Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Pouring Fuel on the Backroom Deal Scandal
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Recent controversy over the U-17 national team, centered around Ban Yeager, has become a massive hot topic.
'Not yet...'
There were plenty of cards I could play to land another blow on the Football Association, but the timing wasn't right.
Even if I toppled the current president, Jeong Mong-gu, it would all be meaningless if I couldn't claim that position for myself.
In other words, I needed to seize the seat and demonstrate proper management while cultivating someone favorable to me...
It might be worth testing this connection I stumbled upon by chance.
Reforming the Football Association is a long-term plan.
For now, the key was maintaining this negative public sentiment toward the current association.
I had to keep showing the world just how brilliant a soccer player the victim of the Football Association's corruption truly was.
And conveniently, Southampton in Round 28 was one of the most recognizable teams in the second division.
Time to put on another show.
England's second division, the EFL Championship.
With 24 teams, it features a whopping 46 rounds in a single season.
That makes the schedule even tighter than the first division when looking purely at league fixtures.
But the great Manchester United, taking this into account, crashed out of the Carabao Cup (League Cup) in the first round.
Thanks to that, they could focus solely on the league and barely hold onto 5th place.
They joined the FA Cup from the third round, so they didn't get eliminated before Ban Yeager joined.
Currently, Manchester United is competing in the league and the FA Cup, with their next match being league Round 28.
The opponent is Southampton (pronounced South-hamp-ton).
They're also known as one of England's selling clubs.
With an excellent youth system and a knack for unearthing gems, they've produced many famous players.
Selling clubs often get dismissed, but they're never to be underestimated.
The ability to produce top youth talents in-house and hold onto players other teams covet is proof of their strength.
Just think of other selling clubs like Dortmund, Benfica, Porto—they're world-class powerhouses.
Southampton currently sits at 6th in the league.
Like Leeds United, they handed Man U a bitter defeat in the first half of the season.
[Hello, soccer fans across the nation! We're at Old Trafford! A Korean player takes the pitch once more in the Theatre of Dreams!]
[Checking the squad for Manchester United, featuring the last classic 10 of modern soccer, Ban Yeager!!!]
LW: Mason Mount / ST: Benjamin Sesko / RW: Shea Lacey
CAM: Ban Yeager
LCM: Toby Collyer / RCM: Jack Fletcher
LB: Harry Amass / LCB: Godwill Kukonki / RCB: Harry Maguire / RB: Noussair Mazraoui
GK: Altay Bayindir
Since my signing, Man United's starting lineup had undergone some changes.
Mount over Garnacho.
Jack Fletcher over Finlay McCallister.
Harry Amass over Patrick Dorgu.
What they had in common? They'd shown great chemistry with Ban Yeager as subs or in training.
This was Ban Yeager's second Old Trafford match since the Leeds game.
Fans who'd been burned by the three goals conceded to Leeds at halftime weren't about to miss this one.
Before Ban Yeager's debut, exactly 48 viewers had tuned in.
Considering her average of 15, that was a 3x surge.
But as soon as she went live for this Ban Yeager stream? 1,000 viewers...
Right before kickoff, she hit 10,000.
"Did I keep you waiting too long today? I was dolling up to show off something special—it took forever!"
"Hold on~ Let me show you on screen!"
Click.
What Ban Yer-in wanted to brag about was, as viewers guessed, jerseys.
Two of them, including the game-worn one she'd snagged a few days ago from Ban Yeager.
Both were 'game-worn' jerseys.
But announcing that would be hard to prove—and might expose her identity.
Regrettably, she had to settle for just showing them off.
Ding—
"Whoa! Thanks for the 10,000 won donation! Today... 3-0 easy! Ban Yeager hat-trick!"
Ban Yer-in had predicted a Ban Yeager hat-trick for every match so far.
Iiiiiaaaaaah—!!!
The game hadn't even started, but United fans were already roaring.
Amazingly, after just five games, I could spot familiar faces in the crowd.
It made me proud, proof of my dedicated fan service.
'Gotta repay the cheers today too.'
Beep—!
Manchester United kicked off.
Benjamin Sesko passed it to me for the kickoff.
Southampton striker Cameron Archer closed in to press me.
The wingers advanced slowly too, but not with intense pressure.
Normally, I'd pass back and build up, but with this loose marking, no need to go backward.
Thwump—
I pushed the ball right and drove forward.
Nothing easier than shaking a player rushing at you.
I advanced slowly on purpose, accelerating only when Archer got close.
Thud—
The trailing right winger stretched, but I was a step quicker.
I switched left and charged ahead.
"Push up!"
To break through easier here, Sesko and the wingers needed to run in behind.
Sesko with his back to the center-back waiting for my pass, wingers bombing the half-spaces.
Our right winger, Shea Lacey, even dropped to receive.
Pulling Southampton's left-back out of position.
I slotted it into the right channel without hesitation.
Pang—!!
A precise left-footed pass, undisturbed.
Noussair Mazraoui, sprinting from our half at full speed, collected it.
Waaaaaah—!!!
Fans in the stands, unable to track the pass path, erupted late.
The wide-open flank was Mazraoui's in an instant.
Man U players flooded the penalty area.
Southampton, forced to turn, reacted sluggishly as a unit.
Mazraoui already deeper than their defensive line.
Just cut it back into the box for the runs.
"Sesko!!!"
Leading the line for Man U:
A 195cm/86kg monster striker hitting 36km/h.
Pang—
Mazraoui's pass flew to Benjamin Sesko.
[Chance!!! If this goes in, Man United takes it easy!!!]
Thwump—
Devastatingly, Southampton's keeper got a touch.
Aaron Ramsdale's fist.
Ramsdale had anticipated the cutback and charged out.
A fine save, but the ball curled farther than expected—he couldn't claim it, punching clear.
Still, he'd thwarted a clear chance.
Essentially winning a 2v1 as keeper—worthy of praise.
Thwump—!
If no Man U player had foreseen the second ball like Ramsdale predicted the cutback.
Ban Yeager hustled more than anyone in attack, finishing perfectly.
A kick sending the punched clearance back toward goal.
A lob sailing over the diving center-back trying to clear.
"........."
Silence blanketed the stadium.
Everyone inside gauged the arcing ball's path.
Keeper and defenders raced to the goal.
...
Shrrrrrk—
The sliding defender into the net, the keeper's outstretched hand.
At their fingertips: the soccer ball Ban Yeager had launched.