Chapter 60: Disturbance (1)

[Manchester City, Takes the Top of the League with a 14-Game Unbeaten Streak]

[City’s Goalkeeper Jeong Tae-woo Achieves a Legendary 14-Game Clean Sheet Streak. He now challenges the 16-game consecutive clean sheet record held by club legend Leo. Will new history be written in the Manchester Derby? In this fateful clash against rivals Manchester United, will a new chapter of history be written?]

Honestly, it could only be described as good luck.

Over the last 14 games, Man City has shown perfect teamwork.

The defense was as solid as a fortress.

And the offense threw a goal party every single match.

To say the team would have collapsed this season without me would be an exaggeration…

Wait a minute.

Come to think of it, the reason the entire team, including the new transfers, has taken on a new look this season…

Isn’t it because I secured the starting position?

If it had been Ederson, he would have conceded at least seven goals in the last 14 games.

“It’s all thanks to me, isn’t it?”

A smug smile crept onto my lips.

“What’s all thanks to you?”

Guerrero looked at me with an expression that said, ‘This guy’s at it again.’

“Hey, what’s with that look?”

‘Why am I being treated more and more like Guerrero?’

This is strange.

Normally, I should be the one stopping Guerrero’s ridiculous antics and giving him a serious look.

What is this situation?

“You… have you matured?”

“What?”

“No, aren’t you supposed to be running around like a crazy person, yelling ‘Hey, man~’?”

Hearing my words, Guerrero stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.

“Sigh~ Taewoo, let’s just train.”

“Ha, this is really weird.”

They say when a person changes suddenly, it means they’re about to die.

“Hey Guerrero, are you sick somewhere?”

“Taewoo! Stop talking nonsense and let’s just train.”

The teammates watching the scene just shook their heads.

“Taewoo is being Taewoo again.”

“I know, right? Lately, Guerrero seems like the normal one in comparison.”

“Oh! I agree. Me too.”

***

[Jeong Tae-woo saves it again! That’s absolutely fantastic!]

[Look at Jeong Tae-woo’s expression. That calm face… it’s as if he knew he was going to block it all along.]

[If he finishes this match against Leicester City with a clean sheet, he will tie the record of City legend Leo in the next match against Manchester United.]

[Isn’t it truly romantic? If he ends the derby with a clean sheet, a new City goalkeeper will break the record of a legendary City goalkeeper… it would be a moment like vanquishing a rival and inheriting the crown.]

[This Manchester Derby is going to be really special. As you know, the Manchester Derby is not just a football match. It’s a bloody battle of pride between Manchester City and Manchester United, who divide the same city.]

[In a derby, the players’ performance is completely different from usual. Tackles become rougher, and physical battles become more intense. It’s a match where the competitive spirit of both teams burns so fiercely that they can lose their reason.]

[This derby, in particular, is a big match worth six points, going beyond mere pride. If Man United wins, they can snatch the top spot from City… it’s literally a crucial game that could decide the league championship.]

[Haha, now that I think about it, we’ve gotten a bit ahead of ourselves. We were talking as if Jeong Tae-woo’s clean sheet in this game was a foregone conclusion. It’s only been 20 minutes into the first half.]

The biggest advantage I’ve found in being a goalkeeper is independence.

It’s different from other positions, especially strikers.

No matter how brilliant a striker is individually, if the whole team collapses, if the ball isn’t properly connected, they can’t do anything.

But a goalkeeper is different.

Even if the team’s momentum is broken and the atmosphere is bad, as long as I do my job properly, I can cover for it to some extent.

But on the other hand, what if the team’s momentum is more fantastic than ever?

The ball hardly ever comes my way.

“Yawn…”

The game had become so one-sided it was making me yawn.

The score was already 2-0.

‘Our team is too good.’

It was like watching Barcelona in their prime.

“I wish it could always be like this… but the next match is going to be incredibly tough, right?”

This match was quite easy since it was against Leicester City, who are generally considered a weaker team.

But the next match is the derby against Manchester United.

A battle of pride between first and second place.

Naturally, it’s bound to be fierce.

And that means there will be a ton of effective shots.

But there’s something more frightening.

The fact that Man United, currently on a rising tide with only one loss, is not yet in its complete form.

Because the real Man United I know is the one after Yoo Hui-seong joins.

The Man United with Yoo Hui-seong went on to achieve an undefeated league title and a treble, a record that seemed possible only in a novel.

And that novel-like story has become my reality…

‘Still, winning every single league game is a ridiculous record, isn’t it?’

It’s a feat that seems impossible even if a striker with the combined skills of Kim Chan-ki and Jeong Tae-woo appeared right now.

That’s why this record is more important than anything.

This is the last chance to achieve 16 consecutive clean sheets.

If I were to face the Man United with Yoo Hui-seong, the Man United I know, even I wouldn’t be able to avoid conceding a goal.

So, it was crucial to somehow surpass the 16-game clean sheet record, or at least finish the next game with a clean sheet to achieve the milestone and obtain the ‘God of Football’ ability.

If I were to face the next season in this state without getting the ability, 16 clean sheets would be absolutely impossible.

‘I have to do it this season.’

Thwack!

[Wow, he saved it again! Why is Jeong Tae-woo so unbreakable? Leicester City finally managed one counter-attack after being constantly battered, but he heartlessly blocks the shot with a blank expression!]

[Seriously, when is that goal net ever going to ripple?]

‘Even if I seem to be spacing out, I’m still focused. But no matter how incredibly well we’re playing, I have to do what I have to do, right?’

“Hey, is the game over already? Stay focused until the end! Until the very end!”

‘The game is almost over… should I try something bold?’

[Oh! What’s this? Jeong Tae-woo is bringing the ball out!]

[It feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Jeong Tae-woo dribbling the ball out!]

At first, when I dribbled the ball out, all my teammates were flustered.

But now, they all acknowledge my skills and even trust me, which makes the play easier.

[Jeong Tae-woo lightly beats two players and continues to run!]

[He’s completely broken through the midfield line! Jeong Tae-woo’s dribbling is surprisingly smooth!]

‘I should probably pass soon. Let’s see.’

Up ahead, Guerrero and the captain were running, and on the left, Sanchez was cutting in.

‘Normally, I would have passed to Guerrero…’

I still haven’t forgotten it.

That look he gave me on the training ground, as if he were looking at a problem child.

No, I might have been acting a bit strange lately, but to receive that kind of look from Guerrero of all people, not the captain or Sanchez… it was incredibly humiliating.

‘What? A guy can’t giggle a little while looking at a picture of his girlfriend? And he accuses me of being a stalker for that?’

[Jeong Tae-woo… Oh! At an unexpected moment, he delivers a perfect through pass to Sanchez! A golden pass that started from the goalkeeper’s foot!]

“Nice, Taewoo!”

[Sanchez receives the ball and shoots immediately… Goal!!! It’s a goal! Jeong Tae-woo gets his first assist of the season!]

[Haha, at this rate, he might become the goalkeeper with the most goals or assists!]

[Hahaha, surely not…]

‘Oh, not bad? Should I ask the coach to let me take free kicks?’

***

“Ma’am! W-We have a huge problem!”

Eun Gayoung looked at the employee who had suddenly burst in.

“What is it? Without even knocking…”

“We’ve received calls from all the players scheduled to sign next week, saying they’re postponing their contracts! Kim Min-su, Park Jun-ho… all of them!”

Eun Gayoung’s expression instantly hardened.

“Why all of a sudden…? Was there a reason?”

“Bad rumors about our agency are spreading… It seems someone is intentionally spreading them.”

“Have you found out who’s behind it?”

“Not yet… We are investigating.”

“Something is strange… There’s no reason for our agency’s reputation to suddenly worsen…”

Eun Gayoung rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

Even when compared to the most famous agents in Korea, APEX Agency was by no means inferior.

But for bad rumors to suddenly start spreading…

A thought flashed through her mind, and Eun Gayoung’s face contorted into a frown.

‘Could it be… my brother?’

“Please look into the movements of SC Electronics.”

“Pardon? SC Electronics…?”

The employee seemed flustered by the sudden instruction, but seeing Eun Gayoung’s serious expression, he immediately nodded.

“Yes, I understand.”

‘Father definitely said there would be no interference…’

If her suspicion was correct and her brother was behind this, she had no intention of forgiving him.

The harassment at home was something that only harmed her.

But meddling with her company was something that could harm not only her but her employees as well.

“If it’s my brother this time, I will never forgive him.”

She picked up her phone and dialed a number.

-Gayoung, it’s been a while. What’s up?

“I have a favor to ask you, Uncle.”