Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 162

[Ah… I tore it.]

“What?”

When Carolina asked from beside him, Hyungmin realized he had unconsciously spoken in Korean and shook his head.

“No, it was… that was awesome.”

“Yeah, it was awesome.”

The shot he had just fired had unfortunately been deflected by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, but after scoring the equalizing goal, Burnley’s young attackers were displaying a performance that could only be described as insane.

Karim Adeyemi on the right, Dwight McNeil on the left, and Benjamin Šeško in the center.

When Benjamin Šeško drew one or more defenders and moved out of the penalty box, the two wingers would penetrate the gap created between them from both flanks.

Or, if Karim Adeyemi on the right drew the attention of the defense and tied up two or more defenders, Dwight McNeil on the opposite flank would use brilliant individual skills to toy with the defenders and connect a cross to Benjamin Šeško.

Alternatively, Benjamin Šeško, who had penetrated the center of the penalty box, used his height and increasingly muscular physique to overwhelm Tottenham’s central defenders and bombard the goal.

The three young attackers were boasting fantastic teamwork and simultaneously ravaging Tottenham’s defense, but the most dazzling was Karim Adeyemi.

Speed and skill, timing, and above all, a clear sense of intimidation on the field.

In the intuition that they were facing an opponent who could strike at any moment, Tottenham’s defenders were inevitably swarming to block the young attacker that the German national team and Burnley were so proud of.

It was as if, to someone watching the game without prior notice, the young player wearing Burnley’s claret uniform was Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in their prime.

Or like Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland, announcing that they were leading the new generation.

The reserve players sitting next to Hyungmin and Carolina, watching the game together, were also blankly exclaiming in admiration at the play.

Hyungmin sensed that after today’s game, the debate over the next generation’s best attacker would become a three-way battle, not just a two-way one.

“Oh, they’re attacking again.”

“Wow.”

Taejin, who was sitting next to Carolina, exclaimed at her muttering.

Tottenham’s manager Antonio Conte, who had conceded the equalizing goal, had no choice but to abandon his defensive tactics and switch to an offensive posture with player substitutions, but the momentum that had already clearly shifted to Burnley was not coming back.

With a young team like this, it is common to see moments of wavering in the middle even after seizing the momentum, but Burnley’s kindergarteners, who had been tempered and built up their teamwork under Hyungmin and Carolina for the past season, were instead gaining even more momentum.

Even if they missed a shot, lost the ball, or had their attack blocked, they did not tire and continued to rush, press, steal, and attempt another attack.

Tottenham’s veterans’ expressions were gradually turning pale in the face of Burnley’s relentless offensive.

Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, who were substituted in for Ivan Perišić and Matt Doherty, already had weary expressions on their faces.

Dejan Kulusevski, who was more skilled than fast, was not even given time to touch the ball, and Richarlison, who had been selected for the Brazilian national team, was quickly losing his mental composure in this intense atmosphere.

“Ooh!”

Amidst the exclamations of the players on the bench, a heavy attack was launched from Burnley’s right flank.

The ball, which had been lightly intercepted near the penalty box from Tottenham’s counterattack, was passed to Guga, the right-back.

The young Brazilian defender, who had recorded the most assists for Burnley this season and was responsible for distribution on the right, began to sprint along the sideline, his lion’s mane flying.

“Block him!”

“Cooperate!”

Amidst the shouts of Tottenham’s players and manager from inside and outside the stadium, Guga outpaced Tottenham’s midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who had made a deep tackle to block him, with speed alone.

As the Danish national team midfielder blankly watched the opposing player, who suddenly accelerated and rushed past him, sliding on the grass, Tottenham’s right center-back Davinson Sánchez, who was running to provide cover, grimaced.

“What the f

He should have blocked the front and back to buy time for the attack to return to defense, but the midfielder, in his impatience, made a misjudgment and made a rash tackle, ruining everything.

A 1-on-1 situation with the opposing team’s defender, who had already built up speed.

At that speed, even if he stuck out one foot, he would already be past him in the blink of an eye.

After that, the road to the goal was practically undefended.

Tottenham’s defense was collapsing as they were hit by a counterattack while launching a counterattack, so there was no choice.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Davinson Sánchez gritted his teeth and made a frontal tackle against the lion-maned defender who was rushing towards him.

He was making a play that risked a yellow card, even a red card, but the Brazilian defender, who had already adapted to Europe, smirked.

“Karim!”

“Yeah.”

Guga slightly lofted the ball and connected a pass to Burnley’s right attacker, Karim Adeyemi, who had already penetrated the space behind Davinson Sánchez.

Davinson Sánchez, realizing that he had been toyed with among Burnley’s players, struggled to stop the flowing tackle and get back up, but it would take a long time to stop due to the momentum.

It would take several seconds to get up.

Having confirmed that one of Tottenham’s central defenders was out of this attack, Karim Adeyemi turned his body with the ball at his feet and looked towards Tottenham’s penalty box.

Only for a brief moment, but it seemed that he had used the time that Davinson Sánchez had bought him effectively, as Tottenham’s players were quickly returning to the defense.

If a little more time passed, that penalty box would be filled with white shirts again, but Karim Adeyemi had no intention of giving the opponent that much time.

“Alright, let’s go!”

With a smirk, Karim Adeyemi began to dribble the ball towards Tottenham’s penalty box.

The first to approach was Tottenham’s center-back, Cristian Romero.

He had been checking Burnley’s central attacker, Benjamin Šeško, who continued to move near the penalty arc as if trying to penetrate the center of the penalty box, but in a hurry, he abandoned the opposing player and stuck to Karim Adeyemi.

In fact, a 1-on-1 situation facing each other in a stationary state.

Karim Adeyemi lowered his left shoulder, signaling that he was going to break through in that direction, but the experienced opposing defender only flinched a few times and did not move his body completely in that direction.

“Karim!”

Tommaso Pobega’s shout, signaling his position, was heard over Karim Adeyemi’s shoulder as he faced off.

Cristian Romero did not take his eyes off the opponent in front of him for even 0.5 seconds.

But it was enough time for Karim Adeyemi.

“Oh no!”

As a collective sigh erupted from the stands, Karim Adeyemi, who had pushed the ball between Cristian Romero’s legs, shook off Tottenham’s defender, who was desperately reaching out to stop him, and entered the penalty box.

“Block him!”

“Support him!”

Following Davinson Sánchez, Cristian Romero bought precious time for a few seconds.

The remaining central defender Eric Dier, midfielder Yves Bissouma who had already come to support inside the penalty box, and even Davinson Sánchez and Cristian Romero who had already been beaten but were running from behind to stop him.

As many as four Tottenham players rushed in, Karim Adeyemi smirked and raised his left foot.

“Just block the shooting angle!”

Thanks to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was desperately shouting from behind, Eric Dier and Yves Bissouma, who were rushing in from the front, hesitated and slowed down their approach.

Who’s shooting?

Karim Adeyemi, who had more time thanks to the goalkeeper, muttered inwardly and twisted his left foot, which he had raised as if to shoot, and gently pushed the ball to the left.

“Huh?!”

As four defenders who were surrounding Karim Adeyemi to block him, and even the goalkeeper watching him, a whopping half of Tottenham’s players blankly watched, the ball that had slipped to the side rolled in front of Benjamin Šeško, who was smiling as he ran at full speed.

Almost a carbon copy of Burnley’s goal conceded at the start of the first half.

As the eyes of Tottenham’s defense, who were caught in the wrong motion, chased the ball, Benjamin Šeško, who rushed into the ball without slowing down, fired a shot with his right foot in the same comfort as if he were taking a penalty kick.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

As Burnley fans, who sensed the goal, stood up and screamed in unison, the shot that flew like a bullet passed by the face of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was standing still as if nailed to the spot, and crashed into the goal net.

“Yes! That’s it!”

“Aaaaaah!!”

“We’re going to win~!!”

In the stands and on the bench, Burnley’s players and fans alike hugged each other and cheered in unison, while Tottenham’s players, who sensed defeat, lowered their heads.

***

Defeat turned into a complete rout.

Tottenham’s manager Antonio Conte, who had been standing in the technical area and sending criticism and encouragement to the players until the second goal was conceded, put his hands in his pockets with slumped shoulders and only watched the game after the third and fourth goals were conceded.

Hyungmin, who was also out in the technical area watching the game with only a few minutes left, sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

At Carolina’s question as she approached him, Hyungmin shook his head.

“No, it’s just… I just wish we could go on like this, with this team, for just one more season.”

Carolina chuckled at her friend’s regretful words.

“Hmph, that’ll be difficult. This is a team that won the Europa League and earned a Champions League spot. Not just in England, but all over Europe, they’ll be eyeing them. It’ll be a miracle if they don’t get torn apart this summer.”

“Yeah, that’s just my greed.”

As he watched Burnley’s energetic players, who were still rampaging on the field and not giving up on their desire for an additional goal, Carolina quietly sighed.

“Well, I’m a little sad too, to be honest.”

If Hyungmin, as the manager, set the big picture of the tactics, Carolina, as the head coach, filled in the detailed combinations within that big tactical framework with repeated training and instructions.

Beyond the two people watching the players who were driving the opposing team like a precise machine and a living, breathing organism, the new cheering song of the enthusiastic Burnley home fans echoed.

“We are Burnley!”

“Super Burnley!”

“We are Burnley!”

“From the Moor!” [Referring to the area around Burnley]

“Led by the man!”

“From the east!”

“Super Burnley!”

“Super Kim!”