Chapter 41
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 41
Chapter Title Facing Eintracht Frankfurt
Our first opponent is Eintracht, right?
Frankfurt, isnt it?
No, its Eintracht.
I saw it as Frankfurt.
Looking closely, Gong Sehwan and Lee Sungho seemed about the same level.
On the common sense front, though, Lee Sungho felt a bit more lacking.
Eintracht Frankfurt is the full official name, you idiots.
Bae Sanghyun, from Eintracht, looked at them pitifully as he spoke, and the two gaped with their mouths forming perfect Os, as if theyd just learned some shocking fact.
Thats shocking.
We didnt know. Sorry, hyung.
Eintracht was roughly the equivalent of United.
So, a direct English translation would be something like Frankfurt United.
So, whos the best player on your team?
Bae Sanghyun paused at my question, thinking for a moment, then answered.
The strikers are solid. David Kerim and Briss NBoyo. Oh, and Daniel Press, who plays centerback with me, is good too.
I vaguely remembered hearing of David Kerim, but NBoyo was unfamiliar.
Daniel Press rang a bell.
He was a guy whose potential exploded in his late twenties, got called up to the national team, and even went to Munich.
I remembered him from facing off in the Champions League.
He did okay at Munich at first, but his aging curve hit fast, and he was back after just a few seasons.
So, does Eintracht put up a fight in the Bundesliga?
Bae Sanghyun just gave an awkward smile at that.
The answer came from Lee Sungho.
They dont.
Hey, come on...
But its true, hyung.
Bae Sanghyun let out a sigh.
Yeah, they dont. Im the ace.
If Bae Sanghyuns the ace, that says it all.
Sungho and Sehwan snickered at my words.
You think thats funny, you punks...
No, its just that a defender being the ace says it all.
They were laughing, but honestly, Bae Sanghyun had earned it.
He was the one and only defender who started and finished his career in Europes big leagues.
Alright, enough chatter. Go to bed. Dont screw up your condition and lose to a team youre taking lightly.
Got it.
Have a good night, everyone.
At Bae Sanghyuns words, everyone got up from their seats.
Sehwan, Sungho, and I were rooming together, so we walked down the hall side by side.
We can beat Frankfurt, right?
Sungho nodded at Sehwans question.
It wont be easy, but it shouldnt be too hard.
Right? Heh heh, I wanna score.
You idiots. You think a Bundesliga team is a joke?
Time to give these simpletons a reality check.
Eintracht isnt an easy team, you guys.
Sungho tilted his head at my words.
They didnt seem like much when we played them.
Thats because your team is Dortmund.
Oh?
When a national team faces a club side, who wins?
Its not absolute, but Id bet on the club team.
Even if the national team has superior talent on paper.
You think its easy to beat guys who play dozens of games together every day? Its not simple when youre a hastily assembled squad.
That makes sense.
Guess we need to stay sharp.
I was in the middle of cautioning my friends against complacency.
Kukuku...
A familiar laugh echoed from somewhere.
Choi Jiwoo.
It was Choi Jiwoo.
Long time no see, Yoon Taeyang. Ive heard all about your exploits. Kukuku... As expected of my rival.
What, youre here too? Whereve you been hiding?
...Lately, Ive been training to erase my presence. Its the moment when the shadow inside me takes control... Kukuku.
Crazy bastard.
This guy whod always had a touch of eighthgrader syndrome had gone full chuunibyou and become the complete package.
Tomorrows match... Youre right, we cant let our guard down. But.
But what?
What if theyre the ones getting complacent?
What kind of nonsense is that?
...is what I wanted to say.
Man, they really are complacent.
The very next day.
The match at Eintrachts training ground kicked off, and by halftime, we were up 20.
And that was without the overseas prosme, Sungho, Sanghyun, and Kim Hyojun.
It was true that the national team lacked the cohesion of a club side, but the domestic players had built some organization through the Asian Cup qualifiers, which doubled as World Cup prelims.
Of course, Eintracht had the skill and organization to overwhelm them on paper, but they underestimated usan Asian team from soccer backwatersa bit too much.
The result? Korea scored first quickly, and just like young players do, the rattled Eintracht kids got pushed around and gifted us a second goal.
How did Jiwoo predict this?
Right after halftime, I asked him, and he chuckled.
Kukuku... Ive been through it before. Europeans see us as lower class. Soccer peasants.
Before?
I studied abroad in Europe for a bit... Thats when the other me inside nearly awakened. Kukuku... If that guy had come out then... Those bastards... Kuku... Kukukuku...
What the hell is he saying?
Roughly went to Europe for a soccer stint, faced some racism or whatever, came back?
Is that it?
Kuku... Now theyll go all out. Proud Germans cant lose to an inferior race, after all. Kukuku...
I didnt know if Germans were that prideful, but anyway, theyd play serious soccer now.
Even in an exchange match, they wouldnt end it with bruised egos.
Alright, second half Bae Sanghyun, Gong Sehwan, Lee Sungho, Yoon Taeyang are in. Get ready.
Coach! What about me?!
Hyojun, youre on standby.
...Yes, sir...
Even after breaking into Europe, Hyojun was destined for the bench.
Been a while since we played together, huh?
We were doing light stretches to prep for the game when Sehwan said to me.
Yeah, youve improved.
Really?
Sehwan grinned happily.
Honestly, skillwise, I hadnt noticed much beyond better passing.
But his stamina had shot up along with his physicals.
And his work rate was insane on that endurance.
Not just classic upanddowntheflank wingback stuffhe was covering the whole pitch, filling gaps, bridging the buildup like a pro.
That meant better vision and tactical awareness.
It wasnt just the cash shop his effort was massive.
In the end, the coachs call was spot on.
Hed turned Sehwans jackofalltrades mediocrity into a precious Korean fullback.
Lets do well.
I patted Sehwans head proudly and headed out to the pitch.
7
T.Y.YOON
Hes out.
There he is.
The Eintracht staffs eyes locked on one boy.
At first glance, his slender build and delicate features made him look like a pampered rich kid.
Youd wonder if that frame could even play soccer well.
But you couldnt judge by appearances.
This was the monster whod singlehandedly crushed Real Madrid Juvenil A, the pinnacle of youth teams epitomized by La Fabrica.
Dortmunds LEE, our own BEAKoreas generation isnt to be underestimated.
The problem is our team ate two goals from a Korean side without even those kids.
The staff all nodded.
Eintrachts youth setup was historically barren.
Especially the backlineit was dire. Without Bae Sanghyun, it barely held.
Watching Sanghyun orchestrate the opposing defense was bittersweet as the match began.
With their starters in en masse, Korea was a different beast from the first half.
Theyd ridden momentum to two goals, but the Eintracht staff saw a Korean team that felt lacking overall.
The backline had speedthe rightbacks tireless running helped possessionbut purely defensively, organization was weak.
But with Sanghyun in, it changed.
They let the rightback, Sehwan, roam the whole field energetically, while forming a back three with the leftback to push up confidently and press Eintracht.
The defenders pace was key, but it was all possible because they trusted Sanghyun.
Eintrachts secondhalf restart attack couldnt breach the line, coughing up possession.
The midfield taking that ball was all domestic Koreans, but topnotch.
No flashy creativity, but solid play from kids their age.
Then the front line.
The top three had shown good linkage in the first half, but finishing was lacking.
Enter Sungho, shining at Dortmund, and Taeyang, making waves in Europetheir top three was next level.
Like theyd played together yesterday, Ryu Junseo, Sungho, and Taeyangs teamwork was magical.
Maybe Eintrachts defense was just poor, but they were getting carved open repeatedly.
And amid it all, Yoon Taeyang stood out.
He backheeled a long ball from deep to assist Sungho, then dropped to midfield, grabbed it, beat three in a flash, and scored.
Pushing it to 40, he eased off, reading the game, then capped it with a knuckleball free kick from 25 meters.
Eintracht players and staff looked ashen.
Theyd thought Korea was manageable without the threatsand got thoroughly schooled.
Watching that Eintracht squad were some onlookers.
Eintrachts U18 is a bust.
Koreas level is surprisingly high. They could give Leverkusen a game.
Leverkusens different. Win or lose isnt the point anyway. Its about the players.
Eintracht has no one worth taking.
The bosslooking man scowled.
You think Eintrachts the only team on this field?
The Korean players? Hmm... Korean agencies have them locked down, even the ones going overseas...
At some point, Korean agencies had monopolized their players, exports included.
These guys talking were agents too.
Known for signing young talents and linking them to top clubs.
Cant just sit on our hands.
...But they were too weak. Maybe watch more?
Fair. Next is Munich, right? Lets scout the Munich game.
Bayern wont be easy.
Bayern... yeah. Theyve got that monster.
Bayern Munichs monster.
Before Diosna Yoon Taeyang made his name, Bayern had a player called the monstertraining with the first team, debut imminent.
Not easy, but intriguing. Sunny versus the monster.
Anticipating the next match, the agents slipped out of the Eintracht training ground.