The First Half of Manchester United (2)
Pep Guardiola scanned the bench where the players sat waiting, but Ha Sunmoon was nowhere in sight.
“Where did Ha go?”
“He’s over there warming up,” Fernandinho replied.
When Pep turned his head, he saw Ha Sunmoon stretching methodically. The manager’s expression softened.
“How long has he been at it?”
“A little over two minutes. He should be just about done.”
The plan had gone off the rails, but feeling the gears slowly begin to turn again eased the tension in Pep Guardiola’s chest. Ha Sunmoon rarely made such decisions on his own; the odds were high that the team captain had sent him out. ‘Having veteran players help coordinate things certainly makes my job easier.’
As Ha Sunmoon finished his warm-up along the touchline and drew closer, Pep called out to him.
“The moment Zinchenko comes off, you’re on. Be ready to go straight in.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
Alright, it’s game time! Game time!
Just watching was entertaining enough, but for Clive Harrison, nothing beat seeing Ha Sunmoon out on the pitch and guiding him from the sidelines. The fact that the substitute appearance had come much sooner than expected left both of them in high spirits.
‘I can do this. I can do this.’
A real big-club match. Espanyol had been the underdog, and even when he was in the Segunda División, he had been the top dog. But those weren’t the arenas where the truly elite competed.
‘And now I’m playing for a strong team against another strong team! Hoo… I’m nervous.’
Ha Sunmoon steadied his racing heart and moved toward the substitution zone. Soon the fourth official’s board lit up: number 11, Zinchenko, in red, and number 13, Ha Sunmoon, in green. The change was official.
We’ve used all our subs. So nobody gets injured, and none of our lads get injured either.
Clive reminded Ha Sunmoon of the current team situation.
Remember what the captain told you earlier?
It was the old “better to give than receive” philosophy. Clive had rephrased his earlier suggestion of measured retaliation. Ha Sunmoon gave a small nod and jogged into the position Zinchenko had vacated.
For a moment he glanced at Pep Guardiola. The manager was watching the incoming Zinchenko with a complicated expression.
They say other leagues are increasing it to five subs, but here it’s still three. Classic Premier League. Two injuries already and no cards shown.
The referee’s whistle blew. The match resumed.
‘It really does feel strange playing in a new environment.’
Ha Sunmoon tried to calm his pounding heart and focus on the game.
‘This is just one of many matches to come. Concentrate only on the pitch.’
Counterattack! Defend!
After the foul on Zinchenko, Manchester City had pushed forward, but Eric Bailly of Manchester United cut it out cleanly. A lightning counter was on.
In front of the sprinting Ha Sunmoon appeared Mason Greenwood.
Use your upper body and smash into him!
The instant Greenwood received the ball and tried to turn, Ha Sunmoon appeared in his path and collided with him using his torso.
Thud!
‘Ugh…’
Greenwood, who had been moving forward, was knocked backward by the impact and fell. The referee didn’t blow his whistle.
Perfect. That’s it. Ref didn’t call it. Keep going!
Ha Sunmoon took the ball Greenwood had left behind and pushed forward.
“Push on! Quick pass forward!” Pep Guardiola shouted, pointing first at the defensive midfielder Rodri and then at Bernardo Silva waiting slightly to the left upfield.
Ah! That route’s too slow. How about this instead? Jesus is running on the right flank, right? Whip it into that space. Let’s try some route-one football for once.
‘Huh? The manager’s going to hate that…’
The path Clive recommended was a long, direct ball—the kind Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool loved. But the opponent knew Manchester City preferred short, intricate passes. A surprise change of pace could work.
It was an attractive option. For once, Ha Sunmoon chose Clive’s suggestion.
He glanced at Gabriel Jesus. Jesus sensed the look and immediately accelerated.
Whump!
The moment Ha Sunmoon launched the long ball, Jesus burst through the last line formed by Manchester United’s three center-backs. Harry Maguire, playing as the left stopper, was tall but slow; he couldn’t catch the Brazilian.
“Ha! Long ball to Jesus! Manchester City catch them on the break in one move!”
Jesus dribbled on the right, shook off Maguire, and fired toward the goal.
“Jesus shoooots! De Gea tips it away with his fingertips!”
‘Aigo… what a shame.’
Tsk… he couldn’t finish it. That was a chance that won’t come again.
Confirming from behind that Jesus’s shot had gone wide, Ha Sunmoon immediately stepped over the halfway line to prepare for the corner.
Lucky your decision wasn’t bad. If you’d messed up even a little, I think the boss would’ve had something to say.
Just as Clive said, no angry shouts came from Pep Guardiola.
‘Hoo… then… good. Let’s keep doing what we’re doing.’
“De Bruyne’s cross!”
But the attack fizzled out again. Manchester City players dropped back to defend against the counter. Ha Sunmoon quickly formed a defensive line with Kyle Walker. Fortunately, Walker blocked a dangerous ball headed for Ronaldo, and the threat was cleared.
The opponent stayed compact. The ball kept circulating in a U-shape with no penetration.
They’ve shifted their natural-footed winger inside and put the opposite-footed one out wide. Tsk…
When no clear chances appeared up front, even Ha Sunmoon grew impatient and decided to push forward more aggressively.
Yeah, that’s right. We need to go up. This is too frustrating.
Ha Sunmoon received the ball and quickly exchanged a one-two with Sterling, bursting down the outside. Greenwood stuck to Sterling. When Sterling passed back to him, Ha Sunmoon drove forward, only for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to close him down.
Here he comes! The guy who loves a tackle.
Ha Sunmoon was already aware of Wan-Bissaka’s approach. The defender stopped in front of him and set his stance.
He’s definitely a proper defender. He’s not just lunging in. But keep in mind a tackle could come at any moment.
Ha Sunmoon nudged the ball forward with soft touches.
‘If I stop here, we lose the tempo. Even if I go slowly, I won’t stop.’
Concentrating fully, he dribbled forward gradually. As Ha Sunmoon advanced, the rest of the Manchester City players moved up in coordinated waves. When Wan-Bissaka decided Ha Sunmoon had crossed the line, he closed the distance even more.
He’s not thinking of tackling. He wants a physical battle. Does he think you’re easy?
Ha Sunmoon responded with a step-over, then burst outside in a flash. As he tried to escape, Wan-Bissaka shoved a shoulder in to hold him up.
Instead of wriggling free, shove him harder! Put your full power into it now!
Ha Sunmoon answered by driving his own shoulder into Wan-Bissaka. The two men collided violently.
“Ha and Wan-Bissaka clash! Wan-Bissaka is pushed back—this has opened up the space behind Manchester United! Ha takes the ball and surges forward!”
Yes! It’s open! Cross it before their stopper can close him down!
Ha Sunmoon delivered the cross exactly as Clive instructed. Manchester City players had already smelled blood; they all charged into the penalty area. In an instant the box was packed with equal numbers from both sides.
“Ha’s cross! But Maguire clears it at the last moment! It was a high-quality delivery, but the opponent also has top-class players. Maguire read the flight perfectly and blocked it!”
“Maguire wins the aerial duel against Jesus. If that ball had reached Jesus, it would have been a goal!”
It didn’t work, but don’t get discouraged! Just keep hammering them. See that? You can’t break the center-backs with power, but you can overpower every fullback and winger. Keep crushing them.
Encouraged by Clive’s words, Ha Sunmoon began to play with even greater intensity. Ten minutes later, another chance came his way.
“We’re now into the 80th minute. Ha receives the ball and drives forward once more.”
Good. Let’s try it again.
As Ha Sunmoon surged forward, Sterling moved inside again.
One-two again!
Ha Sunmoon gave the ball and ran; Sterling returned it so he could continue his run. Once more Ha Sunmoon raced along the touchline.
This time a tackle looks likely?
‘I know.’
Aware of Wan-Bissaka closing in, Ha Sunmoon maintained his speed. When he refused to slow down, Wan-Bissaka responded with a sliding challenge.
Here it comes!
In that instant Ha Sunmoon trapped the ball and attempted a rainbow flick. Both feet lifted smoothly with the ball, clearing the tackle completely.
“Ah! An Ardiles flick! Wan-Bissaka is completely beaten!”
Manchester United’s backline was exposed again. This time Ha Sunmoon didn’t cross; he drove straight into the box. Victor Lindelöf, the right stopper, rushed to close him down, but shooting wasn’t Ha Sunmoon’s intention.
Kevin De Bruyne is free on the edge.
What Ha Sunmoon wanted was a cut-back. He passed the ball to the completely unmarked player standing outside the penalty area.
“Ha! He cuts it back! There’s a man there—Kevin De Bruyne~! Gooooaaal~!”
Kevin De Bruyne struck the ball cleanly. The incredible power in his ankle made the net bulge violently, as if it might tear apart.