If you had to pick the most unstable score in football, it would probably be 2-1.
Strangely more so than any other score, 2-1 is more unsettling when you're the one chasing. The moment it becomes 2-1 from 2-0, the atmosphere in the stadium changes completely.
"From the start!"
After quickly returning the ball lodged in the net to the halfway line, I take my position in our half.
There is no panacea that can change the atmosphere and mindset as instantly as a goal.
Once a goal finally went in, everyone's expressions changed and they started talking again.
It wasn't an air of being able to catch up flowing around us, but the conviction that we could turn this around began to spread.
Bang-!
And that atmosphere was probably not just my imagination.
I could feel it in the opponents' attitude as they hesitated for a step while playing the ball back, and above all—
I could feel it in the crowd noise, which had dropped by several decibels.
Bang-!
Of course, it was still loud.
Despite the stadium structure putting some distance between the pitch and the stands, harsh words still pierced my ears, so it hadn't completely died down.
The red flares that made eyes dizzy and the air acrid hadn't gone out either.
So we were still far from done.
No matter what happened, we'd make them keep their mouths shut.
And we'd let the fans who followed us across the sea cheer with their heads held high.
We couldn't disappoint them.
"UP! UP!"
Tap-tap-tat-!
Unlike before, the opponents tried to drag the tempo, but as if to say not a chance, we pushed our line up and joined the high press.
Of course, everyone knew this could make us vulnerable to counterattacks again.
But this is our football, and we can't abandon our football.
Because we're stronger than them.
If we backed down out of fear, it should be the opponents, not us, doing that.
Bang-!
Bang-!
Cutting off the opponent's passing lanes one by one as if weaving a net, the ball quickly flowed to the keeper's feet.
And soon, thwaaaack-!
The keeper dealt with it with a long kick, as if clearing his lines.
When we're pushed up like this, a long ball into space is a truly dangerous element.
But if you predicted it and positioned yourself early, it's a different story.
Bang-!
Dias, who didn't even let Mbappe attempt an aerial duel, safely headed the ball away.
A positioning based on the trust that if we pressed high, the opponent would have no choice but to hoof it long.
Trust between teammates creates positions and generates space where there was none.
Bang-!
Rodri, who received the ball from Dias, doesn't allow the ball to linger at the back.
He immediately plays a forward pass, making the ball cross the halfway line.
Since we've already pushed up deep, it's a consideration to ensure we don't have to take steps back down.
Swoooosh.
—Confirming the ball was heading to De Bruyne, I penetrate forward into the open space without hesitation.
De Bruyne is a player who somehow finds and slips a pass to us no matter where we are, even if we're hiding.
When he has the ball, it's fun to make free runs into anywhere.
And our pass master does not betray that trust, as expected.
Whaaam-!
De Bruyne's pass threads through the gaps between the defenders.
Anyone who has tried a forward pass even a few times knows. How much courage it takes to play a pass through the defense.
If that's intercepted, it's a counterattack immediately, and all responsibility falls on the passer.
Seeing De Bruyne do it nonchalantly as if it's nothing, it only looks amazing how immense his self-belief must be.
I have to watch and learn.
There is no end to learning.
Bang-!
After receiving the ball from behind, instead of forcing a turn, I pass it to Foden on the left.
And I turn to penetrate toward the box.
In that time, Foden melts the opposing fullback with a superhuman dribble and successfully penetrates the sideline.
Tap-tap-tat-!
Seeing the opponent defenders' formation preparing for the cross, I sense a crisis.
Of course, that's from their perspective.
Because they conceded from the exact same pattern just minutes ago, I can see them reacting fiercely.
They seem more concerned about me than the monster striker running toward goal.
If I called them fools... that would be a lack of respect toward the opponent.
Let's just say it couldn't be helped.
Thwaaack-!
The defense is more worried about the back of the box, but Foden isn't a fool; there's no way he'd play another cutback.
Foden's cross heads to the front of goal, and the giant leaps like a butterfly and strikes like a bee toward it.
Whaaam-!
Thwack-!
The net ripples, and at that moment, I ironically feel how big a team Paris is.
Because barely a moment of silence passes before an enormous torrent of curses flies toward Haaland, who is unleashing a fiery celebration.
Fans of most ordinary teams would have sensed something was going wrong.
The fact that they still have the strength to raise their voices—perhaps it's because they still harbor the thought that surely they won't be overturned like this.
I couldn't be satisfied with a draw.
I felt like I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I stitched all those mouths shut today.
*Annoyance and anger are harmful emotions, but sometimes they can serve as good driving forces.
If you can direct that outlet in the right direction, they can produce even greater energy efficiency than other positive emotions.
Everything depends on how you use it.
Bang-!
The opponents try to possess the ball in midfield for the first time in a while, but teammates rush in voraciously and steal it away.
At this, the opponents retreat as if to say 'alright, don't be mad,' without even thinking of pressing again.
A thought suddenly occurs to me.
I feel like I finally understand anew why we ate the same menu at the same time every training day, slept in the same lodging before matches, and were subjected to an unspoken compulsion to have only one football philosophy in our heads.
Standing in the same position and looking at the same place, we inevitably come to resemble each other.
What we feel becomes similar, and our thoughts align.
Rejoicing in the same things and raging at the same things turns a team of eleven into one body.
Eleven people moving with the same thoughts on the pitch creates tremendous power.
If I'm annoyed, it means De Bruyne, Haaland, and Rodri are annoyed too.
The manager is the one who points with his finger to where we should unleash that annoyance.
Consciousness united as one doesn't add—it multiplies.
"FORWARD!"
Everyone moves with the single-minded determination to shut those noisy mouths.
The flames burn so fiercely that I wonder if fuel is even allowed to burn this well, making us forget our bodies are tired.
Looking at the scoreboard, it's already approaching the 30th minute of the second half, yet it feels even faster than the first half.
Bang-!
Thankfully, we don't have to worry about the firewood running out.
Because even now, rough sounds are bursting from the stands.
I'm simply grateful they keep throwing in firewood one by one, lest the embers die out.
The louder that noise gets, the faster our passing becomes.
Bang-!
Bang-!
The opponents have completely sat back, just like the early first half.
I suddenly wonder how these enraged fans must feel to the opposing players.
Does it give them strength, or is it something else?
Either way, it's not our concern.
Bang-!
We do what we do best.
Wandering to find the gaps in the opponents who have dropped back.
And now, mixed with the concentration of anger.
Bang-!
Bang-!
Triangular passing takes place in the opponent's half.
In a way, it's a temptation.
Attempting a rather difficult pass in the opponent's half, right in front of their noses.
If they cut this out, it's a big chance for them too.
Because it would create a situation where they can use their sharpest weapon.
Sometimes while playing football, there are moments you learn about life beyond it.
I learn again that you shouldn't easily fall for temptation.
Tap-tap-tat-!
Confirming the opponent defenders are drawn out, I burst forward.
The space between the midfielders and the defense—not wide, but the gap has definitely opened.
It's a magical position; if I can exploit this space, I can attack anywhere.
Bang-!
The passing triangle, which was close to equilateral, shifts into an isosceles triangle.
One side lengthens, and the vertex at its end becomes me.
Receiving the ball in the left half-space, I quickly turn.
Tat-!
The space closes in an instant.
Defenders pour in from behind, from the front, from the sides.
I've heard of claustrophobia, and I feel like I understand why it exists.
That's why the faster I get out, the better.
Bang-!
Pushing the ball to the outside with my right foot, I give it to Haaland in the center.
Then the defense that was heading toward me turns back to Haaland, and in that gap I follow the defenders' shadows and head into the box.
The brighter the sun, the darker the shadows.
Walking along those shadows is the first step I ever learned, and so it's what I'm most confident in.
Hiding my presence is a talent I can confidently claim as my own.
Bang-!
Haaland flicks the ball out with his back foot.
Because it was a no-look pass without turning, no defender noticed in time.
The moment the defenders turned their bodies and discovered me, the ball was already at my feet.
While controlling the ball, I check the keeper's position and open the angle of my planted foot and torso as if to shoot toward the far post.
Opening my body to the right and bringing my left planted foot deep.
Thwaaaack-!
And I kick to the left.
It's a posture that goes against human anatomy, so strong power doesn't go into the shot, but a shot doesn't necessarily have to be powerful.
The force is sufficient as long as the ball goes inside the goal.
What's more important is that the keeper was completely deceived.
I saw this earlier and thought it looked good.
I stored it in my head when Mbappe deceived Ederson and scored with it.
That finish. It was nice.
Swoooosh.
—Thwack-!
Confirming the ball stuck in the lower left corner of the goal, I naturally pass the goalpost and jump over the advertising hoardings.
And I run toward the stands with my arms spread wide.
I don't know where this courage came from.
As I approached, tens of thousands leaned forward and swung their arms as if to kill me, yet strangely, I wasn't scared.
You guys. Still noisy.
It's about time you were quiet.
"..."
Shhh.
I bring my index finger to my lips as if to tell them to be quiet.
Of course, it doesn't work.
Instead, it gets even louder.
I even see people trying to throw things.
I'm not some teacher; I didn't expect them to quiet down just because I told them to.
Actually, in a way, it means 'make more noise.'
"..."
I put my hands to my ears.
If you don't intend to be quiet, be even louder.
Because I'm not scared at all.
"YEAH-!!!"
"COME ON-!!"
And soon, I realize why I'm not scared.
The reason is quite cowardly, but it's because I'm not alone.
"Keep yapping!"
"Bark more!"
Teammates who had already gathered around and thrown their arms over my shoulders join in the taunting.
They provoke the enraged fans without an ounce of fear.
I realize I could jump the hoardings without hesitation because I believed we were of the same mind.
I believed that if I jumped without hesitation, my teammates would jump over without hesitation too.
It would be scary if I were alone, but what can you do.
I'm not alone....
90:00 (Full Time)
Paris Saint-Germain 2 : 3 Manchester City
-11' Mbappe
-20' Mbappe
-56' Ijian
-67' Haaland
-81' Ijian
Man of the Match: No. 7 Ijian
- Minutes Played: 90
- Goals: 2
- Accurate Passes (55/61)
- Long Pass Success Rate 100% (2/2)
- Dribble Success Rate 83% (5/6)
- Big Chances Created: 3
- Final Third Passes: 6
- Tackles Won: 1
- Ground Duels Won (4/4)
- Overall Rating: 9.0