Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 208



Only Krnovel

Episode 208

# Manchester’s long-standing tradition

The winning goal came in the 22nd minute of the second half. The score was 2-0. It was Kim Jun-young’s additional goal after a VAR check.

Japan did not give up and continued to attack even though the score was down to 2 points.

However, as the frequency of attacks increased, the frequency of Korea’s counterattacks also increased, and eventually Son Heung-min ended the game in the famous Son Heung-min zone.

In fact, they all had similar developments.

Japan’s attack → Korea’s counterattack → If Japan’s defense successfully blocks the counterattack, it goes back to the beginning, but if not, it leads to a counterattack goal.

Son Heung-min’s goal this time was the same.

Our defense properly blocks Japan’s attacks and gives them a long way forward.

It was just the attackers breaking through the Japanese defense with passing plays, and this time it was Son Heung-min who solved it.

And then there was the deafening shouting.

The score is now 3-0.

It was an obvious landslide victory.

The cheers were even louder because South Korea’s captain Son Heung-min scored a goal with a style he often displays at Tottenham.

‘This score is real… .’

3-0 on the road. 3-0 at home.

I just thought about it, but it turned out like this.

There were now less than ten minutes left, or about fifteen minutes including overtime.

The Japanese players were either holding their heads or sitting down, as if they couldn’t believe what was happening. The game wasn’t over yet, but everyone on the field, the players, and the spectators watching, were thinking the same thing.

“Let’s go! Let’s not let our guard down and focus until the end!”

I shouted that because I was worried that the players might lose concentration.

Winning a game is winning, and keeping a clean sheet is a must.

I didn’t want to give up my clean sheet record to the likes of Japan for no reason.

And then the Japanese attack continues.

Japan’s offense was completely drained of energy as the gap widened to 3 points. It was like a shriveled balloon.

Of course, there were attacks that surprised me even during that time.

‘uh?’

The trajectory appeared, but Kim Yang-kwon blocked the view, making it impossible to read the timing of the Japanese attacker.

In this case, there was no need to hesitate to get the timing right. Since I couldn’t see the sight and the trajectory was created, I immediately put my body into the trajectory.

and…….

“Tchcha!”

A shot that fits perfectly into the form.

I lay down hugging the ball. Then I raised my head and looked around. I saw the Japanese players raising their heads as if they were in a state of despair and relief.

I stalled just long enough to avoid being booked (a technique I learned from Ziller at Hannover) and passed the ball to the fullback.

As the score widened to 3-0, Korea began to focus more on defense than counterattack, and Japan, which had not been able to open the slightly open defensive gate, had even less power to force open the tightly closed defensive gate.

Ten hundred.

From the 40th minute of the second half, Korea went into full-on iron wall mode, and although 4 more minutes of added time were given, the game ended without any surprises or additional goals from Japan.

When the referee blew his whistle, all the players cheered and clenched their fists, and I also smiled brightly and raised both arms.

It was a clean sweep.

In contrast, Japanese players.

Everyone sits down and collapses.

Some people were even crying.

“Oh, like that.”

Should I try to appease him once for the sake of a good image?

But in the end, I didn’t console the Japanese players and just enjoyed the joy with my teammates.

I didn’t like the fact that Korea was ignored for a long time, but this was a complete waste.

* * *

The next POTM was received by Son Heung-min.

If it was natural, then it was natural.

He contributed greatly to Lee Kang-im’s first goal, and the impact of the final goal was tremendous.

Son Heung-min said in an interview that the players were very happy because the game gave great joy to the people and that it gave them confidence in the national team.

“We unfortunately lost to Japan 2:3 in the Asian Cup, but now we have won 3:0 in Tokyo and 3:0 in Seoul. Can we now say that South Korea is stronger than Japan?”

Son Heung-min, perhaps because of his personality, gave an answer that respected Japan. He concluded his answer by saying that if the level is that of Korea and Japan, the win or loss can change at any time. So, he said that we should never be complacent.

I also received an interview request from Mixed Zone, but I kept it short. It was just an interview where I said that I was happy to have caught Japan twice, and that as long as I was here, Japan would never lose.

He also said that since he has met many Japanese people, he would like to go out on the world stage and meet countries like Brazil and Spain.

It was also a personal curiosity.

I’ve improved a lot since the Olympics, but if I meet Mbappe or Salah again, would I be able to beat them?

Besides that, I also wanted to meet Neymar and Holland (who I would most likely only meet in the league) at least once.

So the national team players finished their schedule at the stadium and boarded the association bus. The coach will be late because he has to do a final press conference, so…

“Hey! Minwoo’s here! Turn it on!”

And as soon as I got on the bus, EDM music started playing. I smiled and thought, whether you play soccer in Europe or in Korea, there is one thing that is constant.

‘Victory’ soon sets the mood for the team.

I danced with the players as I had done in Hanover, in a hammer dance that was long out of style.

* * *

Since my schedule in Korea is over, I have to board a flight to England right away, but I suggested to the club that I rest in Korea for a day or so before I go.

The club readily agreed. Well, it doesn’t affect the schedule whether you fly the same day or a day late.

So, today, the day after the game, I.

“Hwaaam~”

I was yawning and stretching out at home for the first time in a long time. It felt strange to be home after such a long time.

I just lay on the living room sofa and yawned all the time. After working out and training every day, I was quite happy to do nothing… .

“Why is someone who is going to England tomorrow acting like this?”

And Kim Shin-ah sits on my shin because she’s bored. I frown.

“Oh, what are you doing? Come out.”

“You’re taking up all the sofa.”

“whatever.”

“Or move your legs.”

I pushed my shin and bounced Kim Shin-a. Kim Shin-a said, “Wow~ As expected of an athlete~ Even though I’m a goalkeeper, I don’t play around,” and tapped my leg.

“Did you see the interview with Moriyasu?”

“no.”

“I knew it.”

Kim Shin-ah clicked her tongue and took out her cell phone. Then she muttered something like a narration.

“We couldn’t win because of Kim Min-woo in Korea. In fact, we couldn’t raise the line easily in the first half for that reason, but the players strongly objected, so we had no choice but to raise the line.”

“… You said that?”

“Ugh. That’s why I’m getting cursed out a lot in Japan. If that’s the case, why are you talking about beating Korea?”

Are you blaming the players there?

Ugh… It’s not easy, is it?

Even though Klinsgel was sent off after receiving all kinds of criticism, he didn’t blame the players.

‘Ah. Well, Klinsgel didn’t blame the players, did he? He was cut after turning the national team, which was called the golden generation, into the gold-plated generation.’

If we really want to be specific, I think Stielike’s ‘Soria’ comment could be compared to that statement.

Well, actually, it didn’t matter what Moriyasu said. The game was over and we won. That was the most important thing to me.

“Although it’s a shame that we lost to Korea, we’ll go back to Japan and analyze the game and prepare well for the World Cup. The Japanese kids are going crazy right now because of this.”

“It feels like I’m looking at the situation in Korea after the Asian Cup.”

Kim Shin-ah kept asking me trivial questions after that. How are the national team players, how is club life, is England any better… It was annoying, but I held back and answered.

Anyway, after today passes, there won’t be another day when I can face him and talk to him. And maybe that’s why he seems to be asking questions about things he’s not really curious about.

‘Is that so? When we were close, I didn’t really care because I saw him often, but now that we’re far apart, he becomes more precious to me than before, something like that?’

I didn’t want to tease my little sister about this.

I’m sure the impact will be significant, but I don’t think it’ll happen again if I do it for no reason.

‘… Not bad.’

In the past, we didn’t even say hello to each other when we met, but things are better now than they were then.

Why are you even trying to talk to me like this? It’s so special.

So I asked, even though I wasn’t curious.

“How’s your school life these days? The college entrance exam is just around the corner.”

“… … Um. What.”

As I crossed my legs, Kim Shin-ah naturally sat down next to me. I was still half-lying down, listening to Kim Shin-ah’s chattering as if I was listening to the radio.

It felt like I went back to my childhood for the first time in a long time.

* * *

It was a tiring day, but since I could rest in England too, I made the most of my day in Korea.

Even though I tried to use it meaningfully, all I did was spend time with my family… … It was a good time.

‘It’s been a while since we all gathered together to eat like this.’

We gathered at the table and ordered pig’s feet, and since we ordered quite a bit, there was quite a bit left over.

“There’s a lot left… .”

My monologue.

Kim Shin-ah received it as if tossing it.

“Don’t worry. Dad and I will finish it in two or three days. Right, Dad?”

“… Shin-ah, aren’t you going to do it all by yourself?”

“Oh, right. Just separate mine and Dad’s and put them in a separate container. Do you think I’m some kind of pig?”

Then, immediately, my mother stopped me.

“Shina. You can’t say that to Dad.”

“I know too~ It’s just like that~”

I didn’t realize it when I was in Europe, but this is something I’m really happy about.

As I watched Shin-ah and her father bickering, I suddenly had this thought. When Shin-ah becomes an adult and goes to college, wouldn’t she be able to move to England?

There is a university in Manchester, and since this child has the genes of both his parents to study, if he comes to a university in Manchester as an exchange student… … .

‘Am I lonely?’

When I was called up to the national team and talked to my senior players from Europe, such things always came up.

A new language. A new culture. Everything you see is unfamiliar, racism, invisible discrimination, and the loneliness of being in a foreign land.

At home, it’s always just me and my mom.

I try to be friendly with the club players, but from what I’ve experienced living in places like Hannover and Manchester, there is definitely an unavoidable wall of contact with foreigners.

Well, if I just had my chattering little sister here, wouldn’t my loneliness go away a little?

‘Is it a bit weird that Dad is left alone?’

Then even Dad… … .

After thinking about it for a moment, I grabbed another pig’s trotter. Let’s think about it a little more.

* * *

And the next day, I flew to England. My mother said that she had come to Korea while she was there and that she had some things to take care of and would come back separately in a few days.

‘I’m so lonely… .’

After exchanging joking messages with Sophie, I flew to England for nearly 17 hours.

Even though I was flying first class, I felt quite heavy the first day after arriving in England.

‘I guess I’ll have a hard time adjusting to the time difference…’

Spend the day like that.

I’ve decided to get my license within this year.

Since I didn’t have a driver’s license, I had to take a taxi or Uber to the training center when my mom wasn’t there…

After many twists and turns, I arrived at the clubhouse in Manchester and yawned and greeted the people.

“hello.”

“Oh, Kim! You’re back!”

One of the coaches of Giovanni’s team. I had a small talk with the coach, overcoming my fatigue.

Even though they were away for the A-match, the Manchester United clubhouse looked as good as ever.

After greeting the other staff members, kitchen staff, and cleaners I frequently encountered, I went into the locker room and waited.

“Did you come too soon?”

There are no players.

I checked the time on my phone and found out that I arrived 20 minutes earlier than the time the director told me to gather.

But there’s not even one?

Hmm.

I folded my arms and waited for the players, then dozed off. It couldn’t be helped since I hadn’t fully adjusted to the time difference yet…

And then, the sound of the door opening with a bang.

“Kim! Long time no see!”

I opened my closed eyes and looked at his face. It was the captain. I checked the time and it was 15 minutes before the meeting time.

I got up from my seat and hugged the captain.

“Nice to meet you, Captain. Did you do well in the A-match, Captain?”

“Well, it wasn’t bad.”

“You look so bright. I’m so tired from traveling to the other side of the world….”

“Haha. Then how about changing your nationality to Portugal this time? The door to the Portuguese national team is always open?”

“Even if you change your nationality, you still can’t play for the national team. You know that, right?”

Bruno chuckles and claps my shoulder a couple of times before walking to his locker room and changing into his uniform.

“By the way, why is everyone so late?”

“Huh? What are you talking about? There’s still time until the meeting time.”

“That’s true… but isn’t it too little?”

“Kim, you usually come 10 minutes ago, right?”

“Well, that’s true… .”

As we continued our conversation with the captain, familiar players began to join us.

Raphael Varane. Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Harry Maguire. Mason Greenwood. Marcus Rashford… .

And time continued to pass.

The locker room, where a certain number of people had gathered, became as noisy as a market.

And one minute before the meeting time, coach Giovanni entered the locker room.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Everyone’s faces are bright. And Kim? Congratulations. I heard you caught both Japan and Uruguay?”

“That too without a hitch.”

Bruno nodded in agreement. I nodded back.

“We have shown Manchester’s strength.”

The director smiled contentedly and looked around at the audience.

“Hmm. Some players haven’t arrived yet.”

The assembly time had already passed. Giovanni waited a little longer to see how late they were, and the waiting time became 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes.

Players who were late by about 5 minutes apologized, and players who were late by about 10 minutes felt sorry.

There were no players who were late by 15 minutes, and the last players who were late by 30 minutes were two.

“… … Oh. Were you all waiting? Why don’t you train first?”

“Why is it so late?”

The two players made eye contact. Then, after a pause, they answered hesitantly.

“The traffic is blocked.”

“It was completely blocked up.”

It was Anthony and Onana.

Both players should have been released in the transfer market this summer…

“You call that an excuse now? That there was traffic on the way here?”

Giovanni looked stunned. The two players explained: Anthony said he was late because he had an accident on the streets of Manchester, and Onana said he had an accident on the way.

‘It’s just a joke…’

The other players seemed to feel the same way, as they all remained silent and just rolled their eyes.

And then Giovanni closed his eyes for a moment and opened his mouth wide. What happened next was obvious.

The famous Ferguson hairdryer was displayed before my eyes.

*Hairdryer (meaning to yell so loudly that the hair flies)

Every time Giovanni opened his mouth, a dog, a cow, and a pig would pop out, and the two players would pout or even protest, saying that it was too much for them to be late once.

From a Korean’s perspective, it was the worst response. If he were a Korean, he would probably just bow his head and apologize.

Anyway, the conclusion of that response is….

“Get out of here! Get out! Go back to your houses!”

I watched that scene as if it was a scene from a movie. When I returned from the A match, look how friendly they were from the start.

‘Oh my.’

I laughed silently because this situation was so absurd and almost like a sitcom. Then Giovanni’s sharp eyes turned to me.

‘Oops.’

I quickly shut my mouth and lowered my head to the floor.

Although my position was rising thanks to my continued performance, I had no desire to challenge the manager’s authority. Our relationship was not bad either.

And… … looking at the returning situation.

‘Those two are definitely out.’

These are the two that the director was waiting for, but this time he’s going to completely leave.

.