Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

130 – Hellish Away Game

130

The Valencia match was indeed a disappointing game.

Although the result was a 2:0 easy win, the players still showed signs of not fully adapting to the tactics, and it was evident in various aspects.

Above all, it was a frustrating game for Joo Ji-tae personally.

After his professional debut, Joo Ji-tae had been playing with players who had good physical abilities or at least average skills, and even when his physical abilities were lacking, he would use a three-back system to minimize his burden.

Therefore, he could freely switch between offense and defense, actively participating in attacks, and showcasing the new possibilities of the libero position, which was being phased out in modern football.

Of course, this wasn’t possible in every game.

Even with team support, Joo Ji-tae would sometimes have to bear a huge defensive burden depending on the opponent or team situation.

In that sense, the Valencia match could be seen as an extension of that…

“It’s probably going to be a long haul with Madu Murcia…”

The decisive difference was that there was no end in sight this time.

Objectively, Madu Murcia wasn’t a bad player. On the contrary, he was better than any other player who had been playing with Joo Ji-tae so far.

Compared to the center backs he had played with at 1860 Munich and the national team, Madu Murcia might even have the upper hand in terms of overall ability.

Although he was a 35-year-old veteran, he was a class player who could start for Barcelona. Even if Barcelona wasn’t what it used to be, it was still Barcelona, and Madu Murcia’s presence was undeniable.

Madu Murcia was an exceptional player in many aspects.

Although he was 35 years old, he was a seasoned veteran who could remain calm and make accurate judgments in any situation, so Joo Ji-tae didn’t need to give him detailed instructions.

This was definitely an advantage.

Since Joo Ji-tae’s judgment was quick and accurate, it hadn’t been a big issue so far, but even Joo Ji-tae needed time to convey his instructions through words, and Madu Murcia’s good footwork allowed him to create another passing point.

As Joo Ji-tae was good at breaking through opponent’s presses, it wasn’t noticeable, but in reality, he was successful in breaking through the presses, but it slowed down the tempo.

And at the professional level, even a slight delay could be used to regroup and launch a counterattack, which was why coaches wanted to secure passing points as much as possible. Passing was the best way to advance in football, after all.

Thus, Madu Murcia, who could help Joo Ji-tae’s playmaking as a passing point, was a problem in terms of hindering Joo Ji-tae’s forward thrust.

Barcelona’s tactics, which involved pushing the line high, inevitably exposed a wide open space behind, and someone had to cover that space.

Who? Madu Murcia?

The perfect center back, who was called “flawless,” might not be able to keep up with the speed requirements, and it would be a disaster if he was tasked with covering that space. Naturally, Joo Ji-tae, who was faster than anyone, had to take on that role.

This was a given role, regardless of ability or anything else.

You couldn’t expect a 35-year-old veteran to suddenly develop speed.

And this was what frustrated Joo Ji-tae.

Although he had settled into the center back position, Joo Ji-tae had started his football career as a forward and had played as an attacking midfielder throughout his professional career.

As he got older, he gradually moved backwards, eventually playing as a defensive midfielder, but even then, he was more of a deep-lying playmaker who utilized his exceptional dribbling and passing skills despite his declining physical abilities.

People who disliked Joo Ji-tae would criticize him for being too attack-minded as a center back, prioritizing offense over defense, but in reality, Joo Ji-tae didn’t think of himself as an attacker.

He wasn’t simply trying to accumulate attacking points or charge forward recklessly.

He just saw the “path” clearly.

He could see how to connect with a shot, and he had the ability to create such situations, but others would only play meaningless passes, which was unbearable.

…Of course, he wasn’t completely without ambition.

And Jose, the coach, was also aware of this.

As Joo Ji-tae had a special “eye” like a few exceptional players, Jose, who needed a “pass master” like Joo Ji-tae more than anyone, knew it well. It wasn’t just about Barcelona’s DNA.

However, despite this, Jose decided to pair Madu Murcia with Joo Ji-tae in the Malaga match.

In the current situation, where the players’ chemistry wasn’t clicking, the team needed a stable defensive playmaker rather than a forward-thrusting one, and Joo Ji-tae was capable of creating a good “path” with his playmaking skills alone, even if he didn’t advance personally.

* * *

Strangely, Málaga Club de Fútbol, S.A.D., nicknamed “Los Boquerones,” is a peculiar team.

After being relegated to the 2nd or 3rd division, Málaga achieved a sensational promotion to the 1st division in the 2000s. However, like many small clubs, they repeated the cycle of promotion and relegation, and their fortunes remained uncertain.

In 2010, a ray of hope emerged for this struggling club. A wealthy owner from the Qatari royal family took over, appointing Manuel Pellegrini, who had previously managed Real Madrid, along with other renowned coaches like Martin Demichelis from Bayern Munich, Júlio Baptista from AS Roma, Jérémy Toulalan from Olympique Lyon, Joris Mathijsen from Hamburg SV, Joaquín Sánchez from Valencia CF, Santi Cazorla from Villarreal CF, Diego Buonanotte from Argentina, and the Dutch superstar Ruud van Nistelrooy.

With renewed confidence, they formed the “Malaguista” and even succeeded in qualifying for the Champions League. At that time, no one would have thought that Málaga’s bright future would end up being just a dream.

However, the drawback of having a wealthy owner is that the club’s fate is heavily influenced by their personal decisions.

Valencia is a prime example of this.

Málaga was no exception.

Their brief period of hope was short-lived, and Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, who had promised a bright future for Málaga, suddenly left, citing dissatisfaction with the broadcasting rights distribution. Málaga was left in shambles.

In 2020, the club announced its dissolution and released all its players, effectively relegating them to the 3rd division.

Yet, against all odds, Málaga managed to secure promotion back to the 1st division and even qualified for European competitions four years in a row – albeit mostly in the Europa League.

Sevilla, Barcelona, and even Real Madrid had all faced Málaga before, but the team they least wanted to meet again was undoubtedly Málaga.

The first reason was their notorious coach, Gaizka Garitano.

Garitano’s tactics were infamous for being dirty and ruthless, earning him the nickname “The Dirty One.” His team, with an average height of 187cm, was a formidable force to be reckoned with.

“Wow… those giants. Just looking at them makes me feel suffocated.”

Ji Zhetai felt like he was gasping for air just by looking at Málaga’s players.

Garitano’s cunning tactics and clever use of fouls were his signature moves.

But there was an even more daunting reason – Málaga’s striker, “Romanticist” Roc Martínez.

There were two reasons behind this nickname. One was that despite receiving lucrative offers from top clubs, Roc chose to stay at Málaga, citing his love for the club and the city. The other reason was his peculiar behavior, often making inappropriate comments and gestures towards Asian players.

“Ooh, cute Asian boy~”

“Ah, shut up, you freaking monster! Stop sticking to me like glue!”

“Hey, how old is our kid? He looks like 15, with that smooth face… Ah, just the right age. Perfect for a man like me.”

Roc Martínez, a 195cm-tall, 94kg-heavy striker, was notorious for his antics.

“Ugh, this guy is really annoying! I can’t take it!”

“Hey, boy, are you cursing at me? You think I’m gay?”

“Uh, no, that’s not what I meant.”

Ji Zhetai had to calm himself down, as he couldn’t even express his anger properly due to the fear of being penalized for discrimination.

“I hate playing against Málaga because of this.”

And to make matters worse, he had to face Roc Martínez, the center-back, again and again…

Ji Zhetai’s anxiety was already running high, feeling like he was trapped in a furnace.

“Is this hell?”

This was a nightmare away game like no other.