After Real Madrid scored the opener, Real Unión made several tactical adjustments.
Unless the situation was clearly favorable, they did not even attempt counterattacks and focused entirely on leaving no gaps.
It was no exaggeration to say they were defending with all eleven players.
But giving up was not in Real Madrid's vocabulary, as they still had a long road ahead.
They began to grab Real Unión by the scruff of the neck and drag them into a war of attrition.
That was where the tactical shift began.
[Ho-young drops into the attacking midfield role as Real Madrid switch to a 4-1-3-2 formation. Are they trying to put on a more spectacular, attacking display for the fans who came to support them?]
[From Madrid's perspective, they need a goal before halftime to feel at ease. Strengthening the attack also seems aimed at lifting the team's momentum. Their recent results have been poor, haven't they? This match could be a chance to regain confidence and use it as a springboard for a comeback. Above all, El Clásico is just around the corner.]
That analysis was accurate, but Schuster needed even more alternatives.
If he wanted a successful El Clásico, the groundwork had to start now.
'Barcelona this year are insane.'
Schuster was not someone rigidly bound to his own football philosophy.
While he was not regarded as tactically profound, he had an open mind and flexible thinking.
From that perspective, Guardiola's Barcelona seemed unbeatable by ordinary means.
To dismantle the unprecedented midfield trio of Xavi, Busquets, and Iniesta, at least three tailored tactical plans were required.
That was the baseline.
That was why he had just unveiled the 4-1-3-2 formation.
If properly combined with the systems used since the start of the season, it could prove useful even against Barcelona.
Then, something completely unexpected happened.
'That confidence was not unfounded.'
Schuster had originally planned to leave Ho-young out of the starting lineup.
But before the lineup was finalized, Ho-young had come to the manager's office and said this.
"Coach, you may think this is stubbornness. But I have a very important reason for wanting to play this match. It's because of the Copa del Rey, a new stage for me. I am a player who grows more the more I play on different stages with great players. That's how it has always been. By running with them, seeing with my own eyes and feeling with my own feet, I learn so much. I want to experience more and learn more going forward. Some people say I've already finished growing and that I'm no longer a prospect. But I want to become a better player than I am now. And I truly believe I can. I would be grateful if you gave me that chance. Like any young player, every single match is precious to me right now. Please trust me. But if my inclusion would seriously disrupt the team plan, I won't insist."
It almost felt as if he had rehearsed it, but his eyes were crystal clear, filled with sincerity that could not be doubted.
At first, Schuster thought Ho-young simply wanted to break another youngest record on the Copa del Rey stage.
Or perhaps he wanted to be the hero who pulled the team out of crisis.
But after speaking with him, Schuster realized.
'He genuinely wants to learn football on the pitch.'
It was not about attention, but about learning more by playing alongside great players.
That was why Ho-young had started the match, and the result had been positive.
Watching him endure pressure in tight spaces sparked tactical inspiration in Schuster's mind.
A new key to counter Barcelona's football.
'There's a chance.'
Up until now, he had been torn.
Whether to start Ho-young in El Clásico next month or use him as a substitute.
But now he was certain.
'Ho-young's growth rate is terrifying.'
Lack of experience?
An underdeveloped body?
Stamina issues and being slightly short in physical duels?
There might be other shortcomings.
But it felt like Ho-young could fill and overcome all of them.
It genuinely felt as if a player unlike any in history was emerging.
So Schuster focused his attention on Ho-young.
Wondering what more he would show.
This Copa del Rey match might never come again.
For Ho-young, it was an opportunity worth its weight in gold.
'I need to obtain Roberto Carlos's S-grade talent here.'
The hidden condition was to record three attacking points in the Copa del Rey this season.
If the team were eliminated today, all opportunities would vanish.
What would happen after that was uncertain.
The condition might disappear or change.
Nothing was guaranteed.
All he knew was that today might be his last chance to obtain Carlos's talent.
That was why.
Ho-young ran and ran until his breath burned.
When experienced defenders pressed him, he escaped, and when they chased, he escaped again, playing his own game.
[It looks like a game of tag between Real Unión's players and Ho-young.]
[For Ho-young, slipping out of their shadow is the key challenge tonight.]
[But breaking free from the midfielders is not the end of it. Ho-young has already recorded a brilliant assist, so the defenders' marking has intensified. He hasn't received the ball for several minutes. Dropping deep to get it risks disconnecting from the forwards.]
The ball was not reaching Ho-young, but attacks elsewhere were flowing smoothly.
Real Unión were a weak side.
Even without Ho-young, they could not cope with Raúl, Robben, and Van Nistelrooy.
[By focusing too much on Ho-young, Real Unión are leaving gaps elsewhere.]
[Concentration is important, but they need to assess the situation more broadly.]
As Ho-young drew attention, chances kept appearing in other areas.
Then, before long.
A decisive moment was created again from the playmaker's boots.
[Goal! Van Nistelrooy's stunning shot ripples the net. He opened the angle the moment he received the pass and fired. Incredible. That's what separates a world-class striker.]
[Brilliant. Ho-young's pass was clean as well. Their chemistry is so good that rumors of internal discord seem unbelievable.]
[Players who combine this well being at odds? It's clearly just a rumor.]
2-0.
Only one more goal remained to reach the target.
The three midfielders who had clung to Ho-young like leeches began to spread out, giving him more breathing room.
'Now.'
Ho-young expanded his thinking.
Still under close defensive attention, he needed something more creative and unconventional.
He needed a clever move.
'Instead of going head-on, it's better to take the long way around.'
He widened his field of vision.
Observed and thought.
He pictured the pitch in his mind and read the flow of the game piece by piece.
It was like playing chess.
You had to understand every movement and immediately devise a response.
Ho-young slowed his steps and regained composure.
Then he realized.
'The left back's coverage is shifting toward the center.'
As a result, space was intermittently opening on the left flank.
'That means Iglesias and Gabarain are narrowing their gap. Then…'
From that moment, Ho-young's movement gradually changed.
He raised his line bit by bit, careful not to alert the opposition.
[Ho-young is pushing higher. That off-the-ball movement looks unusual.]
[But his runs are overlapping with the forwards. Forming a triangle would leave too much distance from the midfield.]
'He's trying to drag me into the front line and divert attention.'
Larrainzar tried to read Ho-young's intentions.
Though a third-division player, his spatial awareness was solid.
He had a rough sense that space was opening.
"Gurrutxaga! Shift your defensive zone to the left. There's space!"
"Don't worry. I've got this covered!"
The visible space was sealed.
But then.
"Damn it."
The real problem was the opposite side.
As attacks focused on the far side, Iglesias and Gabarain were pulled to the right.
For a brief moment, the defensive spacing collapsed.
The back line, once tight like a traffic jam, loosened.
A clear channel opened in the center.
And someone caught it instantly.
Guti, the man running Real Madrid's midfield.
Without hesitation.
His experienced, creative ground pass sliced through the middle.
[A killer pass from Guti surging through the center.]
[It's like the parting of the Red Sea. Raúl receives it with his back to goal.]
[Ho-young bursts into the space behind.]
In an instant.
As if prearranged, Raúl flicked a creative heel pass.
Ho-young calmly guided the ball into the net.
[Goal! Real Madrid score three in the first half alone. Ho-young finds the net. At 15 years and 118 days, he becomes the youngest scorer in Copa del Rey history.]
[There it is again. Truly the youngest record breaker.]
Playmaking does not require constant possession.
Ho-young proved that clearly.
Teammates, completely captivated by his play, rushed over and embraced him.
"You did it again today."
"Thought you said you weren't scoring today."
"Congrats on your first Copa del Rey goal."
"Thank you, everyone."
And one more thing.
[Explosive Kicking Power (S+3)]
It was Roberto Carlos's talent, obtained the moment he recorded three attacking points, scheduled to be unlocked in 44 days.
Done.
Today's objective was complete.
Ho-young savored the joy.
Leaping into the air.
"Hoo!"
He had taken another step toward becoming a truly unprecedented footballer.
And he ran again.
"Let's go."
Around the 60th minute of the second half.
Ho-young was substituted by Higuaín to conserve energy, and Real Madrid continued to dominate the match unilaterally.
As the match ended, the scoreboard flashed a baseball-like scoreline of 7-0.
And the next day.
[Real Madrid soar again. Ho-young with 2 goals and 2 assists. Plays 62 minutes and named official Man of the Match.]
A middle-aged man reading the article crumpled the newspaper and asked the bald man sitting across from him.
"Can we beat them?"
(To be continued.)