Chapter 83
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 83
Chapter Title The Eldest Son is Desperate for Soccer
After the 9th round, we played in the Champions League.
Our opponent was LASK Linz, the sole weak link in the group of death.
Having notched a stunning victory in the Champions League, we rotated in a bunch of squad players, and I took a seat on the bench myself. Still, we had no trouble securing the win.
With the Champions League match behind us, a sliver of breathing room finally appeared in our brutal schedule, which had been crammed in every four days or so.
The manager gave the whole squad a day off, and I invited my youth team trioCharlet, Sobiola, and Lindemanto our house.
Sobiola lost his mind gawking at our swanky place, while Charlet greeted Mom and then trailed after her, chattering nonstop.
This is what our chairman got you?
Sobiola finally asked me after wandering around for ages.
Yeah.
Damn, chairman flex is insane. Rich folks play at a whole different level with their gifts.
Sobiolas eyes were burning with ambition as he said it.
He was probably thinking hed grind hard and score a house like this someday.
Like Ive said before, Sobiola from South America didnt have the easiest family situation.
He mustve been picturing bringing his whole family here to live.
Come to think of it.
Hey, didnt you say you had siblings?
Yeah.
How many?
One older sister, three younger siblings.
Same as me.
Sobiola paused to size up my family, then nodded.
Our family setups are pretty similar. Except Ive got a grandpa and grandma, not two grandpas.
Yeah. They all back home?
Yep.
This guys even hungrier for it than I am.
Unlike me, whose life got a glowup thanks to having parents around, hes got a full family but still has to scrap through the hard times.
Still, hes got that winner vibe, so Im not too worried.
Stick around and eat while youre here.
Were you planning to let me leave without feeding me?
Nah. You good with Korean food?
Better than that crap British food.
Dont compare it to British food. Ill get mad.
Sobiola snorted a laugh.
Lindeman sidled up between us.
Ive lived here a few years, and I still cant stomach British food.
Same.
Thats why I hardly eat out.
Its true.
Londons food scene is killertotally not what youd expect.
Except its not really British food its like every cuisine in the world crammed together, with actual British stuff being the rare find.
But here in Newcastle? Good eats are tough to come by.
Italian? French? All Britified.
Best you can do is the pubs the grandpas hit, that one Italian spot, or maybe Chinese in Chinatown.
Thats it, so you get sick of it and stop bothering with eating out.
No big loss, though.
Theres a Korean market in the city center now.
Pretty much anything from back home, you can grab there.
Who knew my homelands grub would hit this hard?
Wish Newcastle had some decent spots. Cooking at home gets old.
Sobiola, living solo away from family, mostly grabbed dinner out.
From his shoes, craving a solid restaurant makes sense.
Maybe thats why he transferred in his past life.
Oh yeah, doesnt Manchester have a bunch of good places?
Lindeman chimed in at Sobiolas comment.
Big city perkstheyve gotta be better off than us.
Shouldve gone to Man City or United. What a waste coming here.
Sobiola groaned.
Is he seriously gonna transfer?
I already changed his fate to debut pro here before any movecant have him bailing now.
His potential hasnt exploded yet, but this guys destined to outshine even Menendez down the line.
What, go to Man City and do what? Didnt you see this season? Theyre done.
Pfft, one bad season? Theyve been crushing it forevercant call it quits off one slip.
Lindeman pondered as Sobiola pushed back.
Could be a oneoff blip like Sobiola says, or the end like Taeyang says.
That make sense?
How many teams have tanked from botching a generational shift? Throw in a bad manager hire, and its over in a flash. Nobody saw United going trophyless since Ferguson retired.
Fergusons a relic from like 20 years back.
GOAT status keeps his name alive, surebut mostly cause United hasnt won shit since he bounced.
Theyve slipped on surething titles plenty of times.
Sobiola nodded hard at Lindemans take.
Fair point. So, they sitting a new manager at City yet?
You play soccer and thats what you dont know?
Do I gotta memorize every other teams coach?
What a loser. But thinking about the new guy, feels like theyll bounce back next season at least.
I pictured Man Citys manager at Lindemans words.
Timothy Berger, the star boss who helmed Bayern Munich and Real Madridtop dog of the era.
Player days? Midtier, bouncing around Bundesliga 2.
But as a manager? Skyrocketed on pure talent.
Everyones betting Citys revival under him now.
Only I know even he cant save them.
Premier League Round 10! Newcastle versus Manchester City, coming up right here at New St. James Park.
Man City parted ways with their manager after the last round and welcome Timothy Berger for his debut match.
Citys never dropped below third by Round 10 in the last decadenow theyre 11th, 10 points off the top.
Can new boss Timothy Berger steer them out of this mess? Eyes on his first outing.
Bad matchup, though. Newcastles on a threegame league win streak behind their scary rookie, shaking off a slow start to hit fourth.
Scariest part? Theyve been even tougher against giants like Milan, Barca, and Spurs.
Thats Yoon Taeyang, right?
Spot on. Taeyangs a genius all around, but his killer edge? Clutch as hellthe stronger the foe, the louder the boos, the better he gets.
Taeyangs stature had shifted again after his Champions League dominance.
Dont sleep on Yoon Taeyang just cause hes young. We cannot let him loose.
New City manager Timo Berger eyed Ezekweum, the centerback hed rushed up from the reserves to patch their wrecked defense.
Nobody knows how dangerous that kid is better than me.
Berger just clapped his shoulder, wordless.
Kid or not, Ezekweum was a stud.
With all the starters injured, he was their best centerback bar none.
Berger sent his squad out, saving Ezekweum for last.
Among the players on the pitch stood out a boyish blackhaired kid who looked way too young.
This gamell surprise you every time.
Whod have thunk an East Asian kidthis youngwould light up the worlds top stage?
What kinda genes is that?
Soccers biggest enigma.
Things moved fast, and kickoff loomed.
Lineups, here we go.
Newcastle
FW SilvaTaeyangIllinyu
MF AlbrechtMenendezGomez
DF LindemanZenasArnoldSanchez
GK Ricella
Manchester City
FW AlcaineLuke YoungHawkins
MF CarvelRozasRodriguez
DF MiahEzekweumNenovBogado
GK McNamara
All injured guys and underperformers benchedtons of promising reserves called up.
Bold move, but Berger says Citys been wasting treasures in the youth ranks for expensive flops. Well see if hes right.
Berger wasnt wrong.
Man City was stacked with top prospects.
Lowertable teams would slot em straight into the first team, core rolesno question.
Berger was floored when he saw.
Collecting kids but not using em? Building a retirement home instead?
Thats why mighty Citys scraping 11th.
Berger planned to focus on developing these youngsters this season, win or no.
Club bought in.
One catch Champions League qualification mandatory.
Essential for squadbuilding next yearno way around it.
Play loose today, but no losses allowed.
Even in defeat, show potential.
Come on, ladsshow me that talent.
Corny pep talk done, whistle blew.
His handpicked squad started building from the back toward goal.
Passing it around, inching forward.
Huh?
A Premier League vet ambles, then explodes.
What?
From the gutted defense, their one experienced guy25yearold stud fullback Jose Bogadolost the ball like it was nothing.
Cant they read that old mans move?
Guess thats how sly the vet is.
Stay calm! Dont panic!
Sure, Silva can snatch ithes crafty.
Prep for whats next.
Bogado chases Silva, Nenov cuts the lane, Rodriguez joins the fray.
Silva taps it ahead, awkward stance, then lofts it gently.
Ball sails over Nenovs head, drops behind.
And claiming it?
Yoon
Bogado barely gets the name out.
Taeyang shakes Ezekweumwhod stuck to himwith a simple step, then fires a rocket on perfect timing.
Perfect arc, evades McNamaras gloves, sucks into the net.
Damn!
Fastest goal in Man City history.