Chapter 192
Chapter 192
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Park Chan-hyuk's Country -2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
[Union Berlin Enters Korea via Incheon International Airport.]
The news of Union Berlin's visit to Korea spread even though the World Cup fervor hadn't died down yet.
This marked the third time Union Berlin had visited Korea, but the fans' passion remained as hot as ever.
With public interest in soccer heightened thanks to the national team's strong World Cup performance, all that attention poured straight onto Union Berlin.
After all, Union Berlin was the club that had nurtured World Cup stars Son Hong-min and Lee Sung-jae.
[Record-Breaking Crowds Gather for Union Berlin's Arrival.]
The airport was packed with fans and reporters. Park Chan-hyuk actively engaged in fan service and interviews, careful not to inconvenience others.
- Wow, Union Berlin guys are great at fan service.
└ Yeah, Union Berlin players have good personalities.
└ The captain Yanick is super likable from the start.
└ Hugging Son Hong-min and Lee Sung-jae after the World Cup 3rd/4th place match was touching....
└ Will Yanick play in preseason?
└ Nah, he's on vacation. Teams that reached the World Cup semis or better get time off.
└ What about Son Hong-min and Lee Sung-jae?
└ Same, vacation.
└ Damn it;;
With the manager leading by example, the players had no choice but to follow suit, and Union Berlin's fan service became a huge online sensation.
"Is this Park Chan-hyuk's country? I've wanted to visit for so long."
Soon after, amid Korean soccer fans touched by Union Berlin's fan service, the infamous interview took place.
[Park Chan-hyuk Scores Perfect Humor Too? "Is this Park Chan-hyuk's country?" Reporters Burst into Laughter.]
Park Chan-hyuk's airport interview was more than enough to make netizens crack up.
- Is this Cha Bum's country?
It reminded them of Michael Ballack's famous line from the past.
The difference? Ballack's interview oozed intensity, while some fans felt secondhand embarrassment from Park Chan-hyuk's.
└ Holy shit lol, you'd think he's a foreigner.
└ He says that about himself, isn't he embarrassed lololol
└ Why is the embarrassment on us....
└ Endure it. That's the basic quality of a Union Berlin fan.
Most soccer fans just laughed it off, though.
They took Park Chan-hyuk's words as a joke, not serious.
***
Not long after returning from his special commentator gig, Korea was still in full festival mode.
For reference, the Korean national team had lost to Germany in the World Cup 3rd/4th place match. They put up a fierce fight against a Germany at the peak of its powers but couldn't pull off the win.
'Hmm. If the goalkeeper's saves had been a bit better, the result might've been different.'
On top of that, the national team was fatigued from pushing to the semifinals. Sure, you could argue Germany was in the same boat, but Germany was still in better shape overall.
Their squad was just too solid.
Korea's, by contrast, was a bit thin compared to Germany's.
Anyway.
[Yanick Foite's Opening Goal in Loss to Germany—Does Union Berlin Manager Park Chan-hyuk Bear No Responsibility?]
└ What kind of bullshit is this?
└ Yeah, like nurturing them was the problem?
└ Is this reporter insane?
A few idiots claimed the loss to Germany was somehow my fault, but they got buried under a avalanche of counterarguments and vanished.
I didn't pay much attention to the controversy either.
I knew the original history. Without me, Korea wouldn't have even reached the semifinals on foreign soil.
'Agh, I should've shown those guys the whirlpool shot.'
Anyway, after this World Cup, Korea earned the image of a "soccer powerhouse." No more "paper tiger" of Asia—they were the real deal now.
It was the 2002 "Miracle of the Semifinals" followed by another semifinal run at the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
'This is all thanks to my grace, Park Chan-hyuk.'
***
[National Club Union Berlin Takes on Variety Shows.]
After arriving in Korea, Union Berlin kicked off a full schedule of activities.
[Luka Modrić and Manuel Schmidt's 3-Minute Curry Ad Stirs Buzz....]
Unlike the previous visit, which centered on the players, I had to bounce around everywhere this time. I was the first Asian manager to lift the Champions League trophy, after all.
Truth be told, it was more because key players like Son Hong-min were absent on vacation, leaving me swamped.
Anyway, the Korean schedule got underway in earnest.
[Union Berlin Manager Park Chan-hyuk Attends Charity Event.]
The first item on the agenda was a charity event offering advice to promising young players who hadn't given up on soccer despite tough circumstances.
The funds raised would go toward helping kids in similar situations play the sport.
"If you're thinking of going overseas, at least study some English. Spanish or Portuguese would be even better."
I gave the kids advice that would sink into their bones.
Communication was key, whether as a player or manager.
Soccer's a team sport with eleven players—communication matters.
"And study hard too. You never know how life will turn out."
The kids grimaced at that, but the parents beamed.
Nothing makes parents happier than telling their kids to hit the books.
It was sincere advice for these soccer dreamers, though.
All-in on one thing isn't wise. Like how I hit my limit as a player and switched to management—you need a backup plan.
'Sigh, will my kid ever stress me out like this?'
As someone on the verge of fatherhood, the nagging came naturally.
***
[Union Berlin Faces Korean League All-Stars.]
Time flew in Korea. The match between Union Berlin and the Korean League All-Stars was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong.
The stadium filled up early in the morning with spectators.
Fans wandered the soccer field, marveling at it like it was some wonder.
The South Africa World Cup boom had drawn in tons of new fans. Ticket scalping prices were higher than expected as a result, but that was a minor issue for now.
'Hmm. At this rate, they might crack down on scalpers faster than in the original history.'
Anyway, the friendly between Union Berlin and the Korean League All-Stars kicked off.
Even missing most starters due to World Cup duty and vacations, Union Berlin was objectively far stronger.
'Lewandowski, Modrić, and Virgil van Dijk.'
The three Union Berlin players who skipped the World Cup anchored attack, midfield, and defense.
For reference, prospects Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne started today too. Partnering Luka Modrić in place of Thomas Müller was Casemiro.
'Man, just looking at them feels reassuring.'
Casemiro snatched the ball with a clean tackle and passed it straight to Luka Modrić.
He overhit it a bit from nerves, but Modrić turned the mistake into gold, shaking off two defenders with ease.
As Modrić slipped the markers, space opened up ahead—and darting into it was none other than Mohamed Salah.
"What the? That guy's ridiculously fast too?"
"Shit, Bale's gone and they bring in another speed demon!"
Laments rose from the Korean league defenders.
Salah's pace evoked Gareth Bale.
Not that Salah was flawless at this stage.
He relied too much on speed, which hurt him in possession battles.
I remembered peak Salah well enough—slow fixes would do.
While I pondered nurturing these prospects, Kevin's long-range shot ripped into the All-Stars' net.
I showed no big reaction to Kevin's goal.
"What? No celebration?"
"He's holding back for the rookies, right?"
"You think our boss is the type to care about that?"
The Union Berlin players looked puzzled.
"Bo000000! Park Chan-hyuk, do a celebration!"
Korean fans, expecting one, jeered.
Suddenly I felt like a no-show performer. I quietly pointed to my knee by way of explanation.
'I've already blown one out. No need to wreck the other just for a celebration.'
Doing a goal celebration at Seoul World Cup Stadium felt a tad risky.