Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: vs Borussia Dortmund II -1
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***
A few days after the Christmas event, the winter transfer window opened.
It was the time when the board of directors got truly busy.
To make the most of the tight schedule, they continued discussions late into the night.
"Sell Yannick? Are you serious?"
"No, I'm just saying we should at least review the offers."
While the board engaged in heated debate, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
*Who am I? And where am I now?*
I hadn't chosen to attend this meeting.
- Madman: Come out.
- Me: Come out where?
- Madman: Come out front of your house right now.
Thomas Tuchel had dragged me here from home, where I'd been resting. He needed someone to soften and relay his opinions.
*Why hasn't the porcelain doll cherished by Chairman Dirk Zingler been shattered yet?*
From the atmosphere in the meeting room, it looked like fights had already broken out several times.
Still, getting away with breaking the chairman's favorite porcelain... Was it Tuchel's irreplaceable talent or Chairman Zingler's immense patience? I pondered seriously.
*Both are impressive.*
The conclusion was simple.
Anyway.
Chairman Dirk Zingler's face was red like an erupting volcano.
After checking the transfer proposals, I tried to lighten the mood with a casual remark.
"There sure are a lot of love calls for Yannick."
"It's safe to say we've gotten offers for nearly every player, not just Yannick."
Chairman Zingler sighed lightly to calm his anger before responding.
*Well... that's to be expected.*
Union Berlin would be an appealing target for higher-league teams in many ways.
We were leading the Regionalliga, which proved our squad's quality.
On top of that, Union Berlin's poor finances were well-known. Players' weekly wages barely reached the league average.
Double their current salary, and anyone would waver. Back when I was a manager in the Korean league, a rival team offered double my salary, and I nearly shouted "thank you" on the spot.
Fan backlash and my club matching the offer prevented the move, but I'd been halfway out the door mentally.
The best way to prevent transfers was to raise wages, like my past team did.
*But our finances aren't good enough for that yet.*
Unfortunately, Union Berlin's financial situation remained dire. They couldn't even renovate their home stadium, Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
During the meeting, someone seriously suggested considering selling Yannick Feith.
The calculation was probably that selling him would protect the others.
But that was a bad call.
- Chan-hyuk, take care of the other players besides me.
- What about you? Honestly, you're underpaid for your performance.
- When we get promoted to the Bundesliga, you can pay me more then. My current wage is plenty. I'm not even married. Give a bit more to that guy expecting a baby next year.
Considering Yannick's influence on the squad, selling him would be the worst choice.
Naturally, I opposed it strongly. Unless the player himself wanted to leave, selling Yannick was the absolute worst move.
*Well, if he wants to go, we'd have to let him.*
That was the reward I could give Yannick Feith so far.
Clinging desperately to players who want out creates a bad reputation, making it hard to sign new ones.
For a poor club like Union Berlin, that image was detrimental in many ways.
*We need to be a club players want to join, not one they avoid.*
Anyway.
Yannick said he was satisfied with his wage, but he was human—he could waver. The offers for him were surprising even to me.
"Wow, this one's from Mainz for Yannick."
"Mainz? Isn't that a top-flight club?"
As I recalled, it was the season Jürgen Klopp managed Mainz. They got relegated this season and failed promotion next, leading to Klopp's departure.
*If things go well, we might see a Tuchel vs. Klopp matchup in the 2. Bundesliga.*
Anyway, as Tuchel and I turned to him, director Jörg Heinrich nodded grimly.
"They're in the relegation battle, so they're desperate. The offer's better than expected."
"Damn... top flight..."
We were speechless for a while.
"...We should tell the player. Keeping it secret might hurt his feelings unnecessarily."
"Yeah."
Clubs don't have to disclose transfer offers to players.
But hiding them often erodes trust, leading to downing tools and cheap transfers—common enough.
Yannick wasn't that type, but the club needed to show respect for his choice.
Relationships where one side always sacrifices eventually sour.
The next afternoon,
We called Yannick Feith to the club for a talk.
We'd prepared materials to convince him to stay, but they proved useless.
"I'm not going. I'm staying. I told Leon we'd lift the trophy together—how could I leave? That'd be embarrassing."
Yannick declared firmly without even hearing Mainz's terms or our pitch.
Having resolved Union Berlin's biggest issue, we quickly handled the other transfers.
"We wouldn't kick you out."
"That's the only way I'd leave."
Fortunately, few players wanted out.
Some were unhappy with playing time, sure.
But most were quite satisfied with Union Berlin.
"Honestly, the low dissatisfaction among players is thanks to Chan-hyuk."
Flattered by Director Heinrich, I glanced nervously at Tuchel. It could sound like players followed me more than the manager.
"I trust and rely on Chan-hyuk too."
But Tuchel seemed unfazed.
"Why not seriously consider director?" Chairman Zingler smiled, proposing it again. Director Heinrich grinned too.
"If you say yes, I'll vacate the seat right now."
"Nah, no thanks."
We parted laughing, and I rode home in Tuchel's car.
I'd been kidnapped suddenly and spent two sleepless nights.
Entering early morning, everyone was asleep.
I quietly slipped into my little sister's room.
"Ungh... What? Who's there?"
"Water."
I woke her sleeping form to fetch water.
"...You crazy bastard!"
Grumbling, she went for the water. I nodded watching her.
*She actually gets up for this.*
***
Winter break ended, and with the league resumption nearing,
Union Berlin gathered the players ahead of opening match.
To check their condition.
*No one looks out of shape, thankfully.*
No one had gained weight from poor diet management.
Before this season, Tuchel and I had stressed diet's importance.
We demanded high professionalism again this season, boosting fitness through strict diets.
Most players unhappy with Tuchel pre-season were gone, so backlash was minimal.
The remainders were those pursuing self-improvement.
New signings struggled to adapt, coming from non-pro lifestyles.
But Union Berlin's newcomers soon acknowledged the diet's benefits.
Even during winter break, players followed it voluntarily.
Tuchel was pleased with training in peak condition.
Days later.
[Thomas Tuchel to Korean reporter asking in German: "Sorry, but speak English. I can't understand your German pronunciation."]
The second half of the Regionalliga season began for Union Berlin.
[Assistant Coach Park Chan-hyuk provokes rivals Dortmund? "My childhood dream was beekeeping."]
Union Berlin's first second-half opponent was Borussia Dortmund II.
***