118

118. Competition for starting position from the beginning (1)

Recognized by others as the best dribbler in the world.

A man who is considered the world's best cracker along with Kaka in the generation before Ronaldo and Messi.

Robinho.

The 24-year-old is from Sao Paulo Santos FC and his full-fledged career began when he moved to Real Madrid in 2005.

Robinho attracted great expectations when he inherited Figo's number 10 shirt, and he lived up to those expectations by scoring 14 goals in the league in his first season.

It wasn't called Pele's return for nothing.

However, when Capello took office, he was unable to demonstrate his skills and it seemed like he was going to fail.

However, as long as Perez, who loves the Brazilian connection, is available, Robinho remains a valuable asset for Real.

Perez particularly liked Robinho's youth and flashy on-the-ball play, and asked Coach Schuster to actively use Robinho.

As a result, Robinho, who succeeded in regaining his form, led his country Brazil to victory in the Copa America and at the same time helped lead Real Madrid to the league title.

It seemed like he would become a Real Madrid legend, receiving the infinite trust of President Perez and Coach Schuster.

But recently, a problem has arisen for him.

Schuster's affection for Robinho had waned recently.

It was because of Woo Ho-young, who was showing off his presence while participating in first-team training not long ago.

'Are you sure.'

Robinho, who had always had the coach's trust, was confident.

The fact that Woo Ho-young is threatening his position.

That was why I came to see Director Schuster on this late night.

"Director. I don't want to play on the wing. But why did you use me as a winger in the second half?"

Robinho's main position was inside forward, moving from the side to the center.

It was a far cry from the side winger deployed in the second half today.

"So that's what you're dissatisfied with?"

"yes. "Isn't that kid the reason you sent me to the side?"

That was correct.

But Schuster was dissatisfied with the current situation.

Although he was known as a benevolent director, he was actually a picky and temperamental person.

He always liked to change tactics and strongly demanded his own style from his players.

However, openly expressing dissatisfaction with such a person was tantamount to challenging the director's authority.

Schuster, who accepted this situation that way, felt it was necessary to make it clear.

"Robinho. Don't act like a child. Even if what you think is right, what are you going to do? Are you going to sabotage work?"

"If the director is negligent toward me, I have no choice but to be negligent as well."

"I have never neglected you."

"Then please use me as an inside forward again."

"Now that you understand what I mean, stop going in."

"Give me the confirmation now."

"That's for me to decide, not something you can argue about, right?"

Robinho's face momentarily distorted at those words, and Schuster lowered his voice.

"Rovinho, you are still my best card. So don't worry, just go to the club bar and relax. Or go to bed early. "I have to leave for Chicago tomorrow."

"great. But Woo Ho-young, if that guy takes over my territory, I won't sit still."

Robinho left the room with those words.

It would be difficult for an average player to say this, but Robinho, who is widely loved by Perez, was able to say that.

"Whoa."

Shuster, who was left alone then, sighed.

I couldn't sleep until late at night.

'This damn politics.'

I was very fed up.

As the saying goes, politics is bound to break out in any place where three or more people gather, so it was no different for a soccer club.

There were many cases around the world where players were kicked out of the team due to their politics even after winning the league championship.

Bernd Schuster.

He was feeling that way right now.

'Rovinho…'

He was implicitly threatening himself.

Schuster, who has been plagued by all kinds of politics since his playing days, could clearly feel it.

'I'm embarrassed.'

In Schuster's opinion, Robinho was a childish child.

If they are not noticed or are forced to play sacrificially, they immediately become dissatisfied.

Despite his youthful appearance, like that of an elementary school student, he was not mentally mature.

If he had been in the middle, he wouldn't have missed the goal like this, but Robinho had a glass mentality.

That was the reason why Schuster did not welcome the Brazilian.

This happened last year.

There was a time when Robinho had an all-night party at a nightclub with Baptista Ronaldinho, and it was reported in the media that Robinho ordered condoms in large quantities and enjoyed entertainment all night long.

Robinho vehemently denied that fact and explained that it was a condom given to him by his friends, but there was a deeper problem than that.

It was true that he missed weekend training and games because he was drinking all night long.

This was something that Schuster, who had a strict personality, could not tolerate.

What I held back then was about to explode now.

Schuster liked Robinho's play more than anyone else, so he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him, but Robinho crossed the line.

So I became even more interested in Woo Ho-young.

Watching Robinho, I could see how proud Hoyoung, who is only 15 years old, is.

Professionalism.

It was an innate tendency, not something that could be easily corrected.

In other words, if it was a talent, it was a talent.

Moreover, after today's game, interest in Hoyoung was skyrocketing.

A long time ago, Schuster had prejudices against Asians, but there was one Asian who eliminated them.

And today, Woo Ho-young became the second player.

Was that why?

I was already looking forward to next season.

As a coach, there was nothing more thrilling than the possibility that Woo Ho-young could achieve a miracle like the magic shown by Barcelona's Messi.

Before I knew it, Director Schuster was holding a pen and writing W on his notepad.

This was the list of players who would start in the game against Chicago Fire SC two days later.

next day.

The team left Seattle and moved to Chicago, Illinois.

In the morning, there was a fan signing event for Adidas, the tour organizer, and in the afternoon, we arrived at Wrigley Field and watched the MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and Houston.

I was able to watch the game in the best environment thanks to the hospitality of executives from the Cubs' owner, the Chicago Tribune.

After the game, Raul González exchanged uniforms with starting pitcher Carlos Marmol, strengthening the friendship between the teams.

The next day, players were given free time.

Zinedine Zidane proclaimed himself Hoyoung's guardian and visited Chicago's famous Gino's East pizza restaurant.

Real Madrid's official photographer Simon followed them around like a paparazzi and took pictures for the fans, and the pictures taken that day were uploaded to Real Madrid's official website and became a hot topic every day.

The content of the column with the photo attached was as follows.

[Zidane and Woo Ho-young take on the challenge of making authentic Chicago-style pizza!

The two Blancos, who are famous for their close relationship, took on the challenge of a pizza making event at Chicago's famous Gino's East Pizza Restaurant.

They made a deep dish pizza, an authentic Chicago-style pizza, and were able to bake a delicious pizza that earned them praise from the restaurant owner.

In particular, Zidane's attitude of taking care of Woo Ho-young while making pizza, as befits a priest, was truly outstanding (as Zidane wrote, threatening him by giving him the pizza).

For your information, Zidane was so bad at making pizza that Woo Ho-young was able to help him make a decent pizza.

It seems that good foot skills do not necessarily mean good hand skills.

*The photo above shows Woo Ho-young pranking Zidane by draping a piece of cheese around his neck and saying, "It's a cheese necklace!"] The

above column was scrapped by a Korean Ho-woo-ho fan cafe, and soon after, it was posted on various online community sites. It spread to

The reaction from netizens was nothing short of outrageous.

[LOL Combination is crazy]

└Playing with Zidane… Wow… it's not a jokeㅠ

└Hoyoung has such a mischievous side haha I thought he was just blunt when I saw the interview.

└Ho0 Forever♥♥♥

└I hope you come to Korea soon. I bought soccer tickets for the first time in my life haha Zidane will come too, right?

└There was an uproar with the drums. Just looking at it, it looks like it was staged haha.

└Keyboard warriors, welcome~

Explosive response.

But that was new blood.

The next day, the 9th, at 1pm.

There was quite a stir when Real Madrid's starting lineup was announced early ahead of the game against Chicago Fire SC.

This is because Hoyoung's name was clearly listed on the starting lineup.

There were many opinions regarding Woo Ho-young's current position in the team.

[It feels cheap. Aren't you just planning to use it as a backup resource next season? Then, no way…]

[No way, I will freeze to death. They're probably trying to give prospects a chance in the preseason. [No fuss.]

Both words were correct.

In fact, both thoughts were in Schuster's mind.

The away team coach's office at Soldier Field, the home stadium of the American football team, the Chicago Bears.

Schuster, who had not yet decided on a detailed strategy, was in deep contemplation.

'Rovinho and Woo Ho-young cannot coexist.'

Then there is only one answer.

Schuster was lost in thought as he checked the starting list again.

It was like a death toll.

The person who was more surprised than anyone else was Hoyoung.

After seeing it for himself in the players' locker room, he couldn't help but believe his eyes as he looked at the list again and again.

The eyes were busy rolling and the protruding uvula was bouncing up and down.

Goalkeeper – Codina (26)

Defender – Roberto Carlos (35) Pepe (25) Sergio Diaz (23) Miguel Torres (22)

Midfielder – Mamado Diarra (27) Tevar (22) Callejon (21) Hoyoung Woo (14) ) Zinedine Zidane (36.4 captains)

Attacker-Robinho (24)

'Attacking midfielder…'

A central attacking midfielder in 4-2-3-1 who must lead the attack.

Last season, it was the most important tactical position as it was played by Gutina Zidane.

However, sending him as a starter in such a position meant that he intended to hire him as a key member, not simply as a tinkerer.

In other words, today's game will determine whether he will appear on the main stage as the main character or an ordinary role.

However, there was one thing that bothered me.

'Rovinho is the top?'

It was definitely strange to deploy Robinho, who has strong inside forward tendencies, as the top striker.

'Are you telling me to be the main player or to support Robinho?'

Schuster has yet to say anything about that.

'Why don't you tell me?'

Only one thing is confirmed.

'I will do my best.'

It may have been an unofficial game that was easy for some, but not for Hoyoung.

The future of next season was at stake right away.

So I had to do well.

There was still a lot I couldn't show the director yet.

For example, the goal-scoring ability of the soccer emperor.

My heels were shaking as I wanted to show them off.

And after a while.

As the players passed through the unusually short passage and entered the ground, about 60,000 spectators cheered.

Meanwhile, there was someone who glanced at Hoyoung.

It was Robinho's gaze, not the Chicago Fire SC players' eyes.

He looks like he's going to eat you up in today's game.

'It's been a long time since I felt this way.'

The day I played a training match on the same team as soccer emperor Ronaldo.

The feeling back then was exactly the same as it is now.

That served as a kindling that fueled Hoyoung's competitive spirit.

I understood why Director Schuster did not give any instructions.

I realized it at the same time.

The fact that today's protagonist can be the one who leads the game.

And the confrontation between the two began at 2:15 pm.

It was also at that time that Hoyoung began to take the lead.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

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