70 – Bayern Munich
070
Bayern Munich is a giant.
Beyond the confines of the Bundesliga, it stands shoulder to shoulder with Real Madrid and Barcelona, collectively known as “LevaMun.”
In a word, it signifies a globally renowned club.
From the unquestionable quality of the player roster to the coaching staff, everything is at the highest level globally, and the same goes for the analysis team.
The analysts of Munich reached the following conclusion about the upcoming opponent.
“It might be surprisingly easy to defeat them.”
Despite the current season’s surge, the boisterous neighbors 1860 Munich, contrary to their momentum, appeared to be a team with visible weaknesses.
“The organizational strength is quite impressive, but it’s overshadowed by recent fluctuations. The tactics lack sophistication. The attacking patterns are limited, overly simplistic. Above all, there’s a tendency to heavily rely on individual skills, putting excessive dependence on the key player’s performance…”
As Munich’s coach Jonas Hofmann flipped through the report page by page, his lips twisted.
“A truly nerdy conclusion.”
“Don’t you like analysis?”
Senior coach Hermann, expecting the coach’s rough reaction, asked with a knowing expression.
“Yeah! I don’t like it!”
“Still, take a closer look, even if it’s just out of consideration. Objective metrics don’t lie.”
“Football isn’t just a numbers game! What’s the use of piling up numbers when you can’t grasp the essence quantitatively?”
The coach shouted, his white hair fluttering.
“There are things about football that these number geeks don’t understand! What’s more important than these numbers is the feel on the field! What? The opponent is an easily beatable, sloppy team? That team is currently leading the league! None of it makes sense!”
“Please calm down and take a look. The scientific approach to sports has been a recent trend.”
“So, they call it a reference. Ugh, back in my day, these number geeks couldn’t even open their mouths! If everything could be understood with numbers, why would old guys like me still be here, not these analysts directing the team?”
Senior coach Hermann just nodded silently.
This stubborn coach had been like this not just for a day or two. Jonas Hofmann, representing the old school, had always been this way.
“The opponent is a strong team! They seem sloppy? Then you should think about why they’re not crumbling! Just because they look sloppy doesn’t mean it’s easy to break them down. In fact, everyone is concentrating on that side precisely because it looks sloppy, losing sight of the essence.”
“The essence?”
But if he were just an old-fashioned guy, Munich wouldn’t have retained the coaching position in a giant club like this. No, he might not even have had the opportunity to rise to the coaching position of such a big club.
Certainly, Jonas Hofmann is a stubborn old guy, but he’s not just a simple one.
He’s an incredibly capable one.
“The essence, the core! This guy is the core of this team.”
“Joo Ji-tae, right.”
“Sure! Ju Ji-tae! This young lad is indeed the key player. His visible influence is remarkable, but his invisible impact is equally significant. Exceptional judgment, seasoned, and skilled.”
“Undoubtedly, he is a player with astonishing talent… but you seem to be evaluating him more highly than I expected, Jonas Hofmann.”
Jonas Hofmann, usually reserved in his praise, was now showering unidirectional compliments. Hermann wondered if he had, perhaps, underestimated this young Asian boy himself.
“It’s not an overestimation. It’s a very objective evaluation. It’s something those fancy analysts you like so much can’t grasp with all their numbers. It’s the intangible, felt only on the field.”
“Is he really that remarkable?”
Jonas Hofmann, with an astonished expression, firmly nodded at the bewildered Hermann.
“The fragrance of Franz comes from him.”
“Franz? Franz… really?”
“Yes. The Kaiser said so.”
* * *
Florian, operating his fifth pub in Munich, had been in high spirits lately.
Was it because the pub was consistently packed? Well, that was true. Running a pub, vital for his livelihood, was crucial.
However, simply having many customers in the pub wouldn’t have made him this happy.
Above all, what pleased Florian was the recent excellent performance of the team he supported.
No wonder, Florian had been an ardent supporter of 1860 Munich, the fifth-generation down in the pub, before becoming its owner!
“When you walk through a storm~ Hold your head up high! And don’t be afraid of the dark!”
Famous as Liverpool’s anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ it originated in popular music, hence used as the anthem for many football teams.
Though the game was still a while away, supporters already crowded the pub, joyfully singing along to the song that someone had started, as Florian watched with satisfaction. His gaze then shifted towards the pub door.
“Hmm. Unfortunately, no seats— huh?”
“Long time no see.”
“Who’s this! Come on in, my friend!”
His friend, visiting after a long time, chuckled at the sight of the crowded pub.
“This is something… it was almost empty before the opening match, and now it’s packed with people. Things change so quickly after a trip abroad.”
“Hahaha. Do you, my friend, not read the news after going abroad? Munich is the best now! The best! Isn’t that right!?”
“That’s right!! Munich is the best!!”
“Higher in rankings than the noisy neighbors Munich!”
Florian’s gaze, shaking his head towards his excited friend, then turned to the TV.
Simultaneously, the noisy pub quieted down, and people began to focus on the TV.
[Delighted for the long-awaited ‘Munich Derby.’ I, too, as an old man, remember the greatness of the ‘Munich Derby.’]
An interview with Bayern Munich’s manager, Jonas Hoffmann, was airing on TV.
“The recent form of 1860 Munich has deeply inspired me. Some say it’s just a passing storm that will soon fade away.”
“We won’t sink!”
“We even defeated Dortmund!”
The 1860 Munich supporters gathered in the pub erupted with fierce reactions, but Jonas Hoffmann continued, “But I don’t think so. 1860 Munich is strong. Recent setbacks don’t deny that fact. This match isn’t just a battle for the first and second place in the league. It’s a match that determines who the true owner of Munich is. That’s why we’ve prepared for this game to the best of our abilities.”
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Silence settled in as he spoke calmly but with a sense of authenticity.
No matter how much they improved, their opponent was Bayern Munich. Even the passionate 1860 Munich supporters couldn’t help but question deep inside, “Can we win?”
Finally, the host asked about the decisive factor, and Jonas Hoffmann replied with a mysterious expression, “The decisive factor… This match is in the hands of fate. Victory or defeat.”
—
1860 Munich vs. Bayern Munich
Allianz Arena
[1860 Munich 4-3-3]
FW: Jan Heinke / Jo Jaesin / Stephan Buls
MF: Daniel Laut / Günter Draxler / Rodel Ditz
DF: Berthie Meyer / Ju Ji-tae / Helmut Pockts / Matthias
GK: Hans Zimmer
[Bayern Munich 4-3-3]
FW: Herbert Dieter / Heiner Rupert / Helmut Winter
MF: Edmund Rample / Hasan Salihamachi / Alexander Zverev
DF: Giovanni Rotter / Vincent Ponten / Stephan Liesaus / Jolt Faust
GK: Juan Euber
The league’s 8th round, held at Munich’s home ground Allianz Arena, attracted significant attention.
It wasn’t just because it was the long-awaited “Munich Derby” between 1860 Munich and Bayern Munich. A bigger factor was the clash between the teams sitting at the top of the league table, the first and second place.
“Since it’s still early in the season, it’s too soon to talk about the championship, but this game will undoubtedly be a contender when the season ends. The match between the league leaders, 1860 Munich, and the second-placed Bayern Munich!”
“At 1860 Munich, Ju Ji-tae and Jo Jaesin are starting together. In the pre-match interview, Bayern Munich’s coach, Jonas Hoffmann, named Ju Ji-tae as the key player for this game.”
“The game started with the referee’s whistle. The home team is Bayern Munich.”
Heiner Rupert lightly passed the ball, which found Herbert Dieter and then headed toward Edmund Rample.
In the meantime, the Bayern Munich players, who quickly ascended to the 1860 Munich territory in 1860, took their positions. Among them was Bayern Munich’s pride, the forward Heinrich Rupert, who had been diligently running since his first touch, standing closely beside Ju Ji-tae.
“Heinrich Rupert, standing alongside Ju Ji-tae. Herbert Dieter and Helmut Winter are maintaining distance on the left and right. Uh… is this perhaps a direct confrontation between Ju Ji-tae and Heinrich Rupert…?”
