Chapter 31
***
Suwon World Cup Stadium, where the match between Union Berlin and Oseong Redwings was taking place.
“Boooooo─! Park Chan-hyeok, apologize!”
Thanks to the baiting succeeding, the stadium had been filled not only with Oseong Redwings fans but also with fans who loved Korean pro football.
What is this, the Super Match or something?
As my face appeared on the big screen, a torrent of boos poured down so hard it was difficult to believe this was just a friendly.
I hadn't been hoping for another Old Trafford, but I had still wanted the fans to cheer at least a little.
Hmm. Was it too shameless to provoke them and still expect that?
Well, it's not like there weren't any fans supporting Union Berlin.
Because plenty of overseas football fans had been drawn to Union Berlin by its pro-Korea outreach, including the Korean translation of the homepage.
“Waaaaaah─!”
I raised both hands in thanks for the cheers from Union Berlin's fans.
But the boos grew even louder thanks to the Oseong Redwings fans, who made up the overwhelming majority at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Well. I didn't really care.
Because I'd already practically achieved my goal.
What mattered to me in this match was how much valuable experience Union Berlin could take away from today's game.
That was why I could calmly scan the pitch despite the crowd booing me.
The players' expressions don't look good.
Union Berlin's players seemed intimidated by the crowd's boos.
I can understand why. They probably hadn't had to deal with this many spectators booing them in the fourth or third division.
But it would be good for them to get used to an atmosphere like this from now on.
Our goal isn't just to stay in the third division, after all.
The moment Union Berlin gets promoted to the second division or higher, they'll feel this kind of away-match atmosphere at every game.
If I think positively, this can be seen as a kind of preview lesson.
Who is it that's making them study ahead of time for Union Berlin's future?
Me, Park Chan-hyeok.
As expected, there really doesn't seem to be anyone better than me to be the next man in charge of Union Berlin.
...Chan-hyeok, I know you were the one who provoked them first, though.
Thomas Tuchel looked at my self-praise with a sour expression.
Yeah, you agreed too. You're an accomplice too.
When you live in the world, the truth isn't as important as you might think.
Anyway.
I turned my gaze and looked at Oseong Redwings' bench. Contrary to my expectation that they'd field a mixed second-string side, Oseong Redwings' starters were warming up.
The opposing team, having been provoked just as I planned, had activated their starters.
Oof, that's hot.
The looks from the Oseong Redwings players staring at me were so scorching that, if I had been their direct junior, I might've gotten beaten with a bat.
Just as I was about to smile, give them a light greeting, and head back.
My face was shown on the big screen once more.
“Boooooo─!”
I put on some flashy fan service for the cheering fans.
Ah. Is this the life of a superstar?
***
[Hello, viewers who love Korean professional football. This is play-by-play announcer Park Seong-jae, bringing you the match between Union Berlin and Oseong Redwings.]
[I'm analyst Jang Mun-seong. Nice to meet you.]
[Was it two days before the match? Assistant coach Park Chan-hyeok drew attention with an interview where he provoked Oseong Redwings, and thanks to that buzz, quite a lot of fans came to Suwon World Cup Stadium.]
[Yes, in the pre-match interview, Assistant coach Park Chan-hyeok named Mourinho, currently the manager of Chelsea, as the coach he respects. His sharp interviews seem to have been heavily influenced by Mourinho.]
“Boooooo─!”
[Ah. As soon as Assistant coach Park Chan-hyeok's face appears on the big screen, the crowd is showering him with boos.]
“Mouuuuuurinhoouuu─!”
[Haha, Assistant coach Park Chan-hyeok repays the boos aimed at him with a celebration. Turning boos into a celebration really shows the youthful bravado of someone so young; it's nice to see.]
[Yes, that's right. But you shouldn't go too far provoking the fans before a match. By the way, what did Assistant coach Park Chan-hyeok just say?]
[Well, it sounded to my ears like something pronounced similarly to Mourinho.]
[Hmm, then maybe he was pronouncing Mourinho's name in German.]
[Well, I'm not sure about that. Just as I was saying that, the referee blew the whistle, and the match is underway!]
***
The match kicked off with the referee's whistle, and the early flow naturally belonged to Oseong Redwings.
As expected, they're not called the royalty of the Korean league for nothing.
Most of Oseong Redwings' starters were at a level where it wouldn't be strange if their names were on the national team roster right this second.
'They can even buy cash-shop items... I'm ridiculously jealous.'
Oseong Redwings' attacks, backed by national-team-level talent, were sharp, and Union Berlin's players were busy just defending.
Oseong Redwings' tactics did feel a little behind the tactical styles currently popular in Europe, but that couldn't be helped given the times.
It was an era when it was hard to get hold of information on overseas football in Korea.
Anyway.
Once Union Berlin succeeded in blocking Oseong Redwings' onslaught by throwing everything they had at it,
the flow of the match gradually began to swing Union Berlin's way.
***
Thomas Tuchel nodded while looking at the Oseong Redwings players.
'We can take a lot from today's game.'
Objectively, the difference in skill between Union Berlin and the Oseong Redwings players was considerable.
But that didn't mean it was a bad thing.
Facing players at a higher level could lead to rapid improvement.
It was clear that today's match would allow Union Berlin's players to grow a great deal.
'And that applies not only to the players, but to me as well.'
Thomas Tuchel also had no experience facing strong teams.
Last season, the media had labeled Union Berlin a likely relegation candidate, but that was because he was a rookie manager and Park Chan-hyeok was serving as assistant coach. Objectively speaking, Union Berlin was stronger than most fourth-division teams. Until just two seasons ago, Union Berlin had been a second-division club.
'Besides, once Yannik Voigt hit his stride from midseason onward, the title was practically in the bag.'
Thomas Tuchel's gaze turned to Park Chan-hyeok.
It struck him all over again just how amazing Park Chan-hyeok's eye for talent was. Most of the players he had picked so far had succeeded.
'Did he come here after seeing the future?'
Whatever the case, it wasn't especially important to Tuchel. Whether he had come from the future or truly had a good eye for players, as long as he did his job well, that was enough.
“Hold them! They're getting through!”
Tuchel's gaze returned to the pitch.
“Yannik, don't drop back—stay right there!”
Union Berlin's players, even while getting battered one-sidedly, didn't give up their fighting spirit to win the match.
'...Looks like the special training camp was pretty effective after all.'
Thomas Tuchel nodded with a sour expression.
- Recruit No. 2 is an individualist! Get down!
The things that happened during the training camp were still infuriating, but he had to admit they had helped the players.
“Think about the training we've done so far! There's not much difference!”
Thomas Tuchel stepped out to the touchline and began raising his voice.
The Union Berlin players, the moment they heard Tuchel's voice, deliberately opened up the far side to lure the pass, then dropped the winger line back to squeeze the space.
The Oseong Redwings winger, who had fallen into the trap, had the ball stolen from him on the spot.
And then came Union Berlin's counterattack.
Thomas Meyer, who had the ball, looked upfield.
Daniel Teixeira screened off the center-back to create space.
Yannik Voigt ran into the empty space.
It was only an instant, but the three of them meshed together as naturally as if they'd rehearsed it beforehand.
Yannik Voigt, after receiving the ball, calmly went for a shot through the goalkeeper's legs.
Tap.
The ball left Yannik Voigt's toe.
Swish─.
It was enough to make Oseong Redwings' net billow.
The moment Oseong Redwings' net shook.
“Shit. We really got scored on first? And by a third-division team?”
A moment of silence fell over Suwon World Cup Stadium.
***
[G-g-goooooal─! What an upset! A huge upset! Union Berlin's opening goal! Union Berlin are taking the lead against Oseong Redwings!]
[Yannik Voigt's calm finish, aiming for the space between the goalkeeper's legs!]
[That's right. But before that, Daniel Teixeira doing well to hold off the defenders was great too.]
[That's right... huh? One side of the stadium seems to be in an uproar. What's going on?]
[Ah. Park Chan-hyeok! It's Park Chan-hyeok again!]
[Park Chan-hyeok's knee slide! Wow! Where did you study that celebration? That's such a clean knee slide, you'd never think this was Korean turf!]