Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 38



Only Krnovel

We eventually crossed the Taebaek Mountains again.

It was not an easy journey.

Taebaek Jeil High School, who suffered a crushing defeat in the Geumgang Banseok Tournament, came out as if they were fighting against the enemy who killed their parents, and although it wasn’t as bad as the last final, we beat Jeil High School by only one goal.

It was a hard-fought victory.

And, the quarterfinals.

“Oh my, there’s a mountain beyond a mountain.”

Ko Young-jun screamed after checking the quarterfinal bracket.

The quarterfinal opponent was Taebaek Central High School.

After crossing the Taebaek Mountains, there was another Taebaek Mountains in front of it.

“No. It’s better. In my experience, Jinwigo is harder.”

The muttering of the argument. I agreed. That doesn’t mean that Jungang High School is bad. If we were to compare the two schools’ strengths, it would be a difference of just a sheet of paper.

‘Why are my high school friends tougher than my college seniors?’

Seoul Jinwi High School and Taebaek Central High School are both teams that have come up through training pro youth teams.

Although Suyang High School had defeated all of those schools at least once, they could not rest easy. This quarterfinal match was literally a narrow victory.

“Come on. Why are you all crying? We can win again. Who is our goalkeeper?”

Only then does everyone’s expression change at Coach Kim Tae-ho’s shout.

“Kim Ya-shin! Fighting in the semifinals!”

Ao Youngjunshichi···.

***

Dieter Kramer spent the remaining time after the game analyzing the players.

Although the information we had was limited, fortunately, there were quite a few match videos of Kim’s team on YouTube.

“The camera is so unfriendly.”

Dieter Kramer staring intently at the monitor while watching at double speed.

After watching a few match videos from his seat, Kramer let out a sigh.

“It doesn’t help.”

It’s much worse than it looks.

Above all, we shouldn’t be doing this right now.

I need to go and check out the players in the positions that the club needs.

Kramer tapped his eyebrows and looked at Jang, who was still at work and stuck next to him.

“page?”

“yes!”

“When is the final?”

“Tomorrow is the semi-finals, and three days later is the finals!”

“That’s a tight schedule.”

“I think three days is a worthwhile investment.”

“···is it so.”

I was impressed, but it wasn’t wrong. The talent was too dazzling to leave this place and go watch the K-League.

In terms of games, it feels like finding a hidden treasure.

Kramer decided to invest just three more days for goalkeeper Mbappe.

***

The quarterfinals. The return to Taebaek was just as intense as the quarterfinals. Taebaek Central High School watched Jeil High School narrowly lose by one point again, and they had a good idea of ​​how Suyang High School would use its patterns to beat up their opponents.

At least that’s what it looked like to my eyes.

“It’s not like it’s a mosquito bite. It went in perfectly.”

I picked up the water next to the goal and drank it. I felt relaxed enough to do so.

Suyang High School is playing a half-court game in the tournament.

Is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow?

Taebaek Central High School was so defensive that I wondered if it was the same opponent we met last time.

‘By the way, why is he doing that? Is he trying to force a penalty shootout by going into overtime?’

This is exactly the strategy that Suyang High School used in the finals of the Geumgang Banseok Competition.

But isn’t Taebaek Central High School not a weak team?

We had no choice but to choose this strategy, but it wasn’t Taebaek Central High School. I looked around with a thirsty throat for no reason.

I just drank water, but I’m thirsty again.

“It’s coming! It’s coming!”

Screams from the audience.

I was right in front of the goal.

It’s past time to take it easy.

It was a counterattack.

‘It wasn’t just lying down.’

Four defenders from the southeastern side quickly ran towards our goal, but the opponents’ counterattack was formidable.

Four of our defenders. Three of the opposing attackers. And a killer pass across the defenders. Youngjun Shichi. Got through again?

In fact, this time the problem was not Go Young-jun, but the side attack, but now I reflexively look only at Go Young-jun.

Ko Young-jun failed to stop the opposing attacker by a single point, and a 1-on-1 chance was created in an instant.

And a trajectory is created.

I narrowed the angle······.

‘uh?’

The trajectory changes in an instant.

It was the other way around.

What this means is that you make a motion as if you are going to shoot and then pass it to the side.

I slowly moved my body to the side, which had been moving forward, and when the guy flicked a pass to the side, I reflexively dove and extended my hand.

Bam.

A light ground ball shot.

However, since it was a shot aimed precisely at the corner of the goal, far from the goalkeeper’s position, it would have been a shot that would have gone in unconditionally if it had been normal.

however···.

“Eww!”

The opposing attacker, who had blown a golden opportunity, threw his fists into the air in frustration.

Go Young-jun ran to me and hugged me. When he tried to kiss me, I pushed him back hard. Are you crazy, Young-jun?

*

Taebaek Central High School eventually collapsed on its own.

Counterattack after a penalty kick. A bus was parked in front of the penalty box, but coach Yoo Jin-ho flexibly changed the strategy, and Suyang High School continued to try to attack from the side, and eventually, after repeated attempts, they were defeated once.

Han Seung-woo’s header.

The ball spun like a bullet and went in so accurately that the goalkeeper couldn’t even throw his body.

From then on, the bus was dismantled.

Now it was a taxi.

Bullet Taxi.

This was a team that had been lining up and defending until just a moment ago, and they attempted such an aggressive attack that we had to reverse our positions and play space defense.

Both teams used the same strategy, but the difference was time.

Suyang High School had chances throughout the 80 minutes, but Taebaek Central High School only had 20 minutes.

We had to score an equalizer using only a quarter of the time we had, and that impatience ended up destroying Jungang High School.

Of course, my continued defense also had a decisive influence.

Beep, beep, beep!

I threw an uppercut into the air, reveling in the joy. The first half was boring except for one counterattack, but the second half was hectic enough to make my heart race.

“It’s the final!”

Triple Crown! Is it possible for an unknown Suyang High School to win the trophy in one year, and only in the most prestigious competitions in Korea? Can it do so?

“Kim Min-woo! Good job!”

Director Yoo Jin-ho came to me and hugged me. And he didn’t hesitate to say harsh words to me.

“And no matter how relaxed you are, try to avoid drinking water and such during the game as much as possible.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll just let it go, but if you go pro and do that later, the coaches might not look at you favorably. There are a lot of old farts in this soccer world. Huh?”

“all right···.”

Eugene Ho proved his own words. Don’t old farts usually start their complaints with, “I’m fine~”?

Afterwards, we approached the spectators who came to watch the game and bowed our heads and clapped our hands. It was a kind of courtesy. We thanked them for watching our game.

And now, just before leaving the stadium on the bus.

“Hey, Kim Min-woo?”

I turned my head toward the sound. There was a young man who looked like a college student and a foreigner. He was a blond-haired Westerner.

“Huh? Who are you?”

“Ah, we······.”

A man rummaging through his belongings and taking something out.

It was a business card.

“They are from a club called Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga.”

“······yes?”

I stared at the man with blank eyes for a moment. What did I just hear? Did I hear it correctly? So, Bundesliga-

“This person here is Dieter Kramer, a scout from Hannover 96.”

“Uh uh······.”

I was so surprised that my mouth wouldn’t open. Bundesliga? Hannover?

“You’re heading back to your accommodations now, right? If you have time tomorrow, could you call the number on the business card? The scout wants to talk to you.”

At that moment, my eyes met with Yoo Jin-ho’s. Yoo Jin-ho was also watching this situation from right next to me.

“You’re a scout?”

It was Yoo Jin-ho. The other players had already entered the bus, and we happened to be in a blind spot on the bus where it was hard to see. It seemed like he was trying to strike up a conversation at this moment.

“Yes, you are the manager. We come from a club called Hannover 96 in the second division of the Bundesliga.”

“That one is a scout, and you are?”

Eugene Ho looked at the man with eyes filled with suspicion.

“Oh, my name is Jang Yeong-sil and I am currently interning at the Hannover 96 team. I am currently a college student.”

“Okay, first of all, I understand. The players are waiting right now.”

“Oh, yes, sir. Please contact me tomorrow!”

I nodded my head bewilderedly.

Eugene Ho grabbed my shoulder and walked with me toward the bus.

“Director?”

“Let me get my thoughts together first, and then we can talk later. Okay? Don’t tell anyone else about this.”

“···yes.”

Eugene Ho had a complicated face. He couldn’t see my face, but I’m sure I have a similar face.

Oh my. Bundesliga? Hannover? Isn’t Hannover a famous city? I’ve heard of it somewhere. Is it a city famous for beer?

“Brother? Why are you so late!”

As I got on the bus, Kim Jun-young waved his hand and greeted me.

“Mom. Our Minwoo might be a little late. What are you giving him?”

It was Ko Young-jun.

“What is Yaji?”

“Oh my, that stinking little brat. Well, how much have you rolled around before? You know, hyung. Huh? To survive in this hellishly competitive world······.”

Ignoring Ko Young-jun and Kim Jun-young, I sat down with my mouth shut. I looked outside the window to calm my mind.

But my vision kept shaking up and down.

When I checked to see what was going on, my legs and hands were shaking. Quite a bit.

*

I talked to Yoo Jin-ho about this issue until past midnight. This is not an ordinary thing, is it? The Bundesliga.

Eugene Ho made this guess based on his own experience.

“It’s clear that they’re trying to select me as a ‘youth’. It’s obvious.”

“······.”

“Ha, by the way, how did someone come from Germany? Even though the rumors were spread, they already came from overseas? This is the first time I’ve seen such active guys.”

“······.”

“Hey. Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Ah. Yes. That’s right.”

Eugene Ho looked at me and then laughed.

“Wow, look at this kid’s hands shaking. Why? Even the world-class Kim Min-woo gets nervous because he came from Germany?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“That’s not it. That’s not it. You’re just shaking your hands.”

“No, coming from the Bundesliga. That means I have a real chance. Honestly, this is more appealing than the domestic pro offers.”

“Hey. It’s a youth offer anyway. If I accept the youth offer and go to Germany, it’s definitely better to stay in Korea.”

“···Huh? Why does that happen?”

“Even in the world of Bundesliga, if you look at this business card, it’s Hannover 96. It’s a Bundesliga 2nd division, right? It’s true that it’s a higher level league than the K-League, but if you’re on a youth contract, you can’t even play in that league. But here?”

I swallowed and listened to Yu Jin-ho’s words.

“Are there one or two places that are offering you a contract to debut in the first team right away? It would be a much better choice for your career to go to the first team of the K League 1 rather than going to the youth team of the Bundesliga 2nd division. This is nothing to look at.”

“······Well, still. I’d like to hear what you have to say.”

“That’s because I said it right.”

“still···.”

Eugene Ho smiled faintly and nodded.

“Yes. It would be much better to go and hear it yourself than to have any regrets. Instead, should I go too? I can’t send you away alone because I’m anxious. I can’t stand to see those bastards roasting a single piece of sauerkraut with their tongues, even if dirt gets in my eyes. Especially since I dug you up myself.”

“Yes. Let’s go together. I think it would be better for me too.”

If you bring along a seasoned director, no matter what you say, he will cut you off appropriately.

And as I listened to director Yoo Jin-ho’s words, my pounding heart began to calm down.

But anyway, let’s go and hear what they have to say.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am

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