Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 81

81: The Crowning Glory

Premier League, Round 38.

With all 19 matches happening today, the teams facing relegation and those heading to European competitions have already been determined.

Watford, a team many predicted would be relegated before the season even started, has indeed been confirmed for relegation, heading back to the Championship [the second tier of English football] after just one season.

Crystal Palace and Everton, unable to recover from poor managerial choices made early in the season, will also be joining the relegated teams.

The downfall of Everton, a traditionally strong mid-to-upper tier team in the Premier League, and Crystal Palace, who managed to stay up for seven consecutive seasons under former manager Roy Hodgson, has particularly shocked the football world.

On a brighter note, Burnley, who secured Europa League qualification by winning the FA Cup [Football Association Challenge Cup, a major English football tournament] regardless of their league position, have clinched 6th place with 66 points, much to Helena’s delight.

And Tottenham, with 68 points, have secured 5th place, also guaranteeing a Europa League spot regardless of how their match goes.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, recently acquired by Todd Boehly, co-owner of the LA Dodgers in Major League Baseball, from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, is in 7th place with 63 points.

Even if Chelsea wins today’s match and Burnley loses, allowing them to move up to 6th place, they still can’t take Burnley’s Europa League spot because of Burnley’s FA Cup victory. This means the previous season’s Champions League winner might not qualify for any European competition the following season, a truly humiliating outcome.

Above them, Manchester United secured 4th place with 72 points, and Arsenal secured 3rd place with 80 points, both guaranteeing Champions League qualification.

Now, the only remaining question is the championship title, a race between Manchester City and Liverpool that continues until the very last day of the season.

In the final match of the 2021/22 season, Liverpool faces Newcastle at St. James’ Park, while Manchester City, who are also preparing for the Champions League final, faces Burnley at Turf Moor.

Although Burnley is generally considered the weaker team compared to Newcastle, experts predict that both Manchester City and Liverpool, who have been incredibly dominant this season, will easily win against these two teams, who have already achieved their goals and have nothing left to play for.

Currently, Manchester City has 90 points, and Liverpool has 88 points.

Even if Manchester City draws and Liverpool wins their next match, they would only be tied at 91 points.

Furthermore, Manchester City has a goal difference of 72, while Liverpool has 66.

Therefore, unless Liverpool wins by an absurd margin of 7 goals at St. James’ Park, Manchester City will secure the title with just a draw.

They defeated Burnley in the first half of the season, but suffered an unexpected defeat in the FA Cup, losing the chance for a treble [winning three major trophies in a single season] in the semi-finals.

Therefore, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s players, with the opportunity to secure the league title on their own, are fully prepared.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans are fervently hoping for Burnley’s success, and Hyungmin conducted his final pre-match tactical review of the season.

Despite the good news of winning the FA Cup and securing a spot in European competition, the atmosphere was somber due to assistant coach Arthur’s hospitalization with an illness.

Looking around the quiet locker room, Hyungmin began to speak.

“I’ve already explained how we’ll approach today’s game, so I won’t add anything further.”

Some of the players looked slightly puzzled, while others nodded in agreement as Hyungmin continued.

“Forget about thinking that today’s game will decide the champion, or that the remaining games are meaningless in terms of standings or results.”

This time, all the players nodded.

“Play today’s game for our fans who have supported us throughout the season and filled Wembley Stadium. If there are people whose last game at Burnley is today, play so that when the fans remember today’s game, and when you remember today’s game, you can remember it as the best game at Burnley.”

A determined look began to appear on the players’ faces.

In the final game of the season, Hyungmin chose a starting lineup that featured Burnley’s veterans and loanees [players on loan from other clubs] whose loan spells were ending.

The defense, in front of goalkeeper Nick Pope, consisted of Matt Lowton, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, and Charlie Taylor from right to left.

This defensive line, which recorded an impressive 15 clean sheets in 37 Premier League games this season, giving opposing attacks nightmares, would be making its final appearance together.

The midfield consisted of loanees: Nico Gonzalez as a defensive midfielder, with Hannibal Mejbri and Jacob Ramsey as central midfielders.

Instead of Nicolas Seiwald, whose permanent transfer had been confirmed, the three loanees, who were scheduled to return to their respective teams at the end of the season, were given the opportunity to say goodbye to the home fans.

Finally, the attack featured Burnley’s ace Dwight McNeil on the left, veteran striker Johann Berg Gudmundsson on the right, and Jay Rodriguez as the central striker, playing his last game in a Burnley uniform.

After confirming that the manager had finished speaking, veteran defender Ben Mee, gently touching the Burnley captain’s armband that would likely be on his arm for the last time, rose from his seat.

“I’ve played 12 seasons at Burnley.”

The players quietly nodded at the veteran’s words, which were deeply intertwined with Burnley’s history.

“As some of you may know, I was originally a trainee at Manchester City. Six seasons there, and 12 seasons at Burnley. I’ve spent more than half my life between these two teams, and it’s ironic that my last game at Burnley is against Manchester City.”

Jay Rodriguez and James Tarkowski, who had been with the veteran defender for a long time, offered their fists, and Ben Mee lightly bumped them in return.

“I was truly honored to play with you guys here this season. I don’t think I’ve ever had such an enjoyable season.”

“…That’s right!”

“…Me too!”

Amidst the quiet but heartfelt words of agreement from the players, the captain, who was about to play his last game, smiled slightly.

“And you know what? If we screw up in today’s game, the old man will run out of the hospital and mess us up.”

“…Puhaha!”

The players burst into laughter all at once.

“So, let’s play today’s game for the fans, for ourselves, and most of all, for Arthur!”

“For Arthur!”

***

Manchester City’s players, determined to secure the Premier League title with their own hands, and Burnley’s players, eager to end their magical season with a spectacular home game.

The two teams clashed on the field, neither giving an inch.

Manchester City, fielding their entire world-class midfield of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri, tried to dominate the game by controlling possession with their dazzling passes and tiki-taka [a style of play characterized by short passing and movement].

Burnley, on the other hand, disrupted Manchester City’s build-up with relentless pressing from their forwards Jay Rodriguez, Dwight McNeil, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

In particular, Nico Gonzalez, who started as a defensive midfielder today, and Matt Lowton and Charlie Taylor, who played as full-backs, completely shut down Manchester City’s attacks on the flanks with their tireless movements, while Ben Mee and James Tarkowski prevented any penetration into the penalty box in the center.

Attacks couldn’t develop on either flank, and it was impossible to break through the center with strength or skill.

From the away team’s technical area, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola shouted and constantly adjusted the players’ positions and instructed new tactics, but Burnley’s fierce defense remained impenetrable.

Meanwhile, Hyungmin, watching the game with his arms crossed from the home team’s technical area, wasn’t entirely comfortable with Burnley’s situation. They were being pushed back in terms of possession and attacking attempts, even though their solid defense was holding strong.

The intense back-and-forth, which felt more like a flexible whip than a clash of spear and shield, continued throughout the first half and into the second half.

And as the Manchester City players gradually became more anxious after hearing the news that Liverpool had scored the opening goal in their match against Newcastle.

Finally, in the 70th minute, a crack appeared.

“Jacob!”

Another Manchester City attack.

Most of Manchester City’s players pushed up to Burnley’s penalty box to attack, but they were thwarted by Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope’s save.

Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City’s midfielder, fired a powerful shot into the upper right corner of the goal, aiming for a gap created in the Burnley defense through constant passing.

Nick Pope dived to deflect it, and James Tarkowski, Burnley’s central defender, shouted his teammate’s name as he powerfully struck the ball bouncing in front of him with his right foot.

Dwight McNeil, Jacob Ramsey, Jay Rodriguez, Hannibal Mejbri, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

The moment the ball left James Tarkowski’s foot, Burnley’s three forwards and two central midfielders sensed the opportunity and began sprinting towards Manchester City’s goal at full speed.

John Stones, the central defender who was maintaining Manchester City’s defensive line, and Rodri, the defensive midfielder, were taken aback by Burnley’s counterattack, with five players rushing towards them at once.

The young prospect from Aston Villa, who received the ball near the center circle, passed it to central striker Jay Rodriguez, who was running on the same line, as he crossed the halfway line.

A pass timed subtly half a beat faster than the defense of John Stones, Manchester City’s central defender, who had no choice but to try and block the young Burnley midfielder dribbling up the field.

“Jay!”

“Got it!”

And Jay Rodriguez, Burnley’s veteran striker who received the ball, didn’t hesitate to pass it into the space on the right side of Manchester City’s penalty box in response to the shout from the left.

The low, fast pass, sliding across the grass, was directed towards Dwight McNeil, who started as Burnley’s left winger.

Hannibal Mejbri and Johann Berg Gudmundsson were running into Manchester City’s penalty box on the same line as him on the right.

Burnley’s three players were facing Manchester City’s goalkeeper Ederson and defensive midfielder Rodri, creating a 3-on-2 situation in an instant through a lightning-fast counterattack.

The conventional approach would be to draw the goalkeeper and defender to the right side of the penalty box where he was dribbling in, and then send a horizontal pass to the left for Hannibal Mejbri or Johann Berg Gudmundsson to finish.

However, the moment he saw Manchester City’s goalkeeper, who was anticipating this and shifting his weight to the left, and the exposed goal, Burnley’s young ace remembered the manager’s encouraging words.

‘I, the manager, am responsible for the outcome, and your teammates will help you carry the burden on the field.’

Yes, if it doesn’t go in, someone like Hannibal or Johann will take care of it.

Dwight McNeil, who was probably having an uncharacteristically irresponsible thought for the first time since being selected for the first team at the age of 18, fired a left-footed shot as it was.

The powerful shot, aimed at the upper right corner of Manchester City’s goal, shook the net as Manchester City’s goalkeeper Ederson, caught off guard after anticipating a pass and slightly shifting his weight to the left, stared blankly.

“Goal! It’s a goal! Against Manchester City, Burnley’s number 11, the very name that illuminates the Clarets [Burnley’s nickname]~!!!”

“Dwight McNeil~!!!”

The home fans, wildly waving flags, scarves, and jerseys, shouted the name of their young ace from the youth academy in response to the excited stadium announcer’s shout.

“Yes! That’s it!”

Hyungmin, who had been anxiously watching the counterattack from the technical area, clenched both fists and roared.