Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 246



Only Krnovel

Episode 246: Superhuman Goalkeeper

Wigan didn’t get back up for a while after conceding the opening goal to me.

It seemed like they were completely intimidated by Manchester United’s reputation and name value. More precisely, the problem was probably the manager rather than the players.

No matter how good the players are, if you bring them in and tell them to focus only on defense, you won’t be able to win the game.

So I left the goal like before and went up high on the line to join the build-up.

The Wigan players also seemed to have the ability to learn, as they quickly ran up to me and marked me whenever I got the ball, and I pushed the Wigan players to their limit and passed the ball.

And when I look at the expression on the Wigan player’s face as he looks at me with a sense of despair… .

‘I should have gotten it sooner.’

It was refreshing.

Just by training my opponents to be shit dogs, I am helping the team immensely.

While I was helping build up the game by slowly wearing down the Wigan players’ stamina, the Manchester United attack was busy breaking down the Wigan defense.

Having already conceded a goal, Wigan’s defensive organisation was more fractured than before, and if a third-tier defence is not even well organised, then it was obvious what would happen next.

Kim Jun-young, who had no other option for the relatively weak team, started by scoring a goal with a pass play, and it was goal-goal-goal streak until the end of the first half.

‘Who is calling our team a swindler?’

I heard that before I came, there was a time when experts were fiercely debating whether Manchester United was a big club or not, but now they all know for sure.

It’s a very different style from the Manchester United of that time, but at least Manchester United is back.

‘It’s funny to think like this while holding Wigan.’

If we really want to declare that Manchester United have returned to that era, it is not too late to do so at least after they have secured the league title and international competitions.

* * *

The FA Cup round of 64 against Wigan ended with a score of 4:0.

Giovanni replaced many of the starting players after the first half, as if there was nothing left to see. Including me.

There were exactly five starting members, including me, and Giovanni took all five out at the start of the second half.

The second half was a mix of Wigan’s offense and Manchester United’s defense, but perhaps because the manager is Italian, the team finished the game without allowing a single goal.

“Coach! What is Manchester United’s goal for advancing to the FA Cup this season?”

The reporter’s question. Perhaps because of the great victory, the atmosphere was not bad, and Giovanni answered with a smile.

“First of all, I’m happy to have made a fresh start in the FA Cup, and of course, our goal for this season is to win the championship.”

“Last season, you beat Arsenal but lost to Luton Town and failed to reach the FA Cup final. And last season, you were not the manager of Manchester United, but you beat Liverpool but lost to Coventry and failed to reach the FA Cup final. Can we expect a different result this time?”

“…our plan for victory is set.”

Giovanni was about to say ‘If Kim doesn’t get injured, the title is practically United’s’ but then closed his mouth.

If I say that, it seems like I’m relying too much on one player, and it also seems like the coach’s authority is diminishing.

Instead.

“We have recruited many of the players I wanted, and it will be different from the Manchester United we have had so far. As you can see from our record in the league.”

After being asked a few more questions, Giovanni broke off the interview and grumbled to himself on his way back to the club bus.

“Why are the reporters asking questions like that?”

It’s too low to get angry, but it’s also too high to just let it go.

Annoyed but determined not to be interrupted by the rascally reporters, Giovanni took a deep breath and boarded the team bus.

As expected, the atmosphere on the bus was good.

‘They say that when you win, the atmosphere is good, but…’

This season feels particularly good. Is it because we’ve only lost once so far?

Giovanni looked around at the players and then at Double Kim. The striker Kim was chattering away, and the goalkeeper Kim was looking out the window, seemingly uninterested.

At first, Giovanni’s stance on those two players was not so good. In particular, his bombshell statement at the inauguration ceremony was enough to pile up misunderstandings about Kim.

‘I thought you weren’t the Asian I was familiar with.’

Kim has been the subject of great interest from the world since he joined Manchester United. He is a player with such great skills that he can upset Manchester United’s existing wage system.

However, if such a player challenges the coach’s authority and causes trouble, the team will eventually fall apart.

So Giovanni was very worried that Kim would challenge him.

‘But that wasn’t the case at all.’

The statement made at the initiation ceremony was a kind of defense mechanism. Like a hedgehog raising its thorns at someone who tries to harm it.

After nearly half a year, Giovanni could now see Kim’s personality. He had great skills, but he also respected the authority of the director.

As long as you don’t push him first, he’s basically a player who can be respected by both sides.

‘Besides, striker Kim is a better player than I thought.’

At the beginning of his career, Giovanni had no intention of using striker Kim like this.

He was a player they were trying to get rid of by loaning or transferring him after fulfilling his contract option.

“Kim.”

Giovanni smiled and approached Kim. When he called out to Kim, they both looked at him. Giovanni’s smile turned into a grin.

“Yes, you two. The team atmosphere has changed a lot since you two joined. I’m so grateful that you came to our team.”

“…Don’t mention it.”

It was goalkeeper Kim.

“Oh. Then I guess I should start in the next game….”

It was the striker Kim.

Giovanni patted striker Kim on the head.

“I’ll think about it.”

* * *

The match between Manchester United and Brentford was one that attracted a lot of attention in Korea.

Caster Choi Jun-ho and commentator Park Jun-seo, who are broadcasting the match, chatter before the match.

“Today’s match is the Korean derby that all of you viewers have been waiting for, right?”

“Yes. In fact, Kim Min-woo and Kim Ji-seok are goalkeeper and center back respectively, so they rarely face each other, so it might be a bit boring, but if you look at the starting lineup announced by Manchester United in advance, you can see that Kim Jun-young is on the starting lineup for the first time in a long time in a league match.”

The commentators, who were talking about how it was unfortunate that Kim Ji-seok couldn’t make it last time because of an injury, soon explained each player’s performance this season to match the screen that would be broadcast.

“There’s no need to say anything about Kim Min-woo. Following the Bundesliga, he is currently on a clean sheet in the Premier League as well.”

“Literally, we are living in the era of Kim Min-woo.”

“I dare say that it is a blessing to be able to witness the era of Kim Min-woo. Our grandchildren can only see this legendary player through writing and video. They cannot see him in person.”

And Kim Min-woo’s performance is broadcast on the screen. Among Kim Min-woo’s performances, there were many saves that were pleasing to the eye because they were evenly distributed.

“His defensive ability has been well-known for a long time, but after this match against Bournemouth, there is talk that he has improved once again. Now, if you look at his defensive ability here… ”

The footage was of Kim Min-woo in the Bournemouth match. It was his first match since improving his eyesight.

Beyond blocking the shot, the scene immediately turned into a counterattack. The commentators were amazed even when watching it again.

“Wow… … This is truly incredible. It may not be comparable to field players, but I dare say that this scene is on par with Son Heung-min’s 80-meter dribble run against Burnley.”

“Ah… is that it?”

“uh?”

“Yes. It was a really great scene.”

“Actually, not only in that scene, but in the Bournemouth match, he kept showing movements as if he knew how the attack was going to come―”

And the conclusion of the commentators.

“Even after the Bournemouth match, he has shown a lot of signs of anticipating the opponent’s attacks, that is, passes, so I have high expectations for this match as well.”

Next was Kim Ji-seok.

Kim Ji-seok was a centre-back for Brentford and was a semi-regular.

Sometimes he’s a starter, and sometimes he’s a substitute.

It was a bit of a revolving door, but since the manager is using Kim Ji-seok well and he is growing steadily, he is a player with a promising future.

“I’m starting in today’s game, but since I’m actually a defender, I’m looking forward to the match against Kim Jun-young more than Kim Min-woo.”

The next active scene is Kim Jun-young.

There were more scenes of Kim Jun-young’s activities than expected.

“Actually, when Kim Jun-young first joined Manchester United, there were high expectations, but didn’t you feel uneasy afterwards?”

“Yes. But now, he is guaranteed a spot as a semi-regular. Like in the last EFL Cup and the FA Cup, he has been starting more often recently.”

“In addition, he is also a starter in today’s game. In fact, it seems like coach Giovanni has a tendency to put Kim Jun-young in when there is a Korean player on the opposing team during the league schedule.”

“uh?”

“No, what I mean is, I’m not ignoring Junyoung Kim, but I have that tendency—”

“I listened carefully to commentator Park Jun-seo’s personal opinion.”

Kim Jun-young’s goals that were sent out showed a certain trend. They were either refreshing or eaten up.

“Kim Jun-young is a player who always shows a good performance whenever he enters a match. He has been appearing in matches recently, so I hope he can keep the momentum going and secure a spot as a starter.”

“Wouldn’t Hoilun and Bayer be upset if they heard that?”

“uh?”

“No… hahaha.”

And then comes the match time that people have been waiting for. Three Koreans in one match.

After a brief pre-match ceremony, the match begins without delay.

Beep!

In a showdown between the two teams, the key moment came earlier than expected.

It all started when Brentford midfielder Jensen had his short pass from midfield read by Kim Jun-young and cut out.

Bruno Fernandes, who received the ball almost stationary, crossed it to the wing before the opponents could press him.

The following run by winger Greenwood.

He enters the penalty box without any resistance.

The decibel level of the commentators also increased.

“Ahhhhhh! This scene came out early!”

Greenwood slowed down as he neared the goal and took a composed shot.

However, the angle was to the side and the goalkeeper made a save.

“Great save by the goalkeeper! But it’s a loose ball!”

“Kim Jun-young and Kim Ji-seok!”

The ball bounced off the goalkeeper’s hand and fell in front of center back Kim Ji-seok.

However, as if the counter-action was applied, Kim Ji-seok’s reaction was delayed for a moment, and Kim Jun-young, who continued to run without slowing down, quickly ran over and made a sliding tackle on the ball.

Kim Ji-seok also belatedly got his foot in the door―

“Kim Jun-yeo, uh-uh—!”

“Ttaaaaaah! It’s in―!”

“It was the first match between Kim Jun-young and Kim Ji-seok! Kim Jun-young scored the first goal in the first match!”

Kim Jun-young clenches his fist and shows his love.

Old Trafford is abuzz with that opening goal.

“Ah, running without giving up until the end led to a goal!”

“Whenever I see Kim Jun-young, he always shows a good performance when he is put into the game. Oh, and Hoilun and Bayer are watching from the bench. Their expressions don’t look so good, do they?”

Hoilun and Baier, who were reflected on the screen, had stern faces. The two commentators’ lips formed a smile at that sight.

“The competition for the starting position will be heated up again. In fact, if you only look at the transfer fee, it makes no sense for Kim Jun-young to compete with those two players.”

“Hoilun is 130 billion. Bayer is 70 billion. The transfer fees for these two players are quite different, but Kim Jun-young… … I understand it is in the early 1 billion range.”

“It’s a huge difference. From Manchester United’s perspective, they really did a good job of signing a good player at a low price.”

And the replay scene is played.

As you can see in the slow motion video, the ball did not hit Junyoung Kim’s foot but went in between his legs.

So, it was a groin shot.

“… Originally, a striker with good decision-making skills used various parts of his body well.”

“The ball went between my legs when I spread my legs. Well, it was still a nice-looking goal from a distance.”

It was a tearful laundry for the relay team.

The game resumed later, and Manchester United, who scored an early goal, continued to pressure Brentford.

Brentford also did not back down and fought back.

“These days, teams playing against Manchester United don’t attack like this even if they are conscious of Kim Min-woo. He’s hot!”

“Yes! The fierce battle for the ball continues!”

Brentford continued to loiter in front of Manchester United’s penalty box.

There were a lot of Manchester United players crowded into the box, so there weren’t many good shooting angles, but Brentford were persistent.

“It’s a confusing situation. Is there a decisive scene here?”

“There are too many players in the box. This isn’t easy.”

Brentford waited for the situation to change with short passes, but passing from behind won’t change the situation.

Unable to bear the frustration, striker Ivan Toney shoots without thinking.

And the shot hit a Man U player. That’s to be expected, because there were so many in the box. But.

“Hey hey hey―!?”

The shot that hit Mainu’s body did not bounce forward or to the side, but was deflected and shot toward the goal.

The shooting angle before the deflection was to the right, but after the deflection, the shooting angle changed to the left. It was a situation where luck, or rather the heavens, were on his side.

The vast majority of goalkeepers, indeed all goalkeepers in the world, are caught in this situation and are unable to do anything.

No matter how fast the change of direction is, this is not possible.

The two commentators instinctively realized while watching it, ‘Ah. Kim Min-woo’s first goal will come from here!’

Even the best goalkeeper in the world can’t do anything about a deflected shot that goes straight into the goal.

And contrary to everyone’s expectations, Kim Min-woo blocked it by flying his body.

As if he had not been affected by the counter-movement from the beginning, he jumped and blocked it as soon as it was deflected.

The two commentators raise their voices as if they were sitting in the electric chair.

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee―! Stop this!”

“Super save! Super save! Crazy save that makes you go crazy!”

The two commentators were so surprised that they jumped up from their seats. The Old Trafford crowd also sighed in surprise, then belatedly applauded in amazement.

The Manchester United players also flocked to Kim Min-woo to cheer him on for his incredible save.

“No, wow, are you stopping this? What is this player, really?”

“Isn’t there a reverse movement? No, doesn’t Kim Min-woo have a reverse movement?”

“He’s just a superman. He’s a superman.”

“It was a save that made me wonder if he was really human!”

Kim Min-woo is shown in close-up on the screen. Kim Min-woo’s face was red as if he was very excited by this save.

“Kim Min-woo’s goal is so strict. Honestly, I thought it worked.”

Ivan Tony, who had been directly hit, had an expression that was not only disappointing but also dumbfounded. Ivan Tony just stood there with his mouth wide open.

The two commentators nodded as if they understood.

“I would have been sure that he would have gone in there himself. But the goalkeeper is Kim Min-woo!”

“Okay, this is another save worthy of being included in Kim Min-woo’s highlight scenes. To be honest, I dare say that this save is just as good as the one against Bournemouth.”

“I agree. That player doesn’t seem human. It almost feels like God is standing in goalie’s body.”

And the replay scene that is broadcast. It is shown in slow motion, and because it is shown in slow motion, it is an even more unbelievable save.

“That reaction speed… . Sigh. Is that the reaction speed of a human?”

And then there was Giovanni. Coach Giovanni was also surprised and opened his eyes wide at Kim Min-woo’s save.

“Coach Giovanni is surprised. It’s such a great save that even his team’s coach has a hard time believing it.”

“This is a scene that reminds me of what the Hannover manager said. Did he say that if we have Kim Min-woo, we can play like a great manager?”

And despite that amazing save, the game resumed.

There was still a lot of game time left… .