Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 183

Neither the physical challenges from opponents nor the tackles risking expulsion could bring Johan to his knees.

However,

The whistle signaling West Ham’s league victory made Johan’s knees buckle to the ground.

“Johaaaaan!”

“Man, we did it! You did it!”

“Johan, you legend!”

The moment the whistle blew,

Everyone rushed towards Johan.

Teammates nearby, even goalkeeper Hurichel from afar, and the players and coaching staff sitting on the bench,

“Uwaaaaaaa!”

Even Coach Schmidt joined in.

Everyone ran to Johan and engulfed him in hugs. Johan was instantly buried, and soon the London Stadium became a scene of joyous chaos.

<2028/29 Season Premier League, West Ham Wins! West Ham secures the victory with 3 games remaining!>

More security personnel and police than ever were deployed at today’s London Stadium, but it wasn’t enough.

With over 60,000 fanatics running wild, what use are security personnel or police?

“Uwaaaaaaaaa!”

“We won, we won!”

Fans who had begun to leave their seats one by one eventually surged across the stands and began to flood the ground.

It was instantaneous.

The ground of London Stadium was filled with cheering Hammers [nickname for West Ham fans].

“We did it.”

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan were locked in a tight embrace.

Various emotions surged, making it hard to maintain composure, but perhaps because of that, they felt strangely calm.

Instead, all those emotions welled up in their eyes.

The two simply hugged each other and shed tears.

West Ham, who they had been supporting for so long, who was a former team to one, who was a fan since birth to the other, and who was the most beloved team to both, had achieved their first-ever league victory.

And the one who made it happen was the youngest of the family.

Once a troublemaker for his father and brother, but now the proudest youngest, raising the family’s honor and rewriting the club’s history, Johan.

Johan did it.

“Congratulations…”

“Congratulations. You achieved your goal.”

With tears and snot smeared all over their faces, Ban Seok-ho and Rohan applauded Johan.

Buried by his teammates, they couldn’t even see if he was still breathing.

But he must be listening.

This sound of congratulatory applause.

Because it’s not just the two of us who are applauding and congratulating.

“…Sniff. But, isn’t he buried for too long…?”

“Isn’t he going to get hurt like that?”

By the way, I’m starting to get worried.

Johan buried under his teammates who have almost lost their minds.

I think he’s been buried for too long.

What if he gets suffocated like that…

“Ugh!”

“He’s out!”

…It was an unnecessary worry.

A volcano suddenly erupted from the peak created by the piled-up teammates.

Johan, who had been buried, suddenly stood up.

He was smiling, and Ban Seok-ho and Rohan also smiled at the sight.

Due to safety concerns, the players could not enjoy the joy of victory on the ground for long.

Everyone had to leave the ground under the protection of security personnel, and of course, even in the midst of that, fans surged toward the players.

It could have been dangerous and annoying.

But all the players shared the joy by high-fiving fans or taking pictures together.

What’s the big deal?

At least in London Stratford, these are the people who will protect them no matter what they do in the future.

Anyway, thanks to that, the players who entered the locker room one by one looked like they had lost all their energy.

“…”

Perhaps exhausted from being too happy, everyone sat in their place and caught their breath.

Thanks to that, a strange silence filled the locker room.

When Coach Schmidt, supported by Coach Jamie, finally entered the locker room,

Naturally, everyone’s attention was focused.

“Ahem.”

Coach Schmidt cleared his throat after tidying his disheveled hair and clothes.

It seemed like he was waiting for everyone to say something.

“Uh… well, that is…”

However, the words he wanted to say didn’t come to mind.

No, to be precise, there were too many things he wanted to say.

This is a truly wonderful moment.

This white-haired old man can say with certainty that it is one of the most wonderful moments in his life.

The ones who gave him this moment were the players here.

He wanted to say something wonderful that would suit these guys.

The most wonderful thing possible.

However, his mind was not calmly organized, and countless words rushed to be the first to come out.

Thanks to that, what came out of Coach Schmidt’s mouth was the opposite of the sophisticated words that confused his mind.

“Fuck! We took this place!”

However, with just that, Coach Schmidt’s sincerity was conveyed to the players as it was.

It was enough.

“Uwooooooooo!”

The loud voices of sweat-soaked men filled the locker room.

The atmosphere in the locker room was not easily calmed down.

With the music from the speakers turned up loud, most of the players enjoyed the party in their underwear.

Everyone brought beer from somewhere and sprayed it on each other, enjoying the thrill of the carbonation with their skin instead of their esophagus, and even the usually dignified coaching staff and club officials put aside their appearances and acted like children.

“Johan Kyung.”

“Yes?”

“You have to go?”

“Yes.”

In the midst of that, Gordon called out to Johan.

It’s time for the Man of the Match (MOM) interview that has become Johan’s routine after the game.

“Wow. I can tell what the atmosphere in the locker room is like without even looking? Haha.”

When Johan appeared at the interview site soaking wet, the interviewer and reporters burst into laughter.

“You have finally secured the Premier League title. First of all, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“There are so many things I really want to ask. First, I would like to hear about your determination to play in today’s game. It was a game with the championship at stake. Were you in a different state of mind than usual?”

Johan shrugs at the reporter’s question.

A different state of mind than usual.

Well.

“There was nothing different. It was the same.”

“Wow. How can you do that? It was a game with the championship at stake!”

“Like other games, I just assumed we would win. There’s nothing special about it.”

“Yes, indeed. You have great confidence and belief in yourself.”

It’s the day when a long-cherished wish comes true.

There was nothing particularly different.

Like other days, I had no other thought than that we would win today.

“Well, I don’t think we can avoid talking about records. By scoring 5 goals in today’s game, you have recorded a total of 69 goals in the league this season. It’s an absurd record. You’ve added 10 more goals than last season. Perhaps, was the secret the desire to break last season’s record?”

“Um, actually, around the middle of the season? I was a little conscious of it until then. I had fewer goals than last season. So I worked hard to score.”

“So Johan also had a desire to improve and develop further?”

“A desire to improve?”

When Johan, who didn’t understand the meaning of the phrase ‘desire to improve,’ asked back, the interviewer explained it in detail.

Johan shrugged.

“That’s not it, I’d be upset if I trained less than last season.”

“…I see. I was hoping there would be some news that West Ham fans would like. Haha! Well, then I think the moment has come to bring up this story after all.”

The interviewer asked the question with great care.

“Johan, who announced his retirement almost at the same time as his debut. You said you would retire if you won the league with West Ham. Do you still have the same commitment now?”

This interview is being broadcast live.

Because of this, all West Ham fans watching this interview hoped that Johan would say that his mind had changed.

He wanted to retire if he won the championship, but now that he has won, his mind has changed.

However,

Johan smiled.

“It hasn’t changed.”

“I see. This season is really the last. It’s a pity, but no one will be able to blame Johan. Johan has been saying that from the beginning, and he has only kept that promise.”

It’s just a pity, not a disappointment.

Because it was originally scheduled.

“In fact, when you first announced your aspirations, most people would have laughed. Saying that it doesn’t make sense to win with West Ham, that you’re basically saying you have no intention of retiring. If you have anything to say to those people now that you’ve won the championship?”

“What I want to say…”

The petty bourgeoisie laugh at those who challenge.

Johan winked at the camera.

“Did you see it?”

ㆍㆍㆍ

-West Ham United, first Premier League title in 134 years since its founding!

└The King God Emperor West Ham!

└The happiest day of my life

└I have no regrets even if I die!

└I will be with this team until I die, just like I have been since I was born!

└Let’s go out into the streets!

-In the end, the last one was also Johan… 5 goals against Man City, Johan Ban, no change in his retirement plans

└I’m really happy, but sad at the same time ;(

└This is a great loss not only for West Ham but also for the football world

└Can’t the royal family do something…?”

└What about our next World Cup? Can’t Johan see it?

└Love it a lot now, Hammers. Because from next year, you’ll be back to the old West Ham

-West Ham, who confirmed the league title in the 35th round, all that’s left is the undefeated title and the Champions League title

└Yes, it’s not over yet. Johan, let’s burn the last flame and go!

└It’s too early to be happy! We’re going to win the Champions League!

└It’s a pity that I won’t be able to see Johan from next season, but it’s a relief that it’s not completely over yet

-Champions League final before Johan’s retirement, Real Madrid also confirmed the La Liga title

└The Champions League final is a retirement game

└This guy is going out in a flashy way

└Let’s win the championship if possible!

└A true Champions League final. A match between the Premier League champion and the La Liga champion…

└But, will you manage your condition until the Champions League final? Anyway, it’s retirement after finishing this season…

└Well. That’s a little uneasy.

The league title was confirmed, but the season was not over.

There were still three league games left, and above all, the Champions League final remained.

Because of this, West Ham had put aside the championship parade and celebration party for the time being.

It’s not the time to pop the champagne yet.

Everything is after the Champions League final.

Thanks to that, Johan had not thrown off all the shackles.

It’s like I’ve confirmed first place in my class, but there’s still one exam left to determine the top student in the whole school.

Coach Schmidt: Kyung is my player and West Ham’s player until the final game is over. So I hope you do your best until the end. If possible, shouldn’t we finish beautifully?

Johan replied to Coach Schmidt’s message that he understood.

That’s right.

Even if I quit, there shouldn’t be any lingering feelings or regrets left.

If we lose in the final, those lingering feelings will inevitably remain.

If, by any chance, I see my fellow brothers or coach frustrated at the threshold of victory.

Maybe my heart will weaken.

‘That can’t happen.’

That shouldn’t happen.

What if, at that moment, I get caught up in my emotions and think that I should do one more season without even realizing it?

A terrible thought.

It’s a really terrible thought.

‘Everyone has to be able to laugh.’