Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 83

< 082. First Overseas Expedition >

“Ugh, this pisses me off. Seriously…”

“But there’s nothing we can do.”

“It feels like watching your ex-girlfriend happy with another guy…”

“I’m already in a bad mood, don’t say stuff like that.”

“What? Stuff like that?”

“It’s true, isn’t it? Stuff like that.”

“You wanna fight?”

The game looked difficult, and while the team was getting crushed by their rival, Kane was sitting on the bench, looking happy.

The atmosphere at Tottenham Stadium was, of course, terrible. Some fans were even arguing with each other, creating a hostile environment.

How did things turn around like this?

Just a few years ago, or even last year, West Ham was their easy prey.

Now, it felt like they had lost everything.

“What is our academy even doing? Why aren’t players like that coming out of it!”

“We had one about 10 years ago. And that player is sitting on the bench for the other team now.”

“Ha. This is what happens to the team because of the stingy owner.”

“Give us some support that matches the club’s level! Stop thinking only about making money!”

Tottenham fans looked at Johan, who was threatening just by standing in the box, with envious eyes.

It wasn’t like they spent a fortune to sign him; the fact that such a monster came out of their youth academy was just enviable to Spurs.

At the same time, they bitterly recalled the past when they had nurtured a great striker like Kane from their youth system and enjoyed his prime.

Of course, Tottenham still had Mason Maguire, a player as good as any other.

But that was it.

Only Maguire had the skills of a top-class league player, while the rest were barely at the upper level of the league.

Even Maguire was making noise these days. His contract was almost up, but he was still delaying the renewal.

From the start, Maguire wasn’t a Tottenham youth product.

He was just a signing from Southampton.

Even the homegrown youth players were complaining, so they couldn’t really say anything even if Maguire delayed his renewal.

The team’s situation had been the same for years.

There was no progress.

Perhaps they should be grateful that they weren’t regressing.

In that respect, the reality of West Ham was so enviable.

West Ham players were openly expressing their affection and loyalty to the club in every interview.

Especially, look at Johan.

He is loyalty itself.

His father was already a West Ham player, he himself is a youth product, and his only goal is to win the championship for West Ham, so even Manchester City can’t sign him.

Tottenham could only feel bitterness and envy, wondering why they didn’t have such a player, why they couldn’t nurture such a player.

Tottenham doesn’t seem to have the power to turn this game around.

It’s a completely dominated game. The hopes of Tottenham fans that it would be different at home seem to have been shattered.

Should we say it’s fortunate that Kane didn’t come out? Or is it the opposite? Either way, it looks bitter for Tottenham.

The game was completely West Ham’s.

Johan, who had taken a week off, showed full condition, recording two goals in stats but exerting a presence beyond that, collapsing Tottenham’s defense.

The fact that Kane didn’t play and they didn’t see their legend stabbing them in the back was no consolation at all.

Just seeing him happy every time Johan scored was enough to make Tottenham Stadium gloomy.

Kane seemed happy enough just being on the same team as Johan.

More than when he was winning at Tottenham.

Yes, the game is over. West Ham wins this derby match as well! The score is 3-0!

It’s a perfect victory. Tottenham couldn’t do anything. They should have at least shown a fierce game worthy of a derby. With this defeat, the Champions League competition seems to be completely gone. From now on, they should aim to win at least a Europa League ticket.

On the other hand, West Ham has further solidified its second place and can continue to closely chase Manchester City. Overwhelming scorer Johan Bahn added two more goals today, further widening the gap with the pursuers.

This 26th round was the day Tottenham lost everything.

On the other hand, West Ham, its fans, and Kane seemed to have gained everything and were delighted.

“Johan!”

“Yes?”

“That was a great game!”

“Ah, thank you…”

As soon as the game ended, Kane ran to Johan first and hugged him, and Johan was grateful to Kane, but he couldn’t just laugh.

Something… just something like that.

***

After finishing the game against Tottenham,

West Ham’s last schedule in January was the 27th round match against Crystal Palace.

West Ham had good memories of Crystal Palace, whom they had met in the opening game and won 3-1, so another easy win was expected this time as well.

But the actual game was more intense than expected.

Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park played a solid and fast game, making it quite difficult for West Ham.

After Capello’s recruitment, West Ham was trying to transition from a defensive counterattack style to one where they dictated the game. [Capello’s recruitment refers to the team’s effort to bring in players or strategies that allow them to control the pace and flow of the match, rather than just reacting to the opponent.]

It seemed that it would take some time for that to become ingrained in their bodies.

Palace did not miss the occasional passing mistakes and threatened West Ham with quick counterattacks, and in fact, Palace scored the first goal.

In particular, Palace effectively checked Capello.

By surrounding Capello with two midfielders and putting pressure on him, they blocked Capello from exerting influence on the attack in advance.

Of course, Capello in good condition would have overcome the check with dribbling.

But on this day, he didn’t seem to be in very good condition, with many turnovers such as dragging the ball and losing in competitions.

With Capello blocked like that, West Ham’s attack suddenly became frustrating.

Fortunately, however, coach Schmidt accurately grasped the problem.

West Ham, who finished the first half 0-1, changed their tactics in the second half and started playing simple soccer again, just like at the beginning of the season.

Instead of using Capello, they attempted simple plays such as having Hurrichel and other rear resources pass long balls to Johan at once.

And that method worked properly.

In the 9th minute of the second half, Johan, who received center back Lucas Simone’s long pass with an elegant first touch, scored the equalizer.

Starting with that, Jonathan Naison scored the come-from-behind goal in the 19th minute of the second half, and Johan scored the winning goal again in the 33rd minute of the second half, eventually making it 3-1.

It was a come-from-behind victory for West Ham.

In any case, this game not only earned 3 points on the road, but also learned a lot while struggling in the first half, resulting in a game with a lot to gain.

It was a game that made them realize that they shouldn’t be complacent as they continued to win.

Although Crystal Palace was a team located below 10th place, the players once again realized that anything could happen in the Premier League.

With all the schedules in January completed like that.

The first and second weeks of February were A-match weeks [International match weeks, where national teams play games].

During this week, European countries will finish all of the group stage matches of the UEFA Nations League [A biennial international football competition contested by the senior national teams of the member associations of UEFA, the sport’s European governing body].

England, which is running first in Group B with 3 wins and 1 loss, also left for Turin for the away game against Italy, and will face Italy and Switzerland in Turin for two weeks to determine the first place in the group.

Italy, which will face England at home this time, was sharpening its sword of revenge.

Italy, which lost 1-2 in the last away game at Wembley.

Currently, Italy is in second place in the group, and they can take first place depending on the results of this week’s game, so they have called up the best players.

That included West Ham’s Daniele Capello.

Of course, all of England’s best members were also called up and headed to Italy.

A splendid squad that can be said to be the league’s best in the Premier League based on current form.

Johan was naturally called by coach Lanister.

However, I heard that this time it might be a little different from the last call-up.

Coach Lanister, who contacted coach Schmidt, said that he might not be able to make the same promise as last time during this call-up.

The promise that Johan was still young, so he would be considerate so that he wouldn’t play in the game as much as possible.

Johan had already proven himself in A-matches.

Both Nations League games and friendly matches showed that Johan was performing well enough to be England’s starting striker.

Therefore, coach Lanister seemed to be planning to use Johan as a starter in this Turin expedition.

In response, coach Schmidt sighed deeply after hanging up the phone, and thought about refusing the call-up because the child was a little hurt, but he thought it wasn’t right to lie, so he reluctantly sent Johan away.

Because the child was so healthy, he regretted that he didn’t have even a minor injury at times like this.

Ah, I really don’t want to send him.

Why are you even doing things like the Nations League?

Anyway, the competition between European countries is enough with the Euros [UEFA European Championship].

These money-hungry UEFA bastards.

Anyway, coach Schmidt sent Johan away with the feeling of putting a child in the water.

In fact, Johan also didn’t want to go to Italy.

“Is this the first time you’ve been on a plane since you were in middle school? You’ll have to get used to it in the future. Soccer players inevitably have to get used to flying.”

“Haaa…”

Johan sighed deeply as he packed the necessary luggage as taught by Ban Seok-ho, who had been on countless overseas expedition games.

It was annoying enough to travel to away games in the UK, but Johan’s expression was naturally distorted at the thought of overseas expeditions.

However,

“Honey! Did you check all the luggage?”

“Yeah, I put everything in.”

“Did you really put everything in? What about the camera?”

“I brought the camera too.”

“Okay.”

Kim Ra-hee and Ban Seok-ho looked very excited, unlike Johan.

The national team staff would take care of it, but they decided to go with him because they were worried about sending Johan alone.

But they look too excited to be going because they are worried about their son.

It’s just an excuse for Johan, and they look excited at the thought of traveling as a couple after a long time.

“Ah, I’m jealous. I want to take a plane and go to Italy too.”

“Then you go instead of me, hyung [older brother].”

“Hey, how can I do that? Coach Lanister called Johan, not Rohan. Have a good trip, little brother.”

“Everyone’s excited except me…”

Rohan was also excited.

Why is Rohan excited because his younger brother, mom, and dad are leaving the house and he will be guarding the house alone?

What could be happier for a male student in his late teens than being able to be alone at home for two weeks?

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone, our eldest son.”

“It’s okay. Hehe.”

“Huh? Why are you laughing?”

“Hehehehe. I’m crying. I can’t see my loving mom and dad for two weeks…”

“···Don’t do anything weird while you’re alone.”

“Of course.”

Perhaps this A-match week will be a happy week for everyone except Johan.

***

Capello: Are you ready?

Capello: Ready to determine who is the real ace of West Ham?

Capello: I can’t wait.

Capello: You must be scared. To meet this body as an enemy. To reveal to everyone who the real ace is.

Capello: See you on the field.

Capello: Ah, by the way. I hope there are no hard feelings. Capello: Let’s not take what happened in Turin to London.

“···.”

I’m already pissed off, and this guy is making a fuss.

Johan sighed after checking Capello’s message.

Last September, Capello sat on the bench at Wembley and did not play in the game against England.

It was widely expected that he would start in this game.

This was probably because of his good form and performance after transferring to West Ham.

He has already recorded 6 assists in 4 games after the transfer, so what.

Therefore, although the league is in recess, West Ham fans are more excited than ever.

England and Italy.

The aces of both teams are all West Ham players?

My heart can’t help but swell.

However, Johan could only sigh deeply.

I’m annoyed to even come here, and I’m not interested in Capello, but he’s talking to himself.

But there is good news.

If we win the first game against Italy, we will be confirmed as the first place in the group.

So, if I put my strength into the game against Italy, I don’t have to play in the game against Switzerland.

Maybe it’s a good thing.

I was already tired of Capello, who kept begging me to have a free kick match every time I trained, so I can shut him up with this opportunity.

“Haaam. I can’t help it.”

Johan was lying in bed, yawning, with the scary thought that he had no choice but to destroy Italy.