Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 46

“Wow!”

Players gather in front of the goal and cheer every time the ball is kicked.

Director Jan Lytle watched from a distance, arms folded.

‘It’s not a waste of time.’

When Hannover 96’s sporting director Markus Kindt sent me a goalkeeper I hadn’t even asked for, I initially thought the club had brought one in for marketing purposes in Asia.

But it wasn’t.

That goalkeeper, who has now saved three consecutive penalty kicks, is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

And the fourth kicker.

Julian, the team’s vice-captain, fires a powerful shot into the left corner of the goal.

“Wow!”

“What the Fuck!?”

Kim blocks that shot again.

Four consecutive saves.

Considering that goalkeepers generally have a penalty kick save rate of around 25%, that goalkeeper was definitely different.

“Can we put that guy in a match that requires a penalty shootout?”

It was goalkeeper coach Gerald Herrmann. Jan Rytl said without looking back.

“Can you see it?”

“yes?”

“I’m predicting the direction.”

“Isn’t that what everyone does?”

“Isn’t the direction prediction rate 100%? The direction is something you can’t be sure of until right before you kick. It’s like Kim saw where the kick was going and then rewinded it to block it.”

Gerald Hermann nods after watching Kim block the fifth shot again.

“I definitely don’t feel that way.”

“The captain spoke so passionately and told me to accept it, so there must have been a reason. Isn’t it impossible to create such a sense?”

“It’s definitely not a defense that can be learned through training. Even if Yasin himself came, it would have worked several times.”

“When will it work? Should I just wait and see?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

So the 6th, 7th, and 8th.

After blocking all eight shots in a row, the players watching stopped getting excited. They had a subconscious sense that something was seriously wrong.

And the ninth.

“Woooooo!”

Finally got in.

The players treated the player who scored like a hero, and even approached Kim and patted him on the head, telling him he was great.

But Jan Rytl and Gerald Hermann felt certain.

“You fed me that on purpose.”

“I got eaten on purpose.”

The two looked at each other’s faces for a moment and then burst into laughter.

“You have a keen eye for detail.”

“I’ve been a goalkeeper coach for several years.”

Data. Records. Numbers.

When I only looked at the letters written on the white document, I thought it would be filled with the typical boasting or exaggeration of a developing country, but that was not the case at all.

‘To begin with, Korea is not a developing country, but a developed country.’

Still, Kim’s data was unreliable, but this eight-straight penalty kick save certainly gave me a gut feeling.

The data didn’t lie.

“At the age of 17, he saved 8 consecutive penalty kicks from professional players. Korea is truly a strange country.”

“Certainly, it is a country that consistently produces world-class players, even though it is a soccer fringe country. Plus, we even beat Germany 2:0.”

“Your last words are heartbreaking. Anyway, it is true that it is a mysterious country in the East. They say that its soccer market is small compared to its neighboring country, Japan, but how come they keep producing better players than Japan?”

“Isn’t it just the DNA difference?”

Jan Light chuckled and shook his head.

“Never say that in front of the players. If you do it wrong, you might be mistaken for a neo-Nazi.”

“Yes, sir.”

There is a moment of silence between them, along with an awkward smile.

“Teach that friend well. I heard he lacks a lot in the basics.”

“It’s a gem.”

“Yeah. I heard he started playing soccer in April of this year.”

“···yes?”

Jan Lytle tapped the embarrassed goalkeeper coach on the shoulder and said vaguely.

“You heard it right.”

***

Fortunately, the first impression doesn’t seem to be bad.

I blocked all the penalty kicks with the mindset of not letting even a single one go, but the improved prophet’s eye was definitely amazing.

It felt better than I thought, seeing it 0.2 seconds faster.

‘Even though they’re professional players in the second division, they don’t look as good as high school kids, but this is enough.’

The stat difference is something you can overcome.

“Thank you for your hard work today, Kim. I’ll be back early tomorrow morning. Kim doesn’t have a guardian yet and she doesn’t know the area.”

“Oh, yes.”

And in front of the house we arrived at.

I already followed Sophie on Instagram to keep in touch. I didn’t even have an Instagram account, so I was in a hurry to make one.

“Kim. Kim, don’t you usually use SNS?”

“yes.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. You don’t have any friends, do you?”

That’s crossing the line. Actually, it’s not wrong. I responded appropriately.

“Before I started playing soccer, I was a student preparing for college entrance exams, so I didn’t do it on purpose. I had to study.”

“aha.”

Sophie nodded and said goodbye.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow for real. Bye!”

I nodded and opened the car door to get out, but then it suddenly occurred to me that there was nothing in the house.

‘Ah. I can’t sleep on the bare floor.’

There isn’t even a blanket.

I opened the car door and tried to get out, but I bit my lip and sat back down.

“hmm?”

When Sophie tilted her head, I spoke with difficulty.

“Um···.”

“yes?”

“There’s nothing at home right now.”

“yes.”

“There are no blankets, no mattresses, and no food to eat…”

“ah!”

Sophie hitting her own head.

“I forgot! I said I would provide basic necessities. Sorry. I didn’t think about it.”

“Okay. Then···”

“Let’s go straight to the mart!”

Phew.

Sophie drove the car again and drove off somewhere.

‘But don’t they usually prepare it before the players move in?’

What’s so sloppy?

Even this literally supports the ‘basic’ necessities for living, and I have to buy other necessities separately.

Luckily, I got a card from my mom that works in Germany, but I don’t know how well I can hold out until she comes back since I don’t speak German or English very well.

‘If only I could at least understand the language, I could try to do something about it.’

I looked out the window with a sigh.

…Just ask Sophie?

*

The next day, at Hannover 96’s home stadium, Heinz von Heiden-Arena.

I was walking to the press conference with Sophie wearing the Hannover 96 uniform.

The news that I have transferred to the second division of the Bundesliga has already spread.

The location is the press conference room on the basement level that I visited last time.

It was understandable to be nervous, but in reality, I was more tired.

‘I feel really bad because I used the pillow and blanket right away without even washing them…’

Thanks to Sophie, I was able to sleep on a mattress with a pillow and blanket. However, after a day, it felt very uncomfortable and awkward.

“Kim? I’ll be the interpreter, so don’t be too nervous and just answer in Korean.”

It was Sophie. I nodded. When I came to Germany, the person I trusted the most was, of course, Sophie.

In fact, she’s my nanny right now.

Move me to the car, stay by my side, interpret for me. As a foreigner, Sophie was able to fill in the gaps I was uncomfortable with.

So much so that I feel a little sorry.

‘Sophie must have her own job too, she’s having a hard time.’

And then we arrived at the press conference.

As it was Hannover 96’s last summer transfer window signing and a surprise signing, there weren’t many reporters around.

It’s not like they spent a lot of money to recruit me in the first place.

There are about five people occupying seats among the many chairs.

Among them, there was one Asian reporter, but his hairstyle and the impression he had of the person did not seem Korean.

The rest are all westerners.

I sat next to the director at the press conference, amid applause from reporters.

The director answered questions skillfully.

Sophie, who was standing next to me, interpreted what was being said to me. Since it was 100% German, Sophie’s interpretation was a great help.

“I know this may be offensive, but I’m asking if this is a player signing for Asian marketing purposes. The coach said no.”

“ah.”

I guess you could think that way.

For Asian marketing.

I accepted it humbly.

It was a question that made it clear how my position was perceived in this far-off country, Germany.

Well, I didn’t play in the K-League and came straight from high school, so they probably don’t know anything about me. I get it.

“I asked him why he had chosen another goalkeeper when there were already enough of them. The coach replied that he had no choice but to sign him because he was a player with great potential.”

“hmm.”

Most of the questions are directed at the director. I was scratching my nose on the side. Yeah. Maybe they don’t care. They think it’s for marketing purposes.

“This is a question for Kim. I’m a Japanese reporter, and I asked him if he’s met a Japanese player on the same team. How do you think he’ll adapt to the team?”

“uh···.”

His name was Ken Muramoto.

I took a deep breath and answered.

“I met Ken Muramoto yesterday and had a quick chat. Ken said he would help me adjust to the club in the future, and the people at the club are all good people, so I think I’ll be able to adjust quickly.”

Sophie took the microphone and transcribed my words verbatim into German. Then a German reporter raised his hand and asked a question.

“You signed with the club’s first team at the age of seventeen, and there are three goalkeepers in front of you. I expect the competition for the starting position to be tough. What do you think?” he asked.

What is there to think about? I have to impress the director and somehow get in.

But I can’t say it like that, so I tried to express it as euphemistically as possible.

“I will work hard here and definitely go to Bayern Munich!”

“···Kim?”

Sophie taps me as I stare into space without saying anything.

I quickly came to my senses and answered.

“I think I will compete with myself rather than competing with other goalkeepers. If I can be better tomorrow than yesterday, I think I will be able to guard Hannover’s goal someday, even if it is not right now.”

Everyone nods their heads as if satisfied with those words. And then the questions continue.

“I asked him what kind of future he dreams of at Hannover.”

Wait a minute. Maybe I should show some showmanship at this point? Even if it’s not at the level of Lee Cheon-seo, if you reveal your bold ambitions, I think it’ll become a topic of conversation to some extent.

I cleared my throat and smiled. My heart was pounding as I was actually saying what I had only thought about in this formal setting.

‘let’s go.’

He nodded and opened his mouth.

“I want to get our club promoted to the first division and put the brakes on Bayern Munich, which is monopolizing the championship. I will definitely give the Bundesliga championship trophy to the club that recognized me someday.”

“Uh… wow.”

Sophie hesitated for a moment, then picked up the microphone. Then she translated it into German······.

“Good boy.”

Director Jan Lytle, sitting next to me, laughs brightly and pats the back of my head.

The reporters all laughed and applauded this bold ambition.

Fortunately, it tasted good and I think I got some points.

***

“Kim, a 17-year-old Korean boy who caught the last train in the summer transfer market. Revealing his ambitious aspirations!”

Kim Min-woo’s press conference naturally became a hot topic.

The locals of Hanover 96 were overwhelmingly positive about the showmanship displayed by Kim Min-woo.

The article was a hot topic, with discussions and comments, and a mix of light fans and enthusiasts.

[I thought you picked one for Asian marketing, but no? You picked someone who is at least somewhat useful.

[Keke. Not only did they not make it to the first division, but they beat Munich and won the Bundesliga? He’s so cute.]

[Honestly, it’s clear that the future of a 17-year-old Korean is not easy, but that confidence and determination is really something to see. Yes. A player should have that level of ambition. I hope Kim defeats Chiller and becomes a regular player!]

*Chiller (Hannover 96 captain and starting goalkeeper)

The young player’s passion and determination were enough to bring a smile to the faces of soccer fans.

Most Hannover fans who read the article reacted by saying they hoped Kim would truly succeed at Hannover, even if he couldn’t play right away.

And at the same time, a reaction erupted in Korea as well.

“The goalkeeper who appeared in Shoot in Love with Choi Jae-won has joined Bundesliga 2nd division team Hannover 96!”

→Wow. Wait a minute. So there’s finally a goalkeeper from Korea going to Europe?

→Isn’t he the first Korean to go to Europe as a goalkeeper?

→No, there was a Korean goalkeeper who challenged Europe in the past. Kim Min-woo was the second.

→This is your first time in the Bundesliga, so be careful.

At first, there were enthusiastic reactions to the news that a goalkeeper had transferred from Korea to the Bundesliga.

“Kim Min-woo’s press conference is here!”

“Kim Min-woo “I will promote Hannover to the first division and beat Munich””

→Season 2 of Icheonseo?

→That guy is really crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

→The legend is that the local response was better than expected.

→I am a guy. I heard he never conceded a goal in the high school league? I don’t think Hanover brought him in as an immediate force, but rather as a way to develop him and use him. Honestly, I’m really looking forward to it.

→But if you look at the fact that he got eaten by Lee Kang-im 3 times and Lee Cheon-seo twice, isn’t it a bubble?

→I saw that, and it felt like Lee Kang-im’s goal was followed, and Lee Cheon-seo’s goal was conceded.

→Don’t just talk, show us, Minwoo.

→If he were to be released without a sound after 2 seasons with his mouth like that, it would probably be a laughing stock.

Kim Shin-ah took a quick look at the community’s reactions, but couldn’t stand it anymore so she signed up as a member.

And······ thudding thudding.

→Kim Min-woo is going to eat up the Bundesliga in two seasons, so everyone shut up.

And I took screenshots of only the good responses and uploaded them directly to the family chat.

[Kim Shin-ah: (Photo 1) (Photo 2) (Photo 3)]

[Kim Shin-ah: Our brother’s reaction today lol]

[Kim Min-woo: lol]

[Kim Shin-ah: Go and do well. Don’t come back like a loser :D]

[Kim Min-woo: More importantly, when is my mom coming?]

[Choi Sung-hee: Son! Wait a little longer~^^]

Kim Shin-ah opened the room that her brother had originally used. It was almost the same except that there was no one there.

“It feels a bit empty without it.”

Now that Mom will be gone soon, I guess I’ll feel even more lonely?

As empty as it was, there was another problem.

“Ah. Now I have to cook?”

My head is spinning. My mom has been teaching me a lot these days, like how to cook rice and recipes.

When I asked my dad why he wasn’t going to cook, my mom answered on my behalf, which was amazing.

“Dad, you work hard outside.”

“I’m studying hard too?”

“Does that make money?”

“No··· If it comes out like that······.”

I have nothing to say.

“Anyway, daughter? Cooking is something you absolutely need to do in life, so don’t complain and learn. Okay?”

“Yeah.”

End