Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 181

Ernesto knew that scoring the first goal was crucial in any match, but today, it felt especially vital.

The primary benefit of scoring first, of course, is the surge of confidence it provides.

It instills in the players a firm belief that they are capable of winning—that they ‘can do it.’

While Manchester City players rarely lack confidence against other teams, West Ham presents a unique psychological hurdle.

They carry the weight of past defeats against this particular opponent.

Those defeats are etched in their minds, creating a sense of intimidation even before the kickoff.

Of course, West Ham is undeniably a strong team.

They’ve earned their reputation as a formidable force, not just in the Premier League but across Europe, and they’ve disrupted the established order of the ‘Big Six’ [the traditionally dominant top six teams in the English Premier League].

Therefore, losing to them isn’t an anomaly.

Any team can lose to them, and many have.

However, for Manchester City players, it carries a different weight.

Defeat is not a common experience for Manchester City.

Especially the experience of losing repeatedly to the same opponent, and in quick succession.

In recent years, West Ham has been the only team to inflict such a pattern of losses, making the encounter feel particularly significant for Manchester City.

‘Nemesis.’

The thought was unavoidable.

Nemesis.

A rival that doesn’t see them as equals, but as prey.

This perception isn’t entirely unfounded.

Since the previous season, across all competitions—league, FA Cup, and Community Shield—Manchester City has faced West Ham five times, managing only one win against four losses.

West Ham is the only team against whom they have such a poor record.

Leading up to today’s game, the Manchester City players were noticeably lacking in confidence.

Can we actually win?

Many players harbored doubts.

Some even neglected their professional responsibilities, failing to appreciate Ernesto’s all-night preparations for the game.

They expressed their skepticism, questioning the point of his efforts if victory seemed unattainable.

Ernesto was well aware of the situation.

He knew that the players’ confidence waned when facing West Ham.

For an underdog to triumph over a stronger team, they must never succumb to intimidation.

Pulling off an upset is challenging enough without being intimidated; with it, it’s nearly impossible.

They had to avoid feeling intimidated at all costs.

Just like Johan, who masterminded West Ham’s victories against them.

“If we don’t score within the first 5 minutes, there’s no hope.”

The only thing that could dramatically boost their plummeting confidence was, without a doubt, an early goal.

That’s why he instructed them to score within the first five minutes.

It was an all-or-nothing gamble.

No hope if they fail to score within that timeframe.

Such extreme language is rarely used by managers.

What would happen if the five-minute mark passed without a goal?

The players’ already fragile morale would shatter completely.

And scoring within five minutes is no easy feat.

But, what if they succeed?

The odds are slim, but what if they win this bet?

The potential reward is immense.

“But if we score within 5 minutes, we win.”

Ernesto added that as a final reassurance.

The Manchester City players have unwavering trust in Ernesto.

The players would find faith.

A belief that they could win.

Even against West Ham, even against Johan.

Samir Rishard, Manchester City’s undisputed star player, initiated a penetrating run down the right flank.

Everyone knows that Rishard is typically a slow starter.

He usually begins the game with light one-two passes, as if casually warming up.

He only kicks into high gear once his body is fully warmed up and the opponent’s stamina begins to wane.

This is partly due to his susceptibility to injuries and partly because his stamina isn’t his strongest asset.

However, today Rishard is accelerating right from the start.

Rishard’s unexpected tempo easily breached West Ham’s left side.

Rishard dribbles the ball rhythmically.

As many as three attackers are surging into the penalty box.

And Jack Price, known for his powerful shot, is also making a run from behind.

There are five attacking players in a position to shoot.

That’s the same number as the West Ham players inside and around the box, excluding the goalkeeper.

“Hey-!”

“Here!”

The West Ham defenders’ attention is pulled in multiple directions by the calls from the attackers.

The crucial factor is Rishard’s decision.

Rishard, having bypassed [Nemanja] Petrovic, dribbled deep into the right side of the box,

Faaaaa-!

And then passed the ball back.

A cutback pass.

However, unlike most cutbacks that are played close to the goal line, this one is timed slightly earlier.

The West Ham defenders should have anticipated this.

“Shoot!”

“Block it!”

Rishard’s pass is directed towards Jack Price’s feet.

[Bruno] Guimarães rushed out in response to [Loïc] Hurrichel’s shout.

[Anthony] Gordon is tracking back, but he’s not in a position to block the shot.

Guimarães had to close down the angle.

But,

Jack Price didn’t shoot.

Or rather, he only feigned a shot.

Faaaaa-!

Price makes a shooting motion but only lightly touches the ball, playing a return pass instead.

The pass goes back to Rishard.

Rishard, after passing to Price, was already darting back into the space vacated by Guimarães.

A shooting opportunity opens up instantly.

Rishard, with a light touch to control the ball,

Ppeoooeeeoooong-!

Aims for the far post with a quick, half-volley shot,

Clang-!

The shot grazed Hurrichel’s fingertips and rippled the back of the net.

04:47

WHU 0 : 1 MCI

Immediately after Rishard’s goal.

Ernesto glanced at the scoreboard.

Then he clenched his fist and roared in celebration.

4 minutes 47 seconds.

They had scored the opening goal in under five minutes.

‘Okay, that’s done.’

The first, and he believed most important, step was accomplished.

He had achieved the most difficult and crucial objective for now.

Ernesto, feeling a surge of anticipation, rose from the bench and moved to the edge of the technical area.

“Start again! Don’t let go of the reins!”

Ernesto gestured for the players to quickly regroup and shouted instructions.

Good.

The championship race this season is still alive.

Who knows what might happen if they win this game.

Consider the situation.

For West Ham, the ideal scenario is to secure the championship today.

Winning the title in front of their home fans, defeating Manchester City, the team that snatched it away last season.

What a perfect narrative.

But, what if they fail?

What if that perfect picture is shattered by a loss today?

Moreover, West Ham has been undefeated until now.

If that flawless record is tarnished, they will dwell on it for a long time.

They will keep replaying the game in their minds.

And that could lead to slip-ups in the remaining matches.

The first setback is the hardest; after that, it becomes easier to falter.

People’s perceptions don’t change as easily as one might think.

West Ham has had the upper hand against Manchester City for the past two seasons, but.

Manchester City remains a formidable team.

A strong team that won the championship last season.

And their strength hasn’t diminished significantly since then.

Conceding the first goal to such a team in under five minutes is bound to create a sense of unease.

Of course, that feeling didn’t last long.

“Damn it, Johan! Do something!”

“It’s okay! We have Johan!”

“One goal! We don’t care if we give it to them! There’s plenty of time!”

After all, they have Johan.

One goal isn’t enough to deter them.

Mirroring Manchester City’s urgency, West Ham launched a counterattack immediately after the kickoff.

Manchester City’s midfield is less crowded today.

This means that Capello faces less pressure than in previous games.

The pass, delivered from a relatively unburdened position, finds Johan with pinpoint accuracy.

Faaaaa-!

Johan, with his back to Anton Ziegler, Manchester City’s center back and fellow national team player, controls the ball.

‘Don’t let him turn around···’

Anton Ziegler uses all his strength to push against Johan, who is facing away from him.

He’s a player you can never afford to give space to turn.

Because if he turns, disaster is sure to follow.

So Ziegler gritted his teeth and pushed Johan with force.

Even with his full strength, he wouldn’t knock Johan over, let alone push him back, so there was no risk of a foul.

But,

‘Huh?’

An unexpected turn of events unfolded for Ziegler.

Johan began to yield more easily than he anticipated.

Had his dedication to weight training since last season finally paid off?

He’d been hearing that his strength had improved significantly, but was it really this much?

Was he now strong enough to push back Johan, even when facing away from him?

‘Maybe I’ll be the only defender who can stop this guy?’

Ziegler, emboldened, began to push Johan even harder.

Johan is pushed further forward.

But at that moment.

Wheeic-!

Ziegler’s center of gravity shifted forward, causing him to lose balance.

Because Johan suddenly pulled his body away.

Ziegler was pushing Johan forward, so when Johan sidestepped, Ziegler’s momentum naturally carried him forward.

‘The ball!?’

Ziegler, realizing something was amiss, frantically searched for the ball.

However, unbeknownst to Ziegler.

The ball had already passed between his legs.

‘Was it good?’

Johan, having retrieved the ball from between Ziegler’s legs with a backheel and turned past him, smirked.

He had been fooled so easily.

Ziegler should have been suspicious, not excited.

There was no way Johan could be pushed back that easily.

Johan had deliberately yielded ground to create space.

As much space as the distance between Ziegler and the other defenders.

Johan pulled back his right foot without hesitation.

It’s outside the box, but well within his shooting range.

Ppeoooeeeoooeeeoooong-!

A burst of intense sound.

The shot, perfectly struck on the instep, was

Chwaaaaaaaa-

Driven low, skimming the grass, towards the left corner of the goal,

Clang-!

And nestled into the side netting, leaving the goalkeeper no chance to react.

06:27

WHU 1 : 1 MCI

Ernesto simply smiled wryly.

He had risked everything to score the first goal within five minutes, and he was thrilled to have succeeded.

And Johan gifts him an equalizing goal in less than two minutes.

Oh, come on.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter.

That’s what he expected all along.

After all, Johan doesn’t get two points for scoring one goal.

It’s still just one goal.

Ernesto was viewing today’s game not as soccer, but as basketball.

If they just score consistently without making mistakes on their possessions, they can’t lose.

“Go up!”

With Ernesto’s gesture, Manchester City’s fierce attack resumed.

As expected, Manchester City’s attack originated with Rishard.

Unlike before, when he directly attacked down the right side, Rishard began to dribble the ball horizontally across the field.

However, his teammates’ movements were the opposite.

Except for Rishard, the other attackers were making direct runs towards the goal.

The Manchester City attack targeted every gap between the defenders.

Because of their sheer numbers, gaps were appearing even though the West Ham defense was well-positioned.

Rishard didn’t miss that.

Faaaaa-!

Rishard curled his pass as he moved horizontally.

The target was the left side.

Rishard’s pass found left winger Javier Araujo, who was making a wide run from the flank and penetrating behind [Carl] Jenkinson.

Chwaaaaaa-

Jenkinson’s reaction was remarkably quick.

He immediately turned and tracked the pass, throwing himself to prevent Araujo from getting a direct shot.

But,

Chwaaaaaa-

Araujo also threw himself.

And Araujo’s toe made contact with the ball first.

That touch became a pass, directed towards the center of the goal.

[Stefan] Granah was waiting there.

Paaaaaang-!

Granah casually placed his foot on the ball.

It’s a clear-cut chance.

Of course, he’s being marked by a defender, and the opposing keeper, Hurrichel, is rushing out to close down the angle, but still, it’s a golden opportunity.

A situation that doesn’t come often in a game, a situation that a striker should definitely convert.

But,

“···Huh?”

Granah’s eyes widened as he watched the ball leave his foot.

The ball, which he had casually struck, floated weakly upwards.

Granah covered his head in disbelief.

Next to him, Hurrichel, with a furious expression, was caught on camera shouting at the defenders.

The defense had shown a weakness to the extent that Hurrichel was visibly enraged.

Since he squandered that opportunity,

It was natural for Ernesto to be furious.

Not content with kicking the water bottle, Ernesto kicked the bench and shouted at the coach sitting next to him, raising his voice.

It was definitely surprising.