113. First team training (2)
The man scratched his head.
It was Real Madrid's German coach Bernhard Schuster.
"Woo Ho-young, who was promoted to Castile in two years, will be promoted to the first team in another year… Whose idea is it?"
"It's just one of the board's plans."
"Interesting."
Schuster, who has 13 years of leadership experience, was scheduled to take over as Real Madrid's head coach next season.
Therefore, it was natural to be interested in the board's plans.
"Aren't you only 15 years old next season?"
"Woo Ho-young will break the record of youngest player to play, held by Celta Vigo's Sanson at 15 years, 8 months, and 11 days."
"It will be a historic day. Of course, if Woo Ho-young is named to the 25-man roster."
"Are you skeptical?"
"well. Since they have already proven their worth in the second division, there will be talk about promotion. My thoughts are the same. The player has already proven his worth. However, the 25-man roster that he should be on is not the normal 25, right?"
A whopping 25 players from Real Madrid.
Raul Guti van Nistelrooy Robinho Sneijder and others.
This is a group of 25 members that include elite members who are considered the best in the world.
In other words, getting your name on the list was as difficult as putting a camel through the eye of a needle.
As expected, famous players such as Robben, Metzelder, Saviola, and Baptista were taking their places as sub-members of the first team.
Moreover, special striker Higuain was scheduled to return from his loan spell next month.
There was literally no separate animal kingdom.
However, the possibility was not very small.
"You'll have to open the lid to find out, but if it's Balboa's seat, it's probably worth aiming for."
"I think the same thing."
Balboa, a midfielder whose position slightly overlaps with Woo Ho-young.
The Equatorial Guinean native is a young 22-year-old who has appeared in a total of six games this season, scoring one goal.
In other words, Hoyoung was the most formidable opponent to push away.
"Um… I understand first of all. "Let me give you some guidance."
"Try hard. "I'm waiting for your training evaluation report."
Woo Ho-young's first-team debut.
Mitchell divined the possibility in his mind.
'It's quite possible. 'It was said that there would be a large-scale movement of personnel in the transfer market this summer.'
I was confident that there would definitely be a place for Woo Ho-young.
What mattered was not the location.
The key question was whether Woo Ho-young's skills would work in the first division or whether it would still be impossible.
2pm the next day.
Second team and Juvenil players were scheduled to participate in first team training.
The same goes for Woo Ho-young.
Due to league regulations, he was unable to debut this season, but was able to participate in first-team training.
Just today.
That was why Hoyoung appeared at the first team training ground.
'Now is the real beginning.'
Let's just look forward and move forward.
With that ambition in mind, he took a powerful step towards the 1st team exclusive field.
"Hoo."
Three fields and two simple stadiums unfolded before my eyes.
It really struck me that it was the best training ground in the world.
'Am I number one?'
Perhaps because we arrived an hour before training started, there was no one in sight.
It was natural.
The season was almost over, so there was no way anyone would show up an hour early and train so hard.
Even though I took it easy, I sold my hat.
But that wasn't it.
'Hey. A guy who works hard.'
Bench inside the field.
I saw a man with dark skin and neat grass hair.
It was right then.
"Are you here?"
The man waved his hand wildly and welcomed Hoyoung.
Looking at him, Hoyoung also responded happily.
"Uh~!"
Left defender who transferred from Fluminense to Real Madrid three years ago.
It was Marcelo.
This wasn't my first reunion with him.
Marcelo had participated in second-team training several times, so we had exchanged greetings several times before.
However, the feeling of seeing it at the first team training ground was definitely different.
Marcelo's nostrils flared and he held Hoyoung's chin with both hands.
"Hmm. Why on earth are you here? "You're still 14."
"Hehe."
"oh my god. "What on earth do you have to do to be in the first team at that age?"
Even with an expression of disbelief, Marcelo could not hide his joy.
widely.
Marcelo said, placing both hands on Hoyoung's shoulders.
"Welcome!"
Yesterday's enemy is today's comrade.
It was a situation that was exactly right.
Marcelo was glad to see Hoyoung like that.
I was even more pleased because the positions did not overlap.
At least it wasn't a competitor.
"Anyway, let's do our best."
"okay. Then how about training…"
"You inhumane bastard. There's still an hour before training starts, so let's sit down and talk. lol. First of all, how do you feel about your first time here?"
"Is there any need to express it in words?"
There wasn't.
Because "Awesome" was already written on Hoyoung's face.
"But why did you come out an hour early? "I don't think it's my place to talk about humanity."
"Well, whatever."
It was obvious.
To get even a little more attention from the director.
Marcelo was currently designated as Carlos' successor, but he had not yet had much of an opportunity.
Although he started 15 games this season, it was not enough to quench his thirst.
So I was always working hard.
Although he was not conscientious by nature, he gave up laziness and led an exemplary life for three years.
I occasionally went to nightclubs with Brazilians… but it was pretty good.
And looking at Marcelo like that, Hoyoung felt it again.
'You're a professional.'
Pro = survival of the fittest.
Since the professional world is a place where you cannot survive unless you prove your worth, Marcelo was working hard to change his tendencies.
'They say romance on the field is something that comes and goes.'
If you don't prove your worth, you'll be kicked out. If you prove your worth, you can pursue bigger ambitions.
That was modern sports.
'Prove your worth.'
let's do it.
I've come this far, so what's more worrying?
All you have to do is increase your income!
On the first day of training, Hoyoung had that mindset.
Meeting Marcelo was a good opportunity to boost Hoyoung's sense of purpose.
And that was then.
"Oh, you're here."
When a player entered the training ground, Marcelo pointed at him with his chin.
"Follow me and I'll introduce you."
"are you okay."
There was no need for that.
Because Hoyoung already knew that man.
Hoyoung called him by his nickname and approached him.
"Zizou!"
The third player to arrive at the training ground was Zidane.
"I expected it, but it was too fast. "How long are you going to keep surprising me?"
"It's thanks to the Maestro."
"A guy like that doesn't keep in touch with me and doesn't come over to my house? "Enzo asks me every day when he's coming."
"haha. I was a little busy. "I'll go play soon."
As Hoyoung and Zidane greeted each other warmly, Marcelo scratched the back of his head.
'What is it?'
Still, as a three-year senior, I tried to introduce my teammates to Hoyoung, but he ended up having to be introduced instead.
Of course, I knew that Hoyoung and Zidane were in a priestly relationship.
I just didn't know they would be this close.
'I haven't been to Zidane's house yet…'
Still, as he was three years his senior, Marcelo volunteered to be Hoyoung's guide whenever first-team players came to the training ground.
Most first-team players are not interested in the second-team, but most of them, including Ramos, Robben and Robinho, knew Hoyoung well.
There was no way he wouldn't have known that his name would be featured in the media on a fictitious day.
Meanwhile, Hoyoung's eyes rolled frantically.
I couldn't take my eyes off even for a moment.
Isn't this a club where everyone recognizes that the best players in the world are gathered?
In terms of value, it is a Michelin 3-star buffet.
My body was itching and I was going crazy.
'If you covet all these talents…'
That alone will already be enough to make you the best in the world.
but.
'When will all this happen….'
"Hmm."
Time is time, but the question was whether all these conditions could be satisfied.
Because conditions can vary depending on the specific situation, it was also very important to choose who to covet first.
"after."
"Hehe. Are you excited? I was like that at first too. "It felt like I was dreaming."
As Marcelo said, he couldn't hide his excitement even for a moment.
I could feel the dignity of each player.
I don't know if it was because they were a little nervous, but each of them seemed to have their own aura radiating from them.
And it reached its peak when I exchanged greetings with a man with a warm image.
A symbol and legend of Real Madrid.
Raul Gonzalez Blanco.
This was 'Captain Raul' whom I finally met three years after joining Real Madrid.
And what was most touching was that he spoke to me directly.
"Bienvenido El futuro blanco."
Welcome future Blanco.
This means that Hoyoung will be promoted to the first team.
If interpreted broadly, it meant that Hoyoung was already recognized to some extent as a member.
Hoyoung received the handshake.
"Thank you, Captain."
As our hands held each other, a sense of elation boiled over.
It exploded the moment coach Bernd Schuster finally appeared and announced the start of training.
Now was the real beginning.
3:35 PM.
Training was in full swing.
Usually, training starts at 8 a.m., but because there was night training last night, today training was held in the afternoon.
'It's definitely different.'
Although it had only been a little while since training began, Hoyoung was already feeling it.
This is a differentiated system unique to first-team training.
First of all, there was a big difference qualitatively from the 2nd group training.
First, there is a briefing before starting the training.
Then, they move to the next building, eat a customized meal provided by the team, and then go into the massage room to receive a massage to prevent injuries for about an hour.
Afterwards, stretch for 30 minutes using various equipment, such as a training bike.
Full-scale training begins only after the process is completed.
5pm.
When all the players who had finished stretching gathered on the field, Coach Schuster spoke.
"There are new players participating today, so I will briefly explain the schedule and move on."
From here on there wasn't much difference.
At the beginning of the week or when there are no games during the week, we usually train for only one or two hours, and on Thursdays and Fridays or days close to a game, we have intensive practice games.
Since today was Monday, only 80 minutes of light training was scheduled to take place.
However, before that, training was prepared to increase body rhythm.
A warm-up game that is players' favorite training and allows players to see their individual skills at a glance.
It's called Boxes.
It is a game where 7 to 10 players form a circle and 2 players enter the circle to steal the ball.
The 7 to 10 players on the sides must exchange passes and protect the ball from the two players in the middle.
In Korea, it is also called the bullying game.
What is important in this game are abilities that are very important in modern soccer, such as prediction, judgment, quickness, flexibility, agility, instantaneous speed, psychological warfare, and flow.
In other words, it can be said to be a training that can test them.
"Then shall we take a look at our kids' skills?"
At the coach's words, the players' attention all turned to the newcomers.
Most people were looking at Hoyoung.
That's because there were already rumors that Woo Ho-young would be promoted to the first team.
To put it in an extreme way, today's training might cause big or small changes to the 25-man squad.
It is natural that there is tension.
The director put an end to this.
"Woo Balboa. Go into the middle of team 1."
"yes."
Soon, a circle of nine first-team players was formed.
And in the midst of it all.
Woo Ho-young and Balboa, who were on the referee stand, looked at each other.
The two were in a situation where they had to work together to steal the ball from the other, but in reality, they were closer to competitors.
Neither can survive.
If one survives, the other dies.
At that time, a heated battle of nerves broke out.
And it was that moment.
widely.
Raul González's pass was delivered to Guti.
At the same time, Balboa took his steps with the reaction speed of an animal.
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