Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11: I Want to Win
"Today too, depending on the situation, you'll be subbed in. So don't be too overwhelmed by the away atmosphere. Try to adapt as much as possible while sitting on the bench."
While we were conditioning on the pitch after arriving at Orlando City SC's home stadium, Coach Christian Wilson approached and updated me on the rough situation.
As a Performance Manager, he is the person in charge of closely checking players' current conditions before matches.
By informing us in advance about what will happen like this, he also helps players prepare their conditions according to their own routines before the match.
If it's like this, it seems I'm not a starter today either.
But well, I expected it to some extent.
It's a match played away leaving New York.
Condition management isn't easy even moving an hour or two by car, but it's a situation where we flew a whopping three hours by plane.
Entrusting the start of such a match to a U-16 player has no choice but to be a burden.
Even if I were the manager, I wouldn't have put myself in.
Come to think of it, from the part where my name was included in the away list, it's a situation where they already bore some risk.
But seeing the team situation is like this, well... Manager Vieira probably didn't have other choices either.
On the day the away list was decided, a First Team player was injured during morning training.
It wasn't severe, but since they needed to watch the progress, the injured player's name was inevitably removed finally, and I took that spot.
"But JT, what I said in the interview is sincere. I picked you because I have expectations. So don't relax your tension. Especially, you know best what you need to do sitting on the bench, right, JT? If I judge it necessary, I'll put you in immediately, so be ready anytime."
Manager Vieira's voice as he slipped close to me during the final stage of conditioning.
I only played barely one match, but feeling like I'm receiving trust in my own way made my heart reassured.
Perhaps thanks to that, I wasn't anxious at all even starting the match from the bench. So conditioning management went smoothly too.
In the past, if I wasn't a starter, I was so nervous. So when I was actually put into the stadium, my performance was always a mess.
I learned again like this that composure of mind is important.
Afterwards, while slowly packing up my spot, at the sound of home fans gathered in the opposite stands screaming cheers all at once, my gaze naturally moved chasing the sound.
And the face I saw was,
Wow, it's real.
Brazil's last Ballon d'Or winner and Kaka, who even received the praise of being the most perfect player from Pele.
Seeing the player who is also called the perfect son in Korea—possessing character, looks, skill, everything—in person, my mouth dropped open unknowingly.
If I'm like this, what about the reaction of fans who came to see Kaka? No need to explain separately.
They said more people would gather than expected since today is Kaka's injury return match. Even though there is over an hour left until the match start, half of the stadium that can hold 60,000 people is already full.
At the fans' cheers, Kaka responded with applause containing gratitude, then crossed over to our court and exchanged greetings with Pirlo.
The two legends who spent their prime together at AC Milan exchanged regards and chatted, then...
What? Our eyes met. Is he perhaps talking about me?
Ey, surely not. What is there for Pirlo and Kaka to gather and talk about regarding me.
Substitute player, stop thinking about other things and just warm up.
"Is that friend the player you talked my ear off about on the phone?"
"Right. JT. He's a tremendous guy."
"But he looks a little different from what you praised. Hearing only the explanation, I thought he would be incredibly rugged."
"That makes him even more amazing. It means his balance is good, right? Just like you."
Kaka, who was conversing with Pirlo, carefully examined Kim Jin-tae warming up while playing with the ball, then tilted his head.
It was Kaka who contacted Pirlo after seeing the article that NYCFC unfolded a reversal drama against Toronto FC.
Since there was a connection spending time together at AC Milan, he delivered a message saying congratulations, but...
The conversation flow twisted bizarrely.
For some reason, Pirlo raised his voice more excitedly about the team's prospect than winning the match.
Since Kaka knew well what Pirlo's personality was usually like, and above all, Pirlo, whose standards in football are extremely high, praising to this extent made Kaka curious this time, and like this, he came to visit today.
"I heard there were difficulties at Manchester City. So he's currently over in New York."
"Ah, was he a Manchester City side player? Then isn't going to Serie A difficult?"
"I told you. There were difficulties on the Man City side. No one knows what future will come. Just like how me and you, Kaka, are standing here together like this right now."
"Seeing you say to that extent, you must have really liked him."
Kaka looked at Pirlo with a fascinated face once again.
For Pirlo, who doesn't recommend players easily, to say to the extent that he wants to see a certain player playing in Serie A, it was tremendous high praise.
Plus,
"It would be better to be careful of JT in today's match."
At Pirlo's bold guarantee warning him while looking at him, he lost words to say anymore.
Leaving aside David Villa, Pirlo, and various other players playing as national representatives, to tell him to be careful of a U-16 origin prospect who isn't even a starter.
It was absurd, but kind Kaka nodded saying okay and exchanged farewells.
If until now was a time sharing memories between former colleagues,
From now on, it was time for a contest where neither side could yield.
There are unique characteristics for each league.
EPL known for fast overall tempo, La Liga preferring to unravel technically, Serie A emphasizing structure in defense specially, Bundesliga pursuing total football originating from transition of offense and defense, etc.
Like this, it could be parts well known to the public too, or sometimes it could be parts only players or officials think specially.
The US football league, MLS, naturally possesses such unique characteristics too.
Unlike Europe, MLS has a salary cap system, so a characteristic based on that system.
As they invest big money in superstars, naturally that proportion concentrated on forwards, and because of that, it became a league where the quality and detail of offense is set relatively higher than defense.
And such characteristic was properly revealed in today's match too.
It's already been 20 minutes since the match started.
For 20 minutes, with the home team Orlando City SC's lead, NYCFC is spending a difficult time.
Possession rate doesn't have a big difference at about 53 to 47, but looking at the number of effective shots, it's a situation where the difference widened more than double.
Defenders already have exhausted faces at Orlando City SC's attacks utilizing the advantage at home well.
And the person leading this flow is exactly Orlando City SC's Number 10, Kaka.
Sitting on the bench quietly watching Kaka's play, it was fascinating.
Physically, it was definitely Kaka past his prime.
Therefore, comparing calmly only on speed, it's definitely correct that young players are faster. No, it should be correct.
But our team defenders are not following at all. Looking at him taking fewer touches in a linear dribble, it's definitely not a difficult dribble to predict though.
I want to see in a bit more detail. Will a dribbling situation not come out again?
From the position cheering for the team, it would be a scene to avoid, but around the time I was soothing my regret due to purely personal greed.
Kaka started running once again.
And with this dribble, I could grasp Kaka's dribble even just a very little bit.
Tempo.
The dribble that simply looked like having thick lines was actually controlling the thickness of lines with detailed tempo adjustment now that I look at it.
Because of this, it seemed followable yet couldn't be followed, and seemed readable yet had no choice but to be deceived.
The result,
Honestly, although it's the opponent team, it was a cool finish enough to bring out admiration.
His own philosophy contained in the dribble that simply looks like hitting fast and running.
That he possesses the ability to realize that would be the result of training containing that much sweat and effort.
So unknowingly, I stamped my feet while sitting on the bench.
I want to go up quickly.
I want to go up and compete.
I want to test myself.
And,
I want to win.
End of the first half.
Manager Vieira was in deep trouble.
As a result of watching for 45 minutes,
The first half of this match ending with a one-goal difference was God's grace.
We cannot control Kaka alone and keep getting pierced. But right now the compatibility between our team's back four and Kaka is too bad.
Usually, when constructing a back four, they put a commander-type veteran in one of the central Center Back spots and put young players on the sides to increase activity level.
But currently, NYCFC's back four composition is the opposite.
Two old veterans are deployed on the sides and two young players in their early 20s are guarding the center.
Because of this, Iraola deployed on the right has to hold the line composition overall. Because of this, influence is lacking and they are continuously allowing breakthroughs to Kaka.
But even so, he couldn't rashly change the back four composition either.
Among the central defenders currently waiting on the bench, the only player worth controlling the line is Derek Dixon.
But Derek Dixon's defensive tendency is the exact opposite of Iraola currently appearing as Right Back.
A collision between each other might occur and collapse even bigger.
If it's like this, other options are...
Attaching a player who can reinforce defensively among the double volante...
Manager Vieira gathered his brows.
There is a player to put in.
The only problem is that the player who has to be taken out is Tommy McNamara again this time.
Basically, he was a player whose name was written first in any match originally because his activity level and energy level were good.
Then, combined with team atmosphere issues and Tommy's personal slump, current performance isn't coming up, making him a player causing much worry.
It subsided to some extent now, but it's a fact everyone knows that Tommy exploded during training preparing to face Toronto FC.
Although they defeated Toronto FC with a reversal victory,
Because that victory happened after Tommy exited the stadium, Tommy's current condition is still not good.
Nevertheless, actually, the appearance he is showing on the stadium today isn't bad so he intended to let him play all 90 minutes, but...
If reinforcing the Defensive Midfielder, Tommy has to be taken out inevitably.
"...Hmm."
Manager Vieira, who stopped thinking for a moment and glared at the stadium, stroked the tip of his chin.
Eating only one goal is definitely luck.
He thought about reinforcing defense to protect the current luck, but...
But even if we protect this luck, isn't it true that we cannot win the match?
Because to win, we need a score right now.
Then, we shouldn't rely on luck but challenge.
And the preparation for the challenge was already decided in New York.
Manager Vieira organized his cards.
Defense reinforcement was postponed.
"Get JT ready. I'll put him in immediately in the second half."
Today's match is a clash of offense versus offense.
(End of Chapter)
—Translated by Prime Works —