Chapter 23
The K League resumed after the A-match break.
And waiting for Jeonbuk in Round 3 was none other than Daegu CF.
Except for the ACL Round of 16 second leg against Suwon Oseong, Jeonbuk had been playing all their matches at home, at Jeonju Castle.
Securing points on the road is just as important in the league competition, so Manager Seon Ki-baek prepared the best tactics.
“Unlike us who use a 4-2-3-1 formation, Daegu employs a unique 4-1-2-3 formation. At first glance, you might think they’d be weak in midfield due to a lone volante build-up, but Daegu compensates in a unique way.”
Instead of the commonly used 3-2 build-up, Daegu uses a 4-2 build-up, where a player from the second line drops deep into the third line to participate in distributing the ball.
That’s the difference between Daegu and other teams—and the crucial point to exploit in this match.
Standing in the middle of the dressing room, Seon Ki-baek began using a simulation app to illustrate the potential patterns Daegu players could take.
“It might look like a solid tactic at first glance. But if you take a closer look, Daegu’s football is essentially ‘ineffective.’ The reason is that their fullbacks barely participate in the build-up, and instead of the defensive midfielder handling the back-line build-up, their number 7 drops from the second line to the third to take charge.”
As he operated the remote, arrows appeared on the screen showing how Daegu had been building up from the back in previous league matches.
The pass lines ran directly toward number 7 instead of number 6.
This meant Daegu’s number 6 focused more on defense, taking on a somewhat outdated role, while number 7, who has to shuttle between the second and third lines, inevitably ends up carrying a heavy load.
“If they can link direct passes through the midfield line, they could tear through our front-line pressing—but that’s easier said than done. The risk is too high, and the success rate is low.”
The bigger issue was that Daegu had yet to show any sign of fixing this flaw.
Since number 7 is a second-line resource, they naturally receive strong pressure from the opponent, and their predictable build-up makes all the passing routes easy to read.
A clear weakness.
Seon Ki-baek decided to exploit that area.
“That’s why Baek Ian, Kang Sang-yong—your roles are especially important. You need to apply intense pressure on number 7 and force inaccurate passes. That’s your focus. And the rest of you should use up all the energy you’ve stored so far to press the opponents. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“There are players making their return in today’s match, and some are back after national team duty, so there might be a lack of chemistry. But that’s all the more reason for our veterans to step up. Let’s support each other and reward the fans who followed us all the way here with a win!”
“Yes!”
With those final words, the players began rising one by one and heading toward the tunnel.
As the dressing room emptied, with only Seon Ki-baek still standing in the center, assistant coach Oh Hyun-wook cautiously approached him.
“That was unexpected. I didn’t think you’d make that choice, Coach.”
“What was?”
“That you’d go with Kang Sang-yong. Honestly, knowing your temperament, I thought you’d pick someone else for the defensive midfielder role, or use Ian as a lone volante.”
Lone volante.
At the mention of that word, Seon Ki-baek frowned.
“Lone volante my ass. Hey, have I ever used a lone volante since my time in Spain?”
“Well, still…”
“Yeah, I had issues with Kang Sang-yong, so it’s not weird that you thought that. If it were the old me, I might have considered a lone volante, just like you said. And I probably would’ve sold off any player who defied me the moment the summer transfer window opened.”
Might have considered it? If it were the old him?
What did that mean? Oh Hyun-wook tilted his head and asked.
“Then why did you go with him?”
“Who knows.”
If there were some grand reason, he could’ve explained it—but unfortunately, Seon Ki-baek couldn’t say it aloud.
Talking about personal matters between a manager and player to his coach wasn’t his style.
— I’m sorry, Coach. I want to try again, properly this time.
— Why don’t we start by asking why you pulled that stunt? You thought you’d always be a starter since you were the core last season, even if you clashed with the coach? Did you only come to the office after your suspension because Baek Ian was doing better than expected, and you felt your spot was slipping away?
— Embarrassingly… yes. That’s why I want to apologize. I know I might not be part of the coach’s plans anymore, but if I get a chance, I want to show what I can do. And I want to apologize to the fans after we win.
‘If he had just properly apologized from the beginning, this could’ve ended long ago—why’d he drag it out so stupidly?’
Seon Ki-baek smiled as he recalled Kang Sang-yong, who had come to him during the A-match break.
A sincere apology and a willingness to improve.
As long as those two things were present, Seon Ki-baek was willing to forgive players no matter what kind of mistake they made.
Sure, from an emotional standpoint, it would’ve been hard to accept a challenge to his authority…
But—
‘One team… That’s the most important value I learned while studying tactics in Spain.’
If it meant Jeonbuk’s revival, he could forgive a moment of a player’s rebellion.
—
Daegu CF
4-1-2-3
Manager: Jeon Seong-ho
Kwon Yu-chan
Yoo Se-hoon Cho Ye-jun
Anas
Jeon Je-won
Son Jae-yoon Moon Min-seo Nam Yu-min Tiebi
Tak Seung-joon
—
Jeonbuk Mirae Motors
4-2-3-1
Manager: Seon Ki-baek
Yoon Seung-hwan
Park Yeon-woo Shaferi
Kim Chun-jae
Kang Sang-yong Baek Ian
Han Kyung-rok Han Yong-ho Han Gang-rok
Joo Tae-young
—
The match between Daegu CF and Jeonbuk Mirae began with Daegu’s kickoff.
To be honest, I actually really liked Daegu CF as a team.
It wasn’t because of their playing style or any specific player, but because they reminded me of Jeonbuk in the old days.
‘Daegu also had a tough time back then, no less than Jeonbuk. They got relegated to the second division in the 2013 season, and even in K League 2, they struggled and kept getting beaten down.’
Just like how Jeonbuk Keratops, once just a punching bag, signaled a revival after receiving sponsorship from Mirae Motors.
Didn’t Daegu also begin its resurrection when General Manager Cho Gwang-rae stepped in?
Starting with a squad rebuild focused on youth talent, they went on to win the Korea Cup in 2018, and by 2019, even completed a dedicated football stadium, becoming the role model for all citizen clubs.
Finding a better revival story than that wouldn’t be easy.
But that hopeful period didn’t last forever.
As I said earlier, the reason I feel an affinity toward Daegu is that they followed a similar path to Jeonbuk.
What I mean is…
‘Just like how Jeonbuk fell flat after their golden era, Daegu is collapsing now too.’
Jeonbuk hit rock bottom after appointing a foolish manager, and Daegu didn’t want to be outdone.
They tried to tamper with their counterattack-based style—both their strength and their biggest flaw—by changing managers, and ended up crashing hard, becoming a team stuck in the mid-to-lower ranks.
Consecutive failed manager appointments.
In baseball, they say it’s all about the pitcher.
In football, it’s the manager.
No single factor hurts a team’s performance more than hiring a manager who doesn’t fit.
And even now, the aftermath of those failures was plain to see.
Shaa!
“Ah!”
“Ian! Pass it now!”
“Yes!”
I slid in near the center circle and cut off possession, then pushed the ball to the back and passed it to senior Sang-yong.
The opponent I intercepted was Daegu’s number 7.
According to the manager’s analysis, he was the core of Daegu’s buildup and a massive influence in midfield battles.
“Sang-yong! Left side is open!”
“Kyung-rok, aim for the half-space with Yeon-woo!”
“Yes!”
Now that Daegu’s midfield had been breached, Jeonbuk’s intense offensive pressure began to shine.
Sang-yong sunbae’s ball connected with Han Kyung-rok.
Yeon-woo hyung, originally a winger, was playing inverted and cutting in from the inside.
Perhaps aware of that, Han Kyung-rok immediately picked up speed and carried the ball along the touchline.
As Daegu’s fullback got pulled out of position, he passed the ball straight to Yeon-woo hyung.
Tap.
“Phew…”
Since Daegu used a back four, there were still plenty of defenders inside the box.
Yeon-woo hyung had two choices: either shoot a beat earlier than the keeper expected or break deeper into the box to create space and pass to someone else.
The latter was riskier and didn’t align with Jeonbuk’s high-line tactics.
Apparently thinking the same, Yeon-woo hyung measured the angle briefly and then passed the ball backward with a backheel.
“Ian! You can go right away! Just do what you want!”
“Do what I want, huh…”
Well then.
I looked up and scanned the box.
Since we had turned the ball backward once, Daegu’s defense had somewhat recovered.
In this situation, creating a variable is something most players wouldn’t even dare attempt—so usually, you go for a team play or an unexpected mid-range shot…
‘Luckily, Jeonbuk has a guy like that.’
“Hey! Baek Ian, send it in front of me!”
Watching Yoon Seung-hwan running the line on Daegu’s defensive backline while yelling made me let out a dumbfounded snort.
‘What the hell is this guy doing?’
I had been holding back lately since there were national team seniors around, but this guy got a bit full of himself after scoring a few goals in the World Cup qualifiers.
His ego had clearly grown.
‘That’s not how it should be. A striker shouldn’t have an overinflated ego.’
Others might not think so, but at least that’s how I see it.
As long as I get the ball to him somehow, he should just stick it in.
That’s what an ideal striker should be able to do.
“Well, if you want the ball that bad, I guess I have to give it to you.”
Thud!
I nodded and shot the ball low and fast toward Yoon Seung-hwan.
It was a bit weaker than the crosses I used to whip in like daily meals, but for a through pass, it was unusually fast—almost like a shot.
It was too fast to even be considered a normal pass, and Daegu’s defenders missed it completely.
“Got i—argh! Damn it, this punk!”
Yoon Seung-hwan struggled to control the ball in his awkward posture.
But his talent as a potential world-class striker didn’t go anywhere.
He regained his stance and slotted it straight into the net.
Tap!
Whoosh!
Yoon Seung-hwan’s clean shot split the goal.
[Aaaaaaahhhhhh!]
[…]
I walked toward Yoon Seung-hwan, feeling the contrast between the cheers of the Mad Green Boys on the opposite side and the sighs from Daegu’s supporter group, Grazie.
“I passed it the moment you called for it. How was it? You like it?”
“Ugh! Who the hell sends a through pass like that, you psycho! I didn’t mishandle it, okay? My ankle’s been feeling off since earlier…”
“You scored though. Any complaints?”
“None, bastard! None!”
As Yoon Seung-hwan whined in front of Daegu’s supporters, I gave a casual nod and shifted my gaze toward the now-dejected fan section.
[What are you lookin’ at, punk!]
[Get lost back to your side! Damn Maebuk scum!]
[Booooooo!]
‘Hmm. Yeah, yeah. Looks like the Daegu fans are getting fired up since I got the assist. Maybe I should do it again?’
I’ve always felt this, even in my past life—
There’s nothing more fun than doing a celebration in front of the opposing team’s gloomy supporter section.
—
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