The Cross That Won't Fly
It was the day after Kyle Walker's crossing drill. Ha Sunmoon strode confidently into the B-team training ground as one of their own. Unfortunately, the B-team facility wasn't much different from the U19 setup. If anything, because the U19 pitch had been built later, the B-team ground looked even more worn-down and outdated.
Hmm… This is the sorrow of a club that doesn't invest. Feels like it was built in my era?
Harrison offered his blunt assessment. The buildings with structures he recognized gave off the distinct impression that they had been constructed during his time and never properly expanded since.
Still, the players here get to face better teammates, right? It's a La Liga club after all. The B-team guys should be pretty decent.
Ha Sunmoon quickly changed in the locker room and headed out onto the pitch. Players began arriving one after another. David, the B-team coach, started them off with a warm-up. Unlike the U19 squad, these were players who could be called up to the first team at any moment. Because of that, Ha Sunmoon immediately sensed a different atmosphere even during the stretching drills.
"Today we'll do a light warm-up and then play a 7v7 mini-game."
Suddenly, Ha Sunmoon realized the B-team numbers seemed too low.
"Coach, is this everyone?"
Ha Sunmoon, curious because the turnout was smaller than when he'd first introduced himself, asked the question. The coach gave him a knowing grin.
"Well… our B-team roster is actually much larger. But depending on the club's needs, B-team players get moved around a lot, so quite a few spots end up empty like this."
"I see. What kinds of reasons usually cause them to be unavailable?"
"Sometimes they're called up to the first team and stay there. Other times they fill in during short-term gaps. And… when both the first team and B-team squads are solid, players who can't get game time are often sent out on loan for development."
"Ah, I understand…"
"Does that answer your question?"
"Yes, sir."
Having satisfied Ha Sunmoon's curiosity, David stepped back in front of the group.
"Anyway, since we're short on numbers for various reasons, we'll play 7v7 today. Even though it's a simple game, I want you all to remember that I'm evaluating your skills the entire time. So finish your light warm-up and get ready."
"Yes! Understood!"
A 7v7 mini-game consists of seven players per side: one striker, two wingers, one midfielder, two fullbacks, one center-back, and one goalkeeper. The teams were split accordingly. Ha Sunmoon was naturally selected as a left-back. On the opposing side was Rancho, the B-team's starting left-back.
See that guy? You have to be better than him if you want to start for the B-team and get a shot at the first-team bench.
Harrison immediately prodded him. Ha Sunmoon gave a small nod to show he understood.
He liked the players on his team. They all seemed to have real quality, which was satisfying. The only downside was that Vegas was playing left wing right in front of him.
That… that red-haired bastard. Of all people, why did I have to end up on the same team as him…
When Ha Sunmoon glared at him, Vegas gave an awkward little wave.
At least that guy seems like a decent person. His little sister, on the other hand… she seems seriously messed up.
"He might not have shown his true colors yet," Ha Sunmoon muttered.
Once everyone was in position, David, the B-team coach, blew his whistle.
Piiiip!
The game began. Danny on Ha Sunmoon's team received the ball first and passed it to center-back Wasim. Wasim then played it to right-back Sanchez on the right, and the attack developed down that flank. Sanchez and right-winger Eric exchanged passes to break down the right side. Eric successfully beat the opposing left-back Rancho and cut the ball back. Midfielder Danny collected it and fired a shot.
Whoosh!
Hmm… Rancho really is weak defensively.
That was exactly why David had agreed to promote Ha Sunmoon so quickly. The B-team's starting left-back's shortcomings were glaringly obvious.
The opposing team, having just conceded, also began their attack from the right. Their right-back Ian quickly passed to right-winger Grau and tried to push forward. But Ha Sunmoon stuck tight to Grau, using quick, short steps to prevent him from advancing any further. Feeling no openings, Grau eventually turned and played a back pass.
Solid defending.
At that moment, Vegas, who had anticipated the back pass, stretched out a leg and stole the ball. He then passed it to midfielder Danny.
Mark the midfielder. The opponent's coming in from behind.
Hearing Harrison's instruction, Ha Sunmoon moved into open space and gestured for the ball. When Danny passed it to him, the opponent's pressure eased. Ha Sunmoon immediately returned the ball to Danny, allowing them to build from the back.
"Nice. Very nice. He's positioning himself perfectly to make build-up play easier. Even just circulating the ball like that once or twice makes progression so much simpler."
David, the B-team coach, was impressed by Ha Sunmoon's play. Of course, much of it came from Harrison's instructions from above, but the coach had no way of knowing that.
"But… is he doing this purely on instinct? He doesn't seem to be the type who constantly scans his surroundings."
Good players usually turn their heads multiple times even when they have the ball, checking the situation around them. But Ha Sunmoon wasn't making those obvious scanning movements, which left David slightly puzzled.
"Whoa…"
At that moment, Ha Sunmoon's team scored again off a successful build-up, making the score 2-0.
Scribble scribble.
"The left-back position still clearly favors Ha Sunmoon. On the right, Sanchez looks more capable too."
Since the right-back spot had already been decided earlier, David focused his evaluation on the left-back battle this time.
"Hmm… he's sprinting an awful lot. Will his stamina hold up?"
Yet even after halftime, Ha Sunmoon continued sprinting on defense without slowing down compared to the opposition.
"Oh… he's not tiring at all? His fitness is better than I expected. I'll have to see how he holds up in an actual match."
Anyone who has played both knows that futsal is actually more demanding than regular football. Unlike eleven-a-side matches on a huge pitch, futsal requires constant movement in tight spaces. The 7v7 pitch they were using was also relatively small, so frequent sprinting was essential. While the other players were breathing heavily, Ha Sunmoon showed no obvious signs of exhaustion. It was all thanks to Harrison's brutal training regimen.
"Ugh? What the—?"
"Stop him!"
Right then, Ha Sunmoon demonstrated one of his specialties. Once he had a decent read on the opponent, he took matters into his own hands and drove forward. Starting from the deepest fullback position, he dribbled past the opposing right-winger Grau and midfielder Gori with pure skill.
Good! Pass it to the redhead on the left.
Ha Sunmoon flinched for a split second, then instead played the ball to striker Nabil.
Thud!
Nabil wasn't completely open, so he couldn't score.
Hey! Sunmoon! The redhead was completely free!
"Aww~ That was amazing just now… but I couldn't finish it."
Nabil looked disappointed. Ha Sunmoon gave him a thumbs-up as if to say it was fine and jogged back into position.
"What was that? He played it well, but… it's still a bit of a shame."
A short while later, another chance came Ha Sunmoon's way.
"Here! Cross it!"
Thump?
Where is he aiming?
Striker Nabil had called for a cross. Ha Sunmoon delivered one, but the ball flew straight to the opposing left-back Rancho.
A hopeless cross…
"Hup!"
Rancho quickly passed to midfielder Gori, and a counterattack was launched. The ball was exchanged rapidly before returning to Rancho, who delivered a cross. Unlike Ha Sunmoon's effort, this one found striker Carlos, who headed it into the net.
Rancho's crossing is far superior. Now I know exactly what training Ha Sunmoon needs.
* * *
Thump!
"Terrible."
Thump!
"Again."
Thump!
"Sunmoon, at this rate it's going to be hard for you to break into the team. How can a fullback not be able to cross the ball?"
David, the B-team coach, watched Ha Sunmoon's crosses with a horrified expression. Of course Ha Sunmoon could play for the B-team. Honestly, he deserved to start. But his inability to deliver a proper cross was simply too big a weakness.
"Sunmoon, try again."
Thump!
The ball sailed over the goal and out of play.
"Hoo… It's like watching Kyle Walker all over again."
Urk.
Hearing David's muttered comment, Harrison quickly covered his mouth.
Blazing pace, excellent defensive ability, and absolutely dreadful crossing. Comparing Ha Sunmoon to Kyle Walker was actually quite fitting. The only real difference was that while Kyle Walker relied on speed and physicality for his defending, Ha Sunmoon preferred to cleverly poke the ball away with intelligent positioning.
Thump!
The ball sailed over the goal once again.
"Damn it, this is so frustrating."
Damn it, this is so frustrating.
Both David and Harrison had the exact same thought as they watched the balls Ha Sunmoon had kicked.