Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 170



Only Krnovel

Episode 170: Goats Leaving the Fence

Bruges, a city in northwestern Belgium.

The hotel room is immersed in darkness, with the window covered with curtains to block out outside noise. The night view doesn’t dazzle the eyes either, but a small light casts a shadow on a water bottle on the table.

I was on the phone, sitting on my white bedsheets, without even having time to unpack.

[… … Unfortunately, this is not the end. We are still interested in you, and if possible… … No, we will do whatever it takes to bring you back during the winter transfer market. We are waiting.]

“Yeah. Thanks for saying that.”

The caller was Arsenal’s director of sports, Vinai Venkatesham.

As of 00:00 on September 1st, the summer transfer market closed and each team completed its recruitment, but there are still some who are still interested.

And this left a pretty positive impression.

While I was delaying and dragging my feet on my decision, someone tried to persuade me, and someone threatened me (that’s how I felt) that I would regret it if I missed this opportunity.

Compared to that, the comment telling me to just wait quietly was nothing special.

Doesn’t that mean you want to take me with you?

Knock knock.

As I tapped the screen of my phone and pressed the end button, I felt the silence in the hotel room. I wasn’t the only one. Rempaele, who was confirmed to be my roommate this season, was lying on the opposite bed, looking at his phone.

It was quite curious.

“What are you looking at like that?”

“Munich match.”

“What are you looking at? You already won anyway.”

“It’s a draw.”

“……okay?”

This is unexpected.

“At the beginning of the season, he clicked his tongue and said that it was a mistake this year too.”

“That’s… … because these crazy guys scored a total of 15 goals in 3 rounds. They brought Sadio Mane from Liverpool, right? Of course I thought Munich would win the title this year, but they don’t seem that strong. They drew with Mönchengladbach in the 4th round, but they stayed in first place on goal difference, but they drew again with Union Berlin in the 5th round and dropped down in the rankings.”

“then…….”

“That’s right. We’re number one.”

“… … .”

“Just like that for now.”

The ugly one looks around to see if he can hear even a word, but I am too lost in my own thoughts to respond.

okay.

Maybe this is also the reason why it seems like there is no need to transfer yet.

Four days ago, in the 5th round of the Bundesliga, they also won 4-2 in an away game against Wolfsburg, taking their first five games to 4 wins, 1 draw, and 13 points.

1st in the league.

Because the results were much better than last year, and there was nothing better for the team.

It’s not that Cologne didn’t have the players in place to lead the season, from the offense to the defense, at the point when reinforcement work was completed.

Mark Utt remains the regular striker, but new signings Sargis Adamian, Florian Dietz and Linton Maina have filled the role.

The left and right attackers will retain the existing members, including Jan Tillman, Kainz, Ljubicic and Rempale.

In particular, the attacking midfielder position was kept by Ondrej Duda, who was rumored to be on loan (though he would still be a starter).

“If we keep going like this, won’t we be able to do better than last season? Anyway, you’re still here… … .”

Of course, there is some negative news.

I’m not talking about something like Modeste.

“Well, we’ll have to wait and see. The central resources are lacking, after all. Salih (Salih Ozkan) left.”

“Hmm, that’s true. I didn’t expect it since my contract was almost up, but I didn’t expect to go to Dortmund. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d lose two of them.”

“I have to get revenge. I will make you regret it. I will definitely catch Dortmund.”

“No… … It’s okay. But the replacements, Mathias and Dennis, are also talented. You should know them since you played against them in the second team before.”

“Have you ever jumped together?”

“… … You ran with me too?”

“I?”

“Yeah, you.”

“No.”

“That’s right.”

“… … .”

It’s strange. I’m sure we first met this summer.

I thought I’d heard about it somewhere… … Did you play together in the second team? Hmm, somehow we pretended to be close during the spring training camp.

But in reality, there was something else to worry about.

“Let’s leave that aside, but one thing is certain.”

“what?”

“If Skiri gets injured, there’s going to be chaos.”

“I agree. I brought Eric Martel, but it wasn’t enough.”

“It’s not enough. You have to say it’s on a different level.”

“… … Do you really have to say that?”

“I believe that the harsher reality becomes, the more courageously you have to face it.”

“Ha, you must be stupid.”

Nevertheless, it is not anxiety or tension. Bedside chatter continues late into the night, based on anticipation of the future.

It was the night before the first match of the group stage in the European Champions League.

* * *

The next evening.

A kind of self-justification for not deciding to move to a big club is also made on match days.

The road leading to Jan Breydel Stadium, where the first match will be held. As it approaches evening, the roadside is brightly lit by streetlights and the stadium’s exterior lights. The bus passes the line of fans, enters the official-only entrance, and comfortably guides us all the way to the locker room.

Crack!

Immediately after arriving and changing into their uniforms, Captain Bear caught everyone’s attention with a single round of applause. It was unusual for him to call everyone together before they even started warming up.

“Everyone, focus.”

“Ja!”

“Finally, the European stage. Some players end their careers without ever setting foot here, but we have come.”

Wheeeeeek-

As if trying to liven up the mood, the clumsy meerkat whistles to show his agreement, but is quickly glared at and cowered in a corner. Thanks to this, Sargis Adamian, a new student, also secretly follows suit and ends up in the same situation.

idiot.

In times like this, you should just stay still.

“And here… … it’s definitely a tough stage. People say that there are weak teams and strong teams. For example, in the group we’re in, Atletico Madrid is strong and Club Brugge is weak. But in fact, there are no weak teams here. They’re all teams representing their respective countries and leagues. That’s why the national flags were placed next to the club names on the day of the draw.”

“… … .”

“So we have to stick to the Cologne style of football that we have played so far and keep pushing forward stubbornly. Just as we do, the other team will come at us with their own perfected tactics.”

Every word is correct.

The important thing was to push forward stubbornly as we had been doing.

“Of course, today’s game is likely to be difficult. It’s partly because it’s an away game, but more than that, it’s because this challenge itself is new. Since it’s my first time at the stadium, the width and depth of the field will be different. The length and quality of the grass will be different from the home stadium, and the referees’ judgment criteria, the opposing bench’s tactics, and the players’ faces, let alone the air I breathe in and out, will feel unfamiliar.”

“… … .”

“But in the end, we have to keep pushing forward stubbornly. Push forward the Cologne way, and even if we make mistakes, I, this guy Steffen Baumgart, can say that I made a wrong choice. So that we never have any regrets. So don’t let your guard down. Keep your eyes on one goal and keep moving forward straight. That’s what Cologne’s identity is, and that’s what symbolizes its united strength. Do you understand?”

“JA (Yes)!!”

For a moment, the locker room was shaking as the players screamed at the top of their lungs.

This is it. Without realizing it, somewhere in my heart, I find myself making excuses that it might be okay to stay in Cologne a little longer.

I think this team can go up a little further.

I keep telling myself that whether it’s Korea or England, the fact that they keep talking about big clubs, big clubs, actually creates a backlash… … This is self-rationalization.

And above all-

“Hanul, let me talk to you for a moment.”

“huh.”

“Your position in this game is important. The coaches expect Brugge to stay low and crouch. Then, once again, the process of releasing… … .”

Because I’m the center of this team.

Because the head coach comes to us every game and explains everything one by one with a look of excitement on his face.

There was absolutely nothing lacking.

* * *

Kickoff is at 9pm.

The Champions League theme song starts to play majestically beforehand, and soon countless voices start to tangle in a chaotic manner in a stadium that seats less than 30,000 people.

It was only right before the game that I realized why Steffen Baumgart had been giving such a long speech in the locker room.

The level of pressure varied.

I want to say that the Champions League is so great, but compared to the Rhein-Energie-Stadion, this stadium is nothing special. But, as the captain Bear said, the feeling of unfamiliarity caused me to feel uncomfortable.

Even the lights and the puzzle-like shadows beneath them didn’t appeal to me. Not because of me… …but because my colleagues clearly looked overwhelmed.

“Wake up.”

“……huh.”

I can somehow understand the feelings of cheering and screaming, anticipation and anxiety. It’s hard to just sit back and watch Korakseoni, who is like an invisible person, no, like his eyes are transparent and his mind is sent flying away on a rocket.

So I gave a sharp warning at the last, final moment, when the players were gathered together and encouraging each other.

“Okay, everyone focus-”

“I lost.”

“……what?”

“You answered well… … but everyone’s eyes are wide open. It’s a visual I’ve seen a lot in the fish corner of the mart. If this is how it is, today’s game was a failure.”

“Hanul, you… … .”

Did you cross the line a little?

Before Jonas, Benno Schmitz intervenes with a frown, but he doesn’t stop there and goes a step further.

“I know. You told me not to get angry before the game, right? But if we keep going like this, we’ll really get into trouble. Of course, I could speak softly like Skiri. I could scold him honorably (he made a mysterious expression when he heard this word) and seriously like Jonas. But I’m a saint. I’d rather be a mad dog like Mark Ut and bite him. Don’t you think so?”

“… … Are you saying I’m a mad dog?”

“Sorry. I’m not saying that Ut is a dog, but I’m pretty sure he has rabies.”

“… … .”

It’s already my second year.

“Anyway, what can they do? It’s obvious, right? They counterattack after defending. On the other hand, we just have to keep going at our own pace. The coaching staff demands the same thing. ‘Take the ball where it’s okay to lose it.’ You know? We decide whether we score or concede. Don’t worry about the home crowd, the weird atmosphere, or anything else. If it’s really hard, just give it to me. I’ll take care of it. I’m Seong Ha-neul.”

“… … .”

“let’s go.”

Although he could not dare to compare with that of a veteran, he was more than capable of catching and feeding the new baby goats.

okay.

The time has come to take care of my juniors.

“What are you doing? Let’s go? I don’t have anything else to say.”

“… …Why is he still like that?”

“You must have experienced this too.”

“No, no matter what, this is the first army… … .”

“Yes. And this is Sung Ha-neul. He said it himself.”

“… … .”

The rebellion of the worms was of no concern.

The important thing is to come to your senses.

In fact, the reason Mark Ut didn’t squeeze my balls was because the baby goats had come to their senses.

But after a while.

[Wowaaaaaaaaa-!!]

“……under.”

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the home fans, Brugge’s left forward Kamal Sowa celebrates his goal with his arms outstretched.

The time on the scoreboard was 6 minutes into the first half.

I scratched my lottery ticket and it turned out I won a ‘difficult game’.