Chapter 67
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 67
Chapter Title The Weight of Number 7
The American kids physicality is intimidating. You sure its okay to put Yoon Taeyang out there?
Senior coach Aless question had Artelli stroking his bushy mustache as he replied.
Dont look at his age. Judge him by his physical condition right now.
Ales glanced at Taeyang warming up on the pitch.
At a glance, Taeyang stood 182cm tallimpressive for a soccer playerwith a solid build.
Though his baby face still made him look like a newborn.
But hes still a kid, isnt he?
Youre the one who was so worried that you asked the sports science team to reevaluate him and keep him out of the lineup. And they came back saying he has perfect physical attributes that wouldnt fall short even on the senior team.
Injuries arent just about physicality.
Artelli let out a hearty laugh at Aless words.
Youve never actually seen Taeyang play, have you?
Just videos...
You might end up crossing yourself once you do.
What do you...?
Sometimes I wonder if theres a soccer demon living in that kids head.
Ales couldnt make sense of Artellis words and just sighed.
Hoping that talent wouldnt get hurt.
The match kicked off like that.
Los Angeles got the first touch.
The macho men moved in perfect unison.
Their play resembled American football in some ways.
They quickly played the ball back before the opponent could mark, letting the centerback at the back pick it up.
He was a player with a wide field of vision and precise long passesgrabbing the ball and scanning around before threading it far upfield.
The ball usually went to the winger on the side with less defensive focus. That player was like a wide receiver in American football.
His main job was receiving under pressure, then sprinting for goal when the chance arose, but mostly passing quickly to the lurking forwards up top.
Those were the strikers receiving it.
Split into fullbacks and halfbacks like running backs in American footballthe fullbacks drew the defenders to create space, while the halfbacks burst through the gaps for goal.
In truth, it wasnt far off from classic soccer tactics.
The issue was they were executing it with players who had American football experiencemost of them, anyway.
Physicality covered for the simplicity of the tactic.
But their opponents were a Premier League side.
No matter how outdated the tactic, a team from a nation that had chewed on kickandrush play forever wouldnt buckle to something so basic.
The defensive lines syncing up nicely.
Just adding Sanchez has raised the quality.
Cesár Sanchez, fresh from Flamengo, was the modern fullback incarnate.
He fit seamlessly in any position, effortlessly filling whatever role the situation demanded.
In defense, he dropped into a back three as a centerback, handling the Americans power effortlessly.
Newcastle United took possession and began their measured buildup.
Artelli shared a philosophy similar to Ancelotti, one of Real Madrids top managers.
The difference? He demanded meticulous, systematic defending and maximized his fullbacks involvement.
In attack, he set the broad framework and left the rest to the players.
He believed no manager could perfectly dictate every scenario.
Thats why Menendezs role was crucial here.
The playmaker in midfield orchestrated the overall flow and directed attacks.
But today, Menendez had no intention of shouldering it all.
In this match, he planned to feed the ball relentlessly to one player he suspected might be something special Yoon Taeyang.
The moment he got the ball, he spotted Taeyang amid the bustling players and passed it over.
It was anything but a friendly ball.
Rough. Clumsy.
The kind that would make even a teammate curse.
Taeyang just trudged forward with a sullen expression and stuck his foot out.
The ball glued itself to the boys foot, refusing to let go.
He took possession and immediately charged down the sideline.
An LA FC player barreled in front of him, brute force on full display.
Their heights were close, but the build difference felt like double.
Taeyang didnt back down from the monstrous frame, barreling forward recklessly.
Up close, he shifted his weight left, and the opponent reacted with surprising agility for his size.
He switched directions, but the guy stuck right on him.
That bulk blocked paths with the slightest move.
Taeyang switched again, driving left with the ball.
Eyeing the opponent closing in with cross steps, he feinted and slipped the ball slyly behind him.
Then he stopped on a dime, turned, and slipped into the space.
The opponent spun around in pursuit, but Taeyang was already sprinting at full tilt.
In open space, he was untouchable.
He weaved through aggressively closing players like a snake, shaking two in a flash before threading into the gap.
The ball skimmed across the grass to Illinyu.
Boom!
Illinyus cannon of a left foot ripped the net.
Hmm.
Menendez narrowed his eyes at Taeyang.
He was good, sure.
But not good enough to satisfy.
When play resumed, Menendez kept sending balls Taeyangs way, even in tough spots.
Ales frowned as he watched.
Isnt Mario just bullying Taeyang?
Hes testing him. Marios got a big egowont play with anyone he hasnt acknowledged himself.
Taeyang...
Enough. Taeyangs no kid. Overprotecting him isnt right. He wouldnt want it either. Lets keep watching.
Amid it all, Menendez looped the ball back to Taeyang once more.
Taeyang received it as always, but this time he glared at Menendez.
Poison filled his eyes.
Heh, starting to get mad?
Artelli, who knew how to handle Taeyang, understood him well.
With no rivals his ageor even in the youth teamTaeyang loved soccer itself, but not every match.
Why? Too easy. No fun.
He lacked competitive fire.
Or rather, it rarely ignited.
To see Taeyangs true face, he needed a target. A spark.
Even if not skillwise, a strong provocation?
Thats when the venom rose in his eyes.
Like now.
With venom in his gaze, Taeyang drove down the sideline, then cut toward the halfspace between the fullback and centerback.
A Free Flap shook one marker, a Marseille Turn ditched the next.
Two more rushed to block the path.
Taeyang faced them and flicked a Rainbow Flick over their heads, diving through the gap.
Goal in sight in an instant, he eyed the angle.
Then a hulking defender shouldered into him.
Expecting to bounce off and tumble, Taeyang astonishingly held firm.
Shouldertoshoulder with the brute, refusing to fall, he pushed forward.
Nearing the penalty area, he drew his right foot back for a shot.
The opponent leaned in hardthen Taeyang planted that foot, dragged the ball back left, and retreated.
The pusher lost balance up front Taeyang rolled it aside, evaded, and whipped a leftfoot curler into the net.
The LA FC defender, screened by his own teammate, could only gape in shock.
Taeyang sprinted to fetch the ball, spun, and charged at Menendez.
Hey.
He jabbed the ball into Menendezs chest.
As Menendez instinctively grabbed it, Taeyang locked eyes with a murderous glare.
Try it yourself.
Who does this cocky little shit think he is, testing people when he hasnt even grown pubes yet?
You cocky little punk?
Cocky little punk?
Youre the cocky one, asshole. Treated like a slave at Real Madrid, and now you come here acting like nobility?
What?
Menendezs face flushed red.
Fair enough.
Hed slaved away at Real Madrid, earning fans love, only to call it a slave life in his autobiographysaying hed have left if given another chance.
Hed played on with pro spirit, but never happy.
Then why no transfer?
He hated risks.
Without Newcastles good treatment and familiar staff like Artelli from Real Madrid, he never wouldve come.
Fine. Pro spirits good.
But his nose was too high.
Real Madrid pride through the roof.
An Englishmanwannabe playing class games. Wake upthis is all equals. Youre no one to judge anyone here.
...
Still wanna play class? Then the king heres Matija. What are you? Some freshly exiled lord. A mere lord. So what am I?
Taeyang eyed Menendez.
What else? The crown prince inheriting the throne. Im the new Toon.
Taeyang backed off as he said it.
Teammates were rushing in to separate them.
Number 7? Mr. Toon? Wanna be that? Then dedicate 10 years at St. James Park like me first.
...Youve got less than 10 too.
That piss you off? Then you shouldve climbed through Newcastle youth, not La Fábrica.
Thinks he can dismiss my roots, grinding up from Newcastle youth step by step? Cocky bastard.
Taeyang yelled it loud enough for all to hear, then turned and walked to his position.
Menendez and the teammates whod rushed to intervene all stared at his back.
YOON
7
The crown prince inheriting Toons throne.
No one could argue with the young players wordsnot with that number emblazoned on his back.
The weight of the number 7, passed down from Mr. Toon himself, was anything but light.