Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 57

57. Another Heyday

The same day.

While the players enjoyed a day off, Burnley’s coaching staff convened in the briefing room at the Barnfield Training Centre to strategize for their next match.

Despite the intense physical demands of their hard-fought battle against Tottenham, Hyungmin and the coaching staff felt relaxed, buoyed by the prospect of a schedule averaging one game per week.

They put the dismal record of 3 wins, 2 draws, and 6 losses from November and December’s 11 games behind them. Having passed the season’s halfway mark, they had achieved 3 wins and 1 draw in January’s 4 games, remaining undefeated so far.

Critics largely agreed that the thrilling match against Tottenham was the Premier League’s best game of the season thus far (at least the first half). Therefore, the draw didn’t trouble them excessively.

Moreover, considering their 4-1 defeat in the first encounter, managing a 3-3 draw this time represented progress. (Hyungmin was still diligently suppressing the memory of eliminating Tottenham from the Carabao Cup.) It was a step forward for the team.

Most encouragingly, all five games in January were spaced a week apart, a rhythm expected to continue until the season’s end in April or May, barring unforeseen circumstances.

For Burnley, whose limited squad depth had been a consistent point of criticism, the ability to provide players with adequate rest offered greater flexibility in game management.

Having emerged from the gloom of late December, Hyungmin wore a bright expression as he led the strategy meeting with the coaching staff for January’s final game.

“We’ve rested well, playing only five games in January, but Leeds has endured several intense battles. They played 8 games in December and 7 in January, almost 15 games in 50 days… And a staggering 8 of those games were decided by a single goal.”

It would be one thing if they had experienced either overwhelming victories or crushing defeats.

However, the players would inevitably fight with greater desperation if they felt they could either equalize with one more goal or lose the match by conceding just one more.

Reviewing the data provided by the analysis team, Hyungmin clicked his tongue, imagining the immense mental and physical strain the Leeds squad must have undergone.

“Why did they play so many games in January anyway?”

“It seems they advanced further in the Carabao Cup and also had FA Cup matches. They only had 4 Premier League games, just like us,” Arthur replied, analyzing the data alongside him.

“From the Carabao Cup semi-finals onward, they play two legs each, home and away… The accumulated fatigue must be significant, especially since Coach [Marcelo] Bielsa is known for pushing his players hard.”

“Hmm… Still, they beat Norwich in the semi-finals, so they’re in the final now. It’s a shame. If we had beaten Norwich, we could have aimed for the final too…”

Arthur’s wistful comment was met with incredulous looks from Hyungmin and Paulo Morais.

“With our squad depth, you want us to play two more semi-final games, against Bielsa’s Leeds no less?! If we had, all our players would probably be in the recovery room by now!”

Paulo Morais protested vehemently, true to his Southern European temperament.

Hyungmin silently stared at Arthur, his expression suggesting his stomach churned at the mere thought.

Faced with their strong reactions, Arthur defensively raised both hands.

“No, I’m just saying we can dream, right? Hopes and aspirations!”

Despite Arthur’s protestations, Hyungmin and Paulo Morais shook their heads, ignoring the aggrieved senior coach and returning to the analysis team’s report on Leeds.

“Well… Overall, Coach Bielsa’s preferred starting eleven remains consistent unless there’s an injury. There’s a significant disparity in game time between the starters and the reserves, yet they’re somehow maintaining the squad’s overall condition.”

“I heard that the Leeds squad recorded record-breaking numbers in their pre-season physical training last summer. And Leeds’ fitness coach, Benoit Delaval, has a stellar reputation for creating meticulously tailored individual training programs. From the outside, it might seem like they’re all receiving the same physical training, but internally, it’s customized to each player’s condition and needs.”

As Hyungmin expressed his admiration while reviewing the data on each player’s game time, Paulo Morais, examining the same data beside him, added an explanation.

“Just like what Paulo has been doing since he came to Burnley?”

“Hmph.”

The Portuguese fitness coach, wearing an expression that conveyed, “I’m certainly capable of that,” gave a confident smile in response to Hyungmin’s question.

Indeed, Burnley had struggled during November and December due to their thin squad, but from January onward, with sufficient rest between games and the addition of Nico Gonzalez as a midfield option, Hyungmin and the coaching staff felt a tangible improvement in the quality of their play.

“So, what’s the plan for the lineup in this game?”

At Paulo Morais’ question, Hyungmin paused to consider.

“Are any of our players at risk of limited playing time or struggling to play?”

“James Tarkowski’s condition remains suboptimal. He played extensively in the first half of the season, and as a center-back, he was constantly involved in build-up play and passing, leading to greater physical exhaustion compared to Ben Mee or Nathan Collins. Asking him to face Leeds’ pressing and high activity in this game carries a significant risk of re-injury.”

Upon hearing Paulo Morais’ report, Hyungmin frowned, then relaxed.

“It can’t be helped. Then, let’s have Oscar Mingueza fill in at center-back for now. Are there any other players at risk of injury?”

“Not currently. Well, unless someone gets injured during training from now on… At least, there aren’t any at the moment.”

“I see…”

Sitting next to Arthur, who superstitiously tapped the table hoping Paulo Morais’ words wouldn’t prove prophetic, Hyungmin didn’t dwell on his worries for long.

“The last time we faced Leeds head-on, we couldn’t match their stamina and activity in the end. They’ve played more games recently, and although our stamina is constantly improving thanks to Paulo, I don’t think we’ve completely closed the gap.”

“Then?”

At Arthur’s question, Hyungmin nodded, as if having made a decision.

“I’m going to start like we did in the second half of the last game. There’s no need to engage in a direct contest where they excel. We’ll go with the same lineup as the last Tottenham game. The central midfield will consist of Niki [Nikola Vlašić], Brownie [Josh Brownhill], and Nico [Nico Gonzalez].”

At Hyungmin’s words, Arthur clicked his tongue.

“That Hannibal [Hannibal Mejbri] kid is going to throw another fit.”

“It can’t be helped. If he can’t accept being excluded from a specific game due to the manager’s tactical decision, he can’t become a proper professional player. I hope he realizes that soon… Sigh…”

Arthur, Paulo Morais, and Hyungmin, all seasoned youth coaches, sighed quietly.

Experience taught them that many challenges arise when players transition from the reserve team to the first team.

From their youth days, they receive attention and expectations as the team’s star, playing the maximum minutes in every game. But upon joining the first team, they become just one of many young players.

If they start with limited playing time and gradually increase their presence, they can accept their new role and adapt to the changes more smoothly.

However, in cases like Hannibal Mejbri, where playing time decreases after an initial period of prominence, it takes relatively longer to emerge from the illusion of being a first-team cornerstone and accept reality.

And more promising players than one might imagine fail to accept this reality, blaming the manager and team for failing to recognize their talent, ultimately becoming journeymen who drift from team to team.

“In that sense, your insight in choosing Jacob Ramsey was excellent.”

As if trying to dispel the somber mood, Arthur said to Hyungmin with a smile.

“When he first arrived, I questioned why we brought him in, seeing his struggles to adapt to the training. But now he’s incredibly reliable.”

“That’s right. Jacob [Jacob Ramsey] is a diligent guy. Of course, I didn’t anticipate him accumulating so many fines in the beginning either.”

“Hehehe…”

The three men burst into laughter, recalling Jacob Ramsey, who had inadvertently bolstered the club’s finances with fines during the first half of the season.

***

In the technical director’s office, located near the briefing room where Burnley’s manager and coaching staff were strategizing for the next game,

Jonathan Landres, Burnley’s technical director, who had spent January scouting Europe with his team, continued tedious negotiations with a Bundesliga club over a player identified as a potential signing by the manager and himself.

“Jonathan, frankly, that’s too low. He’s played 100 games in the Bundesliga over the past three seasons, scoring 54 goals. He’s durable and a proven scorer. And this season, he has 6 goals in 18 games.”

“Marcel, but he’s 29 years old now. He’ll be 30 soon. You know there’s limited time left to sell him for a significant transfer fee.”

The club in question was VFL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Wolfsburg, originally a club formed by Volkswagen factory workers, began receiving sponsorship from the company. Despite lacking a large stadium or passionate fan base, they consistently achieved good results thanks to their financial resources.

Their sole championship was the Bundesliga title in the 2008/09 season under the guidance of renowned coach Felix Magath. However, they consistently achieved mid-table finishes afterward, and in the 2020/21 season, they finished 4th in the Bundesliga, qualifying for the Champions League.

However, they suffered a dismal record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses in the Champions League group stage, resulting in a swift elimination.

Wout Weghorst, Wolfsburg’s main striker, was the central striker that Jonathan Landres and Burnley’s scouting team, with the manager’s approval, had identified as a replacement for Chris Wood.

The 29-year-old Dutch striker is a giant, boasting a sturdy physique of 197 centimeters and 84 kilograms [6’6″ and 185 lbs].

The scouting team assessed that this striker, a Dutch national team player, possessed sufficient physicality to contend with the Premier League’s tall defenders. They also noted his surprisingly decent passing ability for his size.

After establishing himself at Heracles in the Dutch Eredivisie [first division], he had consistently scored double-digit goals in the league since the 2015/16 season.

Although Hyungmin had drastically altered Burnley’s long-ball-oriented strategy since taking over, a physically imposing central striker capable of disrupting and pressuring Premier League defenses remained tactically valuable for any team.

Even Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, known for his obsession with passing, had been trying for years to sign a powerful central striker who could break through the opponent’s dense defense.

Of course, Guardiola’s difficulty in securing such a signing stemmed not from budget constraints like Burnley, but from the near impossibility of finding a central striker who combined strength with the passing ability required to participate in Manchester City’s intricate passing game.

It’s no coincidence that he had been linked with Tottenham’s ace, Harry Kane, for several seasons.

In any case, Jonathan’s challenge was persuading Wolfsburg, who were financially secure and reluctant to lose their key striker mid-season, to accept a reasonable price.

Moreover, the rumor that Burnley had received 25 million pounds in cash from the sale of Chris Wood had spread widely.

Faced with an opponent under no pressure to sell, Jonathan finally raised the white flag.