Romantic on the Field

22.

Regular time is over while Sean broadcasts a new cheer to the crowd.

All that remains is two minutes of extra time.

‘I’m glad it ended in a tie.’

‘If it wasn’t for Lee, I would have lost again.’

The supporters who came to the stadium, the fans watching the broadcast on TV, and even the players playing the game thought the game would end like this.

“Sean, turn around quickly.”

“I am busy right now. I need to tell you the cheering song.”

“You madman! Look ahead!”

But the game isn’t over yet.

“···uh?”

Jamie was running again.

Crossing the half line, towards the penalty box.

**

Carlo Ancelotti, who coached prestigious clubs such as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, left the following quote.

[Football is the most important of the less important things in life. ]

On the other hand, Bill Shankly, regarded as the greatest manager in Liverpool history, said:

[People say football is as important as life and death. I cannot hide my disappointment in these comments. Because football is a much more important matter than life and death. ]

Regardless of who is more correct, it seems obvious that football is a very important thing for the home crowd who have come to Stoke City’s home ground ‘Bet 777 Stadium’.

“lee!”

“lee! run!”

“Hit! You solve it!”

In the 45th minute of the second half, when regular time has passed.

Jamie, who was brought in at the end of the game and scored the equalizer, had the last chance.

In front of the penalty box, after overcoming the fiercely clinging defender with a physical fight, he went forward.

As a result, the distance from the goalpost is about 15 meters.

You could shoot right away, but Jamie hesitated and moved forward, as if he wanted to make sure.

Naturally, the defenders around him did not stay still, and two almost simultaneously blocked his path.

“lee. Don’t waste your time!”

“Just hit me!”

There were no other Stoke City players around. In other words, if you have a few more seconds, you can become isolated and lose the ball.

“Just when… uh?”

That’s why the Stoke City supporters had no choice but to be anxious, but Jamie melted two defenders in an instant.

“What, what is it?”

What Jamie did was a flip flap after a simple upper body painting. But it went by so quickly that the crowd couldn’t see it. Of course, it didn’t really matter to them what skills Jamie used to beat defenders.

“Hey, it’s open!”

Right before the end of the game, we got a decisive opportunity.

The only thing that mattered to them was that fact.

“Hit it!”

“Shoot!”

Then the crowd shouted in unison, and Jamie did.

“…!”

The electronic display stopped, and the spectators also stopped.

The defenders who were marking Jamie also stopped momentarily and stared blankly at the ball in the net.

I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I!

A second later, the home crowd stood up in unison and screamed, as if someone had pressed the ‘play’ button.

“eee-YA!”

“Leee! LEE-eee!”

If Choi, the owner of Stoke City, had seen this scene, he would have been worried that the stands would collapse.

The extremely excited spectators started running wild with excitement as if they were going to go down at any moment.

However, the culprit who put them into a state of extreme excitement kissed the emblem with a calm expression and then brought his ring finger to his lips.

“lee! lee!”

“Crazy, I can’t believe it. I can’t believe this situation!”

Before the spectators could calm down their excitement, the referee checked the clock and declared the game over.

“I won!”

“Lee did it again!”

Sean raised his hand as the crowd roared with joy.

“Now, let’s sing our cheering song to Lee again!”

“Oh yeah. Sean! You are the first.”

[ Lee’s play brings back good times. ]

[ When Stoke City commands the Premier League ]

[ Watching Lee play, he takes us to special places. ]

thump, thump.

[Oh, oh, oh. Stoke’s Romantics. ]

thump, thump.

[Oh, oh, oh. Stoke’s fantasy star. ]

And again, Lee’s new anthem rang through Bet 777 Stadium.

**

Just before the end of the game, the player who was put in scored the equalizer and the come-from-behind goal alone.

Even if it happened in the third division, it was enough to draw attention from the football world.

[A shocking comeback win. Stoke City 2-1 win over Ipswich Town]

[‘5 minutes’ was enough for him. Jamie Lee, who sank the town of Ipswich]

[ Stoke City and Jamie Lee continue to thrive ]

[Jamie Lee’s continuing performance, the possibility of transferring to a higher club? ]

ㄴ [Leicester City, who showed interest, “in the process of being tuned.” ]

ㄴ [Contrary to Leicester City’s position, it seems that negotiations have broken down in effect]

[At the news of Leicester City’s collapse, fans of the Premier League club said, “Please sign Lee.” Until requesting directly to the club]

[Jamie Lee “Coming to think of it, I don’t think 1 million pounds will be enough. I might consider it for £2m.” ]

“Jamie.”

“···Why.”

“I would consider it for £2m. When was this interview again?”

To Brian’s question, Jamie shrugged instead of answering.

A few days ago, someone asked me on the way to the training ground, so I was just kidding.

However, that person was only a journalist.

“Jamie, I think this was an extremely careless interview.”

“Why, again. what.”

“But what if a club really offers £2m?”

2 million pounds is more than 3 billion won in Korean currency.

For reference, Lionel Messi, who is considered the greatest soccer player in history, was paid around £1 million.

‘Does he even think about it?’

Jamie stared at Brian’s stupid, innocuous face.

“Brian.”

“uh?”

“Where is the club that can pay 2 million pounds? Man City won’t give you that much. Not to mention a 3rd division leaguer…”

Harry, who was about to answer for Jamie, stopped talking.

“Third leaguer, what.”

It was because Jamie’s eyes were visible.

“No, that’s not what I meant… it’s not. you crazy Who pays £2m for a third division leaguer?”

Then, in the end, I couldn’t stand it and gave up.

“Yeah. yes. Our 3rd division leaguer, Harry Harry, is saying the right thing for some reason.”

Although, I had to shut up right away at Jamie’s sarcasm that followed.

“Hey, the director is here.”

Fortunately for Harry, Manager Charlie and Coach Nick entered the locker room just in time.

Now, this is the away locker room at ‘Vale Park’, the home stadium of Port Vale FC.

This is where Round 2 of the Papa John’s Pizza Cup is going today.

“Ironically, I met my rival in a cup competition.”

As soon as he came in, director Charlie hit the white board with his palm with a ‘bang’ sound.

“No matter how small the competition is, you shouldn’t lose the local derby, right?”

“Yep!”

Among them, there was no one who did not know the importance of ‘Potterless Derby’. That’s why there were roaring answers right away.

“Does everyone remember the last Potterless Derby?”

“Yes.”

“At that time, Lee, who had just transferred, scored a goal and two assists and won a come-from-behind victory. In that sense, today is the Liga selection.”

As soon as he arrived, he knocked on the whiteboard, and when he said something, he said he would just use Jamie to win.

‘Yeah what. It’ll work until the championship.’

Jamie decided to just think positively.

After the recent ‘use like Jamie Caviar’ tactic, Stoke has been showing a very high win rate. Thanks to that, the voice of criticism against director Charlie has also decreased a lot.

Anyway, winning is important. Winning is a habit, so if you win once, you win twice, and if you win twice, you win three times. If you keep winning, no big deal. Jamie believed so.

“Last time against Porterless, we conceded two goals to Nathan. Do you remember that too?”

“Yep!”

“Today we start with three centre-backs. Harris, you take the center.”

“···Yes.”

However, it was still unreliable.

**

Meanwhile, at the same time, the home team’s locker room at Vail Park.

Coach Baines made a promise to Nathan, the team’s ace.

“Just do the training. You just focus on shaking the ass off the Stoke defenders today.”

Should I shave my butt? Nathan was offended by the director’s expression, but he didn’t bother throwing up.

“The core of the opponent is Jamie Lee. He’s a good technical player. Kick is good too. He has good vision and good passing. He seems to be doing well, but he also has weaknesses. It is stamina.”

Coach Baines instructed the midfielders, especially defensive midfielder Frank, to focus on marking.

“Our goal is to tire him out quickly so he has to be replaced. Do you know the best way to drain an opponent’s health, Frank?”

“…it’s about playing rough.”

“Yeah, right. Elbows, knees, write whatever you want. It’s okay to tear your uniform completely. Of course, as long as you don’t get kicked out.”

I guess I’ll get kicked out then. Nathan thought to himself this time, but did not dare to throw up.

“Frank, okay?”

“···Yep.”

Frank, the party involved, was equally ashamed.

He was originally known for his gentlemanly play, playing as a defensive midfielder in England, which was famous for its rough play, and in the third division.

He is even nicknamed the ‘Gentleman of the Ground’.

However, as a member of Port Vale, it is impossible not to listen to the director’s instructions. After a while, as soon as we kicked off, we started harassing Jamie as directed by the manager.

“Hey. Wait a minute. I’ll change your uniform after the game.”

Jamie joked at first.

“…what are you doing now?”

However, after 10 minutes, he reacted nervously.

“Do you want to go back?”

After 20 minutes, I started to lose my temper.

“···sorry.”

Frank apologized, but faithfully followed the director’s instructions.

Beep-

Then 35 minutes into the first half. Frank, who committed a series of fouls, ended up receiving a yellow card.

“You madman. you get kicked out Do your best.”

“…”

Surprisingly, Jamie was rather worried about Frank.

‘Maybe I’m committing too bad things to a good player.’

Frank couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“Lee, Lida”

Time continued to pass.

“Frank, stop it!”

44 minutes in the first half. Right before the end of the first half, Jamie caught the ball on the half line and started running.

‘Lee who crossed the half line is unstoppable.’

A sentence that started spreading among EFL League One players and fans.

Frank, of course, knew this sentence.

‘I have to quit.’

He hurriedly followed him, but at one point, Jamie suddenly sped up and ran past him.

‘Shall I take it with my hand? Or should I kick him from behind?’

Missing here can lead to a loss. No, even if it didn’t lead to a run, it was Frank’s job today to tire him out by playing rough throughout the first half.

‘Nope.’

Jamie could have been injured if he forcibly cut it off in the current situation.

Frank couldn’t bear to do anything dangerous to Jamie, who was worried about him, the other side.

He quickly withdrew his outstretched hand. Although it did touch the uniform, it was literally at the level of touching.

“aaah!”

However, Jamie fell.

As if he had violently snatched it from behind.

Beep – profit.

At Jamie’s desperate scream, the referee immediately blew his whistle and ran this way.

“uh······?”

Frank was embarrassed. Literally, the tip of my finger touched the uniform. It wasn’t to the extent of rolling around like this.

“···Nonsense.”

However, it was important that we finally reached it.

After checking VAR, the referee sent him off.

“…”

Frank was standing in a daze, shocked, when Jamie, who had risen from his seat before he knew it, whispered past him.

“You shouldn’t have done that like a gentleman.”