Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 117

117: Manchester United, Defeated

“Here! Over here!”

Manchester United’s penalty box, left side.

As soon as he saw the ball stolen, a figure sprinted down the sideline, hand raised, shouting.

Burnley’s number 7, Karim Adeyemi.

The young prospect, touted as the next great striker for the German national team (which he’ll join after this game), instantly crossed midfield and reached the final defensive line.

He was close to being offside.

“Karim!”

From Burnley’s back line, captain James Tarkowski’s familiar voice and the sound of his kick confirmed his expectation.

“Nice!”

Karim Adeyemi, muttering to himself, stretched his left foot to cushion the airborne ball, positioning himself with his back to the sideline, facing Manchester United’s penalty box and goal.

Manchester United’s left defender, Luke Shaw, who’d pushed forward to join the attack, was hurrying back, but he was unlikely to arrive in time.

Karim Adeyemi now faced Manchester United’s two central defenders, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, who were closing in.

Lisandro Martinez, shorter but faster and more agile, charged first, while Harry Maguire approached more deliberately from behind to cut off a potential breakthrough.

He glanced around, but Burnley players were still rushing to join the attack; no claret shirts were near the penalty box.

He was deep in the opponent’s territory.

The score was 3-0.

Karim Adeyemi, in a favorable position, smiled and began creating space to maneuver.

First, Lisandro Martinez, closing fast.

“Lisandro! Slow down!”

Harry Maguire’s shout to restrain his teammate came from behind, but before Lisandro Martinez could react, Karim Adeyemi charged straight at him.

“Ah!”

As Karim Adeyemi’s left shoulder dipped slightly, Lisandro Martinez flinched to his right.

He instantly realized his mistake and corrected his posture, but the young German striker, possessing Premier League speed and technique, darted to his left like lightning.

“Harry!”

“I know! Covering!”

At Lisandro Martinez’s urgent cry, Harry Maguire stepped forward, closing the gap with Karim Adeyemi.

His job was to stall until Lisandro Martinez could recover and pressure Karim Adeyemi from behind.

Hands behind his back, wary of a handball penalty, Karim Adeyemi continued his rush toward the cautiously retreating Harry Maguire.

Karim Adeyemi lacked the flashy skills or passing of Burnley’s Dwight McNeil or Sebastian Szymanski.

His crosses were clumsy and often ridiculed, and his passing wasn’t exceptional.

However, Karim Adeyemi was dangerous because of his explosive speed and dribbling, keeping the ball glued to his feet even at top speed.

And a defender facing that speed doesn’t have time to think.

“Oh no!”

This time, seeing Karim Adeyemi’s left shoulder dip as if to cut left, Harry Maguire tilted his body slightly to his right, echoing Lisandro Martinez’s earlier exclamation.

Two veteran defenders fooled by the same feint!

Karim Adeyemi, breaking through to Harry Maguire’s right as he had Lisandro Martinez, smiled, seeing Manchester United’s goal and David de Gea’s urgent face.

David de Gea, suddenly facing a one-on-one, rushed forward, arms wide.

But Karim Adeyemi had no intention of a duel.

He glanced at the goal and the rushing goalkeeper, then focused on the ball and swung his left foot.

“Ah!”

The ball, launched with David de Gea’s lament, sailed over his left shoulder and into the goal.

As the net rippled with Burnley’s fourth goal, the home fans roared.

“That guy…”

Hyeongmin chuckled, shaking his head as he watched the young player standing proudly in the penalty box, basking in the cheers and congratulations.

“Looks like he’ll cause trouble at the World Cup.”

***

Manchester United suffered a disastrous 4-0 defeat in their last league game before the Qatar World Cup.

Rumor had it that Erik ten Hag threatened to cut the players’ vacation in half for another pre-season, but even he couldn’t control the national team players heading to the World Cup.

Manchester United’s manager, staff, players, and fans entered the break with bitterness, but Burnley’s members and fans celebrated a great victory to end 2022.

“That last game was amazing!”

A core management meeting, delayed due to two games against Leeds United and Manchester United with only a 3-day interval, was finally held.

After a light recovery session, the players, granted a nearly 6-week winter break, were dismissed after lunch.

It was the last core management meeting before the manager and staff left for their break, and the atmosphere was relaxed.

Mike Garlick, next to Hyeongmin, patted his shoulder, beaming.

“You should have seen Richard Arnold’s face! Especially when Karim scored that last goal… refreshing!”

“Mike, you don’t have a grudge against Manchester United, do you?”

Mike Garlick shook his head.

“Even without a grudge, it feels good to beat a team that always dominates us at Turf Moor! Manchester United was scary under Sir Alex Ferguson. It was our home game, but they overwhelmed us like they were at home.”

The table erupted in laughter at the former owner’s disgusted expression.

“Anyway, I’m happy we finished 2022 so well and are going on break.”

John Banaszkiewicz smiled, pleased with the victory.

“I don’t remember Burnley being 4th at the season’s midpoint. Maybe the 60s or 70s?”

Mike Garlick shrugged.

“I don’t know. Ask around the pubs in Burnley; some fans will remember.”

“We’ve played one more game than others. Keep that in mind,” Hyeongmin cautioned, tempering the excitement. Mike Garlick waved his hand.

“Manchester United is right behind us, and even if they win that game, we’ll only drop to 5th. Chelsea has 29 points even if they win, so they’re still below us. That’s enough.”

Before the winter break, Manchester City led the Premier League with 36 points from 11 wins and 3 draws in 14 games.

Second was Aston Villa, surprising under Steven Gerrard, with 32 points from 10 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses in 15 games.

Third was Liverpool, with 30 points from 9 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses in 14 games.

Fourth was Burnley, with 30 points from 10 wins and 5 losses in 15 games, trailing Liverpool on goal difference.

Manchester United and Chelsea had 28 and 26 points in 14 games, ranking 5th and 6th.

Tottenham was 7th with 26 points from 15 games.

Burnley’s continued success and Aston Villa’s rise created an exciting Premier League.

“Okay, let’s start the meeting. Not much to discuss, but we need to check a few things.”

Helena’s soft words signaled the meeting’s start.

“First, the training center’s facility improvements are complete. Mike and John did great work.”

The Banfield Training Center was already state-of-the-art, but additions and improvements were made at the request of head coach Karolina and fitness coach Paulo Morau.

Notably, the installation of single-person hyperbaric oxygen chambers and cryo chambers for cryotherapy to aid player recovery was a welcome development.

No one asked the players about the oxygen or cryo chambers, or whether they wanted to be trapped inside to recover.

Hyeongmin and Karolina bowed slightly to thank Mike Garlick and John Banaszkiewicz, while Helena continued.

“Next, the winter transfer market… Any changes from the existing plan?”

Football director Jonathan Landris glanced at Hyeongmin and shook his head.

“Nothing’s changed. After assessing the current players, Kim and I agree that we don’t need reinforcements this winter. Unless a great opportunity arises, we don’t plan to move. However…”

“However…?”

Jonathan Landris shrugged.

“…Oscar Mingueza’s agent made contact.”