Field Commander - Chapter 41
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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 41.
Chapter 41.
Chapter 41.
– You seemed to have a lot on your mind. I was just making conversation as a joke.
The conversation with Kim Sang-hyuk, who suddenly asked if I wouldn’t come to his team, ended like this.
– Do I look like I have a lot on my mind?
– Yes. You don’t seem to be able to focus on soccer.
Other guys would have given some roundabout answer, but this guy is just straightforward.
– That’s probably why your finishing ability isn’t good.
He even openly talks about that part that’s pointed out as a weakness.
– I watched your games from your Monaco days, and it’s very different from now. Well, I’m going to go wash up now.
But that’s just how this guy normally talks…
I didn’t get the feeling that he was attacking me or putting me down.
Jung Joo-young was spacing out when the coach scolded him.
“Hey, what are you doing? Not concentrating?”
My Monaco days and now are completely different?
“Ah. Yes. But Coach.”
“What?”
“Am I doing well right now?”
“Of course. You’re doing well, that’s why you were selected as a wildcard.”
Jung Joo-young later talked with some juniors he was close with, but they were all full of praise.
“Come on, how can you compare it to your Monaco days? You’re at Arsenal now!”
“There’s still no striker in our country better than you, hyung.”
There’s Jang Jin-woo though…
Was everything I’d been hearing just sweet talk?
After training ended, Manager Lee Sang-cheol gathered all the players.
“If we win against Switzerland, we’ll join the tournament on our own strength. Switzerland plays defense-oriented soccer and is a team with strengths in counter attacks and set pieces based on good physicality. We’ll go more aggressively and need to prepare for counter attacks.”
Today we did tactical training, albeit briefly.
“And Switzerland and we have bad blood.”
During the 2006 World Cup, Korea failed to advance to the round of 16 in the match against Switzerland due to the referee’s bad calls.
There were even rumors that Sepp Blatter, who is Swiss and the FIFA president, had influence.
“This match might also have potential for bad calls, but we need to overcome them well.”
He announced the starting lineup for tomorrow’s match against Switzerland, and it was the same starting lineup as the Mexico match.
There were no major changes except for Jang Jin-woo being included in the substitute list.
Actually, Jung Joo-young wished Kim Sang-hyuk would start instead of Ki Sung-yueng.
When Kim Sang-hyuk played, there were no problems with the team’s defensive organization.
Considering the one-on-one defense aspect that Ki Sung-yueng doesn’t have as well.
Of course, the most important point was the chemistry with himself.
“If we bring victory in this match, we can rotate with ease in the Gabon match. The starters will also be able to rest.”
* * *
‘Speaking of rotation.’
It sounded like I could start in the Gabon match.
I unexpectedly made it onto the Olympic squad, and now a starting position?
That’s quite pleasant news.
Of course, I have the desire to start in this match too, but Ki Sung-yueng is a player who has gone through all age-group national teams.
He’s an Olympic team player but also a national team player.
His defensive ability in specific situations might be problematic, but other than that, he’s a flawless player.
‘Well, even Jang Jin-woo, who’s aiming for top scorer in Germany, is a substitute.’
If that bastard was starting and I was a substitute, I don’t think I could stand it.
Right after training, briefing, and the starting lineup announcement ended, as we were returning to the dormitory, Jung Joo-young called me.
“Sang-hyuk.”
No matter what anyone says, right now Jung Joo-young is loved by all Korean fans, media, and even soccer officials.
“Yes.”
I ran over quickly.
“Aren’t you pissed off?”
“Pardon?”
“I think you’d do better than Sung-yueng.”
“The manager must have his reasons.”
“You’re not denying it?”
“Hehe…”
Me too, really…
Don’t they say praise makes even bears dance?
“I have something to ask.”
“Yes.”
“How is the me from my Monaco days different from the me now?”
This doesn’t seem like he’s joking around.
He seems serious.
“It’s a bit awkward to talk about here. I’ll show you with videos at the dormitory.”
We went straight into the dormitory together.
I took out my old laptop and played the videos I had saved.
“…But what’s your hobby?”
We’re living together and he’s asking that now.
“Soccer.”
“Soccer is your main job. What else do you like?”
“I like soccer the most.”
“Really nothing else?”
“No.”
“You really…”
“Here.”
I stopped the video and pointed with my finger.
Jung Joo-young’s gaze also turned to the screen.
“The time from receiving the ball to connecting the shot is 0.81 seconds.”
“Time?”
“Yes. This video player can show down to 0.00 second units.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Let me show you the next shooting scene too.”
0.91 seconds.
0.78 seconds…
In about 10 shooting scenes, Jung Joo-young definitely connected to shots within one second.
“Now, next I’ll show you shooting scenes from national team matches after you went to Arsenal.”
1.52 seconds.
1.61 seconds.
1.59 seconds…
1.59 seconds…
Watching the shooting scenes simultaneously like this, there was definitely a difference.
“Huh?”
“The time it takes to shoot has increased by more than double. Naturally, you’re giving the defenders time to block or engage in physical battles. That’s why your shooting accuracy has to drop and your finishing ability decreases.”
At my words, Jung Joo-young looked at me with a truly dazed expression for a long time.
“…Why do you think that happened? Is it really because of worries?”
“It could be due to psychological factors, but I think it’s because of the bulk-up.”
“Bulk-up?”
“Your body is bulkier now than when you were at Monaco. How much weight have you gained since then?”
“…About 6kg. But if I don’t do this, I can’t survive in the EPL.”
“That’s right. The EPL is a place crawling with monsters.”
As Jung Joo-young showed in the Mexico match, winning countless aerial balls with that small height and physically dominating defenders is probably also due to the bulk-up.
“But your reflexes have declined.”
The human body has its natural limits.
Whenever you go against that natural order, there’s always a trade-off.
“That’s why I told you to come to my team. There are fewer physical monsters than in the EPL. Since you won’t need to worry much about physicality, if you train to improve your reflexes, you might be able to recover your previous finishing ability.”
Jung Joo-young looked at me blankly again.
As if asking whether I had thought all of that through when I said those words.
I think my guess is probably right.
“Spain would be good too. You might actually be able to fly around. Most players who did well in the EPL succeed when they go to Spain, right?”
“….”
“But wherever you go, being a front striker doesn’t seem like the right fit for you.”
“What?”
Jung Joo-young asked me with genuine curiosity.
“I’m truly Korea’s best striker.”
“That’s right. As a second striker.”
“….”
“You bulked up to compete physically with center backs, and because of that, you lost your goal-scoring ability.”
“….”
“The reason you can’t play at Arsenal is that despite bulking up, you can’t compete with league center backs, and on top of that, your finishing ability has declined.”
“….”
“But if you were a second striker with less frequent physical battles against center backs… you wouldn’t need to bulk up, and you could regain your finishing ability from your Monaco days.”
“Hehehe….”
Jung Joo-young let out a hollow laugh.
“You were the one who looked into Jang Jin-woo’s injury, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Why is he suddenly bringing that up?
“Then who do you think is the best number 9?”
“Jang Jin-woo.”
“Hehehe…”
Jung Joo-young looked at me with a very uncomfortable expression and then opened the door and left.
I wondered if I had been too presumptuous.
But hiding what I can clearly see just isn’t in my nature.
‘Did I just turn an ally into an enemy?’
I was pondering while looking at the laptop screen when the door opened again.
Jung Joo-young came in, taking off his slippers.
He came in without saying anything and flicked my forehead.
“Ow.”
Pretty brave, aren’t you?
How dare you flick my forehead?
“You’re really straightforward, aren’t you?”
He doesn’t look too upset.
“Yes.”
“So what position do you think suits me best?”
“Number 10.”
“Not number 9?”
“Yes. Number 10.”
“Number 9?”
“Number 10.”
Jung Joo-young suddenly burst into laughter.
“You stubborn bastard. Can’t you just say number 9?”
“Number 10.”
“Ugh! Come out! You little shit! I’ll show you why I’m Korea’s best number 9.”
* * *
Most of the players who came out for the Olympic team were resources selected by Manager Hwang Ki-ho and were players who would participate in the 2014 World Cup.
Ki Sung-yueng was a player called Hwang Ki-ho’s crown prince along with Gu Ja-yoon.
– I want you to give these guys as many starting opportunities as possible. They’re the ones I’ll use in the World Cup.
As someone temporarily performing the manager’s duties in place of Hwang Ki-ho, who was in charge of the national team, he couldn’t completely ignore the request.
“Manager. Those guys are doing something.”
Lee Sang-cheol, who was looking at the tactical board, headed to the window at the coaches’ words.
“Who?”
“Joo-young and Sang-hyuk.”
Since they practiced coordinating after training ended, there’s nothing strange about it.”
“What are they doing?”
“It looks like they’re doing a 1-on-1?”
“What?”
Jung Joo-young was a forward who could make it even in Europe.
He had seen him countless times and no one disputed his ability.
However, he couldn’t know exactly how far Kim Sang-hyuk could go.
Through the Mexico match, he was certain that this player had tremendous potential.
He was curious about what kind of performance he would show against Jung Joo-young, who had already reached the peak of his career.
Looking at the window, it wasn’t just the two of them who came out – Kim Seong-ryong was also at the goal post.
From the way they were positioned, it looked like Kim Sang-hyuk was defending and Jung Joo-young was attacking.
‘In this situation, the defender is always at a disadvantage.’
Defense has to passively respond to the attacker’s movements.
‘In an actual game, you could expect backup from other players. But that’s purely about the abilities of those two guys.’
Even Lee Sang-cheol was puzzled about why the two suddenly started a 1-on-1.
‘If it were Jang Jin-woo and Kim Sang-hyuk… I would understand…’
Looking down below the window, he noticed Jang Jin-woo secretly hiding and watching this.
‘Anyway…’
Why is he hiding and watching that again?
But considering the story between Kim Sang-hyuk and Jang Jin-woo, it didn’t seem like incomprehensible behavior.
“Doesn’t Joo-young look like he’s struggling?”
“Right. He can’t break through at all.”
“He can’t even get the timing to shoot.”
“His individual skills aren’t working either…”
Jung Joo-young’s footwork was quite good.
Though not flashy techniques, he specialized in neutralizing defenders with sudden changes of pace and direction, but Kim Sang-hyuk brilliantly didn’t fall for that timing and stuck close, bumping him with his body.
When he was forced to shoot, they were all off target, and even when they headed toward the goal, the shots were too weak for Kim Seong-ryong to handle easily.
Jung Joo-young got past Kim Sang-hyuk and took a shot, but the shot was blocked by Kim Sang-hyuk’s blocking and bounced back the other way.
“He read what Joo-young was going to do.”
“He pretended to be pushed aside on purpose and then blocked it.”
“Wow… to see Joo-young looking so helpless like that…”
“I understand why Jang Jin-woo was caught by that guy in high school.”
“He seems really smart. Seeing how he stops Joo-young without any reckless movements.”
“Exactly. Joo-young is much faster. That’s what’s amazing about it. He defends so cleverly.”
Lee Sang-cheol could play all positions except goalkeeper during his active days.
So he could understand both offensive and defensive perspectives.
‘From Joo-young’s perspective, he must be like an iron wall.’
And he also noticed Kim Sang-hyuk occasionally glancing over this way.
‘Is he asking me to see what his ability is like? He doesn’t say it, but he’s an ambitious guy. But to have that kind of composure while facing Jung Joo-young…’
After that shot, he noticed Jung Joo-young slumping down on the practice field.
Lee Sang-cheol smiled faintly and turned around, saying to the coaches.
“Tell them to take it easy. It’s tomorrow’s game, so stop draining their energy.”
* * *
“Huff huff huff…”
Jung Joo-young sat on the playground and exhaled.
Watching Jung Joo-young like that, I also sat down heavily on the playground, panting.
Honestly, until I actually faced him like this, I couldn’t gauge how far I could go against Jung Joo-young.
But when I actually faced him, it was manageable.
When Jung Joo-young picked up speed, it was hard to catch up, but all I had to do was use my body to disrupt his center of gravity so he couldn’t accelerate.
His footwork was good, but since it wasn’t based on agility, I could respond to it sufficiently.
His jumping power was good, but…
This was 1-on-1.
“Damn it.”
Jung Joo-young let out a sigh.
Did I break his spirit too much?
“Damn it!”
What should I say in response?
“Kim Sang-hyuk.”
Jung Joo-young suddenly got up.
“Yes.”
“Let’s go wash up.”
“…”
* * *
Jung Joo-young looked at Kim Sang-hyuk, who had fallen fast asleep snoring as soon as he washed up, then took his mobile phone and went outside.
– Oh, Joo-young.
It was Jung Joo-young’s agent.
– Hyung. There’s a team called Freiburg in Germany.
– Huh?
– Could you look into what kind of team it is?
– Why?
– Just look into it for me.
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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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