Blue Dream Trail (Soccer) - Episode 47.5

–Viewpoint: Augsburg Staff/Klaus Meyer

Corner of the stand.

After the outcome had been decided, there was a man quietly watching the pitch.

Claus Meyer.

Augsburg staff.

He has been at the club for seven years and has been the man who has seen the players up close.

But no season has been as difficult as this one.

[Year 1]──2026-27 season

Naoe Ren came from Japan.

A tall, quiet young man.

But once on the pitch, the atmosphere changed.

“That kid has something.”

I still remember how I felt when I first saw it.

There were few words, but the actions spoke volumes.

The year before Ren arrived, they were a good team, finishing in 8th place.

It was clear they had some good players on the team, but he was probably the final piece.

Whenever he played, the players around him came alive, and the team made great strides.

That year, they qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

Ren was beginning to become the core of the team.

[Second year]──2027-28 season

Champions League round of 16, against Real Madrid.

The Galactic Army.

We had no injuries and put our best team forward, but we were faced with the reality of the situation.

However――

After the match, Ren spent more time watching the video in the locker room and on the bus than anyone else.

“Where was it broken?”

Why was this decision delayed?

“What was lacking in me?”

When I saw that look, I thought again.

(This one’s gonna get pretty big.)

[Third year]──Now

The main force is gone.

Midfield, last line, front line.

There is no one else but Ren who is the “core.”

However, Kemar is his spiritual pillar.

Reinforcements are insufficient, and the team is mainly made up of young players.

I can’t win. I can’t get through.

The goals continued to be conceded, and the stadium was filled with despair.

Still, Ren didn’t throw anything.

It was only this season that I started to “communicate.”

Using a whiteboard, movement between lines,

Inducing pressing,

He spoke about the importance of “playing with thought.”

Some people were reluctant to listen.

It’s sad, but I think the fact that Ren is Asian also played a part.

Recently, Himmel has begun to change.

Several other players have also started to “watch” Ren.

(Finally. Finally, things are starting to connect little by little.)

Meyer opened the notebook.

It contains observation records of each game.

“Ren is calm.

I tend to blame myself too much.

However, the rate of growth is abnormal.

He is the heart of the club now.”

A small scrawl on the edge of the page.

“Hopefully, I’d like to see the next scene with this player.”

The edge of the training ground.

Ren had finished his recovery run and was wiping the sweat off his brow.

Meyer watched the scene from afar and suddenly spoke.

“Change takes time.

But only one person can move it.”