Generation Change
Winning was always a joyous occasion, but as professionals, we had to return to our daily routines until the season concluded.
And my daily routine was, as always, football.
The club had instructed us to take sufficient rest before returning, but I returned to Barcelona immediately and was whisked away to the club medical room the moment I arrived.
“So, Ha-neul, the next match is going to be tough, I’m afraid.”
“What?”
“Um, there’s too much lactic acid buildup. Given the schedule of a game every three to four days, it’s understandable that it’s been tough. If I play in this condition, there’s a risk of injury. As a doctor, I’d recommend at least a week of rest.”
“Ah…”
But even though I’d just returned, the team doctor recommended rest for me,
“Yeah, Ha-neul. No need to push yourself.”
Angela’s expression hardened as she listened to my condition from the side. And when Angela shows that expression, it means I won’t be playing in the next match.
I’ve known Angela for over ten years, and I instinctively knew that if she shows that expression, the result wouldn’t change. But I still tried to talk to her.
“Even so, the next match is the El Clasico…”
Because the next match was the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid.
“Ha-neul.”
“Then at least on the bench…”
“Ha-neul Ryu.”
Still, Angela called my name firmly. Her strong will not to let me play is evident in her words. I stared at Angela for a few seconds, but in the end, I lowered my eyes first.
“...Yes.”
“Good. Trust the team, Ha-neul.”
But the words from Angela saying to trust the team somehow felt a bit bitter. After all, after the second half started, they had won all matches in the Copa del Rey to reach the semi-finals, but in the league, they had a slightly disappointing record of 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss.
Actually, 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss was quite a good record. Real Madrid also had 1 loss during the same period and were still leading the league. But the bigger problem was Lucia’s form that had dropped.
The reason Barcelona under Angela was showing absolute dominance was not only my presence but also Lucia’s presence supporting from below. But recently, Lucia wasn’t showing the same form as in 2018.
Even in the home match against Valencia where they lost, unlike last year, she made a critical mistake in a situation where she could have easily broken the deadlock, and she was pointed out as the culprit for the defeat due to poor form. Even excluding the Valencia match, in every game she played, her movements felt sluggish overall?
“Well, at 35, every day is different, but…”
If she had maintained her senses without rest during the break, maybe, but for 35-year-old Lucia, the two weeks of rest in the second half of the season seemed to have become poison.
“It’s fine, Ha-neul. We are strong enough.”
Feeling my worries, Angela stroked my head to comfort me. It seemed like Angela’s heart had softened a bit, so I took the opportunity and spoke up.
“Then training…”
“No. Take rest. No, vacation. Ha-neul. Go to your grandfather’s house. I’ll contact your grandmother too, so don’t touch the ball at all.”
“...Can I at least do some light lifting?”
“Haa... That’s unavoidable. It’s not like you’ll refuse if I forbid it.”
So, the moment I arrived at the dorm, I had no choice but to take Angela’s car and spend my vacation at my grandfather’s house against my will.
“Ha-neul! Congratulations on winning the Asian Cup!”
“Hmph. If I had naturalized in Spain, we could have spent Christmas together this year too.”
“You old man. Don’t say unnecessary things to Ha-neul and just sweep the yard.”
...Because of the Asian Cup, my grandmother and grandfather were happy about my vacation since we couldn’t spend Christmas together.
“Grandma, but I’m going to be an adult soon, so can you teach me to drive?”
“Driving? Haha. Of course, it’s good. Let’s go for a drive with me, grandma.”
“You crazy old lady! Driving for someone who isn’t even an adult yet...! I’m telling you to sweep the yard!”
“Well, how was it. When we were young, if Ha-neul was my age, I would have driven tanks in the battlefield.”
“Then Grandpa! I’ll be back!”
“Ha-neul! Sigh... If you get into an accident, I’ll contact your dad right away. Be careful!”
“Yes! Grandpa!”
So, driving the car at Grandpa’s house to relieve stress, time passed and the time for the semi-final against Real Madrid arrived.
And the first match of the Copa del Rey semi-final held at Real Madrid’s home was...,
Aaaah!!! Yoon Seo-hee's goal! 2:1! What a fantastic long-range shot! In a 1:1 situation, Yoon Seo-hee saves the day for South Korea! She decorates the decisive goal in the last match of the national team!
That was an incredible pattern play, right? Ryu Ha-neul fed the ball forward, and Yoon Seo-hee seized the space created when Japan's defensive wall jumped. Her kicking power is truly at a level where it's a shame to retire.
Yoon Seo-hee decorates the last match of her national team in her own style! A legend of South Korea! Yoon Seo-hee!
If the match ends like this! South Korea! They reach the Asian top for the first time in 60 years!
Hahaha, really amazing. Ryu Ha-neul was at the center of it all. But in the end, the veteran player, South Korea's legend Yoon Seo-hee! She beautifully finished by fulfilling her final role.
Ah, the players are gathering to give a guard of honor. Yoon Seo-hee, who appeared like a comet in 2002! She worked hard for 17 years. And you don't have to worry. South Korea now has Ryu Ha-neul!
Really... When we retired, if Yoon Seo-hee was there, Korean football would have no worries. That's what we used to say. But Yoon Seo-hee player probably feels the same heart as us. With Ryu Ha-neul there, it seems we can retire from the national team without worries.
And now, the award ceremony is coming up soon, and as expected, this Asian Cup MVP is definitely Ryu Ha-neul, right?
Yes. With 8 goals and 6 assists, he topped all rankings in scoring and assists, leading South Korea to the top. Moreover, Ryu Ha-neul's scary point isn't these numbers, but the plays he shows. Even if he recorded 0 goals and 0 assists in this tournament, I would have picked Ryu Ha-neul as MVP.
………The much-awaited MVP is! Ryu Ha-neul! Congratulations! The pride of South Korea! Ryu Ha-neul! Ryu Ha-neul has swept Asia!
South Korea! Asian Cup champions for the first time in 60 years!
……South Korea, who lifted the third championship trophy after 1960….
Meanwhile, Ryu Ha-neul, who recorded 8 goals and 6 assists in this tournament, was selected as the tournament MVP….
Also, Yoon Seo-hee led South Korea to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, the first away World Cup round of 16 in 2010, and the 2018 World Cup quarterfinals, appearing in 151 matches and scoring 56 goals….
Yoon Seo-hee's 151 appearances are currently the most appearances for the national team and 56 goals are in second place….
Ryu Ha-neul, selected as Asian Cup MVP!
……Meanwhile, Ryu Ha-neul was selected as MVP along with scoring champion and assist leader, and was named in the best eleven….
Ryu Ha-neul said in the interview, “I think I was able to receive this award thanks to the fans’ cheers. But I will not be satisfied with this award and will show a more developed appearance to make the citizens even happier.”….
Also, Ryu Ha-neul was selected for the tournament best eleven and won all the awards available in the Asian Cup, firmly establishing himself as Asia’s best player.
The following is the 2019 UAE Asian Cup best eleven list.
Best Eleven
FW : Kang Yu-ri (South Korea) - Kim Seul-gi (South Korea) - Melissa (Qatar)
MF : Ryu Ha-neul (South Korea) - Ayaka (Japan) - Aidai (Iran)
DF : Jannat (UAE) - Kang Yeon-ji (South Korea) - Shizuka (Japan) - Nurjana (Iran)
GK : Kim Eun-hye (South Korea)
Kang Yeon-ji! Sudden transfer to Manchester United!
……Manchester United has made a surprise signing of South Korean defender Kang Yeon-ji. Manchester United's head scout Emil said, “Kang Yeon-ji has been followed since the 2018 World Cup. Kang Yeon-ji's Asian Cup performance left a big impression. Also, after listening to the player's private life and work ethic from the national team coach Diena, I think this player will add vitality to our team.” He expressed his thoughts on the signing, and finally, we look forward to Kang Yeon-ji's performance….
Returning to daily life was necessary until the season ended, but winning was always a happy thing.
And my daily life was, as always, football.
The club had told us to take enough rest and return, but I returned to Barcelona right away and was taken to the club medical room immediately.
“So, Ha-neul, the next match seems tough.”
“What?”
“Um. Too much lactic acid has built up. Given the schedule of a game every three to four days, it was bound to be tough. If I play in this condition, there's a risk of injury. As a doctor, my opinion is that it's better to take at least a week of rest.”
“Ah…”
But even though I had just returned, the team doctor recommended rest for me,
“Yeah, Ha-neul. No need to push yourself.”
Angela's expression hardened as she listened to my condition from the side. And when Angela shows that expression, it means I won't play in the next match.
I’ve known Angela for over ten years, and I instinctively knew that if she shows that expression, the result wouldn’t change. But I still tried to talk to her.
“Even so, the next match is the El Clasico…”
Because the next match was the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid.
“Ha-neul.”
“Then at least on the bench…”
“Ha-neul Ryu.”
Still, Angela called my name firmly. Her strong will not to let me play is evident in her words. I stared at Angela for a few seconds, but in the end, I lowered my eyes first.
“...Yes.”
“Good. Trust the team, Ha-neul.”
But the words from Angela saying to trust the team somehow felt a bit bitter. After all, after the second half started, they had won all matches in the Copa del Rey to reach the semi-finals, but in the league, they had a slightly disappointing record of 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss.
Actually, 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss was quite a good record. Real Madrid also had 1 loss during the same period and were still leading the league. But the bigger problem was Lucia’s form that had dropped.
The reason Barcelona under Angela was showing absolute dominance was not only my presence but also Lucia’s presence supporting from below. But recently, Lucia wasn’t showing the same form as in 2018.
Even in the home match against Valencia where they lost, unlike last year, she made a critical mistake in a situation where she could have easily broken the deadlock, and she was pointed out as the culprit for the defeat due to poor form. Even excluding the Valencia match, in every game she played, her movements felt sluggish overall?
“Well, at 35, every day is different, but…”
If she had maintained her senses without rest during the break, maybe, but for 35-year-old Lucia, the two weeks of rest in the second half of the season seemed to have become poison.
“It’s fine, Ha-neul. We are strong enough.”
Feeling my worries, Angela stroked my head to comfort me. It seemed like Angela’s heart had softened a bit, so I took the opportunity and spoke up.
“Then training…”
“No. Take rest. No, vacation. Ha-neul. Go to your grandfather’s house. I’ll contact your grandmother too, so don’t touch the ball at all.”
“...Can I at least do some light lifting?”
“Haa... That’s unavoidable. It’s not like you’ll refuse if I forbid it.”
So, the moment I arrived at the dorm, I had no choice but to take Angela’s car and spend my vacation at my grandfather’s house against my will.
“Ha-neul! Congratulations on winning the Asian Cup!”
“Hmph. If I had naturalized in Spain, we could have spent Christmas together this year too.”
“You old man. Don’t say unnecessary things to Ha-neul and just sweep the yard.”
...Because of the Asian Cup, my grandmother and grandfather were happy about my vacation since we couldn’t spend Christmas together.
“Grandma, but I’m going to be an adult soon, so can you teach me to drive?”
“Driving? Haha. Of course, it’s good. Let’s go for a drive with me, grandma.”
“You crazy old lady! Driving for someone who isn’t even an adult yet...! I’m telling you to sweep the yard!”
“Well, how was it. When we were young, if Ha-neul was my age, I would have driven tanks in the battlefield.”
“Then Grandpa! I’ll be back!”
“Ha-neul! Sigh... If you get into an accident, I’ll contact your dad right away. Be careful!”
“Yes! Grandpa!”
So, driving the car at Grandpa’s house to relieve stress, time passed and the time for the semi-final against Real Madrid arrived.
And the first match of the Copa del Rey semi-final held at Real Madrid’s home was...,
Ah! Lucia's fatal mistake! Lucia gets the ball with active pressure! And she dribbles with the ball! Pass to Marisol! Goooooal! Marisol scores the second goal! 2:1! This mistake is fatal!
As expected, Lucia's fatal mistake led to our defeat. And while looking at Lucia's appearance of self-reproach with her head bowed after the match ended, Ha-neul could intuitively realize one fact.
That the era of Lucia was completely coming to an end, just like Seo-hee's senior after national team retirement.