Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 145

FC Copenhagen

Football Club Copenhagen.

FC Copenhagen, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, was officially founded in 1992, making it one of the younger football teams in Europe.

However, it’s actually a club with roots stretching back further than Burnley (founded in 1882), as it was formed through the merger of Copenhagen Ballclub (founded in 1876) and Ballclub 1903 (founded in 1903).

Since 1992, they have won the Danish Superliga a remarkable 14 times and the Danish Cup, organized by the Danish Football Association, 8 times, establishing them as the most prestigious club in Denmark.

They have reached the group stage of the European Champions League and Europa League more often than any other Danish team, and they remain the only Danish club to have reached the round of 16 in the European Champions League.

In the Danish league, they have a fierce rivalry with Brøndby IF, also located in Copenhagen. While FC Midtjylland has emerged as a new force, FC Copenhagen still reigns as a mainstay of the Danish top league.

And as always, Hyungmin completely disregarded the reputation of the prestigious club.

***

“FC Copenhagen’s coach, Jess Thorup, favors a 4-3-3 formation, and I don’t anticipate any major tactical changes in today’s game.”

Before the game.

The players focused on the coach’s words as he conducted the final tactical review.

“They might play a bit more defensively today since it’s an away game, but in the Danish league, they often dominate matches with high possession, so they might try to control the game by keeping the ball.”

Hyungmin pointed to the markers on the tactical board.

“As I mentioned yesterday, the key area to watch is their right flank. Kevin Diks and Roony Bardghji.”

A young Dutch right-back, 26 years old, and a young Swedish winger, only 17 years old.

Both are fast and technically gifted, so Jess Thorup often focuses on the right flank, launching fierce attacks to create opportunities.

Hyungmin, aware that Burnley’s football director, Jonathan Landres, had instructed the scouting team to report on Roony Bardghji in today’s game, pointed to Burnley’s left-sided players on the tactical board.

“So Jamal and Max just need to handle them.”

Amidst the quiet laughter among the players, Burnley’s left-back Jamal Lewis and left-winger Max Cornet, who were in the starting lineup today, smiled at each other and bumped fists.

Well, are we ever going to let the other team dictate the game?

“While they attack the flanks, they also make good use of that tall veteran in the center.”

At Hyungmin’s remark, Taejin, whom he called a veteran, stroked his thick arms and gave the coach a knowing look, causing the players to laugh even louder.

Hyungmin smiled, seeing the tension ease.

“Okay, as I said, the key to today’s game is aggressive pressing and flank attacks. Go out there and show them what Burnley Football Club is all about!”

“Woo-hoo!!!”

As the players cheered, Charlie Taylor, who was wearing the captain’s armband today, stood up and looked around at the players.

“Forever and ever! Who are we?”

“We are Burnley!!!!”

***

“Ugh!”

FC Copenhagen’s experienced center-back, Nicolai Boilesen, cried out in pain.

He joined FC Copenhagen after coming through the Brøndby IF youth system and playing for Ajax in the Netherlands, and is now in his seventh season with the club.

As a youth player from a rival team, he was often met with jeers from fans, but over time, fans who appreciated his combative and dedicated defending grew in number, and those issues faded away.

Since a few seasons ago, he has even been appointed as vice-captain, and has become a trusted player responsible for FC Copenhagen’s defense.

But in today’s game, his usual combativeness and defensive skills, which used to keep opponents in check, had vanished, and he was being tossed around like a rag doll by the opposing team’s veteran striker.

He knew that the veteran he was facing had a distinguished career in the Korean national team, and he also knew that he had a decent, albeit brief, stint in the Spanish Primera Liga [Spanish top division league].

But the Primera Liga was almost 10 years ago.

Although the Korean national team performed well in the last Qatar World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals, wasn’t that mainly due to players playing in Europe, including Tottenham’s Son Heung-min?

Nicolai Boilesen, who had been underestimating the Korean veteran who was promoted to playing coach due to Wout Weghorst’s transfer, was now embarrassed.

And his central defender partner, Davit Khocholava, was in the same boat, unable to react, his 192cm height proving useless.

“Get out of the way, you guys!”

As Jung Taejin’s solid shoulder barged in with heavily accented English, Nicolai Boilesen gritted his teeth and braced for the impact.

“Oops!”

“Heh.”

As if it were a trick, Jung Taejin pulled back the shoulder he had thrust forward and rotated his body 360 degrees, leaving Nicolai Boilesen, who had lost his balance, stumbling.

The giant striker spun gracefully in the center of the penalty box like a ballet dancer.

He was clearly trapped between Copenhagen’s central defender duo, Nicolai Boilesen and Davit Khocholava, but in an instant, he managed to isolate Davit Khocholava, who couldn’t hide his bewildered expression, leaving Nicolai Boilesen alone in the middle.

“It’s coming!”

Copenhagen’s goalkeeper Kamil Grabara warned the defenders from behind, but neither of them could interfere with the cross that Burnley’s left-back Jamal Lewis sent from the penetrated right flank.

Taejin, floating in the air unmarked, smiled and met the ball with his head as it traced an elegant arc.

Jamal Lewis sometimes makes mistakes in defense, but his crosses are truly artistic.

While Taejin was leisurely thinking in a moment of silence where time seemed to have stopped, the ball connected perfectly with his forehead.

“Aaaaargh!!!”

As Burnley fans leaped from their seats, sensing the goal, Taejin, who had kept his eyes on the ball as it crossed the goal line, finally landed on the grass and raised both arms, shouting in victory.

“Hahaha!! Another goal!!”

***

“Forever and ever”

“We’ll follow a team”

“It’s Burnley FC”

“We are supreme!”

“We’ll never be mastered”

“By the Blackburn b***ards”

“And keep the claret flag flying high!”

As Turf Moor vibrated with the home fans’ enthusiastic chants, Carolina tilted her head.

“Why are they singing that chant today of all days?”

Hyungmin, who was focused on the game and hadn’t noticed the specific chant, listened for a moment and chuckled.

“Their team colors are white and blue.”

“What’s that… Ah!”

Copenhagen’s away fans had brought large flags and banners in white and blue, symbolizing their team, but coincidentally, those were the same colors as Blackburn Rovers, whom Burnley fans consider their biggest rivals.

For the past few seasons, Blackburn Rovers have been struggling in the English Championship [second tier of English football], and mentioning their name in Burnley usually elicits laughter or indifference, but the sight of an opponent with a combination of white and blue automatically triggers this chant.

“Of all days… bad luck.”

“I guess so.”

FC Copenhagen’s coach, Jess Thorup, was sweating profusely in the away team’s technical area, giving instructions to the team, but overcoming a significant difference in skill with tactics is easier said than done.

The reason why Burnley fans are so easily swayed by Hyungmin’s words is not without merit.

With Jung Taejin, who started as a starter, disrupting the opposing team’s two central defenders and scoring the opening goal, Burnley players, faithfully following the coach’s instructions, pinned the Copenhagen players inside their own half, and Max Cornet and Jamal Lewis were gleefully exploiting the opposing team’s right flank.

“What do you think of him? That… what’s his name, Rooney?”

At Hyungmin’s question, who remembered a familiar name instead of a difficult last name, Carolina tilted her head.

“He’s quite good considering his age. His stamina is decent, he’s fast, and his technique is pretty good. There are things to refine, but we’ll probably send a scout for a more detailed assessment.”

“Hmm…”

His height is 174cm and his weight is only 61kg, so it’s hard to know how well he’d adapt to the Premier League, but at 17, he still has time to develop.

At least he is a more complete player than Colin McDonald or Henry Mahoney-Pilling, 17-year-olds who are currently highly regarded in the Burnley youth team.

“Why, are you thinking of signing him if he’s good?”

“Haa… I’m tempted. But can we sign him and develop him properly? I wouldn’t have hesitated if it were the Red Bull days.”

Red Bull also encourages youth coaches to write and submit scout reports if they identify promising opposing players in cup competitions or youth leagues.

They scouted and signed quite a few players from opposing teams this way. In fact, Hannibal Mejbri and Jacob Ramsey, whom Burnley loaned last season, were promising players that Hyungmin had noticed when he was a youth coach at RB Salzburg.

“According to Jonathan, the buyout clause is 10 million pounds… It’s a steep price…”

At Hyungmin’s words, Carolina clicked her tongue.

“I don’t know how much he can contribute to the first team right now… It’ll be a tough decision.”

Luka Sučić, who is currently challenging for a starting spot in midfield, was signed for £8.25 million at the age of 19.

Even though Nicolas Seiwald is firmly established, it’s remarkable for a 20-year-old to be putting pressure on 24-year-old Sebastian Szymański and 23-year-old Tommaso Pobega.

No matter how athletic you are, a three- or four-year age difference is significant at that age.

“Well, we don’t necessarily have to pay the full buyout.”

“I guess so. By the way, it’s been a while since we’ve had such a comfortable game.”

Hyungmin frowned at Carolina’s words.

“Stop tempting fate. Something big might happen in the second leg.”

“Oh, come on. What could happen?”