Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Champions League Semi-Final Draw
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Champions League semi-final draw.
***
[Union Berlin defeats Real Madrid, advances to Champions League semi-finals.]
The Champions League match between Union Berlin and Real Madrid has concluded. The result was a shocking victory for Union Berlin.
- Union Berlin beat Real Madrid?
No European soccer fan had predicted Union Berlin's win.
- What? Union Berlin? There's a team by that name?
- You don't watch much soccer?
- First time hearing about them?
Most soccer fans hadn't even heard the name Union Berlin before.
- They won the Bundesliga last season.
- Ah! So they're a powerhouse club.
- They got promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time from the second division the season before that.
- ...? So have they ever made it to Europe before?
- I think this is their first European competition ever.
- No way, did they have a sugar daddy dumping money there too?
- Nah, the current manager's been with them since the fourth division and climbed up together.
- The club was on the brink of bankruptcy, so fans pooled money and built the stadium for free.
- Whoa... romantic?
- Romantic.
- That's romantic.
Union Berlin had pulled off a surprise Bundesliga title last season, but it hadn't really registered with European soccer fans.
- But why's an Asian guy giving tactical instructions?
- He's the manager.
- An Asian manager? Did Union Berlin not have money to hire one?
└ What the hell are you saying, you dumbass.
└ That guy's the most talked-about manager in Europe right now.
└ Real Madrid and Manchester United were eyeing him too.
└ Fuck off, the world's gone mad.
└ How dare you insult Chan-hyuk. I'll track you down and beat your ass soon.
Still, beating Real Madrid—the self-proclaimed kings of Europe—sent Union Berlin's profile skyrocketing.
Real Madrid might be in a slump right now, but the name carried mega-club status worldwide.
[Real Madrid spends astronomical transfer fees, only to reach Champions League quarterfinals?]
[Madridistas mock: Spent a fortune to go from round of 16 to quarters—double down and maybe semis next.]
Anyway, the so-called kings of Europe shelled out astronomical sums yet limped out in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Backlash against Manuel Pellegrini exploded at Real Madrid.
[Madridistas chant: Manuel Pellegrini OUT!]
└ Manuel OUT!!!!
└ Holy shit lol, blew billions on transfers and still got crushed by Union Berlin?
└ Whoa, check out those player wages.
└ Damn it, bring Park Chan-hyuk!
***
I shook my head watching the calls to fire Real Madrid's manager.
'They sure don't hold back.'
I felt a bit sorry for Manuel Pellegrini.
'If it were me, I'd have shoved it right up their asses ages ago.'
Pellegrini enduring the fans' abuse silently seemed impressive too.
Truth be told, he had plenty to say about Union Berlin's win over Real Madrid.
The lineup had been meddled with by the club president, overriding the manager's wishes.
Managers are supposed to pick the starting XI, but Real Madrid didn't exactly honor that—at least not according to what came out later.
Still, that didn't make him blameless for the loss.
But it was clear not everything fell on Pellegrini.
'Is this bias because I'm a manager?'
Sigh. Maybe.
Anyway.
I recalled what Pellegrini said when he eventually left Madrid.
'Something about not being able to make his voice heard. Guitarist metaphor or whatever—don't remember exactly.'
Anyway, it was well-known that president Perez demanded starters like Raul Albiol and Kaka—players with star power.
'Sigh. Different from using Vinicius Junior later on. Back then, PC had marketability too. Or maybe it was about prestige. New money suddenly wants honor, they say.'
Well, Real Madrid wasn't exactly new money, but still.
They were definitely straying from their Galacticos roots.
'Even if Pellegrini picked the lineup freely, we probably would've won anyway.'
But it wouldn't have been the one-sided thrashing it was.
Real Madrid fans wouldn't be ripping into him so viciously either.
Pellegrini's current hate stemmed from that limp second-leg collapse in the Champions League.
Either way.
As Real Madrid's mess showed, when a team loses, the manager gets the blame first.
Doesn't matter if the president meddled with the lineup. Fans don't know internal drama—they just vent at the most visible target: the manager.
'And it was the same with Wenger. Mourinho's Man United too.'
Soccer fans only appreciate spring after the flowers bloom for no reason.
Anyway, Man United popped into my head.
'How the hell did that Man United squad finish second in the league?'
Mourinho was the real deal, no doubt.
Ferguson was a monster in human skin, sure.
***
[Berlin ranked #1 tourist spot for Asian visitors.]
└ Is this for real? I got mad racism in Berlin before.
└ Yeah... it's true now. Especially Kreuzberg? That area's great for tourists.
└ Racists there get dragged into alleys by scary uncles.
└ Lmao scary uncles for real lol
Union Berlin celebrated their Champions League win over Real Madrid like a festival.
Not just the fans—players were buzzing too, sensing they might make history.
'Sigh. This isn't good...'
I couldn't help frowning at the sight.
The players were way too hyped.
'Well, let 'em enjoy today.'
No point raining on their parade.
A day of joy seemed fair.
'If they're still like that tomorrow, I'll smash their heads and drill 'em.'
And the next day—the big one.
The players snapped right back to normal, amazingly.
I looked at them with satisfaction.
"Alright, did everyone enjoy the victory party?"
......The boss told my wife training ended early."
"Yannick, lying to your wife already isn't cool."
A few grumbled a bit, but it was minor.
Anyway, that day we did light recovery training at Union Berlin.
Then gathered to watch the other Champions League matches.
"Boss, between Barcelona and Chelsea, which one do you want to face?"
"Chelsea."
The opposite quarterfinal was still ongoing.
"FC Barcelona secures Champions League semi-final spot!!"
"Jose Mourinho's Inter pulls off a comeback win and advances to the semis!"
Time flew, and the quarterfinals wrapped up.
"Whew. The expected teams advanced."
The semi-finalists were locked in.
[Champions League Semi-Finalists]
FC Barcelona.
Union Berlin.
FC Internazionale Milano (Inter)
Olympique Lyonnais.
Olympique Lyonnais upsetting ACF Fiorentina was a slight surprise.
'Damn, Lyon's a tough team.'
Objectively, it was an even matchup—either could've won.
Anyway, semis weren't drawn separately; they bundled it with the quarters draw.
From the 2012-13 season, they started drawing semis separately, but reverted to bundling with quarters from 2018-19.
And the result:
[FC Barcelona vs Union Berlin.]
Union Berlin drew FC Barcelona.
[FC Internazionale Milano vs Olympique Lyonnais.]
'Semi opponent Lyon? Lucky bastards.'
For the record, my poker face cracked hard after Barcelona advanced.
Well, not like I lacked confidence against them, but facing Ronaldo taught me: Messis are just unreasonable existences.
'Do I avoid shit because it's dirty? No, because it's scary.'
Best to steer clear of Messis.
Of course, with the draw set, dodging was impossible.
Anyway, that day.
As a legendary manager, I brainstormed the best way for Union Berlin to win.
'Hmm... Neutralize Messi first, then go?'
Regrettably, that seemed unfeasible. Fail, and you'd face an enraged Messi.
- Scared of Messi? Just keep neutralizing him?
I spent the night battling the little kid inside me.