Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 213

The fervent cheers of the home fans filling Andras Muir [Burnley’s home stadium, named after their owner] echoed through the locker room walls.

Hyungmin looked around the locker room.

The sweat-soaked players were staring at him with gleaming eyes.

The first half ended in a tight 0-0 draw.

Now, if AC Milan could hold on for another 45 minutes, they would advance to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 2006/07 season, when Paolo Maldini lifted the trophy as captain.

For AC Milan, one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs, with Paolo Maldini alone having lifted the Champions League trophy five times, their Champions League performance over the past 15 years had been dismal.

As AC Milan’s coach and players desperately endured Burnley’s relentless attacks to move on to the next stage, Hyungmin looked around at his players, who had been pouring on the offense throughout the first half but had yet to score.

“It’s okay.”

Hyungmin said slowly, gesturing with his hands as if pressing down, “There’s no need to rush. This is Andras Muir, after all.”

“…Isn’t this Andras Muir?”

Taejin interjected from the side, causing the tense players to chuckle softly.

The tension in the locker room eased slightly.

“That’s right. This is Andras Muir. Since New Turf Moor became Andras Muir, we’ve been undefeated at home, and not only that, but we’ve won every game.”

Well, the stadium name was officially changed in mid-March, and it’s only mid-April now, but everyone ignored the minor details.

The important thing is that Burnley Football Club is not only undefeated at Andras Muir but has also won every game.

“If we concentrate and steadily attack their goal, we can create enough openings. AC Milan isn’t a perfect team.”

Luca Pellegrini, who had an assist in the first leg, and Lorenzo Lucca, who scored a consolation goal, nodded.

“First, I’ll adjust the positions a bit.”

Hyungmin tapped the tactical board and looked around the locker room.

“Tomaso!”

“Yes, Coach.”

“Drop down a bit more as a defensive midfielder.”

“Yes!”

The marker indicating Tomaso Pobega moved down, placed next to AC Milan’s attacking midfielder, Daniele Maldini.

“It’s the same as the first leg. Control Daniele Maldini and prevent AC Milan from developing their attack when they counterattack.”

“Yes.”

As vice-captain Tomaso Pobega nodded heavily, Hyungmin turned to the player sitting next to him.

“Nicky.”

“Yes.”

“Erase Sandro Tonali.”

“Understood.”

The marker indicating Nicolas Seiwald, who was in the defensive midfielder position, moved up and was placed on top of the marker indicating Sandro Tonali.

“You don’t need to worry about anything else. Just make it as if both Sandro Tonali and you aren’t even in the game, and that’s enough.”

“Understood. Don’t worry.”

Captain Nicolas Seiwald said with a grin.

It’s a shame to give up the tremendous activity, midfield control, and defensive ability that Nicolas Seiwald brings all at once.

But if we can completely shut down the opposing team’s attack development with one of our best defenders, it’s a worthwhile trade.

Without Sandro Tonali, AC Milan can only develop their attack with a more bland and simple linear counterattack.

“And Mika.”

“Yes, Coach.”

The young defender, who couldn’t get the number 3 shirt that Anel Ahmedhodžić occupied and is vowing to switch to number 33 next season, looked at the coach.

“I want you to exclusively mark Rafael Leão. Can you do it?”

“Of course.”

The marker indicating Mika Marmol, who was positioned on the left side of the central defense, moved and overlapped with the marker indicating Rafael Leão, who is in charge of AC Milan’s left flank attack.

“Oscar and Lupe, come in more centrally to form a back three with Anselmo. One of you can join the attack when the opportunity arises. But don’t both join the attack and leave Anselmo isolated. Assume that both Mika and Rafael Leão are not there and calculate the numerical advantage.”

The other defenders nodded at the coach’s instructions.

The idea is to disrupt the opponent’s wings and midfield and proceed with the game.

The decision made by the coach and coaching staff after spending countless hours analyzing and watching the game unfold before their eyes for 135 minutes.

Hyungmin nodded to the players who were sending him gazes filled with absolute trust in their young coach.

“Luca, continue to orchestrate the attack from the center as you did in the first half, and you can penetrate into the penalty box when the opportunity arises. But Tomaso might not be able to back you up as he did in the first half, so communicate closely with the defenders and make your decision.”

“Understood, Coach.”

Luca Sučić nodded with a determined expression.

Hyungmin smiled at the attacking line consisting of Lorenzo Lucca, Dwight McNeil, and Emmanuel Vignato, who were waiting for the final instructions.

“And if possible, let’s not go to extra time and just score two goals to go straight to the semi-finals, okay?”

“Sounds good.”

Dwight McNeil, who grinned at the coach’s words, replied.

The first leg ended 2-1, so we don’t have to worry about away goals; if we win by two or more goals here, Burnley will go straight to the semi-finals.

If we advance to the semi-finals, the opponent will be either Barcelona or Juventus.

But that’s too far off to worry about at this point.

The next 45 minutes are more important right now.

“I’ll say it again, there’s no need to rush. Approach it slowly, with the mindset of scoring just one goal first. And once you score one goal, then move to score the next goal.”

The players, with serious expressions, looked at him and nodded.

“Alright, let’s go out there and continue our winning streak at Andras Muir.”

“Yes!!!”

***

“Welcome! Welcome to the Jungle!”

“Kim’s got fun and games!”

“Kim’s got everything you want honey!”

“Kim knows the names!”

“In the jungle, welcome to the jungle!”

“Watch it bring you to your shaking knees!”

(Guns & Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle”)

The seats for the away fans were dyed red and black, but the claret flags were waving, and the cheers of the Burnley home fans overwhelmed their support.

And the one who receives more fervent and powerful support than any other player is the young coach who leads them and creates countless miracles.

While they were singing a song for the coach, the sticky jungle football [a physical, tenacious style of play] that the opposing team’s coach, whose name no one even remembers anymore, complained about was unfolding on the field.

“Sandro!”

“Damn it!!”

AC Milan’s starting midfielder, Sandro Tonali, who was moving to receive a pass from the defense, cursed as the ball was blocked by a foot that popped out from the side.

He hasn’t touched the ball once since the second half started.

No, it’s not just an expression; he really hasn’t touched the ball once.

Sandro Tonali grumbled as he looked at the blonde man who was sticking to him like a leech and grinning.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Hmm… I guess you could say I like you? Let’s be friends.”

If you only look at his neat hair and appearance, he looks like a model student, but when he grins showing all his upper and lower teeth, all you can think of is a wolf grinning in front of its prey.

Sandro Tonali sighed as he watched Burnley’s Luca Sučić, who had come up and snatched the ball that Nicolas Seiwald had deflected, spreading the ball to develop the attack.

“Ah, seriously…”

The sight of Burnley’s young captain, who was standing outside the AC Milan penalty box but not thinking of joining the team’s attack at all, just staring intently at him, was already starting to disgust him.

When looking at the video analysis, he thought he was just a midfielder with good activity and defensive ability, but since he started sticking to him at the start of the second half, he understands why everyone is making such a fuss about Burnley’s black hole [a player known for disrupting the opponent’s play].

Not only does he have excellent stamina and activity based on it, but he’s also fast, has a good physique, and has a wide field of vision, and he pours it all into defense.

An act of completely sacrificing the individual for the team and tactics.

“Haa…”

As Sandro Tonali, the hope of the Italian national team, sighed again, there was a teammate sighing in the same way across the halfway line.

“…Tomaso.”

“What?”

At the call of his name, Burnley’s vice-captain gave a nonchalant answer.

“Can you move away a bit?”

“I don’t want to.”

Again, a nonchalant answer.

“Haa…”

Daniele Maldini, the young man loved by the Rossoneri [AC Milan’s nickname, meaning “red and blacks” in Italian], let out a long sigh.

“Don’t you think you’re sticking too close right now?”

“Let’s just think of it as a reaction to being apart for so long.”

“Aish…”

Daniele Maldini, annoyed, moved to the side, but Tomaso Pobega, who had stuck to him since the start of the second half, followed him closely.

He was even grabbing a handful of his uniform in an angle that the referee couldn’t see with one hand!

“If you want my uniform that much, I’ll give it to you after the game.”

“What would I do with your uniform? Maybe if I received your father’s uniform.”

“Haa…”

That’s the problem with old friends.

They’re so good at finding painful spots and poking them.

“Anyway, can you move away? My girlfriend will get jealous.”

“…You got a girlfriend?”

Daniele Maldini shrugged at Tomaso Pobega’s flinching question.

“I’m quite popular, you know.”

Football players are originally popular, but there’s a big difference between Milan, one of the fashion capitals of the world, and Burnley, stuck in a rural backwater in England.

In Burnley, the middle-aged women and grandmothers really like him a lot.

Thanks to that, it’s really easy to get free food wherever he goes.

No, that’s not it.

Shaking his head to regain his focus, Tomaso Pobega decided to focus on something more important.

“Model? Actress? Who is it, tell me quickly.”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

Tomaso Pobega, slightly grinding his teeth, took another half-step closer to his friend from childhood and now the key player in charge of connecting the opposing team’s attack.

“Ah, what is it! My girlfriend is getting jealous!”

“Let her be jealous. It’ll be even better if you break up because of it.”

Daniele Maldini was flustered as he looked down at his uniform, which was now being grabbed by not one handful, but two.

Oh, this isn’t good?