Chapter 49: Pre-Season (3)

Although the score was still 0-0 thanks to my performance in the first half, it was by no means a good situation.

We were a team that had maintained a mid-table position last season in the Premier League, the best football league in the world.

And although our current opponent was a top team from the Championship (the second division), there should have been a clear difference in skill from the Premier League.

But the situation was repeating itself where, if I hadn’t made a few crucial saves, City might have conceded first.

As I entered the locker room, Sanchez, who anyone would think was the main culprit, caught my eye.

He was sitting in a corner with his head bowed, and a deep gloom was etched on his face.

He seemed to be well aware that his unstable play throughout the first half had disrupted the entire team’s flow.

“Sanchez.”

At the manager’s call, Sanchez answered in a spiritless voice.

“Yes…”

“Do you want to leave the field?”

“…”

Sanchez’s silence filled the locker room.

His shoulders slumped even further, and he didn’t seem to have the courage to even lift his head.

“…I don’t want to leave.”

“Right now, you’re disrupting our tactics.

My tactics require the ball to be passed constantly in both directions, but because of you, we can’t use the left side. Do you still not want to leave?”

The manager’s sharp question continued.

“B-but…”

“Yes, I know your situation. I also heard the news that your grandmother was taken to the hospital before the first half started.”

‘Ah, so that’s why.’

No matter how timid Sanchez was, I thought his mentality was too weak for a promising player who had dominated another league,

But if his family was suddenly taken to the hospital before the game, this whole situation made sense.

‘Even I probably couldn’t focus on the game if my mom was suddenly taken to the hospital.’

It would be difficult for anyone to concentrate fully on a game when they are worried about their family’s health and well-being.

“But as you know, you’ve also heard that your grandmother’s condition is not as serious as you thought.

The doctor said it was a fall due to temporary dizziness, and the test results showed no major problems. I heard she’s resting now and watching this game on TV.”

At the manager’s words, Sanchez’s head slowly lifted.

Tears were welling up in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, my grandmother is the only family I have. Even if it’s not a serious illness… I was so worried.”

“Yes, so you must have wanted to show a good performance for your grandmother who’s watching on TV.

But what is this now? You’re not focused on football, but on something else, and you’re not doing what you do best.”

The manager’s voice softened.

“So that’s why I’m asking. Do you want to be substituted now and go to the hospital?

Or do you want to focus on the game, show your skills properly, win this game, and then go to the hospital with your head held high?”

His question not only gave Sanchez a choice but also expressed his trust in his potential.

Sanchez’s gaze changed.

The gloom disappeared from his face, and a determined expression appeared.

“I’ll do it.”

“Good, that’s the way.”

The manager said with a smile.

“Your grandmother is waiting for her grandson’s performance in a hospital bed right now.

Showing her a proud performance is the best gift you can give her right now.”

On the way to the field, I approached Sanchez and spoke to him.

“Sanchez.”

“Oh? Ah, Taewoo. I’m sorry about the first half. It must have been tough for you.”

“No, just… it’s okay to make mistakes.”

‘Ha, I’m really not this type of person.’

Even while grumbling to myself, I continued to speak.

“Even if you make a mistake and the ball comes to me, I can block it all. So don’t worry and do whatever you want.”

Sanchez, who had been staring at me blankly for a moment, smiled softly and replied.

“Taewoo, you don’t seem like it, but you’re surprisingly kind. Thank you.”

‘You don’t seem like it? What kind of image do I have?’

Where else can you find a man who has both charisma and intelligent beauty like me?

***

Sanchez, who was fully focused on football, showed such an amazing transformation that it was confusing whether he was the same person from the first half.

[Sanchez has the ball in the center! Is he the same person from the first half? He’s completely different!]

[Wow! Sanchez’s pass timing is exquisite! A sharp pass to the left flank!!]

His passes were so accurate, like laser beams, that the defenders could only watch.

[Incredible! Sanchez is demanding the ball again. As soon as he receives it, he breaks through the center with a one-touch pass!]

A gasp erupted from the crowd.

“Whoa!!”

Sanchez’s movements were unpredictable, and his passes were like works of art.

[This is tiki-taka! With Sanchez at the center, Manchester City is showcasing fantastic passing football!]

Short, quick passes followed. Sanchez, like a conductor, orchestrated the team’s rhythm.

[Unbelievable! Sanchez’s backheel pass! It completely broke down the defense!]

[It’s like watching the tiki-taka of Barcelona in their prime. It’s so beautiful!]

[Look, he never holds onto the ball for long. Pass as soon as he receives it, then another pass! Sanchez’s one-touch play is dominating the field!]

Sanchez was now pulling up an incredible level of concentration.

He was truly sorry to his teammates who had suffered so much in the first half because of him.

His mistakes had created so many scoring opportunities for the opposing team, and he was truly grateful to Taewoo for blocking them all.

And even Taewoo’s words before the second half…

‘He didn’t seem like that at first.’

Sanchez recalled the feeling he had when he first saw Taewoo at the training ground.

‘Wow, he’s handsome. But he seems hard to approach.’

He was definitely handsome beyond race, but his sharp facial features made it difficult for someone with his personality to approach him.

And Taewoo wasn’t the type to approach first either.

But now, that seemingly cold Taewoo had spoken warm words to him.

‘I will never make a mistake.’

[Beautiful! Matias, City’s romantic, perfectly beats a defender and passes to the running Sanchez!]

Sanchez’s eyes flashed.

[Sanchez, ah! As soon as the ball comes, he sends a long pass to Guerrero with a one-touch!]

Before the captain’s pass arrived, Sanchez had already spotted Guerrero running towards the goal.

The moment the ball touched his foot, he delivered a long, elegant pass with a precisely calculated spin.

And just in case there was a second ball, he ran towards the goal with all his might.

[Guerrero’s header!! Oh, no! He lets it go to the side!]

Sanchez’s eyes widened.

‘He’s passing this?’

He could have definitely scored a goal.

When he glanced at Guerrero with a surprised expression, he saw Guerrero grinning and giving him a thumbs-up.

‘No way…’

Sanchez’s chest grew warm.

Guerrero’s warm consideration touched his heart.

‘Thank you, thank you so much.’

He couldn’t miss this opportunity.

He had to repay his teammates’ trust.

He wanted to show his grandmother, and everyone who believed in him.

Taking a deep breath, Sanchez gathered all his strength.

And then, at the perfect timing, he twisted his body and unleashed a powerful volley shot.

[Oh, my god! Sanchez’s fantastic volley shot! The goalkeeper touched it with his fingertips but…]

The ball grazed the goalkeeper’s hand and hit the back of the net.

[Goal!!!!!! An unbelievable goal! Sanchez has done it!]

The stadium shook.

Cheers poured from the stands, and his teammates ran to Sanchez like crazy.

[A perfect revival! The image from the first half is nowhere to be seen, and now, at this moment, Sanchez is proving why he was called ‘the sniper’!]

‘Ah, I scored.’

Although it wouldn’t be recorded as an official debut goal since it was a preseason match, he had scored his first goal in a game his grandmother was watching.

Sanchez’s chest swelled with emotion.

“Hey~ friend, don’t just stand there dazed, go and give a ceremony as a gift to your grandmother who’s watching!”

At Guerrero’s shout, Sanchez came to his senses and quickly ran towards the camera.

He looked at the camera with a bright smile and said.

“Grandma’s grandson did it!”

***

The game ended with a 3-0 victory for Manchester City, with Guerrero scoring two more goals after Sanchez’s goal.

As soon as the game was over, Sanchez hurriedly changed his clothes and rushed to the hospital.

He arrived at the reception desk, panting, and paused for a moment to catch his breath after running so fast.

“Huff… huff…”

The receptionist looked at him with surprised eyes.

“Ah, you’re Sanchez, right?”

Sanchez nodded and managed to speak.

“Yes… that’s right. My grandmother… I’d like to know my grandmother’s room.”

“It’s room 503 on the 5th floor. You can take the elevator up.”

“Thank you.”

Sanchez headed for the elevator.

“Ding”

As the door opened with a sound, he quickly stepped out into the hallway and walked quickly, checking the room numbers.

“501… 502…”

Finally, he arrived in front of room 503.

Standing in front of the door, Sanchez paused for a moment and took another deep breath.

His hand slowly reached for the doorknob.

“Grandma, your grandson is here.”

Sanchez quietly opened the door and entered the room.

In the room, his grandmother was smiling and watching TV.

And on the TV, they were explaining the details of the game that had just ended.

[It was an amazing game, everyone! The change that Manchester City showed was truly dramatic.

Until the first half, they seemed to be having trouble adapting to the new tactics, but in the second half, they were completely transformed as if by magic.

They dominated the game with incredible passing play, and Sanchez’s wonderful volley shot opened the floodgates for scoring.

Guerrero’s consecutive goals followed, leading to a 3-0 complete victory and giving the fans an unforgettable win.]

[Sanchez not only scored a goal but also played a major role in the two additional goals with his creative passes.]

The timing was perfect.

As soon as he entered, he could hear his own praises on the TV.

His grandmother’s face was full of a proud smile.

“My little puppy is here.”

At that moment, the emotions Sanchez had been holding back burst forth, and his eyes reddened as his throat choked up.

“Sob… Grandma…”

He couldn’t speak anymore and ran to his grandmother.

He knelt beside the bed and held his grandmother’s hand tightly.

“Grandma, please don’t be sick.”

His grandmother smiled and gently stroked her grandson’s head.

“Then I have to watch my little puppy’s performance. You worked really hard in the game today.”

Sanchez lifted his head and looked at his grandmother.

In his grandmother’s warm gaze and gentle smile, he found comfort and strength, as he always did.

A joy and relief greater than the victory on the field filled his chest.

“Thank you, Grandma. I’ll work harder. So that you can be proud.”

His grandmother held her grandson’s hand tightly.

The love and trust that flowed between them were too deep and strong to be expressed in words.

In the hospital room, along with the sound of the game highlights flowing from the TV, the warm conversation between the grandmother and her grandson echoed quietly.