The Little Prince of the Field - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Players from Las Palmas chat frequently. 

If the match gets delayed for any reason, some players gather around and exchange their opinions on detailed tactics. 

I think that such actions will be the driving force behind the team’s rise. 

“That bastard is not good.” 

“Who?” 

“Number 20, would you like to bet on it.”

“I bet” 

Maybe it was just my delusion. 

Overhearing the conversation between Aitami and Courbelo felt like a huge waste of my time. 

They’re like a perfect example of pathetic humans. 

Despite the presence of team members who aren’t as good as dog shit, we’re playing the game nicely. 

Center, the pillar of the team, overwhelmed the opponent overall, while the side rear, which was considered a weakness, entered a stable phase. 

In particular, Ramirez started to laugh out loud at the two points difference. 

A personal question arose. 

‘Are there only crazy people in Las Palmas?’ 

Except for that, the team is doing pretty well on the left line. 

“Okay!” 

In the 35th minute of the first half, Ramirez’s bold sliding tackle cut off Oviedo striker’s dribble. 

Unfortunately, the ball was still possessed by the opposing team, but we blocked any decisive opportunity throughout the first half. 

Finally, in front of the penalty box, Mantovani wins the competition, and the offense and defense got switched.

Unlike Oviedo’s strikers, Pedri and I kept on shattering the opponent’s central and left defenses. 

The attempt to break through with the use of collaborative play and personal tactics was so effective that it forced two opponent central defenders and a left fullback to defend too much. 

The referee kept on drawing out yellow cards one after another. 

Under the premise that Oviedo’s manager does not use a replacement card, the second half will be advantageous for Las Palmas strikers. 

Beep~! 

At the end of the first half, the crowd applauded as we walked into the passage of the stadium. 

It was a great performance. 

Las Palmas definitely gained momentum. 

“…” 

“When will you help me?” 

“Aren’t you tired? I get annoyed at the repeated requests every game.” 

“You don’t even answer me now.”

“I’m not going to help until you are not doing well in the game.” 

“Did I ask for it? No, You said you’d give it to me, but you didn’t keep your promise.” 

To be honest, it was a pretty good answer (damn!), but still, I don’t want to admit it. 

Castro made an absurd expression and spoke to the players sitting nearby. 

“Did you see them all laughing? I am retiring, aren’t I? Still, you don’t listen to an old striker just because you’re popular. Jesus! What should I do with the child?”

“Shut up.” 

I reflexively touched my earlobe in embarrassment. 

The players in the locker room observed my reaction as if they were watching an exciting drama. 

He’s not joking around with Pedri like he used to, and I don’t know why he keeps sticking to me. 

Fortunately, Pepe and the coaches came into the locker room and the bloody situation came to an end.

“Come on, you’re good. It’s a very good game. How should I put it? You…..you played like the guys in the Primera Division.” 

The players smiled a little and nodded their heads. 

“Honestly, it was above my expectations. The first half turned out very well, so let’s do the same for the rest of the match. Ramirez, I don’t want to ignore you, but honestly, it’s more than I expected. You’re doing great.”

“Gracias.” 

“Thank you”

“I am grateful. Courbelo is also great.” 

Pepe focuses on encouraging players who have shown better performance than expected, rather than encouraging good players.

“You have to be aggressive even if you don’t have the ball. Pay attention to the forward press as you do now, and the defenders try not to miss the opposing players while maintaining the position in the second half.” 

“Number 19, Sanchez, make sure to never let him move freely in the second half.”

“Si!” 

The players clapped vigorously, ending the break with applause. 

In the second half without substitution, Las Palmas still had the upper hand. Srnich’s cross hits the goalkeeper’s hand and falls onto my chest.

Oviedo’s midfielder, who ran from the side, grabbed a handful of flesh from the side. 

Tears welled up as I endured the pain. 

If possible, I feel like I want to go out wearing a belly band. 

“Kim! Forward!” 

Narvaez’s cry to put a forward pass into the central defense space could be heard. 

Unfortunately, the ball was deflected to the left by the center defender’s toe and went straight into the opponent goalkeeper’s arms. 

Narvaez raises his right palm saying it was a good attempt. 

Should I have sent it a little faster? 

It was very unfortunate after Narvaez penetrated awesomely. 

It would have been successful if I had sent the ball with a reverse rotation. 

However, I could not have succeeded in such a difficult pass with my opponent next to me.

In the 50th minute of the second half, when I tried to blow the regret out of my head, Inigo tried to tackle the opponent’s player with his soles raised in the midfield. 

The referee took out a yellow card without hesitation. 

As if it was a mistake, the referee firmly warns Inigo with both hands outstretched. 

“This foul is unacceptable.” 

“Yes, I will be careful.” 

Oviedo’s number 19 grabs his leg and can’t get up from the grass. 

It was Sanchez who Pepe told us not to let go. 

I don’t think he meant it like that. 

The game was suspended for a while. 

The opposing team’s bench was preparing for a substitute in a hurry. 

Sanchez was a threatening Japanese player, and now Oviedo Manager seems to have a complicated mind.

I checked the condition of my body and the time. 

I have plenty of stamina. 

Even if it’s not full-time, I think I can hold on for quite a while. 

There are no problems with joints or muscles. 

After a while, Sanchez limps out of the arena. 

It doesn’t look like he’s seriously injured. 

The home crowd comforted the injured opponent with applause as they also welcomed the substitute player.

Mantovani walked without even competing for the ball, which resumed with Oviedo’s free-kick. 

Today, Argentina’s wild men were playing like an angry sea elephant, which is far from enough to be described as violent. 

In terms of being in the right mind, they were now enjoying the power of invincibility. 

Srinich, who was on the right side, got possession of the ball by intervening in the opponent defender’s dribble and he connected it to Narvaez with a single touch. 

The entire crowd stood up and cheered. 

I was dazed for a second before coming back to my senses. 

The final defense of Oviedo was only three steps away from the center line. 

With three strikers intact, while there are only two opposing defenders, I started running without reserving my stamina. 

With his back to the opposing defender, Narvaez went near and rolled the ball to Pedri. 

I thought it would be better to move slightly to the left and dribble. 

After thinking about it for a while, I realized that it was a useless concern. 

As the space in the back was vast, I had to match the timing rather than the direction. 

That’s good, Pedri and my eyes met signaling for a forward pass. 

The ball soared into the sky and rolled back onto the grass. 

As if on fire, the opposing defenders started chasing them. 

I sprinted up at a moderately long pace. 

When I approached the pole, I took a moment, then accelerated towards the side and kicked. 

The home fans are cheering before the ball even passes the goalkeeper. 

The opposing defender who followed behind me made a final sliding tackle toward the goal, but the ball evaded his feet and went straight into the goal. 

56 minutes into the second half, the net bounced and the referee pointed his hands to the center line. 

As an additional goal is scored, the movement of the bench gets excited. 

Oviedo made an aggressive substitution to score a goal, while Las Palmas added Viera and Fabio Gonzalez to balance the stamina. 

I came out of the field as a substitute for Viera in the 69th minute. 

“Yeah.” 

After a light hug from Manager Pepe, I changed my jersey. 

I ignored Castro and David beckoning from the corner of the bench and walked over to Pecardt. 

“You worked hard.” 

“Si.” 

“Are you okay?” 

I grumbled at his question. 

Pecardt smiled slightly at my grumbling and held out a water bottle. 

I grabbed the bottle and sat down. 

At the end of the game, when the opposing center defender cleared a corner kick from Pedri, the referee’s whistle blew to signal the end of the match. 

The final score was 3-1. 

Las Palmas remains number one in La Liga League segunda division. 

While the players were exchanging uniforms and talking, I was being dragged somewhere by the hands of the head coach Rios. 

“Interview, Interview, Interview.”

The plastic advertising board behind me made me feel bad. 

While the coach was drawing a red line on the question paper, I just stood there in a daze. 

The accumulated fatigue in the body started to make me feel tired. 

I just hope I can finish it quickly and go home. 

“Kim, the interview today is going to be the same as last time.” 

“I think I hear that too often.”

The excessive lighting that disturbs my eyes feels so annoying. 

I didn’t even go to the stage, yet my peace of mind was already about to shake. 

The announcer’s laughter stops and the scheduled questions begin. 

“You look great in today’s game. How do you feel after scoring?” 

“Well, good. I’m happy to score a goal, but I think the overall game is more satisfying. I think we’ve proved ourselves to be the leader of the league.” 

“Yes. Las Palmas is getting better and better. What is the reason? Is there any difference compared to the beginning of the season?” 

“I don’t know why, I’m just happy with the situation. Las Palmas is on a good track.” 

As I imagined a shower with warm water, the inside of the coat was soaked in sweat in real-time.

“The defense index of Las Palmas has improved significantly, and did you feel it today? Who’s the most reliable player?”

“Well, today Ramirez, who we worried about a lot before the game, did a great job today. Courbelo was also good, and Aitami showed a good comeback.”

“What about Mantovani? How was he?”

I might as well have a cup of tea after done washing up. 

Citrus tea or jujube tea with a lot of sugar would be nice. 

Isn’t it hot sugar water that you should drink on a day like this?

“Kim?” 

“Oh, sorry. Mantovani did a good job, too. He had effectively laid down the strikers. He was as sharp as an owl’s claws.”

It seems to be a more accurate expression to say that you need skills rather than talent like the owl which has a natural talent of sharp eyes but without its skill of honing its claws it can’t catch its prey. 

The announcer is showing his chin and smiles. 

“You are right. Mantovani’s hands were a bit sharp.” 

The announcer’s answer was not well understood, but it was clear that something was wrong when I saw Mantovani’s face reddening on the far side of the bench.

The players around him are making fun of him. 

Yeah, now I know for sure, that I made a mistake.

(TO BE CONTINUED)