Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them - 2
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***
After I provoked St. Pauli, time passed quickly.
Unfortunately, while pulling an all-nighter to analyze St. Pauli's tactics, I couldn't pay attention to the St. Pauli manager's reaction.
"Chan-hyuk! Chan-hyuk! Have you seen this?"
One day, while I was continuing my "voluntary mandatory" overtime.
Yannik Feith approached me holding a newspaper.
"What?"
"Judging by your reaction, you haven't seen it yet. Read this first."
He handed the newspaper to me, who was making a flustered expression at his sudden words.
"Ugh. I'm busy. This better not be a big deal."
I snatched the newspaper Yannik Feith handed me and started reading it quickly.
"Ah. Smartphones, hurry up and get invented. This is so inconvenient."
It was funny, but my brief infatuation with analog vibes right after regressing had vanished. Now, all such sentiments were gone, and my body craved convenience. I missed the future where I could summon things with a flick of a finger.
Anyway.
[St. Pauli Manager Holger Stanislawski Advises Park Chan-hyuk: 'If it were me, I'd have broken free from Tuchel's shadow long ago.']
The St. Pauli manager's response exceeded my expectations.
In fact, most existing managers were older, so even if I provoked them, they usually ignored it.
They probably thought arguing with a young punk would only hurt themselves.
Even if they did engage, they often released interviews lecturing the young one.
Dealing with those kinds of people naturally sapped my motivation.
But the St. Pauli manager was on a different level from those old-timers.
He countered provocation with provocation and sharply jabbed at the relationship between me and Thomas Tuchel.
Unless it was a twin-headed ogre, no team could have two heads.
Later, Leverkusen tried a co-manager system, but it exposed various issues and ended with one manager leaving the team.
Union Berlin wasn't much different from Leverkusen.
Because of Thomas Tuchel's famously prickly personality, I was the one managing the squad.
Union Berlin could be seen as having a co-manager system in its own way.
From the St. Pauli manager's interview, I instinctively realized.
'This guy's a lot like me.'
Anyone could see he was trying to drive a wedge between me and Thomas Tuchel.
They say there's such a thing as kin slaying in this world, but for me, the joy outweighed any disgust.
No manager had put up a fight like the St. Pauli one until now.
My heart pounded wildly, and the little kid inside me cheered and started running backwards.
'Oh? Van Persie and Adebayor are both at Arsenal.'
Anyway, since St. Pauli had sent a nice gift, it was my turn to return the favor.
[St. Pauli Manager: 'Park Chan-hyuk should quit playing deputy and secure his own rice bowl now....']
[St. Pauli Manager: 'There will be no growth as long as he doesn't escape Thomas Tuchel's shadow.']
To live up to Yannik Feith's expectant gaze shining brightly at me, I quietly picked up the phone and contacted a media outlet I'd grown close to lately.
***
[Off-Field War of Words in the 3. Liga Captivates Soccer Fans.]
St. Pauli's manager fired back at Park Chan-hyuk's provocation, heating things up in an instant.
Though it was the 3. Liga, it was a clash between the 1st and 2nd place teams. Their war of words was enough to draw media attention.
It must have been an irresistible temptation for the press.
[St. Pauli Manager Holger Stanislawski Mocks Assistant Coach Park Chan-hyuk: 'Since he's young, managing an 8th division team would be good experience.']
[Assistant Coach Park Chan-hyuk to Holger Stanislawski.... 'Must be nice being old.']
└ Anyone summarize these two's interviews?
└ St. Pauli manager: A rookie like you is perfect for the 8th division.
└ Park Chan-hyuk: You're so old and still just managing a 3rd division team?
└ Pretty much that vibe.
Two grown adults ditching dignity to bicker childishly—if the media didn't run with it, they'd be unfit as journalists.
And the reactions from Union Berlin and St. Pauli weren't bad either. For lower-league teams, even this bit of attention was something to be grateful for.
If it got excessive, there could be image issues for the clubs, but lower-league teams were too hungry for that to care.
The harsh winter of financial crisis that hit Union Berlin was just two years ago. The wounds from the squad nearly disbanding and staff being laid off hadn't healed yet.
Lower-league clubs never knew when they might collapse. Especially now, with the country's economy struggling, it was like walking a knife's edge of bankruptcy every day.
As the economy grew, the German government celebrated reform successes, but oddly, life for ordinary people seemed harder.
Union Berlin's fan-friendly nature made it feel even more stark.
Anyway.
Thanks to the recent buzz, the Union Berlin vs. St. Pauli match was confirmed for national broadcast, and both teams were expected to rake in decent revenue just from that.
A win-win situation for everyone.
[Thomas Tuchel: "Don't drag me into this idiotic fight."]
Except for Thomas Tuchel, who was suddenly pulled into the two men's spat and expressed displeasure.
[St. Pauli Manager Follows Assistant Coach Shot with Manager Shot? 'Thomas Tuchel? Doesn't he get overhyped...?']
[St. Pauli Manager: 'An assistant coach running wild under the manager points to Tuchel's leadership issues.']
Stung by the word "idiot," the St. Pauli manager suddenly turned his sights on Thomas Tuchel.
'Provoking a personality wreck like Tuchel? That guy's got guts.'
Park Chan-hyuk quietly admired the St. Pauli manager for taking on Thomas Tuchel.
And a few days later.
'I can't lose either.'
Burning with rivalry toward the St. Pauli manager, Park Chan-hyuk released a new interview.
[Park Chan-hyuk, Internal Sniping? Toward Thomas Tuchel.... 'Tuchel has a bit of a stingy side.']
[Thomas Tuchel Furious at Park Chan-hyuk's Stingy Remark.]
***
'Chilly.'
With Union Berlin's finances somewhat stabilized, scout Schmitz Lewandowski—who had returned to the club—let out a quiet sigh in the office shrouded in icy silence.
Even he, who was often out on scouting trips, could feel how razor-thin the tension in the club had become lately.
'How did it come to this?'
It all started with Park Chan-hyuk's interview.
The unprecedented event of the team's assistant coach publicly sniping the manager through the media had occurred at Union Berlin.
Thomas Tuchel, who had always been lenient with Park Chan-hyuk, unusually voiced strong dissatisfaction, and the club's atmosphere froze solid in an instant.
'If this goes wrong, I might get fired right after coming back.'
Since those two had practically rebuilt crumbling Union Berlin, he naturally worried if their falling out might lead to the club's downfall.
'Huh? Why are those two smiling?'
His eyes, sleepless from daily worries about the club, caught sight of Thomas Tuchel and Park Chan-hyuk chatting amiably and bursting into laughter.
He could only stand there blankly for a while.
***
After I provoked Thomas Tuchel in the media, Union Berlin's atmosphere shattered. It got so bad that even president Dirk Zingler contacted me to ask what was going on.
- Trust me, no doubts.
- No, explain what's happening.
- Shh. Knowing more will hurt you.
I messaged Dirk Zingler not to worry.
And it really wasn't something to worry about.
My relationship with Thomas Tuchel hadn't soured after the interview.
Tuchel's media outburst of anger was all an act.
The St. Pauli manager's intent to split us was crystal clear in his interview—falling for it would make us fools.
I thought we'd turn the tables on the St. Pauli manager's ploy instead, and Thomas Tuchel and I decided to play along with his clumsy scheme.
Well, rookie manager Tuchel opposed such sneaky wins at first, but I pushed hard.
'Yeah, winning is all that matters.'
Maybe it was the difference between someone on the orthodox path and someone who crawled up from the bottom.
'Acting manager days definitely drilled that "win first, worry later" mindset into me.'
Anyway.
'By now, the St. Pauli manager must be panicking, right?'
Even he probably hadn't expected his interview to work.
He must be desperately holding back laughter, thinking our conflict was a lucky break.
'Yeah, laugh it up while you can.'
I looked forward to his face when he entered the stadium beaming with hope, only to see Tuchel and me arm-in-arm all buddy-buddy.
And a few days later.
Match day between Union Berlin and St. Pauli arrived.