Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Normal Person Park Chan-hyuk -5
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“Boss, let’s do a celebration together!”
I flinched for a moment at Yannick Peit’s suggestion for a joint celebration.
‘Steal that guy’s celebration!’
The little kid inside me was strongly insisting that I run out there and do the celebration myself. Honestly, I wanted to run out and join in too.
“I’ll get a card this time and miss the next game.”
But I couldn’t steal the celebration. My hands and feet were already tied from all the previous warnings.
Sure, I could just do it without thinking about the consequences.
But that wasn’t my style. I’m the type who needs to assume the worst-case scenario and prepare countermeasures for everything to feel satisfied.
That’s not why I stay late into the night polishing tactics.
It’s my perfectionist tendencies that lead to voluntary overtime like this.
‘Though sometimes I give in to impulses and mess up anyway.’
Maybe because it hadn’t been long since I got chewed out for a celebration, the impulse wasn’t as strong as I thought.
Anyway, right now, there really was no good option.
If I was going to cause trouble, I needed to have countermeasures ready for every situation first, but there was no solution here.
‘Sigh. If I get suspended, I won’t be able to give instructions to the players.’
For reference, using a walkie-talkie from the stands to give instructions wouldn’t work either.
FIFA prohibits suspended staff from using radios.
‘But didn’t someone use one back in the day? Wenger or Ferguson, I can’t remember.’
I think it’s a rule that came after that.
‘Or was it before?’
Anyway, the point isn’t when the radio rule was made.
If I get sent off, I won’t have a way to give tactical instructions to the players.
If I’m not careful, I might end up disguising myself as a trash can like Mourinho and directing the players from there. It’s a method, sure, but honestly, it didn’t appeal to me.
‘That’s just not cool.’
Anyway, the only thing I was truly worried about right now was not being able to hold back my impulse and running out for the celebration.
So, to prepare for that possibility, I had Assistant Coach Daniel Teixeira sitting right next to me.
This meant that if I showed any sign of heading for the corner flag, he should tackle me immediately.
Honestly, the safest option would be to handcuff me to the bench, but with kids watching the game, having the manager in handcuffs wouldn’t look good.
“……I’ve never seen someone manage their cards like this before.”
“Wow, the boss really does have a plan for everything, huh?”
Anyway, the players who heard my explanation disappeared as if they’d suddenly understood something.
And shortly after.
With the referee’s whistle, the game resumed.
Union Berlin once again pressed Real Madrid hard up front. They weren’t satisfied with just one goal.
The wounds from their previous loss to Real Madrid ran much deeper.
Well, from Real Madrid’s perspective, it was like getting vented on after they’d been slapped elsewhere.
Life’s always survival of the fittest. If it bugs you, just get stronger than you are now.
Anyway, Union Berlin relentlessly hounded Real Madrid.
Splash!
“Lewandowski!!”
“Fussballgott!!”
And right before halftime, Roberto Lewandowski scored another goal, putting Union Berlin ahead on aggregate.
I quietly clenched my fists on the bench and celebrated lightly.
I had to watch out for Daniel Teixeira, who was glaring at me like a hyena eyeing prey.
If I even twitched a foot toward the corner flag, he’d deliver a brutal tackle.
“Nice!”
I didn’t want to get tackled and hurt, so I celebrated quietly in place.
But the joy of the comeback was short-lived.
‘……Sigh. Is that guy walking over for a celebration?’
Roberto Lewandowski had started ‘walking’ toward the celebration after scoring.
‘……What’s that? Is he provoking me?’
And it was only natural that I took Lewandowski’s actions as a provocation.
***
[(Live) Union Berlin 2 (3) : 0 (2) Real Madrid.]
└ Holy shit holy shit holy shit
└ Wow, Union Berlin is insanely strong.
└ They’re different at home, yeah.
└ The atmosphere is straight-up crazy lololol
└ That graffiti stand is legit eerie. When the red flares go up, it feels like hell lol
└ But it’s got that romantic vibe, right?
└ Yeah, fair. You can really feel it’s a club built by fan donations.
└ Not entirely from donations, though?
└ One stand was definitely funded by donations, agreed?
└ Agreed lol
- Dante, pass mistake.
└ Wtf are you doing!
- Cristiano Ronaldo, threatening shot.
- Manuel Schmidt, incredible save!
└ Arghhhh.....
└ Holy crap, he blocked that.
└ Schmidt >>> this guy’s the god of saves.
└ Seriously sweating bullets here.
└ Dante: Manuel, don’t let your guard down.
└ Fr, thought we’d concede an equalizer right before halftime and freaked out.
***
Halftime followed the end of the first half.
I looked at the Union Berlin players and calmly gave instructions for the second half.
“Our second-half tactics won’t differ much from the first half.”
For reference, Union Berlin’s tactics didn’t change much from the first half either.
No need to switch things up when the current plan was working well.
‘The first half was a solid 9 out of 10, at least.’
I praised the players who deserved it and scolded those who needed it.
Most of the players didn’t have much to criticize.
I just gave Dante a light warning to stay focused.
His pass mistake right before halftime had given everyone a scare.
Dante seemed aware of his error too, nodding at my words and signaling he’d concentrate.
Thumbs up to Manuel Schmidt was a bonus.
Union Berlin prepared for the second half in a warm, positive atmosphere.
And shortly after.
The second half between Union Berlin and Real Madrid kicked off.
***
The second half of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg was underway.
Real Madrid’s players, motivated during halftime, couldn’t help but frown as soon as the second half began.
Union Berlin fans had started belting out their chants like maniacs again.
“Union Berlin never tires! And with fans this passionate, how could they?”
Real Madrid’s Guti sighed as he watched.
‘The game’s not easy.’
Guti’s condition in this Champions League quarterfinal second leg wasn’t bad. If anything, it was good.
He was putting in the most eye-catching performance among Real Madrid’s players right now.
Honestly, form-wise, it was his day.
Union Berlin’s pressure was just stronger than usual.
Union Berlin players were sprinting like mad across the pitch.
Even Guti on ‘his day’ was finding Union Berlin tough to handle.
“Guti’s creative heel pass! Marcelo takes it forward!”
Even under heavy pressure, Guti flicked a heel pass to Marcelo.
Marcelo overlapped and fed the ball to Ronaldo.
“Marcelo to Ronaldo! Ronaldo charges into the box… Oh! Thiago Silva’s tackle intercepts it!”
Cristiano Ronaldo pushed hard for an equalizer, but he couldn’t break through Union Berlin’s famed Berlin Wall.
“Real Madrid with a substitution. Raul Gonzalez comes on for Kaka.”
“Huh? Union Berlin’s bench is buzzing too.”
“Oh, Son Heung-min is gearing up to sub in! Who’s coming off?”
“Yes! Angel Di Maria makes way for South Korea’s pride, Son Heung-min.”
Raul Gonzalez replaced Kaka, who hadn’t shown much all game.
The Champions League warrior Raul Gonzalez hit the pitch running with aggressive intent.
Real Madrid started attacking more fiercely after Raul’s introduction.
And soon, a scoring chance came Raul’s way.
Ronaldo dribbled but, with no angle, laid it off backward.
Raul swung his left foot at the ball rolling his way.
The shot, cleanly struck, rocketed toward the top left corner.
‘It’s in!’
Raul was certain inside. He’d caught it perfectly with his instep.
But Raul, past his prime, saw the shot cannon off the crossbar.
Thiago Silva dove to clear the rebound in front of goal.
As Raul clutched his head in regret, Union Berlin launched a counter.
Subs Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale charged down the wings.
Roberto Lewandowski opted to pass rather than go for glory.
Lewandowski’s pass went to Gareth Bale, who entered the box and immediately pondered his choice.
Bale narrowed the angle, saw Casillas rushing out, and shelved his greed.
Team advancement to the Champions League semis mattered more than a personal goal.
“Gareth Bale! Not a shot—a pass!!”
Bale’s pass found Son Heung-min.
“Son Heung-miiiiiin!!”
Son calmly slotted the ball into the empty net.
“Goooaaooaaooall!! Son Heung-min!! Son Heung-min scores against Real Madrid!!!!”
As Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale ran toward the corner flag for a celebration.
‘……Why’s it so rowdy?’
What Son Heung-min’s eyes caught sight of was.
“Res…ist!”
Union Berlin’s manager Park Chan-hyuk, pinned under the assistant coach.