Chapter 270 – End of Season (1)

270

“Newcastle have been well prepared. Coach Botman, in the first game, when Real Madrid’s forward pressure caused problems from the rear build-up, he boldly changed his tactics. It looks successful so far, right?”
“Rock Woody, who is originally a defensive midfielder and is in charge of the team’s rear build-up, and Jose Gaya, a playmaker, form a variety of passing paths with two central midfielders at the top and the goalkeeper at the bottom, centering on the two control towers. “

At the beginning of the game, the broadcasters paid attention to Newcastle’s new build-up position.
The last game, held at Newcastle home, was Newcastle who lost without being able to build up a build-up throughout the game under the pressure of Real Madrid.

When the trusted Rock Woody and Jose Gaya were blocked, the only thing left was a long ball heading forward.
Even so, the number of times itself was low due to the lack of share of the original body, and the probability of a long ball that was urgently kicked out was even rarer, so it was only relying on Hong Min-jun’s personal ability to score even one goal.

“Generally, the basics of positional play are based on the triangle. But Newcastle is unique in forming a pentagon in the midfield. The inside wingback disperses the opponent’s pressure, and the two center backs, who are spread wide like side defenders, secure an extra path, so it is definitely easy to build up from the back.”
“As you said, in the first five minutes, Newcastle’s one-sided possession is noticeable. Now, Real Madrid players, after the game starts, don’t you touch the ball?”

With so many players placed in the back, it is difficult to exert pressure, which is Real Madrid’s strength.
The commentator, who had been favorable to Newcastle’s build-up, which was clearly different from the first game, soon, however,

“By the way… Is this ok? What’s urgent is Newcastle… It’s good to turn the ball from behind, but I can’t go forward.”
“Ah. Exactly… The position itself is not progressive. It’s too backward-oriented for a team that’s winning, but for a team that’s behind by two goals.”

Bitter voices began to emerge.

Soccer is, after all, a sport in which 11 players per team play.
Placing multiple players in the rear to take a numerical advantage means moving the players in the front to the rear. It was like taking out the lower stone and putting the upper stone on, which naturally led to a shortage of players in the front.

“This is it. It is the basis of pass play to move the ball forward step by step based on the build-up from the rear, but Newcastle has now castrated itself forward. Look at this. I made the goalkeeper an important participant in the build-up, but in the end, the goalkeeper can’t get far from the goal. Yomund’s goalkeeper isn’t even a nerd. Then, the pentagonal passwork that Newcastle is showing now cannot escape the goalkeeper’s radius… Because this doesn’t work.”
“It’s still early in the first half, so we’ll have to wait and see. The rear build-up is a pass… What kind of plan did Manager Botman prepare for the advancement of the ball— Huh? Rock Woody, sudden long pass!”
“It is a long shot forward. Half-line, Sakum Shakhi took his place first… Heading! Heading backwards— Minjun Hong, Minjun Hong Run! It’s fast!”
“Ah~ but Alex Tillian is a seasoned player. You noticed it early, huh? Tillian suddenly beats Beetle, Hong Min-jun, and Hong Min-jun!?”

Commentary is speeded up in the sudden development of the situation.
And the moment when everyone was excited by the anticipation for Hong Min-joon,

“Ah, in the end, Tillian blocks the road… Hong Min-joon is back. Time drags on and oh oh oh oh!!? What is this!? What did I see!”

After jumping, Hong Min-joon’s body flipped over in the air and kicked the ball.

“Whoa, whoa… Almost 30m… 30m overhead kick goal. My God, even a 30m goal is a wonder goal, and even a goal scored with an overhead kick is a wonder goal, but these two are combined!”
“This year’s Puskatsu has been decided!! Minjoon Hong!! He scored the first goal with a 30m overhead kick!!”
“Aww, a standing ovation from Bernaber! Yes, a play like this deserves applause. Ah, Alex Tillian smiles and extends his hand to Hong Min-jun, who has collapsed.”
“Big… It’s a cross between the best players of the past and the best players of the present. Hong Min-joon smiles and holds hands. It is heartwarming to see the two players smiling at each other. After all, the best players seem to have something in common, right?”

* * *

In the last game 1, Alex Tillian persistently stopped me, befitting his reputation as the world’s best centre-back.
I managed to score 1 goal, but the fight against him is always an annoyingly difficult game on the edge of a knife. More than anything, he had allies who could help him, and he used them amazingly well, so he often fell into traps.

Maybe that’s why even praising with an admiring expression every time felt like a mockery, so even though I laughed on the outside, my insides were still bubbling… You’re finally getting this look out of him.

As I was smirking on the floor, Alex Tillian suddenly reached out.

“Great? I couldn’t have imagined this… I like being young too. It’s not a game, but I’d never see a guy doing this trick in real life. Monty didn’t just play with you and retire.”

Monty?
Who is Monty?

Any player who played with me and announced his retirement…

“Montina Alvaro?”
“Okay. Montina Alvaro of Iron Wall.”

AS Monaco’s Montina Alvaro.
At one time, he was the world’s best center back and a player who was called Real Madrid’s iron wall, and was the iron wall of Real Madrid with Alex Tillian in front of him.

Well, like a father in his late 30s, he robbed me and retired.

“Blancos cheers. Why don’t you even wave your hand?”
“What are your hands? Your team has scored a goal, so why do you say you like it so much?”

Thank you for cheering me on, but it’s a bit absurd that it’s directed at a player who splendidly scored a goal in his team’s goal.

“Our Blancos are people who love football. Even an enemy can afford to applaud a great play. How is it? Wouldn’t you like to jump in a place like this?”

I smiled at the man who was sneakily doing business.

“I’ll think about it if you support me until the end of the game.”
“Well?”
“Your home fans. I wonder how long you will continue to support me like this. I wonder how many more goals there will be booing instead of cheering.”
“Her….”

He responded with a confident smile to the laughing man.

That’s right, you old man. Just like the back wave of the Yangtze River pushes the front wave, stop interfering and follow your friend and retire.
Or go to the Middle East and want money.

Our original plan for this match was to score at least two goals before half time.
That way, the Real Madrid players will adapt to our tactics and act in a hurry rather than react effectively.

The first attack route for this is a long ball using Sakum Shaky’s monstrous physicality.
Since it is Real Madrid that values ​​forward pressure, it was predicted that they would try to stop the build-up even if they gave space behind our team for the first time, but this first step was just right.

It was a one-time strategy that Real Madrid, once beaten, would not be beaten again, so it was important to be able to reach the goal on the first try… It was brilliantly successful.

The second strategy is active foul inducement.
Because-

Beep, Beep-!!

“Why is this a foul!! Referee! Hey Referee!!”
“Hey, this was a fair fight. It’s part of the competitive process.”

Just a month ago, in the quarterfinals against Barcelona, ​​there was an all-time foul.
Wasn’t it an all-time great event that was so upsetting that the world was in an uproar?

Of course, immediately after such an incident, it is also a game in which the victim is playing, and special attention must be paid.

I felt it in the first game, but the referees’ tendencies have changed to be very, very strict and ultra-conservative.
It seems that UEFA has been very disciplined to blow the whistle like a knife by reacting sensitively to a contest that could easily be overlooked.

So that,

“What? Card? Yellow!? This?”
“Isn’t this too much? Do you know what kind of play house this is? If there is no contact like this, what kind of football is that!!”
“Hey, calm down. The referee’s judgment was correct. Are you ignoring referee authority?”

Colleagues jabbing behind the referee like a nasty sister-in-law, as if fanning a house on fire at Real Madrid players who are about to die in a rage.

If you get a free kick chance like that, somehow raise it near the penalty box.
In this game, unlike usual, I actively participated in the competition in front of the gate and rubbed my body,

“Ouch!! Referee!!”
“… Wake up, Hong. If you do it one more time, it’s a card.”
“Yep!”

… Um, to see through my peak acting skills.
It was a strategy that was used to somehow get PK, but the referee didn’t take it lightly either.

If this is the case, should the PK operation be abandoned?

It raises its body and participates in the competition again.
I don’t like competitive situations, so when players are crowded in the penalty box like this, I get dizzy… Oh sweat. I really hate it.

The moment you run as hard as you can toward the ball coming up with a wrinkled face,

“Ouch!!”

The whistle blew.

… Eh? It’s not me
Confused, someone turned around to see Captain Baum Johan lying down.

And the referee’s hand pointing to the penalty box.
… Does this happen?

“Hey. Are you booing now?”
“What?”
“It seems that the composure of Blancos, which I was proud of, has disappeared. They only scored 2 goals, but they just booed and made a fuss.”

Alex Tillian exclaimed nervously.

“Because you play such a nasty game!!!”

… Well.
Admit.

* * *

The long 90 minutes were over.
1:3.

Dirty or not, somehow it came to a tie.
Even Real scored 3 goals at home and we scored 3 goals away from Real at home.

Well, the away goal rule was abolished after the 21/22 season, but the game went into overtime anyway…

“Stop!! Take the time somehow!”
“Hong, if I catch the ball, I’ll only waste time near the corner!”

I barely managed to tie the score by killing myself, so I had no choice but to go into infinite endurance because my stamina was exhausted as well as my colleagues.

In the first place, my team’s attack is because I am the alpha and omega, but my stamina is discharged.
Compared to Real Madrid’s squad, where even the candidates are strong, it is a reckless imagination to see the match in overtime from the standpoint of our team, which is like a sheet of paper.

Our team’s desperate attempt to somehow pass the time led to a penalty shoot-out after I received a lot of booing for defending the cooking ball even when surrounded by 3-4 people based on my keeping skills.

… It’s fucking hard.

* * *

“Yes, Newcastle’s 5th kicker Hong Min-joon is coming.”
“If Hong Min-joon puts in, it goes to the next… If you fail, you lose. Hong Min-jun carefully prepares… It’s full!”