Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 168



Only Krnovel

Episode 168: August of Decision

For me, football is like a key.

Could this be a solution to an unsolvable problem?

He shakes off the nagging from his family by running around the playground, pretends nothing happened inside the stadium even after fighting with (former) Modeste, and makes up for the regret of not being able to go on a trip with training camp.

Most incidents and accidents could be resolved using soccer as a tool.

But there is also a responsibility that comes with it, and I was meeting with a counselor after finishing the first round of the Bundesliga.

There’s nothing special going on, it’s just that my regular consultation date is approaching.

“… … I told you before, you have to take extra classes during the vacation. They do adjust your schedule, but since it’s not a specialized school, you have to make up your points. You don’t have enough class participation points.”

“Ahem.”

“So today I had history and English classes. They weren’t as bad as I thought. Maybe it’s because the Bundesliga opened the day before yesterday, but the class was all about soccer.”

“… … Do you talk about soccer during class?”

A room with a bookshelf, a sofa, and a carpet.

I add, not too late, that I am afraid that Namita Ayushi, an Indian counselor, might misunderstand.

“Not openly, but indirectly. For example, it’s like this. When Professor Capel was talking about modern and contemporary Germany, he said, ‘Don’t you know that there are records of soccer being played at that time?’ and explained the phenomena of the 19th and 20th centuries. Nationalism and the spirit of modernization combined with sports… … and so on.”

“I see. You teach in a unique way.”

“It has to be different. Mr. Capel is a Cologne fan.”

Fortunately for me, there are quite a few topics to talk about.

“Because it was essentially a private lesson, he would also talk to himself a lot. ‘I have to say this,’ he said, ‘How did you jump so high to catch the ball that went out of the sideline?’, ‘The Schalke kids couldn’t move an inch.’, ‘Did you see the game score? He got over 9 points even though he didn’t score.’, etc.”

“… … .”

“That was a very subtle point. Because you pointed out exactly what you wanted me to know. Not the attack points, but the detailed play aspect. I mean, you’re not a teacher for nothing.”

“Hanul-”

“I especially liked how you understood the atmosphere at the end of the game. Soccer isn’t a game where the atmosphere is good only when a goal is scored.”

She purses her lips during the conversation, but I pretend not to hear her and continue talking, in case she’s off-topic.

It’s not that I didn’t like it, there were scenes that I really liked.

The final score was 3-0, maintaining the score difference from the early and mid-second half, but there were many things that happened in the process.

for example-

Kwaaak!

In the 29th minute of the second half, I moved wide to the sideline of the opposing camp and competed for an aerial ball. The defender who was right behind me tried to push me hard, but since I had already secured the landing point, I generously gave in to being pushed back a little.

The important thing is to not lose your center of gravity. The next important thing is to use the opponent’s misjudgment as a springboard to connect to your next play.

So, pretending to be pushed helplessly, I tilt my waist to the right for a moment and stretch out one arm.

Sweep.

He barely touched the grass, but the key was that he didn’t put his hands on the ground, which resulted in maintaining his center of gravity. He pushed his left foot into the spot where the ball landed, and then quickly achieved a soft trap.

At the same time, using the posture of leaning to one side, turn to the right… … the decompression process is complete.

It was the turn of Florian Kainz, who was in charge of the left wing, and his assistant (who was pushed higher because they were in the opposing team) – Jonas Hector – to come running.

“Hmm, that was good. That was really good. The Schalke players played like they had completely given up after that. When that kind of play starts happening repeatedly, the opponent’s momentum is bound to be broken. That’s exactly what Brazil did… … Anyway.”

“… … .”

“Sorry. Do you have something to say to me? Did I talk too much by myself?”

The pleasant memories were fleeting.

Namita Ayushi’s calm eyes seem to contain something she wants to say, so I take a step back at this point.

“Not at all. I like telling you. It’s an interesting story. But… … .”

“but?”

Look at this.

If you speak as if nothing happened, the main point will quickly come out.

“I think it would be better to talk about things that can be discussed in counseling rather than everyday stories.”

“I don’t really have any concerns.”

“I don’t necessarily want to listen to your worries. There’s no need to force them, and that won’t work either. However, counseling is not just about your worries, it also involves looking into the counselor’s inner self.”

“huh.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Then suddenly, she shuts her mouth without saying anything more.

what.

Hmm.

Should I just say something?

I guess that’s what it takes to be worth the money.

I’m a person with a wide distribution (I think so), but I’m not used to static. So… … I can’t help it.

Knock knock – I have no choice but to bring up a topic that has been rising from a corner of my mind.

On the one hand, I wondered if it was necessary to go this far to satisfy the other person’s professional satisfaction, but on the other hand, I understood.

Anyway, it was a question that was asked everywhere even outside of consultation hours.

* * *

“So what did you ask?”

“I haven’t told my parents about transferring yet.”

“… … You still haven’t taken it out? Really? During the training camp, you acted like you were going to tell me tomorrow.”

Inside the training ground.

As the official training session draws to a close, Remperle opens his eyes wide and asks back. It was a very cheeky response, but… … This time, I have nothing to say.

“No… … . Well, I tried to do it. I kept trying, but things were complicated.”

“What’s so difficult about that? I want to move to England. Just say that and go into your room. What’s the problem?”

“… … It’s not that I want to move to England, but I want to go there if I have to.”

“Is that different?”

“No. It means that I won’t move within Germany.”

“Well, seeing as Modeste is getting cussed out, going to England would be better than going to Munich.”

“right?”

“Yeah. But I guess I can’t help but look pathetic for not being able to say anything. I’m good at saying things I wouldn’t say to my teammates.”

“When did I do that?”

At the moment when I was about to explode, I followed the other person’s gaze and saw Jonas, who was quietly listening from the side.

Should I shut up?

Yeah, I guess I should shut up.

Team Rempel, once my mere subordinate, has become quite good at speaking.

“I told you not to worry. How long are you going to keep watching?”

“I didn’t notice… … I just saw a little bit.”

While naturally observing the situation, the person in question takes the lead and disrupts the mysterious atmosphere.

Jonas Hector, the team captain and the one I made a huge verbal mistake with, smiled good-naturedly.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be concerned at all.”

“Really? Then can I ask Jonas what he thinks?”

“You mean the thing you couldn’t say?”

“huh.”

“I think I’m doing well.”

The unexpected answer was a bonus.

“really?”

“There’s nothing wrong with worrying. Just be honest with yourself. That’s what I meant. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. That’s all. More importantly, are you trying to get the word out somehow?”

“……yes.”

“Okay then.”

Yeah, that’s it.

Always be honest.

That’s what’s important.

Actually, they say that starting is half the battle, and I’m currently considering the timing of when to talk to my mom and dad. Since the summer transfer market deadline is the end of August, I have some time to spare.

I shouldn’t have delayed too much, but I didn’t intend to… … but anyway, that’s what happened.

So I throw off the shackles of the past (of course, the slip of the tongue I made to Jonas) and re-arm myself with the same honesty as before.

“Jonas is right. Honesty is best.”

“Hmm? Yeah, that’s right.”

“So I’m planning to decide by the end of August.”

“… … I see. I appreciate you telling me, but you’d better be careful not to let it leak out in public. The reporters are watching you.”

That’s right.

That’s what I was going to say anyway.

“Yeah. I won’t go around talking nonsense either. Even though Horst Heldt, the director of Cologne, tried to transfer me without permission.”

“… … .”

“Then he got a huge beating from Anthony Modeste and only received a transfer fee of 6.5 million euros.”

“… … Hanul.”

“That’s all? The fans are hurling abuse at me because I didn’t even get my transfer fee back, and in the midst of all that, he must have felt like he was being bullied, and he’s begging me to stay for one more year… … Don’t worry, I’m not like that person. I’ll be careful and careful in everything I do. Horst Held kindly told you, right? How can you be a piece of shit?”

“… … .”

I still have more to say.

The other person’s facial expression was extremely disturbing, so I’ll end it here. As he said, there were quite a few eyes watching.

This touches on something I didn’t mention.

The Cologne board, who received only a minimal transfer fee, have failed to find a replacement for Modeste (which most fans were not surprised by), and as a result, the first-team training ground has been filled with players called up from the second-team, free agents, and new signings with low transfer fees.

“But I don’t think Hanul said anything strange. The squad has gotten stronger, but it feels like the gap between the starting lineup and the bench has widened a bit?”

“Timmy.”

“I’m sorry. I just thought it seemed like that… … .”

Tim Remperle also added a few words, as if he had the same thoughts as me, but was scolded by Schmitz and quickly left.

He’s good at everything, but he’s scared.

“Once you bring it up, you have to push through it steadfastly.”

“… … Will that work?”

“I can do it.”

“… … .”

I did return the favor I had just taken, but I didn’t actually say anything wrong.

Just for the central defender position, the Croatian Nicolás Soldo, who had just turned 20, transferred to the team, and two promising young players were promoted from the second team, namely Riyad Smaic and Elias Bakatu… something or other.

The same goes for the midfielders.

Josua Schwirten and Matthias Olesen have been promoted from the second team, but instead of signing them, there are rumours that Ondrej Duda will move to Italy.

I did spend some money on the offensive line, but… … sigh.

“In the end, I have to shoulder it. The responsibility is huge. How can I just leave like this?”

“… … You really are consistently unlucky.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“… … .”

Then, all of a sudden, Schmitz intervenes and puts an end to the negative evaluation.

“By the way, Jonas, this is your last season, right? Is that right?”

“Hmm.”

“… … Is that a difficult question? I just overheard the coaches talking.”

“It won’t be that difficult. That’s right. I’m planning to retire at the end of this season.”

“Isn’t it too early?”

“That’s the position of winger. It’s hard to play for a long time.”

What was this all about? It was hard to understand right away.

Retirement? Retirement?

You’re only thirty-two!