Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 143



Only Krnovel

Episode 143: Consecutive Winnings (5)

“Wow! Yaaaaah!”

“… … .”

Immediately after scoring a penalty, Cologne’s designated kicker screams near the corner flag.

I may have drawn the foul, but the scorer was a large, dark-skinned man named Anthony Modeste.

Like a gorilla who is treated like a human due to full body hair loss, he doesn’t even say thank you.

“Are your feet okay?”

“I told you it’s okay.”

“Your legs are tangled. Check again. If you’re inside the stadium, minor injuries can go unnoticed.”

Even though Jonas and Schmitz came over and worried about the condition of my leg, I didn’t feel any better, perhaps because I was more annoyed at the shameless beast.

“It was rough, you know?”

“… … .”

He then approaches Rhys Oxford, the man responsible for the tackle, and tries to be sarcastic, but gets no response.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Anyway, the match score is 1 to 2.

Because we were ahead by one goal before the first half ended.

But after a while, the reward comes from an unexpected place.

“good job!”

“Let’s continue like this in the second half. The goal we conceded was just bad luck, right?”

“Timmy!”

“Hanul.”

Halftime. As soon as you enter the locker room, the voices of the coaching staff and players overlap, making it quite noisy.

Suddenly, head coach Andre Polak came up to me and spoke to me.

“huh?”

“How are your legs?”

“It’s nothing. I just need to change my soccer shoes. I’ve become quite capable now, and I even get free sub-soccer shoes from my sports company. Compared to the beginning of the season-”

“Physically?”

Just as I was responding in an exaggerated tone, saying that I might just take it out in the second half, he calmly conveyed a sense of silent relief.

It probably wasn’t bad news.

“It’s going great. In the worst case scenario, I think I could even play overtime.”

“It’s a league match now.”

“Oh, I meant the Pokal final.”

Remperle and Julian Chabot, sitting right next to me, burst into laughter at what I said, but I try to ignore them.

The finals are less than three weeks away.

Looks like I’m the only one ready?

“Okay, so you can play like you did before in the second half too?”

“of course.”

“Do you think the striker position suits you well?”

“I think it has its pros and cons. There isn’t much space compared to the side, but that has its own charm of being able to break through. The opposing defenders have also gotten bigger, right? It’s definitely more difficult, but I think the sense of accomplishment is greater. It’s not bad, no. It’s good.”

As soon as I start to speak with confidence, the main point comes out.

“Okay. I asked about the position because Ut is having some trouble.”

“Utga? Why?”

Glance.

If you look around and look at the other side of the locker room, you can see him talking to the team doctor.

“He said his right foot was uncomfortable.”

“Knees again?”

“Ankle. It’s not a serious injury, but I think it needs to be replaced for protection. So… … .”

iced coffee.

Aaaah.

I don’t think I need to listen to gossip.

The time has finally come.

“Ha-nul, are you listening to me?”

“Huh? Okay then.”

“… … What did I say?”

“I want you to come out as an attacking midfielder.”

“… … .”

“……no?”

shit.

I can’t just ignore those scolding looks.

Just bow your head and ask for mercy.

If it were Steffen Baumgart, he would have laughed it off with a wide mouth, considering his large size, but it was too much for André Pollock, who discovered me and watched me for so long.

“Listen carefully. In the second half, Ozkan will replace Ut. Therefore, the team’s tactics will change to 4231, but Ondrej Duda is still on the injured list.”

“huh.”

“And the director… … wants to give you the free roll.”

“Freeroll? You mean I can move freely? As I please.”

“Yes. I think it would be better to use Ozkan or Ljubicic… … but the coach wants to see your potential. He tested you in several practice matches before, and the season is almost over. He said today’s match is the perfect time to test you.”

“As expected. It’s very manly to like adventure.”

“… … .”

“I mean, it’s a bold but great choice.”

The corners of the other person’s mouth are twitching, as if he is debating whether or not to say something. After a moment of thought, he decides to take a practical approach.

I decided to start by conveying the essential information.

“You may be playing a free role, but you shouldn’t think of yourself as an attacking midfielder. Given your playing style, playing a traditional, fixed role would be counterproductive. You’ve experienced this in practice matches, right?”

“Well… … that’s right.”

Don’t misunderstand.

I always did well in practice matches.

The only problem is that he gets knocked out due to physical issues while playing defense, or his path overlaps with that of the attackers… … damn it.

okay.

There were certainly some potential problems.

“That’s why we’ll tactically fill in any areas that might be considered weak. That means we don’t have to drop too deep in defense. Timmy (Remperle’s nickname) and Jan (Tillman) will drop deeper than in the first half, but we’ll attack slowly. We’ll have to attack the opponent’s half through the attack. At this time, turnovers (failures to attack) won’t be tolerated. The key is-”

I know this too.

How many times have I been subjected to harassment under the guise of teaching during ‘Harness Dold’s Tactical Class’?

“It’s about finishing the attack so that the opposing team doesn’t have a chance to counterattack. In other words, it’s about not giving up the flow. Right?”

“… … I know very well.”

“I’ll be eighteen soon. I’m old enough to have experience.”

“… … .”

But why are you sighing?

I literally know it but I don’t know.

“… … The same goes for offense. Forget about having to guard a certain area or the center of the second line. Depending on the situation, actively switch with Timmy or Yann, and if you have the chance, finish with a mid-range shot. Do you know what this means? Not “you can finish” but “you have to” finish. The more threatening the shot, the more opportunities you have to make a decisive pass to your teammate.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“… … .”

“Really. Then they’ll use it in the next game too.”

To this, I respond with round, sincere eyes.

Because it’s worth it.

Freeroll.

It’s not just good to be free.

This is the highest position that only the team’s ace can achieve, and a player recognized by the coach can achieve.

Of course, there is a clear position called assertion, but in terms of ability, it is unique and unrivaled, so my heart instinctively raced.

* * *

Just after halftime.

It wasn’t just the Augsburg bench that noticed the change in Cologne.

“The formation changed. We took out the Ut. Then, I guess we’ll go with 4231?”

“What’s inconvenient? Even though he has few goals, considering his contribution, there’s no reason to remove him without a reason. It’s not like the manager is incompetent… … Hmm? Even his position has changed?”

“What seat?”

“Look over there, Rempel is standing right there to the side.”

“……uh?”

As quick-witted fans pointed at Rempale, Sung Ha-neul, who was standing in the center of the field, inevitably got mentioned.

“Is it 442?”

“No way. You’re going to pull out a tactic here that you’ve never used before during the season? At the end of the league? Even if we win today, our ranking won’t change at all?”

“… … So Hanul is a public servant?”

“That’s more convincing.”

“Hmm, I think I’ll do pretty well… … but I’ve never played as a public servant before.”

As the conversation of one or two people attracts the attention of dozens of people, the murmurs of dozens turn into a chaotic discussion of hundreds of people.

In response to the argument that moving Remperle to the center was not the right choice, there was a counterargument that it was a waste of Sung Ha-neul’s decision-making power to place him on the right side.

Following speculations that something might have gone wrong with Ljubicic, who is waiting on the bench, there were even confident voices saying that he is preparing for the DFB Pokal final.

Some argued that it would have been better to move Modeste up to the front line instead, but ultimately, the away fans’ opinions were unanimous.

“It’s a freeroll.”

“I see, isn’t that so?”

“Well, Hanul is a genius. Oh, I misspoke. He’s just a genius.”

“That’s right. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a problem if we lose the whole game today. If you think of it as an investment for next season, then that’s it. Imagine. Sung Ha-neul supporting Modeste’s bottom line?”

“It’s a bit new. Our attacking line is already the best among Bundesliga teams. But I really hope they do well. If they succeed, our tactical options will increase significantly. Hanul can play in three positions: the front line, the right wing, and the attacking midfielder. It will broaden the scope of team management.”

“What else can’t I do? Of course I can do it well.”

The middle-aged man wearing a baker’s hat following Director Baumgart speaks in a firm tone, but suddenly the person sitting behind him cautiously lets out a worried voice.

“I really need to do well. It’s easier said than done, but freelancing isn’t an easy role. You have to make your own decisions and move forward… … Maybe it’s because I’m young, but I’m starting to worry without realizing it.”

“I said there was no need to worry.”

“… … I guess so?”

“Oh, that’s right. When was it not a free role? When I played as a winger and when I played at the front, I moved instinctively and quickly, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true. Hanul also does interviews as free-rolls, right?”

“Hahahaha.”

And indeed, the boy proves it on the field.

Phew!

Just after Cologne goalkeeper Schwabe leaps up to block a long-range shot, Schmitz rushes in from the right flank and steals possession away.

Unlike the first half, rather than switching to a counterattack right away, the entire game is stabilized through passing play from the back.

At first glance, it didn’t seem like a bad development, as Augsburg had set up a defensive line and was using a defensive tactic of pulling the ball towards the center and eating it up.

Hit the button!

However, as a single point difference tends to make the human mind impatient as time goes on, the front-line attackers are unknowingly dragged into the Cologne camp.

From left winger Ruben Vargas, to Michael Gregoritic up front, to Andre Hahn on the right.

It was an attempt to make it difficult to build up from the back through defensive midfielder Elias Schiri.

In the second half, a midfield partner named Sali Ozcan was brought in, so any random action would soon lead to a crisis in the friendly camp.

Boohoo!

Ozkan, who received a pass from Skiri, aimed a long-distance ground ball pass towards the second line, and it soon went to Seong Ha-neul, who was wandering around Modeste’s lower line.

and.

Tick, squeak!

He brings his right foot to the side of the ball and places it on the top of his foot.

The intention is not to possess the ball, but to pass it to the weak striker at the back.

As expected, Reece Oxford, who had been ordered by the bench to stick to being a full-time defender, had no time to apply strong pressure before the ball went out of play.

Then, the pass, deflected by the second line’s Sung Ha-neul, went to the feet of Modeste, who had his back to the defender, and Tillman on the left side moved towards the center and demanded the ball.

Knock, knock!

As Modeste gives up on turning towards goal and plays a short pass backwards, Jan Tillman responds with a direct penetrating pass.

The destination is the left edge of the box.

He cut the ball short, using exquisite technique to avoid the defender’s outstretched leg.

Groan, groan, groan – ddeuddeud.

Ta-da-da-dak!

Then, the stands begin to shake and the stadium becomes noisy.

The first one to run towards the ball is… Seong Ha-neul.

Immediately after connecting the pass, the boy used an S-shaped movement using his upper body feint to open a significant distance from the dedicated defender and was in the process of penetrating into the space that Jan Tillman should have been aiming for.

“Catch him, catch him and at least commit a foul! This is a piece of shit!”

“Those XXs, are they just standing there blankly!!”

Was he originally that fast of a player?

Perhaps because he moved down a level from the central striker position, Seong Ha-neul gained freedom on the flanks and is now attacking with overwhelming speed.

At first glance, it looks like you’re sliding across the grass.

In an instant, he stepped on the box line and entered, and the Augsburg defense, including Reece Oxford, missed the timing to tackle.

Only the 35-year-old veteran goalkeeper Rafał Kikiewicz checks his position and shooting angle and prepares to guard the last line of defense.

If I had shot, I would have reacted somehow.

If I had shot.

Twitch, tsk tsk-

At the moment when everyone expected a shot, Seong Ha-neul kicked the left side of the ball with his left foot and rolled it to the other side of the box.

Thanks to the proper spin, the ball, which seemed like it was going to fly out of the right goal, ended up rolling inward.

At the end, right winger Timmy and Tim Remperle come running in at just the right time.

Thud-thud!

[Wow!]

No matter how lacking their determination, there is no way they won’t score a goal that is half empty, so the away fans cheer loudly.

The score that appeared on the scoreboard immediately was 1 to 3.

The towers of Augsburg were crumbling.