Field Commander - Chapter 31
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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 31.
Chapter 31.
Chapter 31.
Bundesliga Round 1.
Schalke 04 (Away) VS Freiburg SC (Home).
At 3 AM, Choi Do-hoon turned on YouTube and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
“Finally, Jang Jin-woo, who aims to be the Bundesliga top scorer, makes his appearance.”
Actually, he had been desperately hoping that Kim Sang-hyuk would be on Freiburg SC’s roster for today’s match.
If those two clashed, it seemed like it would drive up viewership and view counts like crazy…
Unfortunately, Kim Sang-hyuk’s name was not included in Freiburg’s first team roster.
“German media is saying that Freiburg SC is one of the teams likely to be relegated this season. They couldn’t make a single signing this season and sent away two main players as free agents.”
In contrast, Schalke 04 couldn’t participate in the UEFA Champions League due to Bayern Munich and Dortmund, but they qualified for the Europa League, one level below, and made many signings this season.
– But is it true that Bayern Munich is very interested in Jang Jin-woo?
Choi Do-hoon, who was watching the players’ entrance ceremony on screen, saw the comment and spoke up.
“There have been foreign news reports that Pep Guardiola keeps making contact, but I think they’ll probably want to verify him for about another year. And it’s questionable whether Schalke 04, who joined the title race this time, would just let him go. It doesn’t look easy.”
Freiburg adopted a 3-5-2 formation, while Schalke 04 used a 4-4-2 formation.
Schalke 04 was very defensive due to manager Roberto Di Matteo’s tendencies.
They applied strong pressure in midfield and had physically strong players defending forwards from behind, with goals coming from set pieces, but after Jang Jin-woo was signed, they scored many goals in situations other than set pieces as well.
“Freiburg SC’s defensive ability isn’t very good. The absence of two key players seems to be the problem. Ah, Schalke 04’s Julian Draxler cuts the opponent’s pass. Jang Jin-woo penetrates. Pass… it connects to Jang Jin-woo. The goalkeeper came out too recklessly… Shoot!!!! Goal!!”
Schalke 04’s goal exploded just 5 minutes into the first half.
Jang Jin-woo’s signature uppercut celebration was caught on camera.
“I mentioned that Jang Jin-woo’s form in friendly matches was better than last year, and today is no exception. Jang Jin-woo rarely misses crucial opportunities. He continues shooting without being shaken by Pavel Krmas’s rough physical play. Amazing. Really.”
Rather than making moves to recover the score, they seemed to minimize conceding goals by not attacking at all, so the home team fans’ boos filled the stadium.
Since they were only defending, Schalke 04 kept knocking but the door wouldn’t open easily.
But in a set piece situation.
Jang Jin-woo, who overcame the rough physical battle, scored another goal with a header.
“This isn’t even a match. Freiburg SC doesn’t seem to have any defender who can handle Jang Jin-woo alone. Don’t tell me you’re going for a hat-trick in the opening match, Jang Jin-woo?”
After conceding two goals, Freiburg SC players struggled to attack, but the accuracy of long passes coming up from the back was terrible.
Even when they connected accurately, Schalke 04’s excellent center backs blocked everything.
The two teams engaged in meaningless back-and-forth in the first half.
But…
“Ah… Goal. 5-0! Schalke 04 completely destroys Freiburg. Jang Jin-woo hat-trick! A hat-trick in the Bundesliga opening match!”
Around the 28th minute of the second half, with the front space completely open, Jang Jin-woo’s mid-range shot split the opponent’s goal.
“Headers, penetration, mid-range shots, there’s nothing he can’t do. Really an amazing striker. The score is 5-0, all Freiburg fans look desperate. The stadium is already half empty.”
* * *
– Click.
“…This is annoying.”
I turned off the TV and lay down on the bed.
That guy definitely wasn’t the Jang Jin-woo from high school days.
Compared to then, he had become such a brilliant player.
He never lost in physical battles against big European defenders, and his positioning ability had improved much more.
He never recklessly attacked out of excitement…
His judgment became faster, and he knew how to properly utilize his teammates.
If I had to face that guy one-on-one right now…
Could I win?
Ah, if my special ability activated, I might be able to stop him…
The biggest problem is that the teammates around that bastard are too excellent.
The defense was solid enough that forwards didn’t need to participate in defense, and they accurately dropped the ball on routes where forwards penetrated.
All four of Schalke 04’s attacking players were fast, so they penetrated simultaneously and had good linking processes.
Even if you marked one, opportunities always opened up for the other three.
To the question of whether we could lead the match to victory if we faced that bastard’s team right now…
No matter how many simulations I ran in my head, the win rate was 0%.
But there’s no need to despair.
It was always like this in high school too.
Our entire team had inferior skills compared to the opposing team, but we eventually overcame everything and won the championship.
‘In the end, teamwork and spirit of sacrifice.’
What Coach Kang Jung-sik of Maedong High School always emphasized.
‘I have no choice but to build teammates who connect with my heart. To beat that bastard Jang Jin-woo.’
* * *
“I’ll announce the starting lineup.”
– GK Luca Unterstoß
– CB Drew Murray
– CB Leon Klein
– CB Killian Atemkeng
– RB Ashley Kettler
– LB Christian Günter
– DM Kim Sang-hyuk
– CM Patrick Tober
– CM Jack Cartek
– FW Antonio Zelik
– FW Smith James
When I played for Cheongju FC, they announced the lineup the day before, but here they announce it after finishing the morning condition test.
And the players’ joy and sorrow crossed with the announcement.
“Just because you were a starter last season doesn’t mean you’ll be a starter this season. Also, just because you’re starting today doesn’t mean your starting position is confirmed for the next match. You guys are players who need to keep growing.”
Jeff subtly interjected at those words.
“Us too?”
The momentarily tense atmosphere turned into a sea of laughter.
Coach Klaus burst into hearty laughter.
“You really have captain material.”
At those words, laughter erupted from here and there again.
“I don’t think we’ll lose today’s match.”
“Is that a premonition? Or hope?”
“It’s neither a premonition nor hope. It would be strange if we lost today.”
Klaus answered firmly.
The coach’s gaze turned toward me.
“So do your best not to lose.”
The players answered, and I nodded as well.
Today was the first league match starting the 12-13 season.
Freiburg II, belonging to the Southwest Regionalliga, barely avoided relegation by finishing 13th last year.
Total of 34 matches in the season.
Considering DFB-Pokal cup matches and Verbandspokal cup, we need to play roughly 40 matches in the season.
The squad consists of 22 players total.
There were only 2 players per position, and considering the occasional temporary call-ups from the first team, they really had to operate on a tight budget.
Especially since Christian Günter was a German youth international who could be called up, they really needed to get through the season without injuries.
“And even if we lose, absolutely don’t create any situations where you could get injured.”
It was quite strange to hear that it was okay to lose a match.
What I noticed even in practice matches was that most players absolutely never took unnecessary risks.
A game where you should never expect any desperate fighting spirit.
“Alright, now let’s get on the bus.”
After going to the bathroom, I slowly got on the bus…
‘Ah damn…’
These bastards should at least wear shoes…
As I looked around to find a seat, I noticed the spot next to Gunter was empty.
“Hey, are you some kind of outcast?”
“I’m the one doing the outcasting, you know?”
I muttered in Korean.
“Fucking hell.”
“What are you saying? Speak German. German.”
When I plopped down next to him, the guy pressed himself against the window.
“Why are you sitting next to me?”
“This is the only seat available?”
“There are plenty in the back?”
“I get motion sickness if I sit in the back.”
“You look like some kind of mafia but you’re making excuses about motion sickness?”
“If you’re uncomfortable, you can move.”
“Hey, I sat here first?”
“Then what, want to settle this with fists?”
“Ah, forget it.”
The guy jumped up and looked behind him.
But Adam and Jeff were sitting there, so Gunter sighed and plopped back down in his seat.
“You’re better than that nagging old man.”
“I should tell Adam about this later.”
“Ugh…”
Of course, I didn’t sit here to have this kind of conversation.
“You said you wanted to get called up to the first team faster than me, right?”
The guy nodded vigorously.
“Watching yesterday’s first team match, it was too terrible. The left fullback isn’t at the level to play for the first team.”
At those words, the guy nodded vigorously again.
“Right? I was also thinking while watching, how could they put that guy in instead of me… What are you trying to say?”
Quick to change his attitude.
“I’ll help you get promoted first.”
“What?”
“Let’s sync up our play.”
“What?”
“I’m saying I’ll help you go up first? Why don’t you like it?”
I thought that to deal with Jang Jin-woo, I first needed to make this arrogant bastard my ally.
“Who are you to say you’ll promote people…”
“I’ll help you rack up a lot of attacking points.”
“…”
I’ve been training with this bastard from dawn for 2 weeks.
So I know exactly what style he plays, how he moves, what his habits are, and what he prefers.
“Don’t want to?”
The guy stroked his chin.
“Are you joking? What’s your ulterior motive?”
He really doesn’t trust what people say.
“If you don’t want to, I’ll go talk to Antonio.”
When I tried to move, the guy grabbed my arm.
“Are you joking? You’re comparing me to that giant stupid bastard?”
Ah, this arrogant bastard.
If Antonio heard that, he would have thrown you.
“So are you going to do it?”
“I don’t really feel like it, but since you’re offering to help, I have no reason to refuse.”
From his attitude, it seems he has sufficient respect for my ability.
Actually, that alone is enough.
* * *
“Who is she?”
Julian, Freiburg SC’s head team doctor, pointed at the young Asian woman brought by the youngest team doctor and asked.
“An intern recommended by Professor Huber.”
“Ah!”
Freiburg, always struggling financially, had adopted the method of accepting interns from University of Freiburg and training them for employment instead of hiring famous staff at expensive prices.
Professor Huber was someone who always recommended good talent, and they relied on him every year.
Usually he would send German interns from Freiburg, but this time was a bit unexpected.
“German native?”
“No. An exchange student.”
“Where from?”
“Korea.”
Her German was very fluent.
“Do you like soccer?”
“I like it very much.”
“Are you thinking of working in this field?”
“That’s why I came to study abroad.”
“Are you thinking of working here after graduation?”
“Yes.”
“Can you work right now by any chance?”
“Yes.”
Julian took a liking to her as she answered immediately without hesitation.
“Right now we’re short on first team doctors so we need to bring over a second team doctor. And we need someone to fill his absence. It’s not an enormous amount of work, just follow today’s match and if players get injured, assist according to your supervisor’s instructions. Not difficult, right?”
“Of course.”
“It’s the weekend, are you really okay with this?”
“Yes. I don’t mind.”
“Good.”
Julian looked at the youngest team doctor and said.
“The staff car will be leaving soon, so take her along.”
“Got it.”
After they disappeared, Julian glanced in that direction again.
“Quite… beautiful. She’ll probably be popular among the players?”
* * *
This is definitely a 4th Division League match but…
The stadium was also incredibly huge…
And it was packed with people.
The team we were facing today was called Kickers Offenbach.
“How many people came?”
When I muttered this, Gunter who was sitting next to me answered.
“Probably around 20,000? What kind of soccer player can’t even see that?”
Well, I’m not the type to be provoked by such words, but I was quite overwhelmed by the enormous crowd.
Do I have to play in front of all those people?”
Once we entered the stadium, it would probably be so loud that my ears would go deaf.
“Must have only played neighborhood soccer….”
I heard his muttering, but all I could see were the tattooed bald gangs flipping us off toward our bus.
People in red uniforms kept flipping us off whenever they saw our bus…
It was like a battlefield.
‘Wow… the atmosphere is completely different.’
This is going to be fucking fun.
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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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