Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 117

< Champions League - Episode 116 >

“May I come in for a moment?”

Butler Jeremy knocked on Johann’s door, waited briefly, and then opened it.

As expected, Johann was sound asleep.

Jeremy chuckled at the sight of Johann and quietly began cleaning.

‘I really didn’t expect him to just sleep all day.’

Like any West Ham fan, Jeremy had many questions about Johann.

He was so reclusive.

Despite being a top star, his life outside the stadium was unknown to the fans.

He occasionally posted everyday photos on his SNS [Social Networking Service] account, but that wasn’t enough.

As a result, fans were most curious about what he did at home all day.

What could he possibly have at home that would keep him cooped up for days without going out?

There were rumors among fans that Johann’s house had three basement levels, with a movie theater on the first, a fitness center on the second, and an arcade on the third.

They wondered how he could stay home all the time unless he had everything he needed.

‘There’s a reason for everything.’

However, after seeing it for himself, Jeremy realized that Johann was an even more mysterious boy than he thought.

He really just sleeps.

All day long.

Jeremy sometimes wondered if he should come in and turn him over to prevent bedsores.

However, he thought that might be the right personality for a soccer player.

Of course, it’s hard to say that disliking training is a good thing.

But rest is as important as training.

It’s better to truly rest when resting than to wander around and have fun.

Besides, he’s young and full of energy, and his family has a background in arts and sports.

He eats incredibly well and rests well too.

Butler Jeremy felt he could understand a little better how such a soccer prodigy was born.

“···Ah!”

“Oh, did I wake you?”

“···Ah.”

“Did you have a nightmare?”

Johann suddenly sat up.

His expression was quite serious.

Jeremy tilted his head, and Johann said earnestly,

“Butler.”

“Yes?”

“Could you go to the bathroom for me?”

“···To the bathroom?”

“I need to pee, but I don’t feel like going.”

“···.”

Butler Jeremy rubbed his forehead.

He wondered how Johann would have lived if he didn’t have soccer talent.

“While you’re at it, why don’t you get up? Didn’t you say your grandfather was coming today?”

“Ah··· That’s right.”

Johann sighed at Jeremy’s words.

As he said, his grandfather was coming today.

He said he was coming to congratulate him on a successful season last year.

But Johann was still scared of his grandfather.

“Hoo···”

First, I need to go to the bathroom.

My bladder is about to burst.

*

“Korea is in an uproar too. The association is getting a lot of flak. How could they miss out on a guy like Johann?”

“Haha···”

“They should have treated him well when they had him. It’s funny to see them jealous now. What’s even funnier is that they’re proud of him as if they raised him, just because Korean blood is dominating Europe. It’s not because he has Korean blood that he’s doing well, it’s because he has the blood of the Ban family. Haha!”

Johann smiled awkwardly as he watched his grandfather laugh heartily.

He came out to eat with his grandfather and family.

It had been a while since he’d seen his grandfather.

His grandfather was always a bit scary.

But he received a lot of praise today.

It was almost the first time he’d been praised like this by his grandfather.

Johann couldn’t help but feel proud to be called a ‘자랑스러운 손자’ [jarangseureoun sonja – proud grandson].

“So, how’s team life? Are your teammates treating you well?”

“Yeah, they’re all good to me.”

“Who treats you the best?”

“Um··· They’re all good to me, but the captain takes the best care of me.”

“Gordon, that guy? So he’s doing a good job as captain, right?”

“Yeah, well···”

Ban Gil-woong smiled at Johann and said,

“Our Ban Johann. What’s your goal for this season?”

“My goal for this season? Um, my goal is to win the league.”

Johann said his goal of winning the league and then glanced around.

He was confident he could convince his dad, but not his grandfather.

He couldn’t tell him his goal was to retire after winning the championship.

He was afraid he would be scolded for talking about retiring so soon after starting.

But perhaps he didn’t know that, because his grandfather just smiled.

“League championship. That’s a great goal. So, what’s the team’s goal?”

“The team’s goal? Uh··· Isn’t it to win the league?”

“That, and?”

Johann thought for a moment at the question of what else there was.

What else is there?

Ban Gil-woong laughed when Johann couldn’t find an answer.

“You don’t care how the team is doing? Only you matter?”

“Ah, no···.”

“A player can’t be above the team. That goes for you too. The team’s goals should come before my goals, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Didn’t the coach or your teammates say anything about doing well in the Champions League?”

“Ah, the Champions League···.”

Johann nodded.

The Champions League that his teammates kept talking about.

Of course, the coach and coaches were also preparing thoroughly for the Champions League.

He didn’t know what the Champions League meant, though.

But seeing how hard they were preparing, it must be an important tournament.

“Then, it’s your turn to repay them.”

“···Repay?”

Ban Gil-woong nodded.

“Ban Johann.”

“Yes?”

“Wasn’t I right? Even if you don’t want to play soccer, you don’t have to do other annoying things because you play soccer.”

“Ah, yes.”

“But the truth is, these annoying things don’t just disappear.”

Johann tilted his head at Ban Gil-woong’s words.

“Think about it. Even if you don’t do annoying things, they don’t disappear. Someone else is doing those annoying things for you.”

“···.”

At his grandfather’s words, Johann glanced at his mom and dad, who were eating.

He also thought of Butler Jeremy.

The reason he didn’t have to clean his room or do laundry was because they were doing it for him.

Johann knew that.

That’s why he was always grateful.

He knew best how annoying those things were, so he couldn’t help but be more grateful than anyone else.

“But you know what? It’s the same on the field. Why are you able to score goals so easily? It’s because your teammates are running that extra step for you.”

“···”

“Think about it. If everyone else ran like you, could you win the game?”

His teammates like him?

Wouldn’t the game itself not work?

“You know best how annoying and difficult it is to run around like that. But they’re all running for you. So you can score goals easily.”

“···Yes, sir.”

“They’re all taking care of your mess. Why wouldn’t they want to be the main character? They’re doing it for you even if they don’t want to. So, shouldn’t you be grateful?”

“Yes··· I’m grateful.”

“Then, you have to express it. Repay them, that’s what I’m saying. Do something they want you to do, just once.”

What his teammates want.

Is he talking about the Champions League?

Is he telling him to win that tournament?

Because that’s what his teammates want.

Well, it doesn’t seem too difficult if I put my mind to it···

“I heard it from your dad. You’re going to retire if you win the league, right?”

“···!”

“Hey, why are you surprised? Did you think I was going to scold you for that?”

His grandfather burst into a hearty laugh.

“It’s your life, you do what you want. What right do I have to interfere? Seeing what our grandson has been doing for the past season, I think you can really win this time. But then, that means this season is the last one. It’s a chance to repay your teammates.”

Johann nodded vigorously, relieved to see his grandfather smiling and speaking differently than he expected.

“Then, do it. Our grandson is capable enough. Donate some of your talent, that’s what I’m saying.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Hoo-hoo. When did our youngest grandson become so admirable?”

“···Hehe.”

His grandfather stroked Johann’s head, and Johann smiled.

If there was one worry, it was that.

He was worried that he would be scolded by his grandfather if he retired.

He thought his grandfather would oppose his retirement and say that he should do as much as he could.

But he got permission like this.

Johann’s heart felt as light as a feather.

And he thought he should listen to his grandfather’s words.

Repay his teammates.

Yes, sir, Grandfather.

Anything.

Champions League? I’ll win that, no problem.

ㆍㆍㆍ

West Ham’s August schedule was quite smooth.

There are two league games in August, including the opening game, and those two games are against newly promoted teams this season.

Of course, you shouldn’t underestimate promoted teams, but it’s true that it’s relatively easy. West Ham was able to save some energy.

This season is one that needs to be viewed longer than ever.

The team’s key players have a physical burden from playing in the Euros [European Championship], and they will also be participating in the Champions League.

If they don’t operate smartly and meticulously than ever before, they could collapse while showing off their inexperience.

That shouldn’t happen.

They need to save energy when they can, and they need to be able to release that saved energy when they really need to use it.

West Ham’s starting lineup in the opening game of the 2028/29 season against Huddersfield Town AFC showed that will well.

A total of four starting players were given ‘rest’ for the opening game.

Shay Bellamy, Daniele Capello, Martin Petrovic, and Johann were the four.

It was a game where the core of the core was missing.

Even if the opponent was a promoted team, West Ham without them didn’t seem to be able to guarantee a win.

But that’s why the players and coaching staff who prepared thoroughly.

From the players’ point of view, they had to show that they could do it without them, and from the team’s point of view, they had to see the possibility that they could win without them in order to operate this season wisely.

Fortunately, the players who played in the opening game all did their part.

The game result was 2-0.

West Ham had a pleasant opening game victory in many ways.

And the aftermath of that victory continued into the second round of the league.

The opponent in the second round was Sheffield United, a promoted team like Huddersfield.

They confirmed through the opening game that they could win even if the core players rested, so West Ham saved energy in the second round as well.

Petrovic played in this game, but the other three who played in the semi-finals and finals of the Euros also rested.

And West Ham also won the second round.

However, unlike the opening game, it was not an easy victory.

The score was 2-1.

It was a one-point difference, and the game was somehow frustrating, so it wouldn’t have been strange if they had drawn or lost.

Therefore, it seemed that they couldn’t just save energy from the third round.

Well, that’s what they were thinking anyway.

The opponent in the third round of the league was Leicester City, a formidable team.

Above all, they had to prepare for the Champions League group stage, which starts in mid-September.

The players who had been resting until now needed time to play games and improve their senses rather than just resting.

“If possible, I hope we get an easy group.”

“There won’t be an easy group no matter where you go.”

“Still. It’s better to be in the same group as Sporting and Lille than to be in the same group as Real and Juventus.”

“Hmm.”

Champions League.

Now everyone’s attention was focused on the Champions League group stage draw.

West Ham is in Pot 3.

In other words, in order to advance to the tournament, they have to overcome at least one of the teams in Pots 1 and 2.

Therefore, it is essential to be in the same group as the most manageable team among the Pot 2 teams.

The teams in Pot 2 were as follows.

-Juventus FC (Serie A [Italian Football League])

-Arsenal FC (Premier League [English Football League])

-Villarreal CF (La Liga [Spanish Football League])

-Lille OSC (Ligue 1 [French Football League])

-Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga [German Football League])

-FC Barcelona (La Liga [Spanish Football League])

-Liverpool FC (Premier League [English Football League])

-SL Benfica (Primeira Liga [Portuguese Football League])

Among these, Arsenal and Liverpool are excluded because they cannot be in the same group as the same league.

If there is a relatively easy opponent among the rest, it would be Lille OSC or Benfica.

The teams they don’t want to meet are Juventus, Dortmund, and Barcelona, which have no power difference with the Pot 1 teams.

If they are in the same group as them, it would be a group of death for West Ham.

“Please···”

So, while coach Jamie was praying with his hands together.

The draw for the 2028/29 Champions League group stage was held.