Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 91

The Two-Horse Race

In truth, it was a match where everyone was bound to be nervous.

That went for the Liverpool players, and even more so for the West Ham players.

It was their first time experiencing this kind of competition – a competition for the championship.

Around this time, they were usually competing to see if they could even make it into the top ten.

A championship competition was beyond their wildest dreams. The players were usually just grateful to be included in the Europa League race.

Therefore, even though they were clearly superior in the standings, and even though the game was flowing with them holding the initiative from the start, the West Ham players were approaching the game with considerable tension.

However, Johan was only thinking about his bet with Capello.

It was hard to say whether this was boldness, or what to call it.

“…Why is he doing that?”

“Hmm.”

“Did he get a bee in his bonnet [become suddenly obsessed]? No, it’s funny how he almost succeeded again. Did Capello put some strange ideas in his head? Is he the problem after all?”

The West Ham bench chuckled at Johan’s attempt at a Rainbow Flick.

Why was he doing something he didn’t even do in training, at this moment?

At such an important moment, he was doing something he didn’t even do when warming up on the training ground, as if the Liverpool players were just practice opponents.

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

“Wow, is he trying to break their mentality?”

“He’s saying you guys are only middle school level to me.”

“I didn’t know he could even do that. So it’s not that he can’t, but that he doesn’t.”

“Yeah! Go ahead and have some fun!”

“Do whatever Johan wants to do!”

De Klerk couldn’t help but get heated up listening to that.

‘What a load of crap. I can block him if I do it right. Didn’t you see me just now?’

Of course, De Klerk also scoffed.

The first goal conceded was just bad luck. In the first encounter, the attacker has the advantage, honestly.

He blocked the second one. Even though he allowed a shot, he still interfered. That’s why the shot went slightly high.

He’ll probably be able to block it perfectly next time. He even managed to interfere with the shot on the second try.

That guy must be feeling pressured, so he’s suddenly doing weird things, right?

De Klerk scoffed once more.

In any case, thanks to Johan’s bizarre behavior, the players on the field seemed to relax a bit.

But, this time, Johan was the opposite.

As everyone relaxed, flames ignited in Johan’s eyes.

“Capello.”

“?”

“That was humanity.”

“Humanity…?”

“From now on, I’m going to go without humanity.”

“Nice excuse.”

The Rainbow Flick from earlier didn’t lead to a goal, so it was a failure. But, seeing the opponent’s reaction, it seems like a pretty good skill.

They’re getting so angry as if they’ve been slapped in the face just by being subjected to it, so I want to do it more.

‘I’ll do it properly.’

With this, De Klerk became the third.

The first were the nameless kids at the West Ham tryouts. The second was Jack Price of Manchester City. The third was De Klerk.

These were the ones who achieved the feat of having Johan press his serious button.

As coach Alain Nunes said, De Klerk was a player with the right mentality as a professional: a steel mentality that always wants to win, doesn’t give in to defeat, and doesn’t care.

That was the driving force behind his rapid growth, and the reason why he not only recorded a huge transfer fee at a young age and joined Liverpool, but also secured a starting position.

So, even after conceding the first goal, he decided to give him another chance.

In fact, it was a difficult situation to choose other options anyway, as the players’ stamina was depleted due to the midweek Champions League game.

Anyway, for the sake of his growth, he didn’t change the structure where he had to clash with Johan.

However, Coach Nunes began to regret that choice.

Muscles grow even more in the process of recovering from injuries caused by exercise, but that’s only when they’re injured to a moderate extent.

If the muscle is torn to the point of rupture, to the point where it can’t heal, it’s naturally difficult to recover, let alone grow.

Johan was tearing De Klerk apart.

Johan’s second goal came in the 16th minute of the first half.

This time, the structure was the same as the first goal: De Klerk and Johan in a one-on-one.

He told me to do it properly, so I did it properly. Putting aside the bet with Capello for a moment, back to my original style: making De Klerk unable to move with simple speed alone, then scoring as is.

“…”

De Klerk couldn’t understand the goal at all.

He was clearly preparing for Johan’s speed. Thinking about the first goal conceded, he was preparing to move one step faster to match that speed.

But, Johan moved two steps faster.

De Klerk just mistook the speed that had slowed down from mixing in personal skills he had never used before as Johan’s real speed.

This was Johan’s ‘real’ speed.

The mental shock that De Klerk received from that goal seemed considerable.

If that was the real speed, what were the earlier moments? Was it just a warm-up? Was he playing with him? What kind of humiliation is this?

It was on a different level from the wall he felt when he was *털렸을 때 느껴졌던* [overwhelmed] by Carvalho.

Carvalho was still at a level where he could see the top of the wall, and he could see the bumps he could climb up on. He could see the course of stepping here, grabbing there, and climbing up.

But, this not only didn’t show the end of the wall, but he couldn’t see how to climb it. He just felt *막막하고* [hopeless], and angry.

He was completely *농락을 당했는데* [being toyed with], and there was no way to repay it, which made De Klerk feel powerless.

He shouldn’t have touched him. He should have just stayed still. It was literally *낭패였다* [a disaster].

Because of this, when the first half ended 2-0, De Klerk’s *모습은* [appearance], who was heading to the locker room with his head bowed, already seemed to have a lot of *망가진 멘탈* [broken mentality].

But *야속하게도* [unfortunately], there were still 45 minutes left in the game.

One more goal *터졌다* [exploded] at the start of the second half.

This time, Johan *가지고 놀았다* [played with] De Klerk. With the *여유가* [leeway] from a goal with all his *진심* [sincerity/seriousness], he focused on the bet with Capello again.

This time, it was a step over, not a Rainbow Flick. It was a *정신 사나운* [mind-numbing] step over that *휘젓는 헛다리* [faked kicks] more than 5 times.

In Johan’s position, it was literally *정신 사나운* [mind-numbing], a *쓸모 없는 개인기* [useless personal skill] that he didn’t know why he had to *휘젓고* [stir] five times.

Anyway, Capello’s condition was ‘more than five times’, so he had no choice. However, unlike Johan’s thoughts, the effect seemed *엄청난* [tremendous].

Like a *잠자리 홀려버린* [dragonfly mesmerized] by *빙글빙글 돌아가는 손가락* [a swirling finger], De Klerk *휘둘리다 정신을 차리지 못하고* [was swayed and couldn’t come to his senses] and *엉덩방아를 찧고* [fell on his butt].

*대굴욕* [Total humiliation].

De Klerk was completely *농락당해* [played with] by Johan, and Coach Alain Nunes *고개를 숙여지게* [had to bow his head].

“Could it be that he’s ‘grown’?”

“Is more of a step up possible?”

“Is Johan, who we’ve seen so far, just a prototype?”

“Hey guys, that friend is in his first full-time season this year.”

“···That’s right.”

A festive atmosphere at the London Stadium.

The fans also *혀를 내둘렀다* [were speechless].

Today, Johan looked like a completely different player, like a *천재 과시하는 기량을 한껏* [genius fully displaying his skills], as if there was a genius like me in this world.

He didn’t hate that *모습* [appearance]. He was *반가웠다 오히려* [glad, rather].

“···”

“Damn it. Why was I looking forward to today’s game?”

“Give it up. Let’s focus on the Champions League.”

“It’s okay anyway. Is 2nd place in the league important? The Big Ears [Champions League trophy] is important.”

On the other hand, Liverpool fans were *침울 당연히* [depressed, of course].

Because they had *패배했* [lost] even at Anfield, they didn’t expect it to be an easy game *당연히* [of course].

However, they didn’t know they would be *얻어맞을 일방적으로* [beaten unilaterally] like this. And they didn’t know De Klerk would be *털릴 굴욕적으로* [humiliated] like that.

“Let’s go.”

“You bastards. Laugh as much as you want. We’re going to lift the Big Ears.”

“F*** you!”

“Hey, police! We’re going to leave, so make way!”

Liverpool fans, who started to *일찌감치 자리를 뜨기* [leave early], while there was still time left in the game, found it hard to *견디기가* [endure] as *비웃음 날아오니* [taunts flew] from West Ham fans *사방* [everywhere].

Today’s game, which was *후반기 최고의 빅 매치* [the best big match of the second half] and had *리그 2위* [2nd place in the league] and the *지위* [status] to compete with Manchester City for the *우승 트로피 걸려 있던* [championship trophy on the line], because of this, the game that was *기대를 모았던* [highly anticipated] was *기울어 한 쪽으로 싱겁게* [tilted to one side blandly] than I thought.

*

In the 24th minute of the second half, Coach Nunes *불러 들였다* [called] De Klerk to the bench.

However, De Klerk *향했다 라커룸 않고 벤치에 앉지* [headed to the locker room instead of sitting on the bench].

Coach Nunes didn’t *잡진 굳이* [bother to stop] him.

It was a *쓰라린 기억이 될 오늘* [bitter memory] today. He was *난도질을 당하긴 회생이 가능할까 싶을 정도로* [hacked to pieces to the point where it’s questionable if he can recover], but anyway, De Klerk is a *단단한 녀석* [tough guy].

He should *회복 잘 and 더욱 성장할 수 있는 밑거름이* [recover well and it will be a foundation for further growth], well.

“Haa.”

Anyway, the *가해자* [perpetrator] who *찢어발겨 놓은* [tore apart] De Klerk, is *저러고 아무것도 모르고 또* [doing that again without knowing anything].

Johan *처박았다 4골 째를 리버풀의 골대에 시키면서 기어이 레인보우 플릭까지 성공* [smashed his 4th goal into Liverpool’s goal, finally succeeding with the Rainbow Flick].

Then, he laughed gleefully.

Even though *자존감이 한 선수의 완전히 박살났는데도 자기 때문에* [one player’s self-esteem was completely shattered because of him].

But, *알게 뭐야* [who cares]? If there’s a sin, it’s just being born with talent.

“Capello, you have to keep your promise.”

“Huh? What promise?”

“Wow, are you pretending not to know?”

“Okay, but don’t laugh like that too much. It’s annoying.”

Johan was just *기쁠 뿐 앞으로 카펠로가 귀찮게 굴지 않겠구나 하는 생각에* [happy at the thought that Capello wouldn’t bother him anymore], because he won the *내기에* [bet].

However, ‘Hehe. You fool. Promises are made to be broken. Thanks to you, I got 4 assists. This body thoroughly used you after all.’

Capello was also just smiling.

*

“Today, you looked like a completely different player. Have you been practicing personal skills all this time?”

After the game ended with a 4-1 victory for West Ham, Johan’s Man of the Match (MOM) interview.

Johan shook his head at the reporter’s question.

“No.”

“You didn’t practice?”

“No.”

“Ah, well…”

The reporter *긁적이는 머리를* [scratched his head].

He realized that he had asked a *멍청한* [stupid] question even though he had *해놓고 자기가* [done it himself].

Asking Johan if he had practiced. That couldn’t be.

“But, how were you able to *구사할 그렇게 완벽하게* [execute them so perfectly]?”

“Um… it’s not difficult.”

“Then, why did you *갑자기 그런 기술들을 구사할 생각은* [suddenly think of using those skills]? Perhaps, do you have any ill feelings towards the opponent…?”

“Huh? No. I had a bet with Capello.”

“A bet? What kind of bet?”

“He promised not to bother me if I succeeded in everything I used today. I won’t do it anymore. This is also a very annoying thing to do.”

The reporter *어이 없다는 표정을 지었다* [had a dumbfounded expression] even while listening to Johan’s answer.

In such an important game as today, you approached the game with those thoughts? And you scored 4 goals? Against Liverpool?

He’s already *궁금해진다 팬들의 반응이 어떨지* [wondering what the fans’ reaction will be] if this article goes out.

‘Johan *반* [vs.], uses personal skills for the first time against Liverpool to win a bet. And 4 goals.’

The reporter *푸우우* [phew], and *절레절레 고개를* [shook his head] with a sound.

“Anyway, with today’s victory, you’ve *굳히셨습니다 the championship competition into a two-horse race* [solidified the championship competition into a two-horse race] between Manchester City and West Ham. Also, this two-horse race seems likely to *이어질* [continue] in the FA Cup as well. Currently, if Manchester City and West Ham both advance to the *상위 라운드로* [upper rounds] on the *대진표* [bracket], they will *맞붙게* [face off] in the final. If you have any *각오 이에 대한* [determination regarding this]?”

“Um… I don’t know. Kane said he’d take care of it on his own.”

West Ham, who *벌린 승점 차를 5점으로* [widened the point gap to 5 points] with Liverpool with today’s victory. With only 7 games *남겨둔* [remaining], Liverpool is *사실상 멀어졌다* [virtually distanced] from the championship competition as they are 8 points behind Manchester City.

Now it’s Manchester City and West Ham. It’s a two-horse race between the two teams.

But, it’s not just the league. There was a possibility that the two-horse race would *이어질* [continue] in the FA Cup as well.

Both teams had *진출해 16강에* [advanced to the round of 16], and if there are no *이변* [upsets], the two teams will *만나게* [meet] in the final.

Because of this, West Ham was *전의를 불태우고* [burning with fighting spirit], even if Manchester City wasn’t.

*올 시즌 유일한 기회니까, FA컵 결승에 오르는 것만이 맨시티를 만날 수 있는* [Because it’s the only chance this season, reaching the FA Cup final is the only way to meet Manchester City].

West Ham’s next schedule *이어졌다 16강 전 FA컵으로* [continued with the FA Cup round of 16].