Thoroughly Crushing Sunderland
Southampton fans had recently rediscovered the joy of watching soccer. Properly rediscovered it.
The reason supporting their team had become so much more fun than usual was simple.
It was all because of Jung Hyuk, who had put on a mad performance from his very first match.
In a short span of time the fans had been completely captivated by him. His popularity among them exploded at a blistering pace.
And today.
When the match between Southampton and Sunderland was underway, the moment Jack Colback launched a dangerous back-tackle on Jung Hyuk, the Southampton supporters erupted in fury.
"What the hell are you doing?! That was a blatant ankle-breaker!"
"Jack Colback! You dare pull that shit in Southampton's home?!"
"Is that bastard seriously telling the ref he got hard done by? Is he insane? He just made a tackle that could end a career and he's acting all innocent?"
"Hey, you bastard Colback! Apologize to Jung Hyuk right now!"
"What the hell? Why isn't that a red card? Anyone with eyes can see that was a murder tackle!"
"That was a high-footed back-tackle right in the open! Why is it only a yellow?! Hey, ref! You awake or what?!"
"Get that son of a bitch Colback off the pitch right now!"
The Southampton fans' rage then swung toward Sunderland manager Di Canio.
"Is that bastard Di Canio actually smiling right now?"
"Whoa…! He's completely unhinged! That manager's been rubbing me the wrong way since last season—I hope he gets the sack as soon as possible."
"Rumor has it this is his last chance at Sunderland. A guy like that needs to be gone yesterday!"
"Ugh, what a piece of work! More importantly, is Jung Hyuk's leg okay? He looked like he was in real pain…"
"Please let him be alright."
Contrary to the fans' worries, Jung Hyuk looked surprisingly fine.
Even after taking that filthy tackle, he was laughing out loud.
Only his eyes had gone ice-cold.
After that, Jung Hyuk used a sublime first touch to beat Adam Johnson, then left veteran defenders John O'Shea and Diakité in his dust before slotting home a beautiful goal.
A clean chip that sailed over the keeper's outstretched hands.
Di Canio then threw a tantrum, and Jack Colback launched into a protest at the referee.
Of course, none of it worked.
Watching the whole scene unfold, the Southampton FC fans felt pure satisfaction.
And right now, Korean soccer fans in particular were boiling over with excitement.
The Korean fans who already knew Jung Hyuk's personality were convinced he had elbowed Jack Colback.
The cameras hadn't caught it, but they were certain he had done it.
That was why they were cheering for him with pure, gleeful satisfaction.
After the match resumed, Di Canio's expression was foul. Anxiety was written all over his face.
"You idiots! Score a damn goal already! Keep playing like that and I'll never give any of you another chance!"
Di Canio was screaming at the top of his lungs. Veins bulged across his neck, forehead, and face as he roared.
He was completely worked up.
All because of one boy.
That arrogant little brat dares…!
Di Canio glared at Jung Hyuk with bloodshot eyes.
A kid who had only just debuted was far too insolent. Cursing him to his face, then slipping in a sneaky foul right under the referee's nose.
He hated every bit of it.
We absolutely cannot lose like this!
Di Canio glared daggers at his players.
This was a matter of pride. He would never allow himself to lose to a team that had a punk like that on it.
In that atmosphere, Sunderland's attack began.
Di Canio's original plan had been defensive. Keep a clean sheet in the first half, then use the energy they had conserved to launch fierce counterattacks in the second half and snatch the win.
This won't do!
But after conceding, sitting back was no longer an option.
To win a match you had to score more goals than the other side.
So Di Canio's Sunderland began circulating the ball through midfield, probing for gaps in Southampton's shape.
That was when Southampton's press kicked in. With their numerical advantage in midfield, they pressed hard and denied Sunderland the kind of play they wanted.
Southampton FC's press was effective. It worked perfectly against Sunderland.
Constantly harried and unable to break through, the Sunderland players grew desperate.
And when desperation set in, the misplaced pass finally came.
Tik!
"No!"
Sunderland midfielder Gardner's face twisted. He already knew his own pass had been a mistake.
And then.
A Southampton player cut out the ball Gardner had just played. Chwaaak! A beautiful sliding interception.
"Nice pass!"
The player who won the ball was Jung Hyuk. Using the momentum of the slide, he sprang back to his feet and immediately sprayed the ball forward.
And in that instant—
Movements exceeding your current abilities are now possible.
(Time limit: 5 seconds)
The S-class talent effect activated.
Jung Hyuk's eyes flashed as his swinging leg adjusted mid-motion. The path of the pass changed the moment the effect kicked in.
Perfect timing on the activation!
Bwoong!
The ball Jung Hyuk curled bent like a boomerang and rocketed toward the penalty box in an instant.
Sunderland defenders stretched out their legs, but they couldn't cut it out. The ball's trajectory was simply too sharp.
Ricky Lambert stretched his foot toward the low, curling delivery.
Took—
Sunderland keeper Westwood flung himself, but he couldn't even get the direction right.
Cheol-leong!
With a composed finish, Ricky Lambert slid across the grass with both arms spread wide. A perfect celebration.
In that moment, a thunderous roar exploded from St. Mary's Stadium.
"Wooooah! That's Ricky Lambert for you! Ice-cold finish!"
"Whoa! What the hell was that pass from Jung Hyuk? How does a ball bend that much?!"
"Hahahaha! No defender on earth is cutting out a pass like that!"
On the other side, the Sunderland players who had just conceded a second goal on the counter were in full panic.
"What the hell is that Asian kid…?"
"Why is he this good?"
"What he showed against West Brom wasn't just luck…"
That was when Di Canio unleashed a stream of curses at his players.
"Damn it! What the hell are you idiots doing?! Are you even trying?!"
Despite Di Canio's screaming, Sunderland spent the rest of the half getting thoroughly battered before the whistle finally blew for half-time.
Not conceding any more goals was the only silver lining in a completely one-sided contest.
Then the second half began.
The players re-entered the pitch.
That was when—
"Huh?"
A familiar face appeared in Jung Hyuk's vision.
The newly substituted Sunderland player was a current striker for the South Korean senior national team.
"Ji Dong-woon hyung?"
Ji Dong-woon was a striker for the South Korean national team.
With a powerful shot and solid physique, he was a versatile player who could operate not only as a pure striker but also as a winger or attacking midfielder.
He was also someone Jung Hyuk had been fairly close with on a personal level before his regression.
Yet Jung Hyuk looked at him with a puzzled expression. Something felt off.
Did Ji Dong-woon hyung even play today?
It had been a full twenty years ago, and back then Jung Hyuk had still been playing high-school soccer at Jeongwoon High.
So the memory wasn't crystal clear. But—
I don't think Ji Dong-woon hyung actually came on…
The recollection was hazy, yet according to that memory, Ji Dong-woon had been on the bench for this match but never entered the game.
Looks like the future has changed.
Jung Hyuk let out a small snort of laughter, as if it were nothing.
The future shifting was entirely possible. The mere fact that he himself was now playing for Southampton had already altered countless things.
Whether Ji Dong-woon played or not wasn't particularly important.
All he had to do was play for the win.
Sorry, hyung.
Jung Hyuk gave a slight nod toward the distant figure of Ji Dong-woon.
An apology to someone he had once been close with.
If he didn't do at least that much, he would feel uneasy.
Of course he would.
Because today, Jung Hyuk fully intended to dismantle Sunderland without mercy.
He intended to make even Ji Dong-woon, who wore the opposing colors, taste a crushing defeat.
Jung Hyuk smiled.
In the second half, Southampton FC pressed Sunderland even harder. They held the initiative with almost casual ease.
Di Canio's face was so flushed it looked like it couldn't possibly get any redder.
What really makes a manager lose it is getting completely outplayed.
Jung Hyuk knew exactly when Di Canio would explode the hardest.
When he would become the most furious.
When Jung Hyuk committed a dirty foul on one of his players? No.
When Jung Hyuk mocked and provoked him? No.
It was when the team he managed was left completely helpless and lost in a pathetic, powerless fashion.
So right now, Jung Hyuk was thoroughly dismantling Sunderland.
Whiik! Tat!
Receiving the ball on the right flank, Jung Hyuk advanced at a measured pace. The player standing in his way was Jack Colback—the same man who had been getting torched all afternoon.
Jung Hyuk smiled as he spoke.
"You again?"
Jack Colback's eyes bulged as he roared back.
"You little punk, you dare pull a dirty foul on me? This time I'm really gonna break your leg!"
Classic trash talk.
The kind of psychological warfare players use to get under an opponent's skin—perfectly common in soccer.
But it didn't work on Jung Hyuk in the slightest.
He had gone toe-to-toe with far rougher characters than the Jack Colback standing in front of him.
To Jung Hyuk, Colback's trash talk was simply laughable.
Moreover, for all the threatening expression, Colback's pupils were trembling badly.
He was putting on a tough front while having zero confidence underneath.
Of course he was.
Every time he clashed with Jung Hyuk he got blown past.
He had felt the overwhelming gap in ability.
Pfft!
Jung Hyuk sneered at Jack Colback. At the same time he locked eyes with him and spoke in a low voice.
"Want another shot to the solar plexus?"
"What? This little shit—I went easy on you earlier and now you don't even know fear? I can end your career whenever I want! You think one yellow card means I can't tackle you?"
Jack Colback glared even harder, spitting the words out like machine-gun fire.
Jung Hyuk kept the corner of his mouth curled upward as he continued dribbling forward.
"Do it if you can."
Jung Hyuk dribbled with pure confidence. Not a hint of hesitation. He approached as if beating Jack Colback was the most natural thing in the world.
Jureuk! Cold sweat beaded on Colback's forehead.
He had blustered all he wanted, but inside he was panicking.
Damn it! I can't match this kid's speed. If I lose him once, it's over.
In truth, after the first half Jack Colback had been torn apart by Di Canio. The dressing room had shaken with the manager's insults.
He said if I get beaten one more time, I'm never starting again, right? Tch. Miserable old bastard.
The Di Canio that Jack Colback knew never made empty threats.
If he let Jung Hyuk past him again, there would definitely be consequences.
He didn't want that.
I will not get beaten. Even if I have to break the bastard's leg… I'll stop him!
Jack Colback's eyes flashed with murderous intent. Thick venom filled them. He charged in with the fierce will to stop Jung Hyuk by any means necessary.
But—
There was no ball at Jung Hyuk's feet.
At the same time, Jack Colback's vision went dark.
"Huh…?"