Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 250



Only Krnovel

Episode 250: Giovanni’s Laboratory

The North West derby, which had attracted a lot of attention, ended in a 0-0 draw.

As the old saying goes, there is nothing to eat at a famous feast, and today’s game was nothing special.

It was beyond boring, it was shockingly boring.

Liverpool of the world.

Who would have thought that the world-class Klopp would be so humble against Manchester United?

And I was selected as the POTM for today’s game. This was not because I did well, but because the rest of them were so miserable that I got it by luck.

“Kim. First of all, congratulations on POTM. Today’s North West Derby, despite people’s high expectations, ended in a 0:0 draw, and it was a boring game with not many shots on target. Especially―”

The reporter asked questions like a hyena.

I guess I just blurted that out because I sometimes get emotional, but I think I have to go along with the reporters’ sentiments especially in these types of games.

Since there’s nothing to see in the game, shouldn’t we at least take care of the other little things?

In fact, if you look at it broadly, soccer is ultimately a type of entertainment.

The viewer should enjoy it. So these days, I’ve been studying how to block shots that fly in tastelessly as deliciously as possible. It’s definitely not a form of arrogance… .

“I understand. Even if Liverpool come up, they won’t be able to put a shot in my goal. I just avoided it. And I’ve experienced this strategy enough times at Hannover. I think it was just what was coming.”

Then the face of the reporter who asked me the question brightens.

Hey, hyung. Sometimes I throw you guys what you want.

“So Liverpool didn’t even come up because they thought they had no chance against Manchester United?”

Nodding silently.

The reporters were satisfied and continued to secretly criticize Klopp, but I did not accept such intentions at all.

If you criticized me in the past, you criticized me, and if I were to criticize Klopp first, it would be very unsightly.

Rather than creating a lifelong controversy over a few words, it is better to keep quiet.

That’s how the interview ended.

After that, it was the directors’ time.

Klopp had to appease the angry public, and Giovanni also expressed his own regrets about today’s game.

First of all, Jurgen Klopp.

“…we had to make a choice: lose with honor or draw with shame. I can say for sure that winning was not an option today.”

Victory was not an option.

If it’s shocking, then it’s a shocking answer.

The reporters asked questions politely and in an orderly manner. Most of the questions were at a level that was difficult to answer.

“No manager in Liverpool’s history has ever played a North West derby to draw. There will be a lot of question marks about today’s game, but you—”

“It was a disappointing performance. Mohamed Salah expressed his anger in the post-match interview, saying that it was an unacceptable performance. Do you take this as a challenge, coach?”

“Liverpool played a very defensive game against Manchester United at Anfield, and if they had lost today, the manager would have—”

Questions that stand firm.

Klopp calmly overcame this crisis in his own way.

“It wasn’t the best decision. It wasn’t the second best, but it wasn’t the worst either. It was one of the lesser of two evils that we make several times in our lives. It wasn’t a wise tactic, but it wasn’t a foolish one either.”

“You all criticize me, but isn’t it true that it’s better to get one point than not get any?”

He also responded to Sala by saying that he understood her feelings.

While Klopp was suffering the aftermath of the game, Giovanni also had some harsh words about today’s performance in an interview.

“We absolutely had to win today. We had 30 shots, five on target, and even then, except for one or two, they weren’t that threatening.”

What came out of Giovanni’s mouth was this:

73% possession. 92% pass success rate. 1,321 passes. 8 corners. 14 crosses. Interceptions. Tackles. Saves… .

“If you draw a game despite these overwhelming performances, it means there is a problem with some of your players.”

That wasn’t a wrong statement. After all, scoring a goal is a player’s individual skill.

Even if it’s Pep’s Manchester City, if BJ Best is in the striker position, the team will never score a goal.

“…What the coach said is, there may be changes to the offense soon?”

“If this continues, there will be a change. A big change. It’s hard to say, but Kim only played for about 10 minutes today, but he left a strong impression. Is there any reason why Kim won’t be a regular in the future?”

Just a few weeks ago, Giovanni was evaluating Kim Jun-young harshly.

Are things about to change now?

Or is he just bluffing to make Hoilun and Bayer more alert?

Although only Director Giovanni knows his true feelings, Kim Jun-young had to lose sleep that night because of Giovanni’s words…

* * *

After the game, there was a lot of talk on the Internet.

Of course, it was because of the game content.

It was inevitable that controversy would arise when Liverpool, not any other team, took the strategy of openly aiming for a draw in a derby that is considered one of the most intense in the world.

→Who said there’s no player greater than the team? Here it is!

→The whole team changes tactics because of one player. Just this one thing alone shows that Kim is a greater player than Messi. Even if Messi is the GOAT, do you think Liverpool will only play defense against a team with Messi?

→It’s even more disappointing because it’s not just any other manager, but Klopp who put Liverpool on a solid foundation. One of the best managers in the world is preparing for a game like this because he’s afraid of one goalkeeper.

→Think again, mate. Manchester has a player that even the world’s greatest coaches fear.

→That’s only good for Man U fans, you idiot! I’m the Kop!

→I know. I told you to be jealous.

Liverpool fans were more embarrassed by the performance than they were by the point they earned, and they criticised the manager.

Man U fans made fun of those Liverpool fans.

Also, a video of Kim Min-woo and Ferguson meeting was uploaded at just the right time, and Manchester United fans watched the video while screaming in joy.

And I left comments.

→What if Kim had been there when Sir Alex Ferguson was leading the team?

→What are you talking about? Winning the league is the basic requirement, and we have to see whether we win the Champions League or not.

→Would we have been able to beat Barcelona at that time? Barcelona had a crazy squad at that time.

→At that time, Barcelona was the greatest team in history, but Kim was a greater player than the team. … … Oh wait. Just imagine how exciting that would be.

→Lionel Messi at his peak vs. a goalkeeper greater than his team. It’s fun to imagine.

→They fought at the Paris Olympics. At that time, Kim lost by decision.

→Look. Kim then and Kim now are different people.

Manchester United fans were delighted to see the two legends meet in the video and spent some time playing VS.

And their conclusion was, ‘If Kim had been at Manchester United at that time, the Champions League would have been Manchester United’s.’

The arms were bent inward, and it wasn’t a serious discussion.

* * *

Although it is not yet time to relax, coach Giovanni believes that the points gap between first and second place in the league is significant.

If there are no major variables.

If it continues like this.

Above all, as long as Kim doesn’t get injured.

Man U will continue to pile up points and push for the title.

So Giovanni started up his lab.

It wasn’t an abuse of power.

In manager Giovanni’s view, this is something that Manchester United absolutely need at the moment.

“Forward Kim as the starter.”

And it’s not even a big experiment.

An experiment that involves replacing only one player.

… We also brought in Rooney Vardaji this time.

For the 22nd round at home against Southampton, forward Kim will start.

“Kim. Go and show them. Show your fans what kind of person you are. Got it?”

“Yes, Director! I’ll show you what kind of person I am!”

Kim responds cheerfully.

Even though they are both Kims, how can their personalities be so different?

Goalkeeper Kim had a personality as difficult as his skills. Sometimes cynical, sometimes kind, sometimes incomprehensible.

So Giovanni liked the forward Kim.

Even though he was consistently scoring attack points, Giovanni did not trust Kim, but Kim still silently waited for his chance to come to him.

Giovanni liked the Asians’ characteristic diligence and silence.

Kim was exactly the Asian he had been looking for.

‘If Park had been more energetic, wouldn’t he be the Kim he is today?’

Kim, who was given that opportunity, entered the game and ran like a dog.

Kim was everywhere.

His activity level was so high that I thought he was a midfielder rather than a striker.

‘The problem is, it’s spreading like wildfire now.’

Manchester United scored first with a good link-up. It was a collaboration between winter and summer transfers.

Kim gives it and Rooney Bardazzi puts it in.

Giovanni clenched his fist at the sight.

‘Is this the answer after all?’

And the second half that follows.

Kim played the second half at the same pace as the first half as if there were no problems at all, and when I looked at the scoreboard, thinking that it was time to let up, Kim was still going strong even after 65 minutes of the second half.

‘oh?’

Have you grown up?

But as time passed, Kim Jun-young’s movements definitely began to slow down.

It was obvious. As a human, you can’t keep running around like that.

Normally, at this point, Giovanni would have replaced Kim with Bayer or Hoilun, but this time he decided to keep watching.

He also gave separate instructions not to run too much.

As time passes, Kim somehow manages to accomplish something despite his lack of physical strength.

Kim received a killer pass between the defenders, hesitated, and then scored with sharp determination.

Giovanni clenched his fist again.

‘I definitely have a feeling.’

It’s like looking at a jewel before it’s finished.

And Southampton’s attack.

Kim saves it without difficulty. Goalkeeper Kim.

Now it feels so natural that I don’t feel anything. It’s become the default for Kim to block it.

*Default

“That’s not normal….”

Giovanni finds himself laughing without realizing it.

So the match ended 2:0 without any major difficulties.

Giovanni continued his experimentation in the next game, and the one after that.

Although others might mistake it for an experiment and a ‘normalization’, Giovanni’s intention was clearly an experiment.

23R, Leicester City. Hoilun started and won 1:0. It was a narrow victory.

24R, Crystal Palace. Bayer starts and wins 2:0. Despite the score, it was a match where there was nothing to Giovanni’s liking.

“after….”

Is the moment of decision approaching?

However, I still think there are many shortcomings for forward Kim to be selected as a starter… … .

‘I wonder if they have the same surname. Their growth trajectory is also similar.’

Forward Kim was clearly growing. He hadn’t done this much in the first half, early in the season.

But now it’s different.

He’s now at a level where he can stand shoulder to shoulder with other attackers. He used to be clearly a lower-tier option, but… …not anymore.

‘Is the next match against Arsenal?’

The manager is no longer forcing Kim to play, as he still has a long way to go before he faces Tottenham and Wolverhampton.

However, Giovanni voluntarily decided to use Kim against Arsenal.