Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 104

104: Running Without Rest

“Everyone, please take your seats quickly!”

As soon as the halftime whistle blew, Hyungmin, who had rushed into the locker room, shouted while greeting the players.

Drinks were distributed, and depending on the situation, players exchanged opinions with fitness coach Paulo Morao or team doctor Simon Morris about their physical condition in low and urgent voices. Meanwhile, Hyungmin pulled the tactical board to the center of the locker room.

“Okay, look closely.”

They had continued to pressure Chelsea for the remaining 25 minutes of the first half, but the score was still 1-0.

However, it was a positive sign that they hadn’t allowed any significant threats other than one fatal counterattack.

Hyungmin quickly sketched Chelsea’s 4-3-3 formation on the tactical board and then pointed to the central midfield.

“First of all, the important thing isn’t that we’re one goal behind right now.”

Hyungmin looked around at the players watching him and emphasized each word.

“Chelsea is just as unhappy with the current situation as we are. They’re getting hammered at home against Burnley, so they must be extremely frustrated.”

Amidst various expressions crossing among the players, unsure whether to laugh or get angry, Hyungmin transformed Chelsea’s triangular midfield formation into an equilateral triangle.

“In the first half, Jorginho played as a defensive midfielder, but in reality, N’Golo Kante, who came out as a central midfielder, was responsible for both defense and central control, and Mason Mount pushed forward offensively.”

Hyungmin pulled down one of the midfield markers symbolizing Mason Mount.

“But Mason Mount is struggling in the midfield battle, so they’re going to change their approach. Considering Chelsea’s bench situation, Mason Mount will likely be replaced by Mateo Kovacic, who will join Kante in the midfield fight.”

The 28-year-old Croatian national team midfielder, who settled in Chelsea after stints with Inter Milan and Real Madrid, is a versatile midfielder who combines defense, attack, activity, and passing ability.

“They’ll try to distribute the defensive burden that was concentrated on N’Golo Kante and break away from the long passes that relied on Jorginho.”

As the players nodded, it was now the turn of Chelsea’s wingers.

“Frankly, unless it’s someone like Romelu Lukaku, it’s not easy to penetrate our penalty box at will. At least not when we’re being pushed back in midfield like today.”

Unless they gain an advantage in the midfield battle and disrupt Burnley’s defense in advance, it’s not easy for Chelsea’s technical players to move freely within Burnley’s penalty box, which still retains the tradition of Sean Dyche’s aggressive defense.

“So, they’re more likely to take a more direct approach to the flanks and try to create something by connecting crosses to Romelu Lukaku rather than trying to penetrate the defense directly.”

Hyungmin tapped the marker representing the right winger.

“Kai Havertz was completely shut down by Jamal and Abdou on the right flank today, so they’re going to make a substitution. The options Chelsea has on the bench are Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, but since Christian Pulisic is more about technique than speed, Callum Hudson-Odoi will probably come on.”

By dominating the midfield, cutting off Burnley’s offensive development, and having Pedro, who started on Chelsea’s left flank, quickly move down the sidelines on both flanks to send in crosses, Romelu Lukaku would either finish it himself or connect to the next opportunity.

From Zinedine Zidane’s perspective, who desperately needs a win in today’s game, it’s a tactic to maximize the use of a world-class striker he can trust in any situation and a deep bench capable of performing various tactical roles.

Hyungmin, who anticipated the opposing team manager’s tactical changes, looked around at the players who were only looking at him.

“Alright, then we’re going to take advantage of this.”

“What the hell.”

As soon as the second half started, Chelsea’s Zinedine Zidane muttered a curse.

He had changed his strategy to take away Burnley’s midfield dominance that had been tormenting Chelsea throughout the first half and to maximize the use of Romelu Lukaku…

…but Burnley’s young manager had completely abandoned the midfield and gone all-in on an extreme flank speed battle.

*Was I always this easy to read?*

Zinedine Zidane looked back at assistant coach David Bettoni, who had helped him devise the tactics, with a bleak expression, but the veteran coach, who had been leading the team alongside him throughout his managerial career, could only shake his head, unable to hide his dismay.

‘Run and Gun.’

A term commonly used in basketball, it refers to a tactical approach of running a lot and taking frequent shots.

What Hyungmin had ordered the team to do at halftime was this ‘Run and Gun.’

High shooting and shots on target, but no goals?

Then just take more shots.

The opponent is going all-in to gain control in midfield?

Then just give up the midfield.

The opponent is more technically skilled than us?

Then we compete with far superior activity and stamina.

Nico Gonzalez, who replaced Sebastian Szymanski, sat deep alongside Tomaso Pobega, forming a solid square defensive formation with central defenders James Tarkowski and Abdou Diallo.

And above them, with the rear safely guarded and the pressure of counterattacks gone, Nicolas Seiwald ran wild like a tiger off its leash, pressing Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Jorginho all by himself.

The moment the ball goes to Jorginho, that monster with insane activity immediately uses a tackle, a body check, or intense pressure to steal the ball, so the ball doesn’t even go to Jorginho out of fear.

With the core link of attacking development blocked in the midfield, Burnley immediately launched long passes to Dwight McNeil on the left, Karim Adeyemi on the right, or Benjamin Sesko in the center whenever they stole the ball.

This is possible because all four players forming Burnley’s defensive square possess above-average passing ability, and even Nicolas Seiwald is gradually opening his eyes to passing.

It would be great if the ball connected and led to a shot.

Otherwise, just steal the ball again and take a shot.

It’s a method of endlessly running, running, and running to exert pressure and launch counterattacks, as if they’re going to burn all their stamina in the second half.

On the other hand, what happens when Chelsea’s wingers Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi send in crosses after securing the ball?

Unfortunately, Chelsea’s central striker Romelu Lukaku was neutralized as four Burnley players simultaneously swarmed him from all sides, sometimes taking turns, sometimes cooperating.

However, it’s even more frequent that Chelsea’s attacks are blocked before their players can even send in crosses in 2-on-1 situations due to the cooperative defense of Burnley’s fullbacks and wingers.

Burnley’s wingers, as if they never tire, immediately sprinted to the front line to join the attack after participating in the defense and stealing the ball.

And Chelsea succumbed to Burnley’s relentless offensive.

“Goal! It’s a goal. Burnley’s third goal in the 56th minute of the second half is scored by number 10, Benjamin Sesko. The score is now 1-3. It’s 1-3.”

“Uwaaa!!!”

Beyond the dry voice of the stadium announcer, the cheers of the enthusiastic Burnley players and away fans echoed.

The first goal started in the 49th minute of the second half when Gugga, who had stolen the ball from Chelsea’s left attacker Pedro with cooperative defense on the right side of Burnley’s penalty box, sent a pass diagonally across the field.

Burnley’s left attacker Dwight McNeil, who received the pass, immediately sent a cross into the penalty box.

Burnley’s central attacker Benjamin Sesko, who outmaneuvered Chelsea’s central defender Thiago Silva, who is experienced but gradually declining in speed and agility, shook the net with a header.

With Chelsea’s players in disarray after conceding the equalizer as soon as the second half started, Burnley’s players continued their offensive as if they wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

The second goal came in the 53rd minute of the second half in the same scene as before, but with the left and right sides reversed like a mirror image, as Burnley’s right attacker Karim Adeyemi, who received a long pass from Burnley’s left defender Jamal Lewis, finished with a solo breakthrough and shot.

And the third goal was in the 56th minute of the second half in a situation exactly like the first goal.

However, this time, Benjamin Sesko, who once again succeeded in outmaneuvering Thiago Silva, lightly touched Dwight McNeil’s cross, which was sent low and sharply as if it were lying on the grass, with his right foot to score.

The faces of Chelsea’s players and home fans were filled with frustration as they conceded three goals in just six minutes due to the movements of Burnley’s players, who had properly exploited Zinedine Zidane’s tactical changes.

“Are you going to keep doing this?”

Carolina approached Hyungmin, who was watching the celebrating players from the technical area, and asked.

“Doing what?”

The assistant coach sighed at the question from her friend and manager.

“We’re not just playing today. If we exhaust our stamina like this, we’ll have to completely overhaul the starting lineup in the next game. Are you even aware of the problem?”

Paulo Morao, who was sitting on the bench tracking the players’ activity with a tablet, already had a tearful expression.

Next to him, team doctor Simon Morris was also looking at the tablet screen with a stiff face.

“That’s true.”

The manager, who had ordered a strategy to release the stamina that had been saved and cherished to prepare for the long race even after the season started, readily acknowledged the situation.

“But it’s so exhilarating. We’re crushing Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.”

“Haa…”

Carolina sighed, but she was also a renowned former player.

She knew that moments when the manager’s tactics and the players’ skills meshed so perfectly to overwhelm the game in an instant didn’t come often.

She couldn’t completely free herself from the excitement that permeated Burnley’s players, who seemed to accept the home fans’ boos as cheers, and her eyes were slightly shining.

“Didn’t you help devise the tactics because you agreed with them too?”

Carolina shook her head at Hyungmin’s question.

“I just helped with the tactical considerations as requested by the manager. I can’t take responsibility if anyone collapses here.”

In the end, the manager has no choice but to take all the responsibility.

Hyungmin shrugged at Carolina’s point.

“Well, that’s okay. I’ll take responsibility, so let’s just worry about getting 3 points from Chelsea today.”

“If we win at Stamford Bridge today and lose to Norwich in the next game, are you going to lock yourself in your office again and cry your eyes out?”

“Let’s think about that when the time comes.”

Hyungmin muttered as he watched Zinedine Zidane, the home team’s manager, who had been holding his head in agony in the technical area, lift his head and quickly issue instructions to the bench.

“I’m more curious about what kind of measures they’ll take.”

In the end, Chelsea’s Zinedine Zidane responded by abandoning the tactics he had set up in the second half and adopting the same tactics as Burnley.

Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic combined with the two central defenders to form a square defensive formation, with N’Golo Kante running wild above them, going all-in on the flank attack.

Even though Burnley was more dominant in terms of stamina even after playing the same amount of game time, Chelsea’s fullbacks Reece James and Ben Chilwell were far superior in skill to Burnley’s fullbacks.

And the difference in skill between Chelsea’s wingers Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi and Burnley’s wingers Dwight McNeil and Karim Adeyemi was almost meaningless.

Against Chelsea’s manager and players, who threw away their pride and gave their all for the win, Burnley eventually conceded an equalizer in the 88th minute, being dragged to a 3-3 draw.

In the six minutes of added time, both teams engaged in a slugfest to score the final goal, and Burnley barely managed to secure the victory thanks to Benjamin Sesko’s dramatic goal.

And the reward was a sweet 3 points and praise from the opposing team’s manager, who was a world-class player.

[…I admit that Burnley deserved to score the final goal. The fact that they came to Stamford Bridge as an away team and showed that level of performance proves that Burnley is qualified as a top-tier club in the Premier League.]

[…In particular, I think it’s really amazing that Burnley’s striker, Benjamin Sesko, succeeded in scoring a hat trick. Burnley’s manager Kim and the Burnley scouting team, who discovered and nurtured the 19-year-old striker, are also amazing.]

At the post-match press conference, Chelsea’s manager Zinedine Zidane answered the reporter’s questions politely and slowly, unlike the fierce demeanor he had shown on the field.

[…No. Of course, we expect to show a better performance at Turf Moor in the second half of the season. But I have no choice but to admit that I was lacking in today’s game.]

[…As I felt last season, manager Hyungmin Kim’s eye for reading and responding to the game is excellent. Frankly, he’s doing well at Burnley, but I’m both afraid and curious about what he’ll be like when he’s in charge of a bigger club with a larger and more diverse squad.]

“Are you happy?”

Carolina, who was sitting on the opposite sofa watching the Chelsea manager’s press conference being replayed on TV, asked Hyungmin, who was exhausted but had a satisfied expression and was half-lying on the office sofa.

“Of course. I’m very happy.”