Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 190

< The Dream of a Midsummer Night - 190 >

-West Ham United, Crowned European Champions!

└ Hammers! Hammers! Hammers!

└ Didn’t think they’d beat Real in the finals ㄷㄷㄷ

└ In the end, the championship goes to the Premier League!

└ Thank goodness… the top dog in my class isn’t some pushover…

└ The Premier League is strong!

└ It’s not that the Premier League is strong. It’s that West Ham is strong.

└ It’s not that West Ham is strong. It’s that Johan is strong.

└ Johan is West Ham, and West Ham is Johan. So, West Ham being strong is right ㅅㄱ

-Finals Hat-Trick Johan Van, a perfect 10 rating… Awarded most goals in a single season (27 goals), Ballon d’Or award for the second consecutive year is almost certain

└ The greatest of all time, GOAT

└ 27 goals in a single season ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Crazy

└ Johan just being Johan…

└ To think we won’t see this anymore…

└ What fun will there be in watching soccer next season?

└ I was so happy to win, but also sad ㅜ

└ Thank you for everything, GOAT

-West Ham achieves the double by lifting the Big Ear [Champions League trophy], what are the prospects for next season? How to fill Johan’s void

└ No one can fill Johan’s void…

└ The only person who can replace Johan is Johan

└ We’ll have to invest elsewhere with Johan’s salary somehow…

└ But first, can we keep the other players?

└ Securing the other guys is urgent ㅜㅜ A lot of guys might leave without Johan

-World Cup D-1 year… Johan Van retires, what happens to the England national team?

└ Can’t he just come back and play during the World Cup??

└ ㅅㅂ Why not win the championship just one year later

└ It’s a Grand Slam if he just lifts the World Cup, so unfortunate

└ Lannister is crying

└ Isn’t Lannister resigning?

West Ham’s Champions League victory left many stories to tell.

Beating Real Madrid 3-1 in the finals, no less, was a great feat, and West Ham’s status was bound to rise even further.

Now, there was even talk that they could be in the top 3 of all time, based on a single season.

10/11 season Barcelona.

12/13 season Bayern Munich.

16/17 season Real Madrid, etc.

In the lineup of such stellar all-time strongest teams,

There was talk that West Ham in the 28/29 season could stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

Most people had no choice but to agree.

Undefeated league championship.

Overwhelming Champions League victory.

And, Johan Van, the strongest short-term impact player’s career-high season.

There were even many fans who said that West Ham in the 28/29 season should be at the top because of that last line.

So the fans were even more disappointed.

About Johan’s retirement.

To retire at the age of 19, when it seemed like he would do even better next season.

Even in the year he showed what might be the best talent of all time.

Not only West Ham fans, but all soccer fans around the world couldn’t help but feel sorry.

Well, Premier League fans might be thinking a little differently.

Anyway, the 2028/29 season ended with West Ham’s Champions League victory.

And, Johan’s brilliant, short and impactful career also came to an end.

ㆍㆍㆍ

“Is this the last time I’m wearing this uniform?”

The uniform with the number 9 and the marking ‘VAN’.

Johan smiled as he put on the uniform.

Today is the day of the championship parade.

The last schedule to participate in as a West Ham player.

Various emotions come to mind, but the biggest emotion is relief.

There may be about 1 gram of regret, but not even 1 milligram of remorse.

I received a lot of love and made precious people happy.

Most of all···

“Now I don’t have to worry about making a living.”

I can play and eat for the rest of my life.

A dreamlike life is unfolding ahead.

Waking up late around noon, eating as much delicious food as I want.

And lazing around and falling asleep without worrying about tomorrow.

Just imagining it makes me happy.

“Johan, are you ready?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go.”

When I finished preparing and went out, my dad and brother were also wearing their respective uniforms and ready to attend the parade.

Ban Seok-ho wore the uniform from when he was a player, and Rohan wore the uniform given to him by the club as a gift.

“Then, let’s go.”

“Yes, Dad.”

Ban Seok-ho, Rohan, and Johan.

The three fathers and sons wearing West Ham uniforms left the house, and

“Honey, I’m off.”

“Have a good time!”

Kim Ra-hee waved her hand at the three reliable men.

ㆍㆍㆍ

-Johan Van, officially announces retirement… “Will live a normal, quiet life.”

-‘Thank you, Vanny’ West Ham fans gather in Stratford for a parade… Streets filled with tears

-2029/30 season summer transfer market, what are the key points?

-Real Madrid, one more year as is… Challenging for hegemony again

-Manchester United’s Jerun Hauer manager, will he refuse to renew his contract? Postpones meeting with the club

-Bayern Munich and Liverpool pursue the acquisition of West Ham’s Daniele Capello… Can West Ham keep him?

-West Ham goes all out to keep Capello… Promises the best treatment in the team

-‘Defending Champion’ West Ham, can they win the championship for the second consecutive year? Jeff Hurrichel, Jacob Buckley, etc. renew contracts

-West Ham succeeds in renewing contract with Daniele Capello, together until 2031… Significant increase in weekly wage

-West Ham having difficulty finding a new number 9… Pablo Enrique of Sevilla, who was considered a strong candidate, is also likely to fall through… The fact that comparisons with Johan Van are inevitable is a burden for the players

-What are the prospects for the Premier League 2029/30 season? Experts predict Manchester United and Manchester City to win… Defending champion West Ham aims to maintain Champions League qualification

-[Official] West Ham signs Tottenham’s Mason Maguire as Johan’s replacement! Transfer fee estimated at approximately 70m euros

-West Ham enters pre-season with the match against Napoli! What kind of performance will they show without Johan?

-[Pre-Season Review] West Ham 1 : 2 Napoli… Joshua Bailey 1 goal, Mason Maguire silent

-West Ham finishes pre-season with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss… Scoring ability at the forefront, the chemistry between Capello and Maguire is a challenge

-[Community Shield] West Ham 2 : 3 Manchester United

-[2029/30 Season Opening] Undefeated champion West Ham, goalless draw in the opening match… West Ham 1 : 1 Newcastle

-[PL 2R] ‘The dream of a midsummer night is over’ Undefeated streak broken… West Ham loses 1-2 to Liverpool

-‘Once you have it, you miss it…’, Johan Van’s absence is clearly felt, Maguire was not enough

-1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 4 rounds… Manager Schmidt, “A process of creating anew. Maguire is not a replacement for Johan, but a new type of player. No one can replace Johan.”

-[Official] 2028/29 Ballon d’Or, Johan Van! Awarded for the second consecutive year, 2nd personal win… Overwhelming votes, also a unique record of being the first ‘non-active player’ to win

ㆍㆍㆍ

“Okay, then slowly···”

October 14, 2029, London Stadium.

Today is a day without a game, but quite a crowd is gathered around the entrance to London Stadium.

There are people who appear to be fans, and people who appear to be reporters.

And standing in front of them was owner Rahim McManaman and something covered with cloth.

“I will reveal it.”

McManaman takes off the cloth that was covering it.

What was revealed was a delicately sculpted statue.

“The best player in club history, our hero. Johan Van.”

A huge applause and camera flashes erupted from the crowd.

The place that everyone must pass through to enter West Ham’s home stadium, London Stadium.

Johan’s statue, standing tall in the sunniest spot at the entrance.

The statue depicted Johan with his hands behind his back and his chin slightly raised.

A majestic figure, like a guardian.

The god of London Stadium.

Johan Van.

“I miss him already···”

“I was really happy for two years.”

“I want to see him.”

“Let’s not talk about someone who’s doing well as if he’s already gone.”

The fans were lost in emotion as they looked at the statue.

It wasn’t that long ago.

It was Johan who made the fans laugh until just a few months ago.

But now, I can’t see him playing, so I miss him and miss him again.

If the team was still winning so that his absence wasn’t felt, it would be different, but West Ham was faltering at the beginning of the season, so the fans couldn’t help but miss Johan even more.

“There’s no chance he’ll come back, is there···?”

“If he sets his mind to it, he can come back anytime···”

“If they lose about 5 in a row, won’t he come back out of frustration?”

“If he comes back, it’s immediately the reincarnation of the strongest team of all time.”

People talking wistfully with bitter smiles.

They already miss Johan’s return.

But that won’t happen.

“Let’s be satisfied with just being able to see this.”

“Yeah. Because I can see it like this every day when I come to the stadium.”

“Just looking at the statue makes me feel reassured.”

Looking at Johan’s majestic statue guarding London Stadium, people started clapping again.

And, in the middle of it.

Rohan and Ban Seok-ho, who were listening to what people were saying, smiled at each other.

“Comeback···”

“I guess people don’t know. Johan’s recent situation.”

“They can’t know. Johan is just holed up at home.”

Thinking about Johan at home, it probably won’t be easy.

Johan returning to the ground.

Honestly, their hearts were no different from the other fans.

Every weekend, they wished Johan would come back.

Because the team’s situation is not as good as it was the year before last or last year.

In fact, it wasn’t like the team had collapsed in an instant.

It just feels like it’s back to where it was.

No, if you look closely, it’s actually improved.

If you think about it until 3 seasons ago.

Compared to then, the overall quality of the players has improved, and the results are better.

The past two seasons when Johan played were so dreamlike.

“In many ways, it’s like a dream.”

“I know. It feels like I’ve been dreaming for two years, but when I see that statue, it doesn’t seem like it was a dream. But the fact that my brother is standing in London Stadium is also like a dream.”

Two years like a midsummer night’s dream.

Perhaps they were so excessively happy during those two years that they were worried about the future.

Now, no matter what they see, it doesn’t seem like it will be as happy as it was then.

And I’m worried about whether this team can recreate the glory of that time.

“To do that, Johan has no choice but to come back···”

“He’s really happy and doing well.”

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan smiling.

The team is worried, but still, they were happy.

Because Johan, who is enjoying a ‘comfortable life’ at the age of 19, looked really happy these days.

He looked so happy that it felt like happiness was plastered all over his face.

“It doesn’t matter. Johan will be here, standing in that spot forever.”

“That’s enough.”

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan smiled as they looked at Johan’s statue with proud eyes.

ㆍㆍㆍ

-[World Cup Qualifiers] England draws with Sweden… Successfully maintains 1st place in the group, but variables arise

-[World Cup D-208] Gamblers’ predictions for the championship reversed from a year ago… England plummets from 1st to 7th in odds

-Not a championship contender anymore? England without Johan falls to 7th in championship odds, behind Spain, Brazil, Germany, etc.

-Is the England national team also suffering from Johan’s absence? Mason Maguire suffers from Johan’s ghost in both his club team and the national team

-[PL 10R] West Ham 2 : 2 Southampton

-[PL 15R] West Ham loses 1-3 to Manchester City… Drops one place to 7th in the league with 6 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses

-Significantly decreased team scoring… Based on the same round, West Ham’s team scoring decreased by 16 goals compared to last year

-‘Comparisons are harsh but…’ Fans criticize Mason Maguire for his lack of scoring ability… Records 6 goals in 15 rounds, Johan scored 23 goals last year

-Chelsea, who will face West Ham in the 16th round, has a golden opportunity to end their two-year losing streak

*

“[email protected]#@#!?···”

“#@!&@*@$···”

Um, um.

What’s so noisy.

The living room is noisy.

Is there a fire in the house?

“Umm···”

Johan, with a bird’s nest on his head [messy hair], got up from the bed.

Yaaaaawn.

Johan yawns and leaves the room.

Opening the door and going into the living room,

“Ah, really···”

“What are you doing, Maguire! What are you going to do if you miss that!”

Dad and brother were sitting in front of the TV, spewing harsh words.

Oh.

Why are those two at home at this hour?

It’s time for them to be at the stadium watching the game.

“Why are you watching on TV? I heard it was a home game.”

“Oh, Johan’s awake. Look at that, look at that. I knew this would happen, so I was just going to watch from home.”

“Hey, brother. Does that make sense? We’re losing to Chelsea, Chelsea.”

Johan sits on the sofa with a huge container of cheese ball snacks.

Looking at the TV, West Ham was losing 1-2 to Chelsea, just like his brother said.

Johan shrugged his shoulders once and put a handful of cheese balls in his mouth.

“Munch, munch. Back in my day, munch. I couldn’t even imagine losing to those blue uniforms. Munch.”

“I know! Aww! Look at that! He’s flying it again!”

Rohan and Ban Seok-ho tearing their hair out at the homerun [mistake] of Mason Maguire, a player who had just joined the team.

Looking at the two of them, Johan smiled bitterly.

“What place are we in these days?”

“Us? 7th place. But if we lose this, we could go down to 8th.”

“···8th place?”

Could we go down to 8th place?

That makes sense.

No wonder my brother and dad’s faces are full of worries these days.

I really couldn’t have imagined it back in my day.

What are you guys doing these days?

“Hmm··· Munch, munch.”

“Johan. Eat that in moderation.”

“Munch, this isn’t much. Munch.”

Johan continued to eat cheese balls and began to watch his brothers’ game for the first time in a long time.