NOVEL NEXT chapter 129
129 – A Slightly Unusual Process
129
In the first round against Eibar, Barcelona exploded with a powerful offense, recording an overwhelming score and rising to the top of the league. Although it wasn’t a particularly meaningful record in La Liga, which prioritizes the win-loss record over the goal difference, fans wouldn’t dislike a good goal difference.
Moreover, the process itself was overwhelming.
Barcelona dominated the game against Eibar, playing a true counter-pressing game and achieving an 82.7% possession rate, a new club record since OPTA’s statistics. In terms of detailed indicators, they attempted 1011 passes and succeeded in 941, and fired 24 shots, making Eibar look like a rag doll.
Barcelona fans were thrilled to see this record and exclaimed, “This is the true Barcelona football!!” Some even predicted their championship possibilities, but others thought it was too early to make such an evaluation.
Especially on a broadcast that analyzed La Liga’s important matches every week, the debate between two guests about Barcelona’s match against Eibar sparked a long-standing controversy about Barcelona.
“In my opinion, Barcelona has finally found their way. This is the kind of football we’ve been expecting from Barcelona. Until now, Barcelona has been… honestly, a bit dull. They haven’t been playing like Barcelona. This shows that we need a coach with Barcelona DNA, and players who fit that style.”
By the way, “Pelopo” is a nickname for Xavi Hernandez, meaning “there’s hair” due to his curly hair.
“You can understand why he got that nickname if you think about his curly hair.”
“I agree that Barcelona was great in the past, but times have changed. Modern football is evolving, and Barcelona needs to get out of their old dreams. How long are they going to stick to their 2000s tactics? And what’s with this Barcelona DNA? So, what kind of results did Xavi, that guy, achieve as a coach? As a player, Xavi Hernandez is acknowledged, but as a coach… everyone knows. Barcelona needs to stop talking about DNA and focus on development.”
Meanwhile, the 2nd round was approaching.
Barcelona’s next opponent was Valencia, a team that had once been in the upper ranks but had fallen to mid-table after a change in ownership.
* * *
Recently, Joo Jitae had been busy adjusting to his teammates.
“Don’t stop! Keep moving! Kosiso! Create space and find your position! Hey, hey! Leo! Are you going to keep doing this? Pass and move! Don’t just move without thinking!! Think, think, think! Keep thinking and moving!! Think about numerical superiority, qualitative superiority, and positional superiority!! Is it that hard? If it’s hard, then just get benched!”
Barcelona had focused on a more direct and efficient football under the guise of practicality and efficiency.
Although it was different from the traditional Barcelona-style football, it had certain effects and led to their Champions League victory in the 30/31 season.
However, their last championship was already four years ago.
Barcelona fans were tired of the “boring” football that didn’t produce results. They wanted the kind of football that embodied the essence of Barcelona, the kind that everyone admired.
And young Jose was a coach who knew the fans’ desires better than anyone.
As a die-hard Barcelona fan and a devout follower of Pep Guardiola, who had led Barcelona to their golden era, Jose knew what kind of football the fans wanted.
“Passing for possession is unnecessary! What’s important is space and pressure! Passing is just a means to advance, not the goal itself. The purpose of possession is to create attacking chances. If it becomes the goal itself, it’s pointless!”
Therefore, Jose had to struggle to instill his philosophy into the players who were accustomed to direct tactics.
Fortunately, some of the main players he had brought in were having a hard time adapting, but the young players he had trained since their youth were familiar with the Barcelona-style football, which was a relief.
If not, Jose’s future would have been uncertain.
A coach’s philosophy and tactics are useless if the players can’t implement them on the field.
In that sense, Jose was extremely grateful for Joo Jitae’s existence.
“Joo Jitae, you’re really my treasure. I’m so lucky to have you. When I became the first-team coach, Xavi called to congratulate me, and he said, ‘You’re the player who fits Barcelona the most, with Barcelona DNA.’ I’m really grateful to have you.”
The 20-year-old young player, who had never played for Barcelona before, was perfectly embodying the Barcelona-style football.
After a tough training session, Jose, who was moved to tears, thanked Joo Jitae, who humbly replied.
“I originally do everything well.”
It’s an undeniable fact, so at this level, it’s modest, what’s the big deal.
Despite their big win in the first round, the Barcelona players underwent rigorous training to prepare for the second round against Valencia, their first home game of the season.
Especially, the players who had been benched in the previous Eibar game struggled to adapt to the new tactics, and among them, Madu Murcia was the most notable.
“Damn it. What’s with Barcelona’s football? It’s so frustrating.”
For a 35-year-old veteran center-back, sudden changes were difficult to handle.
* * *
The home stadium of Barcelona, Camp Nou.
As the largest football-specific stadium in the world, Camp Nou was packed with nearly 100,000 spectators, creating an electric atmosphere for the first home game of the 34/35 season.
As Joo Ji-tae stepped onto the ground, holding the hands of the escort kids, he felt a sense of excitement for the first time since his transfer.
This wasn’t his first time at Camp Nou.
He had visited for official photoshoots and had even performed a trapping demonstration in front of fans during a welcoming ceremony.
In fact, during his Sevilla days, he had even received a lot of jeers from the Barcelona fans when he came to Camp Nou as a visiting player.
Back then, he had been intimidated by the deafening jeers, but…
“The stadium is huge, and the atmosphere is incredible. The cheers of 100,000 people are amazing…”
The excitement was a different feeling altogether.
As a national team player, he had experienced big stadiums like the Sangam World Cup Stadium or the Azadi Stadium in Iran, and even the Allianz Arena of Bayern Munich, but there was a reason why Camp Nou was considered the largest football stadium in the world.
The packed stadium was filled with fans who had high expectations for this game, given Barcelona’s impressive performance in the first round against Eibar.
Although the opponent was stronger than Eibar – in fact, there was no team weaker than Eibar in La Liga – Valencia was still a mid-table team.
Even the most objective fans didn’t think Barcelona would struggle against Valencia, especially at home.
And that was indeed the case.
[The home team, Barcelona, has a changed starting lineup that catches the eye.]
[Three players have changed: Mark Guiu instead of Destiny Kosiso, Arnau Pradas instead of Leo Martinez, and Madu Murcia instead of Max Moreno.]
[Compared to the first round, which was a lineup to test the possibilities of young players, this lineup is more like the best members.]
The average age of the lineup has increased significantly compared to the first round.
Coach Jose had replaced the young players with three veteran players who had been regular starters until last season.
Although they struggled to adapt to the new tactics, making small mistakes and lacking cohesion, the class of the Barcelona players who had been regular starters didn’t disappear.
[Ector Port passes the ball to Joo Ji-tae, who briefly stops. Are they waiting for the Valencia players to approach? A short pass, and Valencia’s pressure… But they easily evade it! It looks too easy!]
[Joo Ji-tae makes a long pass to Arnau Pradas… Ah, but it’s a bit late.]
[Valencia’s long goal kick! Madu Murcia is running towards it… Ah, he’s slow! Valencia has a good chance! Luckily, Joo Ji-tae intercepts it!]
[Pablo Lopez’s breakthrough! He saw Iker Rodriguez well! Connecting to Mark Guiu – Goal! From Joo Ji-tae to Pablo Lopez, Iker Rodriguez, and then Mark Guiu, they create a fantastic attacking play in just 10 seconds! Mark Guiu scores in his first game of the season!]
Barcelona dominated the game, winning 2-0 comfortably.
However, the somewhat rough performance sparked controversy, with even Barcelona fans admitting that this game was disappointing compared to the previous one.
The win was a win, but it was a disappointing win, and that was the overall evaluation.
Joo Ji-tae realized something new from this reaction.
Indeed, a club like Barcelona receives worldwide attention, and their fans don’t settle for just a win.
However, a win is a win.
After two games, they had two wins, and although it was a bit disappointing, the reaction wasn’t bad.
People’s attention turned to the next game against Malaga, a mid-to-top-tier team, and beyond that, the highly anticipated El Clasico against Real Madrid in the fourth round.