Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 76

< 075. It Might Not Be So Bad >

‘What am I doing?’

Capello, running towards Johann, almost stopped, snapping himself out of it.

He nearly rejoiced.

How pathetic.

‘I am not one to be happy with just one assist!’

···However.

“Waaaaah-!”

“What! I expected it, but they’re clicking already from the start!”

“Nice! The Cayo line is starting!”

“How’s the taste of 1 pass 1 assist! Sweet, isn’t it?”

“This is Johann! He’s very different from Fiorentina’s strikers!”

The cheers of the fans weren’t too bad.

Fiorentina’s fans were second to none in their passion.

But the fans here are even more so.

‘Tch. Don’t get too excited. I haven’t shown anything yet.’

Well, I understand.

They can’t help but cheer when they see my play.

Capello pressed down on the corners of his mouth, which kept twitching upwards.

*

Thinking about it, Johann actually has little motivation for the FA Cup [Football Association Challenge Cup, an annual knockout competition in English football].

Winning allows him to retire, but that only applies to the league.

Winning the FA Cup doesn’t give Johann anything he wants.

Therefore, Johann just wanted to score a lot of goals quickly today and rest on the bench.

But,

That was a disaster for Birmingham City.

Johann’s shots continued to threaten Birmingham’s goal.

It seemed like only a matter of time before another goal was scored.

The only consolation for Birmingham was that their goalkeeper, Aaron Keita, was putting on a crazy save show.

“Hey, he’s going to a big club, isn’t he?”

“Why is such a goalkeeper in the second division?”

The West Ham fans, watching the game comfortably, were enjoying Keita’s save show and even cheering him on.

West Ham was unilaterally hammering Birmingham’s goal, to the point where the opposing goalkeeper felt pitiful.

The second goal came in the 17th minute.

Like the first goal, Johann received a pass from Capello and finished it off.

Birmingham couldn’t stop Capello’s forward passes, and they couldn’t cope with Johann’s back-to-goal play and turning shots.

Their chemistry was good.

Of course, Birmingham’s level was lower. They’re a second division team.

Even without Capello, they could have easily played the game.

However, the fact that the picture they wanted through Capello’s acquisition was being clearly drawn excited the fans.

More aggressive ball distribution through forward passes, tempo control in midfield, switching passes to use the field widely, and so on.

It felt like the attacking options were much more diverse just with Capello’s presence, and paradoxically, more opportunities were concentrated on Johann.

“Their teamwork looks good? To be honest, I didn’t think they’d mesh so well.”

“Hmm.”

“Capello seems to enjoy creative passes, but Johann doesn’t enjoy line breaking or quick penetration.”

When coach Jamie said that while watching the game, coach Schmidt nodded.

That was right.

Depending on the characteristics of the players, there are combinations that create a result of 3 from 1 plus 1.

Like putting Jonathan Nathan and Jacob Buckley, who have a lot of activity, next to Johann, who has little activity. They create synergy beyond addition by complementing each other’s shortcomings with their strengths.

However, there was a slight question about Capello.

He wasn’t the type that could be said to have perfect chemistry with Johann.

Simply having good passing ability doesn’t mean you have good chemistry with a striker.

Capello’s greatest strength was creative passes, and the type that could create the greatest synergy with him was an attacker who enjoys off-the-ball movement and line breaking.

That wasn’t Johann.

However,

“I was a little worried after seeing him blabbering, but it seems like he’s trying to adapt to the team.”

Capello wasn’t being stubborn.

It felt like he was adapting himself to Johann.

That was the right way.

Johann can’t change his style, so Capello, who can change, should adapt.

Also, to be cold, Johann’s talent is much more destructive, so Capello should adapt.

Capello seemed to know that.

He was adjusting his passes appropriately.

Rather than maximizing creativity, he was maximizing the accuracy of the pass.

He was trying to deliver as many passes as possible to Johann.

“That, the first training session. I think it was a good idea to have them compete in free kicks? Considering his personality, if it wasn’t for Johann. Ugh, it would have been difficult to handle.”

“No. If it wasn’t for Johann, he wouldn’t have come to our team in the first place.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

The fact that a guy with excessive self-esteem humbles himself.

It would have been difficult if the other person wasn’t Johann.

Thanks to Johann, coach Jamie and coach Schmidt’s work became much easier.

They thought he would be a difficult guy to handle, but thanks to Johann’s presence, he was cooperating on his own.

Anyway, thanks to Capello playing cooperatively, Johann’s strengths are being revealed even more.

However, I’m getting greedy here.

What if even Johann could move a little more cooperatively.

What if their chemistry becomes so good that they can bring out each other’s strengths more than 100 percent.

I’m curious about that.

If that happens, maybe those two could cause a big accident.

Bringing a huge trophy to West Ham.

The game seemed to be decided early on.

3-0 in the first 25 minutes.

Birmingham didn’t even think about counterattacking, and it seemed difficult just to block the attacks, and the London Stadium was filled with the Hammers’ chants.

Eventually, the first half ended like that, and West Ham used two substitution cards at the start of the second half.

Early substitution.

Johann, who scored 3 goals, and Capello, who got 3 assists in his debut, received the reward of rest.

In fact, Johann was happy to rest, but it was a substitution that could have left Capello, who played only the first half of his debut, feeling regretful.

Even if it was a substitution made with consideration for the adaptation period.

Perhaps because of that, Capello’s expression, watching the second half on the bench, looked somewhat annoyed.

However,

That wasn’t dissatisfaction with the early substitution.

He hated himself for feeling complex emotions.

‘None of it was cool.’

The plays he showed for 45 minutes today.

It wasn’t cool.

He didn’t even show half of his talent.

As it was his debut, he wanted to give the fans a strong impression.

But all he did was make ordinary passes.

However.

“3 assists in his debut, and only playing 45 minutes! Let’s go for the FA Cup assist king!”

“Welcome to our team!”

“You’re the league assist king next year!”

“Play with Johann for a long time! Then you can break the record for the most combined goals!”

“Let’s engrave your name in the Premier League!”

Like the encouraging cheers that the fans sitting near the bench shouted at him.

Anyway, he got 3 assists from his debut.

3 assists.

It’s too good of a stat to be a simple stat.

Capello’s self-love is so much that even his teammates shake their heads.

Every morning when he opens his eyes, Capello’s routine is to check the comments on his SNS account and search his name on the internet.

Capello loved himself so much that he liked all the articles praising him, and he valued honor more than anyone else.

The reason why he turned down Juventus and came to West Ham was also partly for that reason.

The transfer fee that Juventus offered was less than the club record, but West Ham’s was far beyond the club record.

Because his name could be at the top.

It wasn’t just about getting more money, but Capello valued such honor more.

So, it was natural for Capello to manage his stats terribly.

After each game, he checks his rating, what percentage his pass success rate was, and checks everything one by one.

For such Capello, the number 3 assists was significant.

Honestly··· He was so proud.

Even if it’s an assist with no coolness.

‘Tch.’

That’s why he hates it but likes it.

That’s accurate.

Rather than liking it but hating it, he hates it but likes it.

So, in the end, he likes it.

“···”

Looking to the side, Johann was already dozing off with his arms crossed.

Like someone sitting in the back seat of a bus.

‘Amazing guy···’

Capello clicked his tongue.

To be able to play a game and fall asleep as if nothing happened.

Playing a game is being in a state of extreme excitement.

The human body can’t fall asleep when it’s in such a state of excitement.

But the fact that he’s sleeping so comfortably means he wasn’t even in a state of excitement in the first place.

That guy really plays soccer so comfortably that it’s infuriating.

Even a genius like himself is panting as if he played 90 minutes even though he played 45 minutes adapting to a new environment.

‘Okay. That’s fun.’

Capello smirked.

He finds the feeling he’s feeling for the first time in his life fun.

Is this what the dictionary calls ‘jealousy’?

He felt that jealousy for the first time when the guy’s chant rang out.

In Fiorentina, when he made an assist, his chant was sung no matter who scored.

‘Well, I’m glad I came.’

Yeah. Well, wasn’t that why he chose West Ham, to feel this kind of emotion?

Now that he’s feeling it, it’s really infuriating.

Capello is grateful to Johann.

For giving him a feeling he’s feeling for the first time.

That’s all he’s grateful for.

He’s not grateful for getting 3 assists or anything.

‘Just you wait. Someday, the day will come when you move to my pass.’

Capello kept glancing at Johann and thinking.

Someday, the day will come when he feeds Johann goals, not when Johann feeds him assists.

*

West Ham and Birmingham City’s FA Cup Round of 32 match ended with West Ham’s 4-0 victory.

With this, West Ham advanced to the Round of 16, and the fans cheered for the satisfactory result and performance.

A game that captured both the result and the content.

Thanks to this, the fans who came to the stadium were in high spirits, and many fans gathered on the players’ way home even after the game ended.

To get autographs or take pictures with the players leaving work.

“Hey, captain. Are you okay?”

“What? Capello.”

“Are you okay with me going out with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“The fans will only run to me, how are you going to feel left out?”

“···”

Capello, who doesn’t have a car in London yet, decided to go home in Gordon’s car.

So, when the two were about to leave the stadium, Gordon shook his head at Capello’s confidence.

However, it wasn’t unfounded confidence.

“Waaaah!”

“Capello!”

“Please sign!”

“Just one picture! Here!”

When Capello appeared, the fans started chanting his name and everyone started holding out their uniforms and cell phones.

Capello smiled with satisfaction at those fans.

Yeah. How could you not like me.

It’s that kind of smile.

“Wow! Thank you!”

“I’ll cherish it.”

“···Excuse me?”

“Next.”

Capello signs and takes pictures with each fan.

In fact, fan service is a bit of a hassle.

Especially on the way home, doesn’t everyone want to go home quickly? Even if it’s annoying, he does it because he’s more grateful.

However, for Capello, fan service was purely for his own satisfaction.

Because he feels good seeing people go crazy for him.

However, whatever the reason, it’s a good thing for the fans.

While he was signing for a long time.

“Waaaaah!”

Capello frowned at the sudden outburst of cheers.

When he turned his head,

“Vani!”

“Vani! You were great in the game today too!”

“Good luck in the league game next week, Vani!”

Johann was coming out of the stadium.

Tch. Is it that guy again.

To steal the spotlight at a time like this.

But,

‘Hmm?’

Capello, who watched Johann nod his head and quickly pass the fans and get into the car that was parked, smiled when he found something unique.

“Hey, Capello. Let’s go now. I won’t be able to go home like this.”

“Okay. That’s it.”

Capello, who finished fan service and got into Gordon’s car, laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I saw it.”

“What?”

“No one asked that friend Johann for an autograph or a picture. Everyone reached out to me. In the end, isn’t that saying my popularity is more real?”

Capello’s words were true.

It’s true that cheers of support poured out for Johann, but no fans asked for autographs or pictures.

However, Gordon shook his head as if he didn’t know anything yet.

“That’s because the fans like Johann so much.”

“···What are you talking about?”

“That’s what I mean. Everyone knows what kind of guy Johann is, so they’re considerate first. It’s an unspoken rule among fans. Let’s not do anything that Johann might find annoying.”

“···”

Capello’s mouth, which was beaming, drooped at Gordon’s words.

What, what nonsense is that.

The fans are so considerate of the players?

Those fans who are famous for being hooligans [disorderly or destructive people]?

“That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s true. Johann is a god here.”

···The more I know, the more I hate it.

That guy Johann.

Just how much love are you getting?

‘I’ll definitely get ahead of you. Someday···’

Capello’s eyes gleamed with jealousy towards Johann.