Chapter 57
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: After Highbury, Back in Hometown
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14th minute of the second half. Equalizer.
Hainkes immediately reorganized the squad and steadied the team once more.
Starting from midfield and pushing forward, Arsenal came down to meet them first, which only stretched our lines even wider.
"Arsenal's advancing with short passes, so we're intercepting and countering with long balls, huh?"
Whatever works, just win this thing.
If not, at least settle for a 2-2 draw, grab that away point, and build on it at home.
Arsenal had subbed out Bergkamp early in the second half.
In his place came a towering black giant standing nearly two meters tall.
Dennis Bergkamp ->
<- Kanu.
The Nigerian bomber had arrived.
Arsenal, who covered ground with quick, short passes and relentless energy, planned to unleash Vieira and Kanu up top in a physical onslaught right to the end.
And Hainkes prepared his own substitutions.
Roberto Baggio was replaced by Martin Taylor, with the fullbacks pushing up like wing-backs, effectively shifting to a back three.
Match the big striker with a big defender, drop one forward for an extra body in defense.
Too bad Yoo Sung-chul was out today.
As the midfield battle raged on like spears clashing against shields deep into the second half, Vieira made his move.
This hexagonal midfielder, who orchestrated both defense and attack, muscled past Gattuso and Barry before rifling a fierce pass to Henry.
Henry took it cleanly, spun with a back-turn, charged forward, rounded the onrushing Schmeichel... and slotted it home.
Arsenal back up 3-2, Henry spreading his arms wide in celebration.
After 17 league goals last season, he'd only gotten sharper this year, becoming the bullet in the French connection of Pires-Vieira-Grimandi.
About 15 minutes left.
Looked like today just wasn't our day...
Whoosh-
Beep beep beep- Beep-
Vieira's rough tackle. Southgate clutching his leg and going down.
The ref sprinted over. Vieira clasped his hands, sensing something wrong, but the ref pulled out the card without hesitation.
Vieira, already booked in the first half, was sent off!
Arsenal players protested wildly, but the ref stood firm. Vieira kicked the turf in frustration, stripped off his shirt, and stormed to the locker room.
9 minutes left in the second half. Vieira off.
But Southgate wasn't looking great either; even after the team doctor helped him up, he was limping badly.
Play resumed.
Hainkes went all-in, pulling everyone from the flanks and center forward in an all-out assault.
Arsenal's midfield, minus Vieira, saw their forwards drop deep to defend desperately.
Figo and Shaun tried breaking through with dribbles, while Gattuso and Barry scrapped in the duels, probing forward relentlessly.
Kevin Phillips hunted chances, but he was getting cut off at every turn, wearing down.
Then, 84th minute of the second half.
Figo dribbled through, surging all the way to the penalty line.
As Phillips the forward, with Barry and Shaun diving in to support...
Figo unleashed a shot.
A curving ball like Carlos's UFO shot.
David Seaman leaped desperately, but it evaded his fingertips and rippled the net.
"Yesss!!!!!!"
Figo's priceless equalizer.
This is why you have a world-class superstar!
Figo roared after scoring, and everyone piled on him in joy.
Including stoppage time, neither side found another goal. Match over.
3-3 draw.
Disappointing, but we'd salvaged a point away at Highbury. As Hainkes and Wenger shook hands, the players swapped jerseys to wrap things up.
"Whew-"
As the match frenzy faded and I came back to my senses, my dress shirt was soaked through again.
A draw, yet it felt like a win—the adrenaline had my heart pounding.
This Blackburn I'm building? This season, we're gonna make some real noise.
Anyway, catch my breath, head back to Blackburn, and console the lads.
As the stadium emptied, I hung back till the end before strolling out slowly.
"There you are, sir."
Lots of familiar faces.
"Vice Chairman."
"Mr. Kim?"
"Shame about the match."
"You watched?"
"A bit from the car on radio..."
"Come on, if you were here, you should've come inside."
Daeyang Global staff had waited outside in their cars, listening to the game.
As I lit a cigarette and headed for the car, Mr. Kim spoke up.
"We even took a quick look around."
Mr. Kim gazed at Highbury as he recounted his tour.
"I reviewed the Blackburn master plan we submitted to HQ and checked out stadium surroundings for other English clubs as reference. Even here in central London, they're securing land nearby for a new stadium in 3-4 years. Land acquisition and construction will run hundreds of millions of pounds."
"Highbury's about 38,000 seats, and Arsenal still says it's too small—they're planning a 60,000-seater. London's infrastructure can handle it."
Mr. Kim nodded, puffing his cigarette.
"Unlike other leagues, most English clubs own their stadiums outright and can develop the surrounding areas themselves. Isn't that what you're envisioning too—beyond the stadium, building out the infrastructure?"
"Let's head to the office."
I got in the car and made my way leisurely to the office.
Time to prep a slick presentation. This is our chance to put the football club—and us—on the map proper.
That "more than a club" talk other countries hype? Let's dream it for ourselves too.
Staff for this project had arrived from Korea.
Executive VP Hwang In-wook, who handled the first-wave new town projects at Daeyang Construction—snagging massive apartment redevelopments in Sanbon, Pyeongchon, and Bundang—along with Executive Director Lee Sang-chul and others, all headed straight to Blackburn.
They drove endlessly through this city of 150,000, scouting Preston, Darwen, Bolton, Greater Manchester, comparing against my proposal. They met with Lancashire County Council, Blackburn City officials, and held talks at the Walker Foundation.
"State government committing 250 million for jobs and promotion, Walker Foundation providing 100 million pounds in land, Barclays Bank investing another 100 million, Daeyang Global and UKO-Daeyang handling construction. Massive project."
On par with building a small new town, accommodating 40-50,000 people in this city.
"With the Walker Foundation owning the land and the government pushing hard, coordination's going smoothly."
Viability confirmed, government backing—everyone's on board, fired up at the Blackburn office.
"Profits might be modest, but it'll boost our bids for new town developments back home and abroad. Put in the extra effort."
"Got it, Vice Chairman."
When I first pitched the football venture, not just Dad, but the group execs and presidents were skeptical.
Now? They all see it as "the Chairman's second son, LSE grad, putting Daeyang on the map in the UK through football marketing and landing big European deals." Respect in their eyes.
"While planning the project, take a look at this too."
I unrolled a massive blueprint from the Blackburn Rovers office onto the table.
"Vice Chairman, what's this?"
"Blueprints for Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers' home ground. Finished construction in '94."
The execs pored over the plans. Impressed by the heavy industry giant's handiwork—it still held up great—but puzzled.
"Room for more here?"
"Only 31,000 seats now. Planning to expand to 40,000."
"!?"
UEFA Cup now, but Champions League spots this season, and prepping for more ahead.
Champs League stadiums need at least 40,000 seats—that's my stance. Handed it to the Daeyang Global construction crew.
"Squeeze this into the project as a side gig. We're already doing Craven Cottage expansion in London—once plans are set, call those guys in for the build."
"Hmm, expanding from these blueprints..."
Land's plenty, add stands with modern methods—takes time, but doable.
A few seasons with half or two-thirds capacity due to construction, but better now than never.
During expansion: restaurants inside, fan stores, commercial spaces for local sponsors—all of it.
"Everyone, put in the work. This'll pan out."
"Yes, Vice Chairman."
Project proceeding smoothly.
00-01 Premier League Round 3.
Charlton Athletic, who I took over Blackburn from in my first season—barely escaping relegation before dropping to the second tier—rolled into Ewood Park.
Hainkes started Scott Parker, facing his old club Charlton, in today's lineup.
"Baggio out, 4-2-3-1? Kevin Phillips in that spot..."
Parker with Gattuso in central mid, Gareth Barry at left-back.
----James Beattie----
SWP—Kevin Phillips—Luis Figo
--Gattuso---Parker----
Barry—M. Taylor—Melberg—Kena
-----Brad Friedel---
Post-3-3 draw, Brad Friedel—free transfer this season—took over from Schmeichel as starting keeper.
Watching the experimental setup, there was Alan Curbishley, still Charlton's manager then and now.
Kickoff. Our Blackburn lads charged from the center.
Daeyang Group staff who'd come along got swept up in the Premier League fever, cheering our team.
Jeers from the away end every time Parker touched the ball, drowned out by roaring home Blackburn fans.
Figo dove central to link with Phillips and Beattie; Shaun Wright-Phillips tore around creating space.
For newly promoted Charlton, we were too much. First 30 minutes: 7-0 shots on target, total domination one-sided in our half.
Figo again, whipping in a low pass. Scott Parker latched on.
James Beattie signaled up top, but Parker blasted at goal.
Charlton keeper Dean Kiely couldn't hold it. Goal.
31,000 at Ewood Park erupted for the opener.
Scott Parker, Charlton youth product, delivering a heavy blow to his boyhood club since joining Blackburn.
No celebration—just jogged back quietly to position.
Yeah, to me you're Lampard, and Barry's Gerrard!
Great start, and the match wrapped 3-0: James Beattie's goal in the 44th, Kevin Phillips in the 75th.
"Wow, Blackburn's incredible."
"Congratulations, Vice Chairman."
Home wins always feel good, and with staff here today, maybe a team dinner?