Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 192



Only Krnovel

192 Strong impression

Manchester United, who conceded a goal just three minutes after the start of the game, somehow managed to control the chaotic atmosphere and launched a counterattack.

We are still a powerhouse in the EPL tradition! It was an accident that we conceded a goal to you in 3 minutes!

It was an attack force that strongly asserted.

‘It’s hot.’

The players were running like cogs in a cogwheel according to the coach’s tactics. With Bruno Fernandes firmly anchored in the center and evenly distributed here and there, Real Betis kept getting pushed back.

Bruno, who has been called the core of Manchester United since long ago, is still the core of Manchester United… .

Clap clap clap clap clap!

Although the goal has not been scored yet, if this momentum continues, it will be soon. Even though the score was 0:1, the Manchester United fans continued to applaud as if they were satisfied with the attack.

And then, Real Betis, who had been getting beaten without mercy, started to stir.

We are still a mid- to upper-tier team in La Liga, so how dare you push us like this?

Real Betis players counterattacked as if in protest.

‘… Oh, no. Something like that.’

I was so shocked when I saw Real Betis’ counterattack that I got up from the bench.

Fullback to striker. Striker to winger.

Just two passes.

Those two passes instantly broke down Manchester United’s overly advanced defensive line.

A simple, fast, and no-frills one-touch pass.

Real Betis winger Ayoze Perez, who entered Manchester United’s penalty box in an instant, comically stripped the hastily popped-out Onana and lightly tapped the ball in front of the empty goal.

It reminds me of Torres from his Liverpool days, which I only saw in YouTube videos.

It was only a moment before Old Trafford fell into silence. The score was 0:2. Manchester United, who had been pressing hard, collapsed like a sand castle with one click of a soccer ball.

‘Wow. This might have worked for me too?’

Even I am vulnerable to shots that beat the goalkeeper. Maybe a player like Torres would be a great match for me.

He beat the defenders and even the goalkeeper and kicked the ball into the empty goal… .

Above all else.

‘No, it’s more serious than I thought?’

Even though Manchester United were bad at everything, Real Betis’s click-and-click football was incredible. It was a type of counterattack I’d never seen before in the Bundesliga, so it felt fresh to me.

‘Each league definitely has a different style of football.’

In a quiet stadium, Real Betis players hug each other and rejoice. I found this situation funny without realizing it and burst out laughing. At that moment, the camera turned to this side. I immediately shut my mouth tightly.

The game resumes later.

Even though the score was 0-2, Manchester United did not change their style of play. They insisted on attacking and pressed on tenaciously.

Once from the left flank. Once from the middle to mid-range. A cross from the right flank.

Dribble past defenders and shoot.

Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot. Shoot!

Manchester’s attacks either hit the post, were blocked by the goalkeeper or bounced off defenders.

That’s how the first half ended.

It was a typical disappointing first half.

If you look at the details, it’s clear that Manchester United were in control, but if you look at the results, Real Betis is ahead by 2 points.

‘I feel dizzy.’

I came into the locker room with the players.

Of course, the team atmosphere was not bright. They definitely hit a lot, but the opponents only got a few scratches, and they were the ones who got hurt.

The director must have been extremely dissatisfied with this situation, as his expression clearly said, ‘I’m dissatisfied.’

The coach looked around the team for a moment and shouted.

“Why do you guys only do what you have to do!”

A startlingly loud scream. The director seemed to be very angry and raised the decibel level.

“Are you playing soccer alone? Communicate! Communicate! How many times has this happened!”

The grumbling director explained the situation in which he was scratched.

It wasn’t an attacking situation, it was all conceding situations. The first conceding. The second conceding. And a few crisis situations.

The manager criticized his players for conceding a goal that should never have been allowed.

“That’s why you hear people say that this is a sport only women play! Why do you avoid competitive situations? Why! You defenders, you have nothing to say!?”

I stood in the corner, sticking my tongue out and observing the situation. Oh my. Look at the atmosphere.

The attackers who had been leading the game well kept their mouths shut and avoided eye contact, and the defenders―

“Coach. To be honest, your tactics are too weak for the attackers to participate in defense. It’s only natural that the defense is breached when there are few defenders. If you want to prevent goals from being conceded, you need to increase the number of defenders.”

“……what?”

It was Andre Onana. He volunteered to defend the defenders, perhaps because he felt bad for the defenders who were feeling intimidated.

The director was silent for a moment. I looked at him with anxious eyes, and to me it seemed like the calm before a storm.

“Are you criticizing my tactics right now?”

“Not pointing out, but about areas for improvement―”

“Oh, I see. Our Onana-san doesn’t like the tactics of the coach who has been leading the team for over ten years. Do you know soccer that well?”

“You know soccer well, so you should be playing here, right, Coach?”

Just like the director, Onana also had a fiery personality. The director laughed and said,

“You know better than me? I’ve been playing soccer since before you were born.”

“If you hit it like that, no one can say anything. Just because you’ve been playing soccer for a long time doesn’t mean you have to… … .”

The conversation somehow went in a childish direction. It was like watching politicians fighting. And then the director’s rebuke burst out again.

“Shut up! Do you think I came into the locker room during this precious halftime to argue with you?! Everyone listen up!”

The director kept nagging us. We had to communicate, we had to avoid competition, things like that.

These were basic rules that were obvious to soccer players, especially to players who came to a club like this.

‘I don’t think we’re losing 0:2 because we can’t do that.’

After that, the manager talked about what he should aim for in the second half, changes in tactics, and tenacity and fighting spirit.

From the perspective of a third party watching, well, what should I say… … .

‘This year won’t be easy either.’

That’s what I thought.

And I thought that was where it ended.

“Kim.”

As the players leave the locker room, the coach calls me aside.

“yes?”

When I tilted my head and looked at the director, the director smiled sinisterly and treated me kindly.

“How are you feeling?”

“So-so, not bad.”

This is the moment when the English I learned from Sophie shines. Just like during the initiation ceremony, I no longer have any aversion to using English.

“The league will start after today’s match, and the manager hopes that the fans will find hope in this match.”

“… … Yes. I wish I could do that too.”

“So Kim, warm up when the second half starts. I’m going to put you in for the second half.”

I was about to ask if Onana was taking retaliatory measures, but I stopped myself. Whatever the reason, it was a sound goal.

“All right.”

“good.”

“But coach? Weren’t you the one who opposed my appearance today?”

The director shook his head at my words.

“Things have changed.”

“I see… .”

Nana, go away. You won’t go far.

‘Well, you must have been thinking about transferring since you heard I was coming. Now that you think I’m leaving soon, the manager is giving you a hard time.’

Haven’t most office workers imagined something like that at least once?

Imagine slapping your boss with a resignation letter and quitting your job.

Well, let’s say Onana did something similar.

* * *

About 5 minutes into the second half, I was substituted in under the coach’s instructions. The coach didn’t say anything to me as I was substituted in, and just told me to play the way I wanted to play.

The expression on Onana’s face when she was replaced with me was definitely not a good one. Rather, it was a slightly resigned expression.

I may not be able to fully understand Onana’s feelings, but right now, the director and Onana definitely felt like they were like oil and water.

“Whaaaa …

And the enthusiastic response from the fans who had been waiting and anticipating. They must have waited a long time for me to play. It is definitely not normal for a goalkeeper to change the team’s salary ranking, for a goalkeeper to be the center of attention around the world, and for a goalkeeper to be eagerly awaited by the world’s top clubs.

I felt like I was running towards the goal. The fans were looking at me, wanting to see how well I could do.

A goalkeeper who dominated the Bundesliga. And a goalkeeper who gave an arrogant interview at his inauguration ceremony. You wonder if he will show skills that match his words and actions, and if those skills will work here in the EPL.

‘The opposing team is from La Liga…’

I should try it once.

Just be careful not to get hit and shot.

* * *

Manchester United have sacked Ten Hag and appointed Giovanni De Luca as his successor.

Giovanni De Luca.

Born in 1979. As the name suggests, he was born in Italy. A manager who started his career as a coach right after finishing his 15-year career as a player in Milan.

A promising manager who has proven his abilities through various managerial positions in Serie A and entered the Premier League.

The Brighton side he led were sensational and showed enough leadership to captivate the Manchester United board.

So United ended their patience with Ten Hag and brought in Giovanni De Luca as their next manager.

Giovanni De Luca took charge for the entire 2024-25 season, finishing the season in fifth place.

Although the Manchester United board were not entirely satisfied with the results, they decided to keep Giovanni for another year for a number of reasons.

First of all, Giovanni did not receive as much support as Ten Haag.

The player recruitment he wanted was hardly realized, and he had to lead the team as Ten Hag’s legacy.

The result is 5th place.

The board’s support for the 25-26 season, the second year, was expected to be stingy. It was understandable. They had to bend their backs to recruit one goalkeeper.

Well, since the buyout amount was so low, there was no reason for Manchester United not to be able to sign more players.

That was something that had to be done after Ten Haag’s legacy had been completely expelled.

The board have calculated who they should sell, who should loan out, who should be used for now and who should be their core players, and have told Giovanni they are willing to sign up to three more players in the summer transfer window, including Kim.

Kim has already been recruited and Giovanni is also a very welcome addition, so there are only two left.

One of the two asked Kim to sign the striker Kim as a special contract, so that leaves only one person.

Unfortunately, Giovanni was only able to bring in one player of his choice this summer.

It would be a different story if they let go of a large number of players who were underperforming, but Manchester United’s board had no intention of selling the players too cheaply.

First of all, director Richard Johnson thought that Manchester United’s success this season was virtually certain since they had recruited Kim.

In other words, the manager judged that Manchester United’s success was guaranteed even without the additional signings he wanted.

“Giovanni finished a season pretty well with players he didn’t want. But if Kim comes in….”

1st place is definitely possible.

Richard Johnson is also willing to buy the players the manager wants, but he must first sell the players who are underperforming. And at a fair price.

Manchester United can no longer afford to be a sucker who buys high and sells low.

There is no rush either. Now United have Kim. No matter how many times Anthony turns or how many chances Hoilun misses, United will never lose.

[A player that Manchester United have put a lot of effort into recruiting is being substituted. Kim, who has dominated the Bundesliga and blocked numerous strikers’ goal chances, is being substituted for Onana!]

Richard Johnson smiled fatherly at Kim’s input. Richard had infinite confidence in Kim, but sometimes he thought that way too.

What if Kim can’t adapt to the league and concedes goals?

And what if those mistakes aren’t one-offs but ongoing?

If a player worth up to £34 million a year including options goes under, Richard’s plans will fall apart as well.

You may also have to step down from your position.

So Richard watched the game with a slightly nervous mind.

The game was dominated by Manchester, just like in the first half.

[Hoilun! Are you missing this! I should have included this!]

“Oh my.”

Manchester United’s striker had a habit of rejecting easy chances, saying they were too easy. So, do they score difficult chances? That wasn’t it. They also said that difficult goal chances were too difficult and couldn’t score.

[Bruno-! The captain will solve it himself!]

It was just a friendly match, but Richard clenched his fist. Bruno Fernandes folded the defenders like origami and put the ball in. Yes. That’s how you score a goal…

[And then Betis’ attack begins. Kim has only recently joined Manchester and has not had much interaction with the defenders.]

[Oh! I blocked it easily! The header’s trajectory was curved in an unpredictable direction, but I blocked it very easily!]

Clap clap clap―

Sure enough! Richard beams at Kim’s first save. The Old Trafford crowd also applauds.

[And―! This goes in!]

[I thought Pezzella was going to kick it, but Rashford made a good save after the Betis center back made a mistake!]

Rashford scores the equalizer by taking advantage of the opposing defender’s mistake in touching the ball. It looks like the players who were good before are doing well again this time.

Richard clapped his hands again, seemingly satisfied. The score was 2:2. One more goal would be enough to turn the game around.

And as soon as they scored, Real Betis had a chance to counterattack.

It was a scene very similar to Manchester’s second goal.

The only thing better than that is that there is one defender marking him.

[Perez, who scored in the first half, runs in again. And… …Kim saves it! Good kick, but Manchester has Kim!]

[The goalkeeper’s ambition to return more than the amount spent on himself was not a lie!]

It was a quick counterattack that almost resulted in a goal. Richard clapped his hands again with a pleased smile. It was pretty, almost lovely.

But the crisis continued.

There were repeated instances of precarious situations, such as mid-range shots hitting the post or corner kick headers hitting the goalpost.

Even Kim seemed to hesitate and not react at all during those scenes, which made it even more unsettling.

and.

“!”

[I need to stick to it!]

[I missed it for a moment! The shooting angle opened up―!]

Manchester United’s defence were unable to stop him from running into the penalty area. The Real Betis striker made his way inside and fired a wide left-footed shot without being interrupted.

A decisive scene that would have definitely been a goal if the goalkeeper had not been Kim.

[And Kim stops it! Oh! Oh my!]

[It was almost a goal! He blocked it! This is a scene that shows why many strong players in the Bundesliga are reluctant to face Kim!]

“That’s it!”

Richard Johnson jumped up and threw an uppercut into the air.

A scene that shows why he wanted Kim so much and why he was confident that if he had Kim, he would be able to win the league and the Champions League.

Richard trembled with joy at the confirmation that his judgment was correct.

A little more time passed.

[And… … MacTominay! Aaaah! This is a little off!]

Manchester unfortunately failed to score a goal.

[Hoilun’s Header―! Aaaah! What a pity! It’s a little bit high!]

Manchester unfortunately failed to score a goal.

[Rashford! Ah! A ground shot that splits the grass is blocked by the goalkeeper’s hands!]

Manchester unfortunately failed to score a goal.

Manchester missed several unfortunate chances until the end of the game.

And that’s how the game ended.

Score 2:2.

But Richard Johnson was not angry, he was just disappointed.

“Hehehe. Hehehehe.”

Although it was only a friendly match, it was confirmed that Kim’s skills were effective here as well.

The match itself was satisfactory as Manchester were much more dominant.

And the applause poured in.

They drew 2-2 at home against Real Betis, but the crowd applauded them generously as if they had seen a satisfying game after a long time.

and…….

[Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim!]

Richard smiled happily at the shout.