The Little Prince of the Field - Chapter 3

Dining table was filled with sports newspapers, including local newspaper Canari. 

There was a picture of me clenching my fist after scoring the second goal. 

Dad must have been busy, getting up early in the morning and collecting all these newspapers. 

I didn’t even make it to the first division, but the newspaper was filled with phrases like 

[emergence of new canaries]

[aprici den de los cometas] 

[a new beginning.] 

Newspapers are excited as if they have discovered a new main striker. 

Castro was diagnosed with a ligament injury and was asked to take a two-week break.

It was never easy to compete for the starting lineup. 

Juan Narvaez from Colombia will probably start in the next game. 

It was unreasonable to win the starting member competition against a 24-year-old striker borrowed from Real Betis club. 

Immediately after the game, the bruise caused by colliding with the opposing team defenders kept throbbing. 

My body became a mess in less than 30 minutes. 

Shouldn’t I build up my body?

Unfortunately, I can’t increase my exercise without my physical coach’s permission. 

Las Palmas is also a professional club belonging to the second division of the La Liga, and the Primera Liga, which is one of the best leagues in the world. 

Naturally, the younger the player, the more limited the amount of exercise. 

Additional training without reporting is a shortcut to disciplinary action. 

I don’t know exactly what the other clubs are like, but this was the rule of Las Palmas.

Rubbing my stiff legs, I picks up a banana from a wooden basket on the table. 

I should have warmed up before the sun came up, but now, since the sun is up, I won’t be able to do jogging. 

The summer of the Canary Islands was next to that of Morocco, it’s a climate that was similar to that of Africa. 

The average temperature is 82°F (28°C) and humidity is 60 percent.

Unless you go jogging at dawn or at night, you’re just doing something foolish to overwork yourself. 

“Kim, are you ready?” 

“Yes.” 

I took another banana and pick up my bag. 

I had to got by drive to my high school. 

Leaving the beach where the house is located and entering the city, the school was located next to Gran Canaria Stadium. 

CEIP 7 Palmas. 

Schools name that sound like company’s names is the best place to study quietly.

In fact, local students did not attend this school. 

It was close to a language school.

At the entrance interview, 7 Palmas’ management said that many middle-class local children attend. 

The atmosphere in the school was strict and rigid, so it provided the best environment for me who didn’t talk much.

As we pass through the crowds of tourists pouring out from the morning and enter the quiet city, I can see my schools dormitory buildings. 

My father was humming an old song, which  I could never guess.

But strangely it feels good.

I closed my eyes and thought about yesterday’s game. 

I felt like I’ve played my best play for the first time. 

It seemed to have served as an opportunity to take off the helplessness I felt in the process of my parents’ divorce. 

“Be careful and have fun.” 

“Yes, thank you for driving me dad.”

No one is at the front gate due to the nature of the school that runs the dormitory.

When I first arrived at Gran Canary Island, the club asked the school to allow me to commute from home instead of from the dormitory on the pretext of playing regulations. 

Therefore, I am the only student who commutes to school.

After saying good-bye to my father, I said hello to the security guard whom I always encounter at the gate. 

When the guard saw me, he smiled brightly and ran out of the security building. 

“Canaryas de Corea!” 

“si?” 

“Ayer viel partido de f́tbol.” 

Canary from Korea. 

That’s a terrible nickname. 

The security guard happily handed over a pen and paper with his wrinkled hands and asked for my autograph. 

I wrote down the three letters of my name in Korean.

 

Went inside the school, check the class schedule, took the book out of the locker, and moved to the classroom. 

Even though my Spanish speaking skills are poor, my listening skills had developed to the extent I can understand the Manager’s tactics. 

During class, I am tired of listening to geography teacher’s lectures on luxury wines by region. 

In the end, the Canary Islands will end up with excellent wine taste. 

Soon it was lunch. 

Among the students who solve their meals with unidentified food containing sausages and octopus at the cafeteria, I eat protein drinks, bread, and salads brought in the morning in the name of diet management with bananas. 

After eating, skipped the afternoon class and walked to the training ground. 

The streets were quiet in the afternoon. 

Due to Spain’s unique nap culture, the streets are always empty when going to the training ground. 

Tourists would be crowded on the beach, but the area near the club’s stadium was home to residents of Gran Canaria Island. 

Went inside the training facility and changed my clothes. 

I don’t know when I’ll go play again, but I’ve been on the first-tier training list for the time being.

While changing, Ramirez Benito came into the locker room. 

I greeted him lightly, and went out first to warm up. 

Less than a day after the game, team recovery training was scheduled in the afternoon.

After taking a break for about two days, my physical condition improves significantly. 

At the team’s tactical meeting on Wednesday analysts said it would be a difficult game for the players. 

An away game in Malaga was scheduled for Saturday.

“Under coach Sanchez’s leadership, Malaga is a team that values the strategy based on the 4231 position.”

 

The analyst exchanged informations with the players and talked nonstop. 

I understood half, and other half I nodded as if I understood. 

It was roughly about opponent player Adrian’s shooting angle and how Santos Henatu’s breakthrough habits were. 

“The Manager has decided to fight back with a customized 4141 tactic. We need to deploy defensive midfielders in front of the four-back, and side midfielders should also be involved in the central fight. Take the lead from the midfielder line and block Malaga’s offensive line from Santos to Adrian.” 

 

Projector moves on to the next page. 

“Let Malaga’s attacking midfielder Punta breathe. In the end, the point of this game is how well you smash the opponent’s midfield.” 

Unfortunately, we didn’t do our job properly. 

 

August 25, 2019.

La Rosale, Malaga’s home stadium. 

We are busy getting beaten up one after another. 

Can the beginning of the season be this difficult? 

The failure of players to control their conditions may be the cause of difficulties. 

Everyone felt heavy.

Manager even put in central midfielder Inigo as a right winger, but he is also being pushed back in the midfield fight. 

“Back off!” 

When he lost the lead in the center, defenders lowered the line at the signal of central defender Aitami.

Last year, Malanga was a team that did not pay players’ weekly wages properly, but Malaga’s players playing on the ground now were flying around. 

“Oh, my!” 

“That was close. Let’s go again like this!” 

3 shots were already shot near the penalty box. 

The total shot ratio of opponent team and ours is 6:4 or7:3, to put it nicely. 

The coaches on the other side of the bench talk face-to-face, but there is no clear way right now. 

We have no choice but to rely on Pedri’s genius. 

Malaga’s central striker Adrian, who received a forward pass, takes the upper hand in the competition with central defender Aitami and connects the shooting movement from the penalty box. 

“Ah!” 

Malanga’s ball hit the tip of our goalkeeper’s finger and  goes off to the right side of the net. 

The 21-year-old young goalkeeper was angry when he swung his arms at the defenders who caused the crisis. 

He has a very enthusiastic personality. 

If I were him, I would have just quietly prepare for the corner kick.

Next corner kick, Malaga’s blue uniform pops out from the penalty box. 

I couldn’t see the uniform number.

Martinez once again misses the header toward the left side of the net. 

“Darn it!” 

“Darn it!” 

Malaga kicked the ball far into the opponent’s side even before the fans’ exclamations were over.

It seems to be a rough ball, but it’s a ball that goes along with the tactics. 

The long diagonal ball fell next to Pedri, who had been waiting in a fixed position. 

Pedri recovers space from the opposing midfielder who puts pressure on him with a soft touch. 

His eyes turned to the other side of the stadium. 

Colombian striker Juan Narvaez was crossing the half-line.

Passing Malaga’s wingback and center defender, the ball reaches the space in front of Juan. 

Pedri’s amazing pass made a fool of five defenders came out.

He seems to be doing a showcase of why he is a Barcelona player. 

Applause and admiration burst from the bench. 

Juan takes a long first ball touch and half removes the opposing defender that follows with the unique elasticity of the South American player. 

In the silence of the stadium, there is a one-on-one chance that is hard to get again, 

“It’s here, it’s here!” 

“ Juan”

“Juan” 

Shouts from the small number of Las Palmas away fans. 

It was a good finish that aimed at between the crotches of the Malaga keeper.

It is the first goal made with the players’ individual abilities, even though the game did not go as planned. 

The first half ended without losing a point. 

When the players return to the locker room, the coach informs the players of changes in detailed tactics. 

In the meantime, Pedri, who was scolded by the coach at the last minute of the first half, looked sullen. 

The second half is a battle of tactics between the two teams. 

I didn’t see it properly since I was warming up on one side of the stadium, but it seemed to be blocking Malaga’s attack well on the edge. 

In particular, it was encouraging Aitomi and Mantovani who were defending without cards, and the cheers and applause of the coaches encouraging the two were heard to warm up. 

However, in the 80th minute of the second half, an accident occurs on the right penalty line. 

The referee whistled without hesitation at the tackle of wingback Courbelo Delapé. 

It was a penalty kick.

The loud cheers of the home crowd shook the earth’s crust. 

Despite Manager Pepe’s red-faced protest, the referee did not reverse the decision. 

The judges in charge also reaffirm their fouls.

Adrian came in with the ball into the penalty box, sweeping his beard with his hand. 

“Yay!” 

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” 

It’s a comeback goal.

I don’t know what they were thinking, but with less than 10 minutes left, Manager Pepe called me. 

Did they like what I did last week. 

Manager did not emphasize any tactical moves. 

It just occurred to me that I was being tested to see if I could be a talisman that would bring victory to the coach. 

I can’t believe I’m playing in two consecutive games. 

I felt strange, but I approached the assistant referee and prepared for substitution. 

The central midfielder, who had been exhausted since the first half, was replaced by Harvey Casteyano.

I don’t remember how old he was, but Harvey Casteyano is old. 

During a week of training in the first division, I judged him to be a scary person who disciplines himself within the team, but he who was substituted along with me encouraged me to play like I wanted. 

I’ve never talked to him before, but he seems like a good person. 

Of course, there was no surprising change in my substitution. 

The difference from last week’s game is that this is La Rosaleda and Malaga’s home stadium. 

Malaga, who took the lead in the game, shook Las Palmas one after another.

Shifu exchanged a one-two pass with Adrian, who was approaching Santos on the side, to cross-pass. 

Malaga’s attack was surprisingly neat. 

Santos confirmed de la Bella, the left wingback of Las Palmas who lost his balance and fell, and sent a pass to Juanti in front of the penalty box. 

Juanti aims for a come-from-behind goal with no hesitation. 

“All right!” 

“Marty, all right.” 

“Good job!” 

Goalkeeper Martinez managed to clear the ball that bounced off the lawn into the left post, and Aitami and Mantovani hit him in the back of the head and praised him fiercely. 

It was fortunate that I wasn’t in such a position. 

Malaga players are not disappointed. 

They acted as if they could score an additional goal at any moment, and there was a high possibility that it would actually happen.

The ensuing corner kick goes back to nullification with De La Bella’s header. 

The replaced midfielder Harvey Casteyano and Malaga compete for ownership of the ball in front of the penalty box. 

The collision of the body using elbows and knees was horrifying. 

If it were me, I would have bruised at, at least three places. 

Harvey, who won the race, kicks the ball straight into the set position. 

As usual, Pedri does not own the ball, but just takes the foot and turns it in the opposite direction to connect it forward. 

It was a direct aerial pass over the heads of defenders.

Looking at the space, I quickly run to the pass that comes in and drop at my feet. 

Ten steps from the half-line, there is no one in front of me. 

A pure excitement burst out from my heart at Pedri’s talent. 

Malaga’s desire for an additional goal made the half-line empty. 

However, it cannot be denied that the level of pass is great. 

This summer I seem to be strangely lucky. 

“Wow!” 

I Run straight to Malaga’s goal near the penalty box. 

Malaga’s fans booed and laughed. 

At our end, there were cries and laugh.

The goalkeeper came out of the penalty box and the ball I kicked reflexively, reaches out into the air. 

The ball is passing where it cannot reach even with another arm of the goalkeeper. 

The ball’s trajectory was very good.