The title of this textual content, with a strategic comma, formulates a request to which Lee Jae-sung, a South Korean participant, can be joyful to reply positively. This Wednesday, this midfielder scored for Mainz within the defeat (2-1) towards Borussia Dortmund and we “stumbled” on the weblog written by the participant. Yes, an expert footballer has a weblog, and he not solely writes behind-the-scenes tales, but additionally thinks critically about childhood, skilled adventures, football typically and even life. He turns into philosophical. From now on, let’s name him Lee, the thinker, though the hints of a thinker are for one other day.
For immediately, we give attention to Paulo Bento, with the concept the interpretation of those texts was held hostage by the standard of Korean-English machine translation machines. In any case, crossing between two totally different translators permits an inexpensive diploma of confidence within the studying.
Lee, the thinker, reveals that he’s in love with Paulo Bento, the Portuguese coach who guided South Korea to the 2022 World Cup and left after the competitors. In one of many texts he printed, the participant tells us about “coach Benedict [treinador Bento]” as somebody you blindly belief.
“For 4 years, he led the workforce with an unflappable perspective. I started to surprise the way it was potential for somebody to be like this. Sometimes he may be upset, however he by no means exhibits it in entrance of the workforce”, may be learn in a textual content printed on December 26, following what Lee, the thinker, skilled on the World Cup in Qatar.
Before that, I had already written one other post-Qatar textual content. And that is the place you see how a lot coach Bento gained over the Koreans, or not less than this Korean. “I need to tell a narrative. After the World Cup I noticed the significance of a coach. Bento arrived and we performed good football. We performed the football we wished with out being influenced by the press and public opinion [muito crítica para com a selecção asiática]. And we knew since September that he would go away after the World Cup. There was an environment of pessimism and we had been fearful”, he begins by explaining. And it goes additional, displaying the audacity – and which is uncommon – to lend itself to the reflection that follows.
“I hope that now somebody will come to information us nicely. And I believe the gamers ought to have a say. Isn’t it tougher to construct a superb group if you happen to select the coach evenly? We consider first hand {that a} workforce can utterly change relying on who the chief is. Paulo Bento proved it”.
Bento decisive within the World Cup
Lee, the thinker, additionally says that the Portuguese coach confirmed, within the World Cup, a persona trait that was already identified to him in Portugal: stubbornness. But I do not say that as a criticism. How can? The boy loves Paulo Bento.
“It is usually stated that he’s cussed and I agree. He had an unwavering perception in his concepts. He all the time led the workforce in the identical means, trusted the gamers and guarded them. When we noticed that, we additionally took religion within the coach. And we wished to play for him and reward him for his belief and safety.”
Lee, the thinker, says that this sort of connection is important at sure occasions, exemplifying Portugal-Korea. Paulo Bento was on the bench after being despatched off towards Ghana. The participant says everyone seems to be fearful when he’s and not using a coach, however they weren’t. Bento devoted himself to conveying every part to his assistants, by no means making choices alone and even taking them to press conferences. And Lee, the thinker, says unabashedly: “I believe it was his perception that acquired us to the final 16 dream.”
At this stage of his profession, the 30-year-old Korean performs for Mainz, after three seasons within the German second division and 5 at Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors. Left-footed and wide-footed, he performs as an attacking midfielder, however hasn’t been a very good goalscorer within the Bundesliga.
In the nationwide workforce, nonetheless, he has the distinction of quantity 10 and common starter. He wants a Paulo Bento on daily basis.
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