Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 128

“The atmosphere is no joke, huh?”

Carolina muttered to Hyungmin.

Having seized the advantage with a 2-0 lead, they emerged from the enthusiastic halftime locker room to see the determined expressions on the faces of the Manchester City players awaiting the start of the second half.

Whether the manager had motivated them or the players were blaming themselves, the burning emotion was palpable beyond the sidelines, reaching even the technical area.

In truth, who motivated them doesn’t matter.

What matters is confirming that Manchester City had no intention of meekly finishing the second half while trailing 2-0.

“What are you going to do?”

“Well…”

Hyungmin also trailed off, hesitant.

The Manchester City substitutes had clearly warmed up during halftime, and instead of returning to the bench, they continued to warm up outside the sidelines.

All of the substitutes, even the reserve goalkeeper.

A strong determination to be ready to be substituted in at any moment.

And the pressure to appeal to the manager to be brought in immediately if anyone showed a clumsy performance on the field.

Seeing the Manchester City bench, empty except for a few coaches and medical staff, Hyungmin couldn’t make a decision.

Thwack!

“Damn it, move!”

“Whoa, whoa!”

Burnley’s center-back, Anel Ahmedhodžić, rubbed his shoulder, where a subtle pain was rising, and listened to his center-back partner, Abdu Diallo, stopping the opposing team’s attacker.

A giant of 198 centimeters is intimidating just by his presence, but if the opponent is full of anger, even an experienced center-back can’t help but feel nervous.

Moreover, what if the opponent is one of the next-generation world-class striker candidates to succeed the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi?

Did ancestors who faced the Vikings who invaded Europe in the Middle Ages have to overcome this kind of fear?

“F*ck…”

Swearing, Anel Ahmedhodžić once again narrowed the distance with the opposing team’s attacker.

‘Should I switch?’

‘No, I’m still okay.’

Exchanging glances with Abdu Diallo, Anel Ahmedhodžić subtly placed his fingertips on Erling Haaland’s firm waist.

‘That damn bastard, I don’t know what he did, but his side is as hard as armor,’ he grumbled inwardly, but Anel Ahmedhodžić didn’t give way despite Erling Haaland’s annoyed reaction.

He didn’t have time to worry about that, because victory was too close, more tangible than the side of Erling Haaland he felt at his fingertips.

Minute 65 of the second half.

They are still avoiding conceding a goal, but it is becoming increasingly clear that they are being pushed back.

Ignoring the pride of the players who started, manager Pep Guardiola replaced Jack Grealish, who started as a left-winger, with Riyad Mahrez in the 60th minute of the second half, and Rodri, who started as a defensive midfielder, with Kalvin Phillips, who came from Leeds.

Riyad Mahrez, instead of Jack Grealish, who has a strong central tendency, widened the left and right flanks along with Phil Foden, who switched positions.

An option to develop more refreshing crosses and passes at the same time, rather than intricate passes in the center.

On the other hand, Rodri, who lacked mobility compared to his defensive and passing abilities, was replaced by Kalvin Phillips, injecting fighting spirit into the center.

Kalvin Phillips, the main midfielder of the England national team and a former disciple of Marcelo Bielsa [an Argentinian football manager], has a style that combines tremendous activity with defensive and passing skills.

It began to put irresistible pressure on Burnley’s young midfield trio, who were increasingly exhausted and unable to maintain the fierce momentum of the first half.

“It looks like we really need to make a decision now?”

Hyungmin continued to hesitate at Carolina’s urging from the side.

Looking only at the current situation on the field, it is right to replace the tiring midfielders, but is that really the answer?

He’s not even sure if that’s the right answer just thinking about today’s game, and even after today’s game, they have to play three Premier League games every three days.

It is also necessary to save the stamina of the starting players.

But more than anything, he is more concerned about taking out the promising players who provided the advantage with their outstanding performance in the first half.

The growth of the players and the result of the game.

Short-term results and long-term race.

A voice broke in between Hyungmin, who continued to hesitate between the two, and Carolina, who urged him to answer.

“Well, it’s not my place to interfere, but…”

Both of them turned to look at Taejin, who had already walked out to the technical area and started talking to Hyungmin and Carolina.

He looked awkward talking to the manager in the technical area, and he was shrinking in a way that didn’t suit his size, but Taejin continued to speak firmly.

“If you’re worried about substitutions, wouldn’t it be better to replace the attack?”

“The attack?”

Both Hyungmin and Carolina showed intrigued expressions at the different idea.

“Are you saying we should fight fire with fire?”

“That’s right. Either way, it’s hard to regain the upper hand from Manchester City by replacing one or two midfielders. Even if Niki is put in, he will only be able to control Kalvin Phillips, and it will be difficult for Tomaso to control both Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.”

Taejin nodded at Carolina’s question.

In addition, Nico Gonzalez’s stamina is also at rock bottom, as he has been supporting Luka Sukic and Christian Medina, who have been rampaging in the front.

His passing ability to connect attack and defense is still excellent, but his activity has decreased a lot.

“Strengthening the midfield will only maintain the current situation. Rather, if we strengthen the attack here, Manchester City will inevitably have to focus on defense, which may reduce the pressure on the midfield.”

Hyungmin looked back at his friend with a fresh expression.

“That’s a good idea?”

“Hmph, I’m originally…”

Ignoring Taejin, who was beaming and shrugging at Hyungmin’s compliment, Hyungmin immediately spoke to Carolina.

“Benjamin, Dwaighti, Karim. Put them all in.”

“Okay!”

As Carolina hurried to the bench, Taejin complained.

“Hey. Can’t you wait until I’ve fully enjoyed this glorious moment when I’ve been involved in tactics as a coach for the first time?”

“Oh, I’m not interested in that.”

“Agh!”

Although it is the middle of the technical area where 60,000 spectators and dozens of cameras are watching, wouldn’t it be okay to strangle this arrogant high school classmate’s neck for just a moment?

Taejin looked around and estimated his thick arms and Hyungmin’s neck circumference.

***

“Ahahaha! Ahahahaha!”

Hyungmin burst into laughter as he watched the results of the Europa League Round of 16 draw.

The day after defeating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final and confirming their place in the final.

The Burnley board and coaching staff, who had gathered in the conference room in a friendly atmosphere, were watching the results of the Europa League Round of 16 draw together because the timing was perfect.

And as a result of the draw, some of Burnley’s board and coaching staff were smiling bitterly, while others were snickering as if they were dumbfounded.

“PSG [Paris Saint-Germain]?! PSG, you say?! Well, it would be fun to see Mbappe, Neymar, and Messi at Turf Moor, too, right? But seriously, what the hell did those guys do to get knocked out of the Champions League?!”

Carolina, who had been snickering in disbelief at Hyungmin’s words, which had gone from shock to interest to anger, shook her head.

“They were in the same group as Liverpool and Inter Milan. They were just unlucky.”

Thanks to this, Eintracht Frankfurt, who had been in the same group of death, had a miserable record of 1 win and 5 losses in Group C of the European Champions League and were eliminated, but PSG, who recorded 9 points with 3 wins and 3 losses, could not catch up with Liverpool and Inter Milan, who recorded 4 wins and 2 losses each.

“That’s true, but it’s amazing that manager Christophe Galtier wasn’t fired.”

Carolina shrugged at Hyungmin’s muttering.

“Well… in this case, the club’s management seems to have taken extenuating circumstances into account. He’s only been in charge of the team for half a season, and they were the Premier League champions and Champions League runners-up the previous year.”

“Hehehe. Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar. Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe, you say.”

While the board members were looking at Hyungmin with pitiful eyes as he rubbed his hands together madly, as if he had lost his mind due to pressure and stress, Carolina, who had none of those feelings, strongly elbowed Hyungmin.

“Ouch!”

“Get a grip, manager. We need to start the meeting soon.”

While Hyungmin was pathetically clutching his side, the rest of the coaching staff, who did not need to attend the meeting, left, and the core management meeting, attended by the club’s board, the football director, and the manager and head coach, began.

“Today’s topic is a mid-term review of the winter transfer market.”

Burnley’s football director, Jonathan Landris, who put the data on the large screen, began the first agenda of the meeting.

Perhaps because there were no special plans for recruitment or release, Jonathan’s expression, which was usually exhausted and stressed during the transfer market, was bright.

“I am constantly consulting with Kim, but unless we receive a special offer this winter transfer market, we have no plans for recruitment or release. So, I would like to report the results of preliminary contact with players whose contracts are scheduled to expire, which has been possible since January 1st.”

According to FIFA regulations, for players with less than half a year left on their contracts, other clubs can start discussing a free transfer that will take place after the contract expires.

Of course, there is a Premier League regulation that only allows Premier League clubs to contact players if there is less than one month left on their contracts.

But conversely, this means that Premier League clubs can contact all players in the remaining European leagues with less than 6 months left on their contracts.

“First, Oscar. Well, I don’t think I need to explain about Oscar, do I?”

Oscar Mingueza.

From Barcelona’s youth academy and currently belongs to Barcelona B team.

He is still 23 years old, but he will be 24 in May.

A versatile defender who can play all defensive positions, including central defense and left and right side defense.

As he was loaned from Barcelona to Burnley in the second half of last season and both sides had satisfactory results, negotiations proceeded quickly.

“The weekly wage has been agreed at £18,500. In fact, it’s almost the same level as what he receives at Barcelona.”

“I understand everything else, but what’s the reason for £18,500 instead of £18,000 or £19,000?”

Jonathan chuckled at Mike Garlick’s question, tilting his head.

“Nathan.”

“Ah!”

Burnley’s promising defender Nathan Collins receives a weekly wage of £18,000.

Everyone got along so well last season, so it would have been easy to know.

In fact, the weekly wages of professional soccer players are so publicly known that there is almost no secret.

Considering Oscar Mingueza’s cheerful personality, it must have been a playful thought that he should receive more than Nathan Collins, even if no one else knew.

“Well… that friend is having a fun life.”

“That’s a good thing. If a defender is positive, he can quickly shake off mistakes.”

Hyungmin also chuckled and defended Oscar Mingueza.

In a warm atmosphere, Jonathan moved the screen to the next slide.