The Association's Shield
The Association's Shield
Summary of today's GOAT vs. GOAT showdown..
King Han-su multi-goal explosion. He's the literal god of efficiency, fr (Multi-goal, damn).
And Thiago's spin gets a perfect artistic score lololol.
Morales, that bastard, got elbowed by Han-su and then pulled a tackle on thin air in the 88th minute lololol.
Jersey swap between the two gods after the match ends, damn.
L Ah, just the GOAT and GUTO-nim...
L Why didn't you do the Guto celebration today? That's all I was waiting for lololol.
L Morales getting elbow-massaged and flying solo in the 88th minute was fr hilarious lololol.
L This is real football..
L King Han-su schooling them with 2 goals, top-tier, I came after seeing the 'shh' celebration lol.
Martyr Igor racks up another win today lololol.
As soon as Han-su recited the Igor manual to the ref, the racist local fans got kicked out, ending lol.
The seeds Igor planted in La Liga, twisting his whole body and giving up the Ballon d'Or, are blooming in Villarreal...
This is true 'sacrifice' and 'martyrdom'.
L We miss you, Martyr Igor...
L Barca fans were fuming, calling him "just a monkey," but then shut their mouths after seeing the manual lololol.
L I worship you, GOAT.
L Madrid-que are so happy, not even realizing their own master is being mocked lololol.
L Buying-referee Cules crawling out again? Worry about your Negreira investigation, you idiot lol.
L Fact) The 'traditional bribery' passed down from the Franco era is a landslide victory for your Real Madrid lol.
L That person who caused unhappiness and got the manager fired has 5 goals this season lololol.
12th league goal of the season. And 4 consecutive games with a goal.
The pace is very good.
I toured the communities to sneak a peek at reactions to me, and even read the articles thoroughly to scan every evaluation of myself.
Click.
The sensation of stopping time, designing space, and sliding the ball into the most efficient path.
The more I used it, the dizzier and more dazed my brain felt, but the pleasure was more intense than any drug.
"What are you smiling at?"
An indifferent voice broke the silence.
I looked up to see Elena sitting across from me, setting down a cold iced Americano.
She's a reporter for the Spanish weekly <Don Balon>, and my girlfriend.
"Just. It's funny watching them fight while analyzing my goal highlights."
"You've got time to kill. Your current situation isn't funny at all."
Elena took off her sunglasses and placed them on the table.
It was an indifferent, cold gaze that pierced through information.
"The Korean National Team roster has been announced. You're included, obviously."
Elena took a sip of her coffee and cast her gaze out the window.
"They say the World Cup qualifiers were a failure and the Football Association president stepped down, but the inside is still the same. The old guard set up a domestic manager this time to protect their own power. A puppet with no tactics, no color, just someone who listens well."
Elena's information-gathering ability was beyond doubt.
The fact that her mother was a former editor-in-chief of a major Korean daily newspaper allowed her to access the dirty behind-the-scenes stories of the Korea Football Association faster than local Spanish reporters.
"The plan they've set up is simple. They're going to pretend to give you full authority while hyping you up as the ace. They've already started the media play."
"Is it bad to be treated like an ace?"
"Don't be mistaken. They aren't honoring you; they're using you as a shield to deflect the arrows of public opinion. If they win, it's the manager and the Football Association's credit, and if they lose, they've already finished the design to blame you, saying, 'Even with an ace overseas player, it's like this.'"
Elena opened her laptop again. The sound of typing dryly filled the cafe.
"It's from an internal Football Association source, so it's certain. Word is already spreading among the agents of overseas players. It's a scheme to dump all the responsibility on you while they hide behind you. They'll set the stage for you to play selfishly, but that's a poisoned chalice."
"I'm busy enough just playing football, and now I have to deal with politics too?"
"So keep your wits about you. You're a very tasty prey to them right now. I don't want to write an article about my boyfriend being used as a shield for the Football Association geezers and getting burned out."
Elena continued without looking up.
"Just go and do what you have to do. Whether you flip the board they've set up, or smash their heads in with that shield, that's up to you. But at least don't let them stab you in the back."
I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket.
An unknown number.
It must be a contact from a Football Association official notifying me of the National Team call-up.
"I'm going to get going. I'm getting a call."
Confirming that Han-su pushed open the cafe door and walked away, Elena opened a secret tab with practiced movements.
A blue interface filled the screen. [Villarreal Minor Gallery].
The vivid orange icon next to her nickname, the power of the 'Admin', was activated.
"Let's see, how many bugs have swarmed in."
Elena clicked the mouse with an expressionless face. Ttal-kkak.
[General] Han-su needs to be worked hard when he goes to the National Team this time lol. Let's drain that stats-padder's stamina.
[Blocked] Reason: Football Association shill (30 days)
[General] Honestly, the National Team manager is domestic, do you think Han-su will listen to him? It's going to be factionalism.
[Blocked] Reason: Troll (Indefinite)
Having finished cleaning up the gallery in an instant, her fingers began to type on the keyboard like crazy.
This time, it was manipulation of the best-of posts... no, it was an agitation post to shape public opinion.
[Best-of Request] Fact check on why the Football Association geezers are using Han-su as a shield.txt
Hey, look at the state of the National Team right now.
You know the old guard whose heads were broken after failing the qualifiers set up a puppet this time, right?
But these guys' strategy is hilarious lol.
They're hyping up Han-su, who scored 12 goals in La Liga, as the 'ace'.
Tactics? None of that. They just pull the "Han-su, do it" move.
And if they lose? It's not "The manager's level is trash for not winning even with ace Han-su," but they're building up to do media play like, "Han-su only plays well in La Liga and slacks off when he comes to the National Team?" lol.
In short, they're planning to use Han-su as a scapegoat shield while they suck the honey from behind.
Are you just going to sit still after seeing this?
From today, anyone shielding the Football Association will be considered a troll and have their heads smashed.
L Fr, I can't stand seeing Han-su suffer at the National Team. Starting today, I'm going to terrorize the National Team manager's Starstagram.
L Admin, are you an insider at the Association? The content is too specific lol?
Elena raised the corners of her mouth as if satisfied.
She immediately took a secondary smartphone out of her pocket and sent a message to the group chat.
[(Admin Notice) Focus firepower on the Villarreal Gallery. I've sent the article criticizing the Football Association, so click the link and leave comments.]
Dozens of ghost accounts she managed began to move in unison.
The sight of the top reporter for Spain's best weekly magazine concurrently serving as a Korean gallery admin and manipulating public opinion was truly on a level that would make even the National Intelligence Service cry.
"You want to use the ace as a shield? You'll only come to your senses once your own heads get smashed by that shield."
Elena downed her cold iced Americano in one shot.
Ttal-kkak.
With a single click of her mouse, another anti-fan disappeared from the gallery without a sound.
Inside the plane. As soon as the in-flight Wi-Fi connected after takeoff, the group chat started buzzing like crazy.
[National Team Call-up Chat (23)].
The domestic players who had already gathered in Paju and some overseas players who had returned early were in the middle of a rehearsal for 'serving the ace'.
[National Team Call-up Chat]
Kim Seung-min (Veteran Captain): Hey, is the La Liga top scorer coming?
Lee Ji-hoon (Youngest): Han-su hyung is probably on the plane right now, right? I saw a business class clip on Starstagram earlier, I'm jealous...
Park Young-gwang (K-League Defender): Hey Lee Ji-hoon, are you not answering when hyung calls you? lol Han-su is busy doing the 'shh' celebration, you know.
Lee Ji-hoon: 'Shh' celebration damn... I got goosebumps watching the live stream yesterday. Benito Villamarin library opening ceremony lol.
Kim Seung-min: Wow, but now that I think about it, I'm mad. Han-su, why are you wasting all of hyung's passes?
Lee Ji-hoon: Jeonbuk passes and Villarreal passes are different. Honestly, it's not easy to receive hyung's shitty passes;;
Kim Seung-min: You want to die? You dare say that to the ace who is holding up Jeonbuk in its dark ages.
Lee Ji-hoon: Seems like it collapsed while being held up;; Our team is 10th place, hyung.
Kim Seung-min: Kids these days are scary.
Kim Seung-min: Hey, but Han-su, the manager was looking for you a lot this time. I think he talked about you for like 30 minutes during the meeting earlier. It was almost like, "Han-su will do everything" vibes? lol
Park Young-gwang: Fr lol The manager's eyes look like he's waiting for a savior. It's like they'd set up a tent to serve him once Han-su arrives lol.
Lee Ji-hoon: Hyung!! Eat the plane food and come back safely!! I'll be waiting at the entrance of Paju with a red carpet laid out!!
I turned off the screen and leaned back against the seat.
My colleagues giggled and hyped me up, but in reality, it was closer to satire about this abnormal situation than respect for me.
The veteran hyungs have already noticed this situation where the Football Association puts me up as a shield, and the manager gives up on tactics and only looks at me.
Just as Elena said, the board the Football Association set up was more elaborate than I thought.
But I'm not lacking in confidence.
Whether it's politics or a lack of tactics, in the end, football is proven on the grass.