Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: vs Manchester United -1
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[Champions League Group Stage Round 1: Union Berlin vs PFC CSKA Moscow.]
[Manager Park Chan-hyuk keeps his word: Son Heung-min, Lee Sung-jae, Shinji Kagawa, and Yuto Nagatomo excluded from the squad.]
The Asian players were left out of the starting lineup today.
They weren't even on the substitutes' bench.
I had kept the promise I made in that press conference.
The Asian players weren't thrilled about being left off the squad list.
But after seeing the police cracking down hard on the skinheads, they had no choice but to accept it.
“……Is this Russia?”
“They're beating first and asking questions later, even without evidence...?”
“The police must've already done their homework.”
Anyway.
Thanks to the backlash from my interview, the stadium was remarkably clean.
Not a single racist chant could be heard.
To think I could control others with just one interview.
‘……Sigh. Maybe I should've pursued something other than coaching.’
It was only natural to second-guess my true calling.
In any case, with Moscow's fans looking subdued and cautious.
Beep!
The referee's whistle blew, and the match against PFC CSKA Moscow kicked off.
***
“Union Berlin comes out firing from the start, putting intense pressure on CSKA Moscow!”
The Champions League group stage clash between Union Berlin and PFC CSKA Moscow was a one-sided affair dominated by Union Berlin.
“That's right—an aggressive high press right from the opening minutes! Union Berlin is lining up in a 4-2-3-1 today, and—oh, right on cue! Azpilicueta intercepts the ball! He plays it to Ángel Di María!”
The significance of PFC CSKA Moscow being Union Berlin's first Champions League opponents was just symbolic.
The gap in quality between PFC CSKA Moscow and Union Berlin was crystal clear.
And with the home fans holding back, there wasn't even room for surprises.
The match was won the moment Park Chan-hyuk gave that interview a few days ago.
He had already set the stage for victory before the first whistle.
The PFC CSKA Moscow manager knew it too, glaring uncomfortably at Park Chan-hyuk from kickoff.
“Ángel Di María shakes off the Moscow defender with ease and drives forward! Vasili Berezutski tries to cover, but he's too late! Moscow's backline is exposed in an instant!”
And Russia's famed cold weather hadn't even kicked in yet.
There was nothing to stop Union Berlin.
“Di María bursts down the flank! He whips in a cross...! No, wait—he's driving inside himself! Into the penalty area! Does Di María go for it?!”
With all preparations complete, Berlin's invasion began.
And the Germanic warriors smoothly plundered Moscow.
“Di María with a low cutback cross! And there's Yannick Foight!”
Di María's cutback found Yannick Foight perfectly.
Yannick Foight just needed to nudge the ball at his feet forward for a simple tap-in goal.
“Goooaaaallll! Union Berlin's first-ever Champions League goal! And who seals this historic moment? None other than Union Berlin's captain, now Mr. Union himself—Yannick Foight!”
“Wow, Di María resists the temptation to shoot and passes to the captain instead.”
After scoring, Yannick Foight bolted straight for the bench.
In that instant, his body instinctively carried him to the one person he wanted to celebrate with.
‘Chan-hyuk... Just like you said, I've become a regular in the Bundesliga. And now I've even scored in the Champions League.’
A smile crept onto Yannick Foight's face without him realizing.
Back when he was toiling in the factory, who would've believed someone saying he'd play in the Bundesliga?
But Park Chan-hyuk had unwavering faith in Yannick Foight.
He always told him, “You can swim in bigger waters than this.”
‘What made him believe in me so much?’
He was even shocked to learn that the assistant coach was paying his wages out of his own pocket.
He later found out Park Chan-hyuk came from a wealthy family, but that didn't diminish the impact of his actions.
At first, Foight applied to Union Berlin just to impress a girl.
But at some point, he realized he was giving his all to repay Park Chan-hyuk's belief in him.
‘They say a man is loyal to the one who sees him.’
Yannick Foight used to think such people were fools.
But after meeting a manager who not only recognized him but unlocked his full potential, his views changed.
He felt like he'd lay down his life if Park Chan-hyuk commanded it.
That's why he turned down offers from top-flight teams during their lower-league days.
‘With a past like that, how could I ever betray Union Berlin?’
It'd make him no better than a beast if he wasn't grateful to the manager who drew out his potential.
He resolved to stay with Union Berlin for life.
And if he ever felt he couldn't contribute anymore, he'd retire.
That's how he declared his commitment to stay—and that choice turned out to be the best.
He lifted the club's first-ever Bundesliga title as captain.
He sprinted toward the bench.
There was the manager, held back by assistant coach Daniel Teixeira.
“Jaaaaaaa!”
He charged into Park Chan-hyuk's arms to complete the celebration.
***
The match continued in Union Berlin's favor after Yannick Foight's opener.
When Robert Lewandowski added a second with individual brilliance.
The cautious Moscow crowd finally started jeering.
“Boooooooo─!”
“Get the hell out of here, you bastards!”
They hurled some borderline threats, especially at Park Chan-hyuk.
But Park Chan-hyuk didn't pay much mind to the fans' taunts.
‘……Ugh. This lavish praise is too sweet.’
He interpreted their boos—while trailing—as the ultimate compliment.
For the record, the Moscow fans hadn't resorted to violence thanks to Daniel Teixeira's efforts physically shielding Park Chan-hyuk from their teabagging attempts.
Union Berlin vs Moscow ended 3-0, with Ángel Di María adding a third in the second half.
***
[Union Berlin crushes PFC CSKA Moscow 3-0.]
[Park Chan-hyuk magic continues in Champions League?]
[PFC CSKA Moscow manager blasts Park Chan-hyuk's media play.]
[Union Berlin history made! Yannick Foight scores club's first-ever Champions League goal.]
[Ángel Di María: 1 goal, 1 assist in Champions League debut. Warning lights for Son Heung-min's starting spot?]
└ Man, it sucks Hong-min isn't playing, but...
└ Think he could transfer somewhere?
└ He could go to a mid-table side, but why leave last season's Bundesliga champs?
└ Only way is for Hong-min to grow and earn it.
***
Time flew after the Champions League match against PFC CSKA Moscow.
Around the time Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo opened El Clásico in La Liga.
Main position battles were heating up at Union Berlin.
Fortunately, the players weren't resorting to politics to claim starting spots.
Union Berlin's squad competed fairly through performance.
‘Then again, with an Asian manager, pulling strings would be tricky.’
As an Asian myself, there could be whispers of favoritism toward Asian players.
But I selected players as fairly as possible to minimize backlash.
I checked training sessions and fitness levels, starting the ones in top form.
Even if there was pushback, it wouldn't matter much since I own the club.
Still, fairness is key in these matters.
‘Who at Union Berlin could fire me anyway?’
Anyway, the players picked up on my approach and always strived for peak condition.
A culture of pure competition through soccer and growth emerged naturally.
‘Well... their professionalism helped too.’
They trained with full effort every session, and skills improved rapidly.
[Son Heung-min bags brace vs Wolfsburg! Nets goals 4 and 5 in the league!]
[Gareth Bale: 3 assists vs Wolfsburg.]
The players proved it on the pitch.
And the next match was.
[Union Berlin welcomes 'warship' Manchester United at home.]
A Champions League home game against Manchester United.
[Park Chan-hyuk taunts Man Utd? “Man Utd fans, enjoy this while it lasts.”]
...Why does everything I say come off as trash talk?