Chapter 120 – The New King (1)

120

2033. 08. 09. Allianz Arena, Munich, Bayern Oberbayern, Germany.
Bundesliga Round 1.
Frankfurt (4-3-3) vs Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1).

GK Geralt Noak / GK Bernd Hölzenbein (C)
RB Fabian Fiedler / RB Maxim Meyer
CB Alexander Meyer (C) / CB Jacob Bender
CB Karl Heizmann / CB Ernst Albrecht
LB Bruno / LB Paul Yanes
DM Khalid Boulahrouz / CM Michael Kroos
CM Chicharo / CM Andre Hoffman
CM Sergei Barvirez / AM Leonardo Kutris
RM Alberto Mondi / RM Nicola Gabori
LW Minjun Hong / LW Yordi the Bass
CF Donald Cook / CF Ruben Bock

Our team has several players who are competitive in the first division.
Representatively, players such as captain Alexander Meyer and Chicharo.

It’s the captain, Frankfurt proved his skills by playing as a main player from the first division, and Chicharo showed quality by recruiting when the team was in the first division. These two players are resources that are evaluated as worthy of starting in the first division mid-level right now, and are one of the few first division level players who remain even after the team was relegated and failed to promote.

Also, the three recruits who were named on the starting list this time are players who can play an active part in the first division.
If you include me here, it becomes a fairly heavy squad for a newly promoted team.

However, you should not be mistaken, as the evaluation is based on the premise of ‘promoted clubs’, this is not a strong squad compared to the first division clubs.

According to experts’ evaluation, our team’s position in the first division is the weakest.
On the other hand, what about Bayern Munich? Not to mention. Even if you are not an expert, anyone with a little bit of interest in football can know the weight class of ‘Bayern Munich’.

The best and strongest dinosaur in the Bundesliga.
No, Bayern Munich is a team that boasts an overwhelming tier 1 weight class, even across Europe and the world beyond the league.

But the first round, the first match of the season, is Munich?
The weakest versus the strongest from the start. Isn’t it like the demon king, the king of the end game, appeared in front of the newly awakened warrior?

In addition, the venue is not the home stadium, but the away, Munich’s home stadium Allianz Arena.

‘Can I beat this?’

Even I, who was always confident, would have thoughts like this, but what about the coaching staff and teammates?
Even more so, the frustration of the players from Germany was great.

“It’s Munich… Deutsche Meister. We are doomed.”
“Besides, it’s an away trip to the Allianz Arena. It’s bad from the start.”

Deutschermeister.
Originally a title that refers to the Bundesliga winning team, it has now become one of Bayern Munich’s countless nicknames.

Because last year’s Bundesliga champion?
Of course that’s right too.

However, two years ago, three years ago, and four years ago, when Munich was in the midst of rebuilding, the title of Deutsche Meister was Munich’s nickname.

The status of Munich can be seen just by looking at the title meaning the winning team being called the nickname of the team that missed the championship for three consecutive years as if it were natural.

21/22 season 10 consecutive league wins, from the moment they set a truly insane record, Munich stood tall as the King of Germany.

Beyond another nickname, “Star of the South,” Stern des Südens, the king of the Bundesliga who conquered Germany.

Even me, who has no connections in Germany, is like this, let alone the German players who have grown up feeling the status of Munich with their whole body.

Even if he rushed in with enthusiasm, the atmosphere was like this, and the already slim odds seemed to converge to zero.

So it was.
The odds are slim… No, it’s a game that deserves to be lost. It is also an away game, played at the opponent’s home stadium, and nothing is lost even if you lose.

If the opponent wasn’t Munich, and it wasn’t an away game, I wouldn’t have done this. No, it would have been difficult if the training period was short since it was during the season.

Since we had nothing to lose, our team was able to prepare a tactic that was close to reckless in a way, giving us a shot even if we lost.

Like right now

The game started with our team’s lead. As soon as the referee blows his whistle, Donald Cook, a large black man, sends a strong pass toward our camp.

A defensive line that was pulled up from the start, especially a pass to captain Alexander Meyer, who was in front. And at the same time, the players in the second and third lines began rushing into the opposing camp all at once.

As soon as the game started, even the Munich players were taken aback by the appearance of allied players pouring in.
However, even in the midst of panic, the Munich players were quick to switch defenses.

Marking allied players penetrating into the camp, and reducing the space, the series of appearances is truly a machine.
Building a tight, impenetrable defense at our level, despite obvious reflexes, certainly shows Munich’s class… What if it’s the other way around?

No matter how solid the defense organization of the Munich players is, 11 players will eventually play on the ground.
It is not possible to cover all the vast fields. Because that’s impossible for any team, not just Munich.

At first glance, it seems to be pouring in chaotically, but if you look from the air, you will see that allied players are leaning to the right.

In other words, the Munich players who were marking friendly players naturally leaned to the right.
And at this moment, I started running half a beat late.

“It’s the opposite!!”

The first to notice our plan was Munich goalkeeper Bernd Hölzenbein, who was watching everything from the rear.

‘Late.’

What is the reason for moving half a beat late while keeping your position when your allies are invading the Munich camp?
Wasn’t it to get out of sight of the Munich players?

No matter how much you keep an eye on it, you will always look back when an opponent rushes at you with all your might. It is natural that the opponent’s attention is scattered if you are walking slowly, unlike the players who are running fast.

Of course it’s not long.
For a Munich player, it is a very short time, literally 1-2 seconds, but that is fine.

That short time.
That 1-2 seconds when the other person’s gaze was away from me was enough time for my walking legs to turn into sprinting.

However, Munich’s reaction was quick.
Munich midfielder Michael Kroos, who was closest to me, momentarily changes direction and runs at me.

“Cook!”

Of course we already predicted it.
A big black player, Donald Cook, blocks Michael Cruz.

While the pass was sent to the rear and the friendly players rushed into the Munich camp, Donald Cook, 193cm/92kg, was slow and slow as he was, so he was moving late.
To the extent that it is similar to me, who started half a beat late.

Cook’s late start was part of the inevitable, but he was also part of the plan.
If there is an opponent coming to mark me, my role is to buy time by blocking my path.

I did stop Munich midfielder Michael Kroos, who reacted quickly as planned… Thud! Michael Kroos, lightly bumped into with a sound, fell backwards.

I was worried about a foul, but the referee’s whistle was not heard, and the captain’s long pass was flying toward the right place as the results of numerous practices.

All the plans against Munich were for now.
Just to create a 1:1 situation for me.

The only thing left now is Maxim Mayer in front of me.
If we can break through that guy and hit the shot, it’s our victory.

‘Why don’t you run?’

However, Maxim Maier, who hesitated and took a few steps forward, kept his position and did not rush.
A move that is different from what was expected to take advantage of my weakness, which is obviously weak against competition.

At first I thought it was bewildering.
It took a few steps and then stopped.

However, as I ran, I realized that the ball that had risen in the air slowly came down.

‘Location… !’

A good position to receive the ball.
That they preoccupied that place.

‘So… ‘

Can’t receive
If I get involved with Maxim Mayer, who is superior to me in competition, I will be pushed.
But if you catch the ball in front of him, the ball is too high and you have to trap it with your head or chest. If you unsteadily trap him with your back, you’ll be robbed, or even if you’re not robbed, time will be dragged on.

It’s a failure.
I was frustrated by the guy’s goosebumps quick and cool judgment.

Is this world class skill?
Is this what a real world-class defender is that makes you feel frustrated even though you haven’t even tried it properly?

I almost lost strength in my legs, but I ran.
Can’t lose

You can’t give up without trying properly. Even if I fail, I have to run into it over and over again to know my limits and my opponent’s skills.

The moment I clenched my teeth and stretched out my legs, the world slowed down.
And a sudden inspiration.

I moved my body instinctively.
Run with all your might, put the guy right in front of you and twist your body with all your might. When his legs, which moved instinctively, kicked the ball that had fallen to his heel, and his expressionless face turned into astonishment.

A ball was placed in front of my feet.
It was strangely calm to see the goalkeeper rushing out.

Tuk-tuk-tuk, pushing the ball a couple of times.
Tok.

The ball fluttered far beyond the fingertips of the goalkeeper who hastily reached out and gently crossed the goal line.

Goal.
It was the opening goal.

Whoa.
It was a short time, but he calmly passed the goal post, letting out the breath he had been holding in while running with all his might.

Allianz Arena filled with 75,000 seats for the opening match.
The loud cheering sound that made my ears hurt until just now has disappeared like a lie.

Then, with a bang, he hit his chest with his fist.

‘This is me.’

German King?
No.

Now I am the king