Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 58

58: Another Heyday

Burnley’s Technical Director, Jonathan Landris, sighed softly, hoping the person on the other end of the line wouldn’t hear.

“Okay, then 14 million pounds. But I’ll pay in a lump sum.”

“Jonathan, we’ve been over this, Wout’s fair market value is closer to 25 million pounds. That’s what Transfermarkt values him at, too.”

“We both know that doesn’t make sense. 14 million pounds. If you don’t accept, I’m moving on to the next target.”

Jonathan used a mix of threats and persuasion, feeling like this was his last chance.

“He’s 29 this year, and this summer transfer window is the last chance to sell him. You signed a 29-year-old player for 9.25 million pounds four seasons ago, and now you’re making a profit of 4.75 million pounds. I don’t see any reason to refuse.”

“Then… how about 15 million pounds?”

“Marcel, I’m hanging up.”

“Ah, alright! Alright.”

Jonathan clenched his fist and cheered silently as he heard the other party click their tongue on the other end of the line.

“So, it’s confirmed that he’s coming to Burnley for 14 million pounds this winter transfer window?”

“Yeah, I understand. Send over the official letter and documents. We’ll be preparing as well.”

“Thank you, Marcel. Let’s do good business again next time.”

“Well, if you have anything good, you can tell me now.”

Having spent only 70% of the 20 million pound budget set by Helena and successfully signed a replacement for Chris Wood, Jonathan remembered a player from the Wolfsburg youth team who had been included in the scouting team’s general prospect report, rather than this hastily arranged striker search.

“Well, I don’t have anything in mind right now. I’ll contact you again later if something comes up.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

But now is not the time to risk complicating the negotiations by throwing in another deal.

Jonathan chose to finalize this deal first, feeling pleased.

***

As expected, or rather, predictably.

Coach Bielsa is predictable, for better or worse.

Firstly, he stubbornly sticks to his tactics, so much so that some people consider him inflexible.

Secondly, unless there are injuries or other unusual circumstances, he doesn’t give up on any game and fields the best lineup he can.

Hyungmin checked Leeds’ starting lineup before the game and shrugged at Arthur, without any joy that his prediction was correct.

Superficially, it’s a 4-4-2 formation, but in actual game situations, the players’ movements are more important than such numerical arrangements.

But at least when you look at Coach Bielsa’s starting lineup, it’s not difficult to guess what role each player will play.

Goalkeeper Illan Meslier, from right to left, Luke Ayling, Diego Llorente, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo.

The midfielders are, from right to left, Stuart Dallas, Mateusz Klich, Kalvin Phillips, Jack Harrison.

The forwards are Rodrigo and Daniel James.

It’s unfortunate for Coach Bielsa that Leeds’ central striker Patrick Bamford and winger Raphinha are out injured, but it’s now obvious how the remaining players will be arranged.

The right-back Luke Ayling comes inside next to the centre-backs Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk, forming a back three.

While defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips contributes to both attack and defense, Rodrigo is at the forefront, with Daniel James and Jack Harrison on the right and left wings, respectively.

In midfield, left-back Junior Firpo will play alongside central midfielder Mateusz Klich and right midfielder Stuart Dallas.

“I thought so, as expected. After all, Coach Bielsa doesn’t really prefer tactical changes.”

“I’m telling you this in case you don’t know. The media is calling you tactically stubborn too, you know?”

“No, how can you compare a coach who has remodeled a team to his liking for three seasons and only sticks to one tactic with me, who started as an interim manager without a pre-season and can only use one tactic?!”

Arthur shrugged this time at Hyungmin’s absurd protest.

“You seem pretty attached to this tactic, though?”

“I’m not attached to the tactic! It’s just that there’s only one tactic that the squad is used to! The range of changes I can make has increased a bit with the arrival of guys like Nico this time, but originally there was nothing I could change even with substitutions. Do you understand, Arthur? Arthur, don’t go, listen to me… !”

Hyungmin quickened his pace, chasing after the chief coach who was leisurely disappearing into the away team’s locker room.

***

Unlike Arthur’s teasing, the tactical changes that Burnley brought this time presented a fresh shock to commentators and fans alike.

“Hey, did we ever do something like that?”

The Rifle Volunteer Inn, located in Burnley town.

A number of Burnley fans who couldn’t make it to the away game for whatever reason, whether it was their livelihood or something else, gathered to watch the live broadcast on a large TV.

After the first half started, Henry Smythe asked his old friend Mitch Tyler as he watched his team, unlike usual, patiently pass the ball around and look for opportunities rather than launch a quick counterattack after winning possession.

“I don’t know either. It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”

“Henry, I heard you’ve become close with the Burnley players? Didn’t you hear anything?”

“I didn’t hear anything like that? No, there’s no way the players would tell other people about the manager’s tactics just because they’ve become close. And even if Henry heard, there’s no way he’d tell me.”

That’s right, that’s right.

If there were any players or fans who leaked such tactical secrets, they should have their legs broken, Burnley fans sitting around the two men and watching the game together nodded.

The eldest son of the Tyler family was completely unaware that his legs could be broken if his father made one slip of the tongue, while the two middle-aged friends continued their conversation.

“By the way, it feels strange to see us playing like this.”

Mitch Tyler nodded at Henry Smythe’s words.

“Wow… the Sean Dyche era feels like a long time ago. It’s only been half a season since Kim took over the team…”

“It’s not Kim, it’s Coach Kim.”

Mitch Tyler hurriedly nodded in agreement at someone’s correction from the side.

“Ah, that’s my mistake. I mean, it’s only been half a year since Coach Kim took over the team.”

Just then, the broadcast screen briefly showed the manager, who was watching the game with his arms folded as usual in the technical area, with the expectations of Burnley fans focused on him.

***

“Nico! Someone’s coming from behind!”

“I know!”

At the warning from Nicolas Seiwald, Nico Gonzalez, who started as Burnley’s central midfielder, raised his left hand and pointed to Burnley’s left attacker Dwight McNeil, who was making a run into the right side of Leeds’ territory.

“Dwight!”

The moment Leeds’ central midfielder Mateusz Klich, who was running to pressure him, anticipated the direction the pass would go based on Nico Gonzalez’s gesture and shout, and slightly shifted his running direction to the left.

The young midfielder from Barcelona, who was controlling the game in Burnley’s midfield, softly passed the ball to Burnley’s right attacker Karim Adeyemi, who was approaching him from the opposite direction to Dwight McNeil.

Mateusz Klich, having completely misread the play, stumbled, and Karim Adeyemi, who received the ball at his feet, moved forward with a light dribble and drew in Leeds’ left defender Junior Firpo, who was rushing towards him.

Junior Firpo quickly approached, blocking Karim Adeyemi’s path, wary of his potential breakthrough towards the penalty box.

However, as Junior Firpo got close enough to hear his breath, Karim Adeyemi didn’t hesitate and passed the ball back to Nico Gonzalez, who had already shaken off Mateusz Klich and moved into a supporting position.

Then, while Nicolas Seiwald remained aware of all sides and Josh Brownhill waited nearby to receive a pass, Nico Gonzalez began orchestrating the attack again.

Before the game started.

In the final tactical briefing, Hyungmin reconfirmed the details he had instructed the players.

“As we practiced over the past few days, we’re going to play like Manchester City against Leeds. Got it? Now, close your eyes. We’re not Burnley anymore, we’re Manchester City! You are now Kevin De Bruyne! I am now Pep Guardiola!”

The tense players burst into laughter at the manager’s playful words.

In the softening atmosphere, Hyungmin explained the overall strategy again.

“Today’s key is Nico. All roads lead to Rome, and all passes go through Nico!”

Once again, the players chuckled, and Arthur, who was leaning against one wall and listening to the manager’s instructions, raised his eyebrows at Paulo Morais, who was standing next to him.

‘What’s wrong with him today?’

‘I think he’s nervous. I think he’s trying to relieve his own tension.’

‘Tsk tsk…’

Whether the joke wasn’t funny, or whether he felt sorry for the manager who had to work so hard to relieve his tension, or whether he was just dumbfounded.

Against the backdrop of the unspoken conversation between Arthur and Paulo Morais, Hyungmin continued his explanation.

“So today, the role of the midfield will be different from usual. In defensive situations, it’s the same as before, but when we have the ball, Niki is the bodyguard and Brownie is the alternative option. Niki prevents the opposing team’s players from interfering with Nico receiving or distributing the ball, and Brownie becomes the backup in case Nico can’t receive the ball, or if he needs to execute a one-two pass.”

Nicolas Seiwald and Josh Brownhill nodded.

“Basically, when we have possession of the ball, everyone has to move towards the ball. Not away from the ball. Do you know what I mean? In particular, the wingers should not try to penetrate into the penalty box at the same time, but should drop back towards Nico to receive the ball in turn.”

Hyungmin looked at Burnley’s wingers sitting side by side, including Karim Adeyemi, Dwight McNeil, Max Cornet, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

“If one person moves into the penalty box, the other person comes down to receive the ball. If one person comes down to receive the ball, the other person goes into the penalty box. Alternate attacks on the left and right, but be careful not to commit both players forward simultaneously.”

As the wingers nodded, Hyungmin finally looked at the key to today’s tactics, who was sitting with a nonchalant face.

“Nico. Can you handle it?”

“Of course.”

Hyungmin smiled as he looked at the Barcelona prospect who answered with a calm face, as if controlling the team’s overall tactics, attack flow, and tempo was not a big deal.