The New Manager Arrives
The early morning air was still crisp as Clive Harrison shook Ha Sunmoon awake.
“Ugh… Can’t I sleep a little more…?”
“Ughhh…”
After putting on a few extra kilograms, Ha Sunmoon had asked Clive to put him through a brutal training regimen again. As a result, Clive had ordered him to wake up at an ungodly hour and start exercising immediately.
“Haaaam…”
Ha Sunmoon dragged his heavier body out of bed.
Ha Sunmoon got to his feet and headed toward the Espanyol training complex.
“Ah… It would’ve been better if the house was farther from the training ground. Then I could’ve skipped it.”
Still, Clive looked rather pleased. After all, it had been Sunmoon’s own idea to train like this. Starting anything is always the hardest part. But once you begin moving and your body adapts, the results would surely follow. Since today was the first day, Clive planned to take it relatively easy.
“Huh? That sounds like you’re trying to kill me from the start.”
Ha Sunmoon’s face fell at the prospect of running right away, but Clive had no intention of going easy.
“Ah… Right. We did that, didn’t we.”
When Clive gave him a slightly sharp look, Ha Sunmoon quickly started stretching and changed the subject.
“So… how many phases are there in total?”
“Whoa… There are three whole phases? And that was only Phase One?”
Ha Sunmoon recalled the physical training he had done back in Korea. It had mostly consisted of aerobic exercises and light lower-body work. That was all he had done, yet he had reached a level where he could run through an adult team match without getting tired.
“Then why didn’t we do the higher-level training back then?”
As he spoke, Clive ruffled a hand over the top of Ha Sunmoon’s head.
“Hey!”
Ha Sunmoon protested the gesture that highlighted how short he still was.
“Phase Three must be absolute hell, then?”
“Huk…”
For a moment, Ha Sunmoon stared at Clive with a stiff expression.
“Special forces? Isn’t that the unit that trains all day long?”
“No way, no way. I’m good with just Phase One.”
“Ack, I’ve been caught.”
And so Ha Sunmoon ran all the way to the training ground, arriving at seven in the morning.
“Huh? What are you doing here at this hour?”
The security guard watching the training ground was surprised to see Ha Sunmoon so early. He usually arrived by car, so it took the guard a moment to recognize him. Only when Sunmoon got closer did the guard realize who it was.
“What am I doing? I came to train.”
“Train? At this time?”
It was currently 7:30 a.m. The Espanyol first team’s morning session didn’t start until ten. That meant Ha Sunmoon had shown up two and a half hours early, so the guard’s surprise was perfectly understandable.
“Yeah. Um… Is it not allowed to train at this hour? Can’t I use the facilities now?”
Ha Sunmoon looked flustered by the guard’s reaction.
“No, no, of course you can. Train as much as you want. Go on in.”
The guard let him through, and Ha Sunmoon headed straight into the training area. The guard then informed David, who had arrived early for work, that Ha Sunmoon had entered the facility.
“Sunmoon’s already at the training ground?”
“That’s what I said. He just went in.”
“Understood.”
David, who had come in early because he had a lot of work to do, broke into a wide smile at the news that Ha Sunmoon had arrived early to train on his own.
“How did he know the new manager was coming today? This is perfect. I can show the new boss around the facilities and introduce Sunmoon at the same time. After all, he’s our most important prospect.”
Today was the day the new manager would arrive at Espanyol. Just as Ha Sunmoon had said before, it seemed the boy had genuinely grown attached to the club.
“Very good. Very promising. Maybe I should go easy on him today?”
Just as David was thinking about watching Sunmoon do some individual training, someone came looking for him.
“David. They say Manager Abelardo will be here soon.”
“Ah… Is that so?”
When he heard that the newly appointed Abelardo Fernández was about to arrive, David decided to put off meeting with Ha Sunmoon for now.
“Hmm…”
As soon as they reached the training ground, Clive had measured Ha Sunmoon’s height and weight.
“Height… 168 cm. Weight is 75 kg.”
“Hmmm…”
“Hehe… I did eat pretty well.”
Churros dipped generously in chocolate sauce. That calorie-laden treat had become Ha Sunmoon’s new favorite food over the past week. Clive looked like he was about to curse but stopped himself.
A scenario quickly played out in Clive’s head.
“What?”
“Pros and cons?”
“But as a football player, isn’t it better if I don’t gain weight easily?”
Clive stared at Ha Sunmoon with a rather intimidating gaze.
“Hiiiik. Why? Why are you looking at me like that?”
After hearing Clive’s words, Ha Sunmoon decided he needed to find a way to reduce his food intake somehow.
“No, I’ll just eat moderately and train moderately.”
“Haha…”
While Ha Sunmoon wore a troubled expression, Clive gave him his training instructions.
Thump. Thump.
After thirty minutes of intense physical training, Clive had Ha Sunmoon move on to trapping drills. Fortunately, trapping was something Sunmoon was already familiar with, and he soon began controlling the ball in various positions and postures.
While Ha Sunmoon was training, someone entered the facility.
“Sunmoon!”
“Yes?”
“Can you come here for a moment?”
It was still early. Both Clive and Ha Sunmoon had assumed no one would interrupt their individual session, so they turned toward the voice.
“Ah! Coach. Good morning.”
Clive looked puzzled as he stared at the unfamiliar bald man.
“Sunmoon, this is Manager Abelardo Fernández, who will be taking over as the new first-team coach for Espanyol.”
“Ah! I see. Nice to meet you.”
“Manager Abelardo, this young man is Ha Sunmoon, one of our club’s most outstanding prospects. Born in 2003, he already possesses the quality to play for the first team.”
“Ah. I see. Yes, I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re the one they call Ha, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And you seem incredibly diligent. Coming out to train alone at this hour? That’s very impressive.”
“Haha…”
Although this was his first time meeting the new manager, Ha Sunmoon didn’t know how to respond to such a warm reception.
“David, you didn’t tell the other players I would be visiting today, did you?”
“Of course not. Sunmoon came out early all on his own. He has both outstanding talent and dedication. He really is an excellent player.”
“Seeing this is better than any tour of the club facilities.”
“Haha. You think so?”
Manager Abelardo seemed pleased to discover a passionate young player at the club, and David answered with a light laugh.
“So, are you going to continue training?”
Manager Abelardo asked Ha Sunmoon.
“Um…”
“I’ve already done enough training for today, so I was thinking of having a simple meal and then joining the morning group session.”
“Oh~ You even know how to make your own training plans.”
“Of course! I’m a professional player now, after all.”
Manager Abelardo nodded once more, clearly satisfied with what he saw in Ha Sunmoon.
“Good. Then make sure you train well for the rest of the day.”
“Yes! I will.”