Chapter 8

8. Debut (3)

Whoosh! Thud!

The players from Seoul clenched their teeth and ran.

Upon hearing Ha-joon's stern words, the players realized their shame in feeling satisfied before the game had even ended.

"Stop them!"

The players from Gyeongbuk ran with fierce determination to block Seoul's offensive, but—

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

The triangle formation, which Ha-joon had emphasized repeatedly, allowed the players to smoothly pass the ball and easily break through Gyeongbuk's defense.

"Really..."

Coach Han Ju-yong of Gyeongbuk sighed as he watched the scene. Before the game, he had thought it wouldn't be difficult to secure a win. Even if Ha-joon was smart and had learned football and tactics in Europe, actual gameplay was different, right?

However.

He had to admit that the game was not going as he had expected.

They are stronger.

No, Kim Ha-joon must have cast a spell.

"Why didn't you bring such talent onto the coaching staff...?"

That's why Coach Han Ju-yong couldn't understand the former coach of Seoul, Jung In-woo. While it's often said that modern football is a game of managers, not all managers can excel.

That's why they seek capable coaches.

"Perhaps he was intoxicated by past glory and couldn't see reality."

Jung In-woo was one of the key players in the 2002 World Cup semifinal miracle. Of course, he wasn't a starter. Could that have been his sore point? He had a tendency to envy and suppress talented players. Ha-joon must have been the same in his eyes.

"Hmm... Is there any way to turn this around?"

Coach Han Ju-yong sighed and looked at the chief coach beside him, but the chief coach shook his head.

"The tempo is different. It's hard to believe how he transformed the team in such a short time. Our players are struggling just to keep up with their tempo."

"Hmm..."

Coach Han Ju-yong, who let out a sigh, looked at the players on the field. In the first half, Seoul's players had made some mistakes, giving away opportunities. What did Ha-joon say at halftime to bring about such focus?

Frustrated by the lack of a solution, Coach Han Ju-yong turned his eyes from the field to Ha-joon standing in the opposite technical area.

"Adjust the spacing! Yeong-joon, don't leave your position!"

Seeing Ha-joon adjusting the players' positions in real-time, Coach Han Ju-yong let out a bitter laugh.

"Heh heh. A talent that didn't bloom as a player might bloom as a coach."

He had underestimated the opponent. Seoul hadn't won a single game in the first 8 matches of the season. Still, he hadn't sent out the second team for this match. Instead, he had put all the first-team members on the field to eliminate even the slightest possibility of a loss.

"Prepare Cha In-hyuk."

"Yes, Coach."

Cha In-hyuk.

A veteran player signed by Gyeongbuk on a free contract before this season. He had delighted Korean football fans by playing in the Bundesliga until his early 30s.

"Has it been half a year? It's been a while, Ha-joon."

Cha In-hyuk, waiting for a substitution nearby, spoke to Ha-joon, who smiled in response.

"I used to see you play when Mainz was still in the Bundesliga."

"Even if I'm a toothless tiger now, you should be careful."

Ha-joon's lips curled up at Cha In-hyuk's playful provocation.

"I'll make sure you can't do anything on the field."

Ha-joon was confident. The veteran in front of him should have been a significant threat, but—

'I didn't expect his trait to start flashing after halftime.'

One of the players who entered the game after halftime. Moon Tae-jin, one of the three center-backs in today's match, had his trait start flashing.

'Impenetrable...'

Ha-joon thought that a player's trait might be influenced by their mental state. If his words at halftime hadn't affected Moon Tae-jin's mindset, his trait wouldn't have started flashing so quickly.

Beep!

With Cha In-hyuk on the field, Gyeongbuk's performance began to change. Although he couldn't play with the same speed as in his prime, Cha In-hyuk, who had improved his chance-creating ability over years in Europe, moved around to create opportunities for Seoul's goal.

Thud!

Boom!

Moon Tae-jin cleared a potentially dangerous situation, and Ha-joon's lips curled up.

"Wow, he's reliable."

Feeling the power of the insight he had gained by chance, Ha-joon muttered to himself. Coach Lee Su-hyuk, standing beside him, spoke up.

"Indeed, Moon Tae-jin's defensive ability is excellent. He's a reliable player."

"Ah... Yes, he is."

Ha-joon, who had been staring at Coach Lee Su-hyuk, who was talking about something different, didn't add anything. Good is good, right?

Despite his efforts to create opportunities for Gyeongbuk, Cha In-hyuk's attempts were all thwarted by Moon Tae-jin, and he gritted his teeth.

'I'll break through myself if I can't...'

As his physical abilities declined, Cha In-hyuk had played more selflessly. However, since his teammates couldn't capitalize on the chances he created, he reverted to his old playstyle.

The Cheetah of Asia.

A nickname given to him by German football fans in his prime. He couldn't reach the same speed, but his technique was still in his body. Cha In-hyuk boldly attempted a dribble breakthrough,

Thud. Thud. Thud!

Thud! Thud! Whoosh!

He skillfully bypassed the Seoul players one by one.

Cha In-hyuk, dribbling past Shin Yeong-joon, Yun Sang-woo, and Luis Costa, was about to attempt a shot when—

Whoosh!

"..."

"Damn..."

Cha In-hyuk, who had lost a shooting opportunity, turned his body quickly, but Moon Tae-jin had already passed the ball to Jung Chang-hoon on the right.

Thud!

Thud!

Jung Chang-hoon, running along the line, saw Franco nearby and passed the ball to him without hesitation.

The Gyeongbuk defenders, who had been high up the field, started to run back to block the counterattack, but—

Thud. Whoosh!

Franco, with a light turn, shook off the pressure and kicked the ball.

Whoosh!

Thud!

"Wh-What are you doing! Get back! Block it!"

Coach Han Ju-yong, seeing Lee Tae-jun and Jung Sang-ki charging into the exposed space, shouted at the field with a red face, but—

Whoosh!

It was already too late.

Thud!

"Yeeek!"

Keeper Joo Shin-young, rushing out to narrow the angle, was too late,

Boom!

Lee Tae-jun, taking a quick shot, didn't give him a chance.

Whoosh!

"Ah, no!"

The ball, flying past the keeper's cry, tore through the net.

Thud!

Cheers!

With this goal, both teams finished the game without any additional goals.

* * *

"Phew... At least we won the debut match."

As the referee's final whistle blew, a wave of fatigue washed over me, relieved from the tension.

"Boss, congratulations."

"Coach, congratulations on the first win."

"Thanks to your help."

After exchanging congratulations with Coach Lee Su-hyuk and Coach Boller, I extended my hand to Coach Han Ju-yong of Gyeongbuk.

"Thank you for the hard work."

Perhaps because the game didn't go as he had expected, Coach Han Ju-yong gave a bitter smile, shook my hand, and spoke in a calm voice.

"You won your debut match. Congratulations. You showed great ability."

"Haha... Thank you. I learned a lot today."

"If you can maintain the performance you showed today, it won't be strange for Seoul to be promoted. See you in Daegu next time."

"Yes, please go in."

Coach Han Ju-yong, saying he would see me next time, turned and left, and I went onto the field to find Cha In-hyuk.

"Phew... It went as you said. It felt like I was facing an impenetrable wall."

Feeling like he was facing an impenetrable wall.

It felt good that Moon Tae-jin's trait was properly implemented. However, I couldn't openly laugh in front of a defeated opponent.

"Still, your technique is alive. If the other Gyeongbuk players had supported you a bit more, we would have been in trouble."

This was sincere.

If the other Gyeongbuk players had capitalized on the opportunities Cha In-hyuk created, we might have allowed an equalizer or even a comeback.

In that sense, Moon Tae-jin's performance in the second half was praiseworthy.

"Thanks for the words. I won't lose next time, so be prepared."

"Sure."

Cha In-hyuk, who had made a joke, went off the field, and I was about to leave the field after looking around the stands but—

"Coach Kim Ha-joon! Can I have an interview?"

Since Franco, the MOM of the match, had just finished his interview in the mixed zone, I paused to respond to the interview request.

"Yes, go ahead."

As I agreed to the interview, the reporter pulled out a list of questions.

"First, congratulations on winning your first match as the interim coach. How do you feel about leading your debut match to victory?"

Feelings.

I wasn't extremely happy. I just felt relieved that we hadn't been embarrassed. However, I couldn't say that in an interview, so I searched for appropriate words.

"I'm very pleased to secure our first win after the league's opening. I hope this victory will boost the team's morale."

"You seem quite calm. Next, what do you think about the performance of Franco Tramontana, the MOM of this match?"

"I'm satisfied with Franco's performance today. He implemented what I instructed almost perfectly on the field. I look forward to his continued performance."

A few more questions and answers followed, and the reporter asked the final question.

"Although it's a bit early, with today's performance, it's likely that there are plans for promotion within Seoul. Do you think promotion is possible?"

This is probably the core of the questions. The title of the article will differ based on my response. I had no intention of being modest or vague.

Not by choice, but as the interim coach, I aim for more than just promotion.

"I can assure you. We will achieve promotion this season and even challenge for the league title. Some might say it's premature to say this after just one match. To those people, I say, watch us until the end of the season. We'll see if I'm right or wrong."