Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 123

123: Arsenal, Defeated

“Hah… Hah…”

Wout Weghorst.

Age: 30.

Position: Central Striker.

In his youth, he grew up at Willem II in the Eredivisie [the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands], but ultimately failed to debut for the first team and was released.

However, after signing with FC Emmen in the second division, he gritted his teeth and scored 8 goals in 28 games, showing potential as a promising player.

The following season, he transferred to Heracles Almelo in the Eredivisie.

In his first season, he struggled with the team in the relegation zone, but in his second season, he led them to 6th place in the Eredivisie, reaching European competition for the first time in the club’s history.

Based on this success, he moved to AZ Alkmaar, one of the big three in the Dutch Eredivisie after Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV Eindhoven, where he played 60 games over two seasons and scored 31 goals, an excellent record of just over 0.5 goals per game.

After that, he spent three and a half seasons at VfL Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga [the top-tier German football league] before settling at Burnley in the English Premier League, and was soon called up to the Dutch national team.

Of course, it wasn’t easy to become a regular in the talented Dutch national team, but he made full use of his strengths and was trusted by the coaches as a player to bring on in the second half or in situations where he had to break down tightly packed opponents.

In the Qatar World Cup, he was substituted in the second half to break down the opposing defense and played a significant role, earning praise from critics, regardless of the national team’s performance, which ended in the quarterfinals against Argentina.

Thus, the veteran, still striving towards his peak despite being 30 years old, complained to the opposing central defender who was marking him.

“Hey, leave me alone and bother the other guys.”

*What is this guy even talking about?*

*You’re the one bothering us, you good-for-nothing.*

With that expression, Arsenal’s Ben White took care to maintain a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the imposing striker.

If he gets too close, he will be within the range of that striker who uses all sorts of underhanded tactics, and if he gets too far, he might give him an opening.

Wout Weghorst clicked his tongue at the sight of the opposing defender hovering just outside the reach of his elbow.

*No, he could hit him if he really wanted to swing, but it’s a difficult distance to escape the eyes of the referee or especially the VAR [Video Assistant Referee].*

Earlier, the Brazilian kid who stuck to him without knowing any better had his ribs lightly checked with an elbow a few times, and then he exchanged positions with his central defense partner, complaining.

The English national team’s central defender, looking at the Dutch monster with a worried gaze as he clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed, turned his head around the stadium at the striker’s suddenly changing expression.

“Yes!”

Chasing Wout Weghorst, who was rushing into the center of the penalty box with a shout of joy, Ben White clicked his tongue inwardly.

He was so focused on maintaining the gap that he neglected the unfolding game situation.

Almost the same situation as when Arsenal scored the opening goal earlier.

Burnley’s left winger Dwight McNeil lightly avoided Arsenal’s right defender Takehiro Tomiyasu’s tackle and dribbled the ball towards the corner flag.

Ben White glanced around, even as he chased Wout Weghorst, who was running towards the near post.

Burnley’s midfielder, Sebastian Szymański, was just entering the penalty box, but Arsenal’s central midfielder, Oleksandr Zinchenko, was closely marking him, and in front of him, the free central defender Gabriel was standing firm.

On the left side of the penalty box, Burnley’s right winger Max Cornet was penetrating diagonally towards the center of the penalty box, but Arsenal’s left defender Kieran Tierney was also sticking to him and checking him.

The situation inside the penalty box is 4 to 3, excluding the goalkeeper.

Ben White, convinced that the remaining players running in would be difficult to get involved in at least the next action, positioned his body to contest the incoming cross along with Wout Weghorst.

He jumped a half-beat late, but goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will block the front, so if he just interferes with dropping the ball back…

“Kuek!”

Ben White, who was suddenly rammed in the armpit by Wout Weghorst, let out a strange scream.

Leaving aside being stuck between an adult man’s upper body and arms, and the smell of sweat.

Wout Weghorst, who received the force of his jump, is soaring even higher!

Wout Weghorst, who suddenly and forcibly succeeded in a high-altitude jump like Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, did not miss the approaching opportunity and brought his solid head towards the flying ball.

Perfect timing and perfect angle.

The ball, glanced under the left armpit of Aaron Ramsdale goalkeeper, who desperately stretched his arms upwards and jumped, bounced once on the stadium grass and then passed the goal line and nestled into the goal.

“Uwaaaa!!!”

As the roar of Burnley’s home fans filled the stadium, Arsenal’s captain Martin Ødegaard was already running towards the referee, arguing for a foul.

However, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale, who could already predict the results of the VAR, lowered their heads.

***

The evenly matched game at 1-1 ended with Burnley’s victory as Anel Ahmedhodžić connected a header from a corner kick obtained in extra time.

Amidst the hard-fought victory at home against Arsenal, Helena began to proceed with the preparations for the stadium renovation one by one.

While busily going back and forth between the Barnfield Training Centre [Burnley’s training ground], Helena and Emil, who were leaving her office, ran into Karolina in the hallway.

“Oh, is this Helena’s younger brother? Nice to meet you.”

“I’m really glad to meet you too! Karolina Stephan, I’m a big fan!”

“Oh my, just call me Karolina.”

Helena gave her younger brother, who shook hands with Karolina with a beaming smile, a cold look, but Emil, who met a player he admired as a soccer fanatic, didn’t care about his sister’s gaze at all.

“Ah, I’m Emil. As you know, I’m this human’s younger brother.”

“Welcome to Burnley, Emil. Did you come to see your sister?”

Would it be a delusion if Emil felt like he straightened his shoulders and puffed out his chest more at Karolina’s question with a bright smile?

Amidst the two older women watching, Emil declared confidently.

“No. I came as the person in charge of the Cartwright Fund regarding the Turf Moor [Burnley’s home stadium] renovation this time.”

“Really! Wow, that’s great!”

Helena sent a thrilling look to her beautiful friend, who was making a fuss and glancing up and down at her younger brother.

*What are you doing? He’s my younger brother?*

*What does it matter to you who I talk to?*

*He’s still a snot-nosed baby?*

*Hmph. What are you talking about? He’s a grown adult.*

*Get your hands off him.*

*I don’t want to? Then you’re banned from dating within the club.*

*Tch. Then just take him. But I warned you.*

It was a sparking atmosphere that even the clueless Hyungmin felt, but Emil, who was distracted by the famous former player-turned-head coach who was showing interest in him, was not aware that a sharp conversation was going on between his sister and her frenemy with just their eyes.

“Karolina, then maybe later if you have time… Ugh!”

Emil screamed as his ear was pulled by his sister for trying to flirt with her.

“I don’t have time for that? Move it, move it, little brother.”

Looking at Karolina, who was smirking, Helena and Emil both had dark circles under their eyes.

“What do you need to prepare?”

At Karolina’s question, Helena sighed, dragged her brother away again, and answered over her shoulder.

“A public hearing with the supporters!”

***

“…That’s all for the stadium reconstruction plan.”

As the club’s CEO Helena’s presentation ended, the fans who filled the small theater in Burnley began to buzz.

Helena, who stepped down from the platform and returned to her seat on the stage with the Burnley Football Club board of directors and key executives, tilted her head slightly and gauged the atmosphere.

*Overall, it’s favorable, but there are still many doubts.*

Of course, last season, Hyungmin led Burnley to a dramatic FA Cup victory and qualification for the Europa League, and this season, they were in 4th place in the Premier League and advanced to the round of 16 in the Europa League before the winter break due to the World Cup.

Thanks to this, the antipathy towards the American owner, who was greeted for the second time in 12 months, has decreased a lot, which could be felt on the skin even when walking around Burnley, and the atmosphere itself was not bad at this public hearing, where the club invited the official supporters’ club presidents and the fans they selected.

However, for any club, rebuilding the stadium is a very important and big issue.

Some fans hate rebuilding the stadium because it harms history and tradition, or some fans worry about the club suffering financial difficulties or selling all of its key players while proceeding with the stadium reconstruction.

As expected, the first question started there.

“I’m Henry Smythe, the president of the Burnley Football Club Supporters. I have seen the stadium reconstruction plan you presented well… How do you plan to raise the funds to build this? It’s only been a year and a half since the club was sold due to the risk of bankruptcy, so I’m worried that it’s a bit hasty.”

“I understand the concerns of the supporters well.”

Helena grabbed the microphone and began to answer.

“I also have cautious parts about starting such a big project only a year and a half after taking over. But the reconstruction of Turf Moor is not an option, but a necessity.”

Helena slowly looked back at Hyungmin, who was sitting next to her, and then looked back at the supporters sitting in their seats.

“The manager Kim and the players here are working hard, but it is too difficult to compete financially against the big clubs. In order for Burnley to earn more revenue and, furthermore, to provide a stadium worthy of Burnley playing on the European stage, I have judged that it is not good to delay any longer.”

“Then how do you plan to raise the funds?”

At Helena’s gesture, Emil displayed the prepared chart on the large screen.