Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: vs Bayern Munich -2
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***
The day of the DFB-Pokal quarterfinal match against Bayern Munich.
“Dem Morgengrauen entgegen, ziehn wir gegen den Wind.”
(Toward the dawn, we march against the wind.)
“Wir werden alles zerlegen, bis wir Deutscher Meister sind.”
(We’ll smash everything in our path until we become German champions.)
The temporary stadium Union Berlin was using was packed with Union Berlin fans.
The current venue was larger than their usual one.
Thanks to Union Berlin’s strong performances in the 2. Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, they’d managed to fill it to capacity without issue.
And among the crowd were families who’d come just to catch a glimpse of the top-flight powerhouse Bayern Munich.
“Thomas—!!”
Union Berlin fans warmly welcomed Thomas Tuchel, who’d returned to his old stomping grounds(?).
Sure, he’d left for Bayern Munich right as the team was hitting rough waters with their promotion to the 2. Bundesliga.
But Tuchel had swooped in like a comet during the team’s darkest hour and led them all the way to the second division.
Even Park Chan-hyuk, the current Union Berlin manager, had stayed behind when he left, so it was only natural for the fans to feel grateful toward him.
If Union Berlin had struggled after his departure, the fans might’ve booed him.
But Union Berlin had kept topping the 2. Bundesliga table even after he left.
There was no reason for the fans to jeer Thomas Tuchel.
Clap, clap—.
Thomas Tuchel returned the standing ovation from the Union Berlin fans with applause of his own, offering his thanks that way.
“Thomas!”
While the players warmed up on the pitch, Park Chan-hyuk approached and exchanged greetings with him.
“Look over there! Chan-hyuk’s talking to Thomas!”
“They’ve gotta be deep in tactical discussions.”
Fans of both Union Berlin and Bayern Munich watched intently as the two men conversed with serious expressions.
“Just go easy on us this once.”
“Are you asking me to throw the match right now?”
“Come on, they even gave you a standing ovation.”
“Can’t do that. We’ll repay them with a great game.”
No one could’ve imagined the childish banter between Thomas Tuchel and Park Chan-hyuk.
***
I looked at the players before the match kicked off.
‘The team’s way too scared.’
I could see how stiff and tense they all were.
We’d already run the Thomas Tuchel demotion campaign once before… not Stalin, Thomas Tuchel.
I racked my brain desperately for a way to shake off their fear.
‘…Maybe I should rile them up instead.’
Thinking it was a solid idea, I jumped right into action.
“Everyone, forget about winning or losing.”
The players looked thrown by my words.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You said we have to win no matter what, boss.”
“I realized we can’t beat them for sure. It’s ‘that’ Bayern Munich we’re up against.”
Yannick Peitz’s gaze turned icy.
“…So what’re you trying to say?”
His eyes screamed suspicion that I was up to something weird again.
‘…This is why I hate sharp kids.’
Pretending I had no idea, I kept going.
“Nah, even if we go all out, we’re not winning, so let’s just have some fun out there.”
“…….”
The mood chilled in an instant.
But I didn’t stop—I kept poking at them.
No backing down now, or it’d all be for nothing.
“Honestly, if I weren’t the manager, I’d bet my life savings on Bayern Munich winning.”
“Man, that’s a sure thing.”
As I kept needling them,
Yannick Peitz finally snapped and pointed at me.
“…Grab that bastard, I mean, the boss.”
Yeah… I ended up getting grabbed by the furious players and roughed up a bit.
“Fuck that! Who the hell do those Bayern Munich pricks think they are? Don’t pussy out—just play like we always do! We play our soccer! Let’s gooooo—!”
“Let’s gooooo—!”
I threw myself into the fire, successfully firing up the players who’d been trembling in fear before kickoff.
It only worked because I knew Union Berlin players’ personalities inside out.
***
As kickoff approached, the players headed out onto the pitch with the referee.
“Let’s have a good game.”
“Yeah. No cheap shots—keep it fair play.”
“…You’re one to talk.”
I shook hands lightly with Thomas Tuchel and returned to the Union Berlin bench.
‘Man, no mercy—he’s really going full strength.’
Well, before the game,
We’d chatted enough already, so nothing more to say.
We talked on the phone every now and then anyway.
‘That said, judging by the irritation in his eyes, that article’s probably legit.’
I recalled Thomas Tuchel’s expression and the headline from an article I’d read a few days back.
News had broken about tensions between Tuchel and Bayern Munich’s brass.
[Bayern Munich: “Thomas Tuchel is the greatest manager in Munich history.”]
[Thomas Tuchel: “It’s all rumors. I won’t answer questions unrelated to the next match.”]
Bayern Munich and Tuchel had denied it,
But seeing Tuchel today, it looked true.
[Bayern Munich legends unhappy… “Tuchel is destroying Munich’s traditions.”]
When I first heard, it felt like the powder keg had finally blown.
Bayern Munich was infamous for its meddlesome legends.
With Tuchel’s personality—he wanted full control—conflict was inevitable.
Sure, he’d mellowed a bit spending time with me compared to his original timeline.
But he still had that fiery temper.
[Bayern Munich staff heard Tuchel yelling from the director’s office…]
Anyway, interfering with the manager’s lineup choices—even for club legends—was way over the line.
‘I wouldn’t put up with that either.’
For the record, that’s why I never eyed the national team job.
If I took it, the association would pressure me on player selections for sure.
‘No need to walk into a shitstorm.’
Soccer associations bend to public opinion on anything not tied to their rice bowls.
That’s why national team managers get sacked on whims.
I wasn’t mainstream in Korean soccer, so if I became South Korea manager, I’d get yanked before doing jack shit.
Unless I got full authority like Hiddink in the 2002 World Cup.
I’d sworn off even looking at the national team gig.
‘Soccer’s mainstream is Europe anyway….’
Even in a future where the world goes wild for K-culture, that wouldn’t change much.
Anyway.
Back on track: Union Berlin, who’d never even reached the Bundesliga, had no locker-room legends with real sway.
Sure, they had players called legends, but their influence was way weaker than at other clubs.
Unlike Bayern Munich, drowning in perks and power, Union Berlin was broke—legends would just get exploited for unpaid labor if they stuck around.
‘…Come to think of it, if we had Munich-style legends, I’d never have even been named assistant coach.’
The team’s icons would’ve shot down an Asian hire first.
Yeah. Without Union Berlin’s finances and Tuchel’s arrival lining up just right, even assistant coach was a pipe dream.
Landing here was pure luck.
‘Been pretty fortunate all around.’
Maybe a perk of a lower-league wanderer club.
Sure, lacking star legends felt a bit empty, but no big deal.
‘Legends? I’ll… no, we’ll write our own.’
The guys playing today could become those legends someday.
And Daniel Teixeira next to me was already one for Union Berlin.
Anyway.
The rift between Bayern’s brass and Tuchel was great for Union Berlin.
Their squad had to be rattled with the manager and board at odds.
“Guys, let’s make some legend today!”
I yelled from the touchline at the Union Berlin players.
Dreaming sweet dreams of toppling Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and reaching the semis.
But moments later.
Splash—.
I blinked, and we were already down a goal.
“…A glitch?”
Bayern Munich truly was the Bundesliga’s nightmare.
***