Slump (2)
092
Pre-season is a very important time for a soccer player.
A soccer season isn't just 1-2 months, but a long 10 months. Soccer is about performing consistently like a marathon, rather than explosive moments like a sprint.
To prepare for this, one needs to build their body for the grueling schedule ahead, which is the role of pre-season. Plus, you need to sync with new teammates from transfers and releases and master tactics, so pre-season training is bound to be harsher than the season itself.
Jose Mateus, who took the helm of Barcelona this season, was lost in thought while watching the squad sweating through training.
Last season, Barcelona won the league, La Liga, and the cup tournament, Copa del Rey.
They conquered domestic competitions by lifting two trophies.
A normal club would be ecstatic about such a huge achievement, but Barcelona wasn't a normal club.
Because they only reached the Round of 16 in the most important competition, the Champions League.
Despite domestic success, the previous manager resigned (though it was practically a firing) due to the poor performance in the Champions League, and Jose Mateus was the one who newly took the helm.
Naturally, his biggest concern was winning the Champions League. Or at least a performance equivalent to that.
And to win in the war of stars where the strong teams of each European league gather, the best players need to display their best abilities, but...
"Hmm."
Mateus's gaze, watching one player, was stained with displeasure.
"What is not to your liking?"
Assistant Coach Fernando Sanz tilted his head at the sigh full of dissatisfaction.
Despite last year's Champions League slump, Barcelona had conquered the domestic scene.
The Champions League, like a sprint race requiring explosiveness, is decided by just two matches, home and away, so upsets happen occasionally. It was just a problem that it happened to be Barcelona, and Barcelona's players were still luxurious.
"That player. Was it Hong?"
"You mean Hong Min-jun."
Sanz's gaze turned to the only Asian in the squad.
Being the only Asian among players full of white and South American backgrounds, it's impossible not to notice him.
'Hmm... Or maybe not. With that appearance, he certainly stands out regardless of race.'
By his standards, he was too pretty, so if he had to choose, he preferred not to, but objectively, it couldn't be denied that he was an incredibly handsome man.
'It would be much better if he at least grew a beard.'
Of course, unlike the subjective evaluation of this macho man over 50, the media praised him as the Prince of Asia.
"Are you not satisfied with that player?"
"Of course!"
Mateus asserted at Sanz's question.
"The player I requested to the board isn't some greenhorn like that. We are Barcelona. A great club that must aim to win every competition! Yet, they used one of the 25 roster spots for a greenhorn like that and even guaranteed him starting appearances in the league? I don't know what the board is thinking! Do they really have any intention of winning the Champions League!"
Sanz gave a bitter smile at the more intense reaction than expected.
"Please calm down, Coach. He's a greenhorn, but he's a player emerging as a rival to Jorge, isn't he? Besides, he scored 5 goals with pure field goals against our Spain in the Olympics. His skills must be certain. The guaranteed starting appearances... it's only 5 matches this season, so if we coordinate the schedule well, it should be fine."
"Can you say his skills are certain even after seeing that mess?"
Sanz's gaze turned to the Asian working hard on training.
"Hmm... I'm sure his movement looked better in the video analysis."
He's good.
It's a performance that could be evaluated as good enough.
But if you ask if that meets Barcelona's standards... it was ambiguous.
"It's strange. It's like his timing is slightly off... has his balance collapsed?"
"This is why I told you not to recruit Asians. If it had been the Brazilian I requested, he wouldn't have shown such a ridiculous sight."
At the coach's remark, Sanz momentarily checked his surroundings.
It could be heard as a racist remark, so it would be a big deal if it leaked out. And in fact, the coach, Jose Mateus, was a person who often made racist remarks during his active days.
Sanz felt like cold sweat was flowing.
"Isn't that usually how players are when they return from vacation? Maybe he gained weight or is in a slump. His basic movement is excellent, so once he finishes fine-tuning, he should be able to show the performance we expect. Besides... it's a rumor leaking from above, but the Asian market is already looking unusual. Sponsorship inquiries..."
The coach clicked his tongue, "Tsk."
"At least we won't have to worry about funding for a while."
I felt it while training.
My body isn't normal.
Ball trapping, dribbling, passing, shooting... all are full-body exercises that utilize every part of the body.
It's not something that happens just because you have strong ankle strength, sturdy thigh muscles, or flexibility; it's only when these are harmonized that proper skills emerge.
In that sense, I was feeling in real-time that I was fucking screwed.
'My senses... have changed subtly.'
No, it's not just my senses.
Even my body's movements are strange.
My upper body feint is half a beat late, and my passes or shots are curving in slightly strange directions.
In a way, it's a very minor change, but a soccer player is a creature whose play is hindered by just that minor change.
Perhaps that's why.
The smooth trapping I usually showed is gone, replaced by a subtle trapping that seems clumsy yet also smooth, to the point where even I can't predict it.
'This really feels like I'm fucked. Why is this happening?'
There's no need to think deeply.
Because I'm growing taller.
When height grows, naturally, arms, legs, torso, and leg length are bound to change.
Furthermore, the center of gravity also moves upward.
On top of that, the pain that is getting worse, perhaps growing pains....
The subtle senses and the pain are still at a bearable level, but if it gets worse from here...?
"Player Min-jun. The coach is calling you."
The interpreter waiting nearby spoke cautiously, reading the room.
It seems my bad mood was showing on my face.
I tried to manage my expression and approached with a smiling face, and the skinny middle-aged man who was newly appointed as coach looked me over and said something.
The interpreter translated immediately.
"He's asking if your condition is bad?"
What do I do.
It's true that my condition is bad, but since it's because of growing pains, there's no guarantee when it will get better. In the worst case, it might even get worse.
"...It's not particularly bad."
"Hmm."
The coach, who heard the interpreter's words, scanned me with an unpleasant gaze, then sighed and shook his head.
...What the fuck.
『(photo) Hong Min-jun heading to his first training』
『(photo) Fans welcoming the Olympic top scorer』
『Hong Min-jun, who conquered the Olympics, his next stage is La Liga!』
「The Olympic soccer team's unexpected performance had this player at the center. It's the story of Hong Min-jun (20, Barcelona). Rising star Hong Min-jun, who appeared like a comet and led the Korean national team, evaluated as an underdog, to the final stage, transferred to La Liga's two giants, Barcelona, after countless transfer rumors.
Hong Min-jun, who turned down the courtship of numerous prestigious clubs and nested in Barcelona. What is the evaluation of him participating in pre-season training and syncing with new teammates?
Barcelona's coach Jose Mateus praised him, saying "Hong Min-jun is an owner of fantastic talent," but avoided a definitive answer, saying "However, adaptation to another league, and a stage with a completely different culture, takes time."
Teammate and vice-captain Hugo Sanchez (28) praised him as an "outstanding dribbler," revealing his anticipation for his debut match.
On the upcoming 13th, Barcelona will play their first match of the season against the 3rd division team Gimnastic de Tarragona. Expectations are high on whether player Hong Min-jun will be able to start.」
Not only Korea but also the Spanish media did not hide their expectations for the Olympic top scorer.
A prospect recruited after competition with prestigious teams in the EPL, Serie A, and Bundesliga, including his fated rival Real Madrid.
Isn't he also called the rival of Jorge Garcia, the best Spanish prospect who was targeted by Barcelona but eventually chose to go to Real Madrid?
Barcelona supporters hoped this freshman would be better than Jorge, and Real supporters hoped the cheeky Asian who dared to turn down the Blancos' offer and try to match Jorge would be taught a lesson.
In other words, it means that the Spanish people are also sending unprecedented attention toward Hong Min-jun.
However, in Barcelona's first match of the season held on September 13th, a pre-season friendly match, Hong Min-jun could not be seen playing.
He consistently participated in training and was spotted being included in the 1st team squad during internal scrimmages, raising expectations for his debut, but Hong Min-jun just sat on the bench with a stiff face, watching Barcelona mercilessly crush the 3rd division team.
After the match, coach Mateus interviewed, "Hong Min-jun is working hard to adapt, but he is not ready yet," and although he spent the first friendly match on the bench, people's expectations for Hong Min-jun did not cool down.
September 16th, the day of the second friendly match.
The opponent was also the 3rd division team Elche CF.
Since there was a match just 3 days ago, they would rotate the squad. Besides, isn't the opponent a weak 3rd division team?
Amidst the atmosphere where the media was almost certain that this match would be Hong Min-jun's debut match, the starting lineup was announced.
This time, too, Hong Min-jun started on the bench.
People were puzzled, but the match proceeded with Barcelona's dominance throughout, and so, with the start of the second half, Hong Min-jun began to warm up.
As expectations for the debut of the prospect on whom attention was focused grew, in the 31st minute of the second half, the number 23 assigned to Hong Min-jun finally appeared on the scoreboard.
"Do as you trained."
The tactical coach gave no special instructions beside Hong Min-jun, who was preparing for the substitution. At the interpreter's words to do as he had been doing, Hong Min-jun nodded.
And at the emotional moment of stepping on the grass of Camp Nou for the first time, the person in question was not moved, but only feeling embarrassed.
'I'm screwed. I thought my debut would be postponed since I was underperforming in training.'
I would have preferred my debut to be postponed.
I've grown 3cm in just half a month. Now that my height has increased rapidly and my body balance has completely collapsed, I have no confidence in performing properly in La Liga, let alone the university league.
However, whether I have confidence or not, now that I've stepped on the pitch, I can't just be spacing out.
Hong Min-jun gritted his teeth and ran toward the ball.