Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Effects of the Special National Training -4
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***
The moment Yannick Foite's shot ripped into the Oseong Redwings' net.
I sprinted toward the Korean soccer fans and dropped into a knee slide.
A friendly match. An event game.
Even if it was provocative, I trusted the referee wouldn't send me off directly.
"Uh...?"
But the card color wasn't the issue.
The real problem was the state of the Korean pitch.
From the outside, it looked like a smooth slide across the grass, but reality was different.
Crunch.
The instant my knee hit the grass, I knew something was wrong.
"My... my leg won't move."
But I couldn't show the pain now.
Pride.
No man wants to lose it.
Even if it makes me look like an idiot, most guys would understand.
"That's what makes us men."
I spread my arms with a straight face, hiding the pain as best I could.
"Boooooo—!"
"Cut the provoking, you bastard!"
Jeers poured from the Oseong Redwings fans.
The referee sighed and approached, handing me a yellow card.
"Ex-excuse me, ref. My leg... it won't respond."
I pleaded desperately with the approaching referee.
"No. No sub. Get back... Huh? What?"
He'd been firm about no reversals.
"My leg has no strength."
When words unlike what he expected came from my mouth, he couldn't hide his confusion.
"...."
"...."
As the referee and I stood still for a while.
The Oseong Redwings fans started sensing something off, their jeers gradually fading.
"Stretcher!"
The referee, grasping the situation, urgently called for a stretcher.
I was carted off to a nearby hospital.
***
[Oh. Assistant Coach Park Chan-hyuk is being stretchered off. It looked like a clean knee slide, but something must've gone wrong.]
[Yes. Knee slide celebrations are that dangerous. Viewers, do not try this at home.]
[Haha. Never thought we'd be saying a line straight out of a WWE broadcast.]
***
Even after Park Chan-hyuk was stretchered to a nearby hospital, the match between Union Berlin and Oseong Redwings continued.
[Wow, Union Berlin! They're so aggressive!]
[Yes, Union Berlin looked tentative early on, but that opener has them fired up!!]
Union Berlin seized momentum with the first goal, pressing Oseong Redwings hard—but only briefly.
[Oseong Redwings' manager is out at the touchline, calming his players!]
Oseong Redwings panicked at conceding first, but with their manager at the touchline settling them, the players quickly refocused.
"A legend player-turned-manager really carries weight with his words."
Park Chan-hyuk, watching from a nearby hospital, observed with admiration.
***
Oseong Redwings center-back Kang Min-ho was rattled by Union Berlin's swift counter.
"How's the counter this fast?"
He'd rationalized the opener as complacency, but another hit from Union Berlin erased that thought instantly.
"Is this really a third-division team?"
It wasn't just counters. Their counters, passing, transitions, and pressing intensity made Union Berlin's tempo one of the fastest Oseong Redwings had faced.
This stemmed from Thomas Tuchel glimpsing soccer's future in his talk with Park Chan-hyuk.
The two, sharing that vision, poured their souls into embedding their tactical philosophy into Union Berlin successfully.
[To Daniel Teixeira! But Teixeira lays it off!]
[Yannick Foite bombing forward! He's fast! So fast!]
Yannick Foite latched onto Daniel Teixeira's layoff and charged. Oseong Redwings players scrambled back defensively.
[Oh! Three attackers to two defenders! Dangerous for Oseong Redwings!]
Numerical advantage for the attack.
[If you've got the ball, shoot! Yannick Foite doesn't shoot, he receives and shoots! Dribbles once more then shoots! When are you gonna shoot! Shoot!]
Yannick Foite calmly scanned, feinted past a defender, dribbled again into the box.
The beaten defender lunged for a foul, but Yannick's feet were quicker.
Entering the box, he spotted the low-stanced keeper.
"The other side's open."
With keeper and defenders fixated on him.
"Yannick, here!"
Yannick Foite passed across to Thomas Maier.
[Yannick Foite! Shoots! No, pass!]
The pass threaded through the defender's legs to Thomas Maier.
[Thomas Maier on the far side! One-on-one chance for Thomas Maier! He shoots!]
Thomas Maier calmly struck the rolling ball.
Thud.
But uneven turf caused a freak bounce.
[Oh, it's wide! Thomas Maier's shot sails into the air!!]
Hitting the ball's underside, it ballooned high.
[Thomas Maier clutching his head, Yannick Foite staring at him in disbelief!]
***
Halftime ends, second half begins.
Contrary to expectations of Oseong Redwings dominating, Union Berlin led at the break.
Suwon World Cup Stadium filled with bewilderment.
Fans from other teams, there out of curiosity, began mocking Oseong Redwings.
"Argh! It's an obvious trap, why do you keep falling for it!"
"Hey, you worthless fucks, get your shit together?!"
Oseong Redwings fans vented fury at the frustrating flow.
Their players shed complacency and gave full effort.
50th minute.
Union Berlin's right-back lunged rashly; Oseong Redwings' forward exploited the gap and burst through.
"Fuck yeah, that's it, you bastards!"
"Let's go for the win!"
His shot hit the net, igniting Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Amid celebrations, the Oseong Redwings forward looked puzzled.
"What's up? Why's he laughing?"
For some reason, Union Berlin's striker laughed despite conceding the equalizer.
***
Yannick Foite enjoyed the match against Oseong Redwings.
It felt like he'd grown through it.
"Got a bit rattled early."
The pro stadium pitch was worse than expected.
"Worse grass than our home ground."
Overall, not bad. He'd played on worse last season.
The stifling heat and insane humidity were issues.
- Overcome heat with mental strength!
He'd faced it in national training already.
Anyway.
He gained insights from the game.
"My game's effective even against pros."
Confidence swelled in his abilities.
His play grew bolder.
Mindset's impact on play was huge. No wonder "big-game player" gets hyped.
Yannick Foite aggressively threatened Oseong Redwings' goal.
But.
Despite his efforts, Oseong Redwings won.
They couldn't overcome the class gap.
[Oseong Redwings' lucky charm finally slots the winner!]
[Great game from Union Berlin! But Oseong Redwings' wall was too high!]
No win, but Union Berlin gained much.
Post-match, Union Berlin players thanked Korean fans for the valuable experience.
"Don't embarrass our close win—top the third division and promote to second!"
Oseong Redwings fans applauded the impressive Union Berlin players.
***
[Thomas Tuchel: "Grateful to Oseong Redwings players and fans. Unforgettable, priceless experience."]
[Park Chan-hyuk entering image management? "Korea is where I was born and raised. Hope Korean soccer develops further."]
[Park Chan-hyuk apologizes to Oseong Redwings club over provocation... "Provoked hoping for full commitment. Sorry."]
[Dirk Zingler chairman: "If sending to Union Berlin, we'll develop well. Better to trust a club with a Korean assistant coach, right?"]
[KFA on Union Berlin proposal... "Will consider positively."]
[Korean soccer overseas study boom incoming?]