Practice Match (3): The Coach's Interview
In his previous life, he'd had plenty of these one-on-ones.
They'd left him hating them.
"Jongmun, sorry, but we don't need you on the team anymore." Or, "Looks like you'll have to go out on loan in this summer transfer window."
The interviews etched in his memory weren't exactly pleasant.
Of course, things were different now from back then. Still, he couldn't help feeling tense.
Whew...
He'd put on a cool front leaving Chaewoo hyung's side, but his nerves were still shot.
He couldn't just stand there forever, so he knocked briskly and swung the door open.
Bang.
After a light exchange of greetings, he took a seat casually.
The coach stared at him wordlessly, face impassive, for a long stretch.
What're you thinking? No clue.
Even in the interview room, those dark sunglasses made it impossible to read him.
The coach broke the brief silence first.
"I heard you speak some Korean. That right?"
"Yes... a little... I can."
The coach, ignoring his tension, pulled out his phone and played a video for him.
What the...? Leaning in, he saw it was him.
Well, sort of. Strictly speaking, no.
It was pre-reincarnation Olmunt footage.
Clumsy ball touches, wild air swings. The more he watched, the more embarrassed he got for his past self.
The coach smirked at it, then swiped to the next clip.
"Sorry for filming you on the sly. Couldn't help it."
This was the real him—technically, the dawn of his first day post-reincarnation.
But he'd been sure no one was around?
"How did you...?"
"Gear manager Kim Deok-cheol mentioned it. Said you suddenly headed out for solo training. Even on Jeju, February's cold—and that day had a brutal wind. No other players out there practicing at night. Got curious, checked it out, and saw you looking totally different from usual. So I slotted you in the starting lineup for the first half."
Pieces falling into place now.
That explained the surprise start.
Love ya, gear manager ajusshi.
But the coach wasn't showing this just to chat.
There had to be something specific he wanted.
"So I gotta ask: how'd your skills skyrocket like that? Give me a reason I can buy. Otherwise, I'll have to suspect doping or slacking."
The air turned icy in an instant.
But from experience, this was deliberate chill. He was fishing for something in the answer...
"You were outside my plans originally. Your style didn't fit my tactics, as you know. But if you keep playing like you did against Jeju, no reason not to use you."
Now he got the intent. The coach wanted confirmation.
On why his play against Jeju was a total departure from old Olmunt.
Problem was, he couldn't say why.
"Reincarnated~!" would land him in a psych ward, not the starting eleven.
He needed time to think. But no time for that here.
The coach was still staring blankly.
Time to milk the foreigner card a bit.
"Dribbling... first-touch skills... I prac... ticed. Secretly. Felt like... some... evolution? Seemed good enough for games, so... first time using."
He strung together halting Korean, rolling his pronunciation awkwardly, stumbling on tough words.
Please buy it.
"Makes sense. The footage shows you've put in a ton of unseen work."
"Tha... nk you."
Whew. Relief. The coach's lower face and forehead wrinkles softened kindly.
Couldn't see his eyes behind the shades, but probably the same.
"But you're avoiding physical battles now? Looked awkward."
The coach tilted his head slightly.
He'd known this question was coming eventually. Expected it, even.
If only he'd thought of a solid answer.
No Swedish interpreter around, either.
Should've played dumber with the Korean longer?
"Uncomfortable. A bit. Focusing on skills... during physicals."
He answered like a machine translation on purpose.
Figured the coach would fill in the gaps.
"Hmm. Got it. That's all the questions for now—let's talk future...
The coach seemed a tad skeptical but let it slide.
"Planning to use you as a winger in the opener against Bucheon Metros. Show that Jeju form again. Go on—Yoon Chaewoo's waiting."
How'd he know that? He gave a light bow and headed out.
Or tried to.
"Just remember: the old Olmunt has no place in my tactics. I'll be watching till Bucheon."
A warning-not-warning hit him on the way out.
Smooth, but pure charisma from the coach.
Door shut, and a sigh escaped automatically.
He'd figured the youngest coach would be easygoing. Massive misjudgment.
Still, interview over, lighter now as he headed to his senior.
"Why're you here?"
"Me? On loan."
"Pushed out again? Told you to drop to second division..."
"Hey, we'll be back up after this season."
"Like Seoul'll let that happen."
Huh? Another player beside Chaewoo hyung.
Who? Some Gimpo guy he didn't know?
The silhouette rang a bell, though.
Squinting closer...
Oh, right.
Crazy Dog, Kim Donghan!
Slipped out loud without thinking.
"Crazy Dog! Whoa! Huge fan! You playing for Gimpo?"
Even he knew that dodge saved his life.
Donghan hyung stiffened at the nickname, then grinned at the rest and shook his hand.
Chaewoo hyung gawked from behind like he'd seen a ghost.
But survival first. The guy's nickname fit.
"Man, first foreign fan I've had."
Donghan hyung slung an arm around him, laughing. Scary as hell, honestly.
How does a guy this nice off-field turn into a mad dog on it?
Goes to show. Why the fuss?
In second division—no, Korea right now—nine out of ten picking the roughest player would say him.
Once barreled in with a tackle that left him bruised.
Apologized sincerely at the hospital after, though.
But why mouth off to the ref on the pitch?
Jekyll and Hyde vibes.
Plenty of players like that. He just took it furthest.
Last controversy? Probably last year.
Against his old team's rivals, did a dog-pissing celebration.
Off-field, though? Fan service king.
Just too rough sometimes.
And not just brute force—real skill too.
Center back, fullbacks left or right, even striker. All positions.
Form dipped lately, awkward fit anywhere in first division.
But here? Second division. Perfect utility man anywhere.
"Dude, your body's built like a tank. Forget soccer—sumo."
Donghan hyung smacked his back heartily.
He knew the new body was sturdy.
Knew Donghan hyung was good people.
So why the shakes? PTSD was real.
Those brutal sliding tackles kept flashing back.
Spotting his trembling like a leaf?
Chaewoo hyung cut the weird fan meet short.
"Alright, fanboy time's up. Olmunt's interview's done—let's grab some meat. My treat. Season's coming; fuel up."
Captain saves the day.
Off they went—this odd trio—to the BBQ joint.
Sizzle...
Watching the meat grill, he got sentimental.
Been ages since team BBQ.
Wait—his retirement party was last.
Steam whooshed out. Tch.
Life had been a whirlwind lately; felt like forever.
But reincarnation? Not even a month.
Time flew and crawled.
Season start—what then? Same vibe?
"Olmunt, yours is done. Dig in."
Donghan hyung piled meat on his plate.
Shook off the lettuce water, wrapped tight, shoved it in.
"Kid's straight Korean. Should've made him grill."
Haha. Swedish guy here.
"So, what'd the coach say?"
Chaewoo hyung asked mid-chew.
Recapped the interview briefly.
"Wild. Feels like sudden multi-positional block... Weird. Like dementia prevention—drawing square with left, triangle with right?"
"Your analogies suck. But yeah, killer at physicals before, now flailing? Doesn't add up."
Both seniors eyed him intrigued.
Chaewoo hyung still a bit suspicious, maybe.
But positive change, so letting it go.
Makes sense. Not match-fixing. No magic dribble pills.
"Coach acknowledging you's good. Probably starting opener. Winger, I'd bet."
"Think so too."
Nodded in agreement.
Skills spiked, physicals iffy—winger fit. Coach probably agreed.
Plus his past life winger days.
"You on wing? Music to me. Sub on, smash their fullback."
Donghan hyung chuckled.
No joke there. Guy meant it. Bucheon next—trouble brewing.
"Chill out. You'll catch bottles from Bucheon fans."
Chaewoo hyung teased, same wavelength.
He smirked, enjoying the meat with them.
Past life, injuries made him pity case to teammates.
Ate at him, kept real bonds at bay.
This life? Different. Good folks here.
Chaewoo hyung, new Donghan hyung—not just them, Paulo, Dojin hyung...
No-booze BBQ wrapped fun.
Drifted off at home, opener start hopes ballooned.
Dreams were killer that night.
Details fuzzy. Pig and dragon handing him a soccer ball.
Lotto time?
"Wait—striker? Not winger?"
Dreams? Total BS. Damn.