Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 157

“Wow.”

As Benjamin Šeško, Burnley’s central striker, shrugged off Liverpool’s defensive midfielder Fabinho and repositioned himself, he couldn’t help but exclaim.

Nico Gonzalez, Burnley’s midfielder, launched the ball from just outside Burnley’s penalty box, slicing through the Liverpool players who had surged forward. The ball soared towards Burnley’s left winger, Jamal Lewis, who stared in disbelief as it landed just beyond the halfway line…

…and stopped dead.

“What the f***? How is that even possible?!”

Fabinho spat out the curse-laden exclamation from beside him, but there was little time to dwell on the ball’s physics-defying movement.

The instant the ball stopped at Jamal Lewis’s feet, everyone on the field understood the Burnley manager’s audacious plan.

A split second later.

Both teams erupted into frantic motion.

“Defense! Get back! Support!”

Virgil van Dijk’s booming voice echoed across the stadium, drowning out even the Anfield crowd, as Burnley’s attack moved with sudden purpose.

Ignoring Liverpool’s forwards, midfielders, and full-backs, who were now sprinting back to reinforce their defense.

Their efforts would be futile if they couldn’t disrupt the attack before it reached a critical point.

Jamal Lewis immediately began dribbling down the left flank, hugging the sideline, while Karim Adeyemi cut diagonally into the penalty box from the right, focusing the attention of Jung Tae-jin, who had pushed into the center of the penalty box and stood his ground, pinning Virgil van Dijk.

Benjamin Šeško, still battling Fabinho, lurked just outside the penalty box.

“Jamal!”

Karim Adeyemi, now inside the penalty box, raised his hand and shouted his teammate’s name, drawing the eyes of the Liverpool players.

Burnley’s most dangerous player was making a solo run into the penalty box, demanding the ball.

Liverpool’s center-back, Virgil van Dijk, remained locked in a struggle with Burnley’s central striker, Jung Tae-jin, each keenly aware of the other’s movements, while goalkeeper Alisson remained rooted to his spot, wary of the Burnley players spread across the field.

Ultimately, the decision fell to Liverpool’s young center-back, Ibrahima Konaté.

Should he pursue Jamal Lewis, who was advancing down the left flank, and attempt to block the cross or prevent a breakthrough into the penalty box?

Or should he hold his position in the penalty box and mark Karim Adeyemi, anticipating and intercepting the incoming cross?

In a fleeting moment, Ibrahima Konaté weighed his options and chose to stay in the penalty box.

He reasoned that if Jamal Lewis crossed the ball, his height advantage over Karim Adeyemi would allow him to make a header clearance.

And if Jamal Lewis changed direction and tried to dribble into the penalty box himself, he could close him down the moment he entered.

It was a display of a defender’s patience, holding his options open until the last possible moment.

But in reality, regardless of his choice, he was destined to be outwitted by the Burnley youngsters, who had conceived this plan with a simple exchange of glances.

Because Jamal Lewis’s cross wasn’t aimed at Karim Adeyemi, who was calling for the ball in the penalty box, nor at Jung Tae-jin, who was grappling with the defender, tugging at his jersey.

“Oh no!”

Amidst the Liverpool defense’s collective gasp, Jamal Lewis, having reached the corner flag, delivered a low, driven cutback cross towards the top of the penalty box.

The intended target was Benjamin Šeško, who had shaken off Fabinho and was now surging from the edge of the penalty arc towards the goal.

“Damn it!”

Fabinho cursed and desperately tried to catch Burnley’s young star, but the hem of Šeško’s jersey, tantalizingly close, slipped through his fingers, narrowly avoiding a penalty.

Ibrahima Konaté was too far away, and Virgil van Dijk was being effectively screened by Jung Tae-jin, who was using his shoulder to hold him back.

In an instant, Benjamin Šeško, having eluded Liverpool’s veteran midfielder and the remaining defenders, made his decision and found himself one-on-one with Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson, who had charged off his line for the first time in a second half dominated by Liverpool.

A player of Dwight McNeil’s caliber would have controlled the ball, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted it into the empty net.

A speedster like Jamal Lewis would have picked a side, sprinted past, and forced the ball in, regardless of the narrowing angle.

Karim Adeyemi was capable of both, which was what made him so unpredictable.

Several thoughts raced through Benjamin Šeško’s mind, but realistically, only one option was viable.

At full speed, Benjamin Šeško leaned his body as far left as possible and connected with the incoming cross with the inside of his right foot, almost falling in the process.

A precise shot that maintained the cross’s momentum and zipped past the left side of the diving goalkeeper.

The force of the impact sent the player tumbling to the left, while the ball ricocheted to the right.

As the player and the ball diverged, Alisson, unable to stop his forward momentum, froze momentarily, allowing the ball to slip past his left side.

“Oh no!”

Alisson’s cry of despair was drowned out by the collective groan as Ibrahima Konaté belatedly sprinted towards the goal and stretched out his leg, but the ball comfortably evaded his desperate attempt and nestled into the bottom right corner of Liverpool’s net.

“Aaaaargh!!!”

Burnley’s away fans, who had been crammed into a corner of Anfield throughout the second half, erupted in a deafening roar, as Benjamin Šeško lay sprawled on the grass, arms outstretched towards the clear sky.

88th minute of the second half.

A dramatic equalizer.

***

Burnley secured 1 win and 1 draw in their two-game series against Manchester City and Liverpool, earning 4 points.

This result defied the critics’ predictions of two likely defeats and, more importantly, widened the gap between Burnley and Tottenham, who were fiercely contesting the 4th place spot, to 9 points.

With only 3 games remaining.

Even if Burnley lost all their remaining games and Tottenham won all of theirs, the 4th place position could only be overturned on goal difference, but with upcoming matches against Wolverhampton, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa, the statistical probability of such a scenario was extremely low.

As the Burnley camp celebrated ahead of the Europa League final scheduled for May 25th, Burnley’s Football Director Jonathan Landris received a call from an unknown number the day after the thrilling draw with Liverpool.

“Uh… this is Jonathan Landris.”

A man’s voice with a distinct German accent came through the phone.

“Hello. This is Hasan Salihamidžić, the sports director of Bayern Munich.”

“Ah…!”

Jonathan checked to ensure his office door was closed, leaned back in his chair, and sighed softly.

The conversation that was about to unfold was one he had both anticipated and dreaded for a long time.

“Is this a good time to talk?”

“Yes, of course.”

***

“Alexander.”

“Yo, Jonathan.”

Alexander Beyer, Karim Adeyemi’s agent, answered the phone almost immediately.

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, this was the busiest time of year for agents.

The call was one he had been expecting.

“I received a call from Bayern Munich.”

“I know. They got your number from me.”

“Ah… I see.”

A lingering question in Jonathan’s mind was answered.

He was also impressed by Bayern Munich’s subtle approach, informing the player’s agent of their interest without directly contacting the club first, by obtaining the agent’s contact information.

“So, how did it go?”

“It’s an unofficial official offer.”

Alexander Beyer chuckled at Jonathan’s oxymoronic statement.

“Yeah, I know. Anyway, they said they would wait until after the Europa League final to make an official offer. Even after the Premier League final game against Aston Villa, if necessary. But the offer is essentially official; they have prepared all the paperwork so it can be processed immediately if we accept.”

“I see. And…?”

“Yeah. Full buyout clause. 73 million pounds, paid in a lump sum.”

“Whew!”

Jonathan whistled softly into the phone.

“They’re trying to seal the deal before other clubs get involved.”

“That’s right. You must be proud too. The player you’re responsible for is about to break Bayern Munich’s all-time transfer record.”

Previously, Bayern Munich’s highest transfer fee was 72 million pounds, paid to Atletico Madrid for French national team defender Lucas Hernandez.

While this offer was only 1 million pounds higher, breaking the record held symbolic significance.

The Bundesliga’s dominant team, which prided itself on the close relationship between Bayern Munich and the German national team, wouldn’t miss out on a promising German national team striker who had burst onto the scene during the World Cup.

Especially after Roberto Lewandowski, who had been their star player for years, transferred to Barcelona amidst some controversy, and Sadio Mané, signed from Liverpool as a replacement, was already over 30.

Thomas Müller, a long-time mainstay of the attack and a fixture in the German national team, was also 33.

From Bayern Munich’s perspective, the perfect target had emerged at the ideal time to consider a complete overhaul of their attack, so they were eager to secure his signature before other clubs could make a move.

“Well… as an agent, I’m happy, but on the other hand, I’m a little worried.”

Alexander Beyer replied cautiously, perhaps recalling Luka Jović, who had risen to prominence at Eintracht Frankfurt before experiencing a disastrous slump at Real Madrid after his transfer.

“It’s okay. Karim will do well.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Karim will thrive even at Bayern Munich.”

He wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the pressure, and he would withstand the scrutiny of opposing players and the intense media attention as he became a key player for the German national team and the strongest team in the Bundesliga.

Jonathan said confidently, thinking of the always cheerful young striker.

“I see. Then, I’ll talk to Karim after the Europa League final.”

“Okay. Only Helena and I will know on our side.”

“Aren’t you going to tell the manager?”

Jonathan shook his head at the agent’s question, then realized the other party couldn’t see him and explained verbally.

“He’s not in the right frame of mind to hear that the team’s star player is about to transfer right now.”

“I see. Because you’ve reached the final stretch.”