A position change was often a good strategic move.
That was why versatile players who could perform in multiple roles were so valuable.
Like the advantage a two-footed player had.
For example, Manchester United once had John O'Shea, a famous player who could cover every role from goalkeeper to defender to midfielder.
Fans jokingly called him a patch-man, but his versatility brought enormous stability to the team.
If a player was expected to start as a defender but appeared as a midfielder instead, the opponents could only be confused.
But seeing an attack-minded player like Ho-young take the role of a defensive midfielder was something no one expected.
"...This is trouble."
Corinthians manager Paulinho let out a frustrated sigh.
He had prepared an entire match plan assuming Ho-young would play as a striker, then trained his players heavily for that scenario.
"Good grief."
To be fair, putting Ho-young at defensive midfield was not completely unthinkable.
Top forwards sometimes dropped into the third line.
Michael Ballack, for example, who scored as much as a striker, occasionally played in defense depending on his manager's tactics, and Wayne Rooney once took on a deep midfield role to link defense and attack for Manchester United.
Even so, Paulinho felt like he had been struck in the back of the head with a hammer.
You hit my blind spot like this? You old fox.
Now he had no choice but to hand the initiative over to São Paulo FC.
Beep.
The match began, and Corinthians claimed the first possession, sending the ball backward.
Their two attacking midfielders in the 4-3-2-1 formation slowly took their positions and pushed the line higher.
With no wingers in their system, their build-up could be straightforward, but with good link-up play and fast players, they could dominate games.
It was that very structure that kept Corinthians at the top of the league from the start of the season.
But São Paulo FC were no pushovers.
Ho-young and the midfielders engaged aggressively in battles for control.
Whenever the opposing playmaker received the ball, two São Paulo players immediately applied pressure.
The key was forcing the opponents to use the pitch more narrowly.
If they could disrupt the passing lanes to Pato, they had a real chance.
Tap.
Rough.
Corinthians' attacking midfielder Didi received the ball and glanced back.
Aggressive forward pressing limited his options.
If this is how it will be…
Bang.
Didi sent the ball backward to a defender.
Receiving it, the defender launched a high ball into the center.
If they could not create space on the ground, they would solve it in the air.
Corinthians players were quite tall, so they rarely lost aerial duels.
Thump.
The ball crossed the halfway line and dropped at Didi's feet.
Immediately São Paulo pressed him again.
"Ugh!"
A fierce collision followed, but Didi won the struggle.
Dragging the ball through pressure, he looked up.
Pato was standing right in front of him.
"Drop and take!"
Tap.
He passed short as he said it, and Pato dropped down to receive.
Then it happened.
"...!"
Pato shifted slightly to the left and pushed the ball through a tiny gap, accelerating instantly.
An explosive burst of speed.
The field that had been as jammed as holiday traffic suddenly opened wide.
He shot forward like a rocket.
It was exactly the kind of situation one could predict and still not stop.
"Mark him!"
Casemiro reacted late, sprinting after him, but only tasted humiliation.
Leaving Casemiro behind, Pato found a wide-open field ahead.
Only the goalkeeper remained, rushing out desperately.
A rookie might panic, but Pato had done this countless times.
Finishing in a one-on-one after a long run was his signature.
Swoosh.
Gliding like a leopard, Pato narrowed his eyes.
He caught sight of the goalkeeper's legs, spread in an A-shape.
Center.
He calmly pushed the ball with an inside touch.
Thud.
"Yes!"
"Nice one, Pato!"
Corinthians took the lead.
"..."
Silence filled the air.
Not even five minutes had passed when Pato's early goal dropped São Paulo FC into a state of mourning.
Normally, they would not be this shaken.
Even if they conceded first, they usually gathered their focus and pushed forward again.
But this goal was different.
They had trained specifically to stop this exact pattern.
And despite knowing it, they still got hit.
It was enough to drain their energy.
Especially for Ho-young, who served as the core of the team, the disappointment was heavy.
Can we really stop him?
Doubts began to surface.
Doubts about his own ability, and whether the intense week of special training had achieved anything.
"...Hoo."
It's fine. Then we just score. And do not concede again.
He forced himself to settle down.
They were trailing, and the pressure to win was intense, but he had to endure it.
Fortunately, because of the training ingrained in him, he was able to distribute the ball steadily from midfield and secure possession.
If not for that, they would have lost the ball in the second and third lines and conceded again.
Minute 30 of the first half.
"Haa…"
A sigh escaped from Ho-young.
He had never felt so suffocated in a match.
There's just no opening.
Corinthians were not only strong in attack but also extremely complete defensively.
Their constant midfield pressing and sharp interceptions neutralized Douglas's speed, while their strong fullbacks shut down the flanks.
Was Carlos's tactic a failure?
No. That was not the case.
If I went forward as striker, our defense would collapse.
He did not want to doubt his teammates, but it was the truth.
Casemiro had no chance against Pato.
If Ho-young had played up front, the match would have turned into a wild all-out brawl.
A battle of blade versus blade.
And Corinthians clearly had the sharper, harder blade.
I have to cover as much as possible and guide the match.
He needed to distribute the ball calmly and wait for the moments to strike.
Ho-young shouted.
"Casemiro! He is coming! Stay alert!"
Statistically, youth matches almost never turn around.
Conceding first damages confidence, and the mental collapse comes quickly.
But with Ho-young stepping up as a leader, the team gradually regained shape.
There were a few dangerous moments, but they avoided conceding again.
It was at least something.
Beep.
The first half ended 1-0.
After thirty-five grueling minutes, São Paulo FC walked into the locker room with heavy steps.
Their faces were tense.
They feared Carlos, who was normally gentle but known to be strict when angry.
They fully expected a scolding.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes…"
"Good. You are all doing well."
But Carlos surprised them.
"You look shocked. Are you disappointed in your performance? Is that right, Casemiro?"
"Yes…"
"Then think back to our match against Corinthians in July."
They had suffered a 5-0 crushing defeat mid-season.
Pato scored a hat-trick. It was a nightmare they wanted to forget.
"But how is it today? Our passing accuracy and possession in midfield are higher. Our attacking development is struggling, but the initiative is ours."
It was proof that Ho-young was fulfilling his duty as the distributor.
Carlos was praising that point.
They had not lost the battle in midfield.
If Ho-young had played striker today, they would have conceded at least three goals by now.
That much was certain.
"...But we still failed to stop Pato. Even though we trained so hard."
Casemiro's voice trembled as he recalled the moment Pato broke through him.
Carlos responded calmly.
"Did you think we were the only ones training this hard? They have trained themselves to exhaustion for this match too. To lift the trophy. Someone once said, 'Only the prepared can lift the trophy.' Nonsense. Everyone prepares. Victory belongs to the ones who show everything they prepared."
His voice was solemn.
"The only thing missing is a goal. You worked too hard to let one conceded goal break you. Enjoy the match. Then you will show everything."
A voice filled with conviction.
As Carlos delivered his speech, he suddenly frowned.
Ho-young was curling his lips like he wanted to laugh.
"Ho-young. Are my words amusing to you?"
"No?"
"Then why are you smiling?"
"I am trying to enjoy it. Football."
Ho-young relaxed his heart.
He still felt pressure to win, but it gradually eased.
The impatience faded as well.
I can do this.
Exactly. All he had to do was show what he had trained.
Beep.
Break time was over.
Now it was time to strike back.
The players returned to the field with lighter steps.
"Casemiro."
"Hm?"
As Corinthians circulated the ball, Ho-young whispered.
"Hang in there."
"Oh, right."
"I will back you up as much as I can."
Those words gave Casemiro some peace.
And in the second minute of the second half.
Amid fierce midfield battles, Didi recovered the ball and looked toward Pato.
His eyes signaled a short pass.
Just like earlier, Pato dropped down to receive.
Then it happened.
Tap.
"...!!"
Someone flashed in like lightning and intercepted Didi's pass.
It was as if he had predicted it.
A razor-sharp interception.
Pato, who had dropped to receive only to get nothing, glared sharply.
(To be continued.)