Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 130

< Card Closer Than a Fist >

At that moment, a strange emotion flickered in the eyes of the two men watching Johan.

“···!”

First, Capello.

In Capello’s eyes, Johan looked like a hero from a movie.

It was a first.

Johan looking cool.

Isn’t that what they commonly call a ‘fluttering heart?’

Of course, he quickly regained his senses and shook his head, though.

Capello felt like he had become the heroine of a romance comic for a moment.

“···!”

And, Edwood.

Edwood, who had been knocked off balance for the first time in his life, looked up to see who had pushed him and wore a very embarrassed expression.

It was Johan, looking down at him with a rather annoyed face.

That Johan, who Edwood had picked as his favorite player.

‘Don’t look at me like that···.’

Well, not to the level of an idol or a role model, but.

Edwood was definitely a fan of Johan.

But, with Johan looking at him annoyedly like that.

Edwood’s heart, still a boy at heart even with his burly body, crumbled.

Johan’s one blow, fueled by annoyance at the constant interruptions to the game, subdued both Edwood’s body and mind.

In any case, Johan received a yellow card.

But it was worth it.

After that one blow, Edwood, who had been running rampant, tucked his tail and became intimidated.

And the momentum shifted to West Ham’s side.

However, one thing.

One yellow card is a variable.

If Johan loses his patience again and commits the same foul as before, whether he receives another warning or a direct red.

A situation could arise where Johan has to leave the field.

It would be painful no matter who gets sent off, but it would be even more damaging if it were Johan.

It might mean having to give up on today’s game.

In the end, Gordon had to call Johan over and firmly instruct him.

“You need to be careful from now on. Avoid committing fouls altogether. The opponent will keep provoking you. Don’t fall for it.”

“Are you worried I’ll get sent off?”

“Of course.”

“Then, can I just score three goals first? Then it’s okay if I get sent off, right?”

Gordon was dumbfounded by Johan’s words, as if there was nothing wrong with that.

For Johan, there really was nothing wrong with it.

Even if he got sent off.

If he scored enough goals beforehand, it would actually be better.

Because he could leave work early.

However, Gordon sighed and shook his head.

“If you get sent off, you could be banned for at least one game, or even two or three depending on the situation. You won’t be able to play in the next game, you.”

“···!”

This time, Johan’s expression changed.

He wouldn’t be able to play in the next game?

That wouldn’t do.

If he couldn’t play in the game, he wouldn’t be able to skip training.

That was absolutely unacceptable.

In the end, Johan nodded.

“I’ll just score goals quietly.”

“Good.”

Gordon patted Johan on the shoulder.

*

Although the momentum had shifted to West Ham, Man U [Manchester United] didn’t give up easily.

Even though Edwood had started to go into hiding, making Capello more relaxed.

Man U changed their target from Capello to Johan.

Of course, they couldn’t do the same thing to Johan as they had done to Capello.

Physically pressuring him, that is.

If they did, they would be the ones to collapse first.

Instead, they would use him against himself.

They wanted to make Johan unable to control his overflowing power.

The yellow card he received quite early on.

If they could get him to receive just one more, it would be as good as winning today’s game for free.

West Ham without Johan? Nothing at all.

The Man U players kept provoking Johan.

“Because of someone, they’re having a hard time. Everyone’s running around like crazy.”

“They’re probably cursing him inside. Saying they’re exhausted to death because of someone.”

They would circle around Johan, muttering as if to themselves, but saying trash talk that could be heard by everyone.

Bang-!

West Ham was awarded a free kick, but they would kick the ball far away on purpose and pretend not to know.

Childish, but therefore effective provocations from the Man U players.

“···”

But, ignoring unpleasant words was Johan’s specialty, honed by his dad’s nagging.

That didn’t work.

It was a bit annoying that they kept wasting time and doing useless things.

But there was a way to deal with that too.

He learned it from experience.

If you score a goal against those who were putting on a show, they would stop doing useless things and focus on the game.

<15 minutes have passed in the first half. The possession rate is 46 to 54. West Ham is slightly ahead, but there's not a big difference. The flow of the game is making the first goal crucial.>

Joshua Bailey, on the left, held the ball and looked for an opportunity, but then passed it back as if it wasn’t working out.

Man U’s right defense isn’t bad today.

In that case, they need to switch to the opposite side.

Bang-!

Capello, after receiving a back pass, sent a long switch pass to the opposite side.

That pass headed low and fast, as if measured with a ruler, to the right.

The switch has to be fast no matter what.

If it’s slow, there’s no reason to switch.

However, even so, Capello’s pass was almost like a shot.

A pass that was hit low and fast, to the point where it grazed the heads of the Man U players.

No matter how fast the switch needs to be, it seemed like a difficult pass for the player receiving it.

Swish-!

Johan received that pass as if it were nothing.

Capello gave the pass like that because Johan was the target in the first place.

Johan skillfully killed the power and dropped it right under his feet.

Thanks to that, there was almost no time wasted in preparing for the subsequent attack.

Tuk, tuk-!

Johan, with the opposing full-back in front of him, tapped and moved in.

However, the confrontation was a bit different from usual.

In these switch situations, it was always a one-on-one confrontation with the opposing full-back.

But now, there were two of them.

Two were blocking Johan.

One was the left-back.

One was the center-back.

Even the center-back, who should be guarding the box, had come out to meet Johan.

Of course, it was under the direction of Coach Hauer.

Man U’s left-back, Angel Caceres, was good at man-marking, but he wasn’t capable of stopping Johan alone.

At least two.

Coach Hauer thought that they could at least buy some time by having two of them.

However, Johan didn’t give them time.

Swish-!

If two people were on Johan, someone had to be free.

Unless Man U was playing with 12 players.

The empty space created by the center-back coming out to meet Johan.

Buckley ran into that empty space, and Johan nudged the pass to Buckley’s feet.

And, simultaneously with the pass, Johan ran towards the center.

In that brief moment when the eyes of the two guys who were blocking him were briefly drawn to the ball.

Johan had already passed them.

Swoosh-!

Buckley’s connection afterwards was also good.

Buckley, having glanced at Johan’s movement, understood his intention and stepped the ball backwards instead of dribbling it directly.

A back heel pass that rolled in front of Johan’s direction.

Swish-!

Tatatat-!

Receiving that pass, Johan dribbled towards the center once more.

With just a few passes and movements, Man U’s marking was completely messed up.

And Johan had a shooting chance.

Bang-!

Often, as they say in baseball, he hit it according to the grain [hit the ball squarely].

Johan, who was running from the right to the center, looked at the far post and curled it with his left foot.

That curling shot,

Whoosh-

Drew a beautiful trajectory and curled in neatly.

Thwack-!

Johan’s answer to the Man U players’ provocations was this.

Now, everyone, stop doing useless things.

And focus on the game.

*

After Johan’s opening goal.

The game felt even more heated.

The back-and-forth between the two teams became more intense, and the tempo of the game gradually increased.

Hauer’s Man U showed more potential after conceding a goal.

From the middle of the first half onwards, they showed a 모습 [a side/aspect] to regain the momentum they had lost based on their overall activity, and in the process, they created quite a few opportunities and even took shots.

What was a bit disappointing was that those shots didn’t lead to goals due to a lack of finishing ability.

<1-0, West Ham finishes the first half with a one-point lead. Looking at the first-half indicators of both teams, West Ham is slightly ahead with a possession rate of 48 to 52, but it was equal, and Man U had more shots with 6 to 4.>

Actually, it wasn’t just a bit disappointing, it was very disappointing.

That they didn’t equalize in the first half.

Thanks to that, there are many 불안 [anxiety/unease] elements in the second half.

First of all, the fact that all the players ran hard from the beginning means that 체력 [stamina/physical strength] problems will come sooner than usual.

Also, Edwood himself, who doesn’t seem to be showing any 과감함 [boldness/daring] today, was also an 불안 [anxiety/unease] element.

As expected.

In the 이어진 [following/subsequent] second half, that 불안 [anxiety/unease] element grabbed Man U’s ankle.

As all the players had 뛰었던 빡세게 [ran intensely] from the start, the 체력 저하 [stamina decline] of both teams came earlier than usual, and in the 65th minute of the second half.

Capello created a 결정적인 [decisive] scene, taking advantage of the gap where the 압박 [pressure] in the 중원 [midfield] had become 느슨해진 [loosened].

A pass that 가르는 대지를 [splits the earth], so to speak.

He opened up a 완벽한 찬스 [perfect chance] by 대령 [delivering] the pass that 바보로 만드는 [makes fools of] Man U’s 수비진 [defensive line] in front of Johan’s 발앞에 [feet].

Afterwards, Johan’s 마무리 [finishing] was also 깔끔했다 [clean/impeccable].

In a 1대1 [one-on-one] situation with the 키퍼 [goalkeeper], Johan calmly 차 넣었다 [kicked in] the 공 [ball] into the 골문 구석으로 [corner of the goal], and

That’s how the 스코어 [score] became 2대0 [2-0].

“Shit.”

“What’s the point of just 뛰기만 빠지게 [running around like crazy] if you don’t make 결과를 [results]! Make 결과를 [results]!”

As the 점수 차 [score difference] 벌어지고 차까지 2점 [widened to 2 points],

The 분위기는 [atmosphere] of 올드 트래포드 [Old Trafford, Man U’s stadium] became 험악해지고 말았다 [became fierce/ugly].

This is the place where the 분위기가 [atmosphere] has always been 좋았던 [good] this season. It was clear that things had really 달라졌다는 [changed] in this season, and there was a 희망 [hope] that they could 되찾을 [regain] the 영광 [glory] of the 과거 [past].

At the point when the 리그 [league] had 진행된 [progressed] to 7라운드 [7 rounds], a 현수막 [banner] with 예룬 하우어’s [Jeroen Hauer’s] face 크게 박힌 [largely imprinted] was already 설치 [installed] on one side of the 관중석 [spectator seats].

But, as 빨리 끓어오를수록 식는 것도 빠르다고 [the faster it boils, the faster it cools].

In just 7 경기 [games], the Man U 팬들 [fans] who had 추대하던 하우어 [enthroned Hauer] as the 세계 최고의 명장 [world’s best manager] were 폭발하고 못 참아 90분을 고작 있었다 [exploded and couldn’t endure even 90 minutes].

“What are you thinking using 저런 어린 놈들을 [those young punks]! They’re all 정신을 못 차리잖아 [out of their minds]!”

“There’s no 선수 [player] to 잡아줄 중심 [hold the center/provide stability]!”

Listening to the 목소리를 [voices] of the 관중들 [spectators] 들려오는 [coming] from the 뒤편 [rear], Coach 하우어 [Hauer] sitting on the 벤치 [bench] 피식 웃었다 [smirked].

He felt like it was 슬슬 시작되는 [slowly starting].

The 극성이 [extremism] of the Man U 팬들 [fans], whose 기대치 [expectations] is higher than any other 클럽 [club] in 유럽 [Europe], 말이다 [that is].

Just until the 지난 경기 [last game], they were 찬양했었다 [praising] that the 세대 교체 [generation change] had been 완벽하게 이뤄졌다고 [perfectly achieved].

Now, what are you thinking using 어린 놈들을 [young punks] now?

Anyway.

“Is it 말이 되냐 [make sense] to lose to 따위 웨스트 햄 [West Ham of all teams]!”

“We’re Man U!”

It’s also a problem that they were once 너무 잘나갔던 [too successful].

Everyone can’t forget 그때를 [that time], and they want too much compared to the 현실 [reality].

West Ham was the 준우승 팀 [runner-up team] of the 지난 season [last season], and they’re a 팀 [team] that won the FA컵 [FA Cup].

On the other hand, Man U was in 6th place, and they were 조기 탈락 [early elimination] in all 컵 대회 [cup competitions].

Even here, have they 까맣게 잊었나 [completely forgotten] that they 패배했던 [were defeated] 1대5 [1-5] at 올드 트래포드 [Old Trafford]?

Compared to 그때에 [that time], they’re doing very well today.

Aren’t they doing well by 막아내고 [holding off] 2점 차로 [by a 2-point difference] against a 팀 [team] that 졌던 [lost] 4점 차로 [by a 4-point difference]?

They’re 막아내고 [holding off] 요한 [Johan] with 2점 [2 points], 말이다 [that is].

Originally, 재건이라는 [reconstruction] is something that 무진장 [tremendously] needs 시간 [time].

Especially for a 클럽 [club] like Man U, where the 문제가 [problems] is 복합적인 [complex], that 시간이 [time] can only 걸릴 더 오래 [take longer].

That’s why 하우어 [Hauer] 요구했던 영입 [demanded the recruitment] the of 요한 [Johan].

The only 수밖엔 [way] that can 바꿀 모든 걸 [change everything] in 한순간에 [an instant] was 없었으니까 [because there wasn’t].

Well, anyway.

내준다는 승점 3점을 [giving up 3 points] to 웨스트 햄 [West Ham] is also a 뼈 아픈 일 [painful thing] as Coach 하우어 [Hauer] 개인으로서 [personally], but.

분명 가능성을 봤기에 [clearly saw the potential] Coach 하우어 [Hauer] 귀를 닫았다 [closed his ears] to the 소리에 내는 관중들이 [voices of the spectators].

Even if they lose today, they can 빼앗으면 승점을 [take away the points] when they 만났을 [meet] next time.

Let’s look at it 좀 길게, 길게 [a bit long-term, long-term].

Man U 팬들아 [fans].

자제하고 설레발 좀 [restrain yourselves and don’t get ahead of yourselves].

Since 설레발은 떨어댄 [getting ahead of yourselves] already, 치르고 알아서들 잘 대가를 말이다 [pay the price accordingly].

“삐익, 삐익, 삐이익-!” [Whistle sound]

The 경기는 끝이 나게 그대로 반전 없이 되었고 [game ended as is without any reversal].

The Man U 팬들은 생각했다 쓰며 죽상을 [fans thought with a grimace].

말이었다 하지 말아야겠다고 접속은 인터넷 당분간 [It was said that they shouldn’t access the internet for a while].

Well, that 생각은 보였다 생각으로 현명한 [thought seemed like a wise one].

└와 맨유가 달라지긴 했네 ㅋㅋㅋ 웨스트 햄 상대로 0대2면 잘한거지 ㅇㅈ [Wow, Man U has changed ㅋㅋㅋ 0-2 against West Ham is good, 인정 (acknowledged)]

└맨유 우승컵 주고 시즌 다시 시작하자(실제로 했던 말) [Give Man U the championship trophy and start the season again (actually said)]

└맹구들아, 또 속냐!! [Man U fans, are you being fooled again!!]

└??? : 지금의 맨유는 자연재해다 [??? : The current Man U is a natural disaster]

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ [ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

└고개를 들어라, 맨유. 강팀에게 진다는 건 부끄러운 일이 아니다 [Raise your heads, Man U. Losing to a strong team is not a shameful thing]

└하긴 유로파 팀이 챔스 팀 상대로 선전하긴 했지 [Well, a Europa League team did well against a Champions League team]

마치 기다렸다는 듯, 맨유를 조롱하는 댓글들이 이미 인터넷을 뒤덮고 있었으니까 [As if waiting, comments mocking Man U were already covering the internet].