The Hunter's Resolve
The tension in the locker room finally eased when captain Lopez pulled Villa back and Naldo stepped in to restrain Ha Sunmoon. "Everyone, calm down!"
"Sunmoon, I didn't expect you to react that fiercely," Naldo said.
"I'm reacting because it is fierce. Didn't you see them throwing the first punch?"
Of course Naldo had seen it. He was sitting right beside Sunmoon, close enough to feel the full force of Villa's kick.
"I saw it. I didn't mean you were wrong to react. I just didn't think you'd go off like that."
Naldo knew Sunmoon's situation well enough. The kid had been wronged once by the manager and once by a senior player. From Naldo's perspective, Sunmoon had handled the adversity brilliantly. Naldo himself was the third or fourth choice center-back and content with his role, but if he were in Sunmoon's shoes despite being capable of starting, he would have fought just as hard.
"You did well. You need to show that kind of fire so they won't take you lightly. But right now, with a crucial match ahead, let's settle down."
Naldo soothed Sunmoon with a calm voice. The other players were busy talking Villa down, cooling the overheated atmosphere, when Manager Abelardo walked in.
"What's with the chaotic mood in here?"
"There was an incident, but it's been resolved," Lopez, the captain, replied. Abelardo nodded as if to say he understood and proceeded with a briefing to double-check the tactics for the Barcelona match.
Hmm. Still disappointing.
Harrison let out a small sigh at Abelardo's tactical instructions. He couldn't shake the feeling that David was far better than Abelardo as a coach.
Kid, just stick to the plan we made. Switching to a 4-4-2 for defense isn't a bad idea, but it still feels insufficient.
Sunmoon nodded at Harrison's words. He had watched Barcelona's matches often because of Neymar. The incredible performances from the three South American stars—Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina—were breathtaking. Even though Neymar's departure for PSG had weakened that spot, as long as the team's core asset, Lionel Messi, remained, such lukewarm tactics would never beat the current La Liga leaders.
Harrison assessed that the gap wasn't just in player quality but in managerial ability as well. We have to push what we've practiced to the absolute limit.
"All right! Seems like everyone understands. Let's head to the pitch."
"Yes, Coach."
The Espanyol players, including Sunmoon, made their way onto the field to warm up.
Kid, remember what mindset you're taking into this match today.
Harrison steadied Sunmoon's mind before kickoff. Sunmoon recalled the recent events as Harrison suggested. The Barcelona fans who had threatened him and Annie a few days earlier. The way those bastards knew Diola. The way they had mocked him for being an Espanyol player.
His teeth clenched. And finally, the frustration of not being trusted by his own team and being benched.
Good. Play with that exact look in your eyes. And what did we say about how to approach the game?
"Defense with ferocity. Attack with cruelty."
That's it! You're the only one who can deliver the most lethal plays for Espanyol. Break them.
Sunmoon lined up with the other Espanyol players in the tunnel. Soon, the Barcelona players began taking their spots one by one beside them. Sunmoon observed the opposition. Every single one was a high-value star player, just like the Real Madrid squad.
They look incredibly relaxed, don't they?
It was the undeniable gap between a title-chasing team and a relegation candidate. The Barcelona players' eyes showed faces already convinced of victory. Their minds seemed filled only with thoughts of brutally hunting down Espanyol on their home ground.
Sunmoon turned his gaze forward with an indifferent expression. He, too, was thinking of hunting.
The referee's whistle pierced the air—Peeeeeeeeep!—and the La Liga Round 31 match between Espanyol and Barcelona kicked off. Today's referee was Lahoz, a well-known official in the league.
De Jong collects the ball and advances. Barcelona were playing in a 4-2-3-1, with De Jong acting as the heartbeat of the team, responsible for the midfield's dynamism.
"Shift to defense!" Abelardo's voice rang out from the touchline. Since Barcelona were pushing forward, he was ordering them into a 4-4-2 defensive shape.
Ignore that. The most dangerous moment isn't this one.
Harrison warned him as he watched De Jong's forward run. Sunmoon already knew. The moment Barcelona became truly threatening was when the ball reached Messi.
De Jong, dribbling forward, glanced around. At that instant, Sunmoon's eyes flashed.
"Cover my back space, please," Sunmoon told center-back Cabrera and transitioned into the inverted fullback role.
De Jong slipped past Espanyol midfielder Darder, who was closing him down, and passed the ball to Messi ahead of him.
Now! Hit him!
Sunmoon charged at Messi. As Sunmoon collided from the side with speed, Messi turned his back to protect the ball. The Argentine veteran skillfully prevented Sunmoon from stealing it, but he couldn't avoid the tackle from the defensive midfielder in front.
Espanyol wins the ball with coordinated defense! Sanchez takes possession.
Perfect! That's how it's done!
Messi shook his head in displeasure at the turnover.
Sanchez passes to Darder. Espanyol immediately launched a counterattack. The transition from 4-4-2 defense back to attack was a bit slow, but they gradually pushed forward.
"Ha! Hold your positions!" Abelardo's voice echoed from the touchline again.
Tsk...
Sunmoon moved back from the inverted fullback position to a more traditional fullback spot. As the team slowly raised the line, Sunmoon advanced gradually, scanning for opportunities to exploit the opponent's right flank. However, this attack developed on the right side.
Darder plays it to right winger Embarba. Though a right winger, Embarba was a right-footed wide player who whipped in a quick cross.
Embarba's cross! But Pique cuts it out!
Then Espanyol faced immediate danger.
Pique to Busquets! Busquets passes to Messi!
Damn! What is that?
Busquets had threaded a ground-piercing pass that reached Messi in an instant. Sunmoon had shifted to the left and was in no position to see the center, and defensive midfielder Sanchez couldn't handle Messi alone.
Messi breaks past Sanchez!
With the defensive midfielder who should have protected the back four beaten, Lopez, the center-back, rushed out to cover. In that moment, Messi spotted Suarez, who had moved into the space that the remaining center-back, Cabrera, couldn't cover.
Messi threads it to Suarez! Suarez shoooots!
The pass from Messi reached Suarez far too easily, and Suarez finished it cleanly.
Gooooooal! Suarez scores in the eighth minute of the first half!
Cheers erupted from the Barcelona away section.
Whew... See? This is why that tactic won't work.
Harrison looked at Sunmoon with a hint of regret in his voice.
"It's fine. There's still plenty of time left. Let's tear them apart with what's left."
Fortunately, Sunmoon wasn't discouraged by the goal. Harrison was very pleased with his attitude.
Ha! The ball goes to Vargas and they push forward!
After ten minutes of fierce back-and-forth, an opportunity came to Sunmoon. He raced up along the touchline. Fortunately, Dembele didn't press him aggressively, and in a flash Sunmoon crossed the halfway line and approached the penalty area.
Roberto blocks Ha's path.
What did you say about him before?
"That bastard's manageable."
Roberto frowned at Sunmoon's mutter. Since it was in Korean, Roberto fortunately didn't understand. But Sunmoon had no intention of showing his dribbling pattern so early.
Ha! He plays it backward!
Sunmoon back-passed to Vargas and instantly spun behind Roberto.
It was a 2-on-1 with Vargas. Roberto had turned his body to the right, expecting Sunmoon to burst straight through, but Sunmoon cut inside instead. One defender was instantly eliminated, and the chance was Sunmoon's.
Once the opportunity was fully his, De Jong and Pique sensed the danger and closed in, but Sunmoon's tempo was lightning-fast.
You see the center-back approaching you now? And the midfielder coming from behind.
But they were already too late. Sunmoon curled a right-footed shot toward the far post.
Ha! Shooooooooot!
Barcelona's Ter Stegen stretched out a hand, but the ball flew to a place the keeper couldn't reach and nestled into the corner of the net.
Swish!
Goooooooal! Ha scores the equalizer!
The Espanyol fans erupted in cheers, but Sunmoon showed no response, no celebration. He simply turned and jogged back past the halfway line.