Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: vs Bayern Munich -3
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***
[GOOOAAAL—! Franck Ribéry strikes first! Bayern Munich takes the lead by one goal!]
[Union Berlin concedes right from the kickoff.]
[Oh! Manager Park Chan-hyuk looks dejected, but it's still early days. Plenty of time left in the match!]
└ Wow, what a clean shot;;
└ Fr, right into the corner of the net.
└ They're too strong….ㅠㅠ
└ Should've parked the bus Mourinho-style, right?
└ Lol true;; Chan-hyuk's got that genius coach curse. Going aggressive against Munich.
***
Franck Ribéry's shot ripped straight through Union Berlin's net.
It was a fantastical trajectory that even Manuel Neuer, famed for his reflexes, couldn't stop.
The moment Union Berlin conceded so futilely.
I wondered if I should've dropped the line and gone defensive.
'No.'
I shook my head immediately, steeling my weakening resolve.
My goal was Champions League glory.
To win the Champions League, I had to beat monsters like this.
That was the only way to lift the Big Ears Trophy.
'Porto's Champions League win under Mourinho suddenly seems insane.'
He'd be mocked as a has-been manager later, but right now, no one could deny he was the world's best.
'How the hell did he pull that off?'
I stared out at the pitch, lost in thought.
Even a thrashing today wouldn't matter.
The experience of clashing head-on with Bayern Munich was invaluable.
'Still, it'd be better to win than just chalk it up to experience.'
Truth be told, I never dreamed Bayern Munich wouldn't get complacent like this.
In cups like the Pokal, it was common sense to rotate the 1.5 squad against lower-league sides.
'Maybe it's because they mocked my bald head in preseason…'
Looks like Thomas Tuchel had come out swinging.
"It's okay! Plenty of time left! Hold your positions!"
From the touchline, I clapped and encouraged the players.
I could see their morale plummeting visibly.
Truth be told, even I felt intimidated just looking at Bayern's lineup.
'Franck Ribéry, Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Hamit Altintop, Oliver Kahn…'
Stuttgart's squad was intimidating enough, but Bayern Munich's made your breath catch.
Bayern, who'd lost the league title to Stuttgart last season, had gone on a spending spree in the summer window.
They'd signed Franck Ribéry, Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose, and more.
Even in preseason, these new signings played like they'd been there forever.
That said, history was diverging more and more since my return.
In the original timeline, Bayern finished fourth and dropped to the UEFA Cup, but last season they took third and snagged Champions League spots.
Well, a Bundesliga table shake-up made sense.
I'd influenced the soccer world more than I thought since returning.
Honestly, as long as Bayern didn't get relegated to the second division out of nowhere, it all tracked.
'Not just me—my little sister's been stirring things up too since the return.'
Anyway.
I rallied the players once more.
What mattered now was.
"Stay focused! The key is not to break!"
Don't waver against the opponent—play the soccer we'd prepared.
***
Thomas Tuchel watched Park Chan-hyuk encouraging his players from the touchline, impressed.
As Park Chan-hyuk spoke, the players' frozen expressions from the early goal softened.
Proof of how much trust they had in their manager.
"He's become a fine manager."
I'd thought he was too sentimental back when we worked together, but in hindsight, that was a strength too.
Union Berlin's players were running themselves ragged following Park Chan-hyuk's orders.
Maybe there were other reasons for their desperation.
But one thing was certain: when Park Chan-hyuk gave an instruction, they'd charge without a second thought or doubt.
That was the bond between Park Chan-hyuk and his Union Berlin squad.
Even with an early goal, Tuchel stayed vigilant.
Teams like Union Berlin could turn it around anytime.
Tuchel demanded his Munich players keep their focus.
And soon after.
Around the 20th minute, Union Berlin began their comeback.
[Yannick Foigt's fierce press! He's won it back!]
Union Berlin's counter started at Yannick Foigt's feet.
***
'Is this really Bayern Munich? No joke…'
Yannick Foigt could barely keep up with Bayern's relentless attacks.
"It's okay! Plenty of time left! Hold your positions!"
If not for Park Chan-hyuk's timely shout, Union Berlin's spirit might've crumbled.
Union Berlin quickly reformed their defensive line, and as it stabilized.
Slowly, momentum shifted toward Union Berlin.
Yannick Foigt dropped below the halfway line and stole the ball.
He passed it to Marcus Matzeke, then sprinted forward.
As Yannick Foigt charged toward the penalty area.
The ball went through Lewandowski to Son Heung-min.
"Block it!"
Son Heung-min, with the ball at his feet, unleashed a shot from what would later be called the Hongmin Zone.
Clang—.
"Ahh…!"
Union Berlin's home fans clutched their heads in regret.
"─!!!"
But the first to react was.
Thud.
Union Berlin's captain, Yannick Foigt.
Yannick Foigt calmly slotted the rebound into the net.
Splash—!
The equalizer.
"J, Jaaaaa—!"
Moments later, the home crowd's roar erupted.
In that instant, Union Berlin fans believed.
They could take down Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich today.
***
For a split second, I seriously considered it.
'Should I provoke them and get sent off together?'
The so-called 'strategic red card.'
But if I left Union Berlin now, it'd be too disadvantageous.
I knew full well how much the players relied on me.
In this situation, losing the manager would shake Union Berlin more than Bayern.
And above all.
Getting sent off in a match like this didn't sit right.
This game meant more than just another fixture to me.
And who knew when I'd face Tuchel again if not today.
'From the vibes, that guy's getting sacked soon.'
Anyway.
As I pondered my celebration.
"Get your heads in the game, you bastards!"
Bayern Munich's onslaught began, sparked by Oliver Kahn's fury at the concession.
***
The first half ended in a draw.
After our equalizer, Bayern hammered us relentlessly.
"Listen up while you rest."
In the locker room, I saw the players breathing hard and kept my tactical talk brief.
No major changes from the first half.
I'd decided to trust the players and go for it till the end.
"Tough opponent, but isn't it fun? You lot."
Even exhausted, the players laughed at my words.
Laughing in agreement.
Then the second half kicked off.
We hit Bayern hard from the start.
"Oh! How did that not go in!"
Without Oliver Kahn's insane save, we might've seized control.
But stamina faded, and the game tilted toward Bayern.
Union Berlin couldn't overcome Bayern's class.
At the 22nd minute of the second half.
We conceded again to Klose, then unraveled quickly.
"Good job!!!"
"You were the best, you bastards—heads up!"
The final whistle blew, and Union Berlin fans' applause filled the stadium.
Comfort and encouragement for the players who'd given everything.
Sure, falling out of the DFB-Pokal stung, but we'd left it all on the pitch against Bayern Munich.
I comforted the players and led them to the locker room.
It was what a manager had to do.
***
The locker room after the Bayern loss was heavy.
Regret etched deep on the players' faces.
If only we'd done a bit better, run a bit harder…
It was thick in the air.
"Good work, everyone."
I clapped for them in the locker room.
You couldn't win every time.
What mattered was what we learned from defeat.
And the emotions it stirred.
'As long as we don't take losing for granted.'
I believed we'd become a better team today.
"Let's give a farewell to the Bayern bastards who beat us and advanced to the semis."
I deliberately lightened the mood.
No need to mope over one loss.
"You Munich pricks!"
I potato-fisted the locker room door.
"Eat shit!"
Right then, Thomas Tuchel knocked and walked in.
"……."
"……When are you lowering that hand?"
I met Tuchel's awkward gaze.
……Well, at least laughter bloomed in Union Berlin's locker room.