Chapter 69: Korean Derby (2)

In the Chelsea locker room before the match.

“Seo-jun, is that friend really that good?”

The team’s eyes were all on Park Seo-jun.

Although some fans still pointed out his lack of leadership, it was different in this locker room.

Park Seo-jun was a captain who had the absolute trust of his teammates.

Park Seo-jun recalled his Olympic days.

Even when given missions that were absurd for a goalkeeper, that kid always delivered not just 100%, but over 200%.

“Well…”

Park Seo-jun began with a serious expression.

“To be honest, he’s the best goalkeeper I’ve ever seen.”

“Ooh~ Even better than me?”

Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper, Kepa, asked playfully.

He had been showing his best performance in recent years, guarding Chelsea’s goal.

“I’m sorry, but… looking at the current season’s form, there’s no player as good as Tae-woo.”

“Oho…”

Kepa’s gaze changed.

His playful smile disappeared, replaced by seriousness.

“When the captain says that, it makes me look forward to it even more.”

“But Captain.”

Mount, who was listening from the side, chimed in.

“Since you’re praising him so much… shouldn’t you hold back on the long-range shots today?”

“Even if you say that, I’ll take the shot when I can score.”

“Aww~ I thought I was going to score a goal today.”

Laughter spread through the locker room.

“But…”

As Park Seo-jun spoke with a serious expression and no hint of a smile in his voice, the Chelsea players focused on his words.

Just seeing this, you could tell how ridiculous the leadership issue raised by Chelsea fans was.

“Let’s not lose. No matter if they’re undefeated in the first half of the season and in first place, let’s overcome it. We’ve always done that, and we will continue to do so.”

“Of course! Captain!!”

Havertz nodded, and Mount clenched his fists.

‘Let’s do this, Tae-woo.’

***

Chelsea’s tactics are very similar to ours.

A style that refrains from high long passes as much as possible and gradually advances the formation through a series of short passes.

It was an attack method that pushed the line up to the front of the goal as naturally as water flowing.

And Seo-jun hyung’s long-range shots that suddenly flew in the midst of that flow were a nightmare for goalkeepers.

You could say it was like a sharp blade hidden in a gentle flow.

Just five minutes into the game, Chelsea’s first shot on target came out.

In the midst of Chelsea’s movement, which was raising the line with constant passes, our defenders missed Seo-jun hyung, who momentarily slipped into the shadow space.

And the subsequent long-range shot…

Fortunately, I managed to block it, but a shot intentionally bounced was a technique that was difficult even for me to block.

‘He’s really good…’

Seo-jun hyung, who was more reliable than anyone when we played on the same team in the Olympics, was so difficult to deal with now that he was an opponent aiming for my goal.

Seo-jun hyung’s playing style was strangely similar to Kevin De Bruyne, who was my teammate during my Kim Chan-ki days.

Not only his leadership that led the team, but also his ability to read the flow of the game and make instantaneous decisions.

In particular, his sharp long-range shots were as if I was watching De Bruyne’s.

Chelsea, who had gained momentum with Seo-jun hyung’s shot, constantly threatened our City’s defense, and each time, the cheers of the Chelsea fans who filled Stamford Bridge pierced the sky.

[Mount has the ball! This is the moment Chelsea’s typical build-up play begins.]

[Oh, do you see that? Havertz and Park Seo-jun are simultaneously penetrating Man City’s backline! What exquisite timing!]

[Havertz goes to the left flank, and Park Seo-jun goes into the central area, causing a momentary wobble in the Man City defense.]

[We’ll have to see how the Man City defense responds, and what preparations Jeong Tae-woo makes!]

Their characteristic pass play and aggressive long-range shots were a huge threat to our defenders.

If we go to press the ball, they pass, and if we don’t, they take a long-range shot.

[Park Seo-jun’s movements seem particularly light today!]

[Ah! But Jeong Tae-woo barely manages to catch the ensuing shot from Havertz!]

[This shot was really close. Jeong Tae-woo fortunately deflects the shot that was momentarily feinted with his foot!]

[“Ahaha! After clearing the ball, Jeong Tae-woo shouts at his defenders!”]

“Hey, you guys! Focus!”

It wasn’t like our team was being unilaterally pushed back like in the Man United game.

It was just that the opposing goalkeeper was also defending the goal with a crazy performance.

Watching Chelsea prepare for a corner kick, I called Sanchez.

“Sanchez.”

“Huh? Why, Tae-woo?”

“Let’s do that.”

“That? Okay.”

As soon as Sanchez heard my words, he gestured to Guerrero in the center.

Then he moved to a position slightly outside the penalty box and got into place.

[Park Seo-jun is preparing for a corner kick!]

[He sends it up! The ball is going to Mount! Mount jumps… huh? Jeong Tae-woo… Jeong Tae-woo!]

I saw the ball heading towards Mount, who was on the right side of the goal, and reacted immediately.

I momentarily ran out and jumped high, and like a volleyball player spiking, I hit the ball hard in the direction of Sanchez.

Thwack!!

Sanchez cleanly caught the ball I hit and immediately sent a long pass without delay.

Guerrero, as if he had been waiting for this moment, was already behind Chelsea’s defensive line, and in an instant, Guerrero turned his body and began to sprint, leaving the Chelsea defenders behind.

[What happened! Jeong Tae-woo showed an amazing spike clearing as if he were a volleyball player, and the ball is accurately connected to Sanchez outside the penalty box!]

[This is definitely a pre-planned move! It’s a pattern that could never come out impromptu. And with that move, Guerrero completely breaks down Chelsea’s defense and succeeds in a solo breakthrough!]

The moment Guerrero entered the penalty box, he swung his right foot hard.

Although his scoring has been silent lately, Guerrero was not a player who would miss such a decisive chance.

Boom-

A thunderous shot was accurately sucked into the corner of the goal.

[Goal!!! It’s Manchester City’s opening goal! The counterattack that started with Jeong Tae-woo’s fantastic clearing is finished with Guerrero’s goal!]

The few Manchester City away fans wave their flags and cheer, and Guerrero, after dodging the approaching Sanchez with a crazy move, shouts loudly.

“f*ck! It’s not that I couldn’t score because I lacked skill!”

“Hey, why are you dodging?”

“Of course, to see the fans, bro~”

Sanchez, forgetting his slight sulkiness about being dodged, smiled brightly and hit Guerrero’s back hard.

And watching that from afar, I shook my head.

I had planned this play for Guerrero, who had been depressed for not scoring since the Man United game, but…

To think I even practiced spiking while watching volleyball games instead of football games because of that guy.

‘Hah… I’m too nice.’

“You crazy bastard, when did you practice such a spike?”

Seo-jun hyung, who was standing next to me with a dumbfounded expression, spoke to me.

“Hehehe, I watched the highlights of volleyball players’ spikes a hundred times recently to give you a surprise gift, hyung.”

“That’s so you. Should I say you’re crazy in a way that’s so you?”

Seo-jun hyung shook his head, laughing.

“Next time, are you going to pass with a basketball player’s shooting motion?”

“That’s not a bad idea either.”

“Phew…”

***

The commentators broadcasting on SBS were also extremely excited by the scene just now.

[Ah… no, this is really… this scene that Jeong Tae-woo just showed us is something that’s hard to see in a football match… no, it should be considered impossible! To block a corner kick by perfectly recreating the spiking motion of volleyball… this is truly unbelievable!]

[We shouldn’t just focus on the fact that he blocked it. The fact that he accurately hit the strongly coming ball with the palm of his hand, and that the ball he spiked went accurately to Sanchez is even more surprising. This wasn’t just a save, it was a perfectly calculated pass!]

– We’re watching a football game, right?

– No, what kind of football player can spike so well?

– I think I just saw a scene from Haikyuu in a real-life volleyball game, no, a football game.

– I’m a current volleyball player. The spike that Jeong Tae-woo just did was so perfect in terms of the angle and power control of hitting the ball that I would believe he’s a volleyball player.

– I’m a current volleyball coach. Who are you to be watching a football game, not a volleyball game?

– Coach… was that just now volleyball or football?

– What are you guys doing?

[Watching this game, I’m convinced. Not just in South Korea, but among the current Premier League goalkeepers, there is no goalkeeper as sensational as Jeong Tae-woo.]

[Oho, so you’re saying…]

[Yes, in my opinion, there is no goalkeeper in the Premier League who is as good as Jeong Tae-woo right now.]

– Honestly, you can’t argue with that.

– I agree. Who would show such a ridiculous play as if it were natural?

– That’s why the Jeong-haters have no power.

– Yeah, he’s just good, so what is there to criticize?