Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 89

< The Two-Horse Race >

A golden opportunity.

Or perhaps, a last chance.

For Liverpool, this Round 31 match could be described as such.

Usually, a head-to-head match against a direct competitor is referred to as a game worth 6 points.

This is because it includes not only the 3 points I gain but also the 3 points the opposing team fails to earn.

This game was exactly that.

Moreover, the winning team would secure the 2nd place spot, as the point difference between the two teams was only 2 points.

Therefore, today’s game was one where even a draw would be unsatisfactory; they had to win at all costs.

Furthermore, there was another reason why today’s game was important for Liverpool.

“Last time, you suffered a 2-3 defeat at Anfield [Liverpool’s home stadium]. What do you think was the cause of that defeat? And do you think that cause will be improved in this game?”

Before the game started.

At the press conference held in the press center, Liverpool’s manager, Alain Nunes, let out a hollow laugh upon receiving the reporter’s question.

The memory of that time was, frankly, still a painful one that hadn’t healed.

It had already been four years since Nunes took the reins of Liverpool.

During those four years, he had steadily built the team, earning the infinite trust of the fans.

However, due to that one defeat at Anfield, there were even rumors of his dismissal.

Of course, those were emotional reactions, and they soon died down.

But the fact that rumors of dismissal arose from a single defeat shows how great the shock of that defeat was.

“The cause of the defeat, well, everyone knows it without me having to say it…”

The shock was just as great for Nunes, and as a result, he had watched that game repeatedly, dozens of times.

However, no matter how many times he watched it,

the conclusion was always the same.

There was no player who could stop Johan.

In soccer, the manager’s role is very important.

Soccer involves a large number of players, 11 on a team.

Because there are so many players, the one conductor who directs those many players has a great influence.

However, there are ultimately limits to the manager’s role.

After all, it’s the players who directly kick the ball and run on the field.

The fact that some teams change their manager every year but their performance remains the same is proof that the players’ abilities are still more important.

“I don’t think it will be easy. However, we now have a weapon that we didn’t have back then, don’t we?”

So, the countermeasure he had prepared was not another tactic but a player.

During the last winter transfer market.

West Ham was the main story at that time, but in fact, Liverpool made the most significant investment.

A whopping 120 billion [currency not specified, but assumed to be a standard currency like Euros or USD].

They spent over 100 billion to bring in a promising young talent.

His name is Derek de Cluyne.

Position: Center back.

Nationality: Dutch.

Original team: Ajax [a famous Dutch soccer club].

Even just looking at this much, doesn’t it already inspire some confidence?

There’s even a saying that you can trust and use young talents from Ajax.

Moreover, De Cluyne was a key player who made significant contributions to Ajax’s advancement to the Champions League quarterfinals last season.

He was a player that Liverpool succeeded in acquiring amidst the courtship of numerous teams.

Of course, the overpay controversy was still there.

It’s true that an era has come where 100 billion isn’t that surprising.

But anyway, it’s also true that it’s a huge amount.

It’s enough to bring in a player who is in their prime, but they brought in a young talent who hasn’t been fully verified yet, so it was natural for many people to shake their heads.

“I think he will definitely show it.”

However, De Cluyne quickly adapted to the league.

No, in fact, the word ‘adaptation’ didn’t seem appropriate.

De Cluyne was selected for the team of the week in almost every media outlet the week he made his debut.

And his performance has been consistently strong.

It was as if he was saying that the amount of 120 billion was not invested in the future but in the present.

“I think this game will be a good opportunity in many ways. Whether it’s this season or next season, it will be an important game for our team and for De Cluyne.”

De Cluyne seemed ready to become a top defender.

Like his Dutch senior, Virgil van Dijk, who led Liverpool’s revival in the past.

However, he hadn’t completely proven it yet.

It was no exaggeration to say that Liverpool brought him in the winter solely for today.

In other words, De Cluyne had to prove it in this game. The reason why Liverpool brought him in for 120 billion.

And De Cluyne was confident.

He was confident that he could pay off that transfer fee in full.

*

Before the whistle blew.

The broadcast camera kept capturing De Cluyne in a close-up shot.

De Cluyne, who was lightly shaking his body and waiting for the game to start, looked confident.

Of course, Johan Ban, the striker.

He had heard of his reputation. He had watched his plays on video several times.

De Cluyne also knew that he was a great talent.

But,

‘I can handle it.’

He thought he could handle it.

He himself had already experienced the Champions League.

Even up to the tournament.

The teams he had faced at that time were Sevilla in the group stage and Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in the tournament.

All three teams had excellent strikers.

And De Cluyne had successfully blocked them all.

People were saying.

Could De Cluyne really stop Johan?

It was as if he was the challenger.

But, De Cluyne thought it was the opposite.

He was the one with more experience.

However, there was one thing that bothered him.

That was what Carvalho had said during training.

“Um… since it’s an important game, if you do your best, there might be good results.”

Liverpool’s main weapon, Carvalho.

De Cluyne felt that his skills were blossoming after joining Liverpool.

That wasn’t because he was constantly playing on the Premier League stage.

Not the stadium, but Liverpool’s training ground.

It was because he could train with Carvalho every day.

The first time De Cluyne had a one-on-one with Carvalho, he collapsed helplessly.

It was the first time he had been so thoroughly defeated since his youth days.

De Cluyne realized then that Premier League’s top forwards were different.

However, as the time they spent training together grew longer.

The frequency with which De Cluyne won in their one-on-one gradually increased.

The advantage of a young player.

De Cluyne absorbed experience like a sponge and grew rapidly.

Later, Carvalho even raised both hands in surrender.

That Carvalho, who had initially felt like an insurmountable wall.

“You will definitely be the best, De Cluyne.”

Carvalho always praised him.

He said that you will definitely be the best in the world.

But, that Carvalho hesitated slightly before this game.

He couldn’t be as optimistic as always, saying that you would win.

If Carvalho was like that, there must be a reason.

Well, or maybe he just said it to tell him not to be too arrogant.

“Beeeep-!”

The game started.

*

The game’s atmosphere was definitely different from the last game from the start.

Anfield is certainly famous for its enthusiastic home fans.

However, London Stadium was not an easy place either.

In the first place, the Hammers’ [nickname for West Ham] fandom is second to none in terms of passion.

No, to be honest, they are a tough fandom that causes quite a few incidents.

There aren’t many fans who can make their voices heard even in the away seats of Anfield, and the Hammers were one of them.

Therefore, the home fans who filled the stadium raised the morale of the West Ham players by shouting so loudly that their ears were ringing.

West Ham was the one who started with the initiative.

Liverpool surprisingly didn’t come out aggressively.

Liverpool, who had strongly pressed forward at Anfield, overwhelming the players from the start.

It seemed that they had learned from their mistakes, realizing that the reason for their defeat was that they couldn’t properly capitalize even with the atmosphere of Anfield.

From Liverpool’s attitude, you can realize how strong West Ham has become.

“Good. Let’s take it slow.”

“Not bad. It’s okay if it flows quietly. We only need 1 minute.”

“Those rats seem to be intimidated? They were complete keyboard warriors, weren’t they?”

The Hammers seemed satisfied with Liverpool’s demeanor.

In any case, Liverpool’s offensive power is terrifying.

I can’t even remember when we had a clean sheet game against Liverpool, as we always conceded a lot of goals.

So, it’s a relief that Liverpool is taking a defensive stance first.

Also, I liked the fact that we were slowly possessing the ball and playing the game against such Liverpool.

Yeah. There’s no need to rush.

For now, even if we get a draw, we can maintain our ranking.

If we maintain this ranking and win against all the other teams, it will be impossible for Liverpool to reverse the ranking on their own.

It wasn’t a bad idea.

But.

Manager Schmidt and the West Ham players seemed to have slightly different thoughts.

Unlike the expectation that they would start slowly, West Ham started to raise the tempo earlier than expected.

Capello sends the ball into the opponent’s territory.

In fact, it’s a scene that feels out of place.

Liverpool giving up the initiative and waiting behind.

Originally, Liverpool would have been able to take the initiative and play the game by fighting in the midfield as much as possible.

But, the fact that they gave that up.

There must be other intentions.

It’s not difficult to think about what that might be.

They’re trying to lure us in. Into their own territory.

Like a crocodile waiting with its mouth open in the water, they lure the prey into their space.

They’re planning to devour us.

If you think about that, it’s dangerous to enter the opponent’s territory on your own.

There’s no need to go in.

If their plan doesn’t work, Liverpool will change their tactics on their own.

All we have to do is wait until then.

However, Manager Schmidt’s thoughts were different.

Manager Schmidt was planning to shake off Liverpool.

He had no intention of going along with them.

Even if they were chasing them, he had no intention of being satisfied with the fact that they were slightly one step above.

He’s going to shake them off here and compete only with Manchester City.

Manager Schmidt was planning to win big against Liverpool.

I know it’s dangerous.

When the ball is circulating in the opponent’s territory, it’s more dangerous than when it’s circulating in our territory.

Because Liverpool’s territory is right inside the crocodile’s mouth.

But,

In order to stab the crocodile’s neck, you have to go inside its mouth anyway.

There is a safety device.

A safety device that can be safe even inside the crocodile’s mouth.

That’s Johan.

Liverpool’s center back, De Cluyne, preferred a challenging style of defense.

Rather than waiting for defense, he intercepts or aggressively tackles when a pass comes.

Therefore, his defensive range is wide, and his influence is bound to be great.

It was dangerous to try something near De Cluyne.

However, one thing.

When he’s marking Johan.

Then it’s safe.

It’s the opposite.

It’s not De Cluyne stopping Johan, but Johan tying up De Cluyne.

You’ll see what this means.

As the ball heads to Johan, De Cluyne rushes out as if he had been waiting.

Capello’s pass was fast and accurate, so De Cluyne couldn’t attempt a cut.

Thanks to that,

*Thwack!*

Johan succeeds in controlling the ball.

*Thud!*

De Cluyne crashes into Johan’s back strongly.

As if he wants to gauge how much strength Johan has.

However, Johan doesn’t budge.

Rather,

*Tap tap!*

Johan quickly turns around and faces De Cluyne.

And,

Magic unfolds.

*Tap tap tap!*

From De Cluyne’s point of view, it was in the blink of an eye.

No, in fact, it was like that for everyone.

Even the spectators who were focused on the game missed it for a moment, Johan quickly dribbled the ball towards the box.

At that moment, De Cluyne felt it.

The feeling he felt when he was utterly defeated by Carvalho, the feeling he felt at that time. No, a much bigger feeling than that.

‘It’s different.’

Before he knew it, De Cluyne was looking at Johan’s back again.

Of course, beyond that back was the goal.

*Bang!*

Johan, who bypassed De Cluyne, pulled back his right foot without delay,

*Whoosh!*

*Thwack!*

Shook Liverpool’s goal net.

And, at that moment.

De Cluyne had a dumbfounded expression.

What just happened?

What’s so empty?

He was easily breached as if it was okay to be like this.

At that moment, De Cluyne realized.

That Carvalho’s attitude, who had always been optimistic and instilled confidence before this game, hadn’t changed.

He had spoken positively this time too.

That if you do your best, there might be good results.

That was the maximum positivity from Carvalho.

After briefly facing Johan.

De Cluyne realized that then.