TSPGOR 11

Chapter 11

A Hat-Trick Is the Best Part of an Opening Match

[Hello, football fans. We greet you with the 17-18 season opening match between Manchester United and West Ham.]

Commentator Lee Jin-yong was very excited.

It wasn’t simply because this match was the opening game.

It was because the Korean leaguer Kim Jin-hyeok, who had been showing extraordinary performances since preseason, was registered in the starting lineup.

[We bring you both teams’ starting lineups. Home team Manchester United…]

Lee Jin-yong emphasized the last name by briefly controlling his breathing.

[At the front, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and paired with him, South Korea’s Kim Jin-hyeok!]

Honestly, until he saw the starting lineup, he hadn’t had high expectations.

But a player they’d just signed was starting.

If he’d just sat on the bench, he’d have thought, “He’s joined the first team, that’s a relief.”

When Kim Jin-hyeok first advanced to Europe, there were many predictions that he’d be sent on a loan merry-go-round.

There were even people who belittled it as “jersey selling.”

But Kim Jin-hyeok proved himself against strong teams as soon as he joined, and proudly secured a starting spot.

[Co-commentator Park Chan-young, how do you see it? Manager Mourinho starting Kim Jin-hyeok, who showed good form in preseason—can we take this to mean he’ll continue to favor him?]

But the co-commentator sitting next to him was lukewarm.

“Well, preseason is preseason… Shouldn’t we keep testing for a match or two? I don’t think we need to think about it too urgently.”

[Ah, I see. As I speak, the 17-18 Premier League opening match begins.]

Whatever the co-commentator’s reaction, the commentator inwardly rooted for Kim Jin-hyeok.

Hoping the thrill he’d felt in preseason would continue.

“Move with me! Hey!”

Matić in the third line continuously gave us instructions while circulating the ball.

But West Ham’s energy level was quite high.

Especially Andre Ayew, who blocked our passing lanes with his characteristic elastic movement.

“Pogba! Move and receive!”

Manager Mourinho was very wary of the team playing statically, and that was only natural.

At higher levels, if you receive the ball standing still, you’ll lose it quickly.

-Tick!

As expected, Ayew cut off the pass with his toe.

Pogba seemed unable to get things going his way.

I know the guy’s feelings well.

He must feel like he’s a beat late these days.

That was partly because I’d joined the team.

As the players began matching my tempo, the rhythm was different from before.

I’d suffered a lot from that kind of thing in my past life too.

-Tap!

Pogba beautifully turned after receiving the throw-in on his chest.

Yeah, that’s your strength, but playing like that eats up all the tempo.

“Tch!”

When the situation didn’t work out, he turned back and made a back pass.

At this rate, advancing would be difficult.

I should go closer and loosen it up.

He’s a teammate who treats me well, after all.

-Thwock.

I called out as Pogba was about to receive the ball again.

“Hey!”

Then the guy attempted a no-look one-touch pass, and I knew his characteristics well.

-Whoosh, tap! Tatatat!

I opened my body to keep the pass speed alive, then handed the ball to Zlatan and attempted to penetrate.

-Thwomp!

Zlatan caught my intention too and immediately pushed the ball back with a one-two.

As expected, that ahjussi is world-class.

Now only center-back Ogbonna remained in front of me.

-Whoosh whoosh, thwock!

I slowed the ball’s speed and feinted with my upper body, breaking the guy’s balance.

No matter how decent a center-back he is, agility and quickness are always cited as his weaknesses.

Just looking at him, that frame can’t properly respond to my speed changes.

-Thwock!

I pushed the ball and pierced straight through the half-space.

The keeper rushing out, a bad shooting angle.

My choice was decided.

-Thwomp!

The ball was deliciously delivered to Zlatan’s feet as a cutback pass, and Zlatan just had to stick his foot out.

Of course, that also requires considerable concentration.

-Splash!

“Kuhahaha! Kim! As expected, you’re the best!”

“Hahaha!”

Zlatan lifted me up, and the stands went wild.

“Waaaaaah!!!”

“Nice!”

Mubuji was also throwing an uppercut, looking very pleased.

Thinking about it, at this rate, Zlatan ahjussi might stay here a bit longer and then leave.

Lukaku seems to have already fallen out of the manager’s favor.

Still, I’d like to see Zlatan ahjussi elegantly smoking a cigar at AC Milan.

“Nice play, Kim!”

“Hahaha!”

My thoughts were buried by my teammates’ congratulations.

Whatever happens will happen.

-Beep!

The match resumed with the opponent’s possession.

But this was our home, and aiming for a comeback would be quite burdensome.

The crowd also killed the opponent’s spirit with their cheers.

“Press up!”

I diligently stuck to the opponent.

The ahjussi I was marking now was Sagna.

He was a legend-class fullback who’d played for Man City until last year.

Even if he’s not at his prime due to age, he’s clearly a player to be wary of.

As his physical abilities declined, he’d have filled that gap with experience.

-Thwock.

As expected, he lightly opened a pass without overdoing it.

Passing the ball to a teammate with more options than himself.

This looks like a very natural and simple act, but not many players could do it without hesitation.

-Tatatat!

His feet weren’t fast due to age, but his pass-and-move was solid too.

As expected, a good player.

“Hup!”

Yeah, sorry, but I’m the better player.

I blocked the opponent’s path.

Making the opponent uncomfortable like this is one of the things I’m good at.

“Tch! You’re good. For a young friend…”

“Thanks.”

Being acknowledged by an opponent always feels good.

-Thwock!

Sagna, perhaps conscious of me, immediately returned the ball he received to Joe Hart.

-Bwaaang!

With Mata’s diligent pressure, keeper Joe Hart chose a long kick.

But Joe Hart is an ahjussi famous for poor footwork.

-Thwock!

Pogba trapped the awkwardly flying ball on his chest.

The guy immediately looked my way with his eyes.

He wasn’t the type to only hold onto the ball.

When he sees a long pass angle like this, he shows really tasty kicks.

I’ll hit this right away.

-Tatatatat!

Without time to think, I broke through the space behind with a curved run.

If I start sprinting from far away, I’m bound to be faster than the defenders.

-Bwaaang!

Pogba’s signature outfront curled in beautifully.

At this speed, it would barely not reach my toes.

I’ll need to slide.

-Swishhhh!

I threw my body toward the ball’s landing point.

The ball arrived right after.

If I just change direction at the bounce point, it’ll go into the goal.

-Thwomp! Splash!

“Kuk!”

My toe lightly deflected the short-bouncing ball in front of the keeper, and even Joe Hart, praised for his reflexes, couldn’t react to this.

Well, Joe Hart isn’t the Joe Hart of old anymore.

“Waaaaaah!!!”

“Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim!”

The supporters’ cheers filled Old Trafford.

Now my name—the three characters Kim Jin-hyeok—would be clearly etched in their hearts.

“Hahaha! That was a truly magnificent goal!”

“Nice! Kim!”

Zlatan and Rashford ran over and lifted me up.

Looking at the stands, I caught sight of a Taegeukgi.

So Korean fans have already appeared.

Thanks for coming all the way to cheer, but the Taegeukgi wasn’t particularly welcome.

Sadly, the current me isn’t the type with that kind of patriotism.

“Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim!”

“What are you doing. Hurry and go. The fans want you.”

Zlatan ahjussi subtly pushed my back.

I approached the supporters chanting my name and raised my fist high.

If I spread all my fingers here, it’s a pose that could get me shot.

After that, I pointed to my name on my back.

So you remember me.

Because I’m going to be the overwhelming number one in the football world.

“Waaaaaah!!!”

And so our team began leading 2:0 at home.

The time was the 32nd minute of the first half.

I still have a lot to show.

-Beep! Beep!

After the first half ended, our locker room was dancing as if they’d already won the match.

With the music turned up loud too.

Anyway, that dance trio never gets tired.

“Ugh, can’t you turn the music off!”

As expected, Manager Mourinho’s thunderous command fell.

But the manager seemed to be in a good mood too, as he didn’t say anything beyond that.

And for good reason—no fewer than 2 more goals had erupted during the remaining first-half time.

Zlatan ahjussi had 1 goal and 1 assist.

Juan Mata had 1 goal.

And I had 2 goals and 1 assist.

Today’s match was so lopsided that not even Mourinho but Mourinho’s grandmother could have lost it sitting on the bench.

“Everyone worked hard in the first half!”

The manager even praised the whole team, unlike himself.

Which meant it was a first half where he’d secured all the practical benefits he wanted.

“Zlatan, how’s your condition?”

“Very good.”

“Kim, are you okay?”

“Yes!”

Manager Mourinho clapped, looking very satisfied.

“Everyone listen well! We absolutely cannot lose today. However, don’t be blinded by that! Keep in mind—we must not concede even a single goal!”

“Yes!”

The manager, having rearmed our minds, subtly approached me.

“Put in a hat-trick. A debut-match hat-trick is something you can be greedy about.”

“Sim, Pai.”

-Tap tap!

The manager strongly tapped my back.

“Go! Son!”

“Yes! Father!”

-Beep!

And so the second half began.

The opponent started coming out aggressively, as if they had nothing more to lose.

This would be an unavoidable choice for them.

From West Ham’s perspective, losing the opening match wouldn’t be a big problem.

The opponent is the big club Man United, and this is Old Trafford.

But losing listlessly would not be forgiven.

If that happened, they’d end up in an even worse situation.

That’s how it originally is.

The worse a team’s performance, the more the media and supporters shake that team.

-Bwaaang!

They’re trying to hit long balls and probe the space behind, but that won’t be easy.

Because Manager Mourinho had ordered us to drop the line a bit more.

Manager Mourinho, confident of victory, had thoroughly locked down the match.

And not many teams can break through that.

-Thwomp! Tick!

The opponent tried to push aggressively and lost the ball.

It’s our possession with only two center-backs in front of me.

This is obviously when I run.

-Tatatatat!

-Bwaaang!

Matić, seeing me running, quickly lofted a pass.

The kick was struck from an unstable posture, so it didn’t have much power, but the ball came accurately near me.

This is enough.

But if it takes one bounce, I’ll definitely get caught in a physical battle with Ogbonna.

I need to shed the defenders with a one-touch at the same time as the bounce.

-Thwock!

I brought my foot to the bounce point and ran forward at the same time.

“Euk!”

I made fools of two opposing defenders with a single touch, and my sprint speed is quite fast.

Sorry, but you two will have to become sacrifices for my highlight video.

“Passing throuuugh.”

-Thwoooosh!

I pushed the ball long and ran.

The center-back duo chasing me from behind.

But the distance gradually widened.

-Tap, tap!

Before I knew it, keeper Joe Hart came into view, charging out past the edge of the box.

“Hm?”

He’s coming out farther than I thought.

That eccentricity is still the same even with age.

-Thwomp!

I put top spin on the ball and struck a high shot.

The ball dropped vertically as soon as it cleared Joe Hart’s height.

Ahjussi, you should consider your age.

If you were young, you’d have reached it, but now you’re not, you know.

-Splash!

The ball went into the empty goal.

“Waaaaaah!!!”

“Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim!”

And so my debut-match debut hat-trick was complete, and I ran to the manager.

“Pai! I did it!”

“Uhahaha! Well done! My son! Good work. Get ready to be substituted.”

The remaining second-half time was 6 minutes.

I left the field, substituted for Lukaku.

-Clap clap clap!

The people’s standing ovation.

This is a treatment I’m receiving for the first time in a while.

Let me savor it as I walk out slowly.

“Tch!”

Lukaku’s expression as he waited to be substituted was not good at all.

He wouldn’t even make eye contact with me.

Seriously, a brat who’s only big in size.

“Good luck.”

The guy didn’t even answer.

How petty.