Chapter 33 – Step Up (5)

033

As I pass through the entrance passage for the start of the second half, my stomach boils.
In terms of reason, I know that the director is right, but even so, my stomach boils. Annoying.

Certainly my play in the first half was disastrous.
Turnover due to failure to penetrate excessive dribble. I haven’t counted, but maybe turnover will be 10 times. Even in the first half only.

In general, it is said that even 5 turnovers in a 90-minute game in the first half is quite a lot, but 10 in the first half? This is just the level of dedicating the ball to the opponent. Even if I’m the director, I’m pissed off.

Oh Sang-tae was only covered because he did so splendidly, but excluding Sang-tae Oh, he would be counted among the worst players on the field.

Excuse?
As for excuses, there would be no limit.

An insecure defender. A midfielder who has lost his motivation. Poor offensive line.
It was a struggle to try something like the core of the attack, but the result was not good.

And, more frankly, it was because of the lack of help from his colleagues.
I wish my colleagues would move a little more. I wish I could make a little space.

As far as technique goes, I am evaluated as superior to most pros.
In fact, right before this game, he showed overwhelming performance enough to say that he was chewing up the college league.

However, no matter how good your technique is, what can you do when enemies are tightly packed in a small space?
Skill? Chidal? Paint?
If you pull it from the side and push it from behind, there’s no way to do it unless you’re a human. It’s not Messi, but it’s impossible even if Messi’s grandfather comes.

I wish my colleagues would move a little more. I wish I could open up a little space.

But I also know that this is just an excuse.
After all, my performance so far has been achieved with the help of my colleagues.

Moves that draw out opponents, moves that steal attention, moves that disturb… So-called off the ball things.

All these plays that create space for me to try dribbling are the flip side of the splendor.

And these roles go unnoticed because they are not necessarily glamorous.
As a player, everyone wants to get attention and be in the spotlight, but who would like a role like that?

‘I can help this much, but I can’t lose without doing anything.’

No space? Messi is also impossible?
No. It is possible if it is
Does Messi have a status window?

What is the space, what is the pressure, what do you know?
In the second half… Be sure to break through

* * *

The second half has begun.
A game that started with the starting axis of the opposing team. With two goals ahead, Ji Hak-dae turns the ball slowly, not in a hurry.

The ball travels between defense and midfield.
If it was the first half, we would have spent time watching as it was due to the nature of our team with a low pressure line.

However, in the second half, our team’s line was much higher.

“Stick!”
“Space! Block the pass path!”

The pressure range that has risen as much as the line that has risen significantly.
The opposing team’s midfielder hurriedly passed a back pass to the goalkeeper at the rapidly rising pressure line, and our team’s striker Na Jin-ho quickly caught up.

Bang!
Under the pressure of the striker, the ball hurriedly kicked by the opposing goalkeeper floated high, and after fierce competition near the half line where players were densely packed, it landed on senior Kim Ki-soo’s feet.

“Go in!!”

Our team players poured in as if they had been waiting for the fierce gestures of the senior jockey with his feet on the ball.
Left fullback Kim Young-hyo sprints through the side and draws in the opposing team’s side midfielder, while flank striker Lee Gyu-sik on the right widens the space and draws out the opposing defender.

A pass through senior defensive midfielder Chae Yong-jin arrives in front of senior Yoon Hyuk, who penetrates into the space that looks like that.

“Return!!”

A uniform marked with the number 15 suddenly appears in front of striker Na Jin-ho, who dragged down the center back, and Yun-hyeok, who shook off the last remaining marksman through a 2:1 pass.

When the only remaining center back infiltrated me and I was confused between me and senior Yoon Hyuk, senior Yoon Hyuk’s low-lying pass rolled right under my feet and connected the first touch as a shot.

Pop!
The goalkeeper on the other side could not even react to the low-lying shot towards the corner of the goal, and just stood still and watched the trajectory of the ball.
Teeing!

However, the ball hit the goal post and bounced out.

“Ah!”

It was a good opportunity at the start of the second half.
There was a sigh of regret, but this kind of thing is not uncommon in the game. I quickly shook off my emotions and returned to the camp, recalling the sensation I had just had.

The condition is not bad.
No, it was rather sharp.

It’s like a phone call.
An unreasonable breakthrough attempt in the first half. Even though it was all blocked, thanks to that, the sense of the tip of my toe came to life.

A one-step battle ensued.
Our team, which initially focused on defensive tactics, cannot suddenly turn aggressive.

Aggressive but awkward play as if wearing clothes that did not fit the body led to counterattacks from the enemies, and the main direction was the empty left side where the left fullback did not return.

However, unexpectedly, senior Oh Sang-tae, who was a hole in the first half, blocked the enemy’s attack as if he had awakened.
This isn’t Jekyll and Hyde.

As if the sluggish performance in the first half was a lie, the impregnable defense that would not be strange even if he was selected as the MOM was embarrassing to the enemy team as well as to the allies.

“Yeonghyo! It’s okay, so go up! And don’t lower the defensive line! Up! Close the gap with the midfielder and clear up the space! Right! Open more! If you don’t spread it out, there won’t be any space in the center! Yunhyeok and Jockey focus more on linking!”

The director’s gaze turned to me as he shouted passionately and gave instructions.

“Dude Hong Min-joon! What are you doing! Were you scared? Dribble with confidence! Where is the guy who bullied you in the first half?!”

He nodded his head in agreement and gritted his teeth.
Shit.

“Have you been in first grade? More than a baby? It’s already coming out weekly. But there is no real speed.”

The opposing player, who was stuck behind me, flutters his snout.
Let’s see.

Sharpen your senses and push the opponent back with your back.
The difference in weight is as significant as the height difference of more than 10 cm, with a muscular body that is as hard as a rock. It’s hard to win in a physical fight, but it doesn’t matter. When did I break through with body bread?

And in the first place, fighting isn’t just about muscles.
Like now.

Senior defensive midfielder Chae Yong-jin is evaluated for his lack of passing ability compared to his excellent defense. Maybe that’s why he usually tends to focus on stable short passes, but this time, for some reason, he sends low and fast passes that are scary enough to make eye contact with me from the defensive camp.

Even though it was a long distance, the ball passed through 4 players in an instant, probably because of good ankle strength.
I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected pass.

‘Oh!’

I reflexively stretch my feet, and the flying ball bounces once on the grass, adding to the irregular rotation.
Still, with my trapping skills, I’ll be able to stably catch it and secure ownership.

But that’s it.
You won’t lose ownership, but that’s it. It’s all about making a safe back pass or waiting for more allies to come up while wasting time.

A sharp pass that was connected at once from the defensive camp. It is to miss the opportunity to pass through the players crowded in the center.

‘I can’t do that!’

It was an instant decision.

The moment the ball bounces.
Instinctively, lean on the opponent close behind you and put your strength on the left side.

Feeling the opponent’s center of gravity shifting to the left side naturally, he received the flying ball with strong rotational force to the right inside—

Using the power contained in the ball, only the direction of movement was changed.
A ball bouncing to the right.

“What!?”

The opponent exclaimed in exclamation as if embarrassed by the ball passing by the side of his face.
The moment his concentration was focused on the ball, he used the opponent’s body as an axis and pushed it hard with his back.

As I hurriedly shifted my center of gravity from the left side to the right side, I passed by the opponent who had been pushed back and slammed the butt, and the ball fell in front of me as if I had been waiting for it.

“Stop!!”

Opponent center back running out with wide eyes.
Breakthrough? Where? How?
Contrary to the slowing vision, the head rolls faster than ever.

“Return!”

The conclusion was simple.
He handed the ball to senior Na Jin-ho, who came down to receive the ball out of habit, and passed the center back as it was.

“Oh! Next!!”

Jinho’s pass rolls appropriately, befitting a situation similar to the pattern play he practiced on a regular basis.
However, is it because it is similar to the pattern play that our team often uses? As if expected, the last remaining opponent’s center back, who was marking Jin-Ho, blocks the path in advance.

‘You can do it!’

The moment you realize the potential, you move your body instinctively.

In an instant, he turned his back on the opponent and received a pass from Jinho.
The rolled ball hit my instep and bounced in the opposite direction.

The opposing defender quickly turned his body, but first blocked his path with his thighs, and then pushed his hips and body.

The opponent’s hand, which reflexively pushed his shoulder, loses strength for an instant.
In the penalty box. If you are a center back, you are in a position where you instinctively worry about fouls.

At the moment, he shook off the opponent’s hand and kicked the ball that was floating in the air.
Beep, beep, beep!!

The sound of the referee’s whistle followed by the ball breaking through the net.
It was a comeback goal.

Surprised by the bewildered play, he reflexively held a ceremony.

〈 Belt Ring! 〉
〈 Unpredictable creative play!〉

【Skills】        【Spirit】         【Body】
Skill 070 ｜Field 046｜Main 067
Dribbling 068 ｜Anticipation ｜ 044｜Acceleration ｜ 068
Trapping 067｜Judgment｜ 049｜Balance｜ 065
Short Pass 048｜Concentration｜ 056｜Agility｜ 065
Long pass 041 ｜Off the ball 047｜Reaction speed 079
Shooting 045 ｜Space Mark 038｜Power 054
Free Kicks 042 ｜Peace 052｜Jumps 046
Header 038 ｜Leadership 040｜Endurance 053
Tackle 032 ｜Teamwork 039｜Resilience 065

【Hidden】
Genius 048(▲2) ｜ Charm 095 ｜ Intelligence 028

【Height 175cm｜63kg】

【Possessed Points】 0P

Suddenly, the stats window popped up for her.