[Real Madrid take a satisfying 3-1 victory.]
[Liverpool's players are standing in shock, unable to leave the pitch out of disappointment. This was a match they could've won.]
[But it's not over yet. It's only a 2-goal difference. Although their opponent is Real Madrid, who knows what miracle Liverpool might pull off at Anfield? Even a 2-0 win would be enough to send them to the quarterfinals.]
It wasn't over yet.
The decisive second leg would be held two weeks later at Anfield in England.
At that moment, some good news came into Ho-young's view.
[El Niño's Line Breaking (U)]
Fernando Torres's signature move.
A sensational and instinctive line-breaking skill that no one else could replicate.
It was a talent that could synergize exceptionally well with Ho-young's current abilities.
'And next, in the second leg...'
Sculpted Looks (A+).
It was the perfect opportunity to upgrade his existing Sculpted Looks (A+3).
After the match, both managers and players attended the post-match press conference.
Benítez, believing that saying too much ahead of the second leg wouldn't help, gave a brief interview and wrapped up quickly.
In contrast, Schuster, having secured the win, seemed to have a lot to say.
One journalist asked:
"Real Madrid were brilliant today. After conceding the opening goal, it looked like you were struggling against Liverpool's defense, but you came up with a countermeasure not long after. It reminded me of last December's El Clásico. Was this a pre-planned tactic, or something improvised on the spot?"
"Hmm... to be honest, football is a lot more complicated than it seems. When you watch it, it looks like just passing, running, and kicking, but in reality, it's a battle involving many complex elements. It's like scribbling with different colored crayons on a blank white canvas. And over time, it becomes hard to even distinguish what colors the opponent is using. So making an appropriate on-the-spot response in such a situation is incredibly difficult."
"So, you're saying it was a prepared tactic?"
"Let me finish. What's important is, surprisingly, there are players who can pull that off. They're what we usually call the control towers of the team."
"So the players influenced the tactics today? Can you tell us who?"
"It's the one everyone's expecting."
All eyes turned to Schuster.
And then, his head turned to the left.
"Why don't you say a few words? Seems like everyone's waiting to hear from you."
The camera panned to the side.
Seated beside him at Pérez's suggestion, Ho-young opened his mouth.
"My name is Ho-young. There are too many conspiracy theorists in the world, so I'm here with the manager."
"Haha."
"In answer to the question everyone's wondering about... today's tactics were partly prepared, but also partly ideas that popped up during the match."
"So, once again, did you create the tactics today?"
"Unfortunately, no."
Click—
Everyone expected him to say yes, but Ho-young denied it.
Surprised by his unexpected answer, the journalists leaned in as he continued.
"I don't yet have the ability to create tactics from scratch. Usually, I draw inspiration from other managers' tactics. Once I provide the ideas, it's the manager and the coaching staff who mix the ingredients and turn them into something special."
"Mm, hmm."
Schuster, sitting beside him, straightened his back and tried to suppress a smile.
The journalist asked the next question.
"You were selected as UEFA's official Man of the Match right after the game. It may be a standard question, but we can't skip your thoughts on that."
Ho-young shook the small trophy in his hand and spoke.
"First, I want to thank my teammates who helped me receive this award. Being selected as the Man of the Match in a Champions League knockout game is a real honor. This trophy even looks shinier than the others I've received before. Is it made of real gold?"
"Haha!"
His light-hearted joke warmed the atmosphere, but Ho-young's tone quickly turned serious.
"That's how heavy this trophy feels. I know how tough and prestigious the Champions League is."
In the past seven years, Real Madrid's best finish had only been the semifinals.
And that, only once.
In recent times, the club had struggled to find success in the Champions League.
That made their determination to break the curse this season even stronger.
With that thought, Ho-young turned to the fans.
"This is a fantastic era to be a Real Madrid fan. And to be a Real Madrid player during this time is a tremendous honor. So I promise to repay your support with great performances."
As Ho-young's interview spread across the globe, the sixth round of the 2009 budget review ended in Pérez's favor.
There had been a few bumps in the process, but silencing internal dissent was one of Pérez's specialties, and things proceeded without disruption.
On top of that, the club's continued success on the pitch added to the momentum.
By late February, the cold had faded and a mild spring was beginning to settle in.
With his school schedule converted to a flexible program, Ho-young could now devote more time to training with the team.
Thanks to that, it wouldn't be long before he could scout 'Arjen Robben's Sprinting' and 'Van Nistelrooy's Attacking Positioning.'
'Almost done with the whole team now.'
At the first-team training ground in Valdebebas.
While playing a mini-game with the main squad, Ho-young looked around at the players.
He decided not to rush the talents of Ramos, Marcelo, or Pepe. It would be better to wait until their skills had ripened.
Then there was the Dutch long-range bomber.
'Sneijder is almost done too.'
Ho-young was planning to extract a talent related to long-range shooting from him.
By winning Player of the Month back in December, Sneijder's hidden condition had been unlocked. If Ho-young scored two goals from outside the box within the next five matches, he would be able to acquire 'Devastating Mid-Range Shot (S-).'
His goal was to combine it with 'Cannon Shooter's Mid-Range Shot (U).'
Having already acquired Nedvěd's perfect two-footed ability, adding a powerful long-range weapon would give him a terrifying new edge.
Everything was progressing according to plan.
'Soon I'll be able to scout Zidane's talent too...'
The only remaining players of note were Raúl, Guti, and Casillas.
And once he secured the legendary 'Alfredo Di Stéfano' talent, his time at Real Madrid would be complete.
He would become a walking embodiment of Real Madrid.
'Eventually, I'll have to leave this club.'
It was a thought he had often.
Ho-young was not the type to stay in one place for too long. If he had a good reason, he would follow through without hesitation.
More importantly, he had come to a realization after observing many players.
First, just because a player was good didn't mean they possessed a Unique-grade (U) talent.
And talents belonging to true one-club legends like Raúl, Casillas, or Di Stéfano could be especially difficult to acquire.
It was due to specific conditions like "Achieve XX while playing for Real Madrid." Such talents were impossible to unlock unless he was registered with the club.
But not every case was like that.
Guti, for example, also a long-serving one-club man, had a different condition: "Finish the season in the league's top two." If achieved, Ho-young could extract a very unique talent from him.
The same logic applied to Barcelona's Puyol, Xavi, and Iniesta.
For Xavi and Iniesta, the conditions required being part of Barcelona. But in Puyol's case, it was achievable regardless of club affiliation.
'Anyway, the key is that some talents can only be acquired if you belong to the same club.'
That's why planning ahead was so important.
A footballer's true development begins around the age of 18.
Which made this current period absolutely crucial.
Especially for talents like Messi's. He would need to collect every single one of them without exception.
'I need to extract everything I can while I still have time.'
His body was tired and his mind was full.
Sometimes, he wished he could just flop down on a bed and zone out for hours.
But the reason he could keep playing was because he truly loved football.
He sometimes thought about the past.
Those days when he couldn't play simply because he lacked talent.
When you have the will but not the talent, it's a painful thing.
But Ho-young had been granted a miraculous opportunity that others could never obtain.
He had to treat it with care.
He couldn't afford to waste time.
He had a dream he absolutely had to achieve.
"Young, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
Raúl, who had been watching Ho-young closely, asked him.
Instead of answering, Ho-young responded with a question.
"Captain, what do you think you'd be doing if you hadn't become a footballer?"
"Hmm. I've never really thought about anything other than football."
"Right."
A perfect answer.
Ho-young didn't ask any more.
Instead, he shook off his thoughts and focused back on training.
Second week of March.
Real Madrid's players arrived at Anfield, located in Liverpool, Merseyside.
More than 50,000 fans filled the stands, welcoming both teams with a chorus of "You'll Never Walk Alone."
Then came the Champions League anthem.
A melody that always stirred the soul.
Ho-young closed his eyes and calmed his heart, focusing on his winning mentality.
Despite the fatigue from the flight, he had gotten a good rest at the hotel, so his condition was perfect.
And having prepared thoroughly, he had a good feeling about the match.
It began soon after.
[The early stages of the match are unfolding similarly to the first leg. Liverpool, lined up in a 4-2-3-1, are eagerly targeting the space behind Real Madrid's defense.]
[But this is unexpected. Real Madrid, also using a 4-2-3-1, are taking a very aggressive approach.]
Contrary to expectations that they would play defensively, Real Madrid were pushing forward.
Schuster had given Ho-young a free role, allowing him to support the wingers' penetration from both flanks.
The focal point of today's match was Ho-young.
He ran rampant between Liverpool's defensive line and midfield, tearing the defense apart. When distribution became difficult, he dropped into midfield and created his own on-the-ball plays.
Liverpool were caught off guard by Madrid's unexpected tactical switch and struggled to respond effectively.
This led to Ho-young enjoying complete freedom, feeding killer passes to both wingers and the striker, creating various attacking options.
[Liverpool are really struggling at Anfield. This is a sight few would've expected. So far, it looks like Real Madrid are completely dominating.]
[That's right. Ho-young is commanding the center alongside Malouda and Robben, forming a powerful attacking triangle. He's also linking up constantly with Raúl. This is Ho-young's most frightening trait. You never know what kind of attack he'll unleash.]
With Ho-young in control, the momentum of the match tipped in Madrid's favor.
Even the full-backs began to overlap, increasing the team's mobility.
Relentless attacks from all angles caused Liverpool's defense to collapse in an instant, and Madrid didn't waste the opportunity.
In the 14th minute of the first half, Raúl played a back pass that found its way to Ho-young.
Mascherano rushed in to intercept, stretching his leg, but he was just a moment too late.
The shot had already left Ho-young's right foot.
Thud!
A laser-precise mid-range strike rippled the net.
Along with it, the mental state of the Liverpool supporters in the Kop End began to shake.
It was Liverpool's downfall.
And Ho-young soared.
"Hooh!"
Just one more step to the quarterfinals.
(To be continued.)