Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Union Berlin Charging Through the Champions League -1
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“Why me? Why?”
Alex Ferguson nodded simply at Park Chan-hyuk’s response.
There was no reason for a manager who already held full authority to go to another team.
Alex Ferguson himself fully understood that Park Chan-hyuk would turn down the offer.
Yet he had made the proposal anyway—just in case various circumstances forced Park Chan-hyuk to leave Union Berlin someday, so Manchester United would be the first name that came to mind.
Of course, knowing how far Manchester United would fall in the future, Park Chan-hyuk might not want to go there anyway.
***
[Union Berlin defeats Manchester United 2-1.]
[Son Heung-min scores Champions League debut goal against mighty Manchester United!]
└ Heung-min, you’re the future of Korean soccer!!
└ Holy shit, he’s a legend.
└ Park Chan-hyuk <<< Savior of Korean soccer just for scouting Son Heung-min, right?
└ ㅆㅇㅈㅋㅋ
After the Champions League match against Manchester United.
Time flew by quickly.
Alex Ferguson never made another offer after proposing the Manchester United job that day.
He backed off cleanly, without even any media play.
Sure, if word got out that he’d turned down the Manchester United job, Korean soccer fans would pour out their regrets.
‘Do I really need to…? Is there any reason to go to United?’
My own thoughts were firm.
Knowing Manchester United’s future, I saw zero merit in going there.
‘Honestly, unless you’re a United fan, there’s no reason to go to United.’
From the perspective of someone who had built Union Berlin up from financial ruin in the fourth division.
For reference, rebuilding a vaguely fallen powerhouse is even harder than resurrecting a club that’s completely collapsed into ashes.
Unlike a club reduced to rubble.
A vaguely fallen giant has all sorts of tangled interests.
‘That’s why revival kings are impressive.’
For reference, no club in the world ever collapses because it wants to.
They collapse because there’s no good way to untangle the messy interests.
People don’t want to bear losses.
Sure, incompetent management plays a role, but reforms often fail due to internal backlash.
That’s why clubs make moves fans can’t understand.
Even some fans oppose reforms, citing tradition and pride.
Eventually, the head, arms, legs, and heart all go their separate ways, and it dies naturally.
‘Well, this isn’t just clubs—countries and companies too.’
Sometimes it’s easier to smash it all and rebuild from scratch.
Anyway.
[Union Berlin continues winning streak.]
[Union Berlin on a rampage—will they lift the Meisterschale two years in a row?]
Union Berlin piled up points like crazy in the league with overwhelming firepower and stingy defense.
As Union Berlin shone in both the league and Champions League.
It was natural that their players’ values skyrocketed.
Especially the big clubs’ interest in Gareth Bale was enormous.
Bale had been dominating in both the league and Champions League since switching positions.
Considering this was his first season in the new role, it was easy to predict even better performances next season.
Opponents analyzing Bale wouldn’t keep up with how fast he was adapting to wing.
So the big clubs rushed in before his price rose further.
But unfortunately, I had no intention of selling Bale right now.
‘No reason to sell cheap now.’
And Gareth Bale seemed to feel the same.
Well, naturally.
He was performing well enough at Union Berlin.
With my advice on his potential, he was growing fast—no reason to transfer.
[Real Madrid shows interest in Gareth Bale.]
But even Bale, who’d talked about staying, couldn’t hide his expression when Real Madrid’s interest leaked.
‘Sigh, this is why you don’t adopt black-haired beasts…. Well… I get it.’
Real Madrid was every player’s dream club.
And Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale’s idol, was currently there.
‘Tch. Idols are most beautiful from afar.’
Well… I never thought I’d keep Bale forever anyway.
Unlike players who grew up with me from the lower leagues.
Players signed after promotion to the top flight hadn’t built special bonds.
‘Well… Thiago Silva and Dante are the weird ones.’
Anyway.
To Bale, whose heart was half gone at Real Madrid’s name, I promised to let him go if they met a certain transfer fee.
For reference, the minimum was what Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Bale.
‘Honestly, if they think they can take him for less, I’d be offended.’
Gareth Bale, whom I’d personally nurtured, wasn’t worse than back then.
‘…If they lowball, I’ll just say no and use him another season.’
Of course, rejecting offers might make Bale unhappy.
But I’d have to convince him that surpassing Ronaldo’s record means getting maximum fee.
‘Threaten to bench him in the reserves. We’ve got Angel too.’
That was one reason I’d signed Ángel Di María in the summer window too.
Well… Di María might demand a transfer later.
‘Then bring in someone else.’
For a normal manager, finding world-class talent is like reaching for the stars.
But with future knowledge and Scouter, I could do it.
‘Ahh, this is what a cheat key is.’
***
Union Berlin played another Champions League match.
After feeling the need for a private jet on the Russia trip, Park Chan-hyuk resolved to buy one for the Turkey away game against Beşiktaş.
‘Wow, it’s really far.’
Anyway, Union Berlin had a tough time against Beşiktaş.
They shrank unconsciously under the rough play and hostile fans.
Union Berlin still had many young players.
Halftime ended 0-0.
Park Chan-hyuk roared at the players during the break.
“You bastards! Is this how proud Germans act?!”
“...I’m Brazilian?”
“Shh. Quiet.”
In the second half.
Whether Park Chan-hyuk’s speech worked.
Union Berlin played better than the first half against Beşiktaş.
Time ticked away.
“Ángel Di María sends it high! And Robert Lewandowski!!!!”
“GOOOAAAL! Lewandowski! Lewandowski seals it in the end!!”
“Man, that makes three straight Champions League wins? Hard to believe for a team’s first time in the competition!”
Lewandowski’s 77th-minute winner gave them a 1-0 victory.
***
On the flight back from Beşiktaş, lost in thought after the unexpectedly tough game.
My mind raced anyway.
I quickly calculated Union Berlin’s group standings.
‘This pretty much locks in the round of 16.’
Now it was just whether first or second in the group for the round of 16.
Finishing first was better than second, since round of 16 pits group winners against runners-up.
‘Might as well take the easy path.’
Of course, first isn’t always best.
You might draw Barcelona as a group second.
‘If we finish first, United comes as a group second.’
But statistically, first was advantageous.
I resolved to take first in the group for the round of 16.
Even if no Champions League title this season, going high would help.
‘Well, first priority is securing group first?’
Group first could be clinched next Champions League game.
‘Old Trafford, huh…’
Our next Champions League match was away at United.