Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Union Berlin and the Champions League Final -1
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***
[Union Berlin Crushes Hamburg SV 3-0 on the Road.]
The match against Hamburg SV ended in victory for Union Berlin.
[Union Berlin Breaks Bundesliga Record for Most Points.]
Union Berlin has broken the Bundesliga record for most points.
['Asia's Sage' Park Chan-hyuk Leads Union Berlin to Become Germany's Top Club.]
['Union Berlin' Park Chan-hyuk: What Makes Him the Best Manager?]
The German media showered praise on the achievements of Union Berlin and Park Chan-hyuk.
[Park Chan-hyuk Is the Best Manager Produced by the Bundesliga!]
└ Kyaa lolololol
└ I'm getting hyped!
└ But seriously, isn't Park Chan-hyuk in the best form right now?
└ Needs validation at Real Madrid. Time to transfer.
└ Lmao why leave Union Berlin, which he basically owns, for Real?
No one could have imagined that a team promoted just two years ago would claim the Meisterschale two years in a row, let alone break the points record.
[Roberto Lewandowski Scores Hat-Trick, Takes Lead in Golden Boot Race.]
['Polish Bomber' Lewandowski: "This Place Is Fantastic."]
Articles about Roberto Lewandowski, who had essentially clinched the Bundesliga Golden Boot, were also popping up everywhere.
And with the Golden Boot, Lewandowski jersey sales surged in Poland.
It was just like how Son Heung-min's popularity had skyrocketed after winning the Premier League Golden Boot.
[Roberto Lewandowski Declares Renewal? "My Heart Is Here."]
[Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler: "To Become the Best Club, We Must Treat Our Best Players the Best. So Fans, Please Hold Back on the Flare Flares to Avoid Fines."]
Time flew by alongside Lewandowski's meaningful interview.
With the home 34th round league match concluded, Union Berlin's season came to an end.
But even as the players celebrated the successful close of the season with the fans after the match, they didn't let their guard down completely in the excitement.
Because the Champions League still awaited Union Berlin.
At that moment, a strange fervor flowed through Iron and Blood Stadium, Union Berlin's home ground. Park Chan-hyuk grabbed the mic and slowly approached the fans.
"When I first took over Union Berlin, the media only focused on two things: young manager and Asian manager. There was no real evaluation of me as a person. It was like they expected me to be sacked and replaced any day. But back then, I said this: 'One day, I will lead this team to the Bundesliga and the Champions League.' And now, the Champions League final is right around the corner. The media that scoffed at me back then now praises me. After last season when Union Berlin wrote its fairy tale, countless outlets predicted our future would be a grim fairy tale. But they were wrong! Now, we're writing a new fairy tale following last season's!"
Park Chan-hyuk looked at the fans who were starting to hang on his every word and slowly cleared his throat.
For reference, he didn't use his now-familiar Austrian accent. The director filming the Union Berlin documentary for Guttenol was desperately waving his hands, insisting no Austrian accent.
"We are now heading to the Santiago Bernabéu. We will not surrender or accept defeat. We will fight to the end. As long as we hear the fans' cheers, we will never give up. No matter what hardships, adversity, or trials come our way, we will overcome them. We have already fought and won in Madrid and Barcelona. Now, only one step remains for us."
Anyway, Park Chan-hyuk's speech at Union Berlin's home stadium unfolded.
"Do you still have any doubts about my abilities?"
"NEIN!!!!"
It began to ignite not just the German players, but the fans' hearts as well.
"Do you want us to abandon the historic moment ahead like cowards?"
"NEIN!!!!!"
"Then! Are you resolved to follow us through any hardship and the heaviest burdens to the very end for victory?"
“JAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”
That day.
Berlin united as one, old fans and new fans alike.
Meanwhile.
“…Cut it.”
The PD filming Union Berlin's documentary let out a sigh. Despite the hot passion bursting in his chest, it felt unusable for the footage.
“But he delivers that long speech without a single stutter.”
The writer next to the director gasped in admiration at Park Chan-hyuk's speech.
“…In my view, that guy should've been a politician.”
The director nodded at the writer's words and added.
Park Chan-hyuk's speech made even them, the 'outsiders,' feel their hearts burning. The emotions felt by those who had written that history together went without saying.
“Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
As Park Chan-hyuk's final words ended, the Union Berlin fans' roars enveloped Iron and Blood Stadium.
“…Should we just use the footage as is?”
And watching that scene, an inexplicable feeling arose in the director's heart. He regretted cutting Park Chan-hyuk's speech.
“It'd be a shame to cut it, right?”
The director cautiously nodded at the writer's words.
The mustache-scented parts could be edited out as much as possible.
Probably.
Anyway, as the players and fans' reason was half-numbed, time flew by quickly.
The Champions League final was now just around the corner.
***
While Park Chan-hyuk was dazzling interviews to numb Union Berlin players' senses.
Internazionale Milano manager Jose Mourinho was intensely analyzing Union Berlin's final league match.
[Park Chan-hyuk Silent Despite Mourinho's Apology.]
As befitting a superstar manager, Mourinho had countless nicknames.
But the recent one the media had pinned on him wasn't exactly positive.
'Damn, that stupid reporter got me in trouble.'
Truth be told, Mourinho hadn't intended to call Park Chan-hyuk a lunatic.
The controversial remark had slipped out a bit harshly in response to a reporter's question comparing him to Park Chan-hyuk. His pride was hurt at being compared to a kid in his early twenties.
Mourinho had proven his worth with countless trophies over the years. But Park Chan-hyuk's only trophy was the Meisterschale.
Of course, deep down, Mourinho acknowledged Park Chan-hyuk as a good manager.
The achievements of Union Berlin and Park Chan-hyuk weren't easy.
In fact, leading a promoted team to a league title was unprecedented.
But even so, the media needed to show him more respect.
Mourinho himself was always the 'Special One.'
'This guy's too cocky.'
And honestly, Mourinho just didn't like Park Chan-hyuk's existence.
It might have been a form of kin hatred.
Anyway, Mourinho did his utmost to win the final against Union Berlin.
Losing to Union Berlin would surely make him a laughingstock.
His interview had become a sort of self-motivation.
In any case.
As he refined his strategy, time passed quickly, and the Champions League final pre-interviews took place.
[Manager Park Chan-hyuk on Not Accepting Mourinho's Apology…. "Well. It was a fact, so no need to refute."]
[Manager Park Chan-hyuk on Reporter's Request for Self-Evaluation…. "I'm a Normal One."]
[Union Berlin Captain Yannick Feith on Park Chan-hyuk's Remark…. "Our boss doesn't seem particularly normal."]
And Mourinho couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh at the Union Berlin manager's interviews.
"These guys are really crazy."
***
[(Champions League Final Preview) Mourinho vs. Post-Mourinho Showdown.]
[Union Berlin vs. Internazionale Milano: Who Will Win?]
[Korean Soccer Fans Head to Santiago Bernabéu for Champions League Final.]
[Champions League Final Starting Lineups Revealed: Son Heung-min Starts on Bench!]
***
Champions League final day.
"In a moment, the Champions League final between Union Berlin and Inter—Inter and Union Berlin—will take place here at Real Madrid's home ground, Santiago Bernabéu."
Asian soccer fans gathered to watch the final.
Even for a final airing at dawn, viewership ratings were impressively high.
"Yes, it's Inter challenging for the treble against Union Berlin, who have reached the Champions League final for the first time in club history. Ah! The players are entering the pitch."
It was the moment Asia's first Champions League final manager had emerged.
"Union Berlin is deploying a 3-5-2 formation. Son Heung-min unfortunately starts on the bench. And in his place, Ángel Di María starts."
"Attacking midfielder is Shinji Kagawa, central midfielders are Thomas Müller and Luka Modrić. The defense features Dante, Thiago Silva, and Virgil van Dijk. Goalkeeper is once again Manuel Neuer."
"Yes. Now Inter's lineup. They're going with a 4-2-1-3. The attack line consists of Goran Pandev, Eto'o, and Milito. Attacking midfielder Wesley Sneijder…"
The broadcast team continued introducing the lineups.
And even as they tried to stay neutral, they couldn't hide their fandom and added.
"Will Union Berlin surpass their fairy tale and write a myth? The match is underway!"
And so, the Champions League final between Union Berlin and Inter began.