The Kind of Player Who Shines in Real Matches
Marco, the insider reporter for popular club Espanyol, had already received the news from the club side. "So Manager Pablo Machín will be sacked within two weeks?"
"That's correct. The draw against Real Madrid bought him a little more time, but the board is already considering his dismissal."
A team that had finished seventh the previous season was now sitting in nineteenth. Sacking the manager was the natural course of action.
"A side capable of competing in European competitions has fallen into the relegation zone, so there are more than enough reasons to let him go… But is there anything else I should know? It would help me frame the club's decision more smoothly."
"That's easy enough to answer. The main issue is with his tactics."
"Tactics… I suppose the switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 is the biggest factor?"
"Exactly. The squad was built around three midfielders. Suddenly restricting them to two left several players without clear roles. As a result, discontent has been building inside the dressing room for some time. The dismissal is also meant to address that."
"Hmm… I'll leave the player dissatisfaction out of my report."
"As expected, you really are sharp."
Marco and the club's media officer had known each other for years. The officer had shared some rather sensitive details, but Marco only took what he needed.
"Has the next manager been decided?"
"Nothing is confirmed yet. For now… it's likely that David from the B team will step in as interim coach again."
The first team's senior coach had arrived with Pablo Machín, so he was being pushed out alongside him.
"I see… Wait, who's that?"
Marco, who had been glancing outside, spotted a lone player training on the pitch.
"Ah, that's Sunmoon. He's the one training right now."
"Sunmoon? You mean the kid who played well against Real Madrid?"
The media officer nodded.
"Aren't the first-team players on break right now?"
"They are. But he apparently felt he was still lacking. We even gave him extra vacation time, yet he returned early and has been training alone."
Marco's lips curved into a smile at those words. He reached for the camera hanging from his neck.
"I'd like to capture this scene…"
"Feel free."
Marco began snapping photos of Ha Sunmoon practicing by himself on the empty pitch.
Click. Click.
"Now this is a story."
He kept shooting with a satisfied expression.
From inside the building, someone was watching Sunmoon's solitary training with a fond gaze. Yet Sunmoon's own condition was far from good.
Ugh… this isn't looking good.
Harrison watched the boy with pity in his eyes.
Thump!
"Damn it…"
Even though it was the rest period, Sunmoon had come out to the training ground. For the past several days he had been working on the crossing technique Marcelo had taught him. There had been some slight progress, but he couldn't seem to break through to the next level.
Hmm… the general direction feels right, but why do the crosses keep turning out like this? Ha… damn.
Harrison found the situation incredibly frustrating as well. At least the balls were no longer flying off like home runs into the stands. They were now reaching the vicinity of the penalty box, so there was improvement. Still, to anyone watching, they were utter garbage crosses.
"Hoo… Hoo… Again."
Tap tap tap tap tap.
Thump!
Sunmoon steadied himself and attempted another cross.
No chance. This won't work.
"Argh… what am I supposed to do? It went pretty well when I did it over there…"
When he had practiced in Mallorca, it hadn't been this bad. Yet the moment he tried training alone without Ronaldo or Marcelo, everything immediately fell apart.
Is proper guidance really that important?
Harrison's head was spinning. He had already passed on every method he had used during his own playing days. None of it had helped much. Marcelo's advice had seemed effective at first, but now that things were regressing again, the frustration was mounting.
Wait a second…
Suddenly Harrison realized the crucial difference between the environment back then and now.
Kid, try it again. But this time the method will be a little different.
Harrison, who had been watching from above, descended to the ground and stood in front of Sunmoon.
"Why are you suddenly doing this?"
Pretend I'm Ronaldo. Imagine I'm a defender right in front of you, trying to block your cross.
"Uh…"
Do it in that state. Just like when Ronaldo tried to stop you and you still managed to whip in the cross.
Following Harrison's instructions, Sunmoon prepared his cross. Harrison moved to block him. Sunmoon quickly dribbled, creating distance, then spotted the moment when interference became difficult and swung in the ball.
Thuuuump~!
A decent cross flew into the penalty area.
Ah! That's it! So this was the missing piece!
Harrison was almost speechless at the sight. An extreme practical type. Sunmoon could only produce useful crosses when he had at least one opponent pressing him while he escaped the pressure.
Goddamn it. Let's try again.
Thump!
But once more, Sunmoon's ball sailed off strangely.
What the hell! Why is it doing that again?
"Ah… maybe because you're a ghost, Harrison hyung… I know the ball would just go through you, so that's probably why."
This kid…
"Then what should I do?"
Harrison looked at Sunmoon for a moment.
Kid, you don't actually want to rest right now, do you?
"Of course not. I need to fix this, right?"
Harrison grinned, satisfied. This motivated state was far better than watching the boy mope around because of girl trouble.
Then let's get you into a match somehow. Marcelo was right. You're an absolute real-game type. It seems you find your rhythm best when you're actually playing. The fastest way for you to improve is by getting real match experience.
"I know, but there aren't any games right now."
Then we go where there are games. Besides, once the first-team players return, you might not get many opportunities. Dropping down to the B team is worth considering. You'd be a guaranteed starter there. And… since it's the winter break, we should even look at the U19s. You understand what I'm saying, right?
Sunmoon nodded.
Good. Then let's go convey your intention.
"We're stopping training?"
Yes. You already know this. Training in your current state won't achieve much. What you need is a real opponent.
Sunmoon agreed with Harrison's opinion.
"Hello."
Sunmoon entered the club building.
"Oh… hey. It's been a while. What brings you here?"
The youth team coordinator greeted him warmly.
"Ah! Could you please pass a message to Manager Pablo Machín for me?"
"To the manager? Hmm… what is it?"
"We're in the break period so we can't play any matches right now."
"That's true."
"But I still want to play. So… could you send me down to the U19 team? Aren't they still playing matches?"
"What? The U19s?"
This wasn't a decision the youth coordinator could make alone. He looked slightly flustered.
"Just a moment…"
The coordinator called David.
"David? Can you come over for a quick talk?"
"What's going on? I'm actually heading there right now with the media officer and the insider reporter…"
"Then come talk to us when you arrive."
The youth coordinator looked at Sunmoon.
"Can you wait a bit?"
"Yes, of course."
Sunmoon waited where he was. Soon David arrived with the media officer and Marco.
"Huh? Sunmoon, what are you doing here?"
"Ah! Hello, sir."
It had been a while since he'd seen David, the B team coach, and Sunmoon felt genuinely glad.
Oh? Then maybe I should just tell the B team coach directly?
"What is it?"
"I was asking them to tell the first-team manager that I want to play for the U19s."
"The U19s?"
"Yes."
"Isn't this the rest period? Shouldn't you be resting properly and then… returning? Or training like you were today."
Well… I expected this kind of reaction. Let's keep it simple. I'll come across as a passionate player. Say I won't be taking the vacation. That I need to grow more.
"My break is already over. I learned a lot from playing first-team matches. I think I need to be playing games right now."
Marco's lips curved upward again at Sunmoon's words.
"That's an interesting thing to say. But why the U19s?"
"Neither the first team nor the B team has any matches. Isn't the U19s the best option?"
"That's true, but… if you don't take this chance, you might not get many more first-team opportunities."
"I believe playing as many matches as possible to raise my level is what's important right now. I can stay with the B team for a while. As long as I can play in games."
For Sunmoon, playing matches was the priority. Of course, first-team games were the best way to accumulate experience, but before that, he needed to get his crossing sorted out properly, which meant getting onto the pitch first. And though the goal was slightly different, his desire to play looked quite admirable in the eyes of the adults present.
Insider reporter Marco found himself liking the boy even more.