Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: vs Barcelona -5
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***
[Champions League Semifinal First Leg Ends: Union Berlin Crushes 3-0 at Home Against Barcelona.]
[Pep Guardiola Accepts Defeat Despite Volcanic Eruption Setback... "Union Berlin is a good team. No need to downplay them."]
[Park Chan-hyuk: "Facing the current Barcelona is a tough task."]
[Park Chan-hyuk's Love Call to Lionel Messi? "Messi seems to have Berlin DNA."]
[Lionel Messi on Park Chan-hyuk... "A unique manager."]
[Union Berlin Unleashes Goal Fest on Last Season's Champions League Winners!]
[Union Berlin's Park Chan-hyuk Magic Continues? League Title in Promotion Season, Double in the Next?]
[Park Chan-hyuk Spotted Dining with Pep Guardiola Right After the Match, Sparks Buzz.]
└ Heard they talked tactics all day over that meal.
└ Wholesome nerds nonstop;;
└ Tactics perverts lol.
[Union Berlin Challenging for Champions League Glory, Local Fans Call Park Chan-hyuk a Gift from the Gods...]
└ Didn't those local haters scream for Park Chan-hyuk to get out when we lost the first leg to Real Madrid?
└ Fan opinions are fickle as reeds anyway.
└ We already weeded out the bandwagoners ages ago.
└ Fr, how do they complain to kick him out without spending a single penny.
└ Cause they're not Union Berlin fans. That's why they want him gone.
└ But tbh, Union Berlin's system looks solid.
└ Yeah, the name-dropping's annoying, but if you're jealous, just spend big money.
***
The Champions League semifinal first leg against Barcelona had ended, and Berlin was transformed into a festival atmosphere.
Even with the second leg still ahead, it felt like they'd already secured a spot in the Champions League final.
Well, a 3-0 scoreline was certainly something to celebrate.
That is, if it weren't against Barcelona.
‘And the next one's at Camp Nou, no less.’
I just couldn't let my guard down.
Facing Barcelona at Camp Nou was on another level entirely.
‘Barcelona away is just coffee, but Camp Nou Barcelona is top-tier.’
And this cautious attitude of mine positively influenced the team's mood.
After the big win over Barcelona, the squad had gotten a bit lax, but it quickly snapped back to normal, diving into training as usual.
Union Berlin's players no longer shrank back easily, no matter how strong the opponent. They'd gained pride in their own abilities.
‘Everyone's got fire in their eyes.’
Well, with two league losses and a Champions League semifinal berth, they had every right to feel confident.
[Union Berlin Thrashes Nürnberg 4-0.]
[Union Berlin Rotates Squad to Preserve Key Players' Energy.]
Union Berlin followed up with a straightforward league win over Nürnberg.
Even with rotation to prepare for the Champions League clash against Barcelona, Nürnberg couldn't handle us.
Nothing special about the Nürnberg match. They couldn't stop a fired-up Ángel Di María, who was pissed about not starting in the Champions League.
I tossed in a "Play well here and you're starting next," and he went berserk. For the record, I'd planned to use him away originally anyway.
Anyway, the Nürnberg game wasn't noteworthy.
[Name: İlkay Gündoğan.]
Current Ability: ★★★★
Potential: ★★★★★★
Nürnberg had a decent player on their roster right now, one who made my transfer list for next season.
‘İlkay Gündoğan—solid prospect.’
The day after I finalized the transfer targets for next season.
[Union Berlin Heads to Barcelona for Away Fixture.]
Union Berlin flew to Barcelona for acclimation.
Unlike FC Barcelona, who had to bus the long haul from Berlin, we were lucky to take a plane.
The rested starters jumped straight into training upon arrival.
For reference, the training ground was loaned by RCD Espanyol, who share the city with Barcelona. As the name suggests, they're a club founded by Castilians in Catalonia, so naturally on bad terms with Barcelona.
Anyway.
Union Berlin's players trained at Espanyol's stadium.
I finalized the tactics for the Barcelona match.
Then came the pre-match interview for the Champions League semifinal second leg.
"We have a dream called Champions League glory. The players are ready to run until their hearts burst to make it real. But Barcelona doesn't have that dream anymore. Tomorrow, we'll show them just how desperate someone fighting for their dream can be."
Yannick Peitz and I handled the pre-match interview for the Champions League semifinal second leg.
[Park Chan-hyuk: "Union Berlin's Champions League win is a dream. The desperation of those chasing it is purer than anything."]
Shortly after, the Champions League semifinal second leg between Barcelona and Union Berlin kicked off at Camp Nou.
***
The Champions League clash between Barcelona and Union Berlin unfolded at Barcelona's home, Camp Nou.
“Vamos!!”
The 100,000 Barcelona fans at Camp Nou showered Lionel Messi with overwhelming support.
No matter what anyone said, Lionel Messi was La Masia's greatest product. Not Spanish-born, but raised in their academy from childhood, he was basically blue-blooded.
Well... the crowd's cheers barely registered with me.
[Name: Lionel Messi.]
Current Ability: ★★★★★★★☆
Potential: ★★★★★★★★
It was all because of Lionel Messi's unreal stats.
‘One more star? Is that even human?’
And hilariously, his current ability had gone up after the loss in the first leg.
Considering how much harder it gets to improve as stars increase.
It didn't make sense.
‘That's a real soccer monster.’
Anyway, I slowly checked Messi's detailed stats.
Things I'd missed prepping for the first leg caught my eye now.
‘What? Stamina potential's high too? Turns out Messi doesn't run—he just chooses not to.’
Makes sense if you think about the Qatar World Cup final.
Messi played full time and even tracked back defensively.
‘After diet and weight tweaks, he stopped puking as much, so stamina must've improved.’
Yet he still strolls in league games—probably efficiency.
To handle a packed schedule, minimize energy waste per match.
‘And World Cup desperation? Whole other level.’
For reference, Ronaldo had the same potential as Messi.
Though even with matching potential, detailed stats and overall differed.
Eight stars seemed the system's max for potential.
Anyway.
The match at Camp Nou between Barcelona and Union Berlin flowed one-sidedly.
Obviously.
Grabbing control against Barcelona is no easy feat.
And from the start, Union Berlin opted for sit-back counterattacks, not high press.
Sorry to disappoint fans expecting fireworks, but today's Union Berlin concept was 'anti-football.'
‘Trading blows with prime Barcelona at Camp Nou? That's insane.’
And regrettably, I wasn't that crazy.
***
Early in the game, Barcelona's attacks poured in.
“Xavi Hernández picks up the ball. Spots Zlatan running into space behind!”
“But Virgil van Dijk races over and shuts it down cleanly!”
“Yes. Incredible for such a young player.”
“Big frame, but feet like lightning, huh?”
Union Berlin's proud defense held firm.
Then, in the 27th minute.
“Dani!”
Fed up with Gareth Bale's sluggish movement, I called over Dani Alves passing near the touchline.
“…? Me?”
Barcelona's right-back Dani Alves approached with a puzzled look at the manager's call.
“Tell Gareth Bale to move sharper!”
……
“……Hey, your manager says move faster.”
Anyway.
Dani Alves, having received instructions from me, went to Gareth Bale and relayed them.
“Huh? Got it. Anything else?”
“That's it.”
Gareth Bale calmly followed Dani Alves' orders.
Dani Alves' confusion doubled.
‘What the hell is that team?’