Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 172

The day of the first leg of the semi-final had arrived.

As always, London Stadium was filled to capacity.

The stadium was packed with fans hoping for West Ham’s first-ever Champions League final appearance.

Today’s match had garnered a lot of attention.

And the focus of that attention was singular.

How West Ham, and Johan, would overcome Atletico Madrid.

To put it bluntly, nearly all football fans, with the exception of Atletico Madrid supporters, wanted West Ham to win.

West Ham fans, of course, and Liverpool fans who had suffered repeated defeats against Atletico Madrid, along with Premier League fans, and even neutral football fans who simply wanted to see an exciting final, were all rooting for West Ham.

Even the UEFA [Union of European Football Associations] president, eager for a successful tournament, was hoping for a West Ham victory.

An Atletico Madrid appearance in the final would be a disaster in the eyes of many.

Some were already suggesting that this season was a disappointment simply because Atletico Madrid had reached the semi-finals.

Since the tournament began, not a single Atletico Madrid game had been enjoyable to watch.

If they were to secure a spot in the final, it was widely believed that this Champions League final would be the most tedious game of the season.

Therefore, even casual football fans with no connection to West Ham had begun to support them and Johan.

“We’re receiving more support than ever before. So, what should we do?”

“We have to repay them.”

“Yes, repay them. You’ll want to see it too – the sight of so many football fans celebrating.”

“Vamos, vamos!” [Let’s go, let’s go!]

Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, was becoming even more motivated by the widespread support for West Ham.

The opponent’s jeers served as encouragement to them.

In other words, Atletico Madrid was fueled by more opposition than ever before.

Therefore, the Atletico Madrid players were in a state of peak motivation today.

“Beeeep-!”

The game has started!

West Ham, who have inadvertently become the guardians of football, and Atletico Madrid, the perceived villains of this season, faced off in the first leg of the semi-final.

*

“We have to win no matter what! The future of football depends on your two feet!”

Johan recalled his brother’s words when the semi-final matchups were announced.

His brother had emphasized that they had to beat Atletico Madrid, today’s opponent, at all costs.

It wasn’t just his brother.

His dad had also insisted that Atletico Madrid had to be eliminated in the semi-finals, no matter what.

Johan hadn’t fully understood it at the time.

He could understand the desire to reach the final, but the urgency to eliminate Atletico Madrid was puzzling.

What kind of team was Atletico Madrid that would elicit such a response?

‘I’m starting to understand now.’

And leading up to this game.

After analyzing videos and gaining a basic understanding of Atletico Madrid’s style.

Johan could now grasp why his brother and dad had been so adamant.

‘A team that just defends like crazy.’

That’s how he would describe them in a nutshell.

They simply focused on defending relentlessly.

In Johan’s opinion, Atletico Madrid barely qualified as a football team.

Football is fundamentally a sport about scoring goals, but they seemed to have little to no intention of doing so.

In other words, they were the type of team Johan despised the most.

He had encountered these types of teams frequently in the league.

They were usually lower-ranked teams.

Teams that seemed to have no ambition to win, simply parking the bus and defending.

Johan loathed those teams.

He couldn’t help but hate them.

How could he like them when they were jeopardizing his training exemption?

In Johan’s eyes, Atletico Madrid’s players weren’t opponents vying for a place in the final, but merely obstacles standing in his way.

So, what was he supposed to do?

He had no choice but to defeat them.

Whoosh-

Whoosh-!

West Ham began the game patiently, passing the ball near the halfway line.

Atletico Madrid, true to form, started the game by establishing a defensive line deep in their own territory.

The formation on paper was a 4-4-2.

However, that didn’t really convey the reality.

It was essentially an all-out defensive setup.

The two forwards nominally designated as the ‘2’ were pressing the midfielders near the halfway line, while the remaining 4-4 line waited in two banks near the penalty box.

Extreme zone defense.

No matter how much West Ham circulated the ball and changed direction, the Atletico Madrid players maintained their formation and patiently waited.

‘Come on, you bastards.’

Some likened Atletico Madrid’s approach to a jiu-jitsu fighter lying on their back, inviting the opponent to engage.

Atletico Madrid’s attitude suggested they were prepared to spend the entire 90 minutes defending if West Ham didn’t attempt to attack.

There was no easy solution.

If you attacked first, you’d be playing into the opponent’s hands.

You’d be fighting on their terms, but if you didn’t attack, nothing would happen, so you had to take the initiative.

Whoosh-!

Capello, in possession in the center, passed the ball to the right.

Buckley received the ball.

Immediately, the pressure intensified.

If Atletico Madrid’s goal was a hive, the players in red and white striped uniforms were like bees.

If there was no threat to the hive, they remained passive, but if anyone approached, they became extremely aggressive.

When West Ham attempted to penetrate their defensive zone, the Atletico Madrid players, who had been waiting calmly, surged forward as if on cue.

Whoosh-!

Buckley, unable to turn due to the intense pressure, passed the ball back again.

What shouldn’t be underestimated was the tremendous stamina and work rate of all the Atletico Madrid players.

Furthermore, they possessed excellent defensive skills, regardless of whether they were attackers or midfielders.

In this situation, Atletico Madrid, well-positioned and defending, was difficult to break down, even for West Ham.

It was no accident that Liverpool had been stymied for 180 minutes, scoring only one goal.

What kind of team was Liverpool?

Their attack was still one of the most potent in Europe.

To concede only one goal against such a team was a testament to Atletico’s defensive prowess.

Why had Atletico Madrid become the public enemy of all football fans?

Because of their incredible defense.

If they were merely moderately good, they wouldn’t be so hated.

They defended so effectively that it was frustrating to watch.

They couldn’t get in easily.

They also had a weapon called the counterattack. If they stole the ball, they would launch it straight to the front. If an opportunity arose there, it was all over. One goal for them had the same impact as two or three for other teams.

They will huddle up even more.

West Ham was carefully circulating the ball again, searching for an opening.

It was risky for West Ham to attack recklessly.

Atletico Madrid’s counterattack was simple, but potentially devastating.

Liverpool had been caught out by that counterattack, and after conceding the lead, they had endured an even more agonizing experience.

Atletico Madrid, having gained the lead and no longer needing to attack, had retreated even further into their defensive shell.

West Ham couldn’t afford to forget that.

However, that didn’t mean they couldn’t attack at all.

Simply running down the clock would benefit the opponent.

They had to try.

Capello, to Bailey on the left. Petrovic is making a run inside. Connect to Petrovic!

However, the space is very tight. Petrovic eventually passes it back again.

Side defense is being executed thoroughly. They are showing their determination to prevent any crosses.

West Ham continued to focus their attacks on the flanks.

Firstly, it was difficult to make a direct pass from Capello to Johan because Atletico Madrid players were congesting the center so densely.

That’s why the ball was being distributed to the wings first, but Atletico Madrid reacted quickly, as if anticipating the move.

Their organization was impressive.

When the ball went to the left, the Atletico Madrid players shifted their positions, leaving the opposite side open while reinforcing the defense on the ball-side.

They were determined to prevent crosses.

Of course.

For them, the most dangerous scenario was a cross delivered directly into the penalty box.

Atletico Madrid had to prevent that at all costs.

It’s not easy.

It doesn’t seem easy for West Ham either. Dissatisfied murmurs are starting to be heard from the stands.

The ball continued to circulate without any significant progress.

Nothing noteworthy had happened, but ten minutes of the first half had already elapsed.

Inevitably, jeers began to emanate from the stands.

“I’m bored! I’m bored!”

“Don’t you have any pride! Come out and play a little!”

“Why are you so afraid that you only defend!”

Jeers rained down on Atletico Madrid.

However, the players who heard the jeers smiled faintly.

To them, the opposing team’s jeers were a form of validation.

A confirmation that they were executing their game plan effectively.

Having received that confirmation, their confidence naturally grew.

All they had to do was maintain their approach.

Ironically, the home fans’ jeers were further bolstering Atletico Madrid’s resolve.

However, it wasn’t just the Atletico Madrid players whose resolve was gradually increasing.

“···”

Johan, trapped in the human cage created by the Atletico Madrid players, was slowly growing frustrated.

The ball didn’t seem to be coming his way.

This was because there were so many players packed around the penalty box. Even Capello wasn’t considering attempting a pass through that congested area.

However, even when he scanned the field, there was no available space anywhere.

Whether it was to the left or right.

It was completely occupied by opposing players.

This was to be expected.

Atletico Madrid wasn’t even utilizing half of the stadium.

Since all 11 players had retreated, every area was inevitably congested.

‘Hmm.’

Once I get the ball, I’ll try to create something.

The problem is that I can’t find a place to receive the ball.

So, what should I do?

I have to find one.

A place to receive the ball.

‘There’s only one.’

Finding that spot wasn’t as difficult as he had anticipated.

Haa.

But a sigh escaped his lips.

Do I have to go all the way back there? It’s annoying.

But I can’t stay put.

If I just wait, the ball might never come, and that would be even more frustrating.

‘I have no choice.’

In the end, it seemed he had no option but to move.

Johan, having made that decision, began to move his feet.

Then he thought.

Since they dared to make him move, the opponent would have to pay the price.

“···?”

“···!”

Atletico Madrid’s two defensive midfielders, Aragones and De Paul, widened their eyes as they noticed the player passing by them.

Number 9.

Johan was moving past them.

From the penalty box to the halfway line.

He was moving against the flow of play.

“···”

“Hey. Stay put.”

When De Paul instinctively tried to follow Johan, Aragones, the de facto leader, stopped him.

The reason for his sudden retreat was obvious.

Since the ball wasn’t coming to him, he was going back to retrieve it himself.

There’s no reason to follow.

It was undeniable that Johan was a key player who had to be contained, even if it required multiple defenders.

It was also clear that the moment he received the ball would be the moment of greatest danger.

However, Aragones didn’t believe there was any reason to disrupt their formation by following him.

Because going back was ultimately futile.

To score a goal, he would eventually have to return to the attacking end.

He could go back and receive the ball, but he would still have to bring it back to the danger zone.

So, they should just maintain their position.

Besides, receiving the ball deep in midfield only meant that he would have to overcome even more layers of defense.

Even if it was Johan, could he break through such a dense defensive wall alone?

Well.

It wouldn’t be easy.

“Ball.”

“···!”

Johan, having reached the halfway line, requested the ball.

When Johan called for the ball, Capello hesitated for a moment.

Was he planning to do it alone? From this far out?

It wouldn’t be easy.

He himself was struggling to deliver the ball into the penalty box.

However, a clear passing lane was hard to find.

The opponent’s defensive formation was very compact, and possessed a solidity that suggested considerable experience.

To break through this alone… it seemed almost impossible.

“Give it to me.”

But… if it’s this guy?

“Here.”

Capello passed the ball to Johan.

Yes.

If there was no other viable option, entrusting it to Johan was the best course of action.

Do it. On your own.

Johan comes back to receive the ball. You don’t see this often. Even if you look at the heat map, Johan is usually positioned inside the penalty box and its immediate vicinity.

It seems like he came back because the game is so frustrating. I wonder what kind of solution he can provide.

Johan, having received the ball, turned towards the opponent’s half.

He was now facing 11 opposing players.

Towards those 11 players, Johan slowly began to dribble the ball forward.