Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 187

187. The Most Difficult Moment

In the second half, Chelsea desperately chased, but Shemanski, back from injury, scored another goal for Burnley, resulting in a 4-2 defeat for Chelsea.

Riding that momentum, Burnley defeated Brighton 3-2 in Premier League Round 15. Brighton had appointed Roberto De Zerbi, known for his excellent performance with Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk after Graham Potter was poached by Chelsea.

Then, in Premier League Round 16, they decisively defeated Bournemouth 3-0.

Amidst a flurry of high-scoring games, a rare sight since Hyungmin took over Burnley, Burnley secured 33 points with 11 consecutive wins after a previous 5-game losing streak.

Liverpool, with 14 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, led with 43 points, while Burnley, who had risen dramatically from 20th to 2nd place in the Premier League standings from Round 6 to Round 16, jumped to 2nd place.

Following were Manchester City with 10 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, totaling 32 points, and Newcastle, whose massive financial power was finally paying off, with 9 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses, at 29 points, in 3rd and 4th place respectively.

Critics and fans eagerly watched to see if Burnley could continue this insane winning streak, but Hyungmin wasn’t even slightly interested in such trivial matters.

Because Hyungmin was now facing the most difficult moment of his life.

“Oh my! Manager Hyungmin Kim! I’ve heard so much about you!”

Looking at her, Helena definitely resembled her mother more than her father.

Or, should I say she resembled her mother more than her father-in-law?

What do they call father-in-law in the West? Mother-in-law?

Should I just call them by their first names?! Ian, Claire, like that?

He mechanically and lightly embraced the middle-aged blonde woman who opened her arms towards him, drawing on all his experience of living in the West. But Hyungmin’s mind was reeling with thoughts, and Helena, watching from the side, stepped in to rescue him.

“Mom, I told you it takes time for Hyungmin to get close to people.”

“Oh, you. But we’re not strangers, are we? Are we strangers?”

Hyungmin felt a cold sweat running down his back at the question from Claire Cartwright, the matriarch of the Cartwright family.

Is this a trap, or what?

Even if Pep Guardiola, who pursues beautiful football centered on passes and possession, came out with a ten-man defense [a highly defensive tactic], it wouldn’t be this confusing.

No, what is the right answer here?!

He had never felt this sense of crisis even when facing Liverpool or Manchester City, who were trying to devour the team, but Hyungmin desperately blurted out the answer he had chosen.

“Of course not, Mrs. Cartwright.”

“Oh my, Mrs. Cartwright? That feels too distant, doesn’t it?”

Was that only half the answer?!

As Hyungmin despaired inwardly, Helena, worriedly watching her boyfriend’s face fluctuate wildly between flushed and pale, grabbed his arm and began to intervene in earnest.

“I told you to stop. Everyone’s already gathered, and it’s chaotic.”

“Oh my, you only care about your boyfriend even in this situation. You haven’t seen your mom in almost a year, and you don’t even care.”

Hyungmin reached out to explain to Claire Cartwright, who turned away as if pouting, but Helena whispered in his ear.

“She’s joking. Don’t fall for it!”

Feeling a chill, Hyungmin looked around, and the members of the Cartwright family were all eavesdropping on the conversation between him and Claire Cartwright, pretending to talk to each other while straining to listen.

Is this the atmosphere of the Cartwright family, who are taught negotiation before they even learn to walk!

Hyungmin, who almost provided material that would be brought up [a Korean expression for constantly reminding someone of an embarrassing past event] at his in-laws’ house for the rest of his life, sighed in relief and tried to calm himself, but the final boss appeared without further ado.

Ian Cartwright III, who had been waiting next to him for his turn to tease his younger sister’s boyfriend, wore an aggrieved expression, but Ian Cartwright II, with a stern and serious expression, silently looked down at his daughter’s boyfriend.

Taller than Hyungmin, who was 180 centimeters tall [approximately 5’11”], with broader shoulders and better looks, the atmosphere he exuded was close to freezing.

Yes, this is a joke. It’s a joke!

Hyungmin desperately repeated in his mind.

I’ve won the Europa League, the FA Cup, and the Carabao Cup, and I’ve defeated Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Antonio Conte!

If I had to endure this kind of joke twice, I felt like I would die of a heart attack, but Hyungmin forced himself to extend his right hand.

“Nice to meet you, Ian.”

His fingertips seemed to tremble at the gaze of Ian Cartwright II, who was scanning him up and down with interest, but soon the tightly closed lips slightly curved upwards, and a firm hand clasped his hand.

“Nice to meet you too, Hyungmin.”

Hyungmin was slightly taken aback by his name, which flowed out smoothly as if after much practice, but he felt relieved by Helena’s slight sense of relief next to him.

“Welcome to the Banfield Training Center. This way, please.”

Mike Garlic, John Vanaskiewicz, and Jonathan Landress, who had been watching from the side with undisguised expressions of excitement as the son-in-law candidate had his first meeting with the in-laws, finally stepped forward.

Amidst the fully relaxed atmosphere, as they introduced themselves and exchanged greetings, Jonathan Landress approached Hyungmin, who was standing still with his arms linked with Helena to stabilize his trembling knees.

“Hmm… well, good job.”

Hyungmin glared at Burnley’s football director, who was chuckling.

“…Couldn’t you have intervened a little earlier?”

“And miss out on such an interesting sight? That’s out of the question! When I first went to see my father-in-law, he was cleaning [a Korean expression implying preparation for something serious] a shotgun, saying he was about to go hunting! And it was pouring rain outside!”

Does that kind of movie-like thing still happen, Hyungmin wanted to ask, but he couldn’t bring himself to say the words because Helena was nodding seriously next to him.

“Well, that’s possible in my house too. My dad collects medieval swords rather than guns, though.”

Hyungmin imagined a middle-aged giant, easily over 185 centimeters tall [approximately 6’1″], approaching him with a greatsword in both hands, and felt a new cold sweat running down his back.

“It’s okay. It looks like we’re moving on to work talk now.”

As a club employee guided Claire Cartwright, Aileen Cartwright, and the two children to start a tour of the facilities, the three Cartwrights involved in the Cartwright Fund and Burnley’s core management team moved to the conference room.

***

“…The completion ceremony is scheduled to be held the day after tomorrow, ahead of the Carabao Cup quarterfinal match against Manchester United. We have asked for understanding from Manchester United, and they have readily agreed.”

Manchester United’s history was too long and their era of glory was too long to call Burnley a rival yet.

Moreover, from the perspective of people working in the same industry, there was no reason to ruin someone else’s party.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they won’t go easy on them on the field, so if Burnley loses, they will be left with the disgrace of recording their first official game after the completion ceremony as a defeat, but that’s none of their business.

Ian Cartwright II nodded after receiving information on the overall management matters, from the club’s financial situation to the current status of various marketing activities, as well as the situation of the New Turf Moor, which was about to be completed, and the completion ceremony schedule.

He had already received all the information from New York, but it was different to come to Burnley and see and hear it directly.

Helena had been dispatched there, so he hadn’t come out directly, but as the Cartwright Fund valued the situation on the ground, it was not uncommon for him to check the current situation directly.

“I’ve been receiving updates from New York, but after coming here, the club’s situation is much better than I thought.”

Ian Cartwright II looked around at the four Burnley club officials sitting around the conference table.

Board members Mike Garlic and John Vanaskiewicz, football director Jonathan Landress, and manager Hyungmin Kim.

“It would have been difficult for Burnley Football Club to be revived so wonderfully without the four of you. Thank you on behalf of the Cartwright Fund and its investors.”

Mike Garlic and John Vanaskiewicz’s faces lit up at the warm praise that didn’t match his cold expression.

In particular, Mike Garlic, who had only suffered mental anguish after selling the club to ALK Capital as the previous owner, had a slightly emotional expression.

He had been feeling it through Helena, but regardless of how or why the club was initially acquired, the Cartwright Fund had been doing its best to pursue long-term recovery once it was acquired.

In fact, unlike the previous owner, the Cartwright Fund had never received dividends from Burnley Football Club or taken out loans using the club as collateral.

They even provided 100 million pounds to rebuild the stadium without interest.

“Then, may I ask what plans the Cartwright Fund has for Burnley Football Club from now on?”

In the amicable atmosphere, as the meeting was about to enter the final stage, Ian Cartwright II was silent for a moment at Jonathan Landress’s curious question.

A short silence flowed that only a member of the Cartwright family could feel, and then Ian Cartwright II carefully opened his mouth.

“In fact, our Cartwright Fund does not aim to hold companies for a long time. I think everyone here is well aware of that.”
The other three people, including Jonathan Landress, who asked the question, nodded.

“Our fund’s goal is to restore companies that are experiencing difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances to a normal state. And then, our job is to find them a better owner. Of course, we cannot deny that we provide profits to our investors in the process.”

Various private equity funds that acquire companies are criticized [a Korean expression for receiving negative feedback] as corporate raiders, but the Cartwright Fund has never heard such words.

They enter cheaply when acquiring, but they always do their best for the acquired company and its employees, and in most cases, the company that was on the verge of collapse [a Korean expression for facing imminent failure] experiences a dramatic reversal and stabilization, so from the perspective of the employees working at that company, they are like a savior who suddenly preserves their jobs just before they become unemployed.

Of course, inefficient and incompetent employees are mercilessly [a Korean expression for without hesitation] subject to dismissal, but that was not the case for most employees who worked diligently.

“We have now held Burnley Football Club for almost two and a half years. It may be long or short, but I think that Burnley Football Club has primarily returned to normal, both financially and in terms of sports [referring to athletic performance].”

Once again, the four people nodded.

“From now on, we need to find a way for Burnley Football Club to continue without us.”

“Does that mean you are going to sell the club?”

Ian Cartwright II shook his head slightly at John Vanaskiewicz, who had a bewildered expression.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that we will sell the club. Going public is also one way, and there are various ways to exit [a business term for divesting ownership]. The important thing is to find a way to lead Burnley Football Club well in the long term, and there is no need to rush that process.”