Chapter 152: Adjustment
Angela’s story, which she returned with, was quite a shocking tale. Even so, if such an incident had occurred, I would have bent my will and played together until the season ended, but she refused to play entirely.
…Yeah, that’s just how a fanatic like her would act.
Well, it didn’t make sense to my common sense, but since she was that kind of person, she must have asked Diana for that favor.
Maybe on the day I had my first training session with her, she had disliked the idea of a “man” like me stepping onto the same pitch, judging by how harshly she had spoken to me back then.
Thinking that way, I’m glad I broke her leg that first day. Damn, if I had, Diana would have prioritized Amira over me.
Thinking about missing out on a game because of that kind of person…
Anyway, thanks to Angela’s words, the team’s atmosphere slightly cooled. The other players had apparently expected Amira to apologize and return.
“If anyone thinks they can’t play with Ryu even now, come see me. I’ll try to resolve the issue.”
But even in that atmosphere, no one seemed to head to Angela’s office. Even though the core defenders had been kicked out of the team, including Amira, Legiana Alvaro aside, it was obvious they would choose me.
Moreover, players from La Masia who had seen me follow Angela around when I was younger than I am now made it even more so.
…Even if that weren’t the case, there was no way someone like Amira—who thought things like “I’d rather die than play with a man”—would exist, so it was only natural that no one went to the coaching staff.
“Then, next match is against Leganés, so prepare as usual.”
“Yes, Coach.”
Fortunately, there was a little time to settle the team before the Copa del Rey final.
There were only about ten days left until the Copa del Rey final. There were two matches in between, but Leganés and Celta Vigo, the opponents for the next matches, were not particularly difficult, so if we won all the remaining games and advanced to the final, we had a chance of victory.
The team’s atmosphere was also tied to the team’s performance.
Even if there were a bunch of shitty players gathered, I knew from my Manchester United days that they would still unite as one team if the results were good. Of course, the bigger the team, the bigger the impact when they lost once, but my Manchester United back then and the Barcelona I was on now were completely different teams, so I didn’t need to worry about that.
“Then, let’s head to training.”
The slightly unsettled atmosphere caused by Amira’s refusal of apology and training refusal carried over into the training, but Angela, who understood the club’s philosophy as much as she could be called Barcelona’s deficit, didn’t change the big framework of the training.
Well, things like passing training and some tactical training became more detailed, but without any major changes, we could prepare for the Leganés match. After the training ended, in the evening.
“Ha-neul, sorry. I should have been more careful with you…”
Using the interview as an excuse, I got to have dinner with Angela for the first time in a long time.
“Hey, Auntie, no, Coach, what could be wrong with you…”
“Still, you’re living in the dorm, right? Sorry, Ha-neul. And when it’s just the two of us, you can call me Auntie.”
“Yes, Auntie.”
“But are you really okay? You don’t express emotions well since you were young, so I should know.”
Angela looked worried that my mental state might have broken. Honestly, even I, with my many years of player experience, had never experienced a coach exposing internal team conflict and running during the season, so I was a bit flustered, but since my mental state hadn’t broken, I reassured Angela’s anxiety.
“Auntie, I’m really fine.”
“Yeah, now you’re all grown up. …Still, you seem like a kid to me. When I was young, the time I asked you to sleep together because you were scared is still fresh in my memory…”
Angela’s face suddenly flushed as she spoke. Seeing that, I felt a little guilty. It was because I had once played with Angela’s chest when I was young.
She was still single, but back then she had no boyfriend, so after I touched and played with her chest, she must have suffered alone.
By the way, Angela, like a superstar athlete, swapped men every few months, but she didn’t seem to have any intention of getting married.
Sorry, Auntie. Back then, I was in a hurry too.
After I got a bit older, I didn’t do it anymore, but back then, it was right after I had died and been reborn, so I was in a hurry too. Well, in this world, it wasn’t a big deal for a guy to touch a woman’s breasts, and in my previous life, it wasn’t a big deal for a kid around elementary school first or second grade to touch his mom’s breasts, so that was fine.
…It was fine, right?
“Then, since it’s been a while, can I come over to Auntie’s house and sleep?”
Anyway, to show Angela that my mental state hadn’t broken, I joked with her.
“Uh, huh? Um… There are dorm rules, and now that Ha-neul has grown up too, that won’t do.”
But contrary to my expectation that Angela would laugh and brush it off, she answered with a quite serious expression.
“Why? Auntie and I are dating…”
“…Ha-neul. Ha… How do I explain this. Anyway, there’s that. Even if other players invite you to their house, you must never go. Especially if they invite you to sleep over, you must never do that. Got it?”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Angela’s expression relaxed at my answer.
“But did it get that hard to sleep at our house? Ha-neul?”
“…It was just a joke. I’m really fine. I have other friends too.”
“Yeah, that’s good. Let’s work hard and win. Ha-neul.”
“Yes, Coach.”
Calling me Coach while smiling, Angela nodded with a pleased expression. Because I worried about my mental state, there would be no chance of excluding me from the starting lineup.
After the dinner and interview ended, the next day.
“Tomorrow’s starting lineup is Maximilena in goal, Nayila, Tiana, Tena, Narcis in defense. Lucia in defensive midfielder, Yelena and Camila in midfield. Abudasha on the left wing, Eloya on the right wing, Ha-neul as the striker.”
With the resolve to win the first match after taking over perfectly, Angela selected the full starting lineup excluding Lorenza and Alvaro.
And the home Leganés match.
“Don’t get complacent and give your all. Even though there were various things, remember that this is Camp Nou and you are Barcelona players.”
Angela’s short and blunt words woke up the players’ spirits. Angela’s words were nothing special, but since it was Angela, a team legend, saying it, the players’ morale visibly rose.
Especially those from La Masia like Lucia, Nayila, Camila, and Eloya seemed to listen to Angela’s words carefully.
…Is it not? Camila just likes playing against me?
…No matter what, as long as I focus on the match, good things will happen.
“Ha-neul, I’ll count on you today too.”
“I should be the one counting on you. I need to score and you need to pass.”
“Hehe, is that so?”
With Camila’s laughter, the match began.
Leganés was a team fighting for relegation in La Liga, so despite the coach running away, there were no issues in overwhelming Leganés.
Receiving Camila’s pass and scoring one goal, and then another by taking advantage of Leganés’ loose defense, I recorded a multi-goal, and with Eloya and Abudasha creating goals, we scored four goals and completely dominated the opponent.
Honestly, it was a natural result since we were a team that could win even with only substitute players playing.
And the next training day after the match ended.
“Tina!”
“…That guy said he wouldn’t come to training? If he shows up, I’ll beat him up.”
“Again, again. You only think about scolding people and don’t think about getting punished?”
“……”
A welcome face rose to the first team to fill Amira’s empty spot.
Training with the three of us for the first time in a long time was quite fun, but watching Valentina watch whether Amira came or not was a bit scary.
And the away match against Celta Vigo, the next match.
Since there was a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid in four days, Angela gave most of the starting players rest, and we ended with a disappointing 2:2 draw. It was a shame that my inability to help caused Valentina’s starting debut to end in a draw, but since selection and focus were necessary for the championship, Angela’s judgment was a reasonable choice.
Well, since there was still one league match left, it made sense that they thought they could win the league title by beating us there. The two-point difference was enough to overturn in a head-to-head match.
“Lucia! Focus! The left side was empty just now!”
“Sorry! Coach!”
“If this is how it is during training, can we beat those guys in the actual match?”
And we continued training for the El Clasico in a stricter atmosphere than usual, to the point where Lucia, the team captain, scolded us.
Probably the same atmosphere on Real Madrid’s side. When I was on Real Madrid, before a match against Barcelona, it would have been this atmosphere.
Is this the first El Clasico I’ve experienced since being born in this world?
After all, the greatest thrill I feel while playing football is smashing the opponent in the El Clasico.
And the bigger the stage, the bigger the thrill.
Good, let me feel that thrill after a long time?
Thinking about feeling that thrill after a long time, my heart was already pounding.