Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Goddess of Victory - 3
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Thankfully, the club booked a separate accommodation for Ji-woo.
I've heard of giving home game tickets to players' families or acquaintances, but booking a room in the away hotel? I've never seen that before...
I was wondering if it was okay for just me to get this treatment, but the coach told me not to worry.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
"If any of you have a problem or feel jealous about this, I'll put you on the transfer list immediately."
I don't know why he keeps threatening us with transfers, but since the coach said so, I had nothing more to say.
However, he did say there was one thing I absolutely must not do.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
"Don't call anyone to your room after dinner, and don't go to a friend's room. Just follow that."
Well, that's obvious, and I had no intention of doing so in the first place.
We came here to play against AC Milan. We didn't come here to play around. We couldn't forget our main duty.
Also... if I said I was going to his room, Ji-woo would definitely say something weird.
Anyway, after arriving in Milan, we separated and went to our respective rooms.
...
Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, I suddenly felt a strange feeling.
For some reason, today, my mind feels at ease? It feels like I don't have any stray thoughts.
I'm usually the type who thinks a lot when a match is approaching. I think about the opponent, and I think about the game.
Sometimes, it was so bad that I was tormented by thoughts of what would happen if I couldn't play in tomorrow's game.
Especially when I came away, it was worse. Because home is familiar, and since my dad was there, I had nothing to worry about.
It must be because when I'm lying alone in a strange room like this, all I can do is think.
I've changed a lot in the last few months, but... I still don't like unfamiliar things. To me, unfamiliarity is just another word for fear.
But today was different.
Is it because Ji-woo is somewhere above that ceiling right in front of my eyes?
Even though I'm alone, it doesn't feel like I'm alone.
...It's not like I'm really with the Goddess of Victory or anything.
Hmmmm-
"Wow, the room is awesome."
"What did you say to them for them to do this for me...?"
"Anyway, I'll stay quietly in the room ㅇㅅㅇ"
"With a room like this, I could stay for a year!"
Checking my buzzing phone, I let out a dry laugh.
Right. How could I feel alone when he won't leave me alone like this?
...
As I was about to reply, I stopped my fingers for a moment as a thought crossed my mind.
If. Just if.
What if I transfer teams later and go abroad, not to Italy?
If that happens, can I adapt well on my own?
"Yeah, lock the door and stay quiet."
"Don't open the door for anyone who rings the bell."
"Don't open it even if I ask you to."
After sending the reply to Ji-woo, I got up from the bed. Then, I took out a yoga mat and a foam roller from my bag to prepare for stretching.
Just as I was about to start stretching, a reply came.
"Of course, you're not allowed!!"
"What if you try something?"
(Blushing emoticon)
...
I flipped my phone over and started stretching.
...
15 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses.
That is AC Milan's record as they lead the league in first place as of January.
Milan had been up and down compared to their past glory until the mid-to-late 2010s.
7th place in the 15-16 season. 6th place in the 16-17 and 17-18 seasons. They finished 5th and 6th in the two seasons after that.
Anyway, they were consistently in the upper-middle ranks and participated in European competitions, so it couldn't be called a dark period, but it was a fact that they were achieving results that fell short of the reputation of AC Milan, a club that once debated being the best in the world.
However, Milan's turnaround began in the 19-20 season, when Stefano Pioli took over as the firefighter manager.
Pioli, who improved the team's structure with the 4-2-3-1 tactic and the recruitment of solid players, showed potential by raising the ranking from the lower-middle ranks to 7th place that year.
And in the following 2020-21 season, they finished second in the league, announcing Milan's revival.
Although they couldn't fully enjoy the joy as their rival team, Inter, claimed the Scudetto, it was enough of a result to harbor hope for 'next year, we will...!'
And that hope is becoming a reality this season.
If you think about what the driving force was that allowed Milan to advance like this, the first thing you could point out is the exquisite harmony of old and new players in the squad.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Milan Milan solo con te─!!
Milan Milan sempre per te─!!
Over 70,000 Rossoneri filling San Siro chant Milan's anthem.
And on the ground where that anthem pours down, Milan's players are in the middle of their warm-up.
Beeeeep-
Paaang-!!
Mike Maignan, who has emerged as Milan's guardian god in place of Donnarumma, instinctively saves the coach's shot.
Paaang-
Paaang-!
In front of him, Pierre Kalulu, known as the Next Desailly, and Theo Hernandez, known as Milan's engine, are passing the ball to warm up.
Beeeeeeep-!
And in front of them, Sandro Tonali, known as the successor to Pirlo, is checking his passing sense.
Others like Franck Kessié and Bennacer are also preparing to devour the opponent...
Tatatat-!
A step ahead, Rafa Leão, who has emerged as the best winger of the season, is swinging his long legs, having finished his preparations to break down Fiorentina's defense.
These are all young, no, young players who can easily handle the next 10 years.
But as the rankings prove, they are already players performing at a top level.
The squad's average age is 25.
Milan, one of the youngest teams in the league, boasts explosive energy.
However, they are not lacking veterans to add weight to that young blood.
Experienced players like Alessio Romagnoli, Simon Kjær, and Alessandro Florenzi are holding down the fort firmly.
Especially the presence of Olivier Giroud, who has the precious experience of winning a championship, an experience young players lack, is also a huge asset for Milan.
Milan Milan sempre per te─!!
The Rossoneri's anthem grows even louder.
For the fans, it's a lineup that makes their hearts feel at just by looking at it.
Based on their recent momentum, it feels like they could beat any team in the league.
Of course, the players also have the same confidence...
That's when Milan's players were in the middle of their warm-up.
"Forza, forza-!"
"Viola-!!"
The heads of the Milan players turn.
Today's opponents, the Fiorentina players, are pouring out of the tunnel.
Who do they think they are, shouting Forza Viola in enemy territory.
As the Milan players' minds become unsettled while looking at them,
-Everyone's gaze immediately lands on one player.
'...Is that him?'
'He looks like a complete kid.'
'He looks ordinary though...'
A player nearly 10 years younger than the Milan players, who have an average age of 25, one of the youngest in the league.
However, in terms of recent hype, he is hotter than any other player.
The player Pioli said was the number one priority to watch out for.
It was Lee Ji-an.
All of Milan's players looked at Ji-an, walking onto the ground, with wary eyes, craning their necks.
"...Hoo."
Except for just one person, Zlatan Ibrahimović, who looked at him with interest...
*
"...All of these parts, don't forget them and play the game..."
Just before the match starts.
Everyone forms a circle, puts their arms around each other's shoulders, and listens to the captain's speech.
What we have prepared today, what to watch out for, and what today's match means.
Usually, the captain is so easygoing that you sometimes forget he's the captain, but when he's on the field like this, he feels like a different person.
You could say you can feel the power in his voice.
Thanks to that, all the teammates nod with serious faces, and I was also listening intently to the captain's words.
Then, the captain glanced at me and said.
"Actually, you know. There's nothing to worry about for today's match. It's a game we're already winning."
...What does that mean?
I furrowed my brow slightly, and everyone burst out laughing.
The captain also laughed and said.
"It's because the Goddess of Victory is with us. Ji-an, right?"
"...Yes."
"Good. Let's go. All the luck today is on our side. So let's go with confidence!"
"Let's go!"
"Forza-"
"Viola-!!"
Thanks to the captain, the somewhat solemn atmosphere dissipated lightly, like the players scattering to their positions.
Everyone has smiling faces, so for some reason, the home fans' expressions seem to be getting rough.
I also shook my head and headed to my position. While doing so, I glanced at the stands where our fans were seated.
She must be somewhere in there.
I can't lose.
Piiiiik-!
The match begins with the opponent's kick-off.
We are in a 4-3-3 formation, and the opponent faces us with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Paaang-
Paaang-!
From the start, the opponent's passes start moving quickly.
I heard from the coach that Milan is a team with good overall energy, with tough play, quick transitions, and forward pressing.
It definitely feels like that...
You can feel it just 10 seconds into the match.
Normally, after a kick-off, they take their time circulating the ball and warming up, but it seemed the opponent had no intention of doing so.
Beeeeeeep-!
The opponent's midfielder's long pass goes straight over our heads. As I turn my gaze to follow the ball, I see an opponent striker fighting for position with our center-back, Milenković.
He's a very tall and intimidating-looking player.
His name is Zlatan.
Since it's an important match, I memorized the jersey numbers and names of all the opponent players today.
Paaang-!
Milenković gets pushed back, and Zlatan heads the ball.
He immediately passes the ball to the left.
Paaang-
This time, another tall player receives the ball.
Rafa Leão.
Tall players usually have the characteristic of being sluggish or having poor footwork, but I heard Leão is not like that.
And it was actually true.
Tatatat-!
He easily shakes off the defense with a single feint and penetrates the left side with refreshing strides.
Then he crosses the ball.
Beeeeeeep-!
A slightly ambiguous cross, at chest height, heads into the box. The direction itself was ambiguous, as it was unclear who it was aimed at.
Because of that, I relaxed a bit, preparing for the ball to flow out...
A long leg stretches out towards that ambiguous cross.
Beeeeeeeeeep-!
It was a bicycle kick.
Zlatan, whose huge body jumped up with a flexible motion that was hard to believe, put his foot to the cross at an ambiguous height.
Shwooooooo-
The shot fortunately went wide of the goal...
Woooooo-
But it was enough to fill the stadium with the fans' gasps.
"..." "..."
At that gasp, the smiles disappear from my teammates' faces.
Perhaps the tension they had been hiding with forced smiles was now revealed.
Definitely, the opponent was not someone you could handle lightly, as if you could just smile and play.
*
11 minutes.
That's how long it took for me to touch the ball for the first time after the match started.
The game was flowing at the opponent's pace to the extent that I hadn't even touched the ball for 11 minutes.
The saying that they are a team full of energy was exactly right. Every player felt a step faster than us, and they didn't hold back their bodies.
In the end, it means the opponent's tempo was faster than ours, and we were struggling just to keep up with that tempo.
To be honest, it's a relief that we didn't concede a goal early on...
However, the more so in such times, I had to keep my mind straight. If the time I don't get the ball gets longer, if I don't move either, the ball will never come to me.
I had to be prepared.
Only then would the situation be created.
Tatatat-
I glanced around and moved to the right.
Sottil, on the right, who read my movement, is seen running to the position I was originally in.
The opponent's left line, that is, the left-back Theo Hernandez and the winger Rafa Leão's line, was said to be the core of their attack development.
The fact that the left attack is active means that they expose instability in the space behind them.
It's like that now too.
The opponent's full-back is playing in such a high position that you can't tell if he's a full-back, a central midfielder, or a winger.
The center-backs seem to be spreading wide to fill that gap, but it's still wide.
I moved to the right to exploit that space.
Tatatat-!
The opponent attacks again through the left line.
We're not unaware of it, but even if we are, their attacking power is so threatening.
However, that doesn't mean they can break through every time.
Paaang-!
Leão seems to slightly drag the ball, but loses it to Bonaventura's cooperative defense.
At the same time, I raised my hand high, and Bonaventura, my senior, makes eye contact with me.
Beeeeeeep-!
Following that, the senior's pass comes to me along the touchline.
Perhaps thinking that we need to transition quickly since the opponent's full-back is absent, the pass is so strong that it's hard to tell if it's a shot or a pass...
Paaang-!
I focus as much as possible and stretch my foot to receive the ball.
I let go of the tension in my ankle so the ball would fall in front of my foot, and it worked as I intended.
Tatatat-!
Following that, I dribble in along the touchline.
The space is wide.
I see one opponent center-back following me out, and a defensive midfielder is covering the empty space.
It would be best to cross quickly here, but the problem is that there are no players in the box.
I can see them coming up late, but if I wait for them, the opponent's defense will also be all set.
For now... let's do this.
Beeeeep-
Paaang-!
The strong cross hits the foot of the defense that was blocking in front of me and bounces off.
"Piiik!"
It's our corner kick.
I intended to get the corner kick by hitting the opponent's body, but fortunately it worked out.
"Wait a moment-"
I naturally prepare to take the corner kick.
I'm holding the ball for a moment at the assistant referee's instruction, but for some reason, I have a good feeling.
I haven't done anything yet, but today's plays are all going as I thought.
This corner kick also feels good.
"Piiik!"
After finishing the preparations, I put the ball down and prepare for the kick. After checking the movements of the players in the box, I raise my hand to confirm our team's signal.
Tatatat-
Beeeeeeeeeeep-!
I kick the corner kick.
I kicked it relatively close to the goal, low and fast.
I put in the cross with the thought that whether it's our team or the opponent, if someone just roughly touches it, it should be sucked into the goal...
Amazingly.
Again, it went as I thought.
Paaaaang-
Thwack-!!
The net shook.
I didn't see it clearly, but it seemed to have been touched by something.
My cross, which had touched something, changed direction slightly and went into the goal.
It means that even though the opponent had dominated the early first half, we were the ones who scored the opening goal.
"...Uh, ah!"
"...Wow! Yeah! It went in!"
For some reason, my teammates, who reacted a beat late, looked at each other and started running towards me.
Watching those seniors...
I felt something was strange, and as I wondered why, I realized.
It was because no one was doing a proper celebration. Anyone who scored would be happy and do a celebration, but no one did.
The seniors who ran all the way to me even asked each other.
"Was it you? Was it you?"
"It wasn't me. Was it you?"
"Not me either."
This isn't some mystery.
The ball went in, but there's no one who scored...?
Then the culprit is...
"It hit that guy and went in!"
"It was an own goal?"
"Wow, lucky!"
It was an own goal.
I was wondering whose head it hit, but it seems it was an opponent player, not one of ours.
Anyway, a goal is a goal.
The seniors started celebrating more than if we had scored it ourselves, and I was also buried in the middle, sharing the joy frantically...
Suddenly, the captain separated us and said.
"Hey! Everyone, get down on the ground over there!"
"Huh?"
"It's the blessing of the Goddess! She's making the luck follow our side! Everyone, get down!"
"Ah!"
Ah? What do you mean, Ah?
Hey, seniors?
The seniors really started lying flat on the ground towards our team's stands.
While muttering something like fanatics.
"It's a game we can win!"
"The Goddess of Victory is with us!"
"..."
...I could only watch them with a sigh.
[The Goddess of Victory -3] End