Chapter 39
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Wembley Rocks Twice
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[Blackburn Rovers Win the ‘Worthington Cup’!]
[Jack Walker and Lee Dae-hyun Lift the Trophy: Blackburn’s Past, Present, and Future United.]
[After League Cup Glory, Blackburn Vows: ‘We’ll Return to Wembley.’ FA Cup Next on the Horizon.]
[Club Owner Lee Dae-hyun Secures First Trophy Since Taking Over Blackburn.]
[Foreign Owners Storming the Premier League? Egypt’s Al-Fayed Eyes Promotion, Korea’s Lee Dae-hyun Claims Worthington Cup.]
After the flood of British media coverage, I checked the Korean internet news as well.
[‘Proud of Yoo Sung-chul!’ Lifting the Trophy at Wembley.]
[Subbed-On Yoo Sung-chul Helps Blackburn Rovers Win English League Cup.]
[National Team Coach Huh Jung-moo: ‘Heartfelt Congratulations to Yoo Sung-chul—He’ll Be the Ace of the 2002 World Cup.’]
[Japan’s Nakata Conquers Italy? Korea Has Premier League Star Yoo Sung-chul!]
“The photos came out great. And those headlines are pure clickbait.”
“Headquarters says the group’s stock prices have skyrocketed. Especially in sports apparel, distribution, and telecom—the CFs are reaping massive rewards.”
Park the Section Chief’s words reaffirmed it: sports marketing is the ultimate cheat code in business.
“Expect a big bonus at year-end next year. You’ve handled both trading and soccer— I’ll make sure it reflects that.”
“Thank you, Vice Chairman.”
The overseas staff’s enthusiasm was palpable, despite the grueling workload. It wasn’t even a burden anymore.
As I smiled and tidied my desk, one newspaper article caught my eye.
[Kenny Dalglish: ‘No Renewal Next Season?’ Celtic Links Surface.]
[Blackburn Rovers: Who’s the Manager for Next Season?]
Time to start preparing everything, one by one.
Building on the EFL Cup triumph, we challenged the league with that momentum, but we slipped more often as the season wore on.
Fueled by Wembley’s winning vibes from our London trip, the next away game was at Stamford Bridge—and we lost 3-2.
Chelsea had been unbeaten against us in the league for 15 years. It was a massive shock, leading to days of Chelsea taunts splashed across the press.
And in the midst of it... Kevin Phillips scored two more.
[Kevin Phillips Breaks 25 Goals!]
[Second-Tier Cinderella Striker Towers Over Alan Shearer and Michael Owen—European Golden Shoe in Sight.]
[Kevin Phillips: The Key to Blackburn’s Season.]
He dominated Blackburn’s jersey sales and was even being touted for England duty.
The league was a rollercoaster of wins and losses. Dalglish and the squad squeezed every drop till the end, but Man United, Arsenal, and Leeds formed an unbeatable top three. Meanwhile, we beat Charlton in the FA Cup semis to reach the final.
For this season’s league, we’d wrap it up strong. All that remained was the FA Cup final.
[‘Signing Sutton Was My Mistake. We Paid Blackburn £10 Million for a Player Who’s Scored Once in 28 Games—a Total Dud.’]
On TV, Chelsea chairman Ken Bates unleashed a tirade about the Sutton transfer.
Who held a knife to his throat forcing the deal? Or sweet-talked him that Sutton would be top scorer?
[Chairman Bates, Is This Pre-Final Jab at Chris Sutton Aimed at Mr. Lee?]
[Of Course. I Won’t Forget This Grudge. For Scamming Me, We’ll Take the FA Cup.]
Chelsea, led by Zola and George Weah, were determined not to end trophyless. Trailing us in the league only fueled their rage.
£10 million for Sutton? We’d smartly bolstered our squad instead.
Soon, interview requests poured in for me too.
“Mr. Lee, Ken Bates says he won’t let the Sutton deal slide.”
“I don’t get why he’s blaming me for his tactical failures. Chelsea approached us first.”
The reporters scribbled eagerly.
“Calling it a scam? Players aren’t products. That’s an insult to Sutton. If the player’s the issue, fire the coach.”
Sutton’s 1 goal in 20 games stung for a former EPL Golden Boot winner. But that was Bates’ choice.
“Anyway, let’s talk about our team. After the League Cup, the FA Cup is ours too. Write it now: Blackburn completes the Double this season!”
“But you lost to Chelsea in the league recently?”
“That was their home. Neutral Wembley? We win by 100.”
Chelsea was a tough foe.
League was unpredictable, but cups? We had confidence.
Wembley Stadium.
Ahead of the old Wembley’s demolition, 79,000 fans packed the stands—no standing room.
Chelsea’s “Blue Is the Colour” clashed fiercely with Blackburn’s “The Wild Rovers.”
Both teams in blue ironically. We wore the home blues; Chelsea, white away kits.
Last League Cup final’s SBC special drew 30% ratings, topping MLS’s Park Ji-sung game at 28%. HQ was thrilled.
This time, our Daeyang Global brokered deals against Sky Sports with the networks. HQ must’ve profited big.
Chelsea lined up in Gianluca Vialli’s 4-1-2-1-2 diamond, no wingers.
------Gus Poyet-------
---Wise---Di Matteo---
-----Didier Deschamps-----
Babaya-Desailly-Leboeuf-Melchior
-----Ed de Goey-----
“All big names... especially in the future.”
That lineup boasted future World Cup winners, Champions League coaches, K-League champs, even a president-to-be.
Our Blackburn Rovers lineup:
Duff—Gattuso—Paul Ince—SWP
Bridge-Southgate-Henchoz-Yoo Sung-chul
-----Peter Schmeichel-----
Yoo Sung-chul started today. Chelsea kicked off after the toss.
Most dangerous: Gianfranco Zola, Chelsea’s core alongside Desailly and Poyet.
His rare Premier League flair dribbled past Henchoz. Zola broke again; before Southgate closed, he unleashed a long-range curler.
Schmeichel punched it away two-fisted. Ball to Yoo Sung-chul—Poyet pounced instantly.
Poyet stole it in the tussle; a cry went up.
Poyet passed to Weah, but Southgate sliding-tackled it clear.
Tweet!
Corner kick.
Clearance good, but shaky corner threat.
Di Matteo—that comedian lookalike—boomed it in.
Zola leaped from the box for a header. Past Schmeichel’s gloves...
Post hit! Southgate booted it out for a throw-in.
Chelsea throw-in quick; attack resumed.
We couldn’t find counter timing amid Chelsea’s pressure.
My clenched fists dripped sweat. Flashback to Stamford Bridge: Poyet-Zola combo goal trauma.
“Ugh, what a mouthful name...”
This season, we struggled against technicians: Middlesbrough’s Juninho, Leeds’ Kewell especially.
Zola dribbled again; Gattuso charged.
Zola nutmegged the bulldog, but Gattuso powered back for the tackle.
Whistle!
Foul. Free kick.
Ref warned Gattuso. Defense scrambled.
First half: Zola-Weah-Poyet rotated attacks relentlessly.
One chance, one counter—that’s all we needed. But none came.
37th minute.
Zola past Gattuso; Yoo Sung-chul charged centrally, snatching the ball.
“Yes! Double cut!”
Yoo to Paul Ince racing forward, cross to Shaun.
Deschamps lunged—missed, ball deflected in.
Shaun spun, chased the bounce, secured it.
Facing Deschamps and towering Babayaro, Shaun drove central.
“Wha—what?!”
Expected cross or pass—but Shaun kept running.
Long-range strike from distance. Chelsea keeper fumbled!
“Ian’s son! You did it!”
Half pinned in our half—then 38th minute, one counter. Shaun Wright-Phillips pierced Chelsea’s heart like a bullet from a tiny gun.