Blue Dream Trail (Soccer) - Episode 25

*Leagues higher in the UEFA rankings (e.g., English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1) are awarded more spots. In most cases, the top-ranked leagues are awarded four direct league phase spots.

———-

April 2028.

Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg.

The venue is Augsburg’s home stadium, the WWK Arena.

It’s been three weeks since the heavy 1-4 defeat at the Bernabeu.

Quietly but surely, heat was returning to the city, where it was still cold.

Locker room before the game.

The manager gave a brief statement without showing the tactical board.

“They are the champions. The score doesn’t matter.

　In these 90 minutes, show your worth.”

Ren nodded.

(Win. Even if it’s unlikely, it will still have meaning.)

As they stepped onto the pitch, the 40,000 spectators who filled the stadium rose to their feet.

“REN! REN!”

–Chants began.

The sound made Ren feel as if he was being supported.

Audiences who never even knew him before are now pushing him forward.

kick off.

Although Real Madrid made some changes to their lineup and showed some composure, they never slacked off.

However, on this day, it was Ren who stepped up his game from the start.

Collapsing in the midfield, tight vertical passing, and line control.

He reads the “pulse” of the game and tries to make even the slightest change.

“It won’t stop today.”

It was like a spell I cast on myself.

30 minutes into the first half.

Ren makes a grinding pass from the center to the right side.

The running back sent a direct cross,

The CF heads the ball – GOAL!

1-0.

WWK Arena shook.

Ren didn’t scream, but just clenched his fists.

(There are still three points. But… they’re irrelevant.)

Second half.

Onizuka, who came on in the second half, finally started to turn on his switch.

One-on-one, he evaded the defender and took a sharp shot from mid-range.

The ball missed the goal and hit the back of the net.

“That was close.”

Ren muttered to himself. However, his expression didn’t change.

When they faced each other again in the midfield, Onizuka spoke up.

“You seem a little more ‘up front’ today.”

Ren also responds softly.

“Because you are here.”

Onizuka chuckled and turned away.

The distance between the two of them was changing from “challenge and acceptance” to “intersection and antagonism.”

85th minute of the second half.

Ren’s mid-range shot went over the crossbar.

Just one more step.

Just one more breath.

However, they were unable to score any additional points, and the game ended.

1-0.

–The total score for the two games was 2-4. They were eliminated.

Teammates are sitting on the pitch.

However, there was a tremendous amount of applause from the audience.

In the center, a man was standing alone.

Ren Naoe.

Regret.

A feeling of helplessness.

But more than that, there was a definite sense of pride.

After the match.

Onizuka walks up to Ren.

“…Today’s pitch was hot.”

“Yes. But it’s still not enough. Strength, experience, everything.”

Onizuka said with a small laugh.

“But— you already have one foot in the ‘world’.

　Beyond that… if you want to go, come on over. To the very center.”

Ren nodded.

“Next time, I’ll win head-on.

　–My team, my responsibility.”

The next day.

Media from around the world praised Ren’s performance.

“The man who broke Real Madrid’s rhythm”

“A Winner Among the Losers”

“Naoe Ren – A vessel that cannot be contained in Augsburg”

But that didn’t matter to Ren.

There was only one decision in his heart.

Next time, I’ll be on the winning team.

(This defeat is not just a passing point. It’s the starting point.)

———————————————————————–

Just before the end of the 2027-2028 season.

Night training room at the stadium.

Ren continued running alone on the treadmill.

Friedrich, who had been watching from a distance, muttered.

“…You’re running again? Practice finished a long time ago.”

The team is currently 3rd* in the Bundesliga.

It has been called the “Augsburg Miracle,” and it is almost certain that they will qualify for the Champions League for the second consecutive year.

Everyone is laughing and calling it a “great success season.”

–But Ren was different.

What he has inside is not “satisfaction.”

──It was a “responsibility.”

(I don’t want to win.)

(-I want him to win.)

There was a clear image in his eyes.

Not a “player who reads the game”

──To become “the game itself.”

——————————————————————————————

2027-28 season.

Naoe Ren’s second-year results were as follows:

League matches　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Appearances: 32 games (30 as a starter)　　　　　　　　　　　

Goals: 4　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Assists: 9　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Pass success rate: 90.7%　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Passes per 90 minutes: 80.1 (4th in the league)

Successful through passes: 123 (club-high)

Distance traveled per 90 minutes: 11.9km (top of the team)

Duel victories: 352 (2nd on the team)

Number of ball recoveries: 163 (2nd among midfielders)

CL

Appearances: 10 games (9 as a starter)

Goal 1

Assists: 4

We adjusted the balance of the midfield, switched on the defense,

And above all, it will help tilt the game in a winning direction.

They steal the ball silently and change the flow of the game.

He is a man who can change the atmosphere on the pitch with his abundant energy and presence.

His name has quietly been engraved in the history of Augsburg.