Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Baby Formula Buff
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Baby Formula Buff.
***
“GOOOOOOAL—! It’s in!”
Late into the night in Korea, Union Berlin’s match was being broadcast.
At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say SBK Sports was being kept afloat by Union Berlin. They’d lost the Premier League broadcast rights to another station and hit the jackpot otherwise.
[Park Chan-hyuk Becomes Manager and Largest Shareholder of Union Berlin…]
└ Whoa, for real? It’s basically a Korean club now?
└ Is this legit?
└ Article’s out, so probably real.
└ But why isn’t he taking the chairman position?
└ Says he’s insanely busy just with managing.
And just a few days ago, news that Park Chan-hyuk had become Union Berlin’s largest shareholder had the whole nation buzzing. They figured it’d make overseas transfers for Korean soccer players a bit easier.
Well. Not entirely wrong.
Park Chan-hyuk was planning to bring over some talented Korean players again in the next preseason.
Anyway.
“Timo Breitner’s opener! Timo Breitner lights up Union Berlin’s chances of victory!”
Even at this late hour, the broadcasters’ voices brimmed with energy.
‘Is Union Berlin buying us dinner? Hell, they’re buying us steak too.’
To the broadcast team, Union Berlin wasn’t just a team that fed them—it was one that treated them to meat.
The station was prepping a variety show centered on Union Berlin, and contracts for the commentators and casters to appear were already locked in.
Commentating was a tough gig, high stress for the workload.
Especially for non-regular commentators, who earned far less than the stars.
That’s why, down the line, most would end up running their own YouTube channels.
“Just now, that was Daniel Teixeira, the coach who chatted with Manager Park Chan-hyuk? The one who joined in on Son Heung-min’s debut goal celebration.”
“Yes, that’s right. He dedicated himself as a player for Union Berlin until last season, and from this season, he’s working as Manager Park Chan-hyuk’s right-hand man.”
The commentator poured his heart into it, unwilling to miss out on the Union Berlin honey pot.
- Kyaa lol, reliable commentator as always.
- …Daniel Teixeira was a Union Berlin player until last season.
- Newbie influx lol.
Still, the present beat the future.
Info exchange was limited back then, and overseas soccer was just starting to boom.
Once fans dug up legends’ names online, headaches ensued.
- But what’s that on Park Chan-hyuk’s wrist? Handcuffs?
- Lmao
- World’s first handcuffed manager ㄷㄷ
While fans watching Union Berlin’s game joked around online.
“Lewandowski! He’s smashed it!”
“The ball goes straight to Son Heung-min! Son Heung-min! GOOOOOOAL—! Son Heung-min’s third league goal!”
Union Berlin nailed the dagger goal, utterly shattering FC Carl Zeiss Jena’s morale.
***
After Son Heung-min’s follow-up, the match was completely tilted.
FC Carl Zeiss Jena couldn’t even dream of pushing up the line, getting pummeled in their own half.
Even without Yannick Foite, Union Berlin dominated purely in physicality. Vice-captain Marcus Matzke was stepping up in Yannick’s place, steadily rallying the players.
‘Honestly, Matzke has a bit more captain vibe than Yannick.’
But Yannick crushed it in symbolism and loyalty for the club.
Yannick had stayed when 2nd and 1st division clubs came calling, back in Union Berlin’s 3rd division days.
Well. Marcus Matzke might’ve felt a twinge at not getting the armband, but he didn’t show it.
If anything, he seemed to accept Yannick as captain.
“Marcus, nice pass!”
From the bench, I gave a thumbs-up with my left hand, and Marcus Matzke grinned and nodded.
…Yeah, I must look pretty ridiculous right now.
‘Man, these reporters are getting on my last nerve.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly, recalling the recent media harassment.
[Just before the FC Carl Zeiss Jena match, ace Yannick Foite suddenly takes leave…]
Ahead of the FC Carl Zeiss Jena game, sending the team’s ace Yannick Foite on sudden leave had sparked tons of talk, but I’d dismissed all concerns outright.
[Manager Park Chan-hyuk Denies Yannick Foite Transfer Rumors and Rift…. “No rift possible. Yannick and I are like blood brothers.”]
But one interview didn’t erase all doubts.
[Union Berlin Captain Yannick Foite Heading to Spanish Club?]
[Yannick Foite Visited Manager’s Office Before Leave, Witnesses Say…]
└ Isn’t consulting the manager standard for leave?
└ Yeah, ghosting without a word would be the real issue;;
The press kept dredging up suspicions about me and Yannick Foite.
[Yannick Foite! Leaving Team Over Manager Park Chan-hyuk’s Habitual Celebration Theft?]
- Why does this sound plausible?
- Korean reporters at it again.
- It’s a translated local article.
- Germany got trash reporters too?
- Humans gonna human.
Fans voiced worries too, but I’d never breathe a word about Yannick Foite’s girlfriend being pregnant.
I couldn’t throw a player under the bus to save my own skin.
A manager was the captain steering the Union Berlin ship.
That meant the good and the bad.
‘Screw up, and you get mutinied right off the plank.’
Fail to win players’ hearts, and the club boots you eventually.
‘Like Mourinho, or Mourinho, or Mourinho.’
Couldn’t go full old-school on everyone like Mourinho. Had to read personalities like Alex Ferguson, tailor approaches per player.
‘Wonder if Yannick’s having a good vacation with his girl.’
Thinking of Yannick Foite off with his girlfriend made my side ache oddly—not imagination.
‘Damn, all I’ve got around me are these burly dudes….’
***
Meanwhile, at that moment.
Yannick Foite was enjoying a blissful day with his girlfriend.
Everything made her light up so cutely.
Yannick Foite was gripped by the thought he couldn’t lose her.
‘No one but Anna for me.’
That evening, Yannick Foite proposed.
“Will you marry me?”
They promised to wed as soon as the season ended.
***
The Union Berlin vs. FC Carl Zeiss Jena match ended.
Roberto Lewandowski added one right before the whistle.
Every starter in the attack line had scored.
Roberto Lewandowski, with 1 goal and 2 assists, took Man of the Match.
He answered every question earnestly.
“Recently, about Manager Park Chan-hyuk and Yannick Foite’s….”
“Sorry, Yannick will speak on that later.”
But he dodged anything Yannick-related.
He’d stay silent until Yannick told the fans about the pregnancy himself.
In the end, Yannick Foite’s secret never leaked beyond Union Berlin.
***
[Union Berlin Crushes FC Carl Zeiss Jena 3-0.]
[Union Berlin Rises to 2nd in League, Locked in Tight Title Race…]
└ They’re going up to the top flight like this?
└ Back-to-back-to-back promotion arc insane ㄷㄷ
└ Where’re the ones saying Union Berlin would tank without Thomas Tuchel lol
└ Nah~ Reality’s top-flight promotion looking likely.
[Lewandowski Perfectly Fills Yannick Foite’s Void.]
[Silent on Yannick Foite Transfer Rumors.]
[Yannick Foite Returns After Short Leave.]
[On Yannick Foite Transfer Rumors…. “I’ll Answer with Play in the Next Match.”]
└ He really leaving?
└ Nah, “answer with play” means he’s staying.
***
Time flew, and Yannick Foite returned from leave.
“Yannick, your eyes look sharper.”
“Not just baby formula money—gotta earn for diapers too.”
Back when Union Berlin scraped by in the fourth tier due to financial woes.
Yannick Foite had busted his ass to meet Park Chan-hyuk’s expectations, but keeping that fire forever was tough. Humans slack off eventually.
“How’s the condition?”
“Good enough to play right now!”
But the Yannick Foite back from vacation was a new man.
[Name: Yannick Foite]
Current Ability: ★★★★★ (Temporary)
Potential: ★★★★★
One-Liner: Mental stats massively boosted temporarily.
Park Chan-hyuk checked Yannick Foite’s Status Window and nodded.
‘…Maybe the others should get married too.’
It was the moment Park Chan-hyuk realized the Baby Formula Buff—twin peak of buffs alongside the Marriage Exemption Buff.