Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 174

Marco Darin mused to himself.

‘To be honest, yes.’

Even if one or two players were swapped in the current Best Eleven, it wouldn’t make a significant difference.

Whether Juan Boto, sitting on the bench, replaces Deulofeu at left-back, or Miguel Casas comes in for Granero at right midfield.

The football they play remains the same.

Ten-back [a defensive strategy focusing on packing the defense] isn’t a tactic that relies on the individual brilliance of a specific player.

The most crucial aspects are teamwork and tactical understanding.

Next are individual defensive skills and stamina.

Therefore, even if the bench players started in the second leg, the team’s overall strength wouldn’t change much.

After all, playing this kind of football for a year requires tremendous stamina, and these players have undergone rigorous training to build that stamina.

The fact that tactics don’t depend on specific players is a clear advantage for them.

On the other hand, West Ham?

They are highly dependent on their players.

Extremely so.

A team that suffers a significant blow even if just one player is missing from the Best Eleven.

Why?

Because the football they play can only be executed by those eleven players.

In particular, there’s one player who must never be missing.

Everyone knows who that is without me having to say it.

Without that guy, West Ham is honestly nothing special.

They wouldn’t even have made it to the quarterfinals.

West Ham is here because of that guy.

Even today, they conceded a goal solely because of that guy.

‘I couldn’t understand it.’

Director Darin’s lips twitched.

He really hadn’t understood it all this time.

Why the teams facing West Ham played so gently.

Why did everyone beat around the bush when the answer was so clear?

Afraid of getting criticized?

Come on.

‘I’ve already had my fill of criticism.’

He’s already been criticized plenty anyway.

So there’s nothing to be afraid of.

‘Criticism is fleeting.’

Besides, getting criticized is momentary.

In the end, all that remains over time are the records.

The record that AT Madrid advanced to the Champions League final, the record that they won the Champions League trophy.

Do people even care what happened in the semi-finals?

Moreover, football is a contact sport. It’s not a sport where you compete elegantly across a net like tennis or table tennis.

Unexpected accidents can happen anytime, anywhere.

Isn’t that something everyone accepts when playing the game?

<10 minutes into the second half. West Ham seems to be trying to pick up the tempo again.>

Around 10 minutes into the second half.

The game’s dynamic began to subtly shift.

Until the first half, the flow was so slow it felt stifling, but the tempo gradually began to increase.

This was partly because West Ham was being more aggressive, fueled by their accumulated stamina, but more importantly, it was because AT Madrid’s response had changed.

Tatatat-

Thud-!

They’re sticking to them aggressively, Aragones! AT Madrid is resisting fiercely!

Chuaaa-

Thump-!

Oh, that tackle was quite harsh! Capello has fallen and is in pain! Diogo de Paul! Receives a warning!

As soon as they got the ball, the AT Madrid players swarmed in roughly, and the West Ham players began to fall one by one.

Capello was even tackled after passing the ball and fell heavily.

Boos immediately erupted from the crowd.

And the West Ham players couldn’t hide their agitation.

“Hey!”

“What are you doing!”

The AT Madrid players retreated as the West Ham players rushed in.

There’s no need to fight and receive unnecessary cards.

They need to use each card carefully.

Not unnecessarily, but strategically.

“De Paul, I’m counting on you.”

“Okay.”

At Aragones’ words, De Paul, who received a warning for the tackle on Capello, nodded.

An important role was assigned to De Paul.

If a foul is going to be committed, it’s better for someone who already has a warning to take responsibility than for someone without a warning to step up.

De Paul slowly began to move into a deeper position.

West Ham’s free kick restarts the game.

The game resumed with a short free kick.

West Ham passed the ball faster and took care not to get caught up in the opponent’s fouls.

Paang-

Paang-!

AT Madrid still pressed roughly, regardless.

Meanwhile, gaps naturally began to appear.

Capello didn’t miss that opening.

Paah-!

A quick pass.

The pass was directed to Johan’s feet.

At the same time, De Paul, who had been waiting nearby, began to close in on Johan.

‘For sure.’

De Paul swallowed hard.

He couldn’t afford to be careless.

Since this was a desperate gamble, they could only lose without gaining anything if they rushed in vaguely.

Besides, the opponent wasn’t an easy guy.

A guy who shrugs off any physical challenge.

So, for sure…!

Chuaaa-!

De Paul’s studs slid in.

The sharp studs were aimed at Johan’s ankle.

‘There are no personal feelings.’

There is a feeling of guilt.

But he couldn’t help it.

It’s just for the team.

De Paul firmly put strength into his outstretched leg.

However.

Chuaaa-!

“···!?”

De Paul’s studs cut through the air.

When he raised his head, Johan’s body was floating in the air.

Johan had jumped in advance before De Paul’s tackle could reach him.

Swoosh-

In fact, if he had wanted to, Johan could have landed on both feet.

But he didn’t want to.

He just wanted to lie down a bit.

Thud-!

Johan fell on top of De Paul with a dull thud.

In the process, Johan’s cannonball-like shoulder pressed down on De Paul’s solar plexus, and one elbow connected with De Paul’s chin.

“Keuheok!”

“Beeeep-!”

The referee immediately blew his whistle and ran over.

It was a bizarre situation.

It was De Paul who was in great pain.

But,

The referee takes out a yellow card! Oh, and he takes out a red card!

It looks like De Paul was given a second warning. So that’s the second one, so he’s out. De Paul is out.

The referee judged the deep tackle as a dangerous play! AT Madrid loses a player!

It was a clear foul because the tackle was clearly intentional, even if it didn’t make contact.

Even if there was a consequence in the process of Johan landing afterward, it couldn’t be helped.

He jumped to avoid the tackle, and he fell because he jumped, and De Paul was just there.

De Paul can’t get up. A stretcher is coming in.

He’s in a lot of pain. Anyway, he’s out, so he has to go out.

De Paul was carried off the field on a stretcher.

Watching De Paul pass by him, Director Darin gritted his teeth.

“Am I right?”

“You’re like a ghost in this kind of thing.”

“Aren’t I an expert? An expert. Don’t try to teach your grandmother to suck eggs [don’t try to teach someone with more experience than you].”

Bellamy smiled and helped Johan up.

In fact, when Capello fell just now.

It was Bellamy who had quietly approached Johan and whispered to him.

‘Those guys’ eyes are unusual.’

As expected.

De Paul’s tackle had nothing to do with the ball; it was just a tackle to injure someone.

However, Johan was prepared thanks to Bellamy, and it was the instigator who got hurt instead.

“I know that pain well. It’s practically a car accident. I couldn’t turn my neck for a few days.”

“···”

Bellamy chuckled and patted Johan on the shoulder.

Bellamy knows best.

What happens if you get hit wrong by Johan.

Anyway, AT Madrid’s plan fell through.

As De Paul fell victim to his own trick, AT Madrid suffered only painful losses without any gains.

The calculations they had made in the first place were completely wrong.

Losing one person was in the calculation, but they could afford the loss because there was a calculation that the opponent would also lose their core player.

If they could remove that core player, Director Darin thought he could endure the remaining time with 10 people.

And then, he was planning to turn the game around in the second leg.

But everything fell through.

Even after checking De Paul’s condition as he was being carried out, Director Darin could not continue to order Johan to be targeted.

It was serious. De Paul’s condition.

The team doctor said that he would probably have to be transferred to the hospital immediately.

Even though they had already ruined the first leg, they couldn’t afford to lose more players here.

Even if they threw in more players, it was questionable whether they would get what they wanted.

In the end,

All that remained was the miserable end of a villain who failed in his last struggle.

West Ham is pushing hard! As if to take advantage of the numerical advantage, all the players are moving forward!

AT Madrid, who had conceded one point even after 11 people combined to put up the best defense.

But now, there is one person missing.

They didn’t gain anything in the process of losing one person.

Now, there is no anger from the home fans that is written as jeering and read as cheering.

AT Madrid began to shake helplessly in the face of West Ham’s relentless attack.

Petrovic’s cross! It goes out long!

A slightly high cross, but! Johan! Presses down! It’s in! An amazing header! Multi-goal today! He opens up AT Madrid’s goal once again!

In the 21st minute of the second half, Johan showed why AT Madrid was so sincere in defending crosses in the early stages of the game.

Petrovic, who had been exchanging passes with Bailey and probing down the left side, sent in a high cross, and Johan was the only one who could handle that ball with his head.

This was something that couldn’t be helped no matter how many defenders were in the box.

Because Johan was the only one who could handle the ball at that height.

But that wasn’t the end.

33 minutes into the second half.

This time, Capello created the opportunity.

A good transition pass! The opposite side is open!

Because AT Madrid is short one player, there is bound to be empty space!

After passing the ball briefly on the right and looking for an opportunity, a long switch pass to the left in an instant.

The pass reached Johan, and Johan gradually broke down AT Madrid’s defensive line from the left and penetrated into the center.

It was like watching falling leaves.

Johan, who had outstripped the full-back with a rhythmic step-over, cut inside, changed direction with a heel chop, and charged straight in again.

In the process, a rare scene occurred in which two defenders slipped and fell at the same time.

In fact, few players can avoid falling in such a rapid change of direction unless they have Johan’s level of body balance.

After that, it was simple.

Johan looked at the far post and powerfully struck the shot, and the keeper stretched out his foot, but it was not a speed he could stop.

3 to 0! It’s 3 to 0! If you enjoy watching La Liga [Spanish Football League], you’ll know that this score is an amazing score!

Johan does it!

When Johan’s third goal went in.

The West Ham fans were naturally happy, but in fact, the La Liga fans may have been even happier.

Those fans who hated meeting AT Madrid the most.

There was no player in La Liga who could give AT Madrid a good lesson like Johan.

Seeing Johan finally giving AT Madrid, who was truly a villain among villains, a good thrashing.

The La Liga fans couldn’t help but cheer.

Of course,

The UEFA [Union of European Football Associations] president, who can’t help but worry about the box office success of the final, will be the happiest of all.

The game is over! 3 to 0! West Ham takes the first leg at home perfectly!

The moment the final whistle blew.

The home fans celebrated their victory with great cheers at the refreshing victory,

“···”

Listening to the cheers, the AT Madrid players and Director Darin bit their lips with stiff faces.

What they had expected was jeering.

They had expected a huge boo to erupt when the game was over.

But, everyone is happy.

A huge cheer is pouring out.

That look is very annoying, but there’s nothing they can do.

They were used to the role of villains, and they thought they had even reached the stage of enjoying it.

Maybe not.