Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: 2010 South Africa World Cup -4
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***
After rejecting Zlatan Ibrahimović's transfer offer, I was on edge. I had no idea what kind of reaction he might have to my refusal.
One day, Zlatan could just show up out of nowhere and yell, "You should have respected me! Park Chan-hyuk!" before unleashing a taekwondo kick. It wouldn't have been all that surprising.
But Zlatan Ibrahimović ended up dropping the Union Berlin move more cleanly than expected after my interview came out.
[Zlatan Ibrahimović curses Union Berlin? "Union Berlin will regret not signing me one day."]
‘...Maybe he didn't drop it all that cleanly.’
There were rumors he'd spewed some curses, but nothing confirmed.
‘Still, it's a shame.’
I'd firmly turned down Zlatan's transfer, but it still stung a bit.
Truth be told, he was a prime catch. At this point in time, there were only a handful of strikers with his star power and skill.
But Zlatan had an ego that was way too oversized.
If he joined Union Berlin, discord was almost inevitable.
And his agent being Mino Raiola didn't help matters.
Great for the player, but a tricky opponent from a club or manager's perspective.
Above all, Union Berlin's attack line was already stacked. We didn't need Zlatan.
‘With Yannick and Lewandowski, do we really need to bring him in?’
Union Berlin's striker spots were practically overflowing right now.
The team's spiritual leader and captain Yannick Foight was playing alongside Lewandowski, who had nearly won the Ballon d'Or.
‘Backup striker depth is thin, but Zlatan wouldn't settle for that.’
In the end, Zlatan joining Union Berlin would inevitably lead to conflict.
[Union Berlin's Park Chan-hyuk rejects Zlatan Ibrahimović counteroffer.]
└ Ugh, fuck, it's Zlatan—why not sign him?
└ For real, passing on this?
└ Park Chan-hyuk's too stingy. Dude's made bank—spend some!
└ But even if we signed Zlatan, the striker lineup's already full. Gotta sell someone.
└ Sell Yannick.
└ Bro, what's with that Union Berlin homepage badge?
└ Why?
└ Looks bronze, you asshole.
└ Generous calling it bronze. Probably no account either.
└ This guy's saying sell the captain? You're a Munich spy, fuck off.
Our dear Union Berlin fans, blissfully unaware of the facts, unleashed a torrent of criticism.
‘Sheesh. Posting on portal news comments instead of the Union Berlin site? Kinda suspicious.’
The toxic trolls stirring shit on the official Union Berlin homepage had vanished after we introduced badges and titles.
But just because they were gone from the official site didn't mean they were eradicated.
They'd migrated elsewhere, introducing themselves as Union Berlin fans and continuing their rampage.
‘...At that level of dedication, why not just buy a jersey on the homepage?’
Come to think of it, these guys might really be the Bill Gates of time-wasters.
Anyway, I stopped paying attention to the so-called Union Berlin fans' bullshit. I just kept walking my path silently.
‘Wingers and attacking mids are short on depth.’
I reviewed Union Berlin's current formation.
What Union Berlin needed urgently right now was attacking midfielders and wingers.
We'd signed Henk and Salah from Al-Mokwren Al-Arab SC, but they were still more prospects than anything.
Even knowing their peak forms, it would take time for them to grow.
It was a far cry from my days as assistant coach, micromanaging each player's development. As manager, I had to look at the whole squad, not just individuals.
If I fixated on one player, complaints would pour in for sure.
For reference, our recent signings Ángel Di María and Gareth Bale were closer to finished products than prospects.
Di María was already dominating Portuguese sports news after making waves at SL Benfica, and Bale would later devour the Premier League with a formation tweak alone.
Not much for me to tweak there.
Still, as Lewandowski's case showed, my guidance could shorten their growth curves.
‘The shift in Union Berlin's status is huge too.’
We used to farm experience in lower leagues or as 1. Bundesliga starters, but sadly, that wasn't feasible anymore.
The complaints about not signing world-class talent during transfers said it all—expectations for Union Berlin had skyrocketed.
That was why I was pursuing Mesut Özil despite the pros and cons. Plan was to build him up slowly off the bench alongside Henk.
‘Anyway, mission cleared, so let's take it slow.’
***
Time flew by, and before long, the World Cup kickoff was right around the corner.
We decided to hold my wedding withシャル after the tournament.
[Korea National Team sets up base camp for successful 2010 South Africa World Cup.]
Union Berlin players had to head to South Africa for national team duty, missing the wedding.
I'd been fine doing it without them, but faced massive backlash.
- What? Wedding without us? No way!!
- Boss, wedding without us and I'm transferring.
The World Cup squad protested en masse.
- Argh! Fine! Postponing till after the World Cup, got it?
Their fierce opposition forced me to cave.
Not that it bothered me.
It just showed how much they valued my wedding.
‘...So what now?’
But with the wedding suddenly delayed, I had some unexpected free time.
“Oppa, go on a honeymoon withシャル.”
“Sigh! She's not 'シャル' to my new sister-in-law.”
“...She's my friend?”
“My wife.”
“...Whatever, just go on honeymoon.”
Park Jung-ah saw me lounging at home and offered her advice.
[Park Chan-hyuk on a date in South Africa with a stunning woman?]
└ Reporter, everyone knows he's getting married soon—why the late scoop?
└ And no mosaic on a civilian's face? Ethical much, reporter?
└ These clowns don't mosaic foreigners.
I took Park Jung-ah's advice and headed to South Africa for a honeymoon-slash-scouting trip. Post-World Cup wedding meant no time for honeymoon once preseason hit.
シャル didn't show any disappointment, but she had to be a bit bummed deep down.
Anyway, we arrived in South Africa.
The country was already buzzing with World Cup fever.
***
The first match I watched was the opener: South Africa vs. Mexico.
It ended 1-1.
No surprises compared to my past life.
I'd had no involvement with either team.
From the VIP seats, I scouted for potential signings, but...
The next day.
Korea faced Greece at Port Elizabeth Stadium.
"Which team do you think wins?"
シャル leaned her head on my shoulder and asked. I answered firmly.
"Korea."
"Why?"
"Korea's got the superior squad objectively."
Korea's lineup was indeed stronger than Greece's.
In the original timeline, they'd won 2-0 convincingly.
And this Korea was even stronger than that.
I had players I'd raised myself on the roster.
My eyes went to Son Heung-min and Lee Sung-jae waiting on the bench.
They'd been called up thanks to their Champions League-winning exploits at Union Berlin, but sitting there meant they hadn't fully convinced the national team manager yet.
‘Or maybe not integrated into the tactics.’
Then, in the 6th minute of the first half.
Park Ji-sung won a foul near the corner flag.
Ki Sung-yueng whipped in a cross, and Lee Jung-soo finished it cleanly for the opener.
"WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
The crowd erupted.
Korea took the lead against Greece.
The teams battled fiercely, and in the second half, Park Ji-sung added another to seal the win.
‘Here they come.’
Then, in the 22nd minute with victory in hand, Lee Sung-jae and Son Heung-min subbed on.
They looked a bit lost adjusting to the new tactics.
But in the 42nd minute.
Lee Sung-jae and Son Heung-min pressed ferociously upfront, intercepting a Greek pass.
Lee Sung-jae took possession and slotted it through to Son Heung-min bursting into space.
The ball connected perfectly to Son's feet. He glanced at the keeper and stayed cool.
Son's shot flew true.
Splash—!
It rippled the Greek net.