Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Revenge Blood Battle (2)
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Black-Haired Tactical Genius
Chapter 87: Revenge Blood Battle (2)
It was the moment when the barely suppressed anger surged back up.
Just losing was infuriating enough, but failing to promote to the Championship because of Bolton's manager had hit him psychologically hard.
Crunch—!
His fist, resting on his thigh, clenched tightly in that instant.
Just then, Jeong-woo stopped dead in the middle of chatting with the blonde woman.
Lowell Gardner was standing smack in the middle of the corridor.
‘Ma...!’
Gardner growled inwardly.
He hadn’t expected to run into the man like this, either.
Even so, he wanted to take in the sight of him with both eyes.
‘First time seeing him in a place like this.’
But this was the guy who had beaten him, after all.
And he wanted to say it.
That tomorrow’s match wouldn’t go his way so easily.
That he should pour everything into thrashing Latics once.
‘Even if you use that same tactic that silenced us before, it’s fine!’
Lowell had never fallen for the same tactic twice.
He was curious, too.
What thoughts would Ma have upon seeing him, and what words would he offer?
It was right then.
Swipe!
“...”
In that instant, Lowell Gardner’s pupils dilated sharply.
Ma, who had been staring straight down at him, glanced alternately at the woman beside him, then let his mouth droop as he walked right past.
The two then resumed their usual conversation among themselves.
“So, Team Leader, that reporter Leon Moses went and tugged on a sleeping lion’s whiskers, you know?”
“But he should’ve held back on the cursing.”
“He started it first.”
“I saw it with my own two eyes and heard it with my own two ears. He criticized, but didn’t curse.”
“Oh, really? Sounded like cursing to me.”
Lowell, who had nearly lost his soul for a moment, whipped around and shouted.
“Hey, wait a second!”
Jeong-woo, who had been trudging along, stopped again.
Turning back with a puzzled look, he pointed at himself with his index finger.
Lowell Gardner forced a smile, pretending nonchalance.
“Heh, first time meeting this close up.”
But the response was shocking.
“Who are you?”
* * *
‘Dude’s ruining my groove, no sense at all.’
Jeong-woo had pretended not to know, letting him stew in his own rage. He was enjoying himself, after all.
‘Chatting with Emma’s way more fun than talking to that old guy.’
Every time she acted rebelliously, her smooth brow furrowed sharply, yet she’d politely press him—it was adorable.
“That was harsh.”
Now at the food court, Emma held a Korean-style hot dog she’d bought and spoke.
The weather was clearer and brighter than ever.
Beside her, Jeong-woo sipped the oden broth and chuckled softly.
“You agreed with me, Team Leader.”
“I was just following my superior’s orders.”
“I never gave any such order?”
“You said it with your eyes. Pretend you don’t know.”
Spot on.
Lowell Gardner’s face twisting in real time right after “Who are you?” was still hilarious to recall.
Of course, there was another reason.
Jeong-woo had a habit of avoiding face-to-face encounters with opposing managers before a round.
He’d trash-talk freely to the press, but if they crossed paths by chance, he wouldn’t even glance their way.
‘What’s the point of wasting energy the day before the match?’
If the opponent tried a psychological approach, Jeong-woo had no choice but to respond in kind.
And that whole process just drained mental stamina.
Jeong-woo had no desire for such uncomfortable moments.
‘Save all that energy for match day.’
So he’d played dumb.
Lowell had reacted like he’d just been dumped by his lover, more than expected.
That was when it happened.
“I’m always cheering for you.”
Emma murmured softly, holding her half-eaten hot dog in one hand.
Jeong-woo paused with the oden at his lips, back to the food court.
A quick glance showed Emma also facing away from the food court, gazing at the clear blue sky.
A gentle breeze made the stray hairs by her ear sway lightly.
Today, those cheering words hit Jeong-woo differently.
‘She must be worried about me.’
And that’s exactly what it was.
Jeong-woo constantly bickered with certain reporters at press conferences.
Some media outlets had criticized his tactics and behavior.
It had intensified once they targeted the guy called Mad Dog.
‘She acts fine on the outside, but I know it’s tough.’
So Emma was quietly worried about Jeong-woo, yet found him truly impressive.
Facing sharp attacks daily and still seeming unfazed.
“Bolton supports the Chairman. Loves his ways, even.”
She felt her cheeks flush after speaking from the heart.
On one hand, she hoped her words offered even a little comfort, if only just that.
Meanwhile, Jeong-woo thought:
What’s that supposed to mean?
Time to slip a ring on it?
* * *
In the past, Wigan Athletic had lost to Bolton at their home ground, the DW Stadium.
So as match day arrived, Latics fans burned with vengeance.
- : Let’s turn Bolton into Latics!
- : Make University Stadium our holy ground!
- : You bastards! Without Bolton, we’d be in the Premier League promotion fight by now!
- : Bolton...! You country bumpkins. We’ll bring chicken—try some!
Some still criticized Bolton’s style of play.
But others responded quite seriously.
- : Guys, if you watched properly, you’d know. Ma’s done the most rotations among the 24 teams in the last 13 rounds. And still got 8 wins. That’s not just luck.
: Agreed. Plus, their squad’s stronger than last season.
- : I’Mad Dogie-hard Latics fan, but you can’t underestimate Wanderers. Bolton’s at 8 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses. Chasing us by just 1 point!
Of course, it devolved into a brawl at the end.
: This punk’s a Wanderers pretending to be Latics, I bet.
: Nickname: Chistopher, this guy smells like a neutered Wanderers too?
: What, so what? Even if I say be more careful, this @@$ bitch whines.
Haha, detective, huh? Finally showing your filthy Wanderers true colors, @[email protected]$!
Bolton, Blackpool, Horwich media outlets were naturally focused on the match.
At Horwich Radio, DJ Aaron Bench continued with an excited voice.
[In two hours, Bolton vs. Wigan in League One Round 13 at University Stadium!]
[Second clash under Ma against Wigan!]
Panelist Patras MuaMad Dogidn’t hide his expectations.
[Like last season, I hope Bolton hands Wigan a crushing defeat. They’re still reeling from that aftermath.]
In Wigan areas like Scholes and Swinley in Greater Manchester, they naturally predicted a Wigan win.
[Today, Bolton will face cold, hard reality.]
[When was the last time Bolton vs. Wigan was a proper local derby?]
[Most Latics fans don’t even see Bolton as rivals anymore.]
[And Wanderers will feel that deep in their bones today!]
Meanwhile, many local papers predicted a Wigan victory.
Simple reason.
Bolton had bolstered their squad decently, but Wigan had done even more.
Moreover, Wigan had soared as a title contender beyond mere promotion since the season start.
Experts saw them as a Sunderland-level team from back then.
* * *
In the locker room, Jeong-woo faced the players sitting on the benches.
‘Look at these guys?’
His lips curled up involuntarily with each eye contact.
When they’d first played together, there had been anxiety in their faces.
A dark shadow of defeatism seemed overlaid.
But not anymore.
‘Their fighting spirit’s overflowing like crazy.’
From Bolton’s captain David Dignity on down, everyone’s eyes burned with intensity.
The confidence absent before was palpable now.
Beyond the door, Bolton chants boomed powerfully.
Booool-ton—!
We’ll chase only victoryyy—!
Latics~!
You dog bastards—!
Of course, it helped that he’d drilled it into them during training like brainwashing.
‘Latics are the enemy we must crush.’
From mad dogs on, most prefixes for Latics were curses.
He’d even made them watch past fierce derbies between Latics and Wanderers.
Explained the spirit behind it.
That’s how Jeong-woo had reignited the true rivalry animosity dulled by repeated losses.
‘That’s the flavor of local derbies.’
And now the players waited.
Poised to charge out, as if begging him to pull the trigger.
No long speeches needed.
In Jeong-woo’s judgment, their mental prep was perfect.
Creak—!
Without hesitation, Jeong-woo strode to the exit, flung the door open, and stepped aside.
“Mad dogs who think they’re the best need a good whack with a stick.”
With that opener, he grinned slyly and nodded toward the field.
“Go show ’em. That the so-called rivalry with Wigan ends today, just like they’ve been yapping.”
No need to shout.
In that moment, Jeong-woo pulled the trigger, and they all leaped up, roaring.
“Yesssss!”
“Yeah! Let’s show ’em!”
“Give those Latics dog bastards a taste of the stick!”
Even the usually innocent young ace roared with veins bulging in his neck.
“Uwaaaah...! Koff! Hack!”
He coughed mid-shout, probably choked.
Guess people can’t change overnight.
* * *
Wigan had grown stronger.
Even more than before.
Alongside striker Rahim Strong up top, new signing Gabriel Agüero had cost a whopping £4 million (₩6.4 billion).
Top-tier for League One this season.
Center-back reinforcements too: Theo Ferdinand from the Championship, £2.5 million (₩4 billion).
Not just that—central midfield bolstered, bench filled with fresh signings.
Team at 5th in the table, but top of the scoring charts.
All thanks to the dream tandem of Rahim Strong and Gabriel Agüero.
The press raved.
[Gabriel Agüero! Rahim Strong! League One’s best striking duo!]
So Lowell Gardner thought.
That Bolton might resort to defensive tactics again against this top duo.
But then his brow furrowed.
His eyes uncomfortably scanned the pitch.
‘Different positions?’
Just as he thought, a player in an unfamiliar spot caught his eye.