Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 220

“[Blaugrana al vent! (Blaugrana in the wind!)]”

“[Un crit valent! (A brave cry echoes!)]”

“[Tenim un nom el sap tothom! (Everyone knows that name!)]”

“[Barça, Barça, Barça!!! (Barça! Barça! Barça!!!)]”

The fervent chants of the home fans barely reach the locker room nestled deep within Camp Nou.

The thunderous sound of 99,000 fans stomping in unison vibrates through the locker room, but Hyungmin, standing before the tactics board and gazing at his team, smiles calmly.

It’s the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, and they face a daunting 1-3 deficit.

An away game in Barcelona, fueled by the fanatical support of fans desperate to see their team lift the trophy and reach the Champions League final for the first time in nine seasons.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team just wanted to survive and go home.

However, Hyungmin smiles at the young players who are looking at him with bright, determined eyes.

“It’s been a long journey, hasn’t it?”

“Yes!!”

The players respond to their coach’s question with a resounding cheer.

“I’m incredibly proud of each and every one of you for making it this far.”

Hyungmin makes eye contact, his gaze lingering on each player.

“Just by being here, we’ve already made history.”

The silent players watch their coach with unwavering attention.

“But with one more game, don’t you want to hear that song again?”

The players know he isn’t referring to the Barcelona chants faintly audible from outside.

He means the Champions League theme song, the anthem that sends shivers down your spine.

There isn’t a player alive who wouldn’t want to hear it echoing through their home stadium, Andras Moore, or even here, amidst the angry roars of the home crowd.

As the players slowly nod in agreement, Hyungmin taps the tactics board behind him.

“Let’s go over the plan one last time.”

Barcelona is fielding the same formation and players as in the first leg.

The defense consists of Hector Bellerin, Ronald Araújo, Jules Koundé, and Alejandro Baldé, from right to left.

The defensive midfielder, the pivot connecting attack and defense, is Nico González.

The midfield boasts Barcelona’s celebrated young duo, Pedri and Gavi.

And finally, the attack features Ousmane Dembélé, Robert Lewandowski, and Ansu Fati.

“Since it’s a home game, they won’t abandon the midfield and engage in a purely physical battle like last time. They’ll likely come at us aggressively. And if we try to counter that head-on, they’ll revert to attacking the flanks, just like the last game.”

Barcelona’s coach, Xavi Hernández, is well aware that he walked into an avoidable trap in the final 20 minutes of the first leg.

He also knows that the tactic of exploiting the flanks works exceptionally well against Burnley, who are becoming synonymous with relentless pressing.

“So, we can’t let Barcelona believe they can dominate the center.”

Not so loose that they avoid losing the game, but not so intense that the opponent decides to go to the outside.

“Moderately. Appropriately. We need to play a push-and-pull game, giving Barcelona’s coach and players hope and encouraging them to concentrate their power in the midfield.”

Hyungmin scans the room and taps the marker positioned as Burnley’s defensive midfielder on the tactics board.

“So, your mission is the most crucial today.”

“Yes, I understand completely.”

Cristian Medina replies with unwavering resolve.

Among the six midfielders who comprise Burnley’s midfield, notorious for their insane work rate and defensive prowess, he’s considered to have the lowest activity and defensive ability.

In other words, the weakest link is being presented as bait to the opposing team.

“No offense, but with you guarding the defensive midfield, Pedri and Gavi will think they can easily overcome you. But it won’t be that simple.”

Skill is relative.

Being the 6th best midfielder in pressing and defending in a team renowned for the most intense pressing and defensive power in the world might be seen as the weakest link from the team’s perspective.

But what if he were to leave that team and join another?

If he joined a team that doesn’t possess such a world-class level of pressing and defensive power, wouldn’t he become the most outstanding midfielder in pressing and defending there?

That’s how Cristian Medina easily neutralized Pedri in the last game, a fact confirmed by everyone from Burnley’s coach and coaching staff to the players themselves.

If you’re a member of Burnley, who proudly holds the top spot in the Premier League, notorious as the fastest and most physically demanding first division in the world, well…

Even the player with the weakest pressing and defensive power in Burnley can go to Barcelona and dominate anyone.

The fact that he survived Burnley’s brutal physical training regime means he has far surpassed the average level of football players in that area.

“If Cristian needs it, don’t forget that Nicolas and Tomaso will drop back to support him. Our goal is to lure the opponent in, not to make the game more difficult by conceding additional goals. Though, Cristian probably won’t need that much help.”

At the coach’s final remark, a low but confident chuckle ripples through the locker room.

Even the ‘weakest’ in Burnley’s midfield can crush Barcelona’s midfield.

And Cristian Medina possesses another advantage that often goes unnoticed.

“Refrain from supplying the front line with long passes in the first half.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Surprisingly, he’s considered the most technically gifted passer in Burnley’s midfield.

Luka Sučić and Sebastian Szymański also possess excellent passing abilities, but they can’t execute long-distance passes as effortlessly as Cristian Medina.

A passing ability that remained hidden until last season due to Nico González’s presence.

This season, it hasn’t been revealed because it wasn’t necessary, and because his position primarily involved moving forward from the midfield.

“We need to distract Niki effectively so that Nico doesn’t suspect anything.”

“Of course.”

The well-mannered Austrian grins, revealing his canines.

I always feel a little uneasy when he smiles like that, but on the other hand, no player executes his mission as flawlessly as Nicolas Seiwald.

“Okay. And the attack.”

Lorenzo Lucca, Adam Hložek, and Dwight McNeil, who are slated to start, look at the coach with eager eyes.

“If you have a chance to score, don’t hesitate.”

The three strikers chuckle.

“But your primary mission is to draw Barcelona into a midfield battle.”

Benjamin Šeško and Lorenzo Lucca can be interchanged not only for tactical reasons but also for rotation purposes, so from the opponent’s perspective, Burnley is unleashing its most potent attack.

“And if you effectively contain Barcelona’s flanks during the first half like that…”

Hyungmin’s gaze shifts to Emanuel Vignato and Jamal Lewis, who are smiling.

“…we’ll switch wings at the start of the second half.”

Replacing two technical players capable of subtle, curving attacks with two fast, direct players.

Even Dwight McNeil, often called Burnley’s jewel, is being投入, so they won’t suspect a trick.

Moreover, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll only play for 45 minutes in the first half and then be substituted.

However, even with the coach’s announcement that they’ll each only be投入 for 45 minutes, the four wing attackers don’t express any complaints.

Our coach definitely has a plan and a reason.

And we just have to trust him!

Hyungmin nods at the players who are looking at him with unwavering faith.

“Now, shall we perform a miracle and conquer Barcelona at Camp Nou?”

As the players nod in unison, Nicolas Seiwald, prompted by Hyungmin’s signal, rises from his seat.

The captain, pulling up the armband on his arm, surveys his teammates and smiles.

“Forever and ever!! Who are we?!!”

“We are Burnley!!”

***

[…Oh, Burnley! Another crisis…!]

[…Cristian Medina makes a crucial tackle! Pedri, about to shoot, looks disappointed as the ball escapes, and Tomaso Pobega, rushing in to support, kicks the ball towards the front line!]

[…Ah, the pass is inaccurate! Barcelona’s defense easily intercepts the ball. Burnley, the game is proving difficult.]

The press box overlooks Camp Nou.

The caster and commentator, responsible for broadcasting today’s game, are sweating as they deliver a thrilling commentary.

[…Barcelona is launching another attack! From Jules Koundé to Ronald Araújo! From Ronald Araújo to Nico González!]

[…Burnley’s Nicolas Seiwald is closing in! Oh! He tackles Nico González, dispossessing him of the ball! The referee’s whistle blows!]

“Boo!!!”

As the home fans shower Burnley’s captain with boos, who spreads his hands in protest, the referee, after a quick VAR [Video Assistant Referee] check, issues a verbal warning and awards possession to Barcelona.

As Burnley’s players trudge back, the commentator, seizing the opportunity during the break, tilts his head in doubt.

[…Unlike the first leg, Burnley has completely lost control of the midfield in the second leg. I’m not sure what coach Hyungmin Kim is thinking.]

[…Perhaps he’s trying to disrupt Barcelona’s build-up play using Nicolas Seiwald and Tomaso Pobega? Since they were completely outmaneuvered on the flanks in the last game, it seems they’re trying to avoid that mistake this time.]

At the caster’s response, the commentator still looks puzzled.

[…But in doing so, they’ve relinquished control of the midfield again. Traditionally, the key to Burnley’s game is to dominate the midfield, led by Nicolas Seiwald, but today they’re going in the opposite direction.]

[…Could it be that the players are overwhelmed by the pressure of the Champions League and Camp Nou? Playing in front of 99,000 people is an experience few can handle.]

[…Hmm….]

The commentator groans, still unconvinced.

Burnley, that coach Hyungmin Kim, overwhelmed by the importance of the game and the sheer size of the opposing team’s fanbase?

Even when they had nothing, they defeated the Big 6 [the six most dominant English football clubs] at Wembley and won the FA Cup [Football Association Challenge Cup] and Carabao Cup [EFL Cup].

[…It’s hard to believe. Patrick De Paula is also sitting on the bench… No, Luka Sučić and Sebastian Szymański are all on the bench! It really doesn’t make sense to put Cristian Medina in the defensive midfielder position. The defensive pressure is simply too weak.]

[…As a result, Barcelona is comfortably attacking with control in the midfield. Pedri, Gavi, and Nico González, and even Alejandro Baldé and Hector Bellerin are pushing into the midfield, taking control of the center. If you have the ball, you can’t be attacked! Barcelona is perfectly controlling possession, something we haven’t seen in a long time.]

Below the commentators, the possession statistics for both teams are displayed.

During the first half, now approaching the 40-minute mark, Burnley’s possession rate is 38%.

Barcelona boasts a possession rate of 62%.

The remaining attacking statistics also reflect this disparity.

The shot count is also heavily skewed, at 12 to 2.

The shots on target are 4 to 0, with Burnley completely overwhelmed.

In fact, if Barcelona hadn’t been so focused on scoring perfect goals, they would have already scored one or two.

[…Burnley and coach Hyungmin Kim have been playing incredibly well, and I’ve been personally cheering them on as they’ve come this far. But it seems it will be difficult to overcome the difference in history, the power of Barcelona, and the scale of the clubs.]

[…Well, we can consider it a fairy-tale season just by reaching this point.]

The caster acknowledges the commentator’s words of regret.

[…I was also rooting for the underdog story of small clubs like Burnley….]

The caster shakes his head sadly.

[…After all, it seems that reaching the Champions League final is still an impossible dream for Burnley.]