Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: vs Manchester United -2
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***
Meanwhile, at the very moment Park Chan-hyuk was reflecting on his own behavior.
The Manchester United manager's office stayed lit late into the night ahead of their match against Union Berlin.
[Park Chan-hyuk Provokes Man United? "Man United Fans, Enjoy This While It Lasts."]
Alex Ferguson gazed at the newspaper article from that day's edition with an intrigued expression.
It wasn't that Alex Ferguson felt provoked by the taunt from this rising star in the soccer world.
Despite Park Chan-hyuk's provocation, Alex Ferguson harbored no ill feelings about it.
'A fun guy has finally emerged from the Bundesliga after all this time.'
A natural smile crept across Alex Ferguson's lips.
'No, wait—three of them have popped up at once.'
Thomas Tuchel, Jürgen Klopp, Park Chan-hyuk.
These were the three young managers that Germany could boast about, produced by the current Bundesliga.
Add in Pep Guardiola making waves in Spain and José Mourinho from Porto, and it felt like a new era was being born.
Alex Ferguson felt a twinge of bitterness at the emergence of these new stars.
After all, most of the managers who had shared the dugout with him had now faded into has-beens.
'Another era passing like this, huh.'
Pushing aside his bittersweet feelings, Alex Ferguson analyzed Union Berlin's tactics from the previous season.
And he lost track of time, completely immersed.
The creativity of the young manager on screen was truly mesmerizing.
'If I could, I'd bring him on as assistant coach, grind him for two years, then hand him the reins.'
Alex Ferguson brimmed with regret.
He had taken an interest in Park Chan-hyuk back during his lower-league days.
But he hadn't brought him over.
Alex Ferguson believed this young Asian manager needed a bit more tempering.
And that he still fell short of leading a club like Manchester United.
But even Alex Ferguson hadn't dreamed Park Chan-hyuk would grow this fast.
'Tch. Guess I am getting old.'
In that short time, Park Chan-hyuk had lifted the Bundesliga trophy, proving his worth to the world.
Sure, Bayern Munich had shat the bed in the league, but a promoted team had crushed all the traditional powerhouses except Munich and claimed the title.
For a freshly promoted team to win the league was incredibly tough.
And especially so these days. Unlike the old times, the number of matches wasn't small.
There were simply too many games for a promoted side riding momentum to conquer the league.
'If that achievement were easy, every tom, dick, and harry would have it.'
But there was only one reason Park Chan-hyuk was underrated in the soccer world.
'Because he's Asian.'
The soccer world was far more conservative than one might imagine.
Overtly racist remarks flying during matches were part of that.
It was only recently that associations started punishing such idiocy from fools, after realizing Asia meant money.
'What a stupid state of affairs.'
You could tell just by looking at the number of non-white managers in European leagues.
Clicking his tongue lightly, Alex Ferguson studied the expressions of the players on screen.
'The players' eyes are alive.'
Seeing their spark, Ferguson felt regret once more.
'He's a good manager.'
A good manager instilled goals in his players.
Men, by nature, charged desperately toward a defined goal when they had something to protect.
That was why Alex Ferguson urged his players to marry early.
Giving a man responsibility made him less likely to abandon his goals.
Of course, that dedication demanded equal respect and rewards in return.
But no matter how good a manager Park Chan-hyuk was...
"You're still a long way off."
He was ridiculously far from beating Alex Ferguson himself.
Alex Ferguson's eyes gleamed as he stared at Park Chan-hyuk's face printed in the newspaper.
Teaching an arrogant young pup was always the seasoned elder's prerogative.
***
"Oppa, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"I don't know. I just got this chill down my spine."
In the middle of chatting with my little sister, I suddenly felt an eerie shiver.
"So, how's it going with Sarah?"
My sister asked if things were going well with Sarah, and I nodded.
"So when's the wedding?"
"I want to date for three years first before tying the knot."
"Oppa, if you fight over something petty and break up, you'll ruin that woman's chances forever."
I didn't get what my sister meant, but apparently in high society, that was still the norm. Even if you didn't like your match, you married first, then took a lover on the side—it was more common that way.
"Oppa, marriage is about compromising as you go. Expecting perfection from the start is just greed."
"So, have you ever gotten married?"
"...No."
"Then why are you butting in?"
"Should I shut up now?"
"Yeah. Keep talking, and I'll lock you in the woodshed. You'll become Schrödinger's little sister."
I elegantly told my sister to pipe down.
Not wanting to become the chairman of Schrödinger's woodshed, she obediently nodded.
'...Wait, is getting married in your early twenties even right?'
Her words started weighing on me heavily.
***
Time flew by.
The day of the Champions League group stage match between Union Berlin and Manchester United.
"Eisen Union!!!"
Union Berlin's home fans filled the stadium to the brim.
Officially sponsored as GL-Glück Arena, but per UEFA rules, it was called Iron and Blood Stadium.
'Well, honestly, the fans just call it Iron and Blood Stadium anyway, sponsor name or not.'
Was it because the sponsored name sucked?
Or because Iron and Blood held that much meaning for the fans?
Who knows...
'Honestly, Iron and Blood Stadium rolls off the tongue better for me too.'
Anyway.
As soon as the match kicked off, the fans broke into Union Berlin's anthem.
"Dem Morgengrauen entgegen, ziehn wir gegen den Wind. (Toward the dawn, advancing against the wind.)"
"Wir werden alles zerlegen, bis wir Europameister sind. (We'll smash everything until we're European champions.)"
The lyrics, once yearning for Bundesliga glory, had naturally shifted to Champions League triumph after clinching the league title.
Not bad, the fans' new chant.
Our goals were finally aligned.
'...Gotta win the Champions League.'
Right now, the first thought in my head wasn't family—it was Sarah.
'Is this why men get married?'
I had resolved to propose with the Champions League trophy.
"Ugh... that's the worst."
Park Jung-ah freaked out when I told her my plan, but the Union Berlin players all clapped in approval.
'Tsk tsk. Park Jung-ah fancies herself a love expert, but she doesn't know squat.'
Anyway.
Before kickoff, I looked at the players in the locker room.
Ahead of the Champions League clash with Manchester United, their faces were tense with nerves.
A natural reaction, considering Manchester United's stature right now.
Thinking of their future selves caused some cognitive dissonance.
But the current Man United was no pushover.
Not when 'that' Alex Ferguson was at the helm.
They'd even reached the Champions League final last season.
Still, this season they were notably weaker.
It was the year Cristiano Ronaldo, who had led Manchester United, transferred to Real Madrid.
[Shock! Michael Owen Joins Manchester United: "If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em."]
Van Persie wasn't at Manchester United yet either.
Ronaldo's replacement was Michael Owen.
Michael Owen had joined Man United after uttering that legendary quote.
'Full-prime Owen, maybe. But right now? Not that threatening.'
Anyway, I slowly opened my mouth in front of the players.
"This is our house. We can't lose to burglars at home, right?"
"...Last time you said we'd go plunder Moscow. That we'd make the Russians cry."
"Ah, shut it. So you gonna stand by and watch our house get robbed?"
"Nein!"
I lightened the mood a bit, then dropped the smile and launched into the real speech.
"No one last season thought we'd lift the Meisterschale! But what did we do?"
"We lifted it!"
"That's right! We pierced through a one-in-thousands chance and lifted the Meisterschale! We've already created a miracle! Is Man United scarier than the Bundesliga teams we faced back then?"
"Nein!!"
"You think we should tuck tail in our own bedroom and beg mercy from the English bastards?"
"Nein!!!"
The players hung on my every word.
"So I ask you— are you ready to follow me to victory?"
"Jaaaaaaaaa!"
By the end of my speech, a strange fervor enveloped the locker room.
'...Ha. Maybe I should've gone into politics instead of managing.'
The thought crossed my mind, right as I considered entering politics through marriage ties.