Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: vs. Korea-Japan Duo (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Are you serious?"
"I'm still on the fence, but... to some extent?"
Of course I'd love for Lucas to naturalize. That thought had crossed my mind. But I never imagined he'd bring it up this soon—let alone be the first to mention it.
"Yeah, adapting wouldn't be an issue. But think it over some more. Once you commit to the national team, there's no turning back. You've got plenty of time, so mull it out properly. I'll help however I can if you need it."
"...Got it. First things first, I need to snag a starting spot at Manchester."
Even if Lucas Cruijff did naturalize, it couldn't end up as some achievement credited to Chairman Chung Mong-koo.
When Lucas hits world-class status, it has to be entirely thanks to me.
'He's still looking out for me like a true friend.'
How many people had flipped their attitudes the moment I joined first-team training?
U-18 players who used to ignore me suddenly acting all buddy-buddy.
They saw me as a useful connection.
But Ban Yeager still treated me like a genuine friend.
'Good thing I waited and talked to him...'
About an hour earlier.
Ban Yeager had said he needed to meet with the manager and told me to head out first, but Lucas Cruijff stuck around.
"Me... on the senior team? The first team, no less..."
Sure, he was a long way from making the official matchday squad, coming off the bench, or starting. But the instant he stepped into first-team training, those dreams became reality within reach.
And the one who'd helped him get this far was Ban Yeager from Korea.
Up until now, Lucas Cruijff had lived his whole life as a Brit, naturally dreaming of the England national team.
But he'd been struggling to adapt even at Manchester United's youth setup.
Skill-wise, sure—but human relationships were a nightmare too.
Half-shunned by his fellow Brits, he'd wondered if he should just give up and transfer elsewhere.
The only one who'd reached out to Lucas Cruijff—and actually helped—was Ban Yeager from Korea.
He was Lucas's one true friend, someone who understood his style of play and could link up with him.
'There aren't any players in England who can deliver the passes I want...'
Nothing was set in stone yet.
It still felt impossibly distant.
But the future of playing alongside Ban Yeager for South Korea was starting to excite him.
All the buildup I'd diligently stacked since regressing.
The prerequisite? Me holding down a core ace role at Manchester United through pure skill, with consistent team results to back it up.
And the biggest achievement this season? League promotion and FA Cup glory.
If I had to pick which mattered more, it'd be promotion hands down.
Difficulty aside, the rewards were on another level.
The match ahead was a key one for that promotion push.
EFL Championship Round 33.
Opponents: Birmingham City, who'd poured massive investment to rocket from League Two to back-to-back promotions, reaching the Premier League in the 26-27 season.
Baek Seung-hoon, now firmly in the veteran bracket.
He'd been with Birmingham City since their League Two days, achieving back-to-back promotions and cementing legend status.
Even when they got relegated back to the Championship, he'd recommitted to the club, vowing a return to the EPL together.
A clash between Birmingham's core legend Baek Seung-hoon and Manchester United's ace Ban Yeager.
With both teams sitting 3rd and 5th, gunning for promotion, it was a bona fide blockbuster by Championship standards.
Venue: St. Andrew's, Birmingham City's home turf.
Ban Ye-rin, Ban Yeager's little sister, fired up the Manchester United match stream right on cue today.
Three minutes to kickoff against Birmingham—cutting it close, but not late.
Still, the backlash rolled in: Gotta check the lineup early~ Where's the pre-game chat~ Unfair~ Bad optics.
Most were just teasing her opportunistically, but the chat was ablaze anyway.
She wasn't slacking or misjudging the time.
The delay? A visit to the school she'd be attending soon.
Explaining the details risked leaking her age, location—private stuff she kept under wraps. So she just owned it shamelessly.
Game hadn't even started, so technically not late.
"Anyway, no time to waste—quick key info check, then straight into the match!"
CAM: Ban Yeager
Bban-ye thought to herself.
Pretending to know would just make it hurt more if they got crushed.
Birmingham City kicked off.
Doesn't matter who starts with the ball—I'm pushing up into their half from the whistle anyway, so my playstyle stays the same.
Except for one split-second: right at the very start, before they've passed me, when they play it back—the rare play you won't see otherwise.
Thud— thud—
Jogging lightly like he's out for a stroll, ignoring the ball entirely.
Word was already out that this player doesn't press or even track back, so Birmingham built up their routine play without a second thought.
Thud—
Birmingham's midfielder Iwata Tomoki receives it without even glancing my way, despite me just passing behind him. Eyes fixed forward.
The Japanese national who'd stuck with Baek Seung-hoon from League Two all the way to the Prem, a club legend through and through.
No real bad blood.
Scrape—
But Birmingham's throne had room for only one: Baek Seung-hoon.
"Ugh!!"
Iwata Tomoki, checking a side pass with me totally off his radar—my foot slid between his legs, nicking the ball clean.
Using its momentum, I spun and drove forward.
Birmingham's entire line had pushed up casually, so they couldn't react to my intercept in time.
Left blocking me for real? Just one center-back.
Shake Christoph Klarer quick, and it'd be a straight 1-v-1 with the keeper.
Thump—
To amp their chaos after the sudden turnover, I took an extra-long touch on purpose and charged.
And sure enough, Klarer bit.
The second he clocked my long touch, the retreating Klarer wheeled around and barreled toward me.
Once when I stole it, once on the long touch.
Twice suckered by the fake-out.
His bulky frame made his feet glacial; by the time they hit where the ball had been, it was already sailing over his head.
Thud—
Bang—
One-touch to settle the dropping ball, then full sprint.
Glanced at the keeper—halfway off his line, awkward spot.
No time for my usual lob.
Thump—
Dribble forward.
Keeper rushed out to narrow the angle, but with so much space, no need to rush the finish.
Tap—
"Nooo!!"
Cut right, blew past him completely—the keeper's wail echoed.
Empty net? Easy tap-in.
Tap—
I'm a midfielder, after all...
My bread and butter? Pinpoint, perfect passes.
And the best of them? The killer final ball into the goalmouth.