Chapter 308 – Hong Min-Joon of the National Team (2)

308

After the match A schedule, the coach said about the disappointing result—

“It was a valuable time to understand the team’s flaws before the World Cup. We will build a solid team based on this two-game series.”

I did an interview called, and I only ate a lot of swearing.
What… Whether it’s someone to kill or save online, it’s a later problem if there’s a heated debate.

“Director. This is Hong Min-jun.”
“Come in.”

Feeling a sense of déjà vu that a scene like this had happened a few days ago, I entered the director’s office and the director, who was sitting on the sofa in front of a large table and drinking coffee, beckoned me.

“Sit down, sit down.”

The director, who had dark eyes under his eyes, spoke first, as if he could not help but be conscious of the criticism of public opinion even though he was drinking coffee leisurely.

“Okay. What is the answer?”
“At first, I evaluated myself based on myself.”
“Hmm?”

The director, who had been rubbing his eyelids, raised his red, bleeding eyes.

“When I saw the national team without me, I understood. How big is my presence.”

Soccer is a team sport with 11 players, but at the same time, the importance of an ace cannot be ignored.

Besides, am I just an ace?
Aside from being a Ballon d’Or winner, he is a world-class technician, dribbler, speedster with the best speed, and goal scorer with tremendous decisiveness.

Is there a player on the opposing team who has good breakthrough ability, is fast, and has good decision-making power?
First of all, it’s burdensome from raising the line, but shouldn’t you bother him so that he can’t catch the ball because he has good technique and excellent decision-making power?

Of course, the opposing team’s checks can only be focused on you, and if the opponent’s checks are focused on one person, it becomes much easier for the team as a whole to play.

What if the one person who is being held at the same time breaks through the pressure?
I really like to play soccer.

It’s been 4 years since I’ve been playing soccer comfortably like that.
From the perspective of the players who played soccer comfortably because of my existence for 4 years, not 1 or 2 years, how difficult it would be to adapt to the sudden disappearance of the ace.

The pressure from the opponent is even stronger, but there is no one to trust who always makes something if you push the ball, so I wander around without knowing what to do.

“In a word, your bare face when Ace wasn’t there was revealed?”
“Yes. So when I said this, I expected that they wouldn’t play for a while. Initially.”
“Initially? So now?”

The director with his chin on his face as if he was interested.

“But when I thought about it, I realized that the premise was wrong. In the first place, there is an ace, but I wanted to assume that there would be no ace.”
“Only the point.”

Perhaps this is the director’s intention.
Different roles depending on my tactical perspective.

For example, if you give a satisfactory answer, to make up for the chronic weakness of Korean football—

“Do you want to play in the middle of the second line or just behind the front striker? It’s a role that can create opportunities.”
“Hmm. Why do you think so?”

You want to be entrusted with the role of creating opportunities.

I can categorically say what makes such a big difference to soccer, the most successful sport in globalization. That the difference is big

Since ancient times, Korean football has had the strength of being dedicated, organized, and following tactical instructions well. In fact, the characteristics of East Asia, not just Korea… It is a characteristic except for China.

On the other hand, chronic problems include insufficient ability to depressurize, lack of breakthrough ability in 1:1 situations, and lack of decisive passing attempts.

The lack of ability to create a decisive chance in a so-called dangerous area with severe pressure.
Why, if you watch the national team game, aren’t words like ‘If the opponent is behind you, you can’t turn around and only pass back’, ‘You can break through the dribble over there’, and ‘You can’t make a decisive pass’?

In short, he has a strong tendency to avoid risky play.
This does not change with simple directives such as make a defiant breakthrough or make an adventurous pass.

A decisive play is made by a moment-to-moment flash, a very short momentary choice, and this is ultimately based on familiar play, something that does not change unless you get used to it from childhood.

What’s even more problematic is that such a play is only risky if you lack skills.
Creating such a culture from youth? Words are easy, but who would tolerate a player who ruins team play by talking nonsense throughout the game?

After all, how many players in Korea can handle such a ‘risky play’, regardless of the youth and Korean soccer culture?

“More than anything else, determination! In a moment of crisis, the clitch ability to do one thing when the team needs it! This is only—”

It’s just me, Hong Min-joon.

“Ugh! Such an erratic boy. Are you the only one in Korea?”
“Of course. I am Hong Min-joon, Director.”
“Ugh! Heh heh heh.”

A smile comes to the director’s lips.

“Yes, you have to have this much guts to be the first Asian to win the Ballon d’Or. Without you, my goal would have been the quarterfinals. It’s about the round of 16. It’s possible without you. With just a little bit of luck. And if you have a lot of luck, you might want to aim for the 8th.”

The director’s boast is not arrogance.

How many Korean players have entered Europe since my appearance?
As the evaluation of Korean players increased, the popularity of young, promising and cheap Korean players exploded, and thanks to this, many promising players were able to knock on the door of the European leagues.

Of course, not everyone was successful.
To put it bluntly, there were more failures.

However, players who had successfully settled in Europe began to appear, and now quite a few players were roaming the European stage.

From veteran or mid-level players who have stepped up, such as senior Yoon Hyuk and Seol Yo-han, who became a Dortmund duo, and Choi Gil-seok of Serie A Torino, to new players such as Cha Myung-geun of Fiorentina, Kim Gi-su of Real Betis, and Oh Se-hyun of Marseille.

Korea is no longer a weak team.
In the World Cup, where the world’s strongest teams gather, the team is strong enough to make it impossible to advance to the round of 16, even though it is not enough to rank among the strongest teams.

With the manager’s ability and a little luck, Korea’s round of 16 was never a dream.

“But my goal is to reach the quarterfinals or higher. 4 river… Maybe even the finals. This is an impossible goal without you. When you return to your team, take care of your body. I’ll have a coach send you data on your role and the team’s overall tactics, so keep reading and image training.”
“Image training?”
“As you know, the national team has less time to match. This is why image training is more important. I will send data not only to you but also to all the players in the national team, but the key players including you are adapting. Let’s try to win together.”
“It’s a win. Nice But before that… I think I need the role of an ace first.”
“Ace’s role?”

When I told the director what had just happened, I let out a sigh and wiped his face.

“Something like that happened. Right after the game, he looked calm… Tsk. It’s my mistake.”
“Don’t worry. I will lead the players like the ace of the national team. Didn’t the manager select a large number of young players after taking office? And he asked me to check the performance of the players. I didn’t know then… I think I know now. It was meant to be a bridge between the youngest members of the national team and the seniors.”
“What?”

Heh, pretend not to know.
He smiled chicly at the director who had his eyes wide open.

“It’s okay, Director. I’m not all The coach’s will to help young players adapt to the national team and give them advice so they can grow… It means that they expect me to serve as the next captain of the national team.”

Was it because I was caught inside?
The director, who was silent for a moment,

“Her… Yeah, that was it This is what Geonseong sunbaenim said.”

Dry-sung senior?
Director Na Gun-seong?

Teacher at Hojin University… It’s a bit puzzling, but anyway, why is director Na Gun-seong, who I was with during Hojin University, here?

* * *

After returning to the team and playing a few games, the coach of the national team sent a thick bundle of data.

Starting with the title of the national team’s tactical direction in preparation for the World Cup, the defensive line, pressure position, direction, intention, movement during attack… A pile of paper the size of a book.

‘… Should I spend more points?’

When you are looking intently at a data collection that makes your head pound just by looking at it,

“Minjun! Ride fast!”

At Luke’s urging, I folded a wad of paper and got on the club bus.
The bus arrived at Newcastle International Airport.

“There is no time for shopping, so everyone sit down. I’ll go straight into recovery training when I arrive. Doesn’t he have any problems with his condition?”
“My toe hurts, George!”
“So you don’t want to play? The Champions League round of 16?”
“I feel like I’m suddenly okay!”

Haha, laughter bursts out.

The plane’s destination is Newcastle’s Round of 16 opponents, Spain.
It was Madrid, the capital of Spain.