Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Union Berlin Storming the Champions League - 6
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***
Even though Yannik Foite had stolen the words I wanted to say, it wasn’t really a problem.
“Everyone, let’s be a bit more aggressive with our attacks in the second half.”
Thanks to Yannik setting the team’s mood in advance, I could quickly explain the second-half tactics.
All that was left was a slight regret that I hadn’t been able to deliver the morale-boosting speech myself.
Anyway.
The second half against Manchester United kicked off,
and we went straight at Manchester United without holding back right from the start.
Manchester United looked flustered by Union Berlin’s signature intense pressing.
But their goal held firm, shaking but never falling.
And gradually, the momentum of the second half began shifting toward Manchester United.
‘Argh. Can’t they just scrap international matches already?’
This was because the absence of our injured players was starting to hit our attack hard.
***
Meanwhile, as Union Berlin, who had scored first, suddenly found themselves trailing,
the mood among Union Berlin fans back in South Korea ignited.
They began openly voicing their frustrations with the referee’s calls in the comments.
- Wtf, what’s up with the ref’s decisions today?
- No way that’s not a foul?
- Old Trafford means United gets special treatment, huh?
- (Bribing) United at Old Trafford is different.
- Bribery bullshit
- Lol yeah, you had similar calls in your home games too.
Manchester United fans drew a firm line, declaring it home advantage. In truth, the referee’s decisions in this match were fair. There might have been a few errors, but nothing blatant.
- Bribery United lol
- Lol you guys couldn’t even bribe if you wanted to, no money
- This is actually pissing me off lol
While Korean soccer fans waged their childish keyboard war,
“Michael Carrick, to Ryan Giggs on the wing!”
“Oh! Dangerous! Four attackers, three defenders! Union Berlin is short on defenders!”
“Ryan Giggs calmly lays it off and drives forward! Wayne Rooney back to Ryan Giggs!”
Manchester United pulled off another counterattack.
“Get your heads in the game, you bastards!”
By the time Union Berlin’s defenders were shaking their heads in confusion,
Park Chan-hyuk’s voice boomed from the touchline, laying into the players.
- ???
- His voice is insanely loud lol
As Korean netizens reeled from Park Chan-hyuk’s vocal power,
“The game’s not over yet! Don’t hang your heads!”
Park Chan-hyuk started raising his voice passionately from the touchline. It was a rare sight at Union Berlin, but something Korean league fans from his past life would recognize all too well.
For reference, there were reasons he hadn’t done this before.
As assistant coach, he didn’t want to overshadow the manager (surprisingly, he actually cared about that).
After becoming manager, Union Berlin had always been on a winning streak.
This was the first time he’d raised his voice like this, so the players were understandably rattled.
But that made it all the more effective, allowing them to quickly regroup mentally.
“To Angel Di Maria with the ball!”
“Yes. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’s the best in form in this match.”
“Angel Di Maria drives inside! And a low cross!!”
“And─!!!! Gooooaaaal!!!!”
Snapped back by Park Chan-hyuk’s voice, Union Berlin built their attack around Angel Di Maria, their hottest player today,
and successfully pulled one back to narrow the gap against Manchester United.
“The game isn’t over yet! Yannik Foite’s chase-down goal! Union Berlin’s steel heart, which had stopped beating, starts pounding again!”
After Union Berlin fell behind, the away fans’ voices, drowned out by the home crowd’s chants, began to rise once more.
***
“It’s hard to believe this is a Champions League group stage—the match between these two teams is incredibly intense!”
“Who could have predicted that last season’s promoted side would put up such a fierce fight in the Champions League!! And against United, no less!”
Manchester United and Union Berlin continued their brutal battle even after the score settled at 3-2.
“Park Chan-hyuk! South Korea’s pride, Park Chan-hyuk and Union Berlin are hammering European soccer’s juggernaut, United!”
Union Berlin desperately chased an equalizer.
“Oh! And now Manchester United is shutting up shop.”
Meanwhile, instead of trading blows with the surging Union Berlin, Manchester United subbed on more defenders and went into lockdown mode.
With little time left on the clock, they’d decided not to take risks.
“Not much time left in the match.”
“Anxiety is written all over the Union Berlin players’ faces.”
“This might be a scene that shows Union Berlin’s upward trajectory. You can feel how hard they fight to win every single game.”
“Yes. They give their all in every match to secure a victory, but the desperation on their faces right now feels on another level.”
As Manchester United locked down, the clock ticked away rapidly.
Union Berlin’s players grew more visibly anxious as time wore on.
“Oh! Thomas Meyer’s pass mistake!”
“Oh no, losing the ball there is dangerous!!”
The jittery Union Berlin players started making fatal errors due to their impatience.
“Great cover from Thiago Silva. He wins it back immediately!”
But Union Berlin didn’t concede again.
It was thanks to their defense, which had leaked three goals today, suddenly waking up.
‘So this is the Champions League.’
Even after cleanly tackling to stop a counter, Thiago Silva didn’t smile.
They’d conceded three at Manchester United’s home in this away Champions League match.
It was the first time he’d leaked three since joining Union Berlin.
It was a big shock, but at the same time, his heart was racing wildly.
He was enjoying the battle against a top team.
And that made Thiago Silva focus even harder.
“Don’t lunge in recklessly! Defense is about delaying!”
With Union Berlin stabilizing defensively, the match pressed on.
***
I watched from the touchline with a stern expression.
I forcibly suppressed the smile tugging at my lips. The manager of the trailing team grinning would spark controversy for sure.
But seeing Union Berlin’s players sprint like mad for the equalizer,
I couldn’t help but feel good, my mouth kept trying to loosen up.
‘Looks like the players are mentally locked in for sure.’
Sure, some might call me old-school for it.
But in my view, pro athletes had to fight until the final whistle.
If you never gave up, you’d get an angle for a turnaround at least once.
‘Right now, more important than the win or loss is how they handle defeat.’
If they didn’t rage at a loss, the team was hopeless.
If they didn’t even get angry at defeat, the players would stagnate and stop growing.
In that sense, Union Berlin’s players more than met my standards.
‘And this is team culture.’
Truth be told, losing this Champions League match to United wouldn’t hand them the league lead right away.
Still, if we were going to lose, a draw was better—and a win better still.
And it seemed Union Berlin’s players felt the same.
With the final whistle looming,
they squeezed out their last energy for one final push.
Kagawa Shinji picked up the ball.
Unable to pierce United’s packed defense, Kagawa shifted it wide.
It was unavoidable.
‘When they sit deep, missing Lewandowski hurts big time.’
Yannik Foite was a classic poacher targeting space behind, not a target man.
Angel Di Maria, with the ball, cut inside and unleashed a shot.
He’d decided to go for it.
But Di Maria’s effort struck the post.
Before Yannik Foite could tap in the rebound,
Park Ji-sang cleared it first, and the whistle blew.
This was Union Berlin’s first defeat in the Champions League.
Despite the bitter loss, I smiled and comforted the players.
They’d become a much stronger team based on today’s defeat.
“You’ve built a hell of a team.”
And it seemed Sir Alex Ferguson felt the same.