Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

182 – Watch Me!

182

Was it a close call?

Originally, he was going to shoot strongly to the right corner, but at the last moment, he changed his mind due to a strange premonition and took a Panenka, which turned out to be a good decision.

Thanks to the last-minute change, or perhaps simply because he was destined to succeed, he achieved the goal and even got an impact, resulting in the best outcome.

As Joo Ji-tae saw his teammates rushing towards him, celebrating their victory, the first thing that came to his mind was—

“What should I say in the interview?”

He was worried about the interview.

Well, the content was already set.

The Italian guys were going to make a big fuss about it.

The enthusiastic fans deserved a fitting respect.

Slowly—

“Joo Ji-tae, you’ve been selected for the official interview. Please get ready quickly.”

It was time for the interview, dedicated to the enthusiastic Italian fans.

* * *

After Park Ji-sung joined Manchester United, the overseas football broadcast began to gain popularity, featuring players like Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, and Lee Ga-in, and eventually, Joo Ji-tae and Cho Jae-sin, who blossomed magnificently.

Especially, whereas the previous players had brought young men to the forefront, the generation of Lee Ga-in saw a rapid increase in female fans, which explosively grew with the emergence of Joo Ji-tae and Cho Jae-sin, who had the looks of an idol or an actor.

Now, overseas football broadcasts had become a popular program in Korea, enjoyed by people of all ages.

From the old days of Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min to the younger male fans who started watching during Kim Min-jae and Lee Ga-in’s era, and then the new addition of female fans in their 10s to 30s who were drawn in by Joo Ji-tae and Cho Jae-sin.

However, this popularity was limited to matches featuring Korean players.

No matter how great the team or the match, if there was no Korean player, the viewership ratings would plummet. But there was an exception – the Champions League final.

While the group stage was similar, once the final stage began, the viewership ratings would increase even if there was no Korean player, and by the final match, it would reach an enormous rating.

But what if a Korean player took the stage in the final match?

And what if that player was the team’s captain and ace?

Of course, it was a given that football fans would watch the live broadcast, and this 35/36 Champions League final was also recording an astonishing viewership rating.

“Barcelona’s fifth kicker is coming out.”

“It’s him again! Barcelona’s trusted player! Captain Joo Ji-tae is coming out. If he scores, it’ll be Barcelona’s win, and if he fails, it’ll be passed on to the next kicker… the referee is blowing the whistle! Joo Ji-tae, Joo Ji-tae is running…!! He kicked – pa, pa, Panenka!! It’s a Panenka!!!”

“Kki-yohoo! Joo Jitae scores a goal with a Panenka! Barcelona wins the Champions League! They’ve won two years in a row!!”

At first, the game started with a disadvantage, followed by a intense battle, then another disadvantage, and finally, it ended with Barcelona’s victory, making Korea go wild.

Most Koreans, still in a state of excitement, were watching Joo Jitae’s interview, who was selected as the best player of the tournament.

[Congratulations on winning the championship for two consecutive years.]

[You were considered an underdog, but you eventually won. How do you feel?]

[You scored three wonder goals in this game, including a half-line goal in the first half, an equalizing goal that led to extra time in the second half, and a Panenka in the penalty shootout. It’s as if you made a mistake in choosing your position, but do you plan to continue playing as a center back?]

[You took a Panenka in the last moment. Although it was successful, it seemed like a risky choice. Do you have a reason for insisting on taking Panenkas in penalty shootouts?]

[In 2008, Chelsea’s John Terry prepared a Panenka two weeks before the final and attempted it in the penalty shootout, but failed. This is actually the first time a Panenka has been successful in a Champions League final. Did you know that and try to challenge it?]

[Although you won, there are rumors that the team’s recent performance has been disappointing. What do you think about that?]

[Last year, you also performed impressively in the final and led your team to victory. This year, you did the same. What’s the secret to your strength in big games?]

Unlike usual post-game interviews, where players give straightforward answers to straightforward questions, this one was different.

As the interview continued, with questions that sparked curiosity and answers that piqued interest, it seemed to draw in even those who had left.

[Finally, can you give us your thoughts?]

Joo Jitae smiled mysteriously and replied, “I’d like to thank all the fans who cheered for us. Thanks to your passionate support, we were able to stay strong until the end and lift the trophy in Milan.”

At first, it seemed like a typical expression of gratitude to the fans, but…

“Especially, the enthusiastic support and cheers from the Italian fans were the driving force behind our victory. The energy from the fans was incredible, and every time the crowd cheered, I felt a surge of power. I want to say this to the Italian fans: Italian friends! Keep watching, and I’ll continue to perform well!!”

It was a high-level provocation that could shake the world.

* * *

『Barcelona wins the Champions League for two consecutive years!!』

『How did Barcelona, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, manage to win four trophies?』

『From the Supercopa de España to the Copa del Rey, the Club World Cup, and the Champions League, what’s the secret to winning every tournament they participated in? Is it their defense?』

『Center back Joo Jitae writes his own legend! He showed off his incredible play in the final again this year!』

『Is he a guarantee of victory? The quality of a Ballon d’Or winner! Joo Jitae, who was selected as the best player of the Supercopa de España, Copa del Rey, and Club World Cup, and also won the Champions League final and tournament MVP!』

『Former Italian national team coach Antonio Monrella: “Joo Jitae is a fantasista of this era”』

Joo Jitae’s gaze stopped at one headline as he browsed through the articles.

“Is this a compliment from the former Italian national team coach?”

It wasn’t just a flashy title from a journalist.

Fantasista.

A title that had been discontinued since Mancini, Zola, Baggio, and Del Piero.

To Italian football fans, fantasista didn’t just mean a playmaker. If it did, Zinedine Zidane would also be considered a representative fantasista.

But they wouldn’t call Zidane a fantasista, although he’s a typical No. 10 player. The term is often confused with playmaker, but it’s not exactly the same.

So… a playmaker needs something more.

That something more is the ability to create a spectacle, which is the basic requirement of a fantasista. It’s not just about scoring goals or dribbling, but also about leading the team’s movement and being the center of attention.

In modern football, where teams prioritize organization and teamwork, it’s impossible to have a fantasista who can dominate the game. It’s a nostalgic concept that can only be remembered, but when an Italian coach, who’s familiar with the term, directly mentions it, it’s hard to ignore.

[Modern football is structured in a way that makes it impossible for a fantasista to emerge. Teams focus on teamwork and organization, so how can they revolve around one player? Even if a player has the ability, the coach wouldn’t allow it. It’s not a matter of lacking ability. A few years ago, Jack Grealish could have become a fantasista, but in modern football, he’s just an excellent midfielder. To become a fantasista in modern football, one needs to have an even higher level of skill and adapt to the team’s situation, just like Joo Jitae this season.]

Joo Jitae felt uneasy as he read the highly praising article.

“Is this guy okay? Did he get hit by a stray bullet or something?”

But when he looked into the coach’s recent situation, he found that he had been criticized severely and was fired from his position just two days after the interview.

Joo Jitae felt a heavy heart.

“They’re not all weird, saying they’re Italian. I was too narrow-minded. Now, I need to pay more attention to Italian fans.”

Joo Ji-tae decided to focus more on Italian fans from now on.

Although it’s questionable whether they would want that.

“Watch out, Monrella!!”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m finally arriving, so I’ll try to calm down.”

In the large van with tinted windows, where celebrities or lawbreakers would often ride, Cha Ye-ri, with her bright makeup, was leaning her head against the partition between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat.