Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 168

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-West Ham’s unstoppable momentum, aiming for their first treble, not just their first championship.

-West Ham defeats Munich, to clash with Manchester United in the FA Cup Round of 32.

-Different dreams for West Ham and Man U facing off in the FA Cup? Man U is desperate, West Ham is relaxed.

Following the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Munich, West Ham’s next schedule was the FA Cup Round of 32.

Their opponent was Man U.

A formidable opponent to meet in a rather early round.

“Treble?”

Sitting in his office, reviewing the articles, Manager Schmidt chuckled.

Treble, huh.

Those reporters’ knack for hyping things up is something else.

Already talking about a treble.

Jumping way too far ahead.

Well, theoretically, it was possible.

They were leading the league with a comfortable point difference, and they had secured a favorable position in the Champions League semi-finals.

If they won this FA Cup match and advanced to the Round of 16, they would be one step closer to winning.

However, all results are determined at the end of the season.

The possibility of a treble is open, but the possibility of ending up empty-handed is equally open in the current situation.

They could be unbelievably overturned in the league, fail to reach the Champions League final, and the FA Cup also has a long way to go.

All possibilities are open.

Well, the fans might see the possibility of a treble as more significant and enjoy this moment.

But from the position of leading and managing the team, one shouldn’t think that way.

At least the manager himself should always be conservative, seeing the possibility of ending up empty-handed as greater than the possibility of a treble and be wary.

That way, he can make better choices and achieve better results.

That was Manager Schmidt’s thought.

“Hmm.”

Holding a pen, Manager Schmidt looked down at a blank A4 sheet, lost in thought.

Manager Schmidt’s style was to manually write down names on an A4 sheet when deciding on the starting lineup for each game.

He had been doing it this way since the old days, and it was still comfortable for him.

“Today is a bit difficult.”

Spinning the pen, Manager Schmidt couldn’t easily write down the list.

After Johann joined the team, writing the list was really easy.

He could just start by writing Johann’s name at the forefront.

After all, the confirmed best eleven was already decided.

But the reason why it was particularly difficult to decide on the lineup today was obvious.

This FA Cup Round of 32 match against Man U.

He had no intention of fielding the best eleven.

Just like in the previous Round of 64, Manager Schmidt was planning to send out reserve players and youth players for this game.

Of course, if they fielded the starting players, they could definitely beat Man U and advance to the Round of 16.

They had already beaten Man U twice in the league, with a significant score difference.

But the problem was that the team was in the middle of an incredibly tight schedule.

And the problem was that trying to handle it all would cause problems.

Immediately after the Round of 32, there was a league game against Tottenham in the 29th round, and a week later, there was the second leg against Munich.

Manager Schmidt judged that being greedy for the FA Cup on top of that was, literally, greed.

For the ship to go in the right direction, the helmsman shouldn’t waver.

From the start of the season, the team’s goal was clear, and there was no desire for the FA Cup in that goal.

But if they changed course just because an opportunity appeared, the ship could be sucked into a storm.

“Brandon Smith… Sigurdsson… Okay.”

Manager Schmidt finished writing the list, referring to the report sent by youth team manager Brian Maxwell.

And then, Manager Schmidt left the office.

He had a scheduled interview with the press to attend.

…

“…”

On the day of the FA Cup Round of 32.

Receiving the announced starting lineups of both teams, Man U manager Jeroen Hauer clenched his teeth.

‘That sly old fox…!’

As soon as he saw West Ham’s starting lineup, Manager Hauer thought, ‘I’ve been had.’

A lineup filled with reserve players from the goalkeeper to the front line.

West Ham had even composed the substitute list with youth players.

Actually, this was something he could have fully expected.

West Ham had done the same in the Round of 64.

Of course, the Round of 64 and the Round of 32 were different, and the opponents were different, but.

Considering West Ham’s situation of juggling the league and the Champions League, it was fully predictable that they would play the FA Cup with reserve players again this time.

However, the reason why Manager Hauer felt he had been had was different.

It was because of the interview that Manager Schmidt had given to the press a few days ago.

-Manager Schmidt expresses confidence in the treble, predicts a must-win game against Man U in the FA Cup Round of 32.

……Manager Schmidt answered, “I am confident,” regarding the possibility of a treble this season. Also, he revealed his determination for the treble, saying, “I don’t think there will be many opportunities like this. That’s why I don’t want to miss this opportunity.” Regarding this FA Cup Round of 32 match against Man U, Manager Schmidt predicted a total war, saying, “The FA Cup is not a tournament to be abandoned. We deserve to lift the trophy in every tournament.”

Looking back, Manager Hauer realized that he had been too naive.

Because he had firmly believed that article and decided on today’s lineup.

Today’s Man U starting lineup was not much different from the league.

Most of the starting players were listed as starters.

It meant that they had come with the determination to give their all.

He couldn’t help it.

He had seen Manager Schmidt’s interview, and he also thought that it would be a big blow if they lost to West Ham again.

The current Man U is young.

What would happen if these inexperienced players, who have many days left to play, lost every time they met West Ham?

In the future, they might lose their spirit and start with fear whenever they meet West Ham.

So, he had brought the full force with the determination to win unconditionally today.

But, West Ham had filled the squad with all reserves.

He couldn’t help but feel deflated.

Moreover, the current Man U is competing with Man City and must chase West Ham until the end.

However, if they give their all in the FA Cup, there will be repercussions.

On the other hand, West Ham had clearly made choices and concentrated.

“Haa…”

Manager Hauer sighed.

No matter how much he was recognized in the industry as a young and capable manager, it seemed that Manager Schmidt’s experience could not be ignored.

Manchester United defeats West Ham 3-1 and advances to the Round of 16! Man U ends its long losing streak against West Ham! Unfortunately, West Ham’s possibility of a treble this season comes to a halt!

On this day, Man U took the victory.

However, strangely, the expressions of the managers of both teams shaking hands after the game seemed as if the victory and defeat were reversed.

Manager Hauer looked uneasy, and Manager Schmidt looked relieved.

Although they saved the stamina of the starting players by substituting four players at once as soon as the first half ended, and substituting one more player around the 70th minute.

Even so, it was only five players. The remaining six players played the full time without budging.

On the other hand, West Ham had reserve players and youth players playing from the beginning to the end, and the starting players didn’t even sit on the bench.

How could he feel good about winning against an opponent who had no intention of winning in the first place?

Manager Hauer felt that he had lost more than he had gained, even though he had won.

…

On the day of the league 29th round match between West Ham and Tottenham.

The area around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the game was held, was crowded with fans who had come to see the game.

“…How much? Damn it, that’s ridiculous.”

“This is a cheap price.”

“Don’t lie.”

“If you think I’m lying, go find it from someone else. I won’t sell it to you even if you come back to me then.”

“Hmph, damn it. Okay. I’ll buy it.”

“You made a good choice.”

In the midst of the bustling crowd, people who seemed to be making some kind of secret deal can be seen from time to time.

These are people who buy and sell so-called ‘scalped tickets’ [tickets resold at inflated prices].

Most of the sellers are Tottenham fans, and most of the buyers are West Ham fans.

“As expected of the fans of a team whose chairman is a money-grubber. They’re so greedy for money.”

“It can’t be helped. But the market price has risen too much.”

The West Ham fans, grumbling, head to the stadium after securing their tickets.

Today’s game is officially sold out.

All 62,850 tickets have been sold.

These days, ticket reservations are almost at war level among the Hammers [West Ham fans].

It was always like that, but it has become very severe recently.

To the extent that they have to buy scalped tickets with such an absurd amount of extra money.

“Anyway, I’m glad I got it.”

“To have a Tottenham season ticket in my hand. Ugh.”

The reason why scalped tickets have been rampant these days is simple.

It was because of the anxiety among the fans.

Including today’s game, there are 9 league games left this season.

That 9 games are perhaps the last chance to see Johann van, the club’s best star, in person.

“I shouldn’t expect anything from those guys, right?”

“They have to do what they have to do.”

“Well, even the supporters are selling their season tickets.”

“I can’t believe there will come a moment in my life when I want to support Tottenham.”

It was a very ironic situation in many ways.

It’s natural to want to see the club you’ve been supporting since you were a child win the championship.

Especially since West Ham fans have never won a championship, it’s natural that their desire is even greater.

If they win the league, they won’t be able to see Johann anymore.

The moment they gain everything is no different from the moment they lose everything.

They want to see Johann for a little longer, and they want to see the team win the championship.

So, what the Hammers want most these days is for the league championship race to go on until the end.

If possible, they wanted to see Johann’s all-out play until the very end.

“How great would it be if he suddenly changed his mind at the moment of winning and said he would play more.”

“We’d be so happy. But now we all know what kind of guy Johann is.”

“Yeah. There’s almost no chance of that.”

It would be really great if Johann changed his mind, canceled his retirement, and continued to play.

But the fans know Johann too well now.

The eccentric genius boy who had expressed his desire to retire since his debut.

It would be difficult to expect that boy to make the choice that the fans want.

The happiness that Johann has brought them during the short, or long, time has been so great.

So, the fans couldn’t just be selfish. Most of the fans now think that Johann should find his own happiness.

So, there was only one conclusion.

Anyway, nothing is decided now.

There are still games left, and today we can see Johann smash Tottenham.

So, let’s enjoy this moment as much as possible, which may not come again.

That’s all the fans can do.

“Back number ten, Daniele Capello-”

“Capello-!”

“Back number nine, Johann van-”

“Johaann!”

“Vaaaan-!”

Before the game started, the voices of the West Ham fans loudly chanting the voice of the stadium announcer introducing the West Ham starting lineup filled the Hotspur Stadium.

Today, Hotspur Stadium felt like West Ham’s home stadium, not Tottenham’s home stadium.

Today’s game was a bewildering game for Tottenham players in many ways.

Tottenham had prepared very hard for this game.

The best gift that Tottenham, which has a derby relationship [rivalry] with West Ham, can give to West Ham, which is running towards the championship, is red pepper powder [to spice things up, i.e., make things difficult].

It was only to make the championship race have a red light, or even a yellow light [warning signals in a race, indicating potential danger or slowdown].

So, Tottenham had been sharpening their knives and preparing for today’s game, which was held at their home.

However, the atmosphere of the stadium was quite bewildering from the start.

It was confusing whether this was Hotspur Stadium or London Stadium.

And in the midst of that, it was Johann who had firmly made this place his own.

“Waaaaaaah-!”

“Come on! That’s right!”

“Saint Johann! Thank you for smashing the evil Tottenham!”

“Now this is London Stadium branch number 2! Hahaha!”

Johann destroyed Tottenham by scoring 1 goal in the first half, and 1 goal and 1 assist in the second half.

And in the 31st minute of the second half.

“substitution for West ham…”

When Johann was replaced by Kane.