Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 123

< Paris Away Game >

“Coach!”

As soon as he scored, Bailey ran to the bench and jumped into Schmidt’s arms.

And then, the other players piled on as well.

“Ughhh!”

“Kuh-erk!”

Schmidt was gasping for air from the players’ excessive display of affection.

The excited players had no consideration.

Even if the recipient was an elderly man with snow-white hair.

“Hey, hey, you guys! You’re going to suffocate the old man!”

It was a good thing Jamie, the assistant coach, risked his life to stop the rushing players.

Otherwise, the old man would have collapsed.

“Shorty!”

“Shorty, shorty, shorty! Ugh, that feels good. I was frustrated because I couldn’t call Johan ‘shorty,’ but I can call you ‘shorty’ as much as I want!”

“Wow! These young’uns are scary, scary!”

The intense display of affection for Schmidt passed.

And then his teammates congratulated Bailey.

This kid is only 17 years old.

What the heck happened in 2011 [likely a reference to Bailey’s birth year and the emergence of exceptional young talents]?

“Good job.”

“Thank you, Coach!”

Schmidt, with his disheveled hair, stroked Bailey’s head, and Bailey smiled brightly and hugged Schmidt once again.

However, Schmidt soon scolded the players.

“That’s enough! Don’t act like the game is over! This is just the beginning!”

“Yes, sir!”

Schmidt playfully kicked the players’ butts and sent them back onto the field.

The players, startled by his harsh words, returned to their positions.

West Ham took the lead with an unexpected goal from an unexpected player at an early stage.

*

West Ham’s opening goal! The goal came from Joshua Bailey’s right foot.

Now, let’s take another look at the defense. They didn’t seem to expect him to shoot right away. He was left too free inside the box.

The defense was too drawn to Johan.

It seems Paris didn’t know that Bailey was a player with finishing ability.

Bailey’s goal was definitely a surprise for Paris.

The proportion of goals scored by Johan in West Ham’s total goals is abnormally high.

Almost, like, if they score three goals, two of them are Johan’s.

Because of this, Coach Dubussy had emphasized to the players.

Don’t let your attention be drawn elsewhere, stick to Johan.

Attacks through other players are just stepping stones to create opportunities for Johan.

But they conceded a goal from Bailey before it even got to Johan.

Paris, and Coach Dubussy, couldn’t help but have complicated thoughts.

The other guys aren’t pushovers either.

If they continue as they have been, they could concede another goal in a similar fashion.

‘What should we do?’

Paris’s captain, Ethan Cassel, looked at the bench.

His eyes seemed to be asking what to do.

However, Ethan Cassel couldn’t get an answer.

Instead, he felt uneasy.

Because Coach Dubussy had thrown his precious notebook on the bench and was biting his nails.

*

Whatever it was, Paris only had one option.

Attack.

First, equalize and then think.

After all, Paris’s strength is their attack.

After conceding a goal, Paris started to play very aggressively.

Kleber, shaking things up.

Even when Kleber has the ball, he consistently shows something.

Paris is still building their attack around Kleber.

Coach Dubussy is quite the tactician, but he doesn’t really give detailed tactics when it comes to attacking.

That’s because the players do well on their own.

The three-top formation of Kleber, Dennis Callejon in the center, and Emery Manuz on the right is devastating.

Each of them is capable of dismantling the defense on their own.

And the chemistry between the three is fantastic.

There’s no need for tactics.

The West Ham defense, facing the three rushing in for an equalizer, seemed a bit shaken.

It’s definitely difficult with individual skills. They need to defend cooperatively.

Still, it’s fortunate for West Ham that they’ve had a lot of experience with this.

In fact, if it weren’t for the experience from last season, West Ham could have been shaken quite a bit.

Because their individual abilities were lacking.

However, they had already defeated Manchester City in the finals.

While stopping Samir Rishard, who is known as the best *crack* [a slang term for a highly skilled player] in Europe.

The experience they gained at that time was a great help.

In addition, Bellamy is holding the center of the defense.

West Ham felt like they were united to block Paris’s offensive, which was based on the individual skills of the three-top.

In the end, the dangerous flow that came once was ended by the referee’s whistle.

The first half has ended like this. 1-0! West Ham will lead into the second half.

*

“Zerdan.”

“Yes.”

“You need to move more vertically. We need to put more power into our left-wing attack.”

“I understand.”

“Shakimi. You need to come in more towards the center. Otherwise, we’ll be outnumbered in the midfield battle.”

“Yes.”

Halftime.

Paris’s locker room was very calm.

It felt more like a classroom during a lesson than a locker room for players who had just finished the first half.

The players were sitting in their respective seats, resting and listening to Coach Dubussy’s words.

Coach Dubussy was, as always, looking at his notebook, explaining how to change things up in the second half.

The notebook was filled with improvements.

There were so many things to fix in the first half.

It seemed like halftime would be over just by listing them one by one.

Coach Dubussy calmly continued his explanation.

“Cassel. Did you understand everything?”

“Yes. I understood.”

“Good. Now, everyone, rest and repeat it in your head one more time.”

When Coach Dubussy’s explanation was over, silence filled the locker room.

It was Coach Dubussy’s style to prohibit any conversation between players during halftime.

There’s no need for discussions between players anyway.

Coach Dubussy organizes everything regarding tactical aspects.

What they need to do during halftime is not talk, but just conserve their energy for the second half.

The players just mumbled what Coach Dubussy had said, like students before a pop quiz, and prepared for the second half.

*

West Ham’s locker room was the complete opposite of Paris’s.

“What happened in 2011? How were such geniuses born?”

“Bailey. That shot was amazing. For that moment, you were better than Kleber.”

“What are you talking about? It’s not just that moment.”

The locker room was noisy with players looking back at the first half and talking.

They praised Bailey’s goal, told each other what they did well to boost their morale, and pointed out what they lacked.

“Nathan, Buckley. How’s your stamina?”

“I’m fine.”

“No worries, mate.”

“You can’t be ‘fine.’ If I ask the same question after the second half and get the same answer, that’s not good. The answer should be that you’re so tired you’re going to die.”

“Yessir!”

Coach Schmidt didn’t really talk about tactics.

He just talked to each player, trying to encourage them to fight harder.

Coach Schmidt knew from experience.

Tactical feedback should be done on the training ground, not in the locker room.

In situations like this, it doesn’t even register in their heads even if he talks about it.

For Coach Schmidt, halftime was a time to boost the players’ morale.

“Alright, alright. Let’s do the second half just like the first half!”

“Come on! Let’s do it! Those bastards are nothing!”

“Those guys are the kings of foxes! We’re the ones who grew up in a pride of lions!”

“Come on! United!”

Thanks to that, the enthusiasm of the players leaving the locker room for the second half was even hotter.

The players shouted fighting and headed to the stadium.

Coach Schmidt, who was standing at the entrance, gave each player a high-five and encouraged them.

“Johan.”

“Yes?”

“You still don’t have any attack points. Do you want to see my face more often? I’d welcome it.”

“…”

Of course, Coach Schmidt didn’t forget to say something spicy.

*

It’s a bit strange. Paris was clearly gaining momentum at the end of the first half. But after the second half started, West Ham is the one regaining the flow.

Did the West Ham bench order a tactical change during halftime?

It doesn’t seem like it. There’s no change in the formation. The only noticeable change is that the players are running harder.

That’s perhaps the most important change.

To define West Ham’s soccer in one word, it’s simple.

Soccer that runs two steps more.

Running one step more is not enough.

Because there’s Johan, who runs one step less.

That’s why the players ran two steps more.

The reason that’s possible is because there’s someone who recognizes them when they run two steps more.

A strong body fight! Buckley manages to win the fight!

He almost grabbed him with a foul, but he didn’t fall. Buckley!

West Ham’s energy level doesn’t seem to be dropping even in the second half!

The Paris players were clearly running with what Coach Dubussy had emphasized during halftime in their heads.

But, what should I say.

It didn’t feel like tactics were important right now.

West Ham was completely on a roll, and it seemed like no tactics could put out that fire.

Soccer is ultimately a sport played by people, and it’s a sport where bodies collide.

The West Ham players stirred up the stadium, exuding a momentum that made the Paris players’ bodies shrink.

What is the source of that energy? What kind of motivation can make the players run like that.

Today’s game is certainly an important game. For West Ham, they must win to aim for the tournament, so of course they should run hard. However, I want to applaud the West Ham players who are playing as if it were the finals.

Even Johan was moving hard in the second half.

As expected, the one word Coach Schmidt said in the locker room became a stimulus.

It’s not enough to play two games a week, but I can’t fill up the training sessions either.

Coach is a pretty good person, but he’s not a face I want to see often.

“Hey.”

“Here!”

Paah-!

Johan, who was stuck in the gaps of the opponent’s defense, suddenly popped out.

A movement to come down to receive a pass.

Capello, who spotted the movement, passed the ball, and Johan immediately turned his body.

Tatatat-!

The Paris defense was full in front of the goal.

However, Johan dribbled the ball straight towards them.

The Paris defenders’ faces showed embarrassment at the reckless rush.

No one had ever run straight at them like this.

At least not in Ligue 1 [the top French professional football league].

In that moment, they finally realized.

Although the game is being played at home, this is not Ligue 1, but the Champions League.

Tatatat-!

A concise feint.

Johan broke through the Paris defenders with just speed and upper body movement.

And when he saw a thin gap between the defenders’ legs.

Ppeoooeeeoooong-!

A shot that was one beat faster.

The shot, which was laid low towards the corner of the goal, was sucked into the only course where the goal could go in.

Clang-!

Goooooooal-! Johan is finally scoring! What was that! That dribble breakthrough just now!

West Ham’s winning formula has exploded! It seemed like Coach Dubussy’s close marking was working! But in the end, there was no way!

The moment the king of Ligue 1 was conquered their castle.

“Yes.”

Johan quietly pointed to the bench.

I’m sorry, Coach.

But once again, you’re not a face I want to see often.

My father always says that too.

Even people who love each other fight if they see each other every day.

It’s best to see each other occasionally.

So be careful when you get married…

Um?

Anyway.

There will be no chance to see you often as you wish.

Johan smiled triumphantly.

Of course,

“When I see him like this, there’s no one easier to handle than that guy.”

Coach Schmidt was smiling as well.

*

“Beep, beep, beep-!”

When the final whistle blew.

A result that was unexpected for some and obvious for others was written on the scoreboard.

90:00

PSG 1:3 WHU

3-1, West Ham’s victory.

Paris followed up with one goal in a 2-0 situation, but Johan put in one more goal to extinguish the fire of the chase.

The two-thirds formula was established today.

The formula that if West Ham scores 3 goals, 2 of them are Johan’s goals.

West Ham wins a perfect victory in the opponent’s home.

With this, West Ham has risen to the highest position in Group E.

“I have a question. In fact, you didn’t have any chances until the first half today. You scored two goals in the second half by moving more actively. Was there any tactical change during halftime?”

After the game, Johan had an interview.

Johan shrugged his shoulders at the reporter’s question.

“There wasn’t really any. However, I think I ran harder in the second half than in the first half.”

“What’s the reason?”

“I didn’t want to see Coach’s face often.”

Again, Johan is cutting off the story and talking.

Fortunately, this time he kindly added an explanation.

“Before going out on the field, the coach said: ‘Do you want to see me often?’ If I don’t score, I have to see the coach often. In the end, he told me to score. I just listened to the coach’s words.”

“Is it all thanks to the coach? Haha.”

“Yes. There’s no one like our coach.”

With one word from Johan, it seemed like everything would be settled.

Johan said that Coach Schmidt is the best, not anyone else.

Who can criticize him?

With today’s game, the public opinion that underestimates Coach Schmidt will subside.