Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 229

“For ever and ever!

“We’ll follow a team!

“It’s Burnley FC!

“We are supreme!

“We’ll never be mastered!

“By the Blackburn b*stards!

“And keep the claret flag flying high!

The resounding chant of the Burnley fans, piercing through the thick walls of Wembley Stadium, faintly echoed into the locker room.

Hyeongmin, listening to the chant, turned to his players sitting around the locker room.

Most of them were so young they still looked like kids.

He smiled slightly at the sight, a stark contrast to his first game, which felt like a distant memory.

It had been almost three years since he’d suddenly taken over as interim manager, persuaded the skeptical veterans, and defeated Everton in the opening game of the 2021/22 season.

Back then, most of the players were in their 30s, and apart from Dwight McNeil and Nathan Collins, they all carried themselves like seasoned professionals.

He led the veterans assembled by manager Sean Dyche to a 6th-place finish, securing a spot in Europe, and won the FA Cup in his first season.

Burnley’s unexpected success defied expectations, as they were initially tipped for relegation.

Since then, the team had been continuously reshaped.

Ben Mee, the captain, James Tarkowski, the vice-captain, and Brownie, who played in midfield, all departed in turn.

And in the 2022/23 season, they won the Europa League and the Carabao Cup, silencing the media and critics who predicted a second-year slump [a common belief that a team’s performance will decline in their second year after a successful season].

In the 2023/24 season, they advanced to the Champions League final as Premier League champions, earning a coveted spot in the European Champions League.

Only Dwight McNeil and Nathan Collins remained from that first, nerve-wracking game against Everton.

Now, young players filled the void left by the veterans, their eyes shining with excitement rather than tension.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“No!!”

A ripple of laughter spread through the locker room at the enthusiastic shout.

“Yeah, I’m not nervous either.”

Hyeongmin smiled, making eye contact with each player.

“The reason I’m not nervous is because I’m with you guys.”

The players looked touched by their manager’s sincere words.

“So, go out there and play your hearts out today.”

The tactical briefing was complete.

The opponent was the legendary Real Madrid, led by a veteran manager.

Against a team boasting the best players in the world, it was time for a team from the countryside of northwestern England to show their mettle.

Hyeongmin looked around at his teammates once more and nodded towards Nicolas Seiwald.

The Austrian-born young man, listening intently, touched the captain’s armband on his arm as if to reassure himself, and stepped into the center of the locker room.

“Let’s go and show those city boys what we’re made of!”

“Woo-oh-oh!!!”

Amidst the team’s resounding response, the Austrian-born captain smiled.

“For ever and ever!! Who are we?!”

“We are Burnley!!!”

***

“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 cheers of the Burnley fans, who had adapted the lyrics, grew even louder.

A wide passage led into Wembley Stadium.

The players from both teams lined up on either side of the passage behind the referee and officiating team, waiting to enter. The Burnley players took turns lightly tapping the backs of the heads of the players in white uniforms, exchanging greetings.

Karim Adeyemi, the prodigal son who had returned to England, received a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

“Yo, Karim! Take care of yourself out there today!”

It was Burnley captain Nicolas Seiwald, who had known him since their RB Salzburg days.

Karim Adeyemi smirked, amused by his friend’s expression, which seemed to say, ‘You know you’re going to have a tough time today.’

“You’re going to chase me with those slow feet? You’d lose a race against a snail!”

“Hehehe···!!”

As players from both teams chuckled, another player replaced Nicolas, who was returning to his position, and playfully hit the back of Adeyemi’s head again.

“The manager said it’s okay to break both your legs? Welcome back to England!”

This was Burnley’s vice-captain Tommaso Pobega, who had played with him last season.

Before Karim Adeyemi, who was rubbing his head and glaring at his old colleague, could respond, the back of his head was hit again.

“Nice to see you! Make sure to put up a lot of crosses today!

This was Dwight McNeil, who had formed Burnley’s formidable left and right wings with him for two seasons.

Karim Adeyemi, momentarily forgetting the blow to his head at the words of his former teammate, who was poking at a sore spot, grew annoyed.

“Hey, I’m a center forward now! I don’t need to put up crosses!”

“Yeah, right.”

*Do you think a center forward only needs to receive passes and not send them?*

Karim Adeyemi, glaring at Dwight McNeil, who was usually gentle and polite, as he returned to the other side of the passage with a bewildered expression, complained to his teammates.

“Hey, are you guys just going to stand there and watch while the team’s striker is being harassed by the opposing team like this?”

“It’s not harassment?”

Eduardo Camavinga replied, his eyes twinkling but his voice and expression trying to remain serious.

“That’s right. If you complain about this, the referee will give us a card instead.”

Aurelien Tchouameni added, unable to hide his smirk.

“God, why have you given me such untrustworthy colleagues···?!”

As the Real Madrid and Burnley players chuckled at the ace’s theatrical lament, the referee signaled from the end of the passage.

It was time to enter.

***

Ce sont les meilleures équipes! (These are the best teams!)

Sie sind die allerbesten Mannschaften! (These are the best teams!)

The main event!

Die Meister! (The Masters!)

Die Besten! (The Best!)

Les grandes équipes! (The great teams!)

The champions!

Une grande réunion! (A great meeting!)

Eine große sportliche Veranstaltung! (This great event!)

The main event!

Ils sont les meilleurs! (They are the best!)

Sie sind die Besten! (They are the best!)

These are the champions!

Die Meister! (The Masters!)

Die Besten! (The Best!)

Les grandes équipes! (The great teams!)

The champions!

That song that makes the hearts of all soccer players around the world flutter the most.

The players began to enter the stadium as the theme song of the European Champions League played.

The fans of both teams, fiercely singing their respective anthems in the 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium, which was divided equally, fell silent for a moment.

The players, entering the stadium in an orderly manner and passing by the iconic trophy that every soccer fan knows, lined up with the referees.

The roar of the crowd was thunderous.

The shouts, cheers, and cries of 90,000 people washed over the players like a wall of sound, and as the theme song ended, the players turned to greet each other.

The referees and the two captains gathered in the middle to determine the start of the game.

“Let’s have a good game.”

Daniel Carvajal, wearing the captain’s armband according to Real Madrid’s tradition of awarding it to the longest-serving player, handed over a pennant with the Real Madrid emblem along with a handshake.

*It doesn’t matter how long you’ve played in other teams, or how great and brilliant your career has been!*

*Only how long you have dedicated yourself to our team matters!*

It was a captain selection that reflected Real Madrid’s prestige, and most Real Madrid players displayed the skills and character worthy of the armband, reinforcing their status as one of the best teams in the world.

“Of course.”

On the other hand, Nicolas Seiwald, trusted by Burnley’s manager, teammates, and fans, was only 23 years old.

He was young as a player and as a person, but he had grown accustomed to carrying the team on his shoulders.

In the ensuing coin toss, Real Madrid won the right to the first attack.

The players returned to their respective sides and took their positions.

As Karim Adeyemi stood in the center circle to kick off, Lorenzo Lucca, who was closest to him, spoke.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Everyone seems quite determined.”

Karim Adeyemi, the pride of the German national team and Real Madrid, smiled at the words of Lorenzo Lucca, a giant standing at 6 feet [approximately 183 cm], easily towering over him.

“I’ve heard a lot about you too. It seems like the manager trusts you a lot!”

“Well… that’s nice to hear.”

Lorenzo Lucca smiled, seemingly pleased.

“Well, I hope you don’t have too good of a game today.”

“Hehehe.”

Lorenzo Lucca smirked at Karim Adeyemi’s playful provocation.

They would have many opportunities to face each other in club and national teams in the future.

“Well, then I’ll wish you good luck. Everyone is really determined.”

“Hmph. Tell them to try and catch up to me.”

Karim Adeyemi answered playfully, slightly raising his chin.

“It’s not like my skills have remained the same.”