Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Manchester is Blue (2)
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How much time had passed?
Only Pep Guardiola remained seated at the table.
Ma Jeong-woo had already left.
And today, looking at Bolton's owner, he was convinced.
‘He’s an owner unlike other owners.’
His perspective on the club was different from other owners.
That was why he was so straightforward and honest.
When asked why he wanted a partnership with Manchester City, he replied:
‘I admit it. Bolton is a poor club. Right now, leaning on a big club like Manchester City is our best option. That way, we can acquire players and gradually build our foundation.’
The Ma Jeong-woo sitting across from him seemed more confident than anyone.
He also laid bare his ambitions.
‘My goal is to promote the team to the Championship. In that process, I’d like to plan a project to loan in Manchester City’s young prospects and help them grow.’
Ma Jeong-woo added:
‘I know. Manchester City’s reserves are at a higher level than most League One clubs. But that’s only upper-tier within League One. They’re still confined to the League One framework. So... from Manchester City’s perspective, wouldn’t it be like having two reserve teams?’
Ma Jeong-woo showed no shame in calling Bolton a reserve team.
Instead, he grinned and continued.
‘We’re advancing from the very bottom. We’re going through that process right now. Partnering with Manchester City would be a great starting point for our leap forward.’
It was a refreshingly ambitious statement.
Furthermore, Ma Jeong-woo even mentioned Manchester United.
‘I provoked them on purpose. To bait Manchester United into a friendly and prove ourselves. Of course, it helps with revenue too. So even if you don’t want to see it, I’ll show you. That Bolton is an attractive option against a strong team like Manchester United.’
On top of that, Ma Jeong-woo dropped a bombshell that would surprise Pep.
‘Not for Manchester City, but for the players who will be loaned or transferred to us in the future.’
“Heh.”
Recalling the sharp, bird-of-prey-like glint in his eyes from moments ago, Pep let out a faint chuckle.
He was glad they had met now.
Even in that short time, he could feel it.
He wasn’t an ordinary owner.
And the current Manchester City owner had given him full authority.
Including partnership agreements.
On the other hand, he was curious.
Whether Bolton was truly an attractive team.
Soon, Pep reached for the remaining wine glass and murmured softly.
“Well, we’ll know after watching the Manchester United game.”
Personally, he wanted to see Manchester United lose to a weak team too.
* * *
At the same time.
Park Hee-won was traveling across England with a scout.
“By any chance... do you get extra... bonuses or something?”
Rayne Helm, the 40-year-old scout gripping the steering wheel—no, glancing at Park Hee-won who was driving—asked.
He moved with Park Hee-won like a team once a week.
For Rayne Helm, it was an unfamiliar experience.
Senior coaches usually spent more time stuck to the manager.
Yet Park Hee-won spent a lot of time with the manager but unusually more with him, talking and moving together.
The reason was a bit bewildering.
It was for player scouting.
“I showed him the scouting reports on Jordan Flanagan and Connor Burgee, but that damn...! No, our dear manager’s standards have gotten a bit high, so he didn’t seem fully satisfied.”
“Ah, yes, I see.”
“Yeah, so today we need to look for some higher-quality players. Want some gum? This stuff really freshens up your mouth~”
Park Hee-won, holding the steering wheel with one hand, smoothly offered a gum container with the other.
“Thanks.”
Helm familiarly took a piece from the container and popped it in his mouth.
At first, he hadn’t been thrilled.
Even with a scout like him around, having the senior coach tag along.
It had bruised his pride a bit.
Wasn’t Park Hee-won the parachute guy who came in through the owner’s backdoor?
But now, months later, Helm had no choice but to admit it.
He didn’t make flashy moves like the owner, Ma, but his eye for players was a level above his own.
‘Colored glasses.’
A prime example of a player signed because of him was Sensuous Ruff.
He’d heard some current first-team players were recommended by Park Hee-won too.
The similarity was assessing a player’s present and future from a scout’s viewpoint.
But the difference was grasping how to develop them to make them useful.
Helm had realized this while traveling together.
Just then, Park Hee-won muttered while driving.
“This Bailey from Solihull in Birmingham—watching his footage, he has a weakness in left-side breakthroughs. He doesn’t even attempt it.”
“Yes, that’s right. He’s a complete right-footer, and he hesitates even to pass with his left.”
“Two or three games, maybe not, but seven games all the same... it’s a bit concerning. Still, his inside and outside shooting is top-notch. Perfect as a new attacking option.”
Park Hee-won scrunched his already wrinkled face even more.
“Well, seeing in person is more reliable than video.”
Soon, Park Hee-won’s car arrived at the soccer field in Solihull, Birmingham.
From outside the fence, Park Hee-won and Helm watched a practice match intently and murmured.
“Left winger in a 4-3-3.”
Park Hee-won muttered as if decoding a cipher, observing the Bailey he’d mentioned in the car.
“Tsk, they’re using him wide. Teammates are switching play to open space for him to infiltrate the right gap.”
Occasionally, Park Hee-won narrowed his brow slightly.
“Hmm, but without teammate support, breaking through alone seems tough. Oof, lots of back passes and sideways ones.”
And when trying to break down the side, as soon as a defender stuck to him, he immediately slowed and held the ball.
Yet Park Hee-won’s hands never stopped.
With a tactics board in one hand and a pen in the other, he marked Bailey’s pass map, shots, dribbles, and foul positions.
Soon, Park Hee-won murmured coldly.
“Hmm, in person, he’s not quite third-tier level.”
A few hours later, Park Hee-won and Helm passed Coventry heading to Luton.
There too, Park Hee-won analyzed the game in real-time without fail.
His wrinkled eyes gleamed sharply then.
Even as evening fell, Park Hee-won took the wheel.
“Hey, let me drive now...!”
“Ugh, no. You know I have driving anxiety with others.”
He’d said that before.
That with his hypersensitivity to safety, anyone else driving made him tense.
Helm smiled awkwardly and backed off.
Then, suddenly, Helm asked something he’d been curious about for the past few weeks.
“Why do you work so hard, senior coach?”
Judging by looks... he seemed far from this job.
Some scouts who hadn’t worked with him thought he was really laid-back.
But that was just colored glasses.
Once behind the wheel, he drove 5, 6 hours no problem.
And he poured insane effort into player analysis.
The glove compartment was bursting right now.
Packed with Park Hee-won’s scouting reports.
Bluntly, experiencing it, he was a real pain-in-the-ass type.
‘The guy scouts even unplanned players.’
Even going for a specific player, if another caught his eye, he’d analyze them.
Today was like that too.
Then, Park Hee-won said.
“First, it’s a hobby, I guess.”
“A hobby?”
“Yeah, there’s a thrill to scouting players.”
Park Hee-won knew he had talent for this.
So Ma Jeong-woo let him unleash it fully.
Sometimes filling in as manager proxy when Ma focused on owner duties.
* * *
Days passed, but the Red Devils were still seething.
- : Manchester United vs Bolton? Might as well stuff that devil’s mouth with a soccer ball in this friendly!
- : Seeing Ma claim Manchester belongs to City, I thought, that guy’s out of his mind.
- : City might be ahead lately, but historically, they’re nothing.
- : Can’t wait for the Bolton game. Time to crush them!
- : Fuck! Who the hell is Ma to spew that shit at us?
Not just community boards.
Even car radio speakers carried sharp voices.
[Who’s Bolton’s Ma?]
[He’s the League One owner and manager.]
[Owner and manager? Bolton must be Chinese-owned. Owner doubling as manager.]
[Anyway, Bolton’s fully marked by the Red Devils now. My neighbor said he’d axe Ma if he saw him.]
“Jeong-woo. Seriously, maybe tone down going out?”
Park Hee-won murmured worriedly while driving. Ignoring it, Ma Jeong-woo casually gazed out the passenger window and replied.
“Nah, why? Who’s gonna shoot me?”
[My acquaintance said he’d shoot Ma on sight. Joke, of course. Instead, he’ll buy merch and shred it online.]
“Pfft.”
Ma Jeong-woo laughed in disbelief.
“It’s fine. They’re customers. Words online are cheap anyway. That ‘acquaintance’ wouldn’t say shit face-to-face. You know I look kinda tough. And I’m damn good in a fight.”
[Honestly, could kill Ma with fists, not a gun.]
[What? Is he a fighter?]
[Yes. A well-known one.]
[Who?]
[Francis Ngannou. Die-hard United fan and my bestie.]
Suddenly, Ma Jeong-woo froze, raising one eyebrow.
“...This fucker, can he hear me? Trying to scare me with bullshit?”
But Park Hee-won was genuinely worried.
Last season’s good results had won over many Bolton fans to Ma Jeong-woo.
But this Manchester United remark had extreme supporters stirring again.
Plus, now the Red Devils as enemies.
Whatever, Ma Jeong-woo’s eyes now sparkled as he murmured.
“Anyway, it’s an opportunity. Ma doll sales were dipping... now they’ll surge!”
He grinned slyly and added.
“Guess I need a Ma doll series. Smiling face, crying face, straight-up taunting face.”
“...”
Truly a madman.
* * *
Two weeks until the Manchester United fixture.
And Pep Guardiola proposed:
‘At least shit on United.’
Objectively, impossible.
United ran at the EPL’s top.
Bolton barely 16th last season.
Even in the Premier League, Bolton was United’s meal.
But Ma Jeong-woo gladly accepted Pep Guardiola’s proposal.
No reason to refuse.
‘Refuse and it’s all for nothing.’
Planned to face United from the start.
When they refused, he lobbed stones via radio media.
To woo City too.
‘Pure merit game.’
Insults were daily bread anyway.
On one hand, expectant.
Even if loss, if played well, maybe loan a few players.
‘Gotta show it. That I excel at player management.’
Not win or draw—Fab would eye management otherwise.
He was confident there.
Last season, most rotations among 24 teams, using all players situationally.
Maximizing their potential.
Anyway, no idling till then.
Just then, the car entered Birmingham.
Ma Jeong-woo glanced at Park Hee-won meaningfully.
“So, a Roberto Lewandowski type here?”
“Yeah, name’s Shearer Kane.”
“Name’s a pass.”
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