Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 147

< Episode 146 – Johan's Perspective >

“Hey, little brother.”

“?”

“You still have a long way to go.”

“I know.”

“To catch up to your performance last season, you need to record six attack points in the next game.”

“Six? It’s not as far off as I thought.”

“…Is that so? Anyway, let’s try harder.”

“I will.”

Listening to the conversation between the two brothers, Ban Seok-ho, who was sitting in the living room watching the news, wore a pleased smile.

‘That guy, Rohan, really.’

To tell a player who recorded 35 goals and 6 assists in the first half of the season to try harder.

He’s probably the only one who can say that to Johan.

-……We’ve analyzed the differences in indicators between West Ham last season and West Ham this season. Now, let’s look at the changes in performance for each player. First, let’s take a look at striker Johan Ban.

“Oops.”

Ban Seok-ho, who was watching the soccer program, quickly changed the channel.

It looked like something was about to come out that Johan shouldn’t hear.

As he changed the channel, Rohan glanced at him and secretly gave him a thumbs up.

The truth must not reach Johan’s ears.

“Anyway, if you don’t want to be called lazy, you have to work harder.”

“I know, I know.”

Rohan was deliberately hiding the truth.

The fact that Johan’s record this season is better than Johan’s record last season.

Simply, on the surface, it was true that Johan’s attack points recorded in the same round last season were higher.

However, data should not be viewed only on the surface, but always requires correct interpretation.

Last season, Johan played 17 games until the 19th round.

He only missed two games.

On the other hand, Johan has played 14 games until the 19th round this season.

Due to the aftermath of the Euros [European Championship] at the beginning of the season, he has fewer appearances.

Therefore, when calculated by attack points per game, Johan recorded 2.6 attack points per game last season, and Johan recorded 2.9 attack points per game this season.

Rather, this season’s pace is much faster.

It’s not that Johan is stupid, but he’s just too lazy to even bother with a calculator.

Anyway, the fact that he doesn’t know the truth seemed like a pretty positive thing.

“But, the coach said I’ll be resting for the next game. What should I do?”

“There’s nothing you can do. You’ll just have to score that much more in the next game.”

See?

Johan is worried that he won’t be able to play in the next game.

Johan is disappointed that he can’t play in the game.

I couldn’t have imagined this day would come.

‘He’s changed a lot. Or maybe he hasn’t changed at all.’

It’s already been almost two years since Johan debuted.

Even so, Ban Seok-ho often felt like this moment wasn’t real.

Probably because he had seen Johan since the day he was born.

Johan’s character was clear from the time he was a baby.

‘He was really unique since he was little.’

There were so many things that made him laugh even when he thought about them now.

Even Golden Retrievers, who are famous for being gentle and docile and are called ‘angel dogs,’ are said to be full of energy until they are 3 years old.

Even people with introverted personalities are mostly outgoing when they are young.

Anyone who has raised children knows how much energy little kids, especially boys, have before they get a little older.

But Johan was really easy to raise.

That’s why Johan’s mom liked it.

She said how could a child be so calm.

The first child, Rohan, was also quiet, but Johan really only slept all day.

To the extent that it took quite a while to know how big Johan’s eyes were.

Because he only saw him sleeping with his eyes closed.

Of course, it’s an exaggeration, but anyway, Johan was consistent from the time he was a baby.

Others spend sleepless nights putting their babies to sleep, but Johan was really an angel in that regard.

He slept well on his own without having to be put to sleep, and he didn’t cry as long as he was fed on time.

Well, maybe that’s why he seemed to grow faster than other kids his age.

He ate and slept, ate and slept, so there was no way he couldn’t grow.

Of course, height is genetic, but Johan clearly extracted the genes of his mom and dad to the extreme.

At least he grew up well without losing out due to lifestyle or environment.

Johan is still growing little by little.

They say men grow even when they go to the military, and he’s only 17 now.

Next year, he might be close to 190 centimeters [approximately 6 feet 3 inches]. No, he might exceed it.

So, he doesn’t tell him to stop sleeping as much as possible.

‘Being able to sleep well anytime, anywhere is a blessing.’

Indeed, sleep is medicine and the best way to rest.

Ban Seok-ho knows the importance of rest best.

He had been troubled by lack of rest more than once.

The reason why Johan has been doing well for a full season and is doing well this season without any pain.

One of the biggest reasons is that he is resting so much.

In terms of cell phones, he is always plugged into a charger except when he is in use.

So, it never runs out.

Rather, the maximum capacity of the battery even increases in the process.

In some ways, he is a natural-born soccer player in that respect.

That’s why he was so frustrated until two years ago.

‘Now I’m almost sorry.’

Anyway, as much as Johan has relieved his frustration.

Ban Seok-ho’s thoughts have changed a lot too.

He still has a great desire to see Johan running around the field for a long time, but on the other hand, he also wanted to see Johan living comfortably as he wanted.

Just happily, without any worries.

Johan is already enduring a lot and making fans and family happy.

So, now he has the right to be happy himself.

Ah, no.

That’s not it.

Everyone has the right to be happy just by their existence.

Just, Johan has the right to be happy.

I hope so.

I hope he wins the league championship this season.

If that happens, Ban Seok-ho was ready to offer his heartfelt congratulations.

He worked hard.

Now live happily as you want.

So, he will cheer for him to win every game.

And he will be happy with him when he wins.

“Ugh.”

Johan, who had filled his stomach, came out to the living room and flopped down on the sofa.

Originally, jumping into bed was the routine, but Jeremy the butler is cleaning the room now.

“Has the Juventus game started yet?”

“Yeah. Just now.”

Rohan also took a seat on the sofa, moving one of Johan’s legs.

The TV channel was already tuned to soccer broadcasting. It’s not a Premier League game, it’s a Serie A [Italian top league] game.

West Ham’s Champions League Round of 16 opponent, Juventus, met Inter Milan.

“What’s the ranking?”

“Juve is first with 14 wins and 5 draws. Inter is second with 11 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses.”

“Let’s see. 3 times 3 plus 5 equals…”

“Juve has 47 points. Inter has 37 points.”

“Oh, yeah. There’s quite a difference.”

“The goal difference and stuff are even bigger. Not to mention the performance.”

“Juventus must be strong.”

“That’s right.”

This season, Juventus is showing the aspect of Serie A’s emperor without regret.

Although they advanced to the tournament as the second place in the group, pushed by Real Madrid in the Champions League, that’s Real Madrid.

They are unrivaled in Serie A.

It was the same now.

Even though it was a game against Inter Milan, the second-place team in the league, Juventus was showing a fairly overwhelming performance.

“Inter can’t do anything.”

“Volerovic, he’s the real deal. Without exaggeration, he’s in the top 5 defensive midfielders in terms of current form.”

“So that’s Volerovic. No wonder.”

Ban Seok-ho doesn’t enjoy watching Serie A.

Thanks to that, even if it’s a team like Juventus, he doesn’t know many players except for some famous players.

In particular, players who have only been in Serie A are unfamiliar even with their names, let alone their faces.

Even if you don’t know their faces, you can see players who stand out.

One of them is Dimitri Volerovic.

His position is defensive midfielder.

His presence was considerable.

He’s completely locking down the midfield.

He’s preventing Inter from even sending the ball near the final third.

“Everyone knows that Juventus’ defense is strong, but the core of it is actually Volerovic rather than the center-back duo.”

“Capello needs to be careful.”

Not only Volerovic.

The faces of the second-line resources are all players who can be said to be at least league top class.

Not to mention Dusan Vlahovic, the top striker who was the Serie A top scorer last season and is still leading the scoring this year.

“It’s going to be harder than I thought.”

“Certainly, home and away won’t be easy. Even if it’s a single game, the more games there are, the more important the defensive role becomes.”

“Hmm.”

The more he watched the broadcast, the more he couldn’t help but worry about the Round of 16 match against Juventus.

Of course, he didn’t think it would be easy.

Isn’t it obvious?

The opponent is Juventus.

No matter how well West Ham is doing, the opponent is Juventus and the stage is the Champions League Round of 16 tournament.

What kind of place is the Champions League?

That’s where only clubs that have won win.

The representative example is Real Madrid.

Real, the club with the most Champions League titles, is said to win with the history they have built up.

Real in the Champions League is really unique, so they have finished 3rd in the league and won the Champions League.

Juventus is also a fundamental team in the Champions League.

Although they have only won twice(?), they have been runners-up the most.

At least they go to the finals well.

These teams have DNA.

Champions League DNA.

On the other hand, West Ham has no experience.

So, of course, he never thought it would be easy.

However, the more he watched the game, the more he thought it would be difficult.

If he were to do a little bit of weakling cosplay [acting like they are weaker than they are] like many soccer fans, the feeling that it would be fortunate if they didn’t lose by a large margin came as he watched the game.

-Goooooooal! Juventus’ second goal! Juventus is dominating Inter with overwhelming performance!

Juventus was beating Inter with excitement.

However, Inter, who is being beaten like that, is also a team that has advanced to the Champions League tournament.

Even if West Ham were to face Inter, he would be very worried, but Juventus is easily cooking such Inter.

It was natural for Ban Seok-ho and Rohan to sigh with worry.

At that time.

“Huh? Those guys look like people I know.”

“Yeah?”

Johan, who was yawning and watching the broadcast indifferently, pointed his finger.

The screen showed Juve’s world-class center-back duo, Barzagli and Marchisio.

“I’ve definitely seen those guys somewhere.”

“That’s right. You know, when we played against Italy. In the national team.”

“Ah, I remember. So those were the guys then.”

Johan recognized the faces of Barzagli and Marchisio. Johan recalls the memory of the two moving like twins.

Johan tilted his head.

“That opponent team must be a really bad team.”

“…Yeah? Inter?”

“Yeah. Those guys are really easy to break through. They haven’t scored a single goal.”

“…”

At Johan’s words, Rohan and Ban Seok-ho made absurd expressions.

…No, Johan.

Inter is doing well…

Not being able to break through Barzagli and Marchisio doesn’t mean they’re bad.

It’s just that you’re crazy…

“You know you have to play against those guys again, right?”

“I know. Juventus.”

“Are you confident that you can smash them again like you did then?”

“Those guys are easy.”

At Johan’s answer, Rohan and Ban Seok-ho nodded and smiled.

It felt like the worries that had been filling them up until just now had suddenly disappeared.

Maybe Johan is the only one in the world.

He’s the only one who can describe Juventus’ center-back duo as easy guys.

“Haaam. Can’t we watch something else soon?”

“We still have to watch it, Johan. It’s a team we’ll be meeting soon.”

“It’s too boring.”

Johan yawning lazily.

Perhaps it’s natural that Johan finds even watching soccer games boring.

Everything must look like children’s play to Johan.

It’s not fun because the level is low in his eyes.

Maybe it’s natural.

-3 to 0! Vlahovic’s wedge goal! It’s a goal that breaks Inter’s will to chase!

In the broadcast on TV, Juventus was still showing an overwhelming performance.

But now it looked different.

Thinking that even that would look ridiculous in Johan’s eyes, it didn’t look scary at all.