In the Name of Leo Olmunt (2)
The match against Hwaseong Aliens ended in a 1-1 draw. Failing to snag those three points was bad enough, but an even bigger problem arose.
"Hyung!"
"Junkyung hyung!"
"Huh?.. Oh. I'll come down."
"Sunbae!"
"Huh?"
"Coach is calling you."
"Oh… yeah, I'll be right there."
Lee Junkyung sunbae's condition was the biggest issue. Was it because his playing time had been decreasing lately? Or was the poor performance against Hwaseong the cause?
Whatever the reason, the problem was that when he got thrown into matches without focusing during training, his anxiety was plain as day.
He wasn't like this before… It was disorienting to see my usually kind and composed sunbae change like that.
His playstyle used to shine in holding up the ball and linking play, but now he was dribbling like he'd been possessed, only to get dispossessed…
The issue was that Eunsang hadn't fully recovered yet, so he couldn't play the next match. And the bigger problem? The next opponent was Incheon Pelicans.
That meant Junkyung sunbae had to start on the right wing against Incheon, no question.
Incheon Pelicans were currently top of the table, the overwhelming favorites for direct promotion. And they were our team's fiercest rivals for that spot too. Incheon probably didn't see it that way, but whatever.
If Junkyung sunbae pulled the same stunt on the right wing against Incheon, it would be a total disaster.
Of course, as a backup plan, I could shift to winger and put sunbae up top as striker. That was actually closer to our natural positions anyway.
But with sunbae's current form, he'd be a turnover machine no matter where we put him. The guy who used to get called "budget Ji Soo" in his prime—what the hell happened?
I glanced at Junkyung sunbae training with worried eyes. Dark circles had settled deep under his eyes. Was something really going on?
I wanted to help him. No, I had to. But how?
Sunbae's problem was attempting dribbles no one was asking for. Not every winger needs to be a dribbling wizard.
Truth be told, no one expected Junkyung sunbae to pull off Eunsang-level flights of fancy. Just hold it up, link play, or switch with me for a shot?
Wingers who can't dribble have limits… but if I stuck close to sunbae, those limits would cancel out.
We wouldn't have Eunsang's destructive power, but we'd gain stability—as long as he didn't try those damn dribbles.
As I watched him with eyes full of worry, Kvirin Moll approached me during break time, his mouth itching to talk as usual.
"Something wrong, Olmunt?"
"Oh, Kvirin! Nah, why?"
"Just saw you staring with that troubled look. Back when I was at Munich, the veterans would…"
I shoved his endless recorder into the corner of my mind and thought it over. Kvirin was a battle-hardened vet—maybe he'd know?
"Hmm… Any advice for a player in a slump?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, it's about Junkyung Lee, right?"
Veteran instincts for sure. If only he didn't have that nonstop Munich pride, he'd be perfect.
"Yeah, it's tough for a young striker like you to give advice to a vet. Could come off as rude or hurt his pride. Even at Munich, something similar happened during training…"
I have to make it to Munich someday—or transfer to some European big club and beat them at least. A zero-game record against Munich? Unbearable.
Still, Kvirin Moll had a point. That was exactly what worried me. Maybe sunbae knew it too but just couldn't stop.
The coaches and director kept pointing it out, yet he kept forcing it—probably for some other reason.
As I kept an eye on sunbae and refocused on training, a cry for help came from somewhere.
"Munt hyung. Save me."
I was just trying to enjoy a break when I looked over. Minsu was fleeing with a deadpan expression, while Kvirin smacked his lips regretfully.
"That's 'cause you didn't play properly with hyung."
What the hell?
"Just hear him out once. Munich slump recovery story."
I stared at him in disbelief, and Yu Minsu shot back with equal exasperation.
"What? You told that one again?"
This blabbermouth. Unbelievable. As I plotted mutiny against Kvirin,
"No, you two were yapping in unison, so I only half-got it? Thanks to that, indirect once, direct once—every single break!"
Leaving teary-eyed Minsu behind, I thought it over.
Indirectly, huh… So if I couldn't say it directly, I could tell Minsu, and it'd reach sunbae indirectly?
"What's with that Viking eyeing a village to pillage look?"
What? Get over here. Let's do our thing.
If direct was awkward, indirect would do. His voice was loud enough anyway. Worth a shot.
Worst case, I'd just run harder against Incheon.
And so began "Project Help Junkyung Sunbae Escape His Slump," disguised as special training for Yu Minsu.
Perfect timing too, with self-directed training starting now.
"So I can really escape the bench?"
"Your problem is not linking up. You're too hasty."
"Me?"
"Yeah. It's the link-up!"
What I told Minsu was half right, half wrong. His issues included link-up, but weren't limited to it…
Still, fixing one thing would help him—and if sunbae overheard and reflected, even better.
Every self-training session, I grabbed Minsu and drilled him—loud enough for sunbae to hear.
"You don't have to break through solo every time, Minsu. You're not Messi. Easiest way to shake a defender? Pass."
"Right, like Firmino linking up!"
Minsu was twisting my words a bit, but things were going smoothly.
"Don't overdo it up front, Minsu. You don't have to solve everything. That's not your strength. No talent for solo tricks."
"Dribbling needs space, Minsu. Why go there when it's tight? Unless you're Eunsang or me, don't. Hold, drag defenders—Eunsang or I will finish. Okay?"
"Minsu's right, Munt. Solo skills need talent. Guys like you trying that? We don't even need to tackle."
"This special training's getting sadder the more I hear. Is it supposed to?"
As the sessions gained notoriety—Minsu getting subbed by Donghan sunbae daily—the final pre-match training wrapped up.
My vocal cords, working nonstop, had finally done their job. At some point, Junkyung sunbae had started watching quietly.
I hoped for good results.
As if sensing my earnest wish, sunbae approached.
Why was he coming? Thought I misread, but he got closer.
"Munt, mind helping me out a bit?"
Oh.
It worked? Brimming with anticipation, I followed him. No wonder the ball felt right today.
Full of hopeful expectations, I stepped out…
"Say hi."
"H-hello…?"
"Oh, hello. I've heard so much~"
Why was I here?
We were supposed to train extra together, right?
Before I could speak, I snapped to and realized I was helping pack sunbae's moving boxes.
This wasn't the plan. He looked like such a tough guy, but
Wait, he was dating? Even engaged, apparently.
So the anxiety was family-man pressure? Pieces were falling into place.
I shot sunbae an incredulous look, but he just averted his eyes.
"Your Korean's great."
"Thanks, I studied hard. Sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law? Hohoho. You're probably the first teammate to say that, Olmunt. You have to come to the wedding?"
Oh… that was touching. Kinda.
Glancing back, sunbae scratched his head sheepishly.
Packing with sunbae and his fiancée didn't take long. Maybe 50 minutes?
Just packing, not moving—otherwise, it'd be mutiny before announcing the wedding first.
We ended up at a jjajangmyeon spot as a casual after-party. I'd helped pack, so sunbae dragged me along.
The nostalgic black bean scent hit, and I nearly stuffed my face…
"Am I really that bad at breakthroughs?"
Sunbae's words jolted me back to my senses.
"Did I hear wrong?"
"Kidding. Boss, one tangsuyuk here!"
Sunbae laughed heartily and ordered tangsuyuk.
"You coaching Minsu like that, worrying about me—I'd have to be blind not to notice."
"Since when?"
"Didn't at first. But Minsu's got tons of issues, yet you hammered link-up? Figured it out."
Bitterly funny. Poor Minsu crying somewhere, but we kept talking.
"I knew deep down. How could I not, after all these years? But wedding's soon, contract's winding down—got anxious. Eunsang, Paulo crushing it. You? Forget it."
Sunbae paused, sighed, and continued.
"Ended up forcing it. Gotta show something to survive here. But it didn't work like you guys."
I listened quietly. Too heavy for me to chime in, and I didn't want to interrupt his release.
The awkward flow smoothed with the tangsuyuk arrival.
"Anyway, thanks. You're one weird merc."
"Huh?"
"Great Korean, actively caring for teammates' mental game, fits right in."
"Aw, shucks…"
I brushed it off sheepishly. Reborn life had been flashy, yeah.
"Foreign players like you? Usually legends at the club or move up."
Hit too close. I'd vaguely wondered about European offers next season.
What if one came? What then?
Mid-dilemma, I snatched sunbae's wrist quick.
"Hm? You foreigners don't know—tangsuyuk's meant to be poured."
"Dipping's better, though."
Couldn't stomach pouring, no way.
**
Phew…
The day we finally face the powerhouse Incheon Pelicans head-on.
"We lost to them once last time."
"Loser's mentality, Paulo. FA Cup's a luxury for second division. Revenge at home this time."
Back then, there was that kid obsessed with Japanese. Sounded like he barely played—such a shame.
No Eunsang, but confidence overflowed. Against a defensively stacked team like this, Junkyung sunbae might even be more effective.
And the best part?
No more anxiety in sunbae's eyes.