Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: 2009/2010 Season Opening -1
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Even after Manchester City's comeback goal, the match continued.
But neither Union Berlin nor Manchester City's nets were shaken again.
Union Berlin's defenders, having seen Park Chan-hyuk's celebration, raised their line but focused more on their true calling—defense—rather than pushing forward in attack.
And shortly after.
*Beep! Beep! Beep!*
With the referee's whistle, the preseason friendly between Manchester City and Union Berlin came to an end.
Both Manchester City and Union Berlin walked away with satisfying results.
[Manchester City Puts Up Fierce Fight Against Bundesliga Champions Union Berlin.]
Though Manchester City lost the match, Union Berlin had been last season's Bundesliga winners.
And Manchester City had managed a respectable 2-1 scoreline against such a team.
[Union Berlin Edges Out Rising Powerhouse Manchester City 2-1.]
For Union Berlin, it was a valuable chance to gain experience against a top Premier League side.
***
[Union Berlin vs. Manchester City "Priest Derby" Ends with Park Chan-hyuk's Victory.]
['Blue-Collar Genius' Park Chan-hyuk Successfully Defeats His Mentor Thomas Tuchel.]
[Manchester City Manager Thomas Tuchel: "I Pay Respects to Park Chan-hyuk, Who Has Built the Best Team."]
[Union Berlin Manager Park Chan-hyuk Comments on Mentor Tuchel: "Tuchel Is One of the World's Top Managers."]
[His Eccentric Antics Continue into New Season? Park Chan-hyuk Celebrates After Conceding.]
└ Holy shit lol, I couldn't believe my eyes when he did a celebration after Man City scored.
└ I get nervous every time Park Chan-hyuk plays. That guy's got a glass body—ACL tear and all.
└ Uh... even if it wasn't Park Chan-hyuk, sliding on your knees in a Korean stadium would shred anyone's ACL...
[Thomas Tuchel and Park Chan-hyuk Dine at Nearby Restaurant After Match, Share Conversation.]
***
After the friendly ended, I sat down for a chat with Thomas Tuchel at a restaurant.
What started as casual greetings quickly turned to tactics.
Before I knew it, we were deep into tactical discussions until dawn.
In the middle of it, Manchester City's owner stopped by but took one look at us geeking out over tactics all night and bolted.
Even die-hard soccer fans couldn't keep up with two expert managers breaking down the finer points.
Anyway.
[Union Berlin Amplifies Hype with Strong Friendly Performances!]
With my meeting with Thomas Tuchel wrapped up, we returned to Berlin.
Preparations began for what could be considered the season opener: the DFB-Supercup.
[Union Berlin Gears Up for Supercup Clash with Werder Bremen. Can They Lift Another Trophy?]
The DFB-Supercup pitted the Bundesliga champions against the Pokal winners in an unofficial showdown.
For reference, it's currently run by the German Football Association, hence the DFB-Supercup name.
Starting next year, it becomes an official competition and rebrands to DFL-Supercup.
Not that it mattered much—it had been held unofficially for years anyway.
The Liga-Pokal's existence kept it that way.
With the Liga-Pokal axed in 2007, its revival was only natural.
In any case.
This marked the first season in our brand-new stadium.
With capacity for up to 55,000 fans, filling the stands would be another challenge.
Results mattered, but for Union Berlin to rise as a powerhouse, we needed steady fan support.
Still, the buzz from last season's league title helped.
[Union Berlin Rakes in Massive Revenue from Season Ticket Sales!]
This season's season tickets sold out much faster than last year's.
Not just new fans from East Germany, but casual supporters in Berlin proper had swelled our ranks.
Of course, friction arose between old-school fans and newcomers—like anywhere people lived—but things were rolling along smoothly enough.
Anyway.
Training camp for the Supercup against Werder Bremen wrapped up.
"Investing in the medical center was definitely the right call."
I nodded as Gareth Bale headed straight for the medical center the moment training ended.
***
Gareth Bale made a beeline for the medical center as soon as training finished.
It was packed with Union Berlin's pride and joy: state-of-the-art facilities.
Sports masseuses and a full roster of specialists were on hand.
The place buzzed constantly with promising youngsters and starters alike.
"I'm here."
"Again? Isn't this a bit much, Gareth?"
Among them, the medical center's top regular was Gareth Bale.
He'd come straight here for a checkup upon returning from the friendly.
And for good reason—he'd turned a supposed two-month injury around in just three weeks.
Unlike Tottenham Hotspur's medical team, which had misdiagnosed a minor knock as something serious.
"It's not that their staff lacked skill; it was the facilities."
"Either way, this place is better."
"...True enough."
Unlike Tottenham, Park Chan-hyuk had poured serious money into the medical center nonstop.
The result: cutting-edge equipment everywhere.
"The bruising from that kick in the friendly has fully healed. You're good to play tomorrow."
"Got it."
Anyway.
Hearing the good news, Gareth Bale left the medical center in high spirits.
But as he stepped out.
He spotted Roberto Lewandowski dancing weirdly in front of the building.
"What're you doing?"
The dance was too bizarre to ignore, so Gareth had to ask.
"Filming for the club's official channel?"
"...Why film a dance?"
"People love it. Wanna join?"
"Nah... too busy."
That day, Gareth Bale rejected Lewandowski's invite and hightailed it out of there.
***
[Union Berlin Turns Profit on League Title...?]
Despite a whirlwind of signings last season, Union Berlin posted a surplus.
[How Much Prize Money Did Union Berlin Earn from League Win?]
└ What the hell, over 1 trillion won in winner's prize money?
└ Bundesliga has no broadcast revenue. Prize money basically is the broadcast cut.
Union Berlin's league triumph skyrocketed our profile and fanbase overnight. Jerseys flew off the shelves.
Cafu's kits even outsold Yannick Peft's at one point.
Union fans loved snapping up shirts with a Champions League veteran's name on the back.
It was a point of pride that Union Berlin could now attract players like him.
Anyway.
Park Chan-hyuk's all-in gamble on the club's future had paid off big.
He'd pulled off the classic German folk game of "borrow big, pay back bigger" with pure Aryan spirit.
No wonder expectations ran high for Union Berlin's summer transfer window this season.
[Title: Union Berlin's Incoming Class This Season.]
- IN: Sven Bender, Lars Bender, Azpilicueta, Gareth Bale, Angel Di Maria.
- OUT: Kim Hyun-seong (loaned to Stuttgart), Kim Min-hyuk (loaned to Leverkusen), Timo Brenner (transferred to Dortmund), Cafu (retired)
└ All the Korean players loaned out ㅠㅠ
└ Glad they're getting game time via loans at least ㅠㅠ
└ Heard it's a loan-to-buy clause. Option if they impress.
└ Go crush it, kids.
└ Can Korean players even stick in Bundesliga?
└ Union's just too big now.
└ Union were last season's champs lol. Not ready for that level. Mid-to-lower teams should be fine.
But Union Berlin's summer moves this season were unusually quiet.
No transfer records shattered. No bidding wars with big clubs.
No surprise star signings like Cafu.
Still, retaining most of last season's title winners kept the hype alive.
A few days later.
[Union Berlin Crushes Werder Bremen 5-0 in Supercup Rout.]
Union Berlin's Supercup demolition of Werder Bremen added another trophy to the cabinet.
Korean online communities exploded overnight.