Field Commander - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20.

Chapter 20.

Chapter 20.

The match that had been almost evenly matched in the early first half completely tilted toward Cheongju FC when one player was sent off.

In the second half, the Siheung team operated defensively, almost giving up on attacking despite being behind.

Cheongju FC took advantage of that situation to continuously create set pieces, and eventually scored 2 goals utilizing their height advantage to end the match 3-0.

The Siheung team players, surprised by Kim Sang-hyuk’s height, focused too much attention on him, leaving the main scorer Park Sang-il too free, and 2 goals came from his head.

“Incredibly stable.”

In a match that was already decided, whether they scored more goals or not wasn’t something Schmaike was particularly concerned about.

Kim Sang-hyuk’s movement as a defensive midfielder or even covering the center-back position in counter-attack situations was better than what he’d seen in the videos.

“His prediction ability is at an amazing level.”

Usually players watch the ball’s trajectory, predict it, and then run.

But Kim Sang-hyuk moves the moment the opposing player kicks the ball.

It was so strange that he checked several times.

Clearly, he moves the moment they kick the ball.

That’s why no matter how fast-footed the striker is in ball contests, he accelerates and moves 1 second earlier, making it almost impossible to lose in competitive situations.

Tall height, Asian physique…

By solving the proportionally slow speed and initial acceleration that comes with that, he looked like an almost impenetrable defender.

“Amazing interception ability.”

When the Siheung club, which had a slight advantage in organization in the first half, made an exquisite pass, if Kim Sang-hyuk hadn’t intercepted it, it would have created a 1-on-1 situation with the goalkeeper.

He even sent that intercepted ball forward without hesitation, ultimately leading to the red card.

“Wide field vision.”

Schmaike was already convinced here that Kim Sang-hyuk was a player who surpassed the K3 League level.

“Intelligent and selfless play.”

In the second half set piece situation, when 3-4 players basically marked him, instead of being greedy, he dragged those players to completely irrelevant areas.

Eventually, other Cheongju FC players with good height got good opportunities, and it became the decisive movement that led to 2 goals in the second half.

“But he also combines very rough and aggressive play.”

When a fast-footed Siheung team player beat the side-back, Kim Sang-hyuk, who had come in to cover, made a very rough tackle.

With his somewhat fierce expression, good physique, and the feeling that if you got caught in his tackle you might not even be able to pick up your bones, the player with the ball flinched as if dodging instead of continuing his next move, and in that gap Kim Sang-hyuk cleverly cleared just the ball.

Several more such scenes appeared, and all of them had attacks cut off by Kim Sang-hyuk’s feet.

Nevertheless, the fact that there were no injuries to opposing players felt quite special.

‘Did the opposing players get intimidated? Or did he predict the dribbling direction? I’ll need to check that more.’

Schmaike stroked his chin while watching the Cheongju FC squad enjoying their victory.

Certainly, after watching his play today…

He could believe the story that he had completely shut down Jang Jin-woo of Schalke 04, who was flying around in Germany, throughout high school.

No matter how fast, how good the physique, or how good the ball-handling skills, that Kim Sang-hyuk was a player who cut them off before they could even utilize those abilities.

“Rather than avoiding physical battles, he actually initiates them, fully utilizing his physical advantages. And he demonstrates amazing concentration in every situation.”

Especially that bicycle kick…

It was a move that even top-level strikers couldn’t easily perform.

Considering that most would whiff, you could gauge how special his concentration was.

Schmaike struggled to suppress the excitement gradually growing in his chest.

‘This player seems like he’ll become an amazing monster on the ground soon. But I should watch at least one more match before making a judgment.’

* * *

“Ow, my joints. This is a bonus! Bonus! Should we have pizza today?”

I was substituted around the 25th minute of the second half.

By that time, I was definitely having physical problems, my field vision was narrowing, and I could hardly concentrate on my kicks.

‘I wasn’t like this in high school…’

Having rested from soccer for 3 years, this kind of penalty was inevitable.

After I made about 2 pass mistakes, Park Chang-yeol immediately substituted me, perhaps recognizing my condition.

After I came off, the opposing coach used all his substitution cards and focused on attacking, but our team, with morale and atmosphere at their peak, defended quite comfortably.

3-0.

Park Sang-il scored 2 goals and was grinning, while mood maker Lee Soon-deok brought smiles to people’s faces with his characteristic comments.

“We defeated last year’s champions 3-0. This season’s championship is no problem either.”

Park Sang-il, inspired by something, excitedly shouted.

“This is all thanks to the new guys.”

Captain Seo Dong-myung, who couldn’t play today due to accumulated warnings, clapped and continued.

“Na Jung-seok’s saves were amazing today, Chang-su showed more than just being my backup. Sang-hyuk was the best as always today.”

“Right. Without these guys today, it would have been hard to win. The pressure they applied was so intense…”

Other players chimed in agreement.

While receiving praise from team seniors in the locker room, the manager opened the door and entered.

The locker room immediately became quiet.

“There are still many matches to play, you’re not getting carried away already, are you?”

“Yes!”

“If there hadn’t been an early red card in today’s match, it absolutely wouldn’t have been a team we could beat 3-0. You know that, right?”

“Yes!”

“For victory in the next away match too, we need to develop further.”

The locker room immediately became solemn.

“But you really fought well today, and you can be proud of yourselves! Applause for yourself and your teammates!”

But the locker room immediately became chaotic.

Park Chang-yeol seemed to be quite good at push and pull.

Hold back when the mood was getting too good, lift them up when the mood seemed like it would get dark.

‘This seems like something I should learn.’

Park Chang-yeol let them chatter for a while.

When the atmosphere had calmed down somewhat, he spoke up.

“Next week there’s no league match, but there’s a practice match on Thursday instead.”

“Where?”

“Suwon Technical High School. My alma mater.”

“A high school?”

The players snickered.

“It’s the high school that won this spring’s championship tournament. Moreover, they had zero goals conceded throughout all matches.”

At those words, the snickering completely disappeared.

I too couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

Zero goals conceded in a high school tournament?

Even when I led Maedong High School, we never had zero goals conceded throughout an entire tournament.

Just one tournament.

We conceded 2 goals throughout the tournament matches, and that became our minimum record.

“The manager there is Byeon Jung-wook, who played professionally with me, and he says there’s a first-year defender who’s already beyond high school level.”

“What? A first-year? Does that make sense?”

Park Sang-il responded.

“Yeah. When I said I couldn’t believe it either, he suddenly proposed a practice match.”

Ah, so that’s how the practice match was arranged.

“He said that first-year kid is contemplating whether to go to university or go straight to pro. He asked us to show him the bitter taste of professional soccer.”

Seo Dong-myung asked.

“Who is that kid?”

“His name is Kang Min-jae. He’s the guy who broke the tournament’s minimum goals conceded record that Maedong High School had set.”

At the mention of Maedong High School, everyone turned to look at me.

“….”

I scratched my cheek and gave an awkward smile instead of answering.

Park Chang-yeol also looked at me with a meaningful expression.

“Well… Suwon Technical High School has been a prestigious football club for decades. It’s only natural that such a record would be set when a monster appeared there. We need to give this cocky kid a proper lesson in our practice match. Are you confident?”

“Losing to a high school football club would be incredibly embarrassing. We’ll stomp on him thoroughly so he can grow properly.”

Park Sang-il, who had scored 2 goals today and became MVP, answered with a confident expression.

It sounded like he wanted to get revenge for the humiliation he suffered from me during his high school days.

After the locker room conversation ended, the manager called me aside.

“You said your goal was to become a national team player, right?”

“Yes, Manager.”

“From watching the matches you’ve played so far, if you don’t get injured, you’ll definitely become a national team player within 2-3 years.”

Oh Manager…

What am I supposed to say when you tell me that to my face…

“And about that Kang Min-jae from Suwon Technical High School I mentioned today.”

“Yes.”

“I think he’ll be selected for the next Olympic Team.”

At those words, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

U-23.

A kid who’s only 16 years old is going to make it there?

“He’s someone the managers around here say will become Korea’s core defender in the future. The reason I’m telling you this separately is that KFA officials will come to watch that match to scout him.”

I swallowed hard for a moment.

“Show them properly that Kim Sang-hyuk, who was once considered one of Korea’s top prospects alongside Park Hong-min and Jang Jin-woo, has truly returned.”

Is that really happening?

Then this wasn’t just a simple practice match.

* * *

– Tomorrow is the day of the national team evaluation match. Korea will face Oman…

‘Oman…’

Park Chang-yeol stretched briefly and then focused on the TV.

“People talking about surpassing the World Cup quarterfinals are playing Oman as an evaluation team… How ridiculous.”

Although he didn’t play directly in the 2002 World Cup, he watched several teammates play and had various conversations with them.

Back then, Hiddink only played evaluation matches against strong teams like Brazil and England, saying they needed to experience world-class level even if they lost by large margins.

They always lost by big scores and got cursed at by the people, but eventually brought the Korean team to the semifinals.

“No distinctive tactics either…”

The manager currently in charge of the national team was none other than a key player who led Korea to the World Cup semifinals.

Because of that career, he was walking a completely different path from other football players.

He became the national team manager without being proven as a manager.

“No detailed tactical play either…”

The Korean national team players were so outstanding that they achieved results even without the manager’s detailed and special tactics.

“That will become poison. What help does beating weak teams provide for the World Cup?”

Park Chang-yeol, who stood on the opposite side of the current national team manager.

In his eyes, having the ambition to someday manage the national team, the current national team manager’s actions were completely unsatisfactory.

Setting emotions aside.

“At this rate, quarterfinals… they won’t even make it past the round of 16 and will be eliminated. With such good players.”

It was more like a lament than a curse.

He looked at his laptop.

The current national team players’ roster and tactical board program.

“There are many excellent forwards, but the defenders are quite disappointing. But things might change in the future.”

Kim Sang-hyuk immediately became serious when the national team topic came up.

I could just feel how much he wanted that position.

“If that guy enters the national team with more developed skills, wouldn’t making it to the quarterfinals be smooth sailing?”

His offensive-defensive coordination ability based on various skills was so excellent that there was no comparable player in Korea.

A special player who could support insufficient defenders and break through fast, strong pressure to deliver the ball to forwards…

A player who could do something in set piece situations…

While he was deep in thought looking at his laptop, he heard his mobile phone ringing.

It was his wife.

Looking at the time, it was already 11 PM.

“Oops. I’m late.”

Thinking of his wife who would scold him for being late again, he gave a bitter smile.

The salary was incomparably lower than during his K League 1 pro player days.

She would often nag him to spend time with the children, saying he earned less money but worked even more.

He closed his laptop, put it in his bag, then grabbed his mobile phone and hurried out.

“Oh, honey… the meeting ran long…”

* * *

“Kang Min-jae… Kang Min-jae…”

Looking him up on the internet, he was quite a famous figure among football enthusiasts.

– Post Kim Sang-hyuk!

– Watching this guy play reminds me of Kim Sang-hyuk from Maedong High School. Like an iron wall.

– Seems like he’s already surpassed someone like Kim Sang-hyuk?

– He’s a player with completely different play from Kim Sang-hyuk, I don’t think they should be compared?

– But is Kim Sang-hyuk in K3 League playing well?

– No joke. Seems crazy good. Looks like he’s completely revived. The matches are incredibly fun.

– Still just Third Division Semi-Pro League level though.

“…My name is being mentioned on the internet. What an interesting thing.”

I didn’t pay attention to the comments about “just 3rd Division League level” and such.

What mattered was that there were people who remembered, and that frequency was increasing.

And that there were people who liked my play.

– But later, if we have Kang Min-jae as center back and Kim Sang-hyuk as defensive midfielder on the national team, wouldn’t that look like an amazing combination?

– If he hadn’t gotten injured, Jang Jin-woo and Kim Sang-hyuk would have played together, right? Such a shame. Really. This World Cup would have been so exciting.

– Honestly, I’m not fucking excited at all. The play somehow lacks substance.

– But what national team for Kim Sang-hyuk? If you’ve rested for 3 years, you’re done with the national team.

“Hmm…”

Come to think of it…

If I really make the national team, I’d be playing with Jang Jin-woo.

I really can’t get used to this idea…

And Kang Min-jae…

Post Kim Sang-hyuk?

I’m really curious what kind of guy he is.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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