Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 103

“Tuff Moor… renovate it?”

Hyungmin muttered, looking bewildered.

“That’s right. We’re discussing it with the board. Everyone agrees that improving Burnley’s long-term finances hinges on the stadium, alongside short-term advertising and marketing revenue.”

“Um… why are you discussing this with me?”

Helena shook her head. The manager clearly knew little about club finances or stadium construction.

“Still, it’ll have a big impact, so I wanted your opinion as manager.”

“Um… my opinion?”

“Yes. For example, from your perspective, what’s the current state of the stadium? If we renovate, will it positively affect the team? Things like that.”

“Ah…”

Hyungmin pondered, then tilted his head.

“Well… Tuff Moor’s facilities are outdated. Naturally, they’re behind top clubs in Manchester or London. Visiting other stadiums, you can definitely feel the difference.”

Hyungmin continued, organizing his thoughts.

“But purely from the team’s point of view, the grass is more important than the stadium itself. We spend most of our time on the pitch, except for using the locker room. And the grass and overall environment at Tuff Moor are excellent.”

“I see. So, we keep the pitch as it is and improve things for the fans? Expand the stands to increase seating, or improve the concessions?”

“Um… that would be good, but do we have the funds?”

Helena briefly avoided his eyes.

“…Actually, that’s what I wanted to ask… Would you be okay with tightening our belts a little more?”

“What?!

***

Chelsea Football Club, acquired by an American consortium led by Todd Boehly from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, had a tumultuous recent history.

They sacked Thomas Tuchel, who’d led them to the UEFA Champions League title, last season due to poor performance. Appointing French legend Zinedine Zidane as manager hasn’t resulted in a clear rebound this season.

A 1-0 loss to London rivals Arsenal away was understandable, but a 2-0 defeat to newly promoted West Brom was seen as a serious crisis by Chelsea officials and observers alike.

Fortunately, they won 1-0 against Aston Villa in the next game. But Burnley, their opponent in the 8th round, had a similar record of one win and one loss against Chelsea last season, eventually finishing 6th and pushing Chelsea down to 7th.

As soon as the game started, Chelsea fans’ hearts began to sink.

Barely two minutes in.

Burnley’s midfield trio – Sebastian Szymanski, Tommaso Pobega, and Nicolas Seiwald – exchanged passes in the center, drawing in Chelsea’s players.

Chelsea’s midfield consisted of N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, and Jorginho.

N’Golo Kante, once praised as the world’s best defensive midfielder for his energy and defensive ability, had seen his influence wane as injuries increased with age (31).

Mason Mount, a Chelsea youth product who’d risen to the England national team at 23, showed excellent attacking power and activity, but his defensive ability was limited.

Jorginho boasted tremendous passing ability, but lacked activity and defensive strength.

Chelsea manager Zinedine Zidane expected the three to complement each other, but Burnley’s young midfielders defied the famous Frenchman’s expectations.

“Karim!”

“Ah!”

Nicolas Seiwald, known for his defensive contributions but lacking attacking flair, launched a surprise long pass that pierced Chelsea’s left flank.

The Chelsea midfielders, prioritizing blocking passes to Burnley’s other midfielders rather than challenging Seiwald directly, left him open. That’s when it happened.

Nicolas Seiwald, who had endured hellish passing training under head coach Carolina at Hyungmin’s instruction, had even enlisted Nico Gonzalez for extra practice. Today, his manager and head coach finally unleashed his improved skills.

It was still a somewhat clumsy pass, but it was unexpected.

Karim Adeyemi, Burnley’s fastest player, received the ball.

“Nice!”

Burnley’s right winger, running at full speed, received the pass from his old friend and instantly broke into Chelsea’s penalty box.

Chelsea’s defenders, caught pushing up the defensive line, had left the penalty box vulnerable.

They scrambled to recover, but it was too late.

Karim Adeyemi, unfazed, faced Chelsea’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in a one-on-one situation. Mendy rushed out to narrow the angle.

As they converged, Mendy spread his arms and legs, trying to block the shot, and lunged at Adeyemi.

The slightest movement of the ball would result in Mendy blocking it.

Karim Adeyemi pushed the ball under the opposing team’s goalkeeper’s legs and jumped over Edouard Mendy like a hurdler at the same time.

“Ahhh!!!”

Amidst the simultaneous exclamations of the home fans and the goalkeeper, Karim Adeyemi, facing the empty goal, staggered slightly and pushed the ball towards the goal with his right foot….

…only to hit the goal post and bounce the ball out of the goal line.

“Aaaargh!”

Karim Adeyemi, the Burnley players, and even the coaching staff and reserve players sitting on the bench, including Hyungmin, all covered their heads.

“Get your act together! Defend firmly and look for opportunities! Don’t rush! Focus!”

Twenty minutes into the first half.

Zero shots in their home stadium.

Zero shots on target and zero expected goals.

The opposing team had eight shots and four on target.

The expected goal was 1.62. If not for Karim Adeyemi’s post-hitting prowess, they would have already conceded two goals.

Zinedine Zidane, watching his team being completely outplayed, shouted so loudly his bald head turned red, expressing his anger at his players’ absurd performance.

As a player, he won the World Cup and the Euros with the French national team, and was one of the greatest midfielders in football history, winning the league in France, Italy, and Spain, as well as the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or [an annual football award presented by French news magazine France Football].

As a manager, he won the Spanish league and achieved an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles.

Chelsea’s players, sluggish from the start, tensed up at the angry shouts of their manager.

On the other hand, the away team’s manager, who had achieved little as a player and was only beginning to make a name for himself as a manager, muttered anxiously in his technical area.

“Guys… why are you doing this? Please score one quickly…”

Hyungmin felt a cold sweat as he watched Chelsea’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy catch Burnley’s fourth shot on target.

He had worked hard to conserve stamina by resting the starters in the Europa League.

Watching the goals that should have been scored in the first 20 minutes not going in, the players began to feel uneasy.

Benjamin Sesko, Burnley’s central striker, who had just been denied by an impossible save, looked around with a bewildered expression.

If this happens, according to the script, it must be….

“Goal! It’s a goal! Chelsea’s number 9, Romelu Lu~ka~ku~!!!”

Amidst the announcer’s voice and the home fans’ joyful shouts, Hyungmin covered his head.

The long ball from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy found Jorginho, who had dropped deep into midfield.

Before Burnley’s players could pressure him, Jorginho’s pass to the front line connected with Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea’s central striker.

A 29-year-old veteran who returned to Chelsea after conquering the Italian Serie A [the top Italian football league] with Inter Milan in the 2020/21 season, following spells at Everton and Manchester United.

In the 2021/22 season, he was heavily criticized for underperforming compared to his £97.5 million transfer fee, due to adapting to Thomas Tuchel’s tactics and expressing his affection for Inter Milan.

Rumors circulated that he would return to Inter Milan, but under Zinedine Zidane, appointed in the second half of last season, he adapted to the new tactics and has performed well since the 2022/23 season.

Romelu Lukaku turned in one motion, dropping the ball to the side with his chest while turning his body with Burnley’s central defender James Tarkowski pressing him from behind.

With James Tarkowski bounced off his left shoulder, Romelu Lukaku, having created space, lightly swung his right foot, using the inertia of the rotation to complete the shot.

The ball, leaving Romelu Lukaku’s foot too fast for Burnley’s goalkeeper Nick Pope to dive, shook Burnley’s goal net.

Despite the team’s poor performance, he had scored seven goals in seven games this 2022/23 season.

Hyungmin clicked his tongue at the world-class striker’s undeniable skill.

“He’s definitely difficult to deal with.”

Carolina, who had cited Romelu Lukaku as a world-class striker capable of breaking through defenses and dominating the penalty box in last week’s video analysis, clicked her tongue and said.

Hyungmin sighed.

Burnley was trapping Chelsea in their own territory, but Chelsea was scoring with quick counterattacks.

The situation was reversed, giving him a headache.

“Still, it’s good that the kids are upset.”

The young Burnley players watching Chelsea’s enthusiastic celebration all looked grim.

Benjamin Sesko and Karim Adeyemi, who had missed several crucial opportunities, looked particularly frustrated.

“Haa… is that the only good thing…”

Hyungmin muttered, watching the team dissatisfied with losing, rather than being afraid of Chelsea, Zinedine Zidane, or their reputations.