Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Old Trafford Debut Match (1)
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Rose Rivalry
Refers to the derby match between Manchester and Leeds United.
It's also called the Pennine Derby, named after the Pennine mountains that run across Lancashire, where Manchester is located, and Yorkshire, where Leeds is.
Man Utd's red uniforms symbolize the red rose of the Lancastrian houses, while Leeds' white uniforms represent the white rose of the Yorkist houses.
Korean soccer fans, seeing this romantic sight after so long, began harboring great expectations.
First for Man Utd since Park Ji-sung.
With Son Heung-min retired, Korean players thriving in the EPL had become rare, so expectations for Ban Yeager were sky-high.
On the flip side, local Man Utd fans' reactions were ice-cold.
Not just any match—it's the derby!
Especially losing to Leeds? Unforgivable!
No trace of expectation anywhere.
They seemed too exhausted even to complain anymore, resigned to it all.
In a way, it felt similar to the Korean national team.
Watching the matches they rooted for had become painful at some point, and expectations for the team dwindled.
The result of years of accumulated defeat and despair.
Wooooooh—!!!
Old Trafford, Manchester United's home ground.
The jeers from Man Utd supporters, the Red Devils, echoed throughout.
An hour before kickoff, after the starting lineup was announced, Old Trafford was filled with jeers and boos from both Man Utd and Leeds fans.
"Debuting a nursing kid against us? Teach him a lesson!!!"
"Can't stand seeing a punk like that in Man Utd!!!"
Wooooooh—!!!
Leeds fans furious at debuting against them, Man Utd fans enraged at listing a prospect signed less than a week ago for this crucial derby.
Ban Yeager alone had the 75,000 crowd in an uproar.
"Whoa..."
A hotter welcome than expected.
'Don't they want to see Mount play or something?'
He could guess their feelings, but had no idea what to do about it.
"Ignore it. Show your skills, and it'll vanish. You can do it."
"Oh... thank you."
Advice from Harry Maguire.
A mindset befitting an expert in this field.
Even so, enduring this atmosphere for years—how strong a mentality does that take?
Though past his prime at 36, Ban hoped to play alongside him as long as possible.
With Man Utd's revival.
First, repay the captain's faith in this match.
[Ban Yeager Starts on the Bench! Here's Man Utd's Starting Lineup!]
[Man Utd Still Has Plenty of Players from Their Top-Flight Days! A Strong Team Aiming to Return to the Premier League!]
[Clash of the Two Roses' Pride! The Rose Rivalry Begins Now!!!]
Leeds United kicks off.
Man Utd charges aggressively, clashing head-on with Leeds.
Not just pushed back, but sent flying far...
End of first half.
Leeds United 3 : 0 Manchester United
A humiliating mark in Old Trafford history.
"Not even worth calling it a rivalry anymore. We beat them in the first half too."
Returning to the locker room up 3-0, Leeds United's mood was electric.
Practically a win already.
With the scoreline and performance gap clear, no worries.
Meanwhile, the 0 in 3-0 for Man Utd.
Locker room atmosphere predictably toxic.
Yet they hadn't given up entirely.
Surprisingly, the spark of hope was none other than Ban Yeager.
'If it's BAN, he might turn it around right away...'
'At least better than the first half, maybe.'
The last three days of training had earned his teammates' trust in his skills.
"Ban, you sure about this?"
"Coach, you sure about not subbing me in?"
Even manager Darren Fletcher, who'd seen him as a key asset from the start.
"Heh... no tension at all, huh. Debuting down 3-0 in a derby to rival fans... all their rage will turn on you."
"Honestly, I've been waiting for this."
From the bench, it looked plenty reversible.
Turning around a 3-0 deficit against derby rivals?
If possible, it'd be the greatest debut in history.
All watching were stunned.
Three goals down, but half the match left.
Throwing in a freshly signed prospect? Looked like giving up.
And brutally harsh on the kid.
Second half begins amid everyone's concerns.
Only Man Utd's players on the pitch felt hope seeing Ban Yeager.
After kickoff pass, Benjamin Sesko surges forward.
As Ban receives, Leeds striker Joel Piro charges like spotting prey.
"Feel the wall of pros!!"
"Ban!!"
Shea Lacey on the right yells for a pass.
Thud—
Outside of right foot nudges the ball, body twists right to check.
Shea points ahead, creating passing space on the run.
Lifts right foot to thread it through.
"Gahk!"
Joel Piro lunges to block the fake pass path.
Drag-back pulls ball away, then charges left.
Leeds players haven't seen my play yet.
Press beaten, advancing dribble—no trailing forward, no defender jumping out.
Free to advance, calmly spots pass lanes.
Perfectly stable posture for the pass.
Pang—!
Left-footed curling through ball forward.
Benjamin Sesko, 2m tall at 36km/h, in 1v1 with defender.
Waaaaaaah—!!!
Benjamin Sesko vs Lisandro Impadua.
The giants' tussle ends with Sesko's win.
Uses speed, shoulders first to shake off and run.
Instantly in scoring position.
Keeper narrows angle, left CB Pascal Struijk blocks right-foot shot.
Sesko forced into shot for second ball.
"Back!!!"
Just before right foot swings, he hears and pulls ball back.
Not planned, but shot feint drags keeper and left CB—great play.
Box center, ball draws nearby players.
"Block it!!!"
Closest to ball: Ban Yeager, who called for it.
Leeds keeper Gudmundsson, deeming late, dives to block shot.
Thump—
"Ah."
Ball just clears Gudmundsson.
Ban lofts diagonally right, runs to evade tackle.
"..."
Arrives goalmouth.
No one to stop him.
WAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!!!
Jeers filling the stadium turn to cheers.
Ban Yeager's will becomes romance, not arrogance.