’t help but do well at number 28.”

“Oh, really? It’s the same number 28.”

“I know right.”

“… … .”

As expected, it’s typical of Rempaele that if you teach him ten, he’ll take one.

No matter what anyone says, this is the talent that got him to the first team.

“Hanul!”

At that moment, the coaching staff’s call came flying in, and I walked towards the bench, leaving the salty gaze of the person next to me.

I guess it’s time to go out.

That was understandable, as the time on the scoreboard was 71 minutes, and the score was 1-0, with Berlin Union leading.

“How are you feeling?”

Along with that, head coach Andre Polak also greets me with eyes full of worry and concern.

“My knees are numb.”

“Cold cold?”

“If I were to translate it into German, it would be something like ‘I feel a strange sense of suffocation.’”

“… … It was fine until yesterday. Are you really not feeling well? Then again-”

“Oh, I’m not saying it’s bad. I just mean my knees are fidgeting and want to get going. It’s kind of a metaphor.”

“… … .”

There’s no good to be gained by incurring the head coach’s wrath, but he still doesn’t hide his playful tone.

How’s your health?

Honestly, it’s not that good. But it’s a different story when you only play for 10 minutes.

“I’m confident enough to let him go right away. He came from Korea with a lot of confidence and his motivation is also perfect.”

“… … .”

“Really. Just looking at the league, I didn’t have any attack points for four games. Is that all? I got into an ‘unnecessary fight’ with Gorilla (emphasis on this part) and got substituted, and I got caught up in the defenders’ psychological warfare and caused trouble. Fortunately, my call-up to the national team wasn’t canceled, but I have to prove myself in order to become the next call-up. That means I’m ready to be a sacrifice to the nail clippers from head to toe—even my poor little toenails.”

This is a perfect resume.

I wonder who could resist being touched, but the head coach gives me a big sigh and pinches my cheek hard.

“No, why… … .”

“You… … Phew, I’ll see you later. Go and stretch. I’ll make it exactly in 10 minutes.”

And after a while, around 80 minutes.

Beep!

I step on the grass of the stadium according to the referee’s hand signal. The substitute, Ljubicic, looked pale, but now the priority is to change the result of the game.

Up front, Anthony Modeste came on as a replacement for Anderson around the 70th minute, and the flow of the game itself was not bad.

Cologne were looking to equalise by using the gorilla’s head, while Berlin’s defensive line was pulled back and crouching down.

“Kingsley!”

“huh.”

“Move a little wider. Don’t just spread out to the sides, but sometimes move inside the box. Let’s move up calmly, matching the direction of each other’s attacks.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

So first of all, I communicate with my right-hand partner, Kingsley Ehijibue.

“Ut.”

“why.”

“What have you been doing so far?”

Bam.

Next, a request for cooperation was made to Mark Utt, who played as an attacking midfielder.

“……hey.”

“… … .”

“Okay, you do it.”

Finally, no demands are made on the beasts at the forefront.

What really matters is that I do well.

So, right after I finished communicating with my teammates, I opened my mouth to speak to the defender who was sticking close to me.

I gave head coach Andre Pollock several reasons to motivate me, but there were some things I deliberately left out.

“It’s been a while.”

“Huh? Huh.”

Paul Yeakel.

The villain who had me paralyzed when we faced each other in the first half of the league now smiles innocently.

“how have you been doing?”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t remember me?”

“We’re in the middle of a game right now. Let’s talk later.”

Look at this.

They say the perpetrator doesn’t remember.

Thud, thud, thud!

At that moment, the official who was going back and forth between the friendly camps suddenly appeared, passing through Skiri and Ozkan and going up to the edge of the second line. I also stopped my private conversation and started walking.

From the right flank of the opposing team, he moved towards the centre, narrowing the gap between Utt and the player with the ball… … putting the Berlin central midfielder between him and the player with the ball.

At first glance, it may seem like they intentionally blocked the pass, but it is a meaningful act because of that.

At the same time, the conversation with Jae-seon, who plays for Mainz, flashes through my mind. During the six-hour flight, we talked about all sorts of things.

‘… … The coach is right. Creating space to receive a pass is also a player’s individual ability.’

‘But then you lose stamina in an instant, right? Sometimes, when you’re not ready, he passes the ball to you, and sometimes, even when you’ve moved to the right spot to receive it, he doesn’t pass it to you. But, like my brother, building up stamina isn’t something that can be done overnight.’

‘To be honest… … it’s more of a difference in experience than in physical strength.’

‘… … Experience?’

‘Yes. There are some things that you have to learn later in life.’

At first I thought it was nonsense, but-

‘Football is a game played with eleven teammates. In particular, passing plays require at least two players. So who is the most important at this time? The person who passes? Or the person who receives?’

‘Usually the one who passes has the initiative.’

‘That’s right. But the recipient can also refuse.’

‘… … Do you refuse?’

‘When I’m not ready and don’t want to receive the ball, or when I shouldn’t, I move into the space. By getting between a group of defenders or putting a defender between me and the teammate who’s passing.’

‘… What does that mean?’

‘It makes sense. Receiving the ball requires a high level of concentration and rapid movements, but closing the space is only a few steps. And with that implied movement, you are conveying your intention to your teammates. I’m not ready, so aim for another place. Choose another place and I’ll link up accordingly. That’s what it’s like.’

‘And then what if I don’t give him the ball at all after that?’

‘If you don’t have faith, you’ll have to find another way. But don’t you think your skills will be enough to gain your colleagues’ trust?’

‘So… you’re saving your stamina?’

‘Just having this alone won’t give you a lot of stamina. But it’s also important to slow down the flow. A player who runs at full speed every time is more likely to trip and fall, and when they do, they fall hard. In other words, try to twist the flow. Focus on yourself, in the way you want, and take a moment to find the best way to attack. If you can fool the opposing defender in the meantime, that’s even better.’

… … I saw it.

What kind of football did the Korean national team play against Iran?

Creating passing routes from all over the place despite strong pressure.

It meshes together like gears and turns, and in an instant, it sends me a penetrating pass.

It’s like receiving a well-wrapped gift, giving you space to try to dribble through.

If what Jae-seon Lee and Jae-seon Lee said was true, I could do the same.

These days, I’m a moody person and I’m going with the flow.

A more efficient and threatening form of football.