Chapter 35
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: La Decimoquinta -9
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The match kicked off with Bayern Munich's first touch, but it was unfolding far more gruelingly for Real Madrid than anyone had anticipated.
"Pepe! You fucking idiot!! Mark him properly!!"
Having let Youssoufa Moukoko slip through unmarked, Real Madrid's goalkeeper Ter Stegen unleashed a tirade at Pepe as the team teetered on the brink of conceding.
"Sorry! My bad!"
Pepe raised his hand in acknowledgment of his mistake, apologizing to Ter Stegen.
Bayern Munich's corner kick followed.
Goretzka laid it off short to Karim Müller, the prodigy who had debuted for Munich this season. Müller received the ball and whipped in a cross right away. It connected with Youssoufa Moukoko's head, shaking the net.
The Real Madrid players' faces hardened the instant they saw the net ripple.
"Waaaaaaaaah—!"
Cheers erupted from the Bayern Munich fans, thrilled by the early opener.
Tweet!
Fortunately, an offside call annulled the goal. Real Madrid's players breathed a sigh of relief, but their tense expressions lingered.
"Puta!!! Line up properly!!"
Madrid continued to rack up errors under the mounting pressure.
Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Jesus Joo dropped back into midfield to collect the ball and start building play forward.
Only then did Madrid manage to catch their breath.
"Puta! Get your heads in the game, you pig bastards!"
Ah, Real Madrid are putting up a tough fight. It feels like the weight of the Champions League final is crushing them. Their usual play just isn't coming together!
In the end, even Jesus Joo has dropped into midfield to bolster the engine room! Real Madrid's players need to snap out of it fast! If they keep this up, they could really lose the final!
Just as I say that, Tony Goretzka spots Youssoufa Moukoko breaking through and threads a through ball!
No offside! Madrid have to stop him!
Thud—!
Oh, Youssoufa Moukoko's shot deflects off Sergio Pepe's leg and into the net. This puts Madrid in an even tougher spot.
Jesus Joo is clapping for the dejected Sergio Pepe, signaling it's okay.
Yep, Madrid's done for! Good game~ No idea how these clowns even made the final.
No experienced CL final players is biting them hard.
Sigh. Count this as experience and win it next year.
Core players are young, so they could turn it around if the momentum shifts.
Madrid players can't give up now. The fans cheering for Real Madrid keep echoing!
Why's the commentary so biased? Is this a national team game?
Lmao don't you know about the restriction level? Every Korean should root for Real Madrid pls.
Jesus Joo picks up the ball. He shrugs off the pressing Moukoko effortlessly and plays it to Iker Bravo surging forward!
Real Madrid hit a chance in a flash! Iker Bravo hesitates a bit before crossing... Oh, it sails out over the goal line. Bayern get the goal kick.
Fuck! That's a cross?! Who's that idiot? Iker Bravo? Give us back our Iker Bravo you bastard!
The "veteran" choking under pressure like that?
Real Madrid need to stay calmer and create better chances. Their rhythm is completely off right now.
Yes. Anyway— Oh! Just as I speak, Jesus Joo reads the pass and intercepts! He surges forward! Shakes off Asahi and unleashes a left-footed curler!!! GOOOAAALLL!!! Jesus Joo equalizes!!!
It's South Korea's Jesus Joo scoring a dramatic equalizer at the end of the first half!!! Real Madrid fans are leaping to their feet!!!
Never dreamed a Korean would score in a Champions League final. What an emotional goal.
At this rate, Jesus Joo could snag the Champions League top scorer title too!
The man of the Champions League, Jesus Joo, is celebrating in front of the Real Madrid fans. It's like he's shouting, 'I am your god!!'
Tweet—Tweet!
The game resumes briefly before the halftime whistle blows. What impact will Jesus Joo's late equalizer have? We'll see you before the second half! Sports as always on Sports TV!
Halftime ended, and back in the locker room, I was munching on a banana to replenish my energy.
"Vamos!!! Don't shake like scared little bitches!!"
That's when the fuming Valverde stormed in and began ripping into each player one by one.
The manager glared at Sergio Pepe, his eyes bloodshot.
"Sergio Pepe! Are you a lady? How long are you gonna blush and spread your precious legs whenever that Moukoko kid takes the lead?!"
As Sergio Pepe bowed his head under the manager's gaze, Valverde sought out his next target.
"The rest of you too—this is the final, the opponents are just as pressured as we are!"
At that moment, Luis and Luka, who had been guilty of wayward passes, caught his eye.
"Luis, Luka, your passes today were complete shit. Is that even a pass? Puta! It was like my grandma kicking it."
He unleashed a brutal critique. As Valverde went around dressing down everyone, his eyes eventually landed on me. When our gazes met, he looked flustered.
"Uh... Jesus, you need a beer or something?"
What the hell is this crazy manager on about?
Offering booze to a player.
In response to the manager, I shared my honest thoughts.
"Forget the beer, I'd kill for a smoke. Mind if I light one up?"
"Haha, of course not. Quit bullshitting and score two in the second half."
Valverde stared at me like I was insane.
That was exactly how he looked to me.
Mirror therapy really is the best treatment.
"Ahem! Ahem! Anyway, everyone look outside! Hear the desperate cheers from the Madridistas craving that Big Ear? Today, we're making history right here!"
The players, whose faces had been grim during my banter with the manager, now regained their color and roared in unison.
"We're gonna win! Puta Madre!! Vamos!!!"
"Hala Madrid!!!"
70th minute of the second half.
Real Madrid 1 : 1 Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid came out attacking from the second half kickoff, but Munich are holding firm so far.
Munich have a solid tactical setup. Whenever Jesus Joo gets the ball, 3-4 players press him at once. With no easy outlet, he recycles it back.
That said, Jesus Joo's ball retention is incredible. Even in that chaos, he stays composed, holds possession, and finds a teammate.
While the ball's out for a throw-in, both teams make changes. Real Madrid sub out the visibly fatigued Iker Bravo for Pedro Rodríguez. Bringing on the tall Pedro suggests they're targeting set-piece goals.
Yes, Pedro's heading is dangerous. Iker Bravo, who looked off his game today, leaves the pitch.
He didn't look great but put in a shift and helped defensively.
Right. Munich sub out Youssoufa Moukoko for David Wolf. That puts Karim Müller up top with Wolf behind him.
Looks like Bayern are aiming for counters with the speedy Karim Müller. Kevin Meyer, on a yellow, comes off for Adam Stone. He's the brother of Premier League's Charlie Stone—way cleaner looking than his bro.
Towering German giants over 190cm swarmed me whenever I touched the ball, encircling and charging in.
I dodged their sliding tackles nimbly, held the ball, and eventually played it back. In a flash, the giants scattered back to their zones.
"Football is such fucking bullshit."
Why are they only pressing me like that?
As I grumbled inwardly, my eyes met Luka Savić's. The moment I tried to exploit the space behind Munich...
"You're not getting past me!"
Munich's No. 19 throttled me from behind, sending me tumbling to the turf.
In that chokehold, I caught a familiar scent from Munich's No. 19.
"Charlie Stone?"
My mutter made the guy who'd floored me turn and react.
"My idiot brother said to ask why you're blocking his number."
What the fuck, Charlie Stone's brother is playing for Munich?!
You're supposed to be an Everton one-club man!
As I inwardly griped about the rewritten history, a hollow laugh escaped me watching Bayern Munich's No. 19, Adam Stone, get shown a yellow by the ref.
Unbelievable. That's a yellow?
Is that a yellow? He straight-up choked Jesus Joo from behind as he broke through!
Assassin Adam Stone
Better than his bro.
Younger bro does what big bro couldn't!
Bit of a harsh call from the ref, but Real Madrid get a free kick in a great spot. Jesus Joo setting up to take it.
Jesus Joo's kick... Ah!! Too much power! It flies over the bar!
That was aimed at Adam Stone's head wasn't it?
Fr Perfectly aimed at his forehead but the mad lad ducked
Fuck. Wasting a golden chance like that.
Wouldn't mind if we were winning, but tied and you pull that? Not any game—first CL final in 8 years...
If we lose this, Jesus bro is a traitor ?
Fr, local Real fans would roast him too.
Then what? That GOA-T kid will spam Unhappy and scream GOAT. Fuck, this is peak Bobbydu territory.
Nah, he's good to kids and fans. Different level from Bobbydu.
After firing that free kick at Adam Stone's forehead, I had to take a verbal warning from the referee.
"Jesus, if that free kick had hit Adam Stone's head, I'd have given you a red card."
Naturally, I protested my innocence.
"It was a mistake."
The ref didn't even pretend to listen.
"Oh, of course it was. But remember, Jesus—no retaliation."
How did my image end up like this? Where did the symbol of faith and trust, Jesus Joo, go?
Of course, this time it was intentional.
Anyway, I felt wronged!