Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 109



Only Krnovel

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“Lionel Messi’s ankle injury makes it doubtful whether he will be able to participate in the finals!”

《Although Argentina defeated France again in a penalty shootout in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics following the Qatar World Cup, the Argentina national team was unable to smile. This was because the team’s central and key player, the ‘god of soccer’ Lionel Messi, was substituted at the end of extra time due to pain in his right ankle.

Lionel Messi, who led the team’s attack during his stay on the ground, was substituted in the 8th minute of extra time after complaining of pain following a collision with French defender Niels Nkunku.

(syncopation)

······The extent of the injury has not been confirmed, but according to an Argentine media outlet, Lionel Messi will not be able to play in the final······.》

Hannover 96 coach Jan Rytl sighed as he read an article about the Paris Olympics online before turning it off.

Then I leaned back against the backrest and looked up at the ceiling.

“Kim. Why did you go all the way there and do so well···.”

The Bundesliga has opened.

Given that the Hannover match was two days away and the Paris Olympic final was tomorrow, Kim’s first appearance was virtually impossible.

Chiller is gone, and what’s left is Leo and Toni, who are working hard to gain experience in the second team, but neither of these goalkeepers are clearly capable of surviving in the Bundesliga first division.

‘Leo, once you gain some practical experience, you’ll be able to use him, but······there’s no reason to use Leo when we have Kim.’

In any case, Hannover had to play one game without Kim.

The first match is the most important for every club.

Even Hannover was in the final stages of spending 50 million euros in the summer transfer market to recruit players in order to remain in the top division.

There is still some spare cash left and they are in the process of contacting one more player, but if they mess up their first game, there will definitely be suspicions flying around.

Considering Korea’s power, advancing to the finals was a miracle. And the focal point of that miracle was.

“Kim.”

Jan tapped the desk and closed his eyes.

“If we can replicate the performance we showed at the Olympics in the league as well···.”

Perhaps, they can go beyond relegation and leap into the upper ranks of the league.

If, just maybe, they could finish in the Champions League group stages at the end of the league season, they could start the next season in great shape.

Add to that Kim’s transfer fee······.

“This will create a virtuous cycle of strengthening the team’s power.”

It was obvious that Kim would leave next season, but there was so much he could do for Hannover.

Just the prize money for league rankings, the prize money for winning the Pokal Cup, and the courtship of many big clubs that are drooling over Kim’s performance and want to activate a buyout agreement.

If there’s one thing that’s a little disappointing.

“Damn. If we had won the DFB-Pokal last season, we could have gone to Europa League. Too bad.”

Since there are so many big clubs in Europe, I thought that even if they don’t win the championship, with Kim’s current form, they would probably make it into the quarterfinals.

Then how much is the prize money for the quarterfinals···.

“If all goes according to plan, I could have quite a long career as a manager in Hanover.”

Well, there is nothing in this world that goes as planned.

As I live my life, I realize that if you make a plan to reach 100 and actually go into a situation, most of the time you will be successful if you only reach 50.

dripping-

“Jan? Can I come in?”

From the voice I heard, it was the head coach.

Jan cleared his throat and said.

“Come in.”

Then Elmar Barlemann came in, carrying a folder under his arm. He thrust the folder in with a businesslike voice.

“Here are the final starting lineups for the next game. Shall we proceed as is?”

“Where are you looking?”

Jan looked through the player list.

It’s a decent lineup, but the name of the player at the very bottom is hanging.

It should say ‘Kim’ not ‘Leo’.

Jan, who had been looking at me with a bitter expression, nodded weakly and handed me the file back.

“Do it like this.”

“If they can win without Kim, Hannover will really make a big splash this season.”

Jan stared blankly at the head coach. For a moment, Jan almost blurted out, ‘Do you really think that’ll happen?’

Jan, who had swallowed it with difficulty, nodded and waved his hand. It meant to tell him to go out.

***

There is only one game left.

The long, arduous journey to the Olympics was finally coming to an end.

‘I don’t know what I’ll get as compensation, but…’

I am sure of one thing.

The intensity of the rewards that Football Manager gives me will vary depending on the color of the shirt I wear around my neck.

This was not a second chance.

I demanded a winning mentality (a strong belief that we can beat anyone) from the players, even in public.

“There is only one game left, and I think the color of the medal we wear around our necks will depend on how we feel here. We will do well until the last game and definitely win the gold medal.”

He told reporters this.

“Brothers! I have something to say before the finals.”

“Our youngest has something to say! Everyone, shhh!”

“There is a saying, ‘All is created by the mind!’ It is a saying from the Buddhist Avatamsaka Sutra, but it is difficult, so let me explain it simply. It means that everything in the world is created by the mind! You all know about the bone water of Wonhyo Daesa, right?”

“I know, I know!”

“All thoughts of being dirty, ugly, and beautiful are all in our minds. It’s all up to our heads! We’ve secured the ‘silver’ and our military exemption has been confirmed, so everyone’s minds might be a little relieved. If I’m going to do it, I want to wear a gold medal around my neck! If I’m satisfied with silver, I’ll stop at silver, but if I want gold, I’ll work my butt off to get it! Let’s win gold together and go to Korea!”

“Hey! Applause!”

“Okay! We go Norwich!”

He told the players this:

Even the coaches who had been quietly listening willingly applauded.

I wanted to shout, “Please run as if you have a bomb necklace around your neck!” but I thought that was a bit too crude.

Anyway, I gave a speech to cheer up the players at the base camp before the game, and I could clearly feel that the team’s morale had risen significantly since then.

As military exemption was confirmed, the players’ somewhat relaxed behavior began to show signs of seriousness.

The good news didn’t end there.

“Lionel Messi starts on the bench···.”

You said you had an injury that made you unable to play, but you still can’t give up on your obsession?

He probably won’t be able to play, but is he sitting on the bench to boost the players’ morale?

Whatever, it doesn’t matter.

We haven’t lost a single game since coming to France. The match against Spain was officially a draw, but… Anyway, let’s call it a complete victory!

The biggest stumbling block, Lionel Messi, has met his opponent, Mbappe, and although he won, he limped, and all we have to do is hit Argentina’s last blow, who are exhausted from the extra-time battle.

Argentina will probably be tattered from their bloody battle with France.

‘Argentina. Even a silver medal is high. Accept it.’

Even Angel Di Maria did not start. Di Maria, who was brought in as a wild card, started on the bench in the final.

Is this why they’re going to use Di Maria as a joker in the second half since he’s old and weak?

No way. If that’s the case, then let’s see how it goes in the first half.

Director Choi also thought the same as me.

He scored a goal in the first half and, as usual, he said he would leave the rest to me.

‘And just in case. If Messi plays in the second half, it would be a real disaster.’

If he plays with an ankle injury, it won’t be the usual Messi, but Messi is still Messi.

So, when you have two wildcards on the bench, you have to somehow push them in the first half to win.

It’s a bit concerning that the opposing goalkeeper is Martinez, the star player of the World Cup win… But we have to trust the players. Our players are not lacking either.

And now, really, the last one.

I checked my stats ahead of the final Olympic game.

[Kim Min-woo]

– Stamina: 100

-Stamina: 98

-GK Kick: 105(+5)

-GK Diving: 102

-GK reaction speed: 99

-GK position selection: 97

-GK Speed: 96

– Traits: Yasin’s Eye, Quick and Accurate Kick, Wedge-Shaped Goalkeeper, Iron Legs

-Height: 187cm

-Weight: 75kg

==

“after.”

It has grown tremendously.

Fortunately, the correction rate did not fall much, but I expect that it will actually rise when I return to Hanover.

Even these stats aren’t that high compared to the Bundesliga 1st division.

Anyway, let’s compare the stats from the last time I checked with the current stats.

Stamina: 89 → 100.

Stamina goes from 87 to 98.

GK kick from 93 → 105.

GK diving is 89 → 102.

GK reaction speed is 86 → 99.

GK positioning is 87 → 97.

GK speed increased significantly from 85 to 96.

The last time I checked was the final match of the Bundesliga 2nd division, so the increase was huge because I hadn’t watched it.

“The taste of mulberry is killing me···.”

I really endured it for a long time.

Three of the stats finally broke the triple digits, and the remaining four are all in the late 90s.

Now, if we compare it to Corsic, it would not be much different or it would be similar.

‘My stats have finally risen to the level of the Bundesliga 2nd division 1.5 team.’

At this level, it’s probably between the sub and main stats in the second part.

I felt the importance of characteristics once again.

If Yasin’s eyes had not been there right away, Korea would have finished its journey as a group···.

*

The Olympic football finals were held in Paris, France. As the host country, France had already won gold in numerous events.

And perhaps France might have won football gold, had they only made it to the final.

‘The referee is French-Canadian···.’

A stinking referee assignment.

And in the actual final, the referee made decisions that were favorable to Korea throughout the game.

Things like blowing the whistle immediately when a Korean player falls during a match, or, conversely, allowing the match to continue when an Argentine player falls.

“Woooooo-!”

Also, the French fans cheered for us one-sidedly, reminiscent of the home stadium of South Korea.

When Korea gets the ball and kicks it, there are cheers of anticipation, but on the other hand, when Argentina gets the ball and dribbles it, there are boos.

‘I feel worse than I thought.’

Maybe it’s because this is Paris.

Until 2023, Lionel Messi was here at PSG, and it wasn’t an amicable parting.

They failed to win the World Cup because of Argentina, and they failed to advance to the finals of the Olympics because of Argentina, and the relationship between Messi and PSG is not very good, so the support is one-sided.

One-sided cheering from the crowd. Subtle bias from the referee. The host country, France, which doesn’t want to see Argentina win the gold medal on its own soil.

If you can’t create something under these favorable circumstances, you should drown yourself in the Seine River.

“I’ll do it!”

Lee Jin-seop raises his hand and moves to block an Argentine attack. He successfully blocks the attack by roughly clinging to the opposing attacker, but causes the referee to blow the whistle.

Even to the referee, who was secretly biased, this seemed like a foul.

“This is an uncomfortable position…”

26m from the goal. Free kick foul. And 26m was the perfect distance to score a goal.

At 22 minutes into the first half, there was no real crisis yet, so I was feeling a little relieved, but when a goal was conceded, a slight sense of crisis arose.

Argentina seemed determined to capitalize on this opportunity by positioning three free kick takers in different directions, and I controlled the free kick wall and the movements of the rest of the players.

‘In some ways, it’s much easier than a field situation. Don’t be nervous.’

As long as you don’t block the ball and create a crisis by missing it, or slip and fall backwards, that’s fine.

The referee blew his whistle and the opposing kicker moved. There was no fake. The trajectory was created immediately. This trajectory means that the first kicker will take the kick.

I held my breath and jumped like a frog. The trajectory was such that if I didn’t move, the shot would go into the goal.

With a pop, the ball flies in, and the ball enters my jumping body.

‘Nice catch.’

And immediately they started a counterattack with a quick and accurate kick, but it did not lead to a goal.

Korea and Argentina had a fierce first half.

“Tchcha.”

I easily blocked the attacks of the Argentine players, who were only age-group representatives, by impersonating Kim Min-woo of the Asian Cup, and on the other hand, the attacks of the Korean team were not easily overcome by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

“Stick! Stick!”

However, it was not as easy as the Asian Cup.

However, Argentina was still a rival of France, and the opposing players included Alejandro Garnacho who plays for Manchester United, Enso Fernandez who plays for Chelsea, and Alejo Bellis who plays for Tottenham, so the tension could never be let down.

however······.

Beep-!

In the first half of extra time, when the score was still 0:0, the referee blew his whistle inside the penalty box.

I watched the scene from afar.

The French crowd was applauding as if it were their own business, while the Argentine players were clinging to the referee and protesting.

But the protest had no effect. The referee continued with his decision without applying the VAR check, and Korea was given a penalty kick opportunity.

‘Just put it in···.’

My mouth is watering.

Victory is ours as long as there are no variables that lead to Messi.

After the final whistle, my eyes turn to the rewards Football Manager will give me. What will Football Manager give me if I achieve the best result in the competition?

Jo Young-woo took the kicker, and unlike the previous match against Spain, he did not make any mistakes and took the kick calmly.

“Whaaaaaaaah-!”

South Korea finally scored the first goal by beating Martinez.

‘My mouth is watering.’

Forty-five minutes from now. If I can just hold out for 50 minutes including extra time, I will ‘evolve’ again.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am