Chapter 86
Chapter 86
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Revenge Blood Battle (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Black-Haired Tactical Genius
Chapter 86: Revenge Blood Battle (1)
The 23-year-old prodigy didn’t think his talent was all that exceptional.
There had been plenty of times in the K3 League when he spent more time warming the bench or was even relegated to the reserves, and he’d asked himself over and over.
“Why did I even become a soccer player?”
He never needed much time to mull over the answer.
As a kid, he’d watched EPL and La Liga matches on TV, catching glimpses of world-class stars with his own eyes.
To put it bluntly, soccer players looked cool.
And now, staring at Jeong-woo across from him, the prodigy laid his innermost thoughts bare without hesitation.
“David Beckham looked so cool. Wayne Rooney was incredible. The roar of the fans after a goal on the pitch... it gave a little kid like me goosebumps.”
That’s when it started.
“I thought, ‘I want to be like those guys. I want to soak up cheers like that from the fans. I want to become a world-class star...’ That’s how the dream grew.”
Now, Jeong-woo lounged crookedly in the executive chair, listening intently.
If this counted as a player meeting, then it was one.
The prodigy chuckled softly as he reminisced about the past.
“It was great at first. I was way faster than other kids my age from a young age. I even got scouted for track multiple times.”
Back then, sheer speed was enough to overwhelm opponents and create his own goals.
But as he aged up through the youth levels, the pressure intensified bit by bit.
“Before I knew it... all I had left was speed. People in the K3 League called me a ‘fast trash.’ Then the coach picked me.”
Jeong-woo stayed silent until then.
He took a sip from the car gifted to him by his brother Hoseb.
‘Ah, delicious.’
It tasted even better because it came from Hoseb.
His expression remained deadly serious, though.
The prodigy showed no signs of stopping as he recounted his life story.
Jeong-woo figured it was best to let him keep going for now.
‘Yeah, reflecting on your soccer journey while venting to me will help you grow.’
The prodigy continued.
Truth be told, he hadn’t held high hopes even when deciding to come to England.
By then, his passion for soccer had cooled considerably.
“Really. Honestly... I came here for a one-off, just like you said, Coach.”
The plan was to burn himself out in League One, then cash in on an inflated transfer fee and salary in the Middle East or China.
But not anymore.
“I feel like... this challenge here is possible.”
Before long, ambition flickered to life in the prodigy’s eyes.
Only then did Jeong-woo speak.
“You want it bad, huh?”
The prodigy nodded without a second thought.
“I’m a soccer player, too.”
He swallowed dryly, then asked again.
“Is it really impossible for me? Won’t you develop me?”
The intent behind the question was simple.
He’d felt it time and again here.
Through Jeong-woo’s tutoring, he’d seen himself improve endlessly.
And he was convinced.
‘The coach... he can take me to a higher level.’
To put it bluntly, he didn’t want to settle for League One.
Jeong-woo straightened up now, carefully setting the now-empty teacup on the table.
Meeting the newly tense prodigy’s gaze, he hardened his own eyes.
“What do you think your strength is?”
The sudden question left the prodigy stammering for a moment before he answered.
“Sp... speed?”
“That all?”
The prodigy had no real comeback to that.
Speed had been his standout trait since he first picked up soccer.
Now they even called him the League One Sonic.
“Anything... else?”
He asked with a puzzled look.
That was the moment.
Whoosh-!
Jeong-woo abruptly thrust out his right fist.
Flinch!
The prodigy jolted as a sharp gust of wind grazed his right cheek.
Jeong-woo grinned.
“Space penetration. That’s actually your biggest asset. It’s just that your finishing and passing are so poor it goes to waste.”
“Ah...”
The prodigy’s mouth fell slightly open.
He’d never realized.
Jeong-woo pressed on.
“It’s not like opponents crap their pants just because you’re fast. If that were the case, every track athlete stepping onto the pitch would be a Sonic. What I see is instinct—you slip between defenders naturally. And you’ve got the speed on top.”
He withdrew his fist smoothly, shrugged, and added.
“That’s why League One defenders get shredded by you.”
Then Jeong-woo narrowed his eyes and asked.
“You really want it?”
“Yes!”
There wasn’t a shred of doubt.
This conversation had only solidified it.
‘As expected... only the coach can make me grow!’
He’d just unearthed another strength even the prodigy himself hadn’t known.
No—he’d known all along, judging by his reaction.
Just as he thought, Jeong-woo was well aware of the prodigy’s exceptional line-breaking ability.
‘Whether he means to or not, his sprint starts are the beginning of a line break.’
To the untrained eye, it just looked like he overtook defenders ahead with raw speed.
And sure, speed was part of it.
But there were subtleties at play.
‘Their stances. Gaps about to open. He exploits those moments—the ones they can’t react to instantly.’
But that was the extent of it, Jeong-woo figured.
Everything else was average at best, subpar at worst.
Especially finishing, which was crucial for making line breaks shine.
‘Line breaks only matter if you score. Like that Edinson Cavani guy.’
So Jeong-woo had leaned toward maximizing speed over the two strengths.
‘Just breaking through forces them to mark you, creating chances for others.’
Owen had benefited the most.
It was a team-oriented strategy over individual flair.
But now, the prodigy gazed at him with pure expectation and desperation.
‘Hmm.’
If bigger growth was the goal, finishing needed work first.
That would make his line-breaking pop even more.
But the process wouldn’t be easy.
‘His other talents would have to be dragged out by force...’
The deliberation didn’t last.
When a player wanted it this badly, hesitation was pointless.
“Alright. I’ll develop you.”
The prodigy’s face lit up brighter than ever.
“Th-thank you!”
So thrilled, he shot to his feet and bowed a full 180 degrees.
Jeong-woo stood too, touched by the sight, and gripped both his shoulders firmly.
With the warmest expression, he said.
“Yeah, make it worth every penny.”
“...”
“No, I mean—let’s work hard together.”
His true feelings had slipped out.
* * *
Interview waiting room.
Wigan Athletic manager Lowell Gardner hadn’t forgotten that day’s disaster.
‘Bolton Wanderers...!’
Just thinking of them made his blood boil.
There had always been a local rivalry between the Latics (Wigan) and the Wanderers (Bolton).
But in recent years, that color had faded.
While Bolton sank into the mire, Wigan held steady or inched forward.
So Latics fans now saw rivaling Bolton as an embarrassment.
Yet in his tenure, that dynamic shattered.
[Wigan Athletic! Miss Championship Promotion by 1 Point...!]
[Experts: ‘They’d Have Been Promoted If They’d Beaten Bolton Wanderers.’]
[Wigan’s Lowell Gardner Toyed With By Bolton’s Bed Soccer...!]
Headlines from a few months back, mid-2020-2021 season.
Lowell Gardner still pulled them up on his phone from time to time.
Crunch-!
His grip tightened on the device.
His eyes burned red.
‘Damn...!’
Rage surged every time he recalled it.
They’d ruined all his plans.
It wasn’t just dropping 1 point short.
The Bolton loss rippled, leading to baffling defeats against weaker sides right after.
Bluntly put, post-Bolton, the players were off everywhere.
Lowell himself wasn’t immune.
‘Mentally shattered...’
The shock had been that profound.
Latics fans piled on the blame.
Some media latched on like vultures.
But now, he’d leveled up.
Mentally tougher, too.
If anything, credit to Bolton, Ma Jeong-woo, and that Middle Eastern soccer.
“Huuuuh-!”
Lowell calmed his fury.
This season, Wigan Athletic prioritized promotion.
The chairman poured in massive transfer funds.
Lowell signed some big names.
They’d climbed to 5th.
‘Bolton right behind irks me.’
Just 1 point separated them from Bolton now.
But he didn’t care anymore.
A sinister smile crept in.
League Round 13.
Revenge time.
[League Round 13 at Bolton Wanderers’ Home! Can Bolton halt Wigan’s momentum again?]
[Last time, Bolton grinned ear to ear!]
Bolton-area pundits on TV debated the matchup heatedly.
[Lowell failed promotion after losing to Bolton!]
Bolton legends hammered the promotion flop.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Lowell muttered low.
He closed his eyes slowly, then opened them.
Calm now.
He’d steeled himself for Bolton, perfected the team.
That’s when it came.
Knock knock!
Lowell rose slowly at the sound.
“Time for your interview.”
The guide spoke softly and stepped aside from the open door.
Lowell nodded calmly.
He strode into the corridor.
‘Preparations are complete.’
He eagerly awaited tomorrow.
Confident, too.
Tomorrow, University Stadium would fall silent under the Wanderers’ hush.
Of course, he knew Jeong-woo’s tactical prowess now.
But back then, his own complacency was huge.
He’d never anticipated Middle Eastern soccer.
This time would be different.
‘No complacency...!’
His eyes blazed.
Lowell now respected Jeong-woo as a fellow manager.
Halt-!
His stride stopped after barely four steps.
Jeong-woo, fresh from his interview with a blonde woman, approached.
Lowell’s eyes twitched faintly.