Ecosystem Destroyer Giant Hornet Son Jinho - 2
The first half between Dortmund U-19 and Duisburg U-19 came to an end. Dortmund had faced a few crises but managed to hold firm without conceding any more goals, successfully weathering Duisburg's attacks.
As the first half wrapped up, we gathered in a circle around the coach.
“Gut! Gut!”
Coach Hannes Wolf clapped his hands toward the deflated Dortmund players, trying to fire them up.
“Sometimes you learn from your mistakes. The first half was a time for us to become better people and better players.”
After pumping up the players for a good while, the coach announced the substitutions.
“In the second half, Rico's coming off, and Jinho's going in.”
I nodded at the coach's words. Rico Benatelli hadn't been in good form today, repeating mistake after mistake.
“...Damn it.”
But Rico, unable to accept being subbed off, hung his head and muttered irritably.
It hit me anew just how different the cultures were. German youth players expressed their emotions openly from a young age.
Well, there were individual differences, but most of the prospects were honest about their feelings.
Maybe that mindset was why they could showcase the plays they wanted in such a free atmosphere without getting intimidated.
If this were a Korean team, wouldn't some adult have dragged him off for a scolding like, “Kid, who do you think you're talking to like that without any manners?” followed by a family insult like, “Did you grow up without parents to teach you right from wrong?”
For the record, that was something the elementary school soccer coach said to me after I lost my parents in a car accident. Luckily, he didn't hit me, but his words left a deep scar on my young mind, still vivid to this day.
Ah, thinking about it again pisses me off. When I make it big, I should mention it in an interview.
Anyway, the Korean team's response was over the top. Still, a bit of basic manners wouldn't hurt. Honestly, as a Korean, Rico's behavior didn't sit well with me. No... I'm in Europe now. I shouldn't judge by Korean standards.
Upon reflection, Rico's level of emotional expression was actually pretty tame here. In Europe, it wasn't uncommon for players to tell the coach to shut up during instructions or refuse a handshake in protest of a sub. Compared to that, Rico just grumbling to himself was minor.
I slowly recalled what Son Heung-min had told me. When you go to a country, learning their language is a sign of respect and courtesy, right?
I nodded. Maybe even while learning German, I hadn't fully respected their culture. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since this was Europe, I resolved to respect and embrace European ways too.
“And Jinho, in the second half, switch positions with Pascal and move up to striker...”
I flipped off the coach who was trying to use me as a striker in the name of embracing European culture. The rest of halftime was spent getting chewed out.
“What the hell. Is it racism?”
As I eyed Coach Hannes Wolf suspiciously like a neo-Nazi, Rico Benatelli's mutter reached my ears.
“...Crazy bastard.”
Players started heading to the pitch one by one for the second half kickoff. I'd given Coach Hannes Wolf some half-baked explanation about why I couldn't play striker.
“...And that's your reason for not being able to play striker?”
In the end, I took the field as an attacking midfielder. I could still picture Coach Hannes Wolf's baffled expression upon hearing “I'm a midfielder.”
Why did Coach Han Gwang-jong and now Dortmund's Hannes Wolf both want to shove me into striker no matter what?
“Ha... this damn finishing.”
It had to be because I was just that good. Was Ki Hyun-sik the only one who saw me as a midfielder for what I was? Time for a reevaluation of Ki Hyun-sik.
Hmm. Maybe I'd overhyped his good points. To balance my fondness for Ki Hyun-sik, I recalled our recent chat.
—Jinho, don't you miss your friends in Korea?
—Nope, no swaps, not changing my mind, get back to work!
I'd firmly shut down Ki Hyun-sik when he tentatively suggested sending me back to Korea, looking all worn out.
“Wheeee! Come on, kids, let's go!”
Having easily reset Ki Hyun-sik's goodwill, I felt refreshed as I glanced at the stands. Unlike the last home game, there were no Dortmund fans in sight. Well, it made sense. Who'd trek to Duisburg on a Sunday just for a youth match? Dortmund wasn't too far, so they could come if they wanted, but spending that time with family or doing something productive seemed better.
It struck me again how amazing and grateful I was for my Korean Hoo siblings who came to every Madeul Stadium game despite the hassle.
I'd repay that kindness later with a no-show... Nah, just kidding. They'd probably still love me even if I ghosted. But I couldn't disappoint them.
Anyway, as I spaced out, the ref's whistle blew with Dortmund's kickoff, starting the second half. Per current kickoff rules, the ball could only go forward, so I stopped the striker's light touch pass and immediately sent it back.
Leading by two goals, Duisburg calmly dropped their lines to face Dortmund. Same 4-3-3 formation as the first half.
We, on the other hand, ran the Dortmund first team's 4-2-3-1. In the first half, their extra midfielder and our awkward Gegenpressing had pushed us back helplessly, but the second half was different.
“Pascal, stick close!”
Replacing Rico at attacking midfielder, I directed players' positions on the pitch, called out pressing timings, pressured opponents myself, joined midfield battles, kept possession, broke lines, and fed passes to infiltrators.
Honestly, there was a ton to focus on, and yelling awkward German made my head throb...
“Huh. This is working?”
Humans adapt, and before long, it felt natural. Pascal blocked the ball on my cue, rolling half-prone to pass it to me, sparking Dortmund's short counter.
Receiving Pascal's pass at the edge of the penalty arc, I slotted it into the half-space for an infiltrating teammate, then ran into the box for any second-ball chance to poke it home.
Well... truth be told, since my old teammates never finished, diving into the box after passing had become habit.
“Huh? What's this guy doing?!”
And sure enough, the shot ricocheted off the post right to me. Duisburg's defenders stared like, “What? Why's this guy here?” I easily tapped into the empty net for the goal.
The ref pointed to the halfway line, validating it. I fished the ball from the net and sprinted back.
Soccer's a game of momentum. Duisburg floundered against our shifted organized press. We had to pile on before they recovered.
Going all-out against kids felt a bit ungentlemanly. But I hated losing.
Before Duisburg's kickoff resumed play, Coach Hannes Wolf subbed off a fatigued player.
I'd seen it coming. I'd ordered pressure, but exhaustion slowed his reactions.
“Marvin! Press now!”
Anyway, the fresh substitutes disrupted Duisburg's buildup beautifully.
Duisburg's pass error under Dortmund's press led to Marvin Ducksch intercepting and passing to me. Similar to the last goal, they anticipated my pass and focused on cutting lanes rather than marking me.
Well... few teams had faced me yet. Schalke would've PTSD-rushed me.
No wonder pro teams do video analysis.
Anyway, from a spot slightly farther than before, I curled an inside-of-the-right-foot shot into the far corner.
The equalizer in, I bolted straight to the corner flag.
“Hoo-ooo-ooo-ooo!”
A satisfied smile spread as a few Dortmund fans echoed the Hoo.
My Hoo siblings were multiplying successfully today too.
Well... anyway. Dortmund sealed the win right before full time with Antonio Rüdiger's corner-kick header.
After the Duisburg match, I started against Rot-Weiss Ahlen and bagged two goals. As I notched a insane 6 goals and 1 assist over three games, making my name known to Dortmund fans, I was called up for the AFC U-19 Championship and headed to South Korea.
Dortmund seemed reluctant to let me go but relented thinking of ties with the Korean FA.
“But why not ask what I want?”
After the ordeal, stepping into Incheon Airport...
Thrilled! Galju has arrived!
“Hoo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!”
A flood of handshake requests poured in again. Somehow, my Hoo siblings had tripled since I left.