Chapter 49
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 49
Chapter Title King of the Reserves
Newcastle Uniteds reserves manager remained skeptical, even after Yoon Taeyang scored against Chelsea in the final moments.
Tall, sure, but way too skinny. Hell get bullied in the physical duels.
The sports science team insisted otherwise, but he didnt buy into that stuff.
He trusted his own eyes.
To him, Taeyang was just a lanky girl in a guys bodynothing more.
What kind of football could a frame like that play?
Wasnt football all about dominating headers with raw power and dribbling past a pack of defenders clinging to you?
Proving the point, the reserves manager was the epitome of machoa walking slab of muscle.
Still, when the club gave the order, he had no choice but to obey, even if he hated it. So he subbed Taeyang on again for the next match after Chelsea, this time right at halftime. The opponents were Middlesbrough, notorious in both the Premier League and Championship for their Tony Pulisstyle football.
It was ancient, gritty stufflocked down tight on physicality, countering with long balls. And it worked like a charm against teams that pushed the line high, built from the back, or pressed with gegenpressing.
The manager figured todays game would let him prove Taeyang wasnt ready yet. Send the kid back down, tell him to bulk up, and come back stronger.
But.
What the...?
Things didnt go according to plan.
On a pitch packed with macho men, Taeyang didnt get shoved around.
He couldnt overpower them with strength, but with the ball at his feet, he never went down. Never lost it.
No matter how hard they tried to bulldoze him over, he stayed upright like a damn rolypoly toy.
He looked like hed topple any second, but he didntnever buckling under their rough, powerful play. Instead, he boldly drove forward with the ball.
Huh...!
He even humiliated their oversized bruisers with simple skill moves, breezed past, and rifled a sharp shot into the far corner for a goal.
Hmm.
It was unexpected.
How could that skinny kid pull that off?
The sports science report was spot on, the coach said beside him. Strong core, flexible, more muscle than he looks. Wont get pushed off in physical battles.
The manager harrumphed, crossed his arms, and silently watched the match, clearly annoyed.
Taeyang added another goal that game and tried an early cross to Matteo Silva for an assist.
Three goals and an assist over two matches.
Thats... seriously impressive...
But hes still just a kid!
The manager halted his reluctant admission.
Rightbarely two games.
The reserves werent a walk in the park, eitherthe gateway to Premier League level. He steeled himself.
Hell crack mentally. Hes a kid, after all.
Just sixteen.
He knew better than anyone, having coached the youth team.
Young players were like reedsshaken by the smallest things.
Concede a goal? They lose it. Sneaky provocation from the opponent? They snap. A bit of rough stuff? They shrink.
That was youth footballs problem.
No matter how good, they crumbled over tiny details and ruined games.
Thats why you got insane comebacks or blowouts.
This kid genius wouldnt be any different.
Fine. Lets see the next one.
Next up Leeds United.
The team infamous for dirty, rough playearning the nickname Dirty Leeds.
Lets see how he handles that filth.
Taeyang started against Leeds.
True to form, Leeds came out swinging from kickoff.
Not fierce pressingfierce fouls.
Right from a setpiece early on, their centerback shoulderbarged him and slyly swung an arm to poke his eye.
They didnt score, thankfully, but even the desperate adults on his team recoiled from the aggression.
So, how would Taeyang cope?
Maybe inexperiencehe took a through ball from deep on the counter, charged boldly from the wing toward the center.
Bad move.
Leeds reserves played even dirtier than the first team.
No holds barred, desperate to prove their hunger.
Didnt matter if the ball carrier was sixteen. Hell, theyd do the same to a girl.
Leeds fullback lunged in with a reckless sliding tackle.
Legs scissored highdangerous as hell.
Uh...!
Thats a bit much, right?
He wanted the kid sent back down for being rawnot injured.
The manager shot to his feet in shock.
And in that instant
Taeyang slammed on the brakes, dragged the ball back with a dragback, dodged the fullback, and surged on.
But in that split second, the opponents centerback came in with another tackle.
No dodging this one.
The tackle hooked Taeyangs leg, and he went flying.
Huh?
The manager blinked, puzzled.
Last game, Taeyang hadnt gone down easy from stuff like that.
Midair, Taeyang landed right on top of the centerback.
Argh!
A scream pierced the air.
Not from Taeyangfrom the centerback.
What the hell?
Taeyang looked pained from the impact but got up fine. The opponents centerback? Face a bloody mess, writhing on the ground.
Taeyangs elbow had coincidentally smashed the guys nose on the way down.
The ref pulled out a yellow for the centerback without hesitation.
Fouls a foulcant excuse targeting the legs.
Good position.
The manager eyed Matteo Silva.
Even in his prime, the guy was a setpiece threat. Now? Freekick specialist.
That distance? Perfect for a direct strike.
Huh?
Unexpected.
Ignoring the managers usual orders, Silvawho never yielded free kickshanded the ball straight to Taeyang.
The manager wanted to yell at Silva to take it himself, but a reserves boss barking orders at Mr. Toon? No clout.
Silva would ignore him anyway.
Why give this chance to a kid?
Young players with weak mentality crack under pressure like that.
Hell, the burden might make him botch the free kick entirely.
The managers doubts went up in smoke.
From that skinny frame came a cannon of a shoteven the keeper couldnt react. Goal.
Taeyangs rampage didnt stop there.
When they got rough, he played smartexploited it. Taunted Leeds players with lip reads you couldnt hear it, but the shapes said it all, baited them into losing their cool, then toyed with them.
Sneaky fouls in set pieces, out of the refs sight? Masterful.
...This kid for real?
Veteranlike. Hell, like two Matteo Silvas on the pitch.
Around then, Taeyang signed a scholarship deal with a whopping 30,000 weekly wage.
30k a weekabout 47 million KRW.
In 2034, with Premier League average salaries at 100k a year 160 million KRW, it seemed peanuts. But for youth? Insanely generous.
Probably the best everor close.
This much... hes worth it.
The manager nodded at the news after a moments thought.
Taeyang was that valuable.
For a rich club, 30k was pocket change.
Skimp on it, lose him to another team? Youd beg with 1 million later, and he wouldnt come.
Yeah. At this point, the manager accepted it.
Age didnt matter.
Taeyang had something beyond talentsomething inexplicable.
Meanwhile, Matteo Silva returned to the first team, but Taeyang kept starting in reserves.
Goals or assists every match. Even goalless days, he sprayed key passes or carved open space.
Not just talkhe proved the reserves were a pit stop on his way up.
Before long, the sixteenyearold was the teams linchpin.
Even jealous teammates bowed to his overwhelming talent, rallying around him. Matches flowed through his play, and soon they treated him like royalty.
It wasnt just results, the manager knew.
Taeyang was always curt, moody like a teen girl one minute to the next. But sometimes, he outadulted the adults.
Comforting the downcast, firing up the firedup, dropping toughlove wakeup calls.
Pretty face hid a toughnessleft alone, he was chill. Touch him? Hed fight back, no hesitation.
Just three weeks ago.
A teammate who always ragged on him crossed the line. Taeyang pounced like hed been waiting.
Didnt care about fineswanted to establish dominance? Or genuine rage at the slur? Either way, the kid scrapped like a pro, beat down the older guy, and became untouchable.
Intended or not, it crowned him king.
The manager was convinced now.
Sixteen or not, too good for reserves.
Notoo big for reserves.
He reported to the board.
Hard to see him as a sixteenyearold boy.
Firstteam regular? Maybe not yet. But a firstteam option? Absolutely.
If unsure, with seasons end here, test him in firstteam training. Recommend.
Youll get it.
The board jumped on itor maybe theyd been planning it.
They ordered Taeyang to join firstteam training, not reserves.
Hed play reserves games, but theyd watch his firstteam sessions... and maybe sub him up.
The moment the directive hit, the manager called Taeyang into the locker room as he arrived.
Taeyang.
Yeah, you called?
Go to the first team. Trainings there from now on.
Taeyangs usual deadpan face shiftedsubtly thrilled, fighting not to show it. Pure boy.
Even prodigies found firstteam callups special.
Thanks, boss.
Dont thank me. Give it everything up there.
Yes, sir!
The manager watched him leave without a backward glance, smacking his lips.
Regrethed never see a genius like this up close again.