Chapter 111
Chapter 111
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: vs Hamburger SV - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
Hamburger SV
In the original history, Son Heung-min grew up here and became a world-class soccer player.
As one soccer fan who laughed and cried watching Son Heung-min's exploits in his previous life, it was a club more than worthy of my heartfelt thanks.
[Hamburger SV President Criticizes Union Berlin's Manager Park Chan-hyuk: "You need to learn to respect other teams...."]
But Hamburger SV took my sincere gratitude as provocation.
Well. I could understand that.
A true gentleman possesses the magnanimity to understand even such misunderstandings.
If everyone pointed fingers calling me the bad guy, I could just become the real bad guy then.
'You... insulted me.'
In response to Hamburger SV's interview, I became the bad guy and removed my cast that day, which had been sealed away.
***
Early morning.
Union Berlin's Iron and Blood training ground.
"What? Boss, you took off the cast?"
Yannik Foigt spotted Park Chan-hyuk without his cast at the training ground and gave him a puzzled look.
Park Chan-hyuk, who had supposedly torn his hamstring, had removed the cast after just a month.
'...Considering the boss's recovery ability, it's not impossible.'
Yannik Foigt nodded as he watched Park Chan-hyuk walking around perfectly fine.
He had seen him recover quickly after ACL surgery and toss away his crutches, so he figured it was possible.
And shortly after.
30 minutes before training.
Union Berlin's players assembled at the training ground without a single one missing.
In fact, lateness was rare at Union Berlin.
There were stricter rules than simply being dropped from the lineup for being late.
This policy created intense pressure on the starting players.
If word got out that you'd been excluded from the lineup for tardiness, soccer fans' criticism would pour in immediately.
And if such incidents piled up one or two at a time, it would stick as a perception that there was a problem with the player's work ethic. Naturally, it would affect their market value too.
Given Park Chan-hyuk's personality, one might expect lax discipline.
But Union Berlin enforced its strict rules rigorously.
- Hey, you lunatic, what happens if you sit yourself out!
- Rules... must be followed!!
- Yannik, don't call the boss a lunatic!
- Stop arguing and hold the boss back first!!
- Rules... must be followed!!!!
During a club meeting when Park Chan-hyuk was late for training, he'd genuinely tried to remove his own name from the lineup.
'Back then, I really thought he'd lost his mind.'
Recalling that scene, Yannik Foigt let out a hollow laugh.
The players had only managed to get Park Chan-hyuk into the lineup(?) after promising not to use that day as an excuse.
Besides, even without strict rules, Union Berlin players had strong professional ethics by default.
With team captain Yannik Foigt and soccer legend Cafu sweating it out in training, rookie players fresh from debut couldn't half-ass it.
Such atmosphere built up bit by bit, forming the team culture.
Naturally, Union Berlin's youth players had no choice but to give their all in every training session watching the veterans.
In a way, this was a key to the rapid growth of Union Berlin's prospects.
It would be strange if they poured everything into every session and didn't improve.
Anyway.
Today, Union Berlin's players were talking about Park Chan-hyuk.
"But today's training is tougher than usual. What's up?"
"Boss said Hamburger SV trampled his pure heart, so he wants revenge."
"What does that even mean?"
"He gave them a thank-you in an interview, but they told him to show respect, so he's like this."
"Was that really a thank-you? Sounded like provocation."
"Dunno. Boss seemed sincere."
Because the training was harsher than usual.
***
This season, the gaze of Bundesliga teams toward Union Berlin was largely similar.
Early in the season, they hadn't paid much attention to Union Berlin's storm.
They saw it as a promoted lower-league team riding high on momentum with temporary good results.
Sure, beating Bayern Munich was a bit shocking.
But soccer is round, and Bayern Munich could lose any time.
But now, approaching the season's midpoint, the situation had completely changed.
Currently, Bundesliga managers were desperately analyzing Union Berlin's tactics to avoid getting swept up in their storm.
'Tsk. Now they're panicking when the fire's at their feet.'
Hamburger SV manager Martin Jol had been analyzing Union Berlin's tactics since their second-division days. Park Chan-hyuk was a manager he'd kept tabs on ever since Thomas Tuchel left, reminding him of him.
[Martin Jol Heaps Praise on Park Chan-hyuk: "When people talk about Chan-hyuk's talent, they mention his leadership over the squad or his eye for players. But to me, the most miraculous thing is his meticulously structured tactics, as if he's seen the future."]
Anyway. Martin Jol was favorable toward Park Chan-hyuk, even praising him effusively. He'd watched every Union Berlin match.
However, after taking over at Hamburger SV, he'd been too busy to study their tactics.
Naturally. Hamburger SV was currently challenging for the UEFA Cup, Pokal, and Bundesliga title with solid results.
Analyzing Union Berlin's match tactics on top of that was tough.
Ahead of the match, Martin Jol finally reviewed recent Union Berlin games on video.
'Soccer tactics only change in minor details; the philosophy stays similar. Can't overhaul it all at once...'
And at that moment. Martin Jol could only let out a defeated laugh.
"Fuck! This is a completely different team from last year!"
***
[Union Berlin Starting Lineup Revealed.]
Robert Lewandowski - Yannik Foigt.
Shinji Kagawa
Yuto Nagatomo - Lee Sung-jae - Luka Modrić - Cafu.
Dante - Thiago Silva - Virgil van Dijk.
Manuel Schmidt.
└ Wow. Now I get why people call Union Berlin a kindergarten.
└ How's the starting average age like 22? lololol
└ And they've got 38-year-old Cafu too lolololol
└ The youngest guys aren't bad at soccer either. One's carrying hard.
└ Virgil van Dijk << This dude is fucking insane;;
└ Whoa, Lee Sung-jae starting today?
└ Yeah, but Son Heung-min's out.
└ Looks like Heung-min and Thomas Mayer are benched due to fatigue.
└ Thomas Mayer could honestly use the rest....
└ Thomas Mayer runs so much every game, he really needs proper rest.
└ Sung-jae, ball out today and make room for yourself ㅠㅠ
└ But honestly, no openings for a starting spot....
└ Fr, why is Luka Modrić this good?
└ People were bitching about Modrić until last game, but after his goal assist to Heung-min, they're quiet lol
└ Ugh, nationalism weebs are the worst.
└ Union Berlin itself is a massive nationalism fest, don't cheer for them ㅉㅉ
***
'Yes!'
As Union Berlin's starting lineup was revealed, Hamburger SV's Martin Jol inwardly cheered.
Union Berlin's players were all talented.
But the trickiest was undoubtedly Thomas Mayer anchoring the midfield.
The Thomas Mayer-Luka Modrić duo was Gattuso-Pirlo level nightmare.
Martin Jol was pleased Thomas Mayer was out, but only briefly.
As the Hamburger SV vs. Union Berlin match kicked off.
'...And who's that guy?'
Martin Jol's eyes were glued to Lee Sung-jae.
His stamina was impressive, but his covering for defenders was insane.
He seemed highly adept at anticipating and following opponents' next moves.
And above all. Lee Sung-jae was playing beyond his stats, literally to the death, to catch the manager's eye in this match.
Anyway.
22nd minute of the first half.
Lee Sung-jae intercepted the ball, sparking a counter. He passed to Luka Modrić and sprinted into space.
It went to Cafu, who eyed the penetrating Lee Sung-jae into the penalty box and swung his right foot.
Cafu's still razor-sharp delivery cross headed straight for Lee Sung-jae's forehead.
Lee Sung-jae met it with his head, ripping it into Hamburger SV's net.
After his debut goal, Lee Sung-jae stood blankly in place for a while.
"Sung-jae! Snap out of it! Run!!"
Union Berlin's bench players shouted urgently at him.
This was because their sealed celebration monster had been unleashed.
Fortunately, Lee Sung-jae successfully held his debut goal celebration at bay.
"Boss, you 'fucking bastard'! I started working out again because of you. Please, just let me have the debut goal!"
This was Daniel Teixeira, who'd recently resumed strength training, barely restraining Park Chan-hyuk.
"No, I wasn't gonna steal it this time!!"
For reference, Park Chan-hyuk had repeatedly stated he had no intention of stealing celebrations, but no one believed him.