Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

Chapter 74

74 – The Man’s Great Showdown

074

The long-awaited ‘Munich Derby,’ unfolding after a break, attracted much attention like a clash between the first and second teams in the league. However, despite the hype, the tension in the game was not as high.

Understandably, even though they are both Munich teams, the difference in name value and strength is not that significant.

『David and Goliath, who will win the ‘Munich’ showdown?』

『After a long rest, Munich Derby revives in the Bundesliga!』

『Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich, experts predict Bayern Munich’s dominance』

If Bayern Munich, a world-renowned big club and a Champions League title contender in the ‘War of the Stars,’ is Goliath, then the promoted team 1860 Munich, climbing up from the 3rd league as the ‘top relegation,’ could be considered David. The venue itself is not even Bayern Munich’s home stadium, but the Allianz Arena.

Of course, experts, as well as the majority of football fans, and even 1860 Munich supporters, were quietly prepared for defeat in this game.

It was a match where people hoped for a decent performance, even if it ended in defeat, just to avoid a lackluster loss and hear the sound of ‘fought well.’

Until the moment when even the believed Ju Ji-tae couldn’t hold on and conceded the opening goal to Bayern Munich, it seemed like everyone’s predictions were coming true.

“Dongjeomgol, a comeback goal! A shocking turn of events!”

“A major change!! ‘David’ 1860 Munich shatters ‘Goliath’ Munich!!”

“Munich rising, Munich falling.”

“The glorious resurrection of 1860 Munich!”

“The disgraceful game of Bayern Munich.”

However, the result was the opposite.

The game where David 1860 Munich thoroughly crushed Goliath Bayern Munich.

After the game, Jonas Hofmann, the coach of Bayern Munich, admitted defeat but promised revenge in future matchups.

“Complacency? We didn’t let our guard down. Knowing that we were up against a tough opponent, we prepared and played our best. It’s regrettable. A truly disappointing result, but… we will overcome. We will come back stronger from this defeat. And we will win in the next encounter. That’s Munich.”

But what became the talk of the town was,

“The biggest failure… as I mentioned before the game, we couldn’t stop the key player of 1860 Munich. I said this battlefield would determine the outcome of today’s game, and it turned out to be true. Let me make it clear. Today, we, Bayern Munich, did not lose to 1860 Munich; we lost to Ju Ji-tae. Ju Ji-tae today was an unstoppable player. It’s like a natural disaster.”

Praise for Ju Ji-tae.

The game, starting and ending with Ju Ji-tae, as emphasized in Jonas Hofmann’s interview that praised and warned about Ju Ji-tae from the beginning.

Truly a stage set for Ju Ji-tae, not an exaggeration.

This game elevated Ju Ji-tae, who was not even noticed in his youth, only recognized by Korean football officials or those who paid attention, to a promising player attracting global attention in just 2-3 months after his professional debut.

And Cho Jae-shin, who walked the path from elementary school to middle school, high school, and professional debut together with such a friend, couldn’t help but smile when he saw him.

“It’s hard to keep up.”

Certainly, he also showcased a good performance against Bayern Munich, but even days after the game ended, Ju Ji-tae was the only one receiving the media’s attention.

Everywhere you go, articles about Ju Ji-tae, praising him.

Although he briefly stumbled in the early stages, during the time Ju Ji-tae was temporarily absent due to injury, who was the one who could push Bayern Munich even in a situation where they were one man short? It was him.

He was the spearhead of the attack and the core, and indeed, he even scored the comeback goal.

Even if scoring wasn’t the only attacking point, and he displayed a MOM-level performance in terms of detailed metrics, all the attention after the game was on Ju Ji-tae.

Of course, there were occasional stories about himself too.

In the sidelines of Ju Ji-tae.

Since when?

When Ju Ji-tae surpassed him.

It wasn’t like this in the beginning.

“I have better talent…”

From the time he started playing football, he was always the one leading ahead, leaving behind traces of resistance.

Forming a formidable duo as forward players during their elementary school days, even then, there were more attacking points in Jo Jaeshin’s game. However, during middle school, he had to step down to the second string as he was pushed aside.

The same held true in high school. At some point, Jo Jaeshin began to outpace him. From the U-20 Asian Cup to the U-20 World Cup, and now onto the professional stage.

Yet, he believed he could catch up.

Though momentarily behind, he thought the gap wasn’t that significant and that he could quickly overtake again. Jo Jaeshin first drew attention in his Bundesliga debut, but soon, he reclaimed the spotlight with his own performance.

Four games, five goals, and one assist.

Now, the newly debuted 18-year-old striker had caught the attention of Germany nationwide. But, just as it seemed he was ahead again, a goal drought of three games occurred.

Seven games, five goals.

Objectively, it was by no means a poor statistic. It was, in fact, an impressive record for an 18-year-old player. Yet, after the four games with five goals, the three-game goalless streak made Jo Jaeshin uneasy.

Especially when there’s a friend constantly making comparisons by his side. While he struggled in the A-matches resumed after the break, Jo Jaeshin consistently excelled, seemingly indifferent to any analysis.

It’s not that he dislikes his friend’s success. It doesn’t feel bad to see his friend praised and recognized. After all, they’ve been inseparable childhood friends, more than just potential future brothers-in-law.

Despite the frequent annoyances, his friend’s success brought Jo Jaeshin joy. Jealousy? Well, Jo Jaeshin is human, so some jealousy is inevitable. Quite a lot, honestly.

Yet, more than jealousy, there’s a greater feeling of congratulations and an even stronger sense of competition. The bitter smile doesn’t arise because Jo Jaeshin is falling behind; it’s just that the situation of his friend pulling ahead has become all too familiar.

At first, the determination to surpass his friend fueled his motivation, and competitiveness surged. But now, resignation seems to settle in a corner of his heart, and it’s incredibly disheartening.

Although the will to win still prevails, one wonders how long this competitive spirit can be sustained. If he loses the current driving force, what kind of player will he become?

With a sigh filled with turmoil, Jo Jaeshin entered the chat after a long time.

“Who will emerge as Korea’s top prospect: Bural’s friend Ju Jitae vs. Jo Jaeshin?”

Before? After?

—”Docjeoniji”

Nah, as a center back, what a joke, docfuji.

—”Don’t even talk about giving assists to King God General Jo.”

—Attackers should be more talented, seriously.

Yeah, attackers with 5 goals, defenders with 4 goals. Should they also give assists like Joo Ji-tae?

—Hey, idiots, does Joo Ji-tae really have such a pretty girlfriend? Haha.

Docjeoni, lol.

Kyaa~ Life should be like Joo Ji-tae.

Do you think Joo is your friend?

Joo Ji-tae, perfect victory!!

“Hmm….”

A girlfriend….

Come to think of it, did he start changing when he began dating his sister?

Something flashed in Jo Jaeshin’s mind as he chuckled.

He quickly searched for the posts he wrote on the forum.

[Hyung-ah~ Isn’t that where you pee?!] — 5 years ago

[I tease my ugly younger brother;] — 4 years ago

[Soccer God misses his balls JOAT] — 4 years ago

From Noble mtl dot com

[Is making fun of your testicle friend too much?] — 3 years ago

[City’s best cool beauty our sister’s ideal type.jpg] — 2 years ago

“Hmm….”

Traversing the truly shameful self-portrait of the past, Jo Jaeshin was able to unearth a frivolous post he had uploaded two years ago.

[HeyNeighborNicePanties: Ideal type of my cool beauty sister, Lee Sanghyeong.jpg]

(Franz Beckenbauer meme)

Acquiring the emperor status because the silly younger sibling claimed to like Honaudu, who, let’s be honest, is nothing like a center-back, but rather, he dribbles like a girl.

As both he and Ju Jitae played football, the young Jo Yeosin naturally became close to football. Men, asserting that Honaudu’s appeal lies in his robustness, subtly gaslighted… No, shared memories that conveyed the allure of brilliance.

“Come to think of it… Ju Jitae’s offspring suddenly became robust not long after this.”

Out of the blue, he changed his position to center-back, matured unexpectedly… Most importantly,

“Around this time, the two of them must have started dating.”

Jo Jaeshin, who had been pondering something with an odd atmosphere, suddenly lifted his head.

“That’s right! I get it!”

The sudden surge in Ju Jitae’s skills had a reason.

“It’s a girl!”

Indeed, one must date a girlfriend.

If possible, a blonde beauty with a large chest.

『Korea’s goal-scoring machine restarts!』

『Jo Jaeshin scoring goals again! Escaped from the slump?』

『Goal, goal! Another contestant joins the competition for the top scorer』