Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 182



Only Krnovel

Episode 182 Call (1)

South Korea national team coach Mauri Mendes, who is also a Portuguese national, will be playing his second international match.

The location is Sangam World Cup Stadium, and the opponent is Cameroon.

In the match against the virtual Ghana, Cameroon came out with an aggressive 433 formation, while Korea chose a stable 4411 formation.

The defense line is, from the left, Kim Jun-su, Kwon Jeong-won, Kim Min-je, and Kim Moon-han. The midfielders are Hwang Hee-chul, Hwang Yun-beom, and this time Son Jun-oh and Lee Jae-seon.

Kim Moon-han, a right-back, and Son Jun-oh, a central midfielder, were newly called up players, but it was the front line that really caught the eye.

The top position is occupied by Son Eung-min, and the lower position is supported by Seong Ha-neul.

It was a bold change made with the club’s performance in mind, and the first half was… … half successful.

“Oh, they all went in!”

“Okay, okay!! Fighting!”

While the second-line players are actively moving, Son Eung-min, the front-line striker, moves in all directions, causing rifts in the opposing team.

In addition, Cameroon’s attack was blocked in advance through pressure from the front line. As possession quickly increased to 7 to 3, the cheers from the stands also gradually grew in volume.

However, despite the one-sided performance, manager Mauri Mendes is having some issues with his assistant coach.

“Ha-nul’s movements are ambiguous.”

“Surely, you’re not as bold as usual?”

“Hmm, this is not what I expected. It’s not bad, but it’s not good either. Should I have told you to be more active?”

“… … Let’s wait and see. He might have been influenced by what the media was saying.”

Head coach Sergio DaCosta understood the manager’s feelings. There is nothing more frustrating than a talented player not being able to fully demonstrate his skills.

Is there something wrong with your tactics? Or is there something wrong with your body?

In times like these, all sorts of imaginations tend to swirl through your head, but fortunately or unfortunately, in Sung Ha-neul’s case, the problem was clearly revealed.

[Seong Ha-neul, finally transferring. Cologne’s financial pressure has reached its limit.]

[1. FC Köln’s financial debt alone is 61.9 million euros, a glory bought with debt.]

[Cologne faces possible disciplinary action within league over financial issues.]

[It can’t be delayed any longer. Seong Ha-neul is coming up on the transfer market.]

[The Light and Darkness of Cologne, Are the Big Clubs Happy?]

The news from Germany quickly flowed into Korea. It started as an online Bundesliga fan channel, but it quickly spread to various communities, and soon sports reporters picked up on it.

It’s no wonder, that all summer long I was wondering where the sky would go, only to be replaced by disappointment and regret.

But, given the situation where he had to transfer inevitably ahead of the World Cup, there was absolutely no reason for the reporters to decline.

But is it something that can be accepted and passed over just because of such circumstances? … Mauri Mendes would firmly shake his head.

“External things are external things, and a game is a game.”

“… … He is young.”

“I wasn’t called up to the national team because I was young. This is a place where if you don’t prove your abilities, you’ll be pushed out. It’s different from a club.”

“hmm.”

The head coach lets out a sigh at the clear answer, and at that moment, the one-sided offensive on the field comes to an end.

[Wow!]

When Son Eung-min passes the ball back to Son Jun-oh on the second line, the ball is passed back to Hwang Yun-beom on the left. Son Eung-min drops wide down the line, and right before the defender’s pressure comes, the ball rolls back to his feet, and he passes it forward into the empty space on the left side.

Just as Cameroon’s defense was about to be overwhelmed by the fluid passing play in the central area, a collapse on the flanks meant a decisive chance.

Fullback Kim Jun-su, who dug deep along the left line of the penalty box, quickly took hold of the ball and fired a sensational cross.

The ending belongs to Jae-seon Lee, who jumped to the other side.

Using the speed he had gained while running into the box, he jumped up and landed with his forehead exactly on the landing spot of the official ball.

Thud! Thud!

[Waaaaaaah!]

As the diving header and subsequent shot easily split the right side of the goal, the cheers of the home fans echoed through the soccer-specific stadium.

While the Cameroon defenders look dejected, the goalkeeper who conceded the goal waves his right hand in the air with a look of discontent.

Throughout the entire process, there is no trace of Seongha-neul’s presence.

So it was only natural that I heard a sound during the following halftime.

* * *

I admit it.

I am a guy full of contradictions.

He is so reckless and his mind changes so quickly that at first glance he seems like a frog in human skin.

It’s been like this since two days ago, up until the first half today.

My head is full of thoughts about the article.

‘If you take out the extra revenue from the Champions League, the remaining debt is around €40 million. My transfer fee was probably around that amount, right?’

While I was venting my anger at the amount that was just right, I also wondered if the Cologne board would really make such a stupid decision.

I also blame Jonas Dr for ‘necessarily’ delivering the article, but looking back, I reproach myself for being the one who told everyone that I wanted to transfer first.

A man’s heart is like a reed, and teenagers are an age group where confusion and rebellion coexist… … No matter how much I thought about it, I just felt like I was crazy.

What is this?

What am I doing?

As my head grows, I start to see the team’s shortcomings, and I suddenly feel like leaving, but I’m unable to do anything because I’m obsessed with the city of Cologne. But when I’m faced with the situation where I have to leave, I feel bad about it.

If you’re going to leave, you should hold on to it until the end with regret. The method of saying, “We have serious financial problems, so get out!” doesn’t make sense.

And of course, I know that this kind of thinking is not rational at all, and is a completely stupid decision-making process.

So, the first half against Cameroon was also messed up in a way that was neither here nor there. When your mind gets complicated, it affects your performance.

But the price to pay was also clear, and I was in the locker room, one-on-one with coach Mauri Mendes, getting completely ripped off.

“… …Ask me if I have lost concentration.”

“… … I was a little bit like that. I’m sorry.”

“Faltava-me um pouco de concentration??o. Desculpa.”

No, to be exact, it’s 1 to 2, including the interpreter.

It would have been better if the look in his eyes was more like a reprimand. The interpreter’s eyes were filled with regret.

“This is… …I’ll start interpreting from here.”

“yes.”

“This is not just any A-match. It is the beginning of a journey towards the World Cup, and every match is a process of competition. I didn’t expect this kind of performance from you and gave you the role of attacking midfielder. Why are you so intimidated? Are you just waiting for the ball to come to you and giving it away with one touch, and that’s the end of your role?”

“… … .”

“… … he said.”

“… … .”

“… …Why did you hesitate to shoot? You had a couple of chances, but you just pushed it to the side. Did I give you that kind of instruction?”

“… … .”

“… … he said.”

“… … .”

It would have been less shocking if you didn’t add ‘-라로 하하시네’. Sometimes, excessive consideration adds to the painful feeling.

Of course, I had something to say.

No matter how much you mutter that it’s okay or that nothing’s wrong, there are things that people worry about.

From a call from my agent Alex Pasek (who I had arranged to meet with as soon as I got back to Germany), to messages of concern from the Cologne players, to comforting but not comforting words from the national team members, there was so much to think about.

But at the same time, since there is no solid excuse, I choose to keep my mouth shut.

“… … Think about why I put you in the second line. It’s different at the club. Instead of the defense putting all the pressure on you, I put a player who can share the burden. I mean, Sonny. In a way, it’s a huge opportunity given to you. I’ve created a stage where you can play more aggressively, aggressively, and confidently, playing the plays you couldn’t do before. But if you struggle… … and can’t do your job, what choice should I make?”

“… … .”

“I know you’re worried. You must be concerned about the noises you hear outside. But at times like that, you have to let them know that you’re a player who doesn’t waver to this extent. People don’t love weak players. Rather, they love players who stubbornly push through when they should be psychologically shaken—players who do their part until the end.”

I felt like I was being hit in the bones with every word.

He is a director who pursues a different approach from Steffen Baumgart.

Much more cool-headed… … and in some ways a little more practical. He focuses on asking for exactly what he needs, what he wants.

“That’s what a star player is. He’s the one who buries all controversy with his skills, so that there’s no room to worry about club problems or transfer rumors. He’s the one who just makes you exclaim in admiration. That’s what I want. I want you to play that role and be that way. Do you understand?”

“… … .”

“D?-me uma resposta.”

“Heaven, the director told me to answer.”

The answer is easy.

“Yes.”

“……uh?”

The interpreter looks embarrassed when German suddenly starts to mix in with the conversation between Portuguese and Korean, but… … that’s all.

No reflection, no motivation, no idea what to do now.

Because I knew everything.

In the second half that followed, I faithfully carried out my instructions until I was substituted for Jo Young-guk around the 82nd minute.

More, more, more.

Deeper and stickier attempts.

He didn’t stop passing plays on the second line completely, but he increased the number of dribble breakthrough attempts as if he had gone back a year.

“#@$!”

Liar!

T-T!

When the angle appears, he connects with a shot without hesitation.

And that worked… … surprisingly well.

Swish.

For example, in the second half – the space about 3 meters away from the box.

Using his right foot, he gently grabbed Hwang Yun-beom’s ground pass, like sweeping up rags with a pitchfork, and at the same time, he turned his body 180 degrees toward the goal.

Chorrrrrr!

The sliding tackle coming from the right side is delayed by moving the ball to the left foot. If the opponent slides in as is, he will be caught, but it buys time to make the next move.

So, extend your right foot and take a step to the right, then pull your left foot and pull the ball upwards as well.

A simple individual skill that utilizes the bouncy nature of a sphere, running as if bouncing on grass.

But when each of those simple tasks was successfully performed, Cameroon’s defenders were left at a loss.

Especially the home fans.

[Wow!!]

[Crazy, crazy!]

[Shoot, shoo-out!]

Is it because you’re taller than last year?

Maybe because I gained more muscle and ran a little faster?

Is it because your field of vision has expanded? Or is it because your tactical perspective has expanded?

Somehow, they all seem to be correct.

Immediately after dropping the ball straight ahead and stabilizing it, he overpowers the defenders trying to come in for cover with two false moves.

The left central defender winked at Son Eung-min, who was digging in from the left, and the right fullback pretended to aim for Jae-seon Hyung… …and feinted a left-footed kick.

Stop!

“$@!!”

Although he couldn’t completely block it, the opponent couldn’t decide whether to block the passing route or follow Jae-seon. Taking advantage of that moment of hesitation, he tapped the ball with the outside of his left foot.

If the ball rolls exactly two steps to the left, there is a shooting chance at the front of the box.

The distance from the goal is about 17 meters at most, so I quickly adjust my steps and swing my left foot.

As anyone can see, it was a good shot to split the left side of the goal… … He delayed the moment of impact and kicked it to the right.

Clang!!

[Wow!!]

“Holy shit!! This guy!”

“Are you awake? Hahaha. Good job!”

“Isn’t it too much to put it in every game?”

The goalkeeper had no reaction at all to the straight-line shot, and soon players in red uniforms rushed over and congratulated him by patting his neck, shoulders, and back.

The game time on the scoreboard was 78 minutes into the second half, and the score was 2 to 0.

Clap clap clap clap!

After a while, I returned to the bench to a standing ovation as the results were announced rather slowly.

And so it is.

The September A-Match period ends.

Now is the time to organize my understanding of the game style and have a conversation. As expected, as soon as I arrived in Cologne, Germany, I met various people.

First was Alex Pasek, then the club’s management.