Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 75



Only Krnovel

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As soon as I arrived in Qatar, I had to conduct an interview out of the blue.

Surrounded by people with bewildered expressions, I answered the reporters’ questions one by one.

“Player Kim Min-woo! This is your first time being selected for the national team! How do you feel?”

“I will work hard···.”

“If you had been selected for the last Asian Cup, you would have become the youngest player to ever play in an A match. Don’t you feel disappointed?”

“It’s a shame, but it’s in the past. It’s okay.”

“You have achieved a new record in the Bundesliga! You have achieved an unbelievable feat of 16 clean sheets in your first year since your debut, and the nation has high expectations for Kim Min-woo! Please say a word!”

“I will live up to your expectations. Were all of you gathered here waiting to see me?”

Then, a voice shouts out, “Hapjukki.”

“yes!”

That’s when I was about to say thank you.

“Just a moment! Thank you!”

A vicious hand grabbed me and started to drag me through the crowd. Then, as if I was being kidnapped, I was put on a large bus. It was the national team bus provided by Daehyun.

The national team bus departed as soon as I got on, and I looked at the back of the head of the person who had grabbed me with a bewildered expression.

“Who are you? Are you from the national team?”

“Oh, right. You’re the national team coach.”

What is it? Does this voice sound familiar?

And the national team coach turns his head and looks at me.

“···Director?”

“Now that I’ve taken off the director label, call me coach.”

It was director Yoo Jin-ho.

You said you were promoted, but you came to the national team? How on earth did that happen?

Aren’t the positions of high school soccer coach and U23 national team coach like worlds apart? What kind of trick did you pull off?

“No, how? What happened? Did you come as a coach for the national team? You’re just a supporter. You’re not joking around, are you?”

“This kid. Even though he’s like this, he was someone who made a splash in the K-League. Huh? He’s a coach, but he’s not even good enough to do this?”

“Wow. So you said we’d find out soon? But how did you hide it all this time? There wasn’t anything in the Suyang High School group chat either?”

“It hasn’t been that long since I officially joined. Why? Are you really shocked?”

“Honestly, I thought he was someone I would never see again in my football career.”

“Heh heh heh. This little shit, his personality is still the same, huh?”

I laughed along and sat down in my seat. I felt like all the tension was gone. I’m with Yoo Jin-ho again. And on the national team at that.

In the end, it’s Yoo Jin-ho again?

I never imagined that I would be working with my first teacher and mentor again.

“I didn’t know anyone on the national team, but it turned out well.”

“It’s the same for you, hyung. You’re being treated like a parachute.”

“Isn’t that true?”

“···Some part of it?”

We laughed together again. It was a random thought that occurred to me when I met someone from high school, but I thought it would be fun if the national team held a reunion.

‘It’s just my imagination, but wouldn’t it be really fun if only Kim Jun-young, Han Seung-woo, Lim Seung-min, and Ko Young-jun made it to the national team?’

The reality is that it’s a miracle if even one out of four gets in.

The national team is an honorable position that only the best of the best, the most carefully selected players in Korea, can attain.

And even if we assume that my imagination becomes reality, it will probably take about 8 years.

“Is everyone else doing well? We have a group chat, but not everyone is very talkative.”

“Well, if you say you’re doing well, then you’re doing well. Kim Jun-young, well, he seems to be doing well in the junior league. Han Seung-woo isn’t a regular, but he’s adapting well to the pro stage, occasionally making substitute appearances. As for the rest, what about Lim Seung-min and Ko Young-jun? Are you curious about those two?”

“Those four are the people I’m particularly close with.”

As he laughed heartily, Yoo Jin-ho told Seung-min Lim and Young-jun Ko that they were also doing well in college.

On the way to the national team base camp, we talked about old memories and unpacked our bags.

It was a very fun time.

*

When I was playing in the Bundesliga, my stats were on an upward curve day by day, but the correction rate that drove my growth kept falling.

Nevertheless, the growth of my stats, which were in the 70s on average, was as follows.

Stamina from 70 → 81.

Stamina is 72 → 82.

GK kicks from 71 to 84.

GK diving is 72 → 83.

GK reaction speed from 70 → 83.

GK positioning is 71 → 84.

GK speed from 71 → 83.

Stats that were in the 70s on average have jumped up to the 80s.

Although his growth rate was somewhat slower than it was during his time at Suyang High School and when he first entered the pro league, it was clear that even this was a high growth rate.

Still, having lived through a period of rapid growth, I can’t help but feel regret.

‘It’s inevitable that the correction rate will decrease as the stat increases.’

A lower correction rate meant that my stats were increasing to match the league.

So, if you go up to the first division with this stat, there is a high possibility that the correction rate will increase again.

Because it was clearly stated that the compensation rate would be adjusted to the league level.

‘If a professional goalkeeper goes to early soccer, he won’t be able to gain even a single stat, but if an amateur goalkeeper goes to the professional level, he’ll gain a huge stat with just one game. I’ve grown that much so far.’

The low-level goalkeepers who didn’t fit into the 2nd division level have gradually improved their stats to the same level as the 2nd division, and I expect that if this growth continues, they will probably be slightly lower than Corsic by the end of the league.

‘And that Corsic is also a stopgap player in the second division, so if he goes up to the first division with those stats, the correction rate will bump up again. I can experience rapid growth again.’

Hehe. If you break it, a ridge that will rise appears.

I first unpacked my luggage at a hotel near the base camp, then arrived at the national team base camp, where people were sweating profusely, and greeted everyone.

The national team coach. The national team staff. Even the chefs in charge of the national team’s diet.

“Director, Minwoo is here.”

“Oh, really?”

Eugene Ho, unusually polite for his personality, went to the director and told him that he was there.

As soon as I made eye contact with Director Choi Yong-seok, I greeted him.

“Hello, director. Nice to meet you. My name is Kim Min-woo.”

“Oh yeah, nice to meet you Minwoo. Is this your first time seeing me in person?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I have high expectations. But aren’t you a bit nervous about playing in your next match right away?”

“Yes? I am ready to play in any game the coach wants.”

Actually, it is true that it is a bit burdensome.

I arrived on the afternoon of the 14th, and the first national team game starts on the afternoon of the 16th. If I were to start in the first game, I would be playing only two days after arriving, and that would be a burden even for me.

In two days, it will be barely enough time for the aftereffects to subside. And I haven’t even had a chance to say hello to the players yet.

But since the youngest player on the national team couldn’t say, “Oh, it’s a bit much, coach, to be selected after only arriving two days,” I said that it was possible, at least formally.

Fortunately, Director Choi Yong-seok seems to understand my circumstances well.

“What a relief. First, let’s say hello to the players and get our stamina back. We’re not a team that can’t make it through the preliminaries without you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Coach You? Go and introduce yourself to the players.”

“Okay, Director.”

Yoo Jin-ho dragged me to where the national team players were. Then he opened his mouth.

“Hey. Even if you say that, you’re still really important. You know that, right? The national team squad is full of holes right now.”

“Yes. I heard that a lot of players were called up for this Asian Cup.”

It wasn’t the original U23 squad.

The existing U23 team boasted a powerful roster of players that could be called the golden generation, but all the useful players were called up to the Asian Cup in January, so the current team is relatively weak.

For example, Lee Kang-im, who made us feel the pain of losing a goal for the first time even though it was an event match, is currently not called up to the national team.

The current national team is like a steamed bun without red beans. It is infinitely weaker than the previous squad.

“You’ll be back to normal by the time of the Olympics, but the weight on your shoulders is heavy, Minwoo. You have to do well.”

“Do it again, soccer?”

“Ku …

“Oh.”

Why is it that I am a suffering role player no matter what team I go to?

Suyang High School, Hannover, and the national team…

“Everyone! Stop training for a moment and gather here!”

Eugene Ho called out to the players who were training in a loud voice.

The players stopped training hard and came here. Then Yoo Jin-ho introduced me.

“Do you all know this guy? He’s the youngest member of the national team. He’s a lot younger than you guys, so please be considerate. Okay. Hey, youngest. Should I introduce myself?”

“Hello, seniors! My name is Kim Min-woo, and I’m 19 in Korean age! I play in the Bundesliga 2nd division, for Hannover! Please take care of me!”

I shouted in a voice full of spirit, as expected of a youngest child. Then I quickly lowered my head at a 90-degree angle.

“Okay! Applause!”

Eugene Ho leads the applause without fail. Then the players welcome him with applause.

“There’s no one here who doesn’t know your name, Minwoo. Welcome to the national team!”

A person who seemed to be the captain came to me as a representative and hugged me. I greeted each player individually and became familiar with their faces.

Some of the players had tight hair.

It seemed to be an aftereffect of not winning a gold medal at the Asian Games. People who should have been exempted from military service joined the Sangmu team.

‘But if I just win a medal at the Olympics, I’ll be discharged right away.’

The Olympics were still a long way off.

For now, let’s focus on the Asian Cup.

Since we need to finish in the top 3 in the Asian Cup to advance directly to the Olympics, our goal is to advance to the finals. And if we’re going to do that, we’ll win.

*

On the day I arrived in Qatar, I only did light recovery training. It wasn’t anything grandiose, just called recovery training.

Just sit on the bike and pedal. Don’t push yourself too hard, just pedal moderately.

There are many other recovery exercises, but let’s start with this first.

“Hey Minwoo. Is it true that it’s been a year since you started playing soccer?”

“Yes. It’s been exactly one year.”

“Wow, shit···.”

Jinseop Lee, who was doing recovery training next to him, covers his mouth with his hand as if he is genuinely surprised.

“How did you get here in just one year?”

“I just kept doing it and it worked out…”

“It turned out well after doing it?”

“Yes. I’m okay because I kept a clean sheet in every game until my pro debut.”

“ah······.”

Lee Jin-seop shook his head and smiled bitterly.

“You’re a fucking monster. You haven’t scored a single goal since you debuted as a pro? Is that right?”

I nodded in response. Then Jinseop Lee stared at me.

“Close to nothing in the Bundesliga. How many games have you played in so far?”

“16 games have been played.”

“Wait a minute. So you’ve kept a clean sheet for 16 games?”

“yes.”

Lee Jin-seop now began to see me as somewhere between a monster and an alien.

“You’re really amazing. The media was making a big fuss about you being a genius and all, and there was a reason for that.”

“If I say it’s nothing, I’ll be out of luck, right?”

“Oh. Just be proud. You’re so amazing. It’s rare for pro players to do so well in their debut year, right? But you···”

Jinseop Lee hesitated for a moment, sighed, and continued speaking.

“You’re just a monster. Even if you put the fucking Berlin Wall in front of the goal, it’d be more effective than you.”

I just laughed and kept pedaling. I didn’t want to brag about it for no reason. Instead, I felt embarrassed.

After completing recovery training, I helped the coaches train the goalkeepers.

I wasn’t training, I was coaching the goalkeepers for the next game.

Liar-!

I kicked to the left in front of the goal and the goalkeeper flew out to block it. I immediately kicked it to the opposite side.

Then, Lee Kwang-woon, the starting goalie who is likely to play in the next game, stands up and blocks the ball I kicked again.

‘Oh. The reaction speed is fast.’

Let’s test how much we have to do to see if it can be stopped.

I unleashed on the U23 goalies the same way I did in Hannover.

One step to the right corner. One step to the left corner. One step to the right corner again.

“Gasp! Gasp! Ah, good!”

Oh? Look at this guy?

I looked at Lee Kwang-woon with a smile.

Even though it must have been incredibly difficult, he was smiling brightly.

I wondered when that smiling face would harden, so I kept shooting until Lee Kwang-woon got tired.

‘Oh. Should I stop? This is hard.’

When I was having a hard time just sitting there, Lee Kwang-woon fell down with a loud noise.

I clapped my hands and nodded.

“Nice try!”

It lasted much longer than expected.

‘If it were Gerald Hermann, he would have shouted right here, ‘Where is the time to rest? Get up quickly.’

Ugh.

Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

Goalkeeper coach Geralt was a crazy, balding psycho who enjoyed watching his players suffer.

If I hadn’t had my stats come in every time I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore and gave up, I probably wouldn’t have been able to endure Geralt’s training and would have run away.

That bald German was that vicious.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am