Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 37

37: No Room to Retreat

Burnley, deploying their usual 4-3-3 formation, made only one significant change to their lineup: the promising young player Nathan Collins, acquired in the summer transfer window, stepped into central defense due to captain Ben Mee’s injury.

On the other hand, Chelsea’s lineup largely matched Hyungmin’s expectations, but surprisingly, Timo Werner was absent. Callum Hudson-Odoi, still considered a prospect, started in his place.

Just before the match began, Hyungmin quickly delivered his final instructions.

“I don’t know why Timo Werner is out, but seeing as he’s not even on the bench, it seems like he’s injured. So, we don’t need to worry about him.”

Hyungmin’s hand moved swiftly across the tactical board.

“In the 4-2-3-1 formation we anticipated, Kai Havertz will play as the center forward. However, since Kai Havertz is an attacking midfielder, he’ll essentially be playing as a false nine [a striker who drops deep to create space for other attackers].”

The marker indicating Kai Havertz’s position moved downwards.

“So, Chelsea’s formation will alternate between 4-2-4-0 and 4-2-3-1. James and Nathan, be careful not to get pulled too far down when Kai Havertz drops deep.”

James Tarkowski and Nathan Collins nodded in agreement.

As Hyungmin finished his instructions, James Tarkowski, wearing the captain’s armband in place of the injured Ben Mee, stood up and gathered the team.

“Alright. Turf Moor [Burnley’s home stadium] is our home, so let’s give these weaklings from London a proper welcome! For ever and ever! Who are we?”

The players shouted.

“We are Burnley!”

[Burnley has come out with the same formation as before. I wonder if Burnley’s coach Kim is too attached to the tactics that brought him good results in the first half of the season,]

The commentator responded to the caster’s words.

[Well, he is a young manager. You could say he lacks tactical flexibility. Certainly, the results in the last three or four games haven’t been great, and he seems afraid to make significant tactical changes during the game, which really shows his lack of experience.]

If Hyungmin had heard this, he would have undoubtedly complained about the immense pain and difficulty of instilling a new tactical identity in the team without a preseason.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the broadcast team, not worried about the manager stuck in the technical area hearing their comments, continued their conversation comfortably.

[By the way, Chelsea is still looking for a new manager. Currently, the favorite in the odds is Zinedine Zidane, the French legend who led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles.]

[Well, it would be difficult for any manager below a certain level to control Chelsea’s locker room, which is notorious for players defying their managers. Zinedine Zidane has the kind of career, both as a player and as a manager, to dominate the locker room.]

While they were talking more about off-the-field situations than the game itself, the caster suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

[Oh! Goal! Goal! Burnley’s Dwight McNeil assists Charlie Taylor, and Burnley scores the first goal!]

[Oh, it’s only the 3rd minute of the first half! It looks like Burnley is trying to pull off a giant-killing by bringing Chelsea to their home. Let’s watch the replay!]

2nd minute of the first half.

Chelsea’s goalkeeper Mendy kicked the ball long, and Burnley’s left-back Charlie Taylor received it.

Seemingly not wanting to waste energy so early in the game, Charlie Taylor glanced at the Chelsea players waiting near the halfway line and began to advance along the sideline.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, starting as Chelsea’s right winger, caught up with him just as he reached the halfway line, but Taylor ignored him and dribbled about 10 meters further before calling out to a teammate as he passed the ball into the empty space ahead.

“Dwight!”

Dwight McNeil, who had been lurking near the sideline, accelerated and received Charlie Taylor’s pass, penetrating into the penalty box.

Reece James, Chelsea’s homegrown right-back, followed McNeil and put pressure on him.

He prevented McNeil from dribbling further into the penalty box.

Originally, he would have been pushed to the goal line, conceding a goal kick.

“Charlie!”

Dwight McNeil, trusting his teammate who was following behind, sent the ball back with a surprise backheel pass as he ran.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, who had been focused on the ball, was caught off guard as Charlie Taylor, whom he had shaken off a while ago, received the ball, cut to the right, and entered the penalty box.

Before Chelsea’s defenders, shocked by the sudden attack, could rush out, he calmly shot with his right foot.

It was his weaker foot, but the ball had enough power to avoid the flustered Chelsea defenders and goalkeeper, shaking the net as Turf Moor erupted in cheers from the home fans.

“Goal! Goal! The shining number 3 of the Clarets [Burnley’s nickname]! Our left-back, Charlie~ Taylor~!”

The left-back, who scored his first goal in five seasons since joining Burnley, rejoiced as the entire Burnley team ran to surround him and celebrate.

However, Chelsea, though decaying, did not give up easily.

12th minute of the first half.

During a Chelsea counterattack, as Burnley endured a barrage of attacks, Burnley’s center-back Nathan Collins brought down Chelsea’s attacking midfielder Mason Mount just outside the penalty box.

A direct free kick was awarded, along with a yellow card from the referee.

Mason Mount, who took the free kick he had earned, elegantly curled the ball to the right, passing it into the upper right corner of Burnley’s goal.

As the Burnley players watched the celebrating Chelsea players with annoyed faces, some of the Chelsea players heading back to their own half gestured to Burnley’s young player Nathan Collins, as if to thank him for giving away the free kick.

It was the beginning of a bloody battle in which a whopping 10 yellow cards were handed out, leading to both teams being sanctioned by the Premier League after the game.

Half-time.

Hyungmin looked down at the record sheet handed to him, wearing an incredulous expression.

11th minute, Burnley’s center-back Nathan Collins, yellow card.

26th minute, Burnley’s central midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, yellow card.

29th minute, Chelsea’s central defender Antonio Rüdiger, yellow card.

33rd minute, Burnley’s right-back Matt Lowton, yellow card.

34th minute, Burnley’s left winger Dwight McNeil, yellow card.

41st minute, Chelsea’s attacking midfielder Mason Mount, yellow card.

While his team collected four yellow cards, the opposing team only received two.

Seriously, did these guys mistake the sport?

Hyungmin sighed as he looked at the still-gloomy home team locker room.

“Are you guys stupid?”

Interim captain James Tarkowski, offended by the manager’s absurd remark, protested.

“No, it’s just that those guys keep provoking us!”

“So, you’re just going to accept all the provocations?”

James Tarkowski hesitated at the usually gentle and calm manager’s sarcastic tone.

“So, because they provoke you, we happily charge in, diligently collect yellow cards, get a red card, get sent off, and then go take a shower?”

“…”

The players slowly avoided Hyungmin’s eyes.

“Aren’t we here to win the game?”

“But…!”

Hyungmin suppressed Hannibal Mejbri, who was trying to protest with a resentful look, with a cold glare.

“You keep getting warnings because you accept the provocations! Do you want to get sent off in a home game?!”

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

Burnley’s veteran center forward Chris Wood asked bluntly, crossing his arms with a dissatisfied expression.

Looking around at his team, who were all making the same dissatisfied expressions, Hyungmin sighed as if they were hopeless.

“If they keep provoking us, we provoke them back!”

“…?”

“Instead of charging in and getting warned because they keep annoying us! We make them annoyed and get warned!”

“…!”

The Burnley team had a sudden realization at the manager’s frustrating scolding.

***

[Oh, is this another yellow card?]

The commentator exclaimed as the analyst carefully examined the situation.

[87th minute of the second half, the referee pulls out a yellow card again with a tired face. This time, it’s Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic who receives the card! This brings the total to 10 yellow cards for both teams combined. Chelsea has four in the second half alone!]

The home fans’ jeers echoed through Turf Moor as the caster marveled.

[It’s really amazing that no one has been sent off yet, even though it’s gotten to this point. They’re all desperately avoiding a red card.]

The analyst shook his head at the caster’s admiration.

[But they won’t be able to avoid sanctions from the Premier League after the game. Burnley has 4, Chelsea has 6… it’s like we’re at a mixed martial arts arena.]

[Both teams have already had a player carried off due to injury. Both managers are showing no signs of backing down.]

[It seems that Burnley’s coach Kim doesn’t want to accept a draw at home, and Chelsea’s interim manager Neil Bath wants to gain even one more point.]

[Oh, Burnley is now preparing for a free kick!]

Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, playing as a left winger, was properly baited by the provocation, and with an absurd back tackle, he brought down Burnley’s right-back Matt Lowton, who was dribbling and breaking through the right sideline.

The location was ambiguous, closer to the sideline than the penalty box, and closer to the halfway line than the goal line.

Both team managers came out to the technical area to watch the free kick.

It was highly likely to be the last proper attack in terms of time.

Both the home and away fans filling Turf Moor held their breath and watched the situation, as Josh Brownhill, who placed the ball at the spot marked by the referee, seriously discussed it with Hannibal Mejbri, who approached him.

“…I’m taking it.”

“No, why! Josh took it last time! I’m taking it this time!”

“Hey, shush! There’s an order to things!”

“Seriously! You’re in your mid-20s, why are you acting like an old man? Did Coach Arthur suddenly possess you?”

At the mention of the name of Burnley’s representative British old man, the two glanced over their shoulders at the technical area before looking back at each other.

“Rock, paper, scissors?”

“Best out of three?”

As the audience watched, some serious conversation and gestures took place, and then Hannibal Mejbri, leaving Josh Brownhill behind, ran towards Chelsea’s goal.

“You lost? Loser.”

Karim Adeyemi sneered as he saw Hannibal Mejbri approaching him.

“Hey, you were completely excluded from the free kick list. You were instructed by the manager to give up all free kicks and corner kicks, weren’t you?”

The Burnley players around him chuckled at Hannibal Mejbri’s proper retort.

As the defending Chelsea players made bewildered expressions listening to the idle conversation, Hannibal Mejbri suddenly raised his hand and shouted.

“There, he’s coming!”