59 – Understanding
059
As Ju Jitae, featured in the Bild Zeitung headlines across Germany just a day after the end of the third round, rushes towards Jo Jaesin, immersed in contemplation, someone else on the other side is also reading this intriguing article.
“Let’s see… Interview specialist… Yes, here it is.”
It was the Dortmund coach, Hans Hessen.
Normally, he wouldn’t have paid any attention to someone like Bild, even if he was considered the gentleman among gentlemen. After all, Bild and The Sun from the UK were the two major mountain ranges representing the yellow press in Europe. If you were a gentleman, you should stay far away.
But this time, even the gentleman among gentlemen, Hans Hessen, couldn’t help it.
Because the information about the subject to be known was so lacking.
“Kimchi Power… What’s kimchi?”
Scanning Bild with a serious expression, Hans soon found the two players highlighted in the headlines.
Ju Ji-tae and Cho Jae-shin.
The core players of 1860 Munich, the next opponent of Dortmund. The heroes of victory.
“Hmm. It’s a traditional fermented food in Korea. Interesting. I should try it next time.”
Normally, there was no need to dig through such gossip to gather information.
Even though Ju Ji-tae and Cho Jae-shin were promising newcomers who suddenly appeared, it’s not the 20th century now. In the 21st century, everything is recorded as video footage.
Just by looking at the Asian Cup, World Cup, and the footage of the past 1-3 rounds, there is enough material to analyze.
But this was a story that applied only to ordinary criminals. For Hans Hessen, who believed that thorough preparation alone leads to victory, even this was not enough.
His idea of analysis went beyond superficial aspects like the opponent’s tactical movements or a player’s playing style.
True analysis had to penetrate into the innermost depths.
It’s not just about analyzing the opponent’s tactical movements or a player’s playing style but understanding why they exhibit such tactical movements and why they prefer a certain style.
In that case, just analyzing the opponent’s movements is not enough.
One must be able to read the opponent’s inner thoughts—habits, characteristics, thought processes, internalized behavioral patterns beyond just habits.
That’s why Hans Hessen, who usually hated gossip like Bild, was reading it.
To read the two players, the core of 1860 Munich, the driving force behind victory, it was not enough as the known information was too scarce. He even had to endure the discomfort of reading gossip like Bild that he despised so much.
“Well, that’s expected. He has confidence in his own abilities on the ball, enjoying possession play at every moment of judgment. Rather than trusting teammates in moments of crisis, he prefers to solve it himself. In pressing situations, it’s better to stick more tightly rather than block the path.”
Fortunately, the interview was faithful enough to be highlighted in the headlines.
Hans Hessen endured the discomfort of reading gossip like Bild enough to make it worthwhile for others.
…Perhaps a bit too much.
“And… um… manages his condition by listening to K-pop to soothe the mind, gaining mental stability through K-variety shows, and drawing inspiration by watching K-dramas and movies?”
The handsome face of Hans Hessen, who was earnestly reading the interview, became awkward.
“Inspiration… Inspiration, huh… Well, for a first-rate player, flashes of inspiration in play are important. The ways to get inspired are diverse, so K-dramas and movies surely stimulate inspiration…”
Muttering to himself while trying to somehow justify it, Hans Hessen said,
“……”
Eventually, he came to realize.
This… was just a publicity stunt.
“Uh, um… then the next player… what!? Ju Ji-tae’s turn to wait for tomorrow…!?”
And the next day, Hans Hessen, who had finally endured receiving the Biltge, couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Such a damn…!”
* * *
In 1860, the promising talent Allen Walker, who Munich boasted about, hadn’t been pleased with everything lately.
The situation of the club, which was flourishing with three consecutive victories contrary to the worries before the season, the presence of the Asians who had joined just over a month ago, and even the teammates who whispered around them.
But what bothered Allen the most was that, until now, three rounds into the season, he had played only one game, and that too, as a substitute in the second half, barely getting 10 minutes on the field.
“Damn it. Damn it all. This is cursed.”
The curses pouring out incessantly since the moment he opened his eyes in the morning had become familiar by now.
In fact, it wasn’t something that had started recently.
Originally, Allen Walker was the ‘promising talent’ that 1860 Munich prided itself on.
So, at the age of 18, he was called up to the first team ahead of time and even debuted on the first-team stage at the age of 18.
Even though it was in the third division, it was a challenging task to debut an 18-year-old promising talent on the first-team stage unless the player had extraordinary talent and the club strongly supported it.
That’s how much Allen Walker was a top-rated promising talent expected by the club.
At least until two years ago.
Having debuted in the first team at the age of 18, Allen Walker steadily increased his playing time with the wholehearted support of the club.
At the age of 18, he recorded 1 start and 9 substitute appearances, at 19, 3 starts and 13 substitute appearances, and at 20, finally, 14 starts and 10 substitute appearances, anticipating a regular position…
“Damn it all!!”
That was the peak.
In terms of Allen Walker’s game appearances.
Willem, who took over as the interim coach after the previous coach was fired during the season, did not favor Allen Walker.
In an unforeseen turn of events, Willem, who was just an interim coach, was appointed as the permanent coach and even led the struggling team from the third division to promotion to the second division.
And in the second division, Allen’s performance, which used to be effective in the third division, did not work.
Nevertheless, he consoled himself with the fact that he could at least help the club as a substitute member and diligently trained, believing that he was growing steadily, albeit slowly. However, the acquisition of two Asians changed everything.
A mere 18-year-old shocked everyone from the first training session and is now causing a sensation in the Bundesliga right from the opening.
No matter how hard you train, no matter how hard you try, someone without talent becomes a loser.
It doesn’t work for those called geniuses.
Angry and frustrated, Allen, who had been heading to the training ground from dawn for the first time in a long time, glanced at the headline of the Bild Zeitung he habitually bought—
“The damn Asians… I know it too.”
He finally admitted.
That he lacked talent. That his time as an athlete was coming to an end.
Alan’s age is now 22.
It’s about time for him to stop boasting about being a promising talent.
Before it’s too late, he must find his path.
Drenched in melancholy, Alan arrived at the training ground. He blinked, realizing he wasn’t the first.
“Who’s been here since dawn—”
“Huh? Alan Walker?”
One of the resentful Asians… Ju Ji-tae.
“You, why…?”
“Why what? I came to train.”
“Train…? No way. Why would a genius like you be out here this early!?”
At Alan’s words, Ju Ji-tae furrowed his brow.
“Hey, Joo-ji. Why aren’t… huh? Alan?”
“Jo, Jo!?”
“Hello. You came early too? You don’t usually come this early. Anyway, it’s good. Let’s train together.”
Alan, hearing the interpreter’s translation, asked back.
“Not usually? So, do you usually come out this early for training?”
“Of course.”
Ju Ji-tae asserted in response to Alan’s question.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but being a genius doesn’t mean being lazy. There are hardworking players like me and him.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“That’s why… That’s why you’re good… I just…”
Shocked, Alan stood still, staring at the two.
He had simply thought of them as geniuses. Because they were geniuses, because they showed such outstanding performances different from his own…
He didn’t realize that their achievements were built on this kind of effort.
In the realization, Alan shook his body.
He didn’t realize that Ju Ji-tae’s statement already assumed that he and Cho Jae-shin were geniuses.
Of course, for Alan, who was now reigniting his enthusiasm, it was probably a good thing.
“Ju, sorry. I misunderstood you.”
“Misunderstanding? Ah, well. It’s okay. I’m used to being misunderstood.”
Allen was once again impressed by Ju Ji-tae’s cool reaction, who had experienced all sorts of slander and misunderstandings in the first episode.
“You, my friend… What on earth was I misunderstanding about you!! I’m sorry, Ju. I’ll throw away this stupid headline that made you misunderstand right away.”
With that, he threw the magazine he was holding to the floor and stomped on it with determination.
Ju Ji-tae’s bright smile faced the headline on the magazine being trampled by Allen.
“What the hell! Are you picking a fight now?”
“…Oops!? No, this is… I-I’m sorry. It wasn’t intentional.”
Ju Ji-tae, who retrieved his face photo from Allen’s trampling, brushed off the dirt.
As he freed his handsome face from the confines of the magazine headline, a title caught his eye.
『Mysterious Eastern Player, Ju Ji-tae, Second in Line! “Genius? Of course, there is. But not you. It’s me.”』
“What is this…”
Looking at his friend staring blankly at the absurd title, Jo Jae-shin, the interpreter, asked about the title.
“Hey, Juji. What’s this? You were talking about being an ambassador for promotion and all that… What? Genius? Of course, there is~ But not you~ It’s me~?”
“……”
“If you have a mouth, say something. Is this what you call your fancy interview skills?”
“It’s a misunderstanding. This is… a misinterpretation… Yes, definitely a misinterpretation!”
Jo Jae-shin, with crossed arms, smirked at Ju Ji-tae’s excuse.
“Talking about misinterpretations. Is that the end of your excuses?”
“No, listen. So… they kept scratching when they came to interview! Knowing clearly that I’m Korean, they keep asking about the Japanese league, ninja powers… It’s annoying, so I dealt with it a bit bluntly. But still, I never said anything like that! I just… just said I’m a genius, not that we are that kind of geniuses!!”
Having heard the outcry full of injustice, Jo Jae-shin said,
“I can’t stand xenophobia. Good job, Juji.”
Ju Ji-tae, moved by his friend’s understanding, replied,
“Are you understanding! I’m sorry for making you a victim of misunderstanding too. …But honestly, you seemed a bit like a Korean ambassador for promotion.”
Although there were some trivial words afterward, the two people who resolved their misunderstandings looked at each other and chuckled, tapping each other’s shoulders.
Meanwhile, Allen Walker, who had been watching them absentmindedly, thought,
‘Are they joking right now…?’
