Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 63

Before welcoming Karlsruhe SC to my home, I checked the stats first.

[Kim Min-woo]

– Stamina: 70

-Stamina: 72

-GK Kick: 71

-GK Diving: 72

-GK reaction speed: 70

-GK position selection: 71

-GK Speed: 71

– Trait: Yasin’s Eye, Quick and Accurate Kick

-Height: 186cm

-Weight: 75kg

==

“at las.”

A stat window that makes you feel proud just by looking at it.

After running nonstop since the friendly match against the 4th division league, I experienced a stat increase that would not be strange to call a great leap forward.

The overall stat changes were as follows.

Stamina 64 → 70

Stamina 69 → 72

GK Kick 64 → 71

GK diving 61 → 72

GK positioning is 66 → 71

GK speed increased from 61 → 71.

Thanks to all the hard work, all the stats that were in the 60s now have ‘7’ in the front digit.

Now, I think I’ve graduated from high school and am ready to be selected for university.

‘The lowest stat among Corsic’s stats was in the 70s, so he is finally at the starting point.’

There’s still a long way to go.

However, there was also some bad news due to the rapid growth.

[The current player’s stats have been increased to match the league level. The correction rate has been reduced accordingly.]

There was news that the Burning event had ended.

Of course, I wasn’t too discouraged because the correction rate was only ‘some’ reduced, not completely reduced.

And when I actually experienced it, it didn’t feel that big.

‘If you train for a day and gain five stats, does that mean you’ll only lose one?’

It was a little disappointing, but I could bear it. And as the stats increase in the future, this correction rate will gradually decrease.

It was necessary to get used to it in advance.

“Kim. Congratulations on being selected.”

His running mate and now personal friend was Corsic.

I think he was jealous because I was recently getting the director’s trust, even though we were both non-regulars.

“Corsic. If you keep working hard like you are doing now, you will get a chance.”

“Are you comforting me?”

“Why? Hurt your pride?”

“Just because you’re cute.”

Psychologically, it is more impactful when someone in the same situation rises in status. Especially since I am a rookie among rookies who has only been a pro for a few months.

Korsic, who entered this cold world ten years before me, may pretend not to be, but deep down, he may be feeling jealous, envious, and envious.

It would be okay to silently cheer him on from the side, but since he is my running mate, I hope that we can go out together as starters later.

‘Then you will get extra experience points.’

The experience gained through training together is not enough.

***

16R. Hannover welcomed Karlsruher SC at their home stadium with a packed house as usual.

Alexander Müller and Benjamin Schmidt, who were broadcasting the match, had some small talk before the match.

“As always, the Heinz von Heiden Arena is filled with green waves. Great enthusiasm, great cheering. They are surfing the waves in hopes of promotion to the first division.”

“It’s a very important game for Hannover as we’re halfway through the season. They’re level on points with Karlsruher. Both teams need a win to be promoted.”

“And there’s something a bit unusual about Hannover’s starting line-up.”

Müller and Schmidt specifically mentioned goalkeeper, a position that is much talked about at Hannover these days.

“Kim is starting in place of Chiller. What does Schmidt think about Coach Jan’s decision?”

With a career spanning decades in football, Benjamin Schmidt responded confidently and thoughtfully to his teammate’s toss.

“This is a very important match for Hannover. Not only can they secure a place in the standings by overtaking their equal-ranked rivals, but a loss could be fatal. However, the fact that Kim was brought in instead of the undisputed starting goalkeeper Ron-Robert Ziller in this match can be seen as a sign of a change in the team.”

“Oh, Hannover recently changed their captain in the middle of the season. Is this related to Hannover’s renewal?”

“It’s a surprising choice, but considering Kim’s recent performance, it could be a reasonable choice. However, this is just a hypothesis, and it’s also possible that Yann Chiller simply brought Kim up because he judged that he hadn’t fully recovered from his injury.”

“Whatever it is, it is a great opportunity for Kim, who came from Korea in the Far East at the age of 17. If he can win the hearts of the fans with his outstanding performance in this match, it would not be strange for Hannover’s goalkeeper to be replaced in the future.”

Meanwhile, the broadcast camera broadcasted the children who had come to the stadium with their parents. After checking the screen, the broadcast team skillfully changed the subject.

“Oh, and I heard that the number of children visiting Hannover has increased significantly since Kim’s interview.”

“Yes. In addition, the club said that they will sell commercial jerseys with Kim’s name on them. I heard that Hannover fans have already made many reservations, which is also proof that Kim is highly anticipated by Hannover fans.”

“He was just a young Asian player who was nothing when he first transferred, but he is now considered a promising prospect within the league. I’m really curious to see how far Kim will go. We’ll soon see if Kim can live up to the fans’ expectations in this match.”

And the players enter the stadium with their children. The camera shows several players entering the stadium, but it focuses particularly on Kim.

***

Hannover’s tactics are largely based around a three-back formation.

They used various tactics such as 3-4-1-2, 3-4-3, and 3-5-2, but the three-back formation was the basic foundation.

And in this case, no matter what tactic was used, the wingers were the most important.

If the players on the flanks can’t do their job, the entire tactic dies.

Also, it becomes quite dangerous when a counterattack situation unfolds.

And the opposing team, Karlsruher SC, must have analyzed coach Jan’s tactics before the game and prepared well to prevent Hannover’s wingers from performing their roles.

Right midfielder Henrik Fischer, who had always been a constant, was completely erased, and left midfielder Derek was also struggling.

The defense was shaken immediately when the players who were supposed to overload the flanks exploded instead.

‘There is no day that goes by easily.’

I was nervous when I saw the opposing winger running from the left. Derek was chasing him hard to keep him in check, but it looked difficult to stop him without a back tackle.

The opposing winger briefly checked the penalty area and then crossed. The enemy striker beat Halstenberg and headed the ball home.

It was a header that would have gone into the goal if left alone, so I blocked it. It was an easy shot, so I handled it easily.

Then the crowd applauded in support. He threw the ball to Phil Neumann and watched the situation unfold.

The game has entered a lull again, but it seems like a tactical change is needed. If things continue this way, it will end in a draw at best.

And time passed.

The first half, like a war, ends with the referee’s decision.

The first half ended without either team creating any notable opportunities.

Looking at the current situation, if they fail to change the flow in the second half, they will likely continue to have an uncomfortable relationship with Karlsruher, each taking one point.

‘It’s none of my business. I just have to make sure I don’t concede any goals. The rest are problems for the other players to solve.’

It’s natural for a player on the field to hope for his team to score, but honestly, as a goalkeeper, there was nothing I could do about scoring.

A quick and accurate kick is something that requires a combination of various circumstances, and it is not something that can be successful every time.

I just hope the strikers do it.

***

The second half has begun.

Ron-Robert Ziller crossed his arms and stared at the far post as if he was going to kill them. There was a young Korean kid who had been brought in for commercial reasons in the summer transfer market.

A goalkeeper who extends his hand forward and shouts commands to the defenders.

“shit.”

Damn it.

Chiller was a regular for Hannover, was their captain and was once a goalkeeper for the national team.

Although he did not play in the national team because Manuel Neuer and Roman Weidenfeller were there, he also experienced winning the World Cup.

So he was familiar with the bench.

In fact, his football life had a deep connection with the bench.

When I first started playing football in Cologne and then moved to Manchester United in 2005.

Chiller had fought his way into the Manchester United first team through hellish competition in the youth ranks.

And the one who blocked his way was Bandesar.

At that time, Van der Sar was a 39-year-old veteran, but far from aging, he was a crazy monster who had set a record of 14 clean sheets in the EPL at the time.

Chiller fled to Hanover to escape the crazy old man.

And he had the best performance of his football career in Hannover.

At that time, he played as the starting goalkeeper for Hannover, which was in the Bundesliga 1st Division, and made a brilliant contribution to achieving the club’s best ever finish of 4th place.

After that, he stayed in Hannover for a while and then transferred to Leicester. At Leicester City, he secured some appearances in the first half, but after that, he just warmed the bench again. This was due to the tiresome competition for the starting position.

The competition for a starting spot that every player in the sports world must inevitably experience until they retire.

Chiller hated sitting on the bench.

He then returned to the Bundesliga and headed to Stuttgart, where he put in decent performances but was unable to prevent the team’s relegation.

And after going through many processes, he settled down in Hannover again. Good treatment, decent salary, and even the position of captain.

Although he was in the twilight of his playing career, Chiller was now a player far removed from the bench.

Even though this is not the first division but the second division, I was very happy to be classified as a key player for the team and to be able to play an active role.

‘But why am I on the bench again?’

At first, it was an unplanned recruitment.

17 years old. No professional experience. A rookie from a country called Korea. All Chiller knew about Korea was Kim Jong-un and the squid game.

And the coaching staff was in an awkward mood because of the new recruit that came out of nowhere. It meant that he was not a player that the manager wanted to bring in, but a player that the club had chosen on its own.

And until then, I didn’t think much of it. I just thought the club had picked one cheaply for Asian marketing purposes. That’s all.

Even though we were in the same position, I never thought that that rookie would become a threat to my position.

‘Now, even in the second division, there is competition for the starting position.’

What’s infuriating is that the skills of that 17-year-old rookie are not something to be ignored.

‘If it were Bandesar, I wouldn’t have allowed him to compete with a brat like that.’

Back when he was a rookie, Bandesar was older than he is now, but he showed an overwhelming presence that did not allow any competition.

It was ultimately my fault that I was sitting on the bench like this. In the world of professional sports, competing with someone means having similar skills.

“Woooooooo!”

Applause and cheers from the audience.

Kim successfully avoided another scoring crisis in the first half.

It was such a good save that I wondered if I could have stopped it if I had been there.

‘······.’

Suddenly, that thought occurred to me.

Maybe, that kid······.

“Sometimes I think you’re like Yasin.”

The bench member muttered quietly.

I glanced to the side and saw Dominik Korsic.

A Croatian player who is becoming increasingly friendly with that Asian kid.

Chiller looked back at where Kim was.

’17 years old from Bandesar.’

Maybe it’s Yasin’s 17th birthday.

‘I might have to consider transferring.’

Although this match is not over yet, Chiller has been looking at Kim’s performance so far and his current performance, and he has a feeling that he will not win the competition for the starting position.

I’m too old, he’s too young, and above all, I’m not a bandit.

Besides, it seemed like Jan liked that kid more than me.

We live in an age where a lot is demanded of goalkeepers, but ultimately the best goalkeeper in the world is the one who doesn’t concede goals.

“Phew···.”

It’s time to find a new nest.

If he loses the competition for the starting position, the club will gladly accept his transfer request.

It would be burdensome to turn me into a sub.

Of course, I plan to struggle as much as I can until that happens.

I have to show that little brat the power of an experienced person.

***

4th and 5th place showdown. Same points. Midway through the league.

This match was a complex and intertwined match.

Do you go for it, do you sit back, or do you put it off until next time?

The first half was a prelude to how the rest of the game would unfold.

A small skirmish before a full-scale battle breaks out.

And as expected, the second half was a fierce battle between the two teams to earn points.

“Stay where you are!”

Karlsruhe’s attack situation.

I shouted like that.

A wide left-side pass from the right side to the left, taking advantage of Hannover’s wide defensive gap and directly into the penalty box.

Hannover even had striker Teutchert join the defense to block his penetration, but it seems like Karlsruher also had a striker like Becker.

The number 13 striker turned sideways as soon as he received the ball and beat Teutchert.

Toyhert was caught in a defensive position by a counter-movement, and the number 13 striker attempted a curling shot without hesitation.

Amazingly fast shooting.

But I knew the trajectory in advance, so I flew with my whole body and blocked the shot.

To be exact, I tried to catch it, but I couldn’t and just let it slide. Damn it.

Fortunately, the shot was blocked by Phil Neumann, who blocked the goal crisis.

Clap clap clap clap-!

It was a great attack by Karlsruher and a clean defense by Hannover.

I got up from my seat with encouragement from my colleagues.

In the second half, such opportunities occurred sporadically regardless of the team.

The opposing goalkeeper also squandered several of our attacking opportunities, so if the game continues like this, the goalkeeper will ultimately decide the game.

‘The first one to get eaten loses.’

I shouted, banging my fist on the goalkeeper’s gloves.

“Corner kick! Everyone get ready!”

And in this match, whether I win or draw, I will not be defeated by the opposing goalkeeper.

I didn’t have the confidence to concede a goal before my opponent, and it didn’t seem like I would concede a goal in the first place.

And since I was already building up my clean sheet record, I wanted to set a really good record.

A clean sheet in his debut season. Or the most clean sheets in the Bundesliga. Records like that.