Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 185



Only Krnovel

Episode 185 Two Aces (1)

Just before the game starts, Steffen Baumgart is busy giving tactical instructions in the locker room.

He stands in the center of the room as usual and speaks passionately, as if he has completely forgotten about my transfer rumors or is completely unaware of them.

“Today, we need to focus on positioning in defense. If we reflect the tactical movement of the opposing team this season, that is, the ‘4231-based modified tactic’, left winger Donial Mallon will attack into the center, and fullback Guerreiro will fill the empty space by joining forward. At that time, fullback Meunier will take a more stable position. In other words, Dortmund will take a three-back formation in attack, right?”

“yes.”

“In addition, right winger Adeyemi will be wide to the right rather than inside the box. In the center… … Ozkan will drop deep, but Jude Bellingham will move wide from the third line to the front line from box to box. This will instantly create a 3142 formation, which can be a huge burden on our defense. That’s why we have to exert a lot of strength in the front. Do you understand what I mean? Today’s game is a battle of strength against strength.”

Knock knock!

There is no hesitation in the hands that tap the tactical board.

As I said, the opposing team’s tactics are 4231.

When his thick palm hit the place where the yellow magnetic words were gathered, he was unable to overcome the shock for a moment and they fell to the floor in a heap.

“… … Damn it. What, okay? Do you remember where everyone is? Let’s keep going like this. Myna, Ut!”

“Ja!”

“The two front-line attackers should occupy the space between the opposing central defenders and midfielders. You don’t have to press them too much throughout the game. However, when the central defenders get the ball, you should make them kick it. You don’t have to run all the way to their noses, but you don’t want them to be able to pass it leisurely.”

“All right.”

“Let’s see where the second line is… … from both sides. Kainz, Ljubicic.”

“Ja.”

“You too. My preferred position is to target the space between the central midfielder and the wide defender, but if the ball is passed straight to the opposing winger… … I have to press immediately. I have to make it difficult for them to let go.”

Knock, knock, knock.

As soon as he gives his orders, red magnets land all over the tactical board.

Cologne’s formation is 4132.

The opposing team is Borussia Dortmund, a strong team in the Bundesliga, but the loss to Atletico Madrid seems to have served as a tonic, as they did not avoid a strong fight.

First of all, I like the tactical policy.

“And Hanul.”

“huh.”

“Your role in this process is important. The intensity of the pressure will fluctuate depending on how you move in the center.”

“Just leave it to me.”

So, I am also confident in my answer.

The day after returning from Korea, I rested for a day with the permission of the manager. The next day was recovery training. It would be a lie to say that my body was in perfect condition after two days of rest, but meeting my former teammates was very motivating.

When my mind is complicated with various things, I watch soccer.

Even though my mind is complicated because of soccer… … soccer.

When I kick the ball, I become a complete saint.

Now was the time to focus on the game.

* * *

Rhine Energy Stadium.

There is no room to stand in the square stadium that can accommodate 50,000 people.

[Oh, oh, oh!]

[A young goat grew up in the vast Rhine River!]

[Sunghanul, the pride of Cologne!]

[Our lyrics flow out from the steel horns!]

[He hits, dribbles and scores!]

[Strong young goat, score a goal. Score one more goal for us!]

[Lead the FC Köln goats to the sky!]

In the stands, my cheering song was constantly being chanted, and outside the field, a goat (the team’s mascot, a real goat) with a red muffler around its neck was on a leash. The only thing different from usual was that… …there were banners hanging everywhere.

[Werner Wolf, great!]

[Den Kopf eines gierigen Wolfs abschneiden!]

Translated into Korean, it would be something like ‘Werner Wolf Out’ or ‘Cut off the head of the greedy wolf’. It felt quite threatening because it was not computer-generated text, but written crookedly in red paint.

Somehow, it felt like they were singing my cheering song all the time even before the game started.

I guess there was a reason for everything.

However, once the players finish lining up, they take the time to shake hands with each other and pledge to play fair.

Jude Bellingham, Julian Brandt, Guerreiro, and the somewhat familiar Niklas Sule –

“… … Hanul.”

Sali, Sali Ozkan.

“Let’s have a good game.”

“okay.”

The conversation ends quickly.

Even Anthony Modeste did so.

“… … .”

“… … .”

A silent greeting.

Although I was shaking hands with unusual strength, I didn’t really say anything bad, and I felt the same way.

Surprisingly, I didn’t think much of it.

If I join a different team, will the bad memories from the past be glorified?

Will the good memories… … fade?

I don’t know.

Beep!

And after a while.

The first half began with the referee’s whistle.

* * *

‘There is no doubt about the capabilities of the Cologne coaching staff.’

No matter what anyone says, I thought so. Because his ability to predict the opposing team’s tactics and devise countermeasures was unparalleled.

However, there are times when it is difficult to gain the upper hand through tactics alone.

Unfortunately, that’s what we were like in the first half today.

Tick!

T-T!

[Wow!!]

8 minutes, 14 minutes and 21 minutes in the first half.

Three shots were fired in a row from the friendly second line, and the last one in particular had a trajectory that landed in the left blind spot of the goal.

If it weren’t for the crazy save by goalkeeper Schwabe with his fingertips, we would have conceded the first goal long ago.

“good job!!”

“This crazy kid!”

Then, central defenders Shabot and Huibers rush in and manfully(?) pat him on the cheek, praising him.

As someone who has been watching this entire process from the front, I cannot accept it in a positive light.

“I like it now! Let’s keep going like this!”

“Anthony, don’t come down. It’s been pretty good so far.”

“huh.”

Julian Brandt, who started as an attacking midfielder for Dortmund, exchanged words of encouragement with Bellingham and Modeste.

That’s understandable, since the opponent has devoured the central region.

Ozkan’s decompressing ability is still excellent, Bellingham is nothing to be ashamed of (he was running around like a calf that had eaten the wrong kind of poison), and Julian Brandt is also adding some appropriate seasoning with his amazing link-up skills, even if he is not very bouncy.

Of course, it wasn’t just the negative aspects that stood out.

Liar!

Phew!

“Big!”

In the corner kick situation right after, Anthony Modeste runs towards the goal and leaps up, but loses possession after being pushed out by his team’s central defender, Huibers.

As expected, he is a defender who is ranked in the top three in the league when it comes to providing the ball.

Above all, Modeste was kept in check until the 21st minute of the first half.

“Get your defense in order! I’ll take care of number 20, so don’t worry about it!”

“… … .”

Here, he also mentions Anthony Modeste’s jersey number and starts a war of nerves.

What good will it do if the other person looks at you?

With the accumulated information from years of training and training, it was possible to trust Modeste to keep him tied down.

Therefore, it is up to me to decide the direction of the game. To be exact, it is Seong Ha-neul in the red uniform and Jude Bellingham in the yellow uniform.

Just looking at his current appearance, after catching the ball kicked by Whibus, you can tell that.

Knock, knock, slurp, thud!

Friendly camp 2nd line.

When competing with left winger Florian Kainz, Jude Bellingham uses his unique dribbling rhythm to keep possession.

Turn your upper body to the right, as if looking at the side pass path, and make a quick change of direction behind your left foot.

When Kainz reacts and rushes in, he again uses the outside of his right foot to strike to the right.

To be honest… … it was an outstanding piece of work.

Because I was only making static movements without picking up speed, I was disrupting my fellow athletes’ physical balance.

Phew! Swish!

[Woooooooo~]

It’s not that Kainz is trying too hard, but he falls to the ground, and soon Bellingham’s mid-range shot goes wide of the left side of the goal, ending Dortmund’s attack.

What should I say?

It feels similar to the AT Madrid match, but a little different.

Thanks to goalkeeper Schwabe’s ability to save, they haven’t conceded a goal yet, but if they continue like this, they will eventually run into a hole.

But at the same time, it is not that helpless.

Even though Cologne was pushed back in the center, they were able to create meaningful attacking opportunities through wingers Kainz and Ljubicic, and above all… …because I had changed.

“here!”

While the friendly camp is building up its rear, it has an experience of being hit hard when rushing forward, so it does not move down hastily and stays on the second line.

Add to this your experience with the national team.

Keep your mind calm, but play boldly and aggressively. I chew and chew on what I have heard repeatedly from coach Mauri Mendes and his coaching staff.

There’s no rush.

Center vs. side, Sung Ha Neul vs. Jude Bellingham.

Today’s game was similar yet different, as both teams had different weapons.

Indeed, at the end-

Liar!!

The left flank of the friendly camp.

With a short build-up due to the strong forward press, Jonas Hector fires a long pass across the halfway line to the other side of the field before the attackers can rush in.

Ryu Bi-chi is rushing towards the final landing point of the official ball.

Thud, crap!

Fullback Geheiru tries all sorts of tricks, such as grabbing his uniform and pushing him with his knee, but the difference in their physiques and heights is clear.

With the winner of the aerial battle thus decided, I move from the center of the second line towards the right.

Go to the side, but not too far.

It’s about digging in and aiming for the half space.

Pick-to-Woong!

The subsequent linkage is truly organic and successful.

The ball, which grazed Ljubicic’s crown, fell to the right edge of the penalty box, and Mark Uth, who had made an early move, got out of the defensive line and put his foot in it.

A clean one-touch pass that rolls the ball to where I’m running.

Because it is about 7-8 meters away from the penalty box and the ball’s bounce is unstable, the first thing to do is to focus on the first touch of the ball.

Tong- It bounced on the grass once.

Bam.

The moment you touch the floor again, bring the inside of your right foot to hug it gently. Twist your body slightly to the left and try the other path.

Ta-da-dak, swoosh!

Then, suddenly, I wondered if he was waiting for the right moment to touch the ball or if he thought I would make a mistake. The opposing midfielder, who had approached me, extended his leg to attempt a standing tackle.

Boom!

Turn right at a 90-degree angle before the opponent’s foot gets in any deeper. Roll a couple of steps away to neutralize the defensive attempt.

Then, just in time, a figure appeared approaching from the right.

Geheiru will be sticking to Ryubicic, so this is a winger who joins the defense.

Subjugation is as simple as a wink.

Glance.

‘I’m going to pass to Ryubicic.’

I don’t do it.

Swish-swish.

Pretend to pass with the inside of your right foot.

Gently pull the ball, then turn 90 degrees towards the front – the goal.

“Fuck… … .”

Because I didn’t increase my dribbling speed, the opposing player followed me from behind while swearing.

I repeat, there is no rush.

After making subtle changes to the direction of travel and the angle of the dribble, he slightly bent his upper body toward Ryubicic, who had already slipped to the sideline, and pretended to pass the ball on the ground… … Only then did he accelerate.

When the person behind you suddenly moves away from you at the wrong time, the moment comes when you really need to match your steps.

[Wow-!!]

Amidst the cheers from the stands, four yellow uniforms came into view.

In front is Nico Schlotterbeck, next to him are Jules and Meunier, and on the same line as me, to my left, is Jude Bellingham following behind.

As the edge of the penalty box draws near, I think… no, I come to a conclusion based on instinct and intuition.

Am I calm?

Yes, that’s right.

Are you bold and reckless?

Not yet.

But it’s just a matter of time.

Boom! Roll.

The ball leaves my feet and rolls to Mark Uth, who is standing to the right of Nico Schlotterbeck. At first glance, it seems like a meaningless pass.

There is no reason to exchange two-on-one passes since no opposing players are rushing at you and no one is right next to you.

However, the meaning can be created however you like.

Boom! Boom!

Mark Utt returned a nice return pass reflexively, and I used every means at my disposal to increase speed, including my thighs, calves, and lower back core muscles.

The only way to break through with a dribble is to go in a straight line along the penalty box sideline.

To mix up the timing of penetration, take the first touch with the left foot, but do not kick the teddy bear with the instep and do not drop it far away.

That’s the opposing defender’s job.

okay.

It makes you think that I’m going to go in, that I’m going to dig deep and get close to the goal line.

That’s exactly what he wanted, the moment the defender’s left shoulder opens outward, he dribbles sharply with the outside of his left foot.

Again, another 90 degree turn.

“Big!”

As extreme choices are repeated to such an extreme degree, there is only one thing I wish for from the opposing defender.

Finally, one more time.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Then, the body that was trying to occupy the box line and deep space turns to face me again. After shaking off the physical law of inertia with difficulty, it tries to face me… … It’s done.

Boom! Boom!

This time I’m really going for it.

He hits the ball long to a distance of about 4 meters inside the penalty box, then runs straight ahead… … the ‘real’ finishing timing.

The angle with the goal is less than 40 degrees. It is by no means a wide angle, and the opposing goalkeeper is guarding with both eyes wide open, but there is no hesitation.

The shooting medium is the right foot, and the target is the left middle of the goal.

Phew!

The feel of the ball resting on the instep is so great that even if the goalkeeper swings his arm, there is no change in the shooting trajectory.

slam!!

[Waaaaaaaaaah-!!]

The home crowd behind the goal raised both hands in unison, cheering, shouting, and swearing as praise poured in.

I run past the goal without stopping and all the way to the left corner flag.

Are you sure it will be different from the last game?

I just want to show that I’m getting better and better even in the midst of all this?

I did look at the stands and yell, but I’m not really sure what I was thinking.

“Hey, you evil bastard!!”

“… … The pass was good. I thought you wouldn’t give it to me.”

“You little bastard! How many times do you have to break it!!”

“… … .”

Anyway, this makes it 1 to 0.

It was bearable to have teammates like Mark Utt approach me and offer their enthusiastic and burdensome congratulations, but in the end… … it was the start of a brawl.