Chapter 237 – The New Ace (2)

237

In fact, Jose Gaya did not hate Hong Min-joon from the beginning.
On the contrary, Jose Gaya sincerely expected Hong Min-jun to be recruited.

‘The days passed when I fought alone as the ace of the team. Ace’s sense of duty to be responsible for the team’s victory is painful, but if this pressure is also Ace’s destiny… If so, I have no choice but to accept this fate as well. However… That’s right, it would be much easier if there was a goalie who would turn my pass into a goal.’

An Asian player rumored to be recruited.
He is such a famous player, so I know he has good skills and scoring ability, but I don’t know the details of his career, so I searched for him,

‘Hong Min-joon… 2. Following the Bundesliga, Bundesliga is the top scorer. 2nd division top scorer, and 1st division top scorer in a newly promoted team? Although he is the top scorer in the low-level German league, he must be a natural goalscorer considering his achievements with a promoted team. It will be a good tool.’

It was.
Jose Gaya, the owner of a bloated ego like no one else, was suffering from serious secondary illness, and hoped that the recruitment of Hong Min-jun would ease his burden.

And the day Hong Min-joon’s transfer was confirmed, and the day he met him for the first time.
Jose Gaya received the first shock.

‘Uh, um… Well, you look good. It’s an attractive appearance that makes it hard to believe that it’s an Asian.’

Jose Gaya is not a racist.
He’s going to be a great fighter and he’s not going to say he’s racist. That’s why I’m jealous and colored subordinates… No, tools… Didn’t he treat his co-workers kindly?

Later, he said he was a great player… For example, when he won the Ballon d’Or, his colleagues of color said, “Jose is a great player both in terms of his skills and his personality. When I first joined Newcastle, when I felt awkward, he talked to me first and guided me to grow.”

That’s why subordinates without discrimination… No, tools… Jose Gaya, who was dealing with his colleagues, but all the Asians he saw were of poor appearance. But that guy…

‘… Okay. A soccer player is said not by looks, but by soccer skills. Just like Messi is not great because he is handsome.’

Jose Gaya, who struggled to control his mind, received a second shock in the ensuing training.

‘What kind of speed… ‘

Even before the transfer was finalized, the results of the medical test were whispered around, so I guessed to some extent, but the physical ability of the guy I saw in person was beyond my imagination.

The overwhelming top speed of up to 36.6 km/h is of course surprising, but soccer is not a 100m run, and the important thing is the instantaneous acceleration. However, even the acceleration at the moment it reached top speed was amazing.

In addition, although it is not the fastest, it runs faster than most players, skillfully displaying all kinds of individual skills and outstanding decision making skills.

Jose Gaya shuddered.

‘It’s this guy! This guy is my best tool… No, he can be soul mates! If it’s his scoring ability in my playmaking… It is possible!!’

Finally, the right tool for you to become the best playmaker… No, I was delighted that the duo appeared, and in fact, at the beginning of the season, the duo of Jose Gaya and Hong Min-joon scored many goals together and received praise from people.

However-

‘Why? What’s the matter? Why… Why was it plastered with only his name!’

The protagonist of the victory, the center of Newcastle, and the ace of the team should be himself, but he was always in the spotlight.

‘Okay. After all, the thing that stands out the most is the goal, so the goal scorer can get attention. Let’s calm down. Scoring a lot of goals doesn’t make you a Zidane. I can just do it like now.’

Obviously but… It should be… !!

“Oh, Elena. How are you? Then~ I’m doing well. Ah~ I miss you~ When are you coming over?”
“Heeyeon noona~ Have you been doing well lately? Of course! I watch my sister’s matches every time. Uh? S, score? Oh, I want to see you… No, did you really see it?”

It was the first time I had heard it in my life, and even though I couldn’t understand the content because it was talking in a language that was clearly Korean, I could still hear the woman’s voice subtly as I passed by him.

It seems that the opponents are also changing every time, but that stupid bastard is better than me?
The media’s admiration for him should be his own. The praise of supporters should be one’s own, and popularity with women… No, not this one

The reason why his feelings of displeasure deepened decisively was the change in his play style.

‘You covet my role on the subject of goal-getting!? How dare you step over the team’s playmaker position!’

The appearance of Hong Min-joon, who goes even beyond playmaking to push himself, the team’s ace, infused Jose Gaya with a real sense of crisis beyond jealousy.

‘Trying to be a playmaker when you’re a goal scorer who can’t even pass properly? Wait and see I’ll show you the difference.’

* * *

“Well… “
“Why is that, Minjun?”

While preparing for the match, I suddenly look around, and Luke follows me and looks around.
Strangely, the back of my head keeps tickling these days.

“Nothing. Let’s go win.”

The first game of November, against Bournemouth in the 11th round of the Premier League.

It was a matchup that Newcastle’s victory was expected to win, but the match did not work out as well as expected.

Bournemouth’s movements were quite tricky, and the fighting spirit and passion of the players were considerable.

However, playing in the EPL, the most intense league, and being familiar with this level of resistance, the biggest reason for not being able to play the game smoothly was with us, not the opponent.

“Jose! What are you doing! Don’t drag the ball, pass it!”

Despite my shouts, Jose glances at me and proceeds to strike the ball as it is.
Of course, Bournemouth’s pressure, which is focused on him, has created a good space for an instant penetration.

In the first half, we tried to reduce the consumption of our stamina as much as possible, but we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Even if you have a chance, if you turn away to reduce your stamina consumption, that’s not stamina distribution, it’s just sabotage.

I started sprinting towards empty space and waited for Jose’s pass.
If he can break through the pressure and pass me a pass, I’ll have a good chance. He must be overdoing it for this.

Unfortunately, however, Jose’s pass did not follow.

“Oh shit!”

Rather, he could not overcome the pressure of Bournemouth and the ball was stolen and the counterattack began.
The body that was running towards the Bournemouth camp came to a sudden stop and ran straight to join the defense.

Fortunately, Bournemouth’s counterattack was not that sharp, or I was able to cut off a pass that happened to be passing by with a tackle, as if my reverse running was too fast.

‘What day is it today? I tried 2 tackles and succeeded both times.’

I’ve never shown a good look defensively, but today I’m exceptionally active defensively.
… It sucks that this is a semi-forced defensive contribution.

After a series of sprints that consumed a lot of stamina, and then a sudden stop and then rapid acceleration, I was out of breath.

I wake up gasping, and my colleagues pat me on the back saying that I did well, but in the meantime, isn’t Jose Gaya standing there with a confused expression?

“Hey Jose. Don’t overdo it and pass it right away as usual!”
“Noisy. I’ll take care of it, you do your job well.”
“What?”

I was so absurd that I asked him, so he stared at me and went away.

“Why is he like that? What’s wrong?”
“I know. Jose has been rude lately.”
“I got nervous because my performance wasn’t good.”

But. Jose Gaya’s performance has not been good lately.

The guy who showed strength in one-touch passing based on quick and accurate judgment and excellent passing ability, but dragging the ball needlessly only causes a ball hog.

Although he has good basic skills, he doesn’t have the individual skills to break through all the pressure like me, and he doesn’t have a monster-like physical like Sakum Shakyi, so he can’t keep the ball with full body.

Jose Gaya is a typical linker midfielder with a slim physique in the mid-170’s.
It’s brilliant to be a playmaker… He lacks the creativity to say something decisive, but he is like a lubricant that softens the team’s offense and defense.

Of course, the guy’s talent is outstanding to be simply a lubricant.
Until I came, I heard that Newcastle had a pretty good performance as the most promising large prospect… Certainly, talent is talent, but I usually play an active role as an auxiliary playmaker that reduces the pressure on me with appropriate positioning and supplies quality passes.

The problem is that the recent change in play style has poisoned him and his performance has deteriorated.

In the end, we had to face the second half with Bournemouth and Bournemouth at 0:0 throughout the first half.

“Hey Jose.”
“What?”

When I called him before the start of the second half, it was clear… Perhaps because of his recent poor performance, he reacts particularly harshly.

“Why suddenly? Unusually.”
“Usually? What is my usual What do you know?”

It looks like he’s widening his eyes menacingly, but from my point of view, looking down at the little guy in the middle of the day, it’s just laughable.

If you laugh at me here, you’ll get really mad, right?
How is it? It’s not in the mood to be eaten by giving advice, and it’s hard to talk seriously because it’s right before the game starts… Well, that’s it He must be having a hard time with poor performance, but there is no need for me to add pressure to it.

“I believe in your skills. Let’s do our best.”

My pass slave
He swallowed his backbiting and patted me on the shoulder to cheer me up and backed off.
Can’t help it In this game, I have to try to score even if it is a little overworked.

* * *

Ace said that true value comes when the team is in trouble.

In the second half, seeing Hong Min-joon performing tremendously, Jose Gaya finally admitted it.
As much as he acknowledged my skills, I have no choice but to acknowledge him.

‘Hong. Min. Jun! Wait and see Acknowledge my skills, and leave the position of ace for a while to you who are wary.’

The match ends with a win and an interview spot.
Jose Gaya received shocking news.

“Hey, hey! Did you all hear? I heard that Hong was selected on the Ballon d’Or podium!?”
“What? Ballon d’Or?”
“This crazy… Really?”
“The announcement came out during our second half! Hong Min-joon is on the podium!”

Ballon d’Or, podium… !
… Damn.

Okay. I hate to admit it, but now I have to.
The guy is real

As soon as the interview was over, Jose Gaya searched for Hong Min-joon, who disappeared.

To hand over the seat of the ace, the throne of Newcastle.
The existing Newcastle’s ace and king himself is to pass on the duty, responsibility, loneliness, loneliness, and tiredness to the guy.

‘Heh… A Ballon d’Or podium. Are you worthy of being my successor? He’s doing quite a bit.’

After wandering around for a while, the guy I found in the corner of the bathroom was—

“Uh, Tina. I just finished the game what? You said you were still on the phone? Oh what… Just call your parents to say hello… Huh? News? What news? Oh, rather than that, shall we have dinner tonight? I told you to treat me before— Huh? Ballon what? Ballon d’Or? Why?”

… Tina?
Maybe Tina Lott?
It’s dinner with the Tina Lott I know… ?

Momentarily, the beautiful face of Tina Lorth, the unrequited love partner, and the undeniably handsome face of Hong Min-jun pass by at the same time.

And even rumors about him!

‘This, such a flirtatious scumbag dares to touch innocent and pitiful Tina Lott… !!’

Jose Gaya is jealous… No, I shuddered with anger.

“Red!! Come out right now!!!”
“Uh? What are you doing here?”
“Yes, your boy… “

Pointing his trembling fingers to his face,

“Did you hear that too? Are you here to tell me the news? Thank you. Oh, do you know Tina Lott? We were supposed to have dinner together, but you should go too.”
“Hey, dinner? Tina and… I?”
“Yes. He’s a Newcastle fan again. I will like you when I see you.”
“I like you… Hmmm. … Is that so?”

What. You were a good boy
Jose Gaya coolly decided to accept him as the new ace.