The press conference room right after the match.
The interview was conducted in a warm and cheerful atmosphere.
"Today's match must have been truly meaningful for you. Not only did you score 4 goals against Chelsea, but the team also climbed to second place in the league. On top of that, you were named Man of the Match. How do you feel?"
"It feels fantastic. The process was good, and the result was perfect. There was not a single player who failed to do his part. And now we have gained the confidence that we can achieve anything. Manchester City are no longer just some ordinary team."
Ho-young, who had been named Man of the Match, spoke confidently.
The title was gradually becoming a reality.
The problem was that they were still 4 points behind Manchester United.
If United won all of their remaining matches, Manchester City would not be able to win the title no matter how hard they tried.
And there was one more thing.
There was still one issue the club had not resolved.
The reporter's next question was about exactly that.
"I have a question for the manager. It is being reported that there was direct friction with Robinho before the match began. The controversy over discord with some of the other players also does not seem to be dying down."
"This is a place for talking about the match. That does not seem like an appropriate question. On a happy day like this, I would appreciate it if you did not ruin the atmosphere with nonsense like that."
Mancini reacted a little sharply.
If it had been a ridiculous rumor, he would have brushed it aside, but since it was true to some extent, his voice rose without him realizing it.
On top of that, he was currently approaching the end of his contract, so he was especially sensitive about it.
He was producing the best results possible, yet the board had still not brought up a new contract.
He wanted to continue managing Manchester City, but it seemed the people upstairs felt differently.
And in truth, the fans felt the same way as well.
Mancini was certainly a top manager.
But the big problem was that he was too weak in the Champions League.
It was only natural that rumors of a managerial change were surfacing.
But a moment later, even more shocking news arrived at the press conference room.
It was breaking news coming in from White Hart Lane.
"Breaking news, Tottenham have just beaten Manchester United 2-1!"
"!"
Everyone in the room was stunned.
Then smiles slowly began to spread across the desks.
Ho-young was one of them.
'That makes it a 1-point gap.'
Heaven was helping them.
The road to the title would not be that difficult.
The following week.
The second leg of the Europa League semi-final was played.
The venue was Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Manchester City had already won the first leg 3-1, so as long as they did not make any major mistakes, they should advance comfortably.
Ho-young was once again scheduled to rest on the bench as a substitute.
Still, in case something unexpected happened, Ho-young also warmed up diligently.
It was about 90 minutes before kick-off.
"Good to see you."
The man who came over from Ajax's side was one of Ajax's coaches.
[Dennis Bergkamp]
[Possessed Talents: First Touch of the Non-Flying Dutchman (L), Brilliant Tactical Understanding (S+3), Wondrous Football Intelligence (S+)]
(Currently deteriorated talents cannot be viewed.)
(You may covet one talent if the conditions are met.)
(For S-grade or higher, you must fulfill the hidden conditions before coveting it.)
(Condition 1: Win the match)
(Condition 2: Advance to the Europa League final)
(Condition 3: Score 5 goals in this match)
(Hidden Condition: Opens when you covet at least one talent)
A legendary forward who formed the best duo with Thierry Henry and led Arsenal to an unbeaten league title.
Now he was working as an Ajax coach, but in his playing days, he had been so great that people said he was "a striker the game will never see again."
He was also the player who firmly established the second striker position and became its model.
His nickname, the Non-Flying Dutchman, came from his fear of flying, but on the pitch, he flew more freely than anyone else.
What more was there to say.
A first touch beyond compare.
In that field, no one could imitate him.
There was even a saying, quite literally, that "Bergkamp equals first touch."
No matter where the ball came from, and no matter from what angle it arrived, he had the extraordinary talent to make it his own.
That was precisely First Touch of the Non-Flying Dutchman (L).
'Has it already been 5 years since Bergkamp retired?'
That settled it.
If a person did not use their talents, they gradually deteriorated, but if among them there was one truly exceptional talent, then one of them would be converted into L-grade and preserved.
That did not mean Bergkamp could still use that talent the way he once had.
'Only the talent itself is preserved.'
That seemed to be the case.
In any event, he had been one of the players Ho-young had wanted to meet before retirement so he could covet his talent, but he had never dreamed they would meet like this and that the talent would be L-grade.
If this too was not fate, then what was?
The problem was that the condition was very difficult.
He was not even supposed to start, yet being told to score 5 goals in this match was practically the same as being told to give up and let it go.
Bergkamp spoke again.
"Setting aside the fact that I am an Ajax coach, I was disappointed not to see you in the last match, and now it looks like I will not get to see you this time either."
He was subtly probing whether Ho-young would play.
Having roughly caught on to that intention, Ho-young followed along with a regretful expression.
"I hope we get another chance to play Ajax in the future."
"I feel the same. Next time, I hope I get to see you out there on the pitch."
"There will be a good day for that."
"Ha ha. I look forward to it."
With those words, Bergkamp turned away wearing a satisfied smile.
He had gotten useful information from that exchange.
'There is a very high chance he will not play.'
If Ho-young did not play, there was also a chance Ajax could turn the tie around.
They had prepared for today almost as if their lives depended on it.
Besides, this was Ajax's sacred ground, Johan Cruyff Arena.
That meant the ball boys and the crowd were all on Ajax's side.
Maybe they could pull off a miracle.
And then, an hour later.
Bergkamp's face was filled with shock.
[Manchester City Starting Lineup]
Goalkeeper: Shay Given
Defenders: Wayne Bridge, Jérôme Boateng, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta
Midfielders: Adam Johnson, Patrick Vieira, David Silva, Shaun Wright-Phillips
Forwards: Ho-young, Adebayor
Manchester City's team sheet announced before kick-off.
Even putting aside the fact that it was a 4-4-2 instead of their usual 4-2-3-1, the selections were far beyond what anyone had expected.
'Why is Ho-young...'
Dennis Bergkamp could not believe it.
'Was that mind games...?'
He had thought Ho-young would be included on the bench just in case, but he had never imagined he would start.
'Damn it. He got me.'
Not only Bergkamp, but the commentators were thinking the same thing.
[Ho-young starting is definitely unexpected. Since Manchester City need to focus on the EPL right now, they do not really need to play Ho-young at all.]
[That is right. They are already leading 3-1 on aggregate. Or perhaps they want to kill off the tie early, just in case something unexpected happens?]
[That seems likely. The idea is probably to settle it in the first half and rest comfortably. It looks like they want to prevent the disaster of thinking too far ahead and somehow losing the match.]
That was one reason, but the real reason was something else.
30 minutes before the lineup was announced, an incident had taken place in the away dressing room.
It was another clash between Robinho and Mancini, and the reason came from the selection process.
While making the final assessment of the players' condition, Mancini had instructed Robinho to play, but Robinho, who had no intention of playing from the start, openly complained and began slacking off.
His dissatisfaction came from not being used in big matches and only being used in meaningless games like this.
A Europa League semi-final was certainly a big match, but it was hardly an exaggeration to say the tie had already been decided.
Still, sending out the reserves alone felt too risky, so Mancini had intended to use Robinho, but Robinho felt he was being treated cheaply, which hurt his pride.
For that reason, Robinho expressed his dissatisfaction to the manager, and in the process, Mancini flew into a rage and hurled vulgar abuse at him.
That was what led Robinho to go through the motions.
That was also why Ho-young volunteered to step in.
He had said this to the manager.
"I want to start. I will finish the match as quickly as possible and return to the bench."
A chance that had arrived by coincidence.
In truth, it benefited Ho-young as well.
Dennis Bergkamp's talent was not something that came every day.
To score 5 goals, starting the match was better.
No, it was essential.
So before kick-off, Ho-young gathered a few players.
In particular, he had deep discussions with Adebayor, with whom he had to work in the front line, and David Silva, who would support him from behind through playmaking, preparing thoroughly for the match.
"Young, I trust you. I will always be behind you wherever you go."
"Heh heh heh. Do not worry. What happened last time will not happen again. Of course, if some bastard starts bothering you, I might lose my temper too."
Silva and Adebayor looked full of confidence.
Ho-young was the same.
'5 goals.'
He was completely set on it.
That did not mean he intended to play the full match.
'45 minutes is enough.'
Roughly 1 goal every 10 minutes.
He intended to go all out from the start.
And so the match began.
Peeeeep!
[The match has begun. Manchester City take the kick-off. Ho-young passes backward as he moves out. David Silva receives it.]
[Manchester City, lined up on the left, have come out in a 4-4-2 unlike usual. It seems likely they have altered their tactics with the upcoming FA Cup final and the Manchester derby in mind.]
[With Adebayor acting as the post player, they are creating good space for Ho-young to circle around on the opposite side. It definitely looks like they intend to settle things early.]
[It does indeed. If Manchester City can firmly take control of the flow, they may well score comfortably before the first half even ends.]
The commentators were absolutely right.
Adebayor's role was not to finish, but to attract the defenders' attention and funnel chances toward Ho-young.
And he was carrying out that role exactly as asked.
"Young! Just trust me!"
Simply being able to play as part of a front two with Ho-young made him happy, and from the moment the match started, he was moving actively.
Just as the commentary said, it felt like a scoring chance would come before the first half ended.
No, it did not even need to take that long.
Tak!
[David Silva threads it forward!]
[Adebayor drops to receive it. Central second line, he lays it back to David Silva. At the same time, Adebayor makes a run into the front line!]
[Ajax centre-back Vurnon Anita goes with him!]
Adebayor's threatening run drew the defenders' attention.
That was the moment David Silva slipped the pass to the opposite side.
Tap.
[Ho-young receives it with his back to the defender. Ah, he turns immediately!]
Near the penalty area.
Ho-young, having received the pass with his back to goal, spun his body sharply.
There was no wasted movement.
A harmony of control and smoothness.
The shot came under strict control.
Boom!
Jan Vertonghen tried a sliding tackle, but the ball was already buried in the net.
[Goooal! Manchester City score!]
[Ho-young's trademark, the turning shot that you know is coming but still cannot stop. If you give that player that kind of situation, it is simply a goal.]
A goal after just 48 seconds of the first half.
The process was very simple, but the result was devastating.
And it did not stop there.
Ho-young quietly carried the ball back to the halfway line, then focused on the match again.
And exactly 1 minute later.
Tak!
[Adam Johnson with the interception! He looks for Ho-young!]
[It goes through in one move. Ho-young, Ho-young! He shoots right away!]
24 meters.
The moment Ho-young received the ball, he turned and struck it.
A similar pattern, and the same turning shot.
After all, is not the scariest thing the pattern you know is coming but still cannot stop?
Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg once again found himself helpless.
The net shook mercilessly.
Thud!
[Goooal! Ho-young once again! He has smashed in 2 goals in just 2 minutes!!]
"..."
The stadium was covered in shock.
2 goals in 2 minutes.
And there were still 42 minutes left to play.
His target of 5 goals might end sooner than expected.
'10 minutes.'
The target changed.
Not 1 goal in 10 minutes, but 5 goals in 10 minutes.
(To be continued.)