Hat Trick for the Barcelona Derby
Lee Suhyuk had shown excellent form all throughout training. The final stage was the practice match. Everyone had already gone through position-specific drills and passing exercises, so stamina was running low across the board. Still, a strong performance here could completely rewrite the starting lineup for next week’s game. Even at U-18 level, the Barcelona Derby was no ordinary fixture. An unbelievable number of spectators would fill the stands for what was technically a youth match, and the intense spotlight meant scouts from other professional clubs would be watching too. The starters would fight tooth and nail to keep their places, while the substitutes would squeeze out every last ounce of strength to earn one. Every player stepped onto the pitch with steely determination in their eyes.
Those who ended up on Suhyuk’s team let out heavy sighs. Those on the opposing side smiled faintly.
…If I’m on the team facing Lee, I’ll look even better by comparison.
The U-18 squad had been quietly—actually, openly—disrespecting Suhyuk. When they first heard that a monster prospect who had demolished the youth league was arriving, everyone had been on edge.
…Back then it really was terrifying.
After all, there had once been a Korean prospect named Lee Seunghoo who trained at La Masia. FIFA rules had kept him from playing, but no one could deny his raw talent. Since Suhyuk was also Korean, they had expected another Lee Seunghoo. During his first few weeks they had even tried to befriend him, dazzled by that shocking ability.
But it was all hype in the end.
Yes. Nothing but bubbles. Just look at him now—after finally completing a full training session in decent condition, he was already gasping for air right before the practice match began.
John, the striker on the opposing team for this practice game and a guaranteed starter next week, smirked as he watched Suhyuk.
The starting spot is mine again. If I play well today, I might even push for a call-up to the reserves.
John began the kickoff while lost in pleasant daydreams.
Swish—!!
In just fifteen seconds, the ball was stolen by Suhyuk.
...
“Huu…”
Ben watched the match with his arms folded. Or rather, he watched Lee Suhyuk. His eyes were different this time. Suhyuk had always crumbled under pressure. That pressure quickly became fear, and a player who steps onto the pitch afraid can never display his true talent. That was common sense. In moments like these, what was needed was a motivation stronger than fear.
But youth players rarely have that kind of drive.
The desire to lift up one’s family only added more weight. Finding the perfect motivation that could overcome a burden perfectly tailored to the situation was never easy.
But…
Has Lee found it?
Today’s Suhyuk was completely different. There was no fear in him. Look at the way he sprinted to claim the ball. Normally he would drift into spaces where the ball was unlikely to arrive. Every time Ben saw it, his blood pressure spiked.
Swish—!!
Today he was running into the spaces where the ball would arrive, teeth clenched, fighting for it. Maybe because of that old habit of hiding in safe zones, the current Suhyuk was roaming the pitch with total freedom, as if off-the-ball movement came naturally. It was exactly like watching him from a year ago—the boy who had played soccer simply because he loved it.
Receiving the ball in the final third, Suhyuk shut off the endless stream of worries and overthinking that usually flooded his mind. Right now, the only image in his head was Kim Hayun and his school friends cheering for him from the stands next week.
“Stop him! Stop Lee!”
The opposing defenders in blue bibs came charging in. Excuse me, I’m in the middle of a beautiful fantasy here. Why are you interrupting? With an irritated expression, Suhyuk dragged the ball back with the sole of his right foot. His body spun naturally in a full circle, pulling the ball with the opposite foot. A clean, flawless Marseille Turn.
Once he beat the first man, the next defender closed in at the perfect distance, ready to pounce the moment a gap appeared. Suhyuk had no interest in entertaining them. If he wasted time trying to force another move, the tempo would die.
“Run!”
He called out to his wings. The teammates playing wide on either side of him burst forward. Both flanks opened up.
Whoosh—!!
A light instep pass with just enough curl. The ball dropped perfectly at the left winger’s feet.
Hugo Romero, the left winger, was genuinely surprised as he received it.
…Did Lee always deliver passes this clean?
No. Lee Suhyuk’s weapons were explosive speed, precise dribbling, powerful shooting, and lethal finishing. He wasn’t known for his passing. He was a classic advanced forward… yet here he was also dropping deep and performing the role of a deep-lying forward, creating play.
Can someone change this drastically overnight?
Hugo stood there dazed, unable to process it. Then—
“Hugo!”
Suhyuk had already surged into the box again, arm raised. He shouted with total confidence.
“Cross it!”
Hugo kicked the ball without thinking. The cross was a little short, but it didn’t matter. Suhyuk planted his feet and launched himself skyward with that signature explosive leap.
Boom—!
He twisted his forehead at the last moment, glancing the ball.
Thump—! Swish—!!
Ten minutes into the practice match, Lee Suhyuk had scored.
“Wh-what the…!”
The much larger, more physically imposing Spanish players let out stunned gasps.
“¡Hostia!”
Exclamations that roughly translated to “Holy shit!” erupted all over the pitch. Even Coach Ben unconsciously muttered “Ostia” under his breath.
…It’s different. It’s definitely different now.
Even after a year of disappointment, that single sequence rekindled his faith in Suhyuk. How could a person change so much in a single day? No—his movements were even cleaner than they had been a year ago.
All those daily runs… is this the result finally showing?
Suhyuk showed zero signs of fatigue. He was already moving to hunt the next goal, as if he existed in his own private world.
…Now for two more.
He was treating this practice match like the real derby against Barca. He needed a hat trick. Only a performance of that magnitude would guarantee him a place in the starting lineup.
The practice match ran for twenty minutes per half, forty minutes total. After scoring once in the first half, I stepped into the second half dead set on bagging two more goals no matter what.
Right now I was staring at John with my fangs fully bared. That bastard… he’d been openly ignoring me for a while now. He was probably grinning ear to ear at the thought of starting in the Barcelona Derby next week. I couldn’t allow it. Not for a second.
John almost certainly had a thing for Hayun. Sure, they’d never actually met, but the moment he saw her face he’d fall hard. The probability was high. Extremely high. No, it was certain. Absolutely certain! He’s into Hayun right now! The blond, tanned, thuggish bastard trying to steal another man’s woman is John!
…Huh? He really is blond. And he actually tans? His face does have that low-life vibe…
Aaaah, this son of a bitch! So you really wanted to monopolize Hayun’s attention for yourself? Decision made. To me, soccer is murder. I’m going to kill John.
Peeep—!!
The moment the second-half kickoff began, I received the ball from Hugo Romero. Hugo was the type who usually ignored me completely, driving forward alone to create goals. More than anyone, he was the one who hadn’t trusted me… yet now it felt like he did.
They say rumors travel faster than light in youth teams at this age. The news that John was after my Hayun must have already reached Hugo. Of course it’s all my own delusion, so that’s impossible… but what can I do? That’s what I’m choosing to believe.
Aaaah, anyway—thank you, Hugo! I won’t forget that pass!
John came sprinting straight at me. Looked like he planned to steal the ball in one clean tackle. After all, I had taken it from him in the first half. Kickoff situations like this were basically the only time two strikers went head-to-head. I don’t back down from fights that come walking toward me. I’m a man who has to protect his woman.
John lunged recklessly with his foot. I dragged the ball back with my sole—a light ball roll—then exploded forward.
Swish—!!
My stamina was on another level. The opposing midfielders had pushed their line up too aggressively.
Tap— tap—!!
The ball on my right foot instantly flicked to my left. A La Croqueta as smooth as flowing water. I burst through the moment the defender’s balance broke.
“Hugo!”
I passed to my teammate and immediately accelerated again. Hugo responded with a clever through-ball. We had just executed a perfect 2-on-1 that left the opposing midfielder looking stupid. Now we were sprinting side by side.
Before I knew it we had reached the edge of the penalty arc. Before the defender could close me down, I cocked my right foot. This is why being two-footed is beautiful—you can create an angle from anywhere.
Thud—!!
I curled it with the inside of my foot. The ball bent beautifully. I was about to check if it had gone in when—
“Lee!!”
Hugo Romero threw his arms around me. Ah. It wasn’t Hayun hugging me. It was Hugo. Suddenly the embrace felt extremely unpleasant.