Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Starting Lineup - 2
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"I saw him off properly. Gino."
"Yeah, thanks for the hard work."
At Luca Coach's words, Coach Toni nodded in response.
Gino Calvani, who had been the ace of the U17 team for almost two years, left the team today.
Ah, maybe saying he "left" is a bit misleading.
He was called up to the U19 team, after all.
He was a kid who was good at both playing and listening, so we'd grown quite attached.
Even though it was a cause for celebration, I felt a bittersweet sense of loss.
"He'll adapt well, right?"
"What's there not to do? He's a kid who plays better than the second and third-year seniors."
"Well, that's true. But he's leaving earlier than planned, so that's that."
"Nothing to worry about. If anything, he should have left sooner. The higher-ups were just dragging their feet."
"Well, that's also true."
Truthfully, Gino Calvani's call-up was an accelerated schedule.
Originally, the plan was to send him at the end of this year or early next year, after he'd fully soaked up all the experience he could.
It's not the trend anymore to force-promote players like in the old days, and the upper teams weren't in a desperate situation to recruit players either.
The plan was to let him accumulate as much experience as possible, manage him carefully, and then send him off.
However, things don't always go according to plan.
Gino ended up leaving for the U19 team a little early.
It was because of Lee Ji-an.
"I told you it was a good idea to let him play, didn't I? His expression was good. He looked motivated, too."
"I know, so drop it. I'm getting tired of it."
Now that Ji-an had opened his heart and started showing motivation, it was time to focus on him.
It's a sorry thing to say about Gino, but if we were to coldly compare who had more potential between Ji-an and Gino...
Coach Toni had no choice but to side with Ji-an.
Therefore, it was time to invest most of the resources in Ji-an.
By resources, I mean real-game experience.
The one thing Ji-an was lacking right now was precisely that: experience in real matches.
In other words, he needed to be fed a concentrated dose of "experience points."
While doing that, we couldn't exactly keep Gino, who was a year older, as a backup, so we sent him up.
"I'm already getting excited."
"About what?"
"About a year from now. A kid who wasted two years without even being able to play properly. How much will he grow if we raise him properly from now on? It's exciting, isn't it?"
Coach Toni chuckled and nodded.
He was right.
The best way for a youth player to develop their skills is, above all, to play in matches.
There's nothing more efficient than playing in real games.
But Ji-an had been deprived of that most efficient method.
For over two years, no less.
It's like everyone else was cycling while he was forced to keep running in a triathlon.
But, talent.
That's the unfair starting line Ji-an had.
So what if he couldn't cycle for a bit?
He started ahead of everyone else, and he's much faster at running itself.
Even after wasting two years, Ji-an was still ahead.
So, what if we let him start cycling now?
How far ahead would he be able to go?
It was only natural to be excited.
"But..."
"Yeah."
"I'm still a little worried."
"Worried?"
"Right now, this week's opponent is Napoli. I'm worried his confidence might get shattered."
"Hmm."
Coach Toni nodded again.
The fact was, he still wasn't entirely certain.
He'd said not to rush things, but hadn't he himself rushed the process?
Sending Gino off today meant he was planning to use Ji-an as a starter starting from this weekend's match.
And this week's opponent was none other than Napoli.
They were a strong team currently sitting at 2nd place in the group, even though they hadn't played many games yet.
They'd also recorded good results last season.
Having a rookie debut as a starter against such a strong team was certainly a risky move.
It wasn't just Ji-an; young players are rarely mentally strong.
You often see kids who get completely intimidated by a minor mistake.
Moreover, Ji-an was the type who was weak in the mental department, particularly with low self-esteem.
If he played against Napoli and the result wasn't good, Coach Toni's choice could be considered a terrible move.
"But, on the other hand, is there any other opportunity as good as this?"
However, Coach Toni's thinking was that the return he could get was just as big as the risk.
Ji-an's lacking self-esteem.
Is there any better way to fill that in one go than beating a strong team like Napoli?
Well, there might be, but nothing came to mind immediately.
Besides, he didn't think the risk was as great as Luca Coach was worried about.
"He'll do well."
Even if the Napoli kids are good, they're still at the U17 level.
But Ji-an?
He's a talent beyond that.
If we just create an environment where he can perform to his full potential without any burden, Ji-an would definitely do well.
His talent was the basis for that.
"Well, of course, the time for his contract renewal is also approaching."
The fact that it was time to talk about his contract was also one of the reasons he couldn't delay the matter any longer.
Honestly, at this point, if the team said they wouldn't sign a professional contract with Ji-an, there was nothing he could say.
The kid hadn't even been able to play in a match.
While he was on a youth contract, you could give him time, but in a situation like now, where it's time to talk about a professional contract, the story is different.
No matter how much the coach himself emphasized his potential, the team would lack grounds.
However, if he starts to build up those results one by one from now on, the team will have no reason to hesitate.
In fact, they'll probably try hard to keep him locked down.
This match against Napoli would be a powerful blow to that end.
"Luca."
"Yes."
"This week, we need to be on our toes as well."
"Of course."
"First, we'll take on Napoli and see."
"Is there any other option?"
Coach Toni and Luca Coach nodded.
······
"...So, in the end, we have to move like this. Got it?"
"Yes, I understand."
I nodded at Coach Luca's long explanation.
"Good. Let's go."
"Yes."
Unlike yesterday, which ended with simple recovery training, today, Tuesday, our team began serious match preparation.
We were in the middle of a tactical training session.
I was recalling what the coach had told me and executing the sequences.
I was now naturally starting my training with the starting group, probably because Gino had been called up to the U19 team.
In the end, the tactical training was done by me and Andrea, alternating.
The difference from last week was that today, the coach was giving me more detailed tactical instructions.
From the comprehensive role of my position, Second Forward, to the detailed parts of the tactics in various situations.
I focused on the training while listening to the detailed explanations.
However, he also said that if the situation wasn't favorable, I could just do what I wanted, so it wasn't too difficult.
"Left-!"
"Move, move! Take the space!"
Above all, I had at least played one match.
My mind felt much more at ease.
Thanks to that, my field of vision felt a bit wider.
My teammates also seemed to have gotten used to me a bit, so coordinating with them was much smoother than last week.
Of course, that doesn't mean I'm completely relaxed.
Just because Gino is gone doesn't mean his spot is mine.
Andrea is clearly next after Gino.
Andrea is a kid who has been playing consistently for the past few months.
I've only played one game, and only for 10 minutes, so I can't compare.
Even from my point of view, the possibility of starting in the weekend match is much higher for Andrea.
However, since I'm also in a situation where I absolutely must secure that spot, I'm just doing my best in training.
"Hoo, hoo-"
Thinking about it, it's a bit strange.
In the past, I actually wished someone would play in my stead.
Now it's the complete opposite.
In fact, I'm even thinking this now.
I wish I were a real genius.
In the old days, I hated being called a genius.
I knew I wasn't one.
I hated that pressure.
But now, I find myself thinking that if it turns out I was a real genius after all, that would be great.
Man.
I'm this desperate.
At the same time, I feel like I'm still far from being an adult.
An adult wouldn't waver like this.
"Ji-an! Nice! Good movement!"
Well, thanks to that, the training was going well.
······
"Hey, don't we have a bigger pot than this?"
"Probably not."
"What, this is the only small one? You don't cook at home? You're lacking the basics. The basics."
"Dad-! Ji-woo says Dad's the one lacking basics... mph!"
"You wanna die? Be quiet."
"Mmph, mmph-!"
I chuckled as I peeled Ji-woo's hand away from my mouth, which she was trying to cover.
Look at her.
It's fun seeing her, who rarely gets flustered, get all flustered.
"Ugh. You think you can mess with me because you trust me? You'll regret it later, you know?"
"Dad-! Ji-woo..."
"I get it, I get it! Sheesh."
Seeing Ji-woo puff out her cheeks with a frown, I think I'm starting to understand why she teases me so much.
This is fun.
It's Friday today.
My dad is off, and so am I, so Ji-woo came over to our house.
She said she'd cook for us or something.
Both she and I were busy during the week.
I was busy with training, and she was busy preparing for school.
Thanks to that, we didn't meet separately and only talked on the phone.
Unlike Korea, you can't comfortably go out here once it's evening.
It's a bit dangerous, and there's not much to do anyway.
That's probably why Ji-woo looked in a good mood from the moment we met to go grocery shopping.
Even though we hadn't met, we still talked on the phone every day.
Even so, she had so much to say, as if there was something she hadn't been able to say.
It was the most chaotic grocery shopping I've ever had in my life.
"Okay. I'll boil the water here, and sauté the ingredients here."
"Is everything ready?"
"Yep!"
"Then I'll go to my room?"
"What are you talking about. Stay right there."
"Why? I don't have anything to do."
"Then make something for me to do."
"No."
"Then stand by so the chef doesn't get bored."
"Sigh..."
I mean, who asked her to cook?
She's the one who said she'd cook for us.
And it's not even with pure intentions.
If my reason for coming to Italy was for soccer study abroad, Ji-woo's was for cooking study abroad.
There's a famous culinary school nearby, and she said she enrolled there.
So she wanted to practice a bit before the semester started, but it would be a bit awkward to cook at her homestay.
That's why she's doing this here.
Of course, my dad said she was welcome anytime, but...
isn't she using me and my dad as test subjects?
"Alright, the pasta goes in now. Right now!! Whoosh-"
...Somehow, I don't trust her.
As I watched Ji-woo's cooking with suspicion, I felt a presence behind me and turned my head.
My dad was standing there...
"...?"
My dad looked at me, gave me a thumbs-up, and then left again.
...What does that mean?
"So? How is it?"
After each taking a bite of the pasta Ji-woo served, my dad and I looked at each other.
"..."
"..."
Then we nodded simultaneously.
What?
This is delicious.
"It's delicious. You're amazing, Ji-woo."
"Really? Phew- Thank goodness."
I mean, it's strange.
It looks exactly the same as the pasta my dad makes.
Was pasta always this delicious?
"Eat up, eat up. I can make more."
While Ji-woo watched with a satisfied expression, we devoured the pasta.
When was the last time I ate food this tasty at home?
If my dad's cooking skill was this good, I probably wouldn't have been so skinny.
"You're eating well? It must really be delicious, then?"
Ji-woo said with a grin.
As I chewed with my cheeks puffed up instead of answering, Ji-woo said,
"Since I made pasta for you, you have to score a goal this time too, right?"
"..."
...Who brings up work during a meal?
As I narrowed my eyes and looked at Ji-woo, my dad patted my back and said,
"I'd like to go too, but I can't. Sorry about that."
"It's fine."
Earlier, during the day, I received a message from the team.
It was a call-up for Sunday's match.
But it wasn't just a regular call-up.
My god.
I was a starter.
I had expected it, but I never imagined it.
A starter.
And in an important match against a strong team.
I felt pressure along with the surprise, but more than anything, I was grateful.
Somehow, I'd managed not to get caught in my lie again.
Of course, it was too early to relax.
It's not just about being a starter; what matters more is what I show in the match.
"So, how many goals this time? Three? Four?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Then the celebration? Last time..."
"Hey, hey. Stop it."
"Ah, why."
"Dad. He talks too much."
"That's a good thing, why. Ji-woo. Come visit often from now on. Think of this as your home."
"Really? I will! Hehe."
Hmm.
Anyway, I'm ready this time too.
Ready to turn my bluff into reality.
Honestly, I don't even know what this confidence of mine is, but I feel like I can do it.