Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: vs Hertha Berlin II
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Regionalliga, Germany's current third division and the top regional league.
The Regionalliga was divided into two conferences: North and South.
The one Union Berlin belonged to was Nord.
In Union Berlin's Nord conference this season, the top two teams would go straight up to the second division, while fifth place from the bottom—five teams—would drop back down to the fourth division.
German soccer had abolished promotion-relegation playoffs for now, but they would return starting from the 2008/2009 season.
Anyway, the Regionalliga was a fiercely competitive league, being the final stepping stone before entering the nationwide pro leagues.
'Hertha Berlin's reserve team, huh...'
Unlike the fourth division, from the third division on, you could face reserve teams from first-division clubs.
The good news for Union Berlin, at least, was that they didn't have to play Bayern Munich's reserves.
'Playing Bayern Munich reserves in FM was always a nightmare. Reality's probably just as bad, if not worse.'
Bayern Munich, which scouted talent from across Germany, had reserves that were a disaster in their own right.
'No, they can't even promote since they're reserves, so why do they try so damn hard?'
Well, complaints aside, there was nothing to be done—the Bayern reserve players were giving their all to break into the first team.
'Come to think of it, weren't Dortmund's reserves in the northern Regionalliga?'
Just as the southern Regionalliga had Bayern Munich as its resident powerhouse,
the northern one had Dortmund, but unfortunately, Dortmund at this time was in rough shape financially, even in the first team.
'If they'd been in the top flight, I could've scooped up some Dortmund prospects. What a shame.'
Anyway, while many expected reserve teams to be strong, the reality was different.
Third-division teams were gunning for promotion, while reserves focused on player development, creating a huge motivational gap.
In other words, reserve teams—Bayern Munich excepted—were among the easier opponents in the third division.
That was why plenty of 'experts' were predicting a Union Berlin win over Hertha Berlin II.
I was glancing at the betting odds for Hertha Berlin vs. Union Berlin when a brilliant idea suddenly hit me.
'...I probably shouldn't bet, right?'
It was a night that reminded me of Ivan Toney, the GOAT of self-sabotaging motivation.
***
Hertha Berlin.
If Union Berlin would one day represent East Berlin, Hertha Berlin represented West Berlin.
People called matches between the two the Berlin Derby, but sadly, there wasn't much rivalry between Hertha Berlin and Union Berlin.
Union Berlin fans hated Hoffenheim and Leipzig—who disregarded Bundesliga traditions like the 50+1 rule—even more than Hertha.
'Now that I think about it, those two teams are hated by all Bundesliga fans.'
Anyway.
Hertha Berlin was based in Germany's capital, Berlin, but it wasn't a popular club.
Even as the only Berlin team currently in the first division among countless Berlin clubs.
If the first team was like that, the second team was naturally even worse.
The stadium was packed with Union Berlin jerseys. Even in Hertha Berlin's home ground, Union Berlin fans' kits stood out more.
"Union! Union! Union!"
I listened to the Union Berlin chant echoing in my ears and eyed Hertha Berlin's reserve players.
'Sure enough, as prospects under a pro club, their potential is impressive.'
Honestly, it was stunning. Hertha Berlin's youth setup had a ton of high-potential players.
'But most of them are ones I've never heard of.'
Still, I could count on one hand the ones I actually recognized.
Players failing to develop as expected could stem from lack of effort, injuries, or countless other factors, so it was hard to pinpoint.
'No, that guy's got full-back written all over him—why's he playing wing?'
But seeing someone who'd shine in a different position made me want to chime in with advice. It was inevitable.
"Ah. Manager, that's not how you do it..."
***
Hertha Berlin's manager didn't underestimate Union Berlin.
[Union Berlin, a promoted team and yet a strong promotion contender...]
Just as experts had pegged Union Berlin as a top promotion candidate, they were no pushovers right now.
Even in the fourth division, manager Thomas Tuhel and assistant coach Park Chan-hyuk had proven their chops.
A 23-match unbeaten streak in the league wasn't something luck alone could achieve. It required real skill.
'A third-division team getting an invite? And their assistant coach is Asian? Interesting.'
He'd also heard they'd put on a good show against an Asian pro league team in preseason.
'Not sure what level an Asian pro team is at.'
With no data on Asian soccer teams in Hertha Berlin's files, he couldn't objectively assess Oseong Red Wings' strength.
Asia's teams had performed well at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, but it was widely seen as heavy home advantage.
'Even a pro team from Asia would be like a lower-table second-division side, right?'
With few Asian players making it big in Europe, racial biases lingered too.
'So Union Berlin's probably mid-table third-division level at best.'
Hertha Berlin's manager set his benchmark for Union Berlin and prepared accordingly.
[Unbelievable! Union Berlin is dominating!]
But contrary to his expectations, Union Berlin was the stronger side.
The players' raw skills were comparable, but their mindsets heading into the match differed vastly.
Union Berlin's squad was united by fierce determination, while Hertha's prospects wilted under their momentum.
It was unavoidable.
Unlike other teams chasing wins and promotion, reserve squads were about developing players ready for first-team call-ups and managing fitness.
And at the 30-minute mark of the first half.
[G-GOAL! Yannick Foigt's opener! Union Berlin takes the lead thanks to Yannick Foigt's strike!]
The mindset gap produced results.
***
The Hertha Berlin vs. Union Berlin match unfolded as a one-sided affair for Union Berlin.
Buoyed by their strong preseason showing against Oseong Red Wings, Union Berlin pinned Hertha's reserves in their own half and hammered them.
Not long after Yannick Foigt's shot rippled the net.
[Union Berlin wins possession back again!]
They stole the ball with aggressive forward pressing.
"Jaaaaa! Smash those little punks!"
"We destroy everything that oppresses us!"
"East German government fuck off! Dynamo fuck off! Stasi fuck off!"
The away fans' chants rang out.
'Why are they raging at us?'
Hertha's prospects shrank under the manic Union Berlin support.
[Yannick Foigt bursting into space behind! Hertha's defensive line hasn't reorganized! Danger!]
Union Berlin launched a counter the moment they won the ball.
[Yannick Foigt! He's sprinting toward Hertha's goal like he's racing alone!]
Hertha's players scrambled to reset their line.
[Yannick Foigt! He shoots!]
But Union Berlin's attack finished faster.
[No, it's a pass—pass!]
Yannick Foigt's cutback found Thomas Mayer, arriving in the box a beat late.
[Thomas Mayer timing his run! He shoots!]
Thomas Mayer didn't miss his chance.
[GOOOOOOAL! Thomas Mayer makes no mistake this time! He scores! 2-0! Union Berlin adds another!!]
└ Wow, Union Berlin is straight-up massacring them.
└ It wasn't Oseong's fault. Union was just that strong.
└ What? Oseong Red Wings lost in that exhibition?
└ Ugh. Oseong beat Union, you idiots. Why does everyone think they lost?
└ Oseong won, right? Why'd I think they lost?
└ A sweaty 2-1 win over a third-division team is basically a loss...
***
Meanwhile, at that moment.
'I wanna join the celebration too.'
Park Chan-hyuk, leg in a cast and parked on the bench, couldn't stand the boredom and beckoned Thomas Tuhel.
"Thomas, come here."
"What is it?"
Thomas Tuhel approached with a puzzled look at the call.
"Let's do well."
He couldn't hide his confusion at Park Chan-hyuk's sudden words.
"At what?"
"Just... let's do well."
That day.
"...Did you hit your head hard practicing celebrations or something?"
Thomas Tuhel was genuinely worried about Park Chan-hyuk.