Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

60 – Interview with the Master

060

Ju Ji-tae met Allen Walker long before now… in other words, before joining Munich in 1860.

It was right during the first encounter.

At the time, it was the third year since Bundesliga player Bundesli decided to end his long European sojourn after meeting with Chae Yeojin and return to Korea. The club’s contract renewal offer had become increasingly desperate.

Initially signed as a troublemaker with a questionable background, the club had agreed to a three-year contract from a dominant position. But lo and behold, once they started using him, he turned out to be an exceptional player.

There was plenty of noise about his private life, but on the field, he performed brilliantly, matching the talent everyone acknowledged. Despite spending half the season nursing injuries, his efficiency in earning significant points far surpassed that of the full-time performances of many other formidable players, not to mention his modest salary.

From the club’s perspective, he was an indispensable player, so they fervently proposed a contract extension. However, Chae Yeojin, who had firmly decided to return to Korea, adamantly refused.

And so, the one brought in to replace him was none other than Allen Walker.

He was Chae Yeojin’s successor.

Chae Yeojin’s reaction upon hearing the news of Allen Walker’s acquisition was a mix of curiosity about the name that seemed good at EDM and skepticism about filling his void with a guy who seemed like a DJ.

After all, Allen Walker was a player with completely different strengths, the polar opposite of Chae Yeojin.

But as the contract expired and he was about to leave the team, there was one more impression about him.

“A tough son of a b****…”

And this inspired Chae Yeojin, who was preparing for the Dortmund match.

“Allen, want to sync up with me for a while?”

“…Me? With you?”

“Yeah. You, and me.”

Allen Walker’s eyes widened as he came out of the locker room, and then his body started to tremble.

“You… Chae, what the hell… How far are you trying to move me!”

“…?”

“This traitorous b*****… Are you ditching your organ-hunting buddy!”

“Why are you…?”

***

There’s a saying that baseball is a pitcher’s game, and soccer is a coach’s game.

It may sound like a joke, but it’s not. It’s because so many people empathize with the importance of pitchers in baseball and coaches in soccer.

The joke about the “coach’s game” doesn’t come out for no reason. That’s how much people understand the importance of a coach in soccer, just like in baseball where the outcome can be influenced by the pitcher.

In modern soccer, prepa

Therefore, the strategic showdown between Wilhelm von Rodebayke of Munich in 1860 and Hans Hessen of Dortmund in 1860 was the main focus of journalists and fans.

“This is Robert Crafton from BBC. I’d like to ask Coach Hessen. Dortmund had a difficult start to the season, with a challenging three-game series from the first round against Leipzig to the second round against Schalke and the third round against Bayern Munich, resulting in a disappointing performance of 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Many expect a turnaround starting from the 4th round against 1860 Munich. Can we expect a victory in the next game?”

Dortmund, considered one of the top three teams in the Bundesliga, faced a challenging three-game series, breaking their season’s start.

Starting with a 2-2 draw against Leipzig, also considered a top-three team, in the first round, they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Schalke in the second round and suffered a close 2-3 defeat against the German giants Bayern Munich in the third round.

While a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss might not be satisfying for Dortmund fans aiming for Bundesliga glory, it was a reasonable outcome facing Leipzig, Schalke, and Bayern Munich.

Therefore, fans anticipated Dortmund’s significant point accumulation starting from the 4th round, facing 1860 Munich, who was considered the weakest team in the Bundesliga, ranked for relegation.

…Of course, until the start of the season.

“We always aim for victory no matter who we face, but 1860 Munich is never an easy opponent. Doesn’t their record prove their ability? Facing a team currently leading the league with three consecutive wins after the season opener, we won’t be complacent.”

Coach Hans Hessen’s dignified response, fitting his nickname “The Gentleman,” was not what the journalists wanted.

They needed a ‘hook’ that could stir controversy. They needed a traditional powerhouse that could deal a blow to a team perceived as the weakest with three consecutive wins.

“I’m Andreas Pahlman from Best Doyche Algemaine. However, isn’t Munich’s opponent generally considered a weak team in the league, unlike Dortmund? The difference is evident when comparing Dortmund’s opponents in the first three rounds.”

Despite the journalists’ continuous attacks, Hans Hessen remained steadfast.

“I don’t think that way at all. Just by playing in the Bundesliga, they deserve respect.”

Frustrated with Hessen’s consistently uninteresting answers, journalists turned their attention to Wilhelm von Rodebayke of 1860 Munich.

As a young and aggressive coach, he was a favorite interviewee among journalists.

“This time, I’d like to ask Coach Wilhelm of 1860 Munich. Munich has defied everyone’s expectations and shown a very good performance in the early stages of the season. Some pessimistic predictions suggest that Munich’s rise will be short-lived, especially with two promising 18-year-old players as the main contributors. As the sample games of these two players increase, especially against teams with excellent analytical skills like Dortmund, there’s an expectation that the ‘hype’ will fade. What are your thoughts?”

Silently listening to the questions, Coach Wilhelm smiled as he took the microphone.

The microphone, held in his large, hairy hands, made it seem like a toy, and some journalists unconsciously swallowed their saliva.

“Ah, is that ridiculous prediction about our team’s and Ju and Jo’s rise being mere hype?”

His towering height of over 190cm made him imposing even while sitting, and a formidable aura emanated from his broad, hunched shoulders.

Coach Wilhelm, resembling a villain from a hero movie, laughed, revealing his sparkling white teeth.

“Nonsense without merit!”

Everyone was taken aback by his resolute voice.

“That’s just nonsense from people who don’t understand Ju and Jo. Have any of you seen the interview with Ju published in Bildzeitung?”

Seeing hands rising in the crowd, Wilhelm nodded.

“Yes. Ju was right. Geniuses exist. But it’s not us. That’s why villains like us can’t understand geniuses. Why geniuses are geniuses! In this game, they will clearly show why they are called geniuses!”

Everyone watching was left speechless in the face of his fervent spirit.

It was not the intimidating sight of a 190cm-plus giant rising and swinging his fists in the air that was awe-inspiring. It was simply a renewed admiration for geniuses within their hearts.

And,

“This is insane….”

Watching the interview, Ju Ji-tae, in a way different from the reporters on the scene, could only marvel at the respect that erupted for the director.

“That guy’s absolutely nuts…”

There was a reason he was called a madman.

***

<32-33rd Minute, Bundesliga BUNDESLIGA Round 4>

1860 Munich: Borussia Dortmund

Signal Iduna Park

[1860 Munich 4-3-3]

From Noble mtl dot com

FW: Jan Hainkel / Cho Jaeshin / Stephan Buls

MF: Daniel Laut / Gunter Draxler / Rodel Dietz

DF: Bertie Mayer / Ju Ji-tae / Helmut Forst / Matthias

GK: Hans Zimmer

[Borussia Dortmund 4-5-1]

FW: Mark Schmidt

MF: Johan Koenen / Michael Lais / Tobias Alchaple / Heiko Ostenlopf / Christian Folk

DF: Christian Bellinger / Sebastian Besling / Freddy Röckenhaus / Yurek Lorberk

GK: Dirk Schulzmann

Located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund was a big club that shared the Bundesliga of the 2010s with Bayern Munich.

Entering the 2020s, RB Leipzig rose to create a top three in the Bundesliga, and in the 2030s, Dortmund was considered a tier below Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, yet still undeniably one of the Bundesliga’s top clubs.

Formally known as Borussia Dortmund Ballspiel-Verein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund, it owned the Signal Iduna Park, the largest stadium in Germany and the third-largest in Europe, making it a popular club with a massive fanbase.

To a degree where, not just more than giants like Bayern Munich representing the Bundesliga but even more than any club in Europe—surpassing even Manchester United, Barcelona, and Real Madrid in average European attendance.

Sure, not every year due to relatively lower ticket prices resulting in less revenue compared to the average attendance, but a minor issue inconsequential to the passionate Dortmund supporters.

Today, the buzzing army filled the stands, focused solely on victory, victory alone.

“Mark Schmidt!! Mark Schmidt!!”

“Michael! Michael! Michael!!”

“We won’t lose to some football team in Munich!! Crush them!!”

As fervently as their earnest desire for victory, the Dortmund supporters, renowned for their passionate chants, displayed a legendary show of support befitting the hype surrounding a home game.

The situation unfolding on the field was too nail-biting for anyone to comfortably watch.