Chapter 116
I began a full-fledged period of secluded training before the match against Dortmund.
That was because Dortmund was currently being led by Jürgen Klopp, known as my fated rival.
‘Is this the latest tactical trend…?’
I analyzed Dortmund’s recent tactics in Union Berlin’s manager’s office.
‘Clearly, unlike in the original history, gegenpressing has developed considerably.’
It was obvious that he had solved the weakness of early gegenpressing, which ground players down.
Based on the tactics I had used, Jürgen Klopp had improved his own version of gegenpressing.
‘……Good.’
Although tactics had been developing at a noticeably faster pace since my regression, I felt no negative emotions, including fear.
Rather, watching tactics evolve had filled one corner of my heart with anticipation.
The development of soccer tactics was more than enough to add tension to the part of my heart that had grown complacent since my regression.
‘This is more like it. It’s fun.’
In fact, being a soccer manager was a profession that was difficult to pursue unless you were completely crazy about soccer.
The moment you became even slightly lazy about self-improvement, it was only a matter of time before you became obsolete.
On top of that, managers often suffered burnout because of the excessive responsibility and workload unique to the position.
Even so, the reason soccer managers couldn’t give up their jobs was simple.
Sports, including soccer, were difficult to escape once you became hooked. Sports were often all or nothing. It meant that if you didn’t win, you had nothing.
And when a soccer manager remained in this world of competition, they became addicted without realizing it to the dopamine produced by each match’s result.
That was why even managers who retired would return to coaching soccer within a few years.
Anyway.
[Park Chan-hyuk of Union Berlin and Jürgen Klopp of Dortmund Face Off.]
[Two Young Managers Set to Transform the Bundesliga?]
The media was currently framing Jürgen Klopp and me as rivals.
Even among Bundesliga managers, Jürgen Klopp was one of the younger ones.
‘Klopp was forty-one now, and he’d be turning forty-two soon, right?’
I was twenty-one years old at the moment and would soon be turning twenty-two.
That meant there was exactly a twenty-year age gap between me and Jürgen Klopp, who was called a ‘young manager’ in the Bundesliga.
At present, I had a considerable advantage over Klopp.
After all, being even one year younger was better when it came to learning new things.
‘If you can make up for the lack of experience unique to young people and keep the players in the locker room under control, then having a young manager really is better.’
It was unavoidable.
It was simply the law of nature that the older you became, the slower your mind worked compared to when you were young.
***
Ahead of the match against Dortmund, Park Chan-hyuk held an interview with the media.
With Union Berlin currently racing ahead in first place in the Bundesliga, the club’s press room was filled with reporters.
- Our next match is against Dortmund, who are currently seventh in the league.
“Facing Dortmund is always difficult. They have many excellent players, such as Mats Hummels, Roman Weidenfeller, Marcel Schmelzer, Mohamed Zidan, and Sebastian Kehl. And Jürgen Klopp is also one of the best managers in the world, as far as I’m concerned. I’m always excited to face him.”
Park Chan-hyuk conducted the interview with composure amid the attention of countless media outlets.
‘I heard he’s only twenty-one, but it’s incredible that he isn’t nervous at all in front of this many people.’
‘What was I doing when I was twenty-one…. I think I was busy drinking and having fun.’
‘There must be a reason he succeeded at such a young age.’
The reporters expressed their amazement at how relaxed Park Chan-hyuk seemed.
‘Manage your expression. Manage your expression.’
Meanwhile, Park Chan-hyuk, who had been born an attention seeker, had to desperately force the corners of his mouth downward beneath the gazes of countless reporters.
[Union Berlin Manager Park Chan-hyuk Ahead of the Match Against Dortmund…. “A Good Manager Has Taken Charge at Dortmund. I Believe They’ll Overcome This Crisis Soon.”]
Anyway.
Park Chan-hyuk lightly praised Dortmund, Union Berlin’s next opponent.
Many reporters took it as lip service, but Park Chan-hyuk was sincere.
After all, several of Dortmund’s players possessed potential that was in no way inferior to Union Berlin’s players.
[Park Chan-hyuk Leaves Advice for Bayern Munich After Dortmund. “Bayern Munich Must Be Reformed from the Roots, Not Because of Its Manager.”]
He then had a few complimentary words for Bayern Munich as well.
He wanted Jürgen Klinsmann to remain in charge of Bayern Munich for as long as possible.
‘Please, get fired after you face us in the second half….’
After finishing the interview, Park Chan-hyuk clasped his hands together and prayed earnestly.
It was a wish shared by the fans of every Bundesliga team except Bayern Munich.
***
Time passed quickly.
It was the day of the match between Union Berlin and Dortmund.
“Good luck in today’s match.”
“Likewise.”
Jürgen Klopp and Park Chan-hyuk exchanged handshakes with smiles.
Even if the media had not set them up that way, they recognized each other as rivals.
They had faced each other the previous season and acknowledged each other’s abilities, forming a good rivalry in which they had a positive influence on one another.
“I ask you! Do you desire victory!”
“Jaaaaaaa!”
Park Chan-hyuk instilled his players with the confidence that they could win.
He had not once imagined that they would lose this match.
“FC Union Du sollst leuchten, wie der hellste Heiligenschein!”
(FC Union, you will shine like the brightest halo!)
That was because today’s match was being played at none other than Union Berlin’s home stadium.
Beginning with the Union Berlin home fans’ chant ringing out,
the players of Union Berlin and Dortmund entered the pitch.
Then, a moment later, the referee’s whistle rang out,
and Union Berlin and Dortmund began raising the tempo of the match like mad from the very instant it started.
The spectators’ cheers grew louder at the pace of the two teams, who attacked relentlessly without giving anyone even a moment to look away.
“Luka!”
Luka Modrić, who had the ball, dribbled forward and beat his marker,
then connected with Cafu, who was attempting an overlapping run.
Having broken through Dortmund’s right flank, Cafu sent a cross into the penalty area.
Cafu’s cross sliced sharply into the space between the defender and goalkeeper,
and Yannick Voigt charged toward it.
Yannick Voigt threw himself forward with his leg extended toward the ball.
Tap─.
Yannick Voigt barely managed to get a foot to the ball, and his shot shook the back of Dortmund’s net.
“Yeaaaaaaaaah!”
The Union Berlin fans’ cheers rang out for Yannick Voigt’s early goal in the first half,
and after scoring, Yannick Voigt rose leisurely from his spot and walked over to the corner flag to perform his celebration.
Spring had come for Union Berlin’s forwards.
***
The match between Union Berlin and Dortmund was more one-sided than expected.
With the passionate support of the home fans behind them, Union Berlin had scored an early opener through Yannick Voigt.
It was practically the best possible situation for Union Berlin.
The flow of the match shifted completely toward Union Berlin.
Moreover, no matter that Jürgen Klopp was Dortmund’s manager, the Union Berlin of today was a team on another level.
Apparently, the team had looked somewhat lacking in the first half of the season because so many of the players had only just been signed, but after entering the second half of the season, the newcomers had completely melded into one.
Shinji Kagawa intercepted the ball near the penalty area.
Shinji Kagawa passed to Luka Modrić and ran into the penalty area.
As Shinji Kagawa drew Dortmund’s defenders toward him, a shooting lane opened up,
and Luka Modrić immediately swung his right foot through the open space.
Wham─.
Luka Modrić’s long-range shot shook the back of Dortmund’s net,
and Union Berlin suddenly began pulling two goals ahead.
I quietly applauded and urged the players to attack even more aggressively.
No matter how important celebrations were, they weren’t more important than winning the match.
‘……Still, if we score four goals, let them concede one.’
***
The first half ended with Union Berlin holding the lead, and then came the second half.
Union Berlin added another goal immediately after the second half began.
From a corner kick, Roberto Lewandowski sent an incredible header into the back of Dortmund’s net.
“The match isn’t over yet! Don’t give up until the very end!”
Jürgen Klopp encouraged his players from the touchline,
and Dortmund, having barely managed to recover its composure, succeeded in scoring a consolation goal just before the match ended.
‘Phew…. Chan-hyuk, you’ve built a much better team than last season.’
Just as Jürgen Klopp was about to clap encouragingly toward the Dortmund players without celebrating,
a ‘something’ wearing a black tracksuit swiftly passed in front of him.
“……What?”
Jürgen Klopp stared blankly at his hands, which he had been about to clap, then unconsciously turned his head toward the corner flag.
“Hooooooow─!”
“……What? Did we just concede another goal?”
The Dortmund away fans could do nothing but stare blankly at the Union Berlin manager roaring in front of them.
“Eisern Union─!!”
And because of Park Chan-hyuk’s celebration, a few Union Berlin fans who mistook it for a goal began singing a chant that rang throughout the home stadium.
Union Berlin’s stadium instantly became a chaotic madhouse.