Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Union Berlin Storming the Champions League - 3
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At the very moment Park Chan-hyuk was instructing Azpilicueta to put heavy pressure on Toni Kroos.
Toni Kroos slowly toured Union Berlin's home stadium ahead of their match against Union Berlin.
Union Berlin's stadium gave off a distinctly unique vibe overall.
In particular, the dedicated stand built with fan donations to highlight that fact left a deep impression with its unusual design and story.
'So, I could have been playing here right now?'
Toni Kroos always felt mixed emotions whenever he faced Union Berlin.
He had his own connection to them from his days in the 2. Bundesliga.
Back when Union Berlin was in the 2. Bundesliga. Park Chan-hyuk, newly appointed as manager, had directly proposed to Bayern Munich to sign or loan him out.
Thomas Tuchel was the manager at Bayern Munich at the time, and since Union Berlin was in a lower league, relations between the two clubs weren't bad.
'Chan-hyuk is the best manager I've seen at developing players.'
Even Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich's manager back then, had strongly recommended the loan to Union Berlin to Toni Kroos.
But Toni Kroos turned down Union Berlin's offer and chose Leverkusen instead.
Only now did he regret picking Leverkusen back then.
At the time, though, Toni Kroos's decision had been the obvious choice.
It was hard to trust tactically a manager in his early twenties who had just taken the job.
Player development aside, his tactical abilities were still unknown.
And above all, when choosing between the 1. Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga, the top flight was the rational pick.
But that rookie manager in his early twenties hadn't just led them to promotion—he'd taken Union Berlin to their first-ever Bundesliga title last season.
It was an unprecedented feat for a promoted team to win the league, and claiming the Bundesliga title proved his tactical prowess to boot.
Sure, some managers were dismissing Park Chan-hyuk's achievements out of jealousy, but the legends of the soccer world were all praising his tactics.
Anyway, it was only natural that Toni Kroos inwardly regretted not transferring to Union Berlin after watching their Bundesliga triumph last season.
[Toni Kroos, Crown Prince of Leverkusen Manager Jupp Heynckes.]
But that was just last season's story.
Ever since Jupp Heynckes took over at Leverkusen, Toni Kroos had started getting heavy minutes.
He still felt a pang of regret at not being a key player under one of Europe's most watched managers.
That said, transferring to Union Berlin now would be tough.
He was playing for Leverkusen now, but his parent club was still Bayern Munich.
'What would it have been like if I'd joined Union Berlin back then?'
Just as Toni Kroos was imagining himself in a Union Berlin kit on the pitch.
The match between Union Berlin and Leverkusen kicked off.
And a fierce tackle from Azpilicueta came flying toward Toni Kroos as he received the ball.
"I don't wanna do this either, but it's the boss's orders, so no choice. No hard feelings, got it?"
Azpilicueta approached the fallen Toni Kroos and started rattling off incomprehensible words.
'......Is he insane?'
That was pretty much how Toni Kroos felt looking at Azpilicueta.
***
I found myself leaping to my feet the instant the match started, without even realizing it.
"Everyone on your feet!"
Azpilicueta had executed my tactical instructions to perfection.
In this match against Leverkusen, Union Berlin's surest path to victory hinged on how well Azpilicueta could shut down Toni Kroos.
And right now, the first button was buttoned perfectly.
In fact, Leverkusen began struggling to build attacks once they put heavy pressure on Toni Kroos.
'That doesn't mean we've scored yet, though.'
Our attack was a bit short-handed with so many starters out.
The first half between Leverkusen and Union Berlin played out in a somewhat dull fashion.
Then, just before halftime, attacking midfielder Lee Sung-jae won the ball with pressure up top.
Lee Sung-jae, having stolen the ball, immediately slipped a pass through to the onrushing Yannick Foigt.
"Whooooaaaaaaa!"
Yannick Foigt didn't miss the chance that came his way and slotted home the goal.
Swish—!
For the record, the celebration erupted before the goal.
Because Lee Sung-jae had sprinted toward the corner flag the moment he won the ball.
'Hmm. So, calling your shot, huh.'
***
At the same time.
"Goaaaal! It's in! Yannick Foigt! Yannick Foigt's shot rips straight through Leverkusen's net!"
"Lee Sung-jae lays off a perfect pass, and Yannick Foigt finishes it calmly!"
Korean soccer fans watching the Union Berlin match let out sighs of relief.
- Holy shit
- Even with the starters wrecked, they score first;;
- Told ya Union Berlin's squad is broken. Nobody believes me.
With key starters sidelined by injuries and poor form.
Union Berlin had taken the lead with the opener.
- No way, did I mishear the "whooo" before the goal?
- Nah lol replay shows Park Chan-hyuk celebrating early lol
- Is he actually nuts? Lmao
- Would've been a total clown show if it didn't go in, right?
Of course, it was only natural that Park Chan-hyuk's pre-goal celebration went viral.
Whether because of the opener or just how hilarious it was, who knows.
Viewers watching the match started to relax.
They settled in to enjoy the rest with a bit more leisure.
***
The first half ended with Union Berlin leading, and the second half got underway.
"Arturo Vidal intercepts the ball! Vidal links up with Kroos!"
"Toni Kroos takes it and lofts it right away! Stefan Kießling goes up for the headeeeeer! Oh! Stefan Kießling's header! Just clips over the bar!"
The Union Berlin vs. Leverkusen match unfolded intensely.
"Virgil! Focus on the game!"
Thiago Silva called him out immediately, and Virgil van Dijk nodded with a stiff expression.
"Toni Kroos shakes off Thomas Müller's pressure and fires a forward pass!"
Toni Kroos, subbed on at the start of the second half, shook off Thomas Müller's pressure and attempted a progressive pass.
"Oh! Just before it reaches Stefan Kießling! Virgil van Dijk gets there first and clears it!"
But Leverkusen's attack was stopped cold by Union Berlin's famed defensive wall.
Leverkusen kept pushing after that, but they couldn't pierce Union Berlin's defense, which was more balanced than usual.
"Sven Bender and Larsen Bender combine to win the ball back!"
This was thanks to the Bender brothers prioritizing defense over attack.
Anyway, Union Berlin built counters off their solid defending.
The ball the Bender brothers stole went to Ángel Di María.
Ángel Di María drove into the box and timed a pass perfectly for the run.
"Ángel Di María spots the onrushing Yannick Foigt and plays it!"
"Yannick Foigt shoots again! Oh! This time Leverkusen's keeper comes out on top! What a save!"
Yannick Foigt's shot was parried by Leverkusen's goalkeeper.
The two teams kept battling fiercely after that.
But neither found the net again.
The Union Berlin vs. Leverkusen match came to an end.
Union Berlin claimed a 1-0 victory.
***
Jupp Heynckes let out a hollow chuckle once the match against Union Berlin wrapped up.
'As expected, they're a good team.'
Even packed with adversity, Union Berlin had denied them any points.
[Jupp Heynckes Defeated by Union Berlin Missing Key Starters....]
The press started tearing into Jupp Heynckes for dropping points to Union Berlin in such a golden opportunity.
Truth be told, Jupp Heynckes had plenty of excuses.
Referee decisions were iffy, and it was Union Berlin's home ground.
But those were weak excuses given how stunning Park Chan-hyuk's tactics had been this match.
The tactics Park Chan-hyuk deployed weren't just patch-up work—they were shockingly polished.
[Jupp Heynckes: "Chan-hyuk will lead the changes in soccer."]
In the post-match interview, Jupp Heynckes showed his respect for Park Chan-hyuk.
'Got a lot to do when I get back.'
Right now, Jupp Heynckes felt a thrill at having witnessed Park Chan-hyuk's new tactics.