Field Commander - Chapter 51
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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 51.
Chapter 51.
Chapter 51.
“Hmm…”
Jung Seung-jin couldn’t understand at all the news that Kim Sang-hyuk had been excluded from the starting lineup.
Although he was in the 4th Division, considering his performance in the Olympics, he should have definitely been in the starting lineup.
– Is your relationship with Coach Lee Sang-cheol bad?
– No. It’s very good?
If it wasn’t a problem with the coach, could it really be due to tactical reasons?
Kim Sang-hyuk had never played full time in the Olympic tournament so far.
And since he came on as a substitute early on, there were no physical issues either.
It wasn’t an injury either…
Kim Sang-hyuk said that with his current condition, he would be fine playing a full match.
– I’ll look into it once. Don’t worry about it and just focus on the game.
– Yes, hyung. Please do.
Jung Seung-jin had been active in Germany ever since failing to become a professional player.
He didn’t have many connections in Korea, but he could utilize what he had.
Connections were all about links connecting to other links anyway.
After checking Korean time, he pressed a number saved on his mobile phone and hit the call button.
– Yes, this is Park Chang-yeol.
Park Chang-yeol was the person Jung Seung-jin knew who had the most connections in Korean football.
He had played in K League 1 for quite a long time, had served as a national team coach, and now his stock was rising quite a bit after securing Cheongju FC’s promotion.
– Ah, hello. This is agent Jung Seung-jin.
– It’s been a while. Are you staying healthy?
– Yes, of course.
Quite a polite style.
Different from when he was coaching.
– Sang-hyuk is… playing well without injuries, right?
– Yes. He’s very healthy.
– That’s really fortunate. But what did you call about…?
– I got a call from Sang-hyuk who’s playing on the Olympic team, and I heard he won’t be starting in the final.
– What?
Park Chang-yeol’s voice from the other end of the phone receiver sounded quite surprised too.
– That… that can’t be right? Given the performance Sang-hyuk has shown so far, he should definitely be starting?
– I thought so too, so I asked a few things, and he said his relationship with Coach Lee Sang-cheol is good.
– If it’s Sang-cheol… regardless of likes or dislikes, he would have definitely put Sang-hyuk in the starting lineup.
Sang-cheol…
Jung Seung-jin recalled the fact that Park Chang-yeol and Lee Sang-cheol had once coached under Hwang Ki-ho.
It seemed their relationship was quite close.
– Right? I also looked into Coach Lee Sang-cheol a bit, and he doesn’t seem like someone who would make this kind of choice. Do you have any insights you could share?
Their relationship was, in a way, that of strangers.
That’s why Jung Seung-jin had no choice but to approach cautiously.
After a while, a strange sigh came from the other end of the phone receiver.
– Sigh…
It seemed like he had definitely caught on to something.
– About something that’s already been decided… even if I know the reason, I don’t plan to take any immediate action. But I need to know what it is to respond in the future.
– Really…
Park Chang-yeol paused for a moment.
– You know the stories about Coach Hwang Ki-ho to some extent, right?
Hwang Ki-ho?
Jung Seung-jin blinked and tilted his head.
Why was the national team coach coming up here?
– What kind of stories are you referring to?
– It must have been covered a lot in the media. Stories about the players he selected when he was the Olympic team coach.
– Ah, you mean the stories about him mainly using his own people?
– Yes. It’s not just stories, it’s fact. Among the players currently on the Olympic team, except for a few overseas players, they’ve all gone through Coach Hwang’s hands.
– Ah, is that so?
– Yes. Among them, several joined the national team at a young age. Players like Gu Ja-yoon, Ki Sung-yueng, Lee Dong-won… those kinds of players.
– Are you saying this is possibly Coach Hwang Ki-ho’s influence?
– There’s a high possibility. Ki Sung-yueng is one of the players Coach Hwang Ki-ho cherishes most.
– But Coach Lee Sang-cheol…
Park Chang-yeol’s bitter sigh came through the phone receiver.
– You know player Kang Min-jae, right?
– Ah, I know him.
– Sang-hyuk played against that player’s high school team, and Coach Hwang Ki-ho and the coaches who were leading the Olympic team at the time came to watch the game.
– To see player Kim Sang-hyuk?
– No. They came to see whether to bring Kang Min-jae onto the Olympic team.
– Ah…
– Even though Kim Sang-hyuk had an amazing performance then, there was no word afterward.
– Because he wasn’t his person, so he had no interest?
– No. It’s probably because of me.
– What?
Jung Seung-jin tilted his head.
– I was blacklisted by Coach Hwang Ki-ho and kicked out of this industry. It seems those feelings still remain.
– You’re saying that because he dislikes Coach Park, he’s preventing Kim Sang-hyuk from playing?
– There’s a high possibility of that.
Jung Seung-jin looked around the office for a moment with an incredulous expression.
Hwang Ki-ho…
The captain of the team that achieved the semifinal miracle.
And one of the World Cup Best Eleven members at that time.
He wielded tremendous influence in Korean football, and articles were pouring out saying that the Olympic team’s good performance was due to Coach Hwang Ki-ho’s squad composition, building such a good image.
And since he was leading the national team at such a young age, he was the elite among elites in Korean football.
Jung Seung-jin had also had very good feelings about Hwang Ki-ho until now.
– If that’s true, it’s quite an absurd story.
– It’s probably a story that no one would believe unless they experienced it directly.
– Is he really such a petty person?
– Football ability and character don’t go hand in hand.
Jung Seung-jin had a long conversation with Park Chang-yeol.
– I hope this story doesn’t leak out.
– Ah, of course. It could harm Sang-hyuk too.
– I’m so sorry that Sang-hyuk is suffering because of me.
– No. This isn’t a problem caused by you, Coach.
After ending the call, Jung Seung-jin sat down and stared blankly at the office window for a moment.
When the Olympic tournament ended, Kim Sang-hyuk would move up to Freiburg SC’s first team.
It hadn’t been that long since he signed the contract, yet Freiburg was already requesting a contract renewal, and Jung Seung-jin was preparing for that.
If he showed good performance in the Bundesliga, joining the national team would be possible, and he had his own plan to move to a much higher-level club after showing his skills in the World Cup…
‘If I perform well in the Bundesliga but still don’t get selected for the national team, then Manager Park’s words would be true, right?’
If that were the case…
How much would that corrupt Korean football?
A petty person who brings personal emotions into national affairs is sitting as the national team manager.
‘It’s not time to make a decision yet, but.’
However, Jung Seung-jin had no intention of just sitting still either.
‘I can’t just sit around doing nothing.’
* * *
As always, I woke up at 5 AM and did light morning exercises.
I warmed up my body, lubricated my joints, and continuously ran simulations in my head.
This was my third match at Wembley Stadium, and the entire stadium was completely mapped out in my mind.
Now it felt as comfortable as a home stadium.
After finishing my workout like a leisurely walk, I headed to the separate dining room at 7 o’clock.
Players who had just woken up rubbing their eyes were sitting at separate tables, taking a yawn, then a bite of food, enjoying the quiet tension, when suddenly Kim Seong-ryong jumped up and headed toward the table where Jung Joo-young was sitting.
“Really? You’re going on loan?”
Loan?
It seems the decision has finally been made.
I was putting food on my plate in the cafeteria when I turned around.
“Yeah.”
Jung Joo-young’s cool response.
“Hey, but are you really going there?”
“Yeah.”
Where is he going?
Players gathered around Jung Joo-young, and I noticed Kim Seong-ryong getting up and looking at me.
“Really going to Freiburg? Where Sang-hyuk is?”
Huh…?
I unconsciously turned my head to look at Jung Joo-young again.
But that was just something I mentioned jokingly…
“Really? Hyung, are you really going to the same team as Sang-hyuk?”
Other players asked.
“That’s how it turned out.”
Jung Joo-young rarely gives detailed explanations.
So how special are the conversations he has with me?
But he’s really coming to Freiburg…
It’s both fascinating and surprising.
“Did Sang-hyuk recruit you?”
Kim Seong-ryong asked with wide eyes, looking genuinely surprised.
“Would I go just because he recruited me?”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“The loan conditions were good. They guaranteed playing time as a starter.”
“Wow… damn. Playing together with Sang-hyuk… that’s going to be really fun.”
“Want to come too?”
“Ah damn. I’d want to go too if I got an offer. When Sang-hyuk is in front, it feels like watching a football match from VVIP seats and then going home.”
Everyone burst into laughter at Kim Seong-ryong’s words.
“Then you’ll be facing off against Jin-woo?”
Fortunately, Jang Jin-woo wasn’t in the dining room.
“Well, I guess that’s how it’ll be.”
“Hey, then we’ll finally see who’s the real South Korea number 9?”
“What competition would I have with that young junior? He’ll be inheriting my position.”
Jung Joo-young still coveting the number 9.
‘It’s number 10, I tell you.’
The current situation of SC Freiburg was too disastrous.
They had mutual contract terminations with two remaining starting players.
Riding the chaotic atmosphere, they lost again yesterday, making it 8 consecutive defeats.
The overwhelmingly last-place team in the Bundesliga.
Christian Günter’s desperate expression was really something to see.
‘Damn bastard. Suffer a bit more until I get there.’
When I had time, I watched broadcast footage, and Gunter, who had just come up from the second team, seemed to have the best performance.
“But isn’t that team doing poorly these days?”
“Well, it’ll get better since I’m going.”
“What? Where’s that baseless confidence coming from?”
“Am I going alone? Sang-hyuk is going too.”
“Hmm… that does make some sense.”
From what he’s saying, Kim Seong-ryong seems to be my fan.
“Hey, don’t secretly listen from over there, come here. Did you know? That Joo-young is going to Freiburg?”
I hurried over to Kim Seong-ryong with my food tray.
“I just heard about it too.”
“Really?”
Jung Joo-young looked at me and nodded.
“I didn’t tell him either.”
“Joo-young is going, so what are your thoughts?”
Kim Seong-ryong asked me, and all the players’ gazes turned to me.
“If you’re coming, you should write a legend. And give Jang Jin-woo’s butt a good smacking too.”
The players burst into laughter at my response.
Through interviews and various articles, everyone had come to know what kind of relationship Jin-woo and I had.
“Will you help him?”
“Of course. No matter what anyone says, South Korea’s best forward is Joo-young hyung.”
Jung Joo-young quietly said.
“Number 9?”
“Number 10.”
“….”
Kim Seong-ryong giggled to himself, apparently finding something amusing.
“Sang-hyuk has good insight. I always said it. Number 10 position is perfect for you.”
Jung Joo-young seemed offended and got up.
“I’m leaving first. Enjoy your meal. Since it’s the last match today, take good care of your condition.”
Jung Joo-young is always like that.
The good thing is he doesn’t hold grudges and takes care of his juniors.
Although he did mess up his contract in Europe…
According to Seong-ryong hyung, Joo-young hyung’s former agent was trash…
In the end, since Joo-young was the one who signed and made the decision, he kept quiet and took responsibility.
“Yes!”
When I responded loudly, Jung Joo-young chuckled and headed toward the dish return area.
* * *
2012 London Olympics Football Final.
Stadium: Wembley Stadium, London.
08.11 Saturday, 15:00 kickoff scheduled.
Korea vs Mexico.
86,162 spectators.
“What?”
Michel and Schmaike sat in the same spot, looking at the starting lineup and tilting their heads in confusion.
“Kim’s not there? How can that be? In such an important match? Is he injured perhaps?”
At Michel’s words, Schmaike also looked toward Korea’s bench with an anxious expression.
‘That can’t happen…’
Without any special turnaround, Freiburg would definitely be relegated this season.
They had brought Jung Joo-young under unreasonable conditions without proper verification on the European stage.
It was a deal made based solely on the fact that he had good chemistry with Kim Sang-hyuk…
If he couldn’t play due to injury, Streich would never survive this season.
If he left, he himself could become unemployed too.
“That won’t be it.”
“Ah, I think you’re right. He’s chatting with his teammates looking quite lively.”
Michel, who had brought binoculars, nodded her head.
“Right.”
What a relief.
Schmaike was barely able to let out a sigh of relief.
“I don’t know what the manager is thinking. Why is he trying to make the game difficult?”
Michel made an expression showing she couldn’t understand.
“Number 5 was doing well too, wasn’t he?”
“He’s good. He’s good, but Kim is better. Just better. Especially in defense, there’s no comparison.”
Michel’s answer was like that of a fanatic who worshipped Kim Sang-hyuk.
It seemed to have gotten worse especially after watching the match against Japan.
‘This woman is a bit dangerous…’
Schmaike was worried that Borussia Dortmund might suddenly make a transfer offer.
Meanwhile, the match had started.
Korea’s kickoff in the first half.
“Huh?”
An incident occurred in less than a minute after the match started.
Unlike the Olympic qualifiers where Mexico had taken a defensive stance, they came out with strong pressing tactics from the beginning, just like Japan.
Ki Sung-yueng’s cross, as he tried to handle the ball hastily in response, was blocked by a Mexican player and bounced back the other way, and unfortunately this ball fell right at the feet of Mexican forward Irobe Peralta.
He fired a mid-range shot before Kim Seong-ryong could react, and Korea’s goal post shook violently.
– Woaaahhh!!!
The massive cheers of Mexican fans echoed through Wembley, and the Korean players froze in place.
Manager Lee Sang-cheol gritted his teeth.
‘This is bad.’
It was the movement of Mexican players who seemed to have thoroughly studied Korea’s weaknesses.
“Don’t worry about it! The game is just starting!!”
Lee Sang-cheol shouted, encouraging his players.
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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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