Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Mr. Hamstring and Mr. ACL -1
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“Phew….”
Jürgen Klopp sighed as he rewatched Union Berlin’s matches on repeat.
In the early season, Union Berlin’s momentum had been something else entirely.
In fact, back during the summer transfer window, Jürgen Klopp had been concerned when Park Chan-hyuk snapped up players lacking big-league experience left and right.
It was obvious the team was short on players who could anchor the core.
It might seem minor, but big-league experience could make all the difference in actual matches—something you couldn’t overlook.
But Park Chan-hyuk had successfully covered that experience gap by bringing in Cafu.
And now, their position at the top of the league table proved it.
[Union Berlin’s story is the kind even Disney would toss out as too exaggerated.]
Lately, the media had been throwing around the word “fairy tale” when talking about Union Berlin.
‘They shouldn’t dismiss it as just a fairy tale.’
But to Jürgen Klopp, it wasn’t some simple fairy tale.
He felt calling it that would insult all the effort Union Berlin had poured in.
In his view, Union Berlin’s success this season was practically inevitable.
Park Chan-hyuk had shelled out the club’s highest-ever transfer fees to bring in those players.
If Union Berlin had failed this season and gotten relegated, they might’ve gone bankrupt again due to financial issues.
But the club had put their full faith in Park Chan-hyuk, betting essentially everything they had.
And the result was their current standing in the table.
‘Park Chan-hyuk’s one thing, but Union Berlin’s staff are impressive too.’
It was the outcome of the manager and staff all pulling together as one.
Meanwhile.
‘…The problem’s with us.’
Unlike Union Berlin, who had massively bolstered their squad overnight through the summer window, Dortmund was still in rebuild mode.
Before the season started, Union Berlin’s spending spree had forced some unexpected outlays.
That had caused hiccups in Dortmund’s rebuild process.
‘…Come to think of it, it’s that kid Chan-hyuk’s fault?’
Jürgen Klopp let out a hollow chuckle.
Even Dortmund’s rebuild getting tangled up was thanks to Park Chan-hyuk.
It could’ve been something to take personally.
But Jürgen Klopp didn’t mind Park Chan-hyuk’s actions.
It meant Park Chan-hyuk was keeping him in check, after all.
Plus, he could understand trying to snag Subotić—Jürgen Klopp thought he was a solid defender too.
His feelings toward Park Chan-hyuk were complicated.
To him, Park Chan-hyuk was a close friend and, at the same time, someone he wanted to beat no matter what.
‘…So this is what a rival feels like.’
Well.
Their head-to-head record wasn’t great so far, but Jürgen Klopp didn’t sweat it.
Soccer was a game where the one who never gave up till the end came out on top.
He believed the day would come when he claimed victory.
‘About two years… that should do it.’
Jürgen Klopp pictured when Dortmund’s rebuild would be complete.
And his timeline was spot on, as it turned out.
In the original history, two years later, Dortmund clinched the league title and declared their comeback.
***
I found myself lost in thought ahead of our match against Dortmund.
‘Jürgen Klopp.’
He was a rebuilding genius who could rebuild even himself.
The ultimate rebuilder—one who realized he needed rebuilding too.
[Park Chan-hyuk, interested in Neven Subotić…]
I’d tried stirring the pot once by going after Subotić to mess with Dortmund’s rebuild.
But that alone couldn’t stop a rebuilding master like Jürgen Klopp.
Right now, his Dortmund was successfully rebuilding.
Sure, their results weren’t as good as expected so far.
But rebuilds usually didn’t produce results in their first season.
It took time for the players to gel.
Union Berlin tearing it up from the season’s start was the outlier.
‘It’s all because I tailored the tactics to the players’ styles.’
As a side note, this was me putting that future knowledge to good use.
I knew the players’ strengths, weaknesses, and playstyles, and built the tactics around that.
In the process, the players discovered talents they didn’t even know they had.
That boosted their support for me big time.
These days, their trust in me was so high that if I demoted them to the reserves and made them practice overhead kicks, they’d probably follow orders faithfully for about three days.
‘…Should I test it?’
For a split second.
I wondered if they’d really do it without complaint.
But I held back my curiosity.
No need to sour things with the players.
Anyway.
While I checked the players’ condition and tactics in prep for Dortmund.
Time flew by, and soon our away game against them was upon us.
***
Bundesliga Round 8.
The Dortmund vs. Union Berlin clash was set for Signal Iduna Park.
“Here’s Union Berlin’s squad. As usual, they’re rolling out the best eleven in a 3-5-2 formation.”
Korean soccer fans gathered in front of their TVs to watch the Bundesliga match.
“Thanks to Park Chan-hyuk’s tactical influence lately, the back-three craze has even hit the Korean league. The guy’s impact is huge.”
“Exactly. And it’s not just Korea—lower German leagues and even the Bundesliga are seeing back-threes pop up more often.”
Some were tuning in via apps.
└ Father of the Back Three lol
└ Dante - Thiago Silva - Cafu is straight-up broken
└ Ugh, two Japanese players starting again. Korea-Japan loss incoming ㅋㅋ
└ Nah, Son Heung-min >>> Kagawa Shinji
They started chatting up a storm, engaging with others.
And moments later.
When the card section unfolded in the Süd Tribune (south stand).
Korean fans could only stare in stunned silence.
└ Whoa… that’s all people?
└ Atmosphere is insane.
└ Dortmund’s a powerhouse or what?
└ Nah, just a fallen giant in my memory.
***
It was Germany’s largest soccer stadium—and like Union Berlin, a club revived by their fans’ fierce support.
Dortmund’s supporters showed overwhelming passion even before kickoff.
Most folks expected Union Berlin, the league leaders, to beat the seventh-placed side.
But Dortmund fans were convinced it’d be their victory.
This was the away team’s graveyard: Westfalenstadion (Signal Iduna Park).
“You'll never walk alone!”
As the players walked out, the fans’ chants echoed through the stadium.
Union Berlin manager Park Chan-hyuk and Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp exchanged smiles and words.
“Jürgen, go easy on us today.”
“You too.”
Dortmund fans didn’t boo the pair.
Everyone in German soccer knew they were best buds.
But they trusted the two would go all-out for the win once the whistle blew.
And sure enough.
When the match kicked off, they were yelling louder than anyone from the touchline, fighting tooth and nail for victory.
***
The Union Berlin vs. Dortmund match was a fierce battle.
Dortmund dominated the early flow.
All thanks to their fans’ electric atmosphere.
The energy from Dortmund’s renowned supporters was no joke.
Our Japanese players felt the pressure and started making mistakes.
The errors piled up, and they shrank without realizing it.
I shouted encouragement from the touchline, but Dortmund’s roar drowned it out.
Then, moments later, Dortmund grabbed the opener.
In trying to escape Dortmund’s press, Union Berlin had a pass go astray.
Jakub Błaszczykowski pounced and rifled a shot straight into our net.
It happened in a blink—no time for our players to react to the counter.
As Union Berlin’s players let out hollow laughs at the shock.
“Jaaaaaaa!”
Jürgen Klopp came sprinting my way the instant they scored.
“Jaaaa─aaah!”
And shortly after.
Jürgen Klopp, hyped up and roaring while jumping around in celebration, clutched his hamstring and went down.
“Scheiße. Chan-hyuk, sorry, but help me up?”
At that moment, the feeling that hit me was not wanting to lose.
‘Wow… blows his hamstring celebrating? Then I’ll tear my ACL… Oh wait, I already did that.’