Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 163

< The Fountain of Youth >

The media room inside West Ham’s first-team training center.

Today is the day for the data analysis meeting to prepare for the match against Bayern Munich.

All the players finished training and gathered in the media room, and Johann also sat in the back row, ready to settle in.

Ready to sneak in a nap.

“Johann. Are you going to sleep?”

“…? Hyung [Korean for older brother]?”

“Hold on today. I have something important to say.”

“Why are you here, Hyung?”

“I came in place of the team leader, you punk.”

Johann was surprised by the appearance of an unexpected face.

It was his brother.

Rohan appeared in the media room with the coach and coaching staff.

It is natural for a power analyst to participate in the data analysis session.

But, until now, the team leader of the power analysis team has always participated in the meeting.

“The team leader told me to go today.”

“Why?”

“Well. The team leader must have thought today’s was too complicated. Well, it’s complicated even for me.”

The team leader sent Rohan instead today.

Today’s meeting was a very important meeting.

The next game is the Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich, and today is the day to analyze that game.

The reason why they entrusted that important task to Rohan, the youngest member of the team, is simple.

Although Rohan is the youngest member of the team, he is effectively doing the job of the team leader.

No, is it just the team leader’s role?

You can say that he’s doing almost everything.

The power analysis team of West Ham, which was once seen as a group just securing their positions through connections to the club owners, began to be recognized as sharp and innovative since Rohan joined.

“Sigh, I’m nervous.”

“What are you nervous about?”

“The coach even entrusted it to me. The briefing. I have to do the briefing in front of these players.”

“What’s so nerve-wracking about that?”

“Yeah. You wouldn’t understand. My brother is so great that he doesn’t get nervous even in front of tens of thousands of people.”

It’s already been over a year since he joined the power analysis team, traveling around the stadium and learning the work by doing practical work.

Rohan really enjoyed this work.

So much so that he didn’t think of it as a job, that is, a job to earn money.

Because of this, Rohan worked harder and more passionately than anyone else in the team.

It wasn’t just about working hard.

He did it ‘well’.

The analysts who were originally on the team didn’t think Rohan was very trustworthy at first because he was too young.

But it wasn’t long before they recognized Rohan’s ability, and later on, even the team leader, who had been working in the industry for over a decade, asked Rohan about this and that and even learned from him in reverse.

“I should retire soon. When I retire, Rohan should take over the team leader position.”

Looking at Rohan’s work, the team leader got into the habit of saying that he should retire soon.

Saying that he should hand over the team leader position to Rohan as soon as possible.

Anyway, it is usually Schmidt or coach Jamie who briefs the players on the data prepared by the power analysis team.

However, after reviewing the data in advance, coach Schmidt asked Rohan to give the briefing himself.

“Why is the youngest member of the analysis team more trustworthy than the chief coach?”

“Yes? That’s too much, coach.”

“Rohan. Have you ever thought about becoming a chief coach? You only need to study for a few months and get a few certificates.”

“No. I should start by learning how to take care of elderly people in nursing homes.”

Schmidt’s trust in Rohan was solid from the first time they met.

It wasn’t because Rohan was Johann’s brother.

In the first place, he recognized Rohan’s existence after reading a column written under an anonymous ID.

Anyway, coach Schmidt was also paying a lot of attention to Rohan.

The role of the coaching staff is very important in modern football.

It’s not for nothing that many coaches form their own divisions.

Schmidt definitely wanted to keep Rohan by his side for a long time.

That’s why he asked him to do the briefing himself today to give him experience.

“Hoo. I’m nervous.”

Nervous about giving a presentation in front of the players and coaching staff, Rohan massaged his brother like an emotional support doll to calm himself down.

“Then, I’m going. Don’t doze off today and listen carefully.”

“Okay…”

It’s almost time for the meeting to start.

Rohan took a breath and headed to his seat, and Johann looked at his brother’s back.

Suddenly, old memories came to mind.

His brother, who loved soccer more than his dad since he was young.

His brother, who trained every day to join the team his dad played for.

His brother, who didn’t give up even after failing the test every time.

Johann really didn’t understand his brother.

What’s so good about soccer anyway.

Doesn’t he get tired of it?

And why does he work so hard?

Johann couldn’t understand his brother since he was young, and that’s still the case now.

But he knew why his brother did that.

So he felt very sorry.

His brother said he was doing it because he liked it, but in the end, his brother was trying to do his brother’s share as well.

That’s why Johann wanted his brother to be happy and to do well.

His brother looked very happy now.

Not just now, but he’s been looking happy lately.

Ever since he joined this team.

Looking at his brother like that, Johann smiled without realizing it.

“Hyung!”

“?”

“Fighting [A Korean expression of encouragement, similar to ‘Good luck’ or ‘You can do it’]!”

“Okay. Don’t worry.”

When Johann raised his fist, Rohan smiled and nodded.

*

“Is Juventus on another level again?”

“It’s tough.”

Throughout the meeting.

The players couldn’t stop sighing.

The more they listened to the briefing, the more they felt how formidable the Bayern Munich team was.

This season, Bayern Munich was running away with the lead in the Bundesliga [German Football League] with a record of 23 wins and 1 draw, and they were also aiming to win the Pokal (German FA Cup).

Well, that’s a matter of course.

The problem is their performance in this Champions League.

Munich, who belonged to Group F with Villarreal, Porto, and Bruges, finished the group stage with 6 wins and 0 losses and advanced to the round of 16.

In fact, just looking at the record of 6 wins and 0 losses is overwhelming, but what’s more overwhelming is the goal difference.

The goal difference is +18.

They scored 21 goals and conceded only 3 goals.

The contents of the games were so one-sided that it was hard to imagine that this was the Champions League, that is, a game between the champions of each league.

Of course, it was true that the name value of the other teams in Group F except Munich was low.

However, the important thing was that even Villarreal, who had advanced to the same quarter-finals, was dismantled by Munich without being able to do anything.

Villarreal is a team that is causing a sensation with exciting attacking soccer centered on young talents this season.

Such Villarreal was hit hard by Munich 0-3 and 1-4.

Munich, who advanced to the round of 16 in that way, met Ajax, the champion of the Eredivisie [Dutch Football League], and was still in the quarter-finals, showing a unilateral assault.

The aggregate score of the round of 16 was 6-1.

The contents of the game were shocking and terrifying for Eredivisie fans.

Ajax is also an overwhelming powerhouse in the league, but they showed a figure that was no match for Munich.

“Ajax used a 4-4-2 formation and attempted strong pressure by forming a snare with two tops [forwards] and midfielders during defense. However, Munich countered the pressure by underlapping the left and right fullbacks, and as a result, neutralized Ajax’s pressure through numerical superiority. At the same time, they quickly passed the ball to the midfielders who occupied the half-space, and they were able to gain numerical superiority on the offensive side as well. Ajax must have felt like they were facing 13 people.”

Rohan briefing the analysis using video data and tactical boards.

Bellamy and Capello, among others, nodded at the very detailed content.

Players like Buckley frowned and scratched their heads as if it were too difficult.

Johann was barely holding back the pouring sleep for his brother’s sake.

It’s very complicated.

“In the end, we need active pressure rather than passive pressure. We must not be dragged into the opponent’s movements to gain numerical superiority. Conversely, we need a picture of inducing and winning the ball.

Buckley, Nathan. You have to move like this.”

Rohan guided the movements of each player, moving the magnets on the tactical board one by one.

“Capello, you have to move like this.”

“…”

Capello, who is in charge of the commander’s role on the field, also nodded silently, Rohan’s briefing was reasonable and sharp.

And,

“Johann. Johann, you don’t have to be different from usual. I don’t need anything else, so please score a goal.”

Unlike other players, Johann was given very simple instructions.

Rohan nodded to coach Schmidt after finishing the briefing, and coach Schmidt also nodded and got up from his seat.

“To sum up Munich in one word, it would be ‘the closest team to perfection’. It doesn’t have clear strengths, nor does it have clear weaknesses. Munich boasts the highest level in Europe in all aspects.”

Munich is a team that doesn’t have a strong color.

Rather than specializing in one thing, it feels like a full hexagon.

There are no gaps.

Munich always tries to own the game and lead it as they want.

And they have been doing so.

Until now.

“What is the characteristic of perfectionists? They can’t tolerate even minor flaws. Even ordinary people can just pass by, but these perfectionists can’t easily pass by. They spend their energy worrying, suffering, and can’t stand it. What we have to aim for is that.”

Munich has always played a near-perfect game.

Until now, no team has been able to flaw Munich’s perfectionism.

Munich has never been in crisis.

Therefore, Munich did not need the ability to cope with the crisis, and there was no need for it.

Rather, that may be why West Ham was given the opportunity.

The opportunity to put Munich in trouble for the first time.

A team that is unfamiliar with the crisis is bound to be weaker in the crisis than a team that is familiar with the crisis.

People who live in cold regions always take measures to protect against the cold, but what if a climate change occurs in hot regions?

“We will cause climate change.”

Coach Schmidt, the coaching staff, and all the players nodded.

Johann too.

“…”

Oh, of course, the reason for nodding was different for him alone.

As soon as his brother’s turn was over, Johann began to doze off.

—

The day before the match against Bayern Munich.

The West Ham players, who had arrived in Munich in advance yesterday and took a rest, visited the Allianz Arena today for training to adapt to the stadium.

“The grass is not good.”

“It’s a bit cold. This is a big deal. I can’t do the knee sliding ceremony.”

“That’s important.”

The players who stepped on various parts of the ground and warmed up simply.

Everyone is here for the first time.

But, only one person is not here for the first time.

“…”

Coach Schmidt looking around the stadium.

Coach Schmidt, who had been a coach in Frankfurt and Hertha Berlin before moving to the Premier League.

Because of this, he had to come here two or three times a year.

‘It’s still the same.’

The Allianz Arena, which boasts a capacity of 70,000 people, still boasts a magnificent appearance.

It’s a really big place.

A huge and beautiful stadium befitting Bayern, the best team in Germany.

However, apart from its beauty, it is a place of fear for away teams.

Especially for the same Bundesliga teams.

There are only a few teams in Europe that boast such an extreme home win rate as Munich.

‘I also played a part.’

Unfortunately, coach Schmidt had never won here.

When leading Frankfurt, and when leading Hertha Berlin.

I had never won here.

I really wanted to win back then.

I wanted to win here, even if I lost all the other games. Even just once.

How much I wanted to win, on the day I returned after losing my 12th personal game at the Allianz Arena, I couldn’t relieve my anger and made a mess of the coach’s office.

‘I was young back then.’

Coach Schmidt smiling as he recalls that time.

I was really young back then.

I had so much energy that I could flip the sofa with one kick and throw the table to the ceiling.

Back then, I was confident that I wouldn’t lose even if I had a physical fight with the players.

“Coach?”

“Huh?”

“What are you thinking so much about? It’s almost time to take your medicine.”

“…Okay.”

Now, I’ve become an old man who’s in big trouble if I don’t take my medicine on time.

If I kicked the sofa now, coach Jamie would have a lot of trouble. I’d have to ride a wheelchair.

I’m at an age where it’s hard to even play with my grandchildren, let alone have a physical fight with the players.

“…”

Looking around the Allianz Arena once again, coach Schmidt smiled.

Time passed so quickly.

The eccentric man who made a fuss trying to win here once has now returned as an old man covered in white hair.

It’s not just the color of the hair that has changed over time.

Many things have changed.

But…

But.

“Damn it.”

“Yes? What did you say, coach?”

“Somehow, I have to win and go back.”

“That’s obvious…”

“Damn it! I’ll win! I’ll win!”

No matter how old you get, people don’t seem to change easily.

As if he had returned to that time, coach Schmidt clenched his fist tightly, unable to bear the sudden surge of heat.

“Wait a minute, coach.”

At the sight of coach Schmidt, coach Jamie headed to the locker room to get blood pressure medicine.

Coach Schmidt nodded.

I’ll win.

A promise that I would definitely win once someday.

I’m going to keep that promise tomorrow.