Chapter 20: Olympic Finals (1)

Hotel UVE Alcobendas, located in Alcobendas on the outskirts of Madrid.

This 3-star hotel with a total of 92 rooms was being used as the accommodation for the South Korean Olympic football team.

Coach Cheon Mu-seok had been assigned the largest junior suite and was deep in thought, gazing out at the quiet residential area.

The next match was against Nigeria.

Compared to Brazil or Denmark, they were a relatively easier opponent.

Moreover, Coach Cheon Mu-seok planned to fully implement his Wave Pressing tactic starting from the main tournament, so he had to consider things carefully.

‘We’ve already secured our spot in the main tournament with 2 wins.’

South Korea had already defeated Brazil and Denmark, securing 6 points and confirming their advancement, while Nigeria, with 2 losses, was almost certainly eliminated from the main tournament.

Furthermore, Brazil had 3 points, and Denmark also had 3 points.

‘Even if we lose this match, as long as we don’t concede many goals, we’re confirmed as first in the group. Winning 5-0 against Denmark was a huge help.’

If the points were tied, the ranking would be decided by goal difference, so the 5-0 victory against Denmark was a significant advantage in finishing first in the group.

“If I have to rest someone, it should be Jeong Tae-woo first.”

I fell deep into thought.

Wave Pressing required the goalkeeper to move almost to the halfway line, sometimes even crossing the midfield line.

This tactic could only be perfectly executed by Jeong Tae-woo.

‘Even without Jeong Tae-woo, Jeon Hyung-min will do well enough in a defensive role.’

For the success of the South Korean national team, managing Jeong Tae-woo’s stamina was the top priority.

If Jeong Tae-woo was exhausted in the main tournament, they would have to abandon the Wave Pressing tactic.

One might think, ‘Then just play without him,’ but the sole reason Coach Cheon Mu-seok kept pondering this was simple.

The sense of stability when Jeong Tae-woo guarded the goal was on a different level.

If Jeon Hyung-min was the goalkeeper, one would think, ‘Please, just save it,’ but if Jeong Tae-woo was in goal, one would think, ‘He’ll save it anyway.’

The difference in skill between the two players was incomparable.

Some might say he was favoring Jeong Tae-woo, who fit his tactics.

It was true that he preferred goalkeepers who could perform an offensive role, but even excluding that, Jeong Tae-woo perfectly possessed everything a goalkeeper should have, such as defensive coordination and saving ability.

Moreover, despite having earned the coach’s strong trust, Jeong Tae-woo treated his seniors politely, making him a player there was no reason not to like.

‘Well, he sometimes gets into trouble joking around with Lee Tae-yang or Yoo Hee-sung, but that’s minor.’

Comparing him to the troublemakers he had seen while coaching in Germany, he thought that level of mischief was nothing.

‘Still, it can’t be helped. I’ll have to rest him for the Nigeria match.’

I picked up the phone and called Jeong Tae-woo.

Even though he was being rested for stamina management, if he benched a player who had started both games and shown perfect play, the young player might develop dissatisfaction with the coach, so he thought he should inform him directly by phone.

Things could easily escalate into discord between the coach and player.

Ring…Ring…Ring

–The person you are calling is currently on another call. Please try again later.
‘Is he talking to his parents?’

Thinking this, I called again 5 minutes later.
 

Ring… Ring… Ring…

–The person you are calling is currently on another call. Please try again later.

‘It’s taking a bit long. It could be if he’s talking to his parents.’

After waiting another 5 minutes, I called again.

‘He should pick up soon, right?’

 Ring… Ring… Ring…

–The person you are calling is currently on another call. Please try again later.

My face started to turn red.

‘Hmm… Right, if I wait a bit, he’ll see the missed calls and contact me. Let’s just wait a little.’

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

I tapped my fingers on the table, staring at my phone, but no matter how long I waited, the call didn’t come.

I quietly picked up the phone again and made a call.

–Yes, Coach, I’ve picked up.

“Coach Joo, send Jeong Tae-woo up to my room immediately.”

–That call he was on–

“Isn’t it because he’s not answering that call that I’m saying this!”

–Yes, I’ll send him up right away.

***

‘Sigh… What should I do?’

I had come out of my room and was deliberating whether to call Da-min or not.

‘What if she gets angry because I called while she’s practicing?’

“No, if I think about it, I’m the one who should be angry, right? Honestly, if she has time to call Lee Tae-yang, she should call and tell me too.”

Realizing my voice had gotten a bit loud, I looked around.

Fortunately, no one was there.

‘Phew… That’s a relief. Okay, let’s call. It’s just one congratulatory call to a friend. Nothing strange about it.’

I mustered up the courage and called Da-min.

“Ah, no. Wait a minute. Since it’s a congratulatory call, let’s think about what to say and call again.”

Just as I was about to hurriedly hang up, I heard Da-min’s voice.

–What’s up?

‘Oh, she answered.’

Suddenly, my heart started beating rapidly.

“Ahem… Hey, Jang Da-min. Why didn’t you tell me about your debut?”

–Well, I was busy with practice…

“I heard you told Tae-yang though.”

–Were you upset about that?

Somehow, the way she said ‘Were you upset?’ wasn’t her usual playful tone.

“Of course. Should I have to hear that from my sister instead of my best friend?”

–I was going to call, but Mi-na said she already told you, so I didn’t. Your training must be tough too.

Calling late at night would be a nuisance.

“Well… If that’s the case, I guess it can’t be helped.”

–I can’t watch the games, but I hear you’re doing well these days?

“I told you I’m confident.”

Talking to Da-min on the phone made me feel at ease.

–Don’t get too arrogant though.

“You practice well too.”

–But Tae-woo?

“Huh?”

Just as I was about to end the call,

–…We’ve been friends since we were five, right?

Da-min’s voice coming from the phone was trembling, albeit slightly.

“R-right.”

As much as Da-min’s voice trembled, my heart trembled along with it, waiting for her words.

–Ah, never mind. Work hard.

“Ah, no–”

Click.

Beep, beep, beep–

I stared blankly at the phone for a while.

‘What on earth was she trying to say at the end? And what exactly was I expecting?’

And why are we both so awkward with each other?

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard Coach Joo Eun-gyeom’s voice from behind me.

“Tae-woo, what are you doing here? The Head Coach is looking for you.”

Only then did I see the three missed call notifications on my phone.

“Ah, yes. I’ll go right away.”

On the way to the Head Coach’s room together, I hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to ask.

“Um… Coach.”

“What is it?”

“Perhaps… This isn’t really about me, it’s about a friend…”

The coach looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“I have a childhood friend I’ve known since we were five. We were talking on the phone today, and suddenly at the end, she said ‘We’ve been friends since we were five’ in a trembling voice and then hung up.”

“And then?”

“What… what could that mean? Usually, we just joke around and don’t see each other as a girl or a guy, but suddenly, lately, I’ve been feeling something strange…”

“Tae-woo, is this your story?”

“No, no, it’s not my story. A friend, a friend.”

Joo Eun-gyeom smiled, looking at Tae-woo whose face was red as he spoke.

‘Who knew such a handsome guy would be so clueless about relationships between men and women. Cute.’

“Hmm… From what I see…”

The way Tae-woo looked at him so nervously, hanging on his every word, seemed truly innocent.

“Ah, I don’t know.”

“Eh?”

“Dude, I’m 30. How would I know about girls around your age?”

“Still, your experience…”

“Stop with the nonsense and go in.”

***

Knock, knock.

Jeong Tae-woo, whom he had been waiting for, finally arrived.

“Ahem, sit.”

Cheon Mu-seok glanced over Jeong Tae-woo’s face as he sat down in front of him.

‘He might have been on the phone with his girlfriend, not his parents.’

Jeong Tae-woo’s face was such that it would be more implausible if he didn’t have a girlfriend.

Unlike a typical football player who always trains and plays under the sun, his face was fair, and each feature looked as if sculpted with handsomeness.

‘My face has been tanning a lot lately, should I ask him what sunscreen he uses?’

“Coach, I apologize for not answering your missed calls. I was on a rather long call…”

“It’s fine. I’m not such a petty man to be upset about something like that. The reason I called you is because I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Probably from the next match, Jeon Hyung-min will be playing instead of you.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, isn’t it because of my stamina?”

Why is he so mature?

In the case of young players, if they are benched due to the coach’s tactics, they usually complain and protest.

No, even adult players sometimes do that.

“Are you really okay with it?”

“Yes, I think I’ve already shown everything I needed to show.”

‘Hahaha, look at this confident fellow.’

“What if Hyung-min plays well and takes your starting spot?”

“Then I’ll have to win it back with my skills.”

‘He’s even arrogant, but this guy might really be able to do it.’

“Ahem, before you go, perhaps sunscreen–”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Yes, I’ll be going then.”

‘I should have Eun-gyeom ask him later. If the head coach asks something like this, it might lower his status.’

***

​Group stage, 3rd match.

The match between South Korea and Nigeria ended in a 2-2 draw.

Although Nigeria, who had suffered all losses in Group B, showed a frustrating performance, the media praised the draw.

This was because South Korea, whom everyone expected to be eliminated in the preliminaries, had defeated strong teams like Brazil and Denmark to secure first place and advance to the main tournament.