Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12: 100%
New York City FC fans pouring out chats while watching the live broadcast.
The fans' anger accumulated from the frustrating performance was tremendous.
Just when they thought the team finally started the engine again by breaking the winless record.
As if suffering from amnesia, they returned to a performance that accumulates sighs again, inducing headaches for the fans.
On top of that, of all things, the comparison target and rival New York Red Bulls were showcasing the best performance in today's match.
Just like the fans' expectations, a moment where the manager's decisive decision is needed now.
Looking at the squad quality, NYCFC isn't simply low either.
Although the age range is high, it is a team evaluated to have high potential rather if the balance can be matched well.
Because of that, at a point where the manager's choice is even more important,
Korean football fans of Football Korea who wandered looking for local broadcasts because there is no place broadcasting MLS matches in Korea.
At Jin-tae's substitution appearance, those who were hiding like mafia raised their heads one by one.
"JT, today you will go in as Left Wing Forward. Compared to the right, the pressure isn't severe, so adapting won't be difficult. Still, they might come in strong to seize the initiative in the beginning. Don't endure unreasonably then. Be careful not to get hurt."
"Yes."
Performance Manager Coach Christian Wilson checked key points until the last moment of entering the stadium.
I was deployed in the 2nd line just like when I played against Toronto FC, but today it's the Left Flank, not the center.
Thinking about the flow during the first half, it was a sufficiently rational deployment.
While the opposite side's Side Back has a style defending strongly physically, my side tends to respond a bit more flexibly.
To avoid the physical situation where the absolute value is lacking as much as possible, this is correct.
Like that, the second half started, and...
"Hah, looks like the New York side was quite urgent too. How did they think of bringing a high school brat really?"
As the opponent changed to me, the Orlando side's defender immediately changed his defensive style as Coach Wilson expected.
Before this, he defended keeping a distance. Against me, he sticks close and is continuously colliding bodies roughly.
While doing so, he kept checking my feet by stepping on them subtly avoiding the referee's eyes. It seems he intends to break my spirit from the start, but...
"—Hup?!!"
If you're going to check me, you should do it properly. Will it work being half-hearted like that?
Aiming for the timing when the opponent stuck close to step on my foot again, I pulled my back foot.
Then, 'coincidentally', the opponent player's heel happened to be placed in the spot where I pulled my back foot.
"Aack—!"
Many people pick England as the roughest league, but that is refined roughness.
A league that fights really staking life and death?
Based on my experience, the Portuguese 2nd League was real.
A place where bloody battles of promotion and relegation happened every week.
To them, that was the boundary between life and death.
To me who spent 2 years in such a place, honestly, this level of foul is rather easy to read and comfortable to deal with.
At least the kids here don't sharpen their iron studs, right?
The opponent stamped by my football boot studs staggered, and aiming for that gap, I advanced just like that.
At the same time, I waved my hand asking for a pass and shouted.
Then, Pirlo's pass coming in accurately as if he measured the timing.
At this level, it seems there was no need to send a signal in the first place.
Truly, his pass is art.
"Shooting is good. You hit it well. Don't hesitate and hit it if you see a chance in the future too."
David Villa, who approached my side while preparing for the corner kick, raised a thumb once, then ruffled my hair here and there, and Pirlo also praised me saying I brought it to a finish well, then moved to the corner flag.
It's regrettable that it got deflected by the defender's foot, but still, at this level, it's not a bad result like the two said.
It's true there was an option to give a pass to David Villa who moved to break the offside line or Jack Harrison who widened the distance, but it was a situation where opposing defenders also recognized that in advance and were backing off.
If I gave a pass there, it was rather a play that could give certainty to opposing defenders. Shooting was correct as a good choice eventually.
However,
If I were to pick a play that could have been the best option in the situation just now...
"Tommy."
"...Are you calling me right now?"
"Yes."
As I called Tommy McNamara whom I encountered for a moment while adjusting position inside the penalty box, Tommy glared at me sharply and asked back.
That gaze, I know well what it means.
A gaze looking at a competitor, not a teammate.
He is fierce as if he still holds being subbed out with me in the last match against Toronto FC in his heart.
His pride must have been hurt.
Because I would have been too.
He is currently playing as a National Representative of the US Team too. If pushed back in position competition by a 16-year-old player, who wouldn't have their pride hurt?
But living through life, I found pride doesn't feed you.
And if one wants to win, using all available options is basic among basics.
I approached Tommy who showed a sharp reaction.
My goal today is winning today's match.
Looking at Pirlo, who finished preparing for the corner kick, slowly planting his standing foot, I said to Tommy.
"In the situation just now, it would have been really good if there was a teammate infiltrating next to me one beat late."
"...?"
"The position where I hit the shot was a spot where the course gets caught by the defender. But if someone else hit the shot just slightly inside, the trajectory would have been different, right? The course would have been more diverse too."
"···!"
"Just saying so. Don't think too deeply."
Like that, the short conversation ended.
I didn't even listen to Tommy's answer.
Because it's time to react to Pirlo's corner kick dropping sharply into the box.
What if Tommy doesn't understand my words right now?
Then, I just have to prepare for the best effort, though not the best result.
But it seemed there was no need to worry about that.
Because Tommy's eyes looking at the ball changed.
"That guy Tommy, his match sense is too dead?"
Sky Box in the spectator stands where the match is in full swing.
Manager Lohmann, leading the US National Team, clicked his tongue with a regretful face.
It was Manager Lohmann who visited the stadium to check players' conditions for the A-Match next month.
Discovering new players is important too, but checking the condition of players currently active in the National Team is naturally the top priority.
Watching the play of Tommy McNamara, one of them, throughout, Manager Lohmann scratched his forehead.
Tommy McNamara is a player who has to reveal his influence steadily by putting activity level at the forefront.
But for the current NYCFC, it was very ambiguous for a player filling presence with activity level to perform actively.
If he doesn't understand Pirlo and David Villa's creative plays, the style of running a lot needlessly was rather just cumbersome from the team's perspective.
So, even running that much, would the number of times he touched the ball until now be barely about 10 times?
Even so, NYCFC cannot operate the match fitting McNamara's style currently.
It is a team with none other than Pirlo and David Villa. If one has to adapt, it is correct that Tommy adapts.
However, that tuning point isn't being caught at all, so problems are just continuously exploding.
Manager Lohmann, who checked the direction Pirlo's pass stretched out once again like that, crumpled the corner of his mouth.
This time too, a pass heading to the left.
One might think isn't it too one-sided a pass route, but...
There is a player who can receive the ball fantastically like that. It has no choice but to be one-sided.
Manager Lohmann's eyes shone at Kim Jin-tae's play.
He didn't investigate much, but heard he came over to New York unable to adapt at Manchester City.
Kim Jin-tae showcasing plays where he absolutely cannot understand which part he couldn't adapt to.
Curious if he could pick and use him in the US National Team, he looked into it, but regrettably, there were too many mountains to cross to satisfy naturalization conditions.
Manager Lohmann caught his breath watching Kim Jin-tae entering the final third in an instant.
It was Kim Jin-tae showcasing creative plays not falling behind Pirlo and David Villa several times in today's match alone.
The puzzle piece Manager Vieira chose to defeat Orlando City today.
Until now, he definitely showed good appearances as the Missing Piece, but...
This time the dribble was a little long.
Orlando City SC's defenders also moved following Kim Jin-tae's dribble and stuck fast, as if not intending to just suffer.
If it's like this, it is late for him to attempt a shot directly himself, and the course to give a pass to David Villa is also blocked by defenders.
It was a not bad attempt, but the point that any player cannot be 100% perfect.
It was when Manager Lohmann reached his hand towards the cup containing a drink with a face mixed with regret.
"—?!!"
Manager Lohmann's movement froze just like that.
The reason was simple.
Because the play that couldn't be 100% perfect was being overturned into a 100% perfect pass.
Manager Lohmann, whose mouth opened wide, shouted.
"How on earth did that pass connect?!!"
Kim Jin-tae's pass delivered to Tommy McNamara who infiltrates and enters with No Mark.
Literally, a pass that went in aiming for a breathtaking timing.
A route even he himself watching from the stands didn't predict at all.
Short silence followed, and...
A straight course heading to the goal opened in front of Tommy McNamara who received the ball.
An opportunity like this?
No way he would miss.
The play finished with a shot making about 60,000 fans filling Orlando City SC's home stadium astonished.
The shaking net.
The equalizer eventually allowed.
In the spot where joy and sorrow of both teams' players crossed,
"Thank you for believing in me."
Kim Jin-tae said to Tommy who ran to him.
Tommy burst into a scoff at such answer of Kim Jin-tae.
Saying thank you was words to be said from this side.
But to intercept that.
Other than anything else, after pushing such an assist.
"That's my line, genius kiddo."
There was no longer a gaze of wariness.
Looking at Jin-tae with eyes full of trust, Tommy ruffled Jin-tae's hair.
(End of Chapter)
—Translated by Prime Works —