Field Commander - Chapter 33

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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 33.

Chapter 33.

Chapter 33.

“I feel like I could run more…”

Why always…

I always get substituted at the exact moment when I feel like I could do even better.

“I have to give other guys a chance to play too.”

Klaus has a different atmosphere from Cheongju FC’s Manager Park Chang-yeol.

“But you were too harsh today.”

“Me?”

“Those players might all quit soccer after today.”

Ah…

That’s a compliment.

When I chuckled, Klaus lightly patted my shoulder.

“Cool down properly with ice treatment.”

“Yeah.”

“And make sure to stay hydrated.”

He’s giving instructions about things I should obviously do, but it just feels good.

Should I say he’s looking out for me in his own way?

When I sat down, Smith, who had been substituted earlier, came over to me.

“You were completely insane today.”

“Huh?”

“You’re not just going to be insane for today, right?”

Smith, who was a perpetual substitute until last year, started today and even scored a goal, so he seems to be in an extremely high mood.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something… I’m not insane yet, and I’m in a bad mood because I got substituted when I could do even better.”

“Oh, my God! Does it make sense that you could do better than today? You were like a complete madman today. How can you play soccer like that? Oh my God!!!”

This guy talks a lot and specializes in praising people, so I can’t believe everything he says.

And in a situation where I have to make Korea win the World Cup… there’s obviously no reason to get cocky just because I did well in the fourth division.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

* * *

‘He has composure.’

Although it was only about 15 minutes of observation, it was enough for Streich to realize that Kim Sang-hyuk wasn’t a player who belonged here.

Players who make it to the professional level have at least one special ability, but the indicator of which league they can play in is the ‘composure’ they show during play.

This ‘composure’ can be said to be a combination of various abilities.

As you move up to higher leagues, there are more players who are faster, stronger, and smarter, and it becomes increasingly difficult to play your own style while under their pressure.

If a player can’t play their own game under pressure in their current league, it’s safe to say they have no chance of moving to a higher league.

But creating space with a single ball touch,

Making the pressing player look like a fool with one fake movement.

Dribbling only when absolutely necessary, minimizing touches while delivering passes a few beats faster – this can’t be done without that kind of composure.

He already knew from the video content that Korea’s third division was a more competitive league than Germany’s fourth division, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

However, he wanted to observe because the play there was more direct, the game tempo was faster, and the physical battles were more intense.

Another factor was adaptation.

Germany still had many losers who thought they were a superior race.

While improvements were being made, racial discrimination was still severe.

It was a place notorious in Europe for having terrible food.

There were plenty of players who left because they couldn’t adapt despite having excellent skills.

But Kim Sang-hyuk gave high fives to the players as he entered the bench after being substituted, and sat down chatting and laughing with the players on either side of him.

‘A very special guy in many ways.’

Streich, who had been watching Kim Sang-hyuk for a while, turned his gaze toward Christian Günter.

Originally a center-back.

But at some point his growth stopped and his height remained at 185cm.

He would need more size to compete in higher leagues.

He was one of the best players in Freiburg II, but the Bundesliga was different.

Fortunately, he was very fast and had good ball-handling skills, and since he had played as a winger in his youth, when he was called up last season and used as a wing-back, he showed enough potential.

He was worried because the player was somewhat stubborn and had gotten carried away…

But no dissatisfaction showed in his play.

He was playing well and doing exactly the kind of play he wanted.

Watching them, the negative emotions that had filled his mind temporarily melted away like snow.

He picked up his mobile phone and contacted the club’s promotional planning manager.

– Prepare an article about Christian Günter and Kim Sang-hyuk from Freiburg II. Yeah. We need to appease the home fans with anticipation before they tear down the newly built stadium. Let’s discuss the timing of the announcement later.

He planned to promote them extensively before the next first-team player registration.

‘Enjoy yourselves. Prepare steadily.’

He checked his watch and got up to leave the stadium for his next schedule.

* * *

Three weeks passed.

In the Olympic national team’s director’s office.

Lee Sang-cheol, who was serving as acting manager, frowned upon hearing some news.

“Kim Woo-young got injured?”

With the Olympic Games just around the corner, he received notification that a player on the final roster couldn’t participate due to injury, and he rubbed his eyes for a moment.

“Of all people… why Kim Woo-young?”

After the World Cup semifinals, a soccer boom hit Korea, and as a result, many good players emerged.

The problem was that most of them were forwards.

In the Olympic national team that used 4-3-3 tactics, the most lacking position was none other than defensive midfielder.

Ki Sung-yueng, who was showing very good form at Celtic FC, was a solid starter, but Kim Woo-young was currently the only substitute option.

With him out due to injury, there would be no defensive midfielder with good defensive skills in the squad.

Since the final roster had to be submitted within three days, they needed to find an alternative quickly.

“How about selecting Kang Min-jae?”

Lee Sang-cheol had already assessed how outstanding his skills were.

However, there were many players who could show defensive skills as good as Kang Min-jae.

Since they couldn’t expect him to coordinate offense and defense, he wasn’t an alternative.

“Isn’t there an alternative?”

“Honestly, Kim Woo-young doesn’t have the skills to be selected for the national team either… but even if we select another player, it’s questionable whether we can use them.”

Compared to the prestige of the World Cup, the Olympics was an insignificant tournament, but for Korean players, it was an extremely important competition because they could receive military exemption if they won a medal.

Other substitute players’ names came up, but Lee Sang-cheol wasn’t readily drawn to any of them.

While Lee Sang-cheol couldn’t make a decision, Lee Ho-nam, who was on the coaching staff, spoke up.

“There’s one player who’s performing very well in Germany’s fourth division.”

At his words, the other coaches shook their heads.

“Fourth division?”

“Come on. That’s not right.”

“It would be better to pick an active player from K2.”

They had already confirmed the skills of the K2 active players they were talking about, so there was no expectation, but a player active in Germany’s fourth division?

“Who is it?”

“The manager has probably heard of him. Kim Sang-hyuk from Maedong High School.”

Lee Sang-cheol pursed his lips.

Anyone who specializes in soccer would know that guy.

At one time, he himself had been going around saying that kid would become a pillar of Korean soccer.

“Didn’t that guy quit soccer because of an injury?”

“Last time I went to watch Kang Min-jae’s game with Manager Hwang and happened to see him.”

“Really? That guy is playing?”

“He was playing quite well. His injury seems to have recovered to some extent… no, completely recovered.”

“Huh? Really? But wasn’t that guy a center back?”

“In that game he played as a defensive midfielder. He’s playing the same position in the German 4th division now.”

At those words, Lee Sang-cheol fell into thought for a moment.

The deadline was three days.

He couldn’t just go to Germany right away to watch a game.

“It seems a bit unreasonable. He’s a player we can’t assess immediately.”

“Yes. And I believe that player received military exemption because of his injury…”

At those words, Lee Sang-cheol frowned.

“He’s not playing soccer just to get military exemption, is he?”

At Lee Sang-cheol’s words, the staff member who had spoken quietly closed his mouth.

“Do you have any game videos of that guy?”

Lee Ho-nam nodded.

“One of the soccer YouTubers is covering Kim Sang-hyuk in detail.”

“Let’s see it.”

“Ah, you’re not planning to pick him just from watching a video, are you?”

Lee Sang-cheol nodded.

“How can I pick someone just from watching a video… But if watching the video makes me want to pick him, I’ll have to go straight to Germany.”

Lee Ho-nam prepared the video, and Lee Sang-cheol watched it on the large screen.

“Freiburg II?”

“Yes. They belong to the 4th division league.”

“The tempo is faster than I thought? The physical battles are also quite rough…”

It was a highlight reel of Kim Sang-hyuk’s best moments.

“…Huh? What’s with that jumping power?”

In a dangerous counter attack situation by the opponent, when he thought it would be dangerous, Kim Sang-hyuk had already run to the exact position and jumped to trap the ball with his chest.

Not only did he trap it, but he placed it right at his feet and sent a cross to the opposite side before the opposing player could even pressure him.

And that scene led to a goal.

‘…That’s the jumping power of a player who was injured badly enough to quit soccer? Does that make sense?’

It felt like watching Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo’s jump?

The first impression was unbelievable, but the following situations were even harder to believe.

In ball contests with physically strong German players, he never lost in physical battles.

No, rather, it was the opposing players who were rolling on the ground after fair physical battles.

“Even though it’s the 4th division league…”

The coaches’ expressions were similar to Lee Sang-cheol’s.

“It’s not just me who feels like he’s doing everything by himself, right?”

Even though it was a highlight reel…

“How many interceptions is that?”

“Didn’t he play like that during his Maedong High School days too?”

“Back then it was man-to-man defense. Enough to make Jang Jin-woo struggle…”

“He seems to be playing better than during his Maedong High School days?”

Kim Sang-hyuk scored 2 goals and was substituted, and the game ended 7-0.

When it became 4-0 in the second half, the opponents seemed to have completely lost their fighting spirit.

They couldn’t even mount attacks.

“Round 1? Did he play here last year too?”

“No. He transferred from Cheongju FC in the 3rd division league.”

“So this was his first game after transferring? But his coordination with teammates is that good?”

Kim Sang-hyuk, who had led nameless and mediocre teammates to win the national high school tournament for 2 years.

If that guy was still the same…

“He played for Cheongju FC?”

At Lee Sang-cheol’s words, Lee Ho-nam nodded.

“Yes.”

The manager of Cheongju FC would be Park Chang-yeol.

He was called the right hand of Manager Hwang Ki-ho, who is currently at the helm of the national team, and had worked under Hwang Ki-ho together.

Although he left the K1 League after being marked by Hwang Ki-ho, his ability was unquestionable.

“Coach Lee Ho-nam. Coach Jeon Young-sik.”

“Yes.”

“Prepare to go to Germany immediately.”

“Don’t tell me…?”

The other staff members widened their eyes.

“I don’t know how it was when Manager Hwang Ki-ho was in charge, but for me, ability always comes first. If there’s a guy who can take the team higher, we should obviously use him.”

“But the association…”

“Make up some excuse about going to check on Augsburg’s Gu Ja-yoon’s condition before heading to England. Don’t release the final roster to the press yet.”

He picked up the phone and grabbed his coat.

“I’m going out to take care of some business. Other staff, gather all the materials about Kim Sang-hyuk.”

* * *

Park Chang-yeol sighed while watching yesterday’s game recording.

‘Now that that guy is gone…’

Every game was a nail-biting battle.

They were barely, barely maintaining first place, and could drop below third place at any moment if they made a small mistake.

While the general rule in soccer is that no player is greater than the team, sometimes there are players who are greater than the team.

For Park Chang-yeol, Kim Sang-hyuk was exactly that kind of existence.

‘Did I send him too early?’

He thought he should have sent him after accumulating more victories.

But hearing news that he was performing very well in Germany made him think he had sent him at the right time.

– Buzz buzz buzz… buzz buzz…

His mobile phone, set to vibration mode, rang and Park Chang-yeol paused the video for a moment and picked up his phone.

Seeing the name displayed, he tilted his head slightly.

“What business does Sang-cheol have?”

At one time they used to drink together and talk about tactics…

At some point, their paths had become too different.

That guy was already the interim manager of the Olympic team.

He himself was a 3rd division league manager.

Still, he wasn’t someone who had completely cut ties like Hwang Ki-ho, so he pressed the call button with a pleased heart.

“Hello?”

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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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