Chapter 10

Lazy Genius Striker - Chapter 10 (10/202)

< Chapter 009 - An Unwanted Call-Up >

“Huh? You mean I’m going to play in the match?”

“Yeah. So, make sure you’re well-prepared.”

Coach’s words made Johann’s face twist in disbelief.

The league match was just the day after tomorrow.

He was to play in that match.

He had only joined the training for four days, not even a week.

To think they would select him, of all people, to play in the match,

it was like a bolt from the blue.

“Of course, my brother! I knew it. I knew the coach would recognize you!”

“No...”

While Rohan was overjoyed at the news of Johann’s selection, Johann himself was not at all happy.

A match?

Training was already tedious, and a 90-minute official match?

There were plenty of forwards on the team besides him.

Why pick him, and even as a starter? Johann couldn’t understand.

The reason was simple.

18 and Under Premier League Southern Division.

As the league approached its final stages,

West Ham, ranked third in the league table, was set to face Chelsea, the league leaders.

Chelsea was an overwhelming team.

In the 14 league matches played so far, they had not lost a single one.

Not only were the individual players talented, but the team as a whole was highly polished.

West Ham’s 18 and Under team coach, Maxwell, wanted Johann to face such a Chelsea.

‘The level will be different this time.’

Although he was shocked to see that even the team’s best talent, Joshua, couldn’t match Johann in training, it was still just training.

There’s a world of difference between training and actual matches.

Even against a weaker team, no match is easy.

Let alone an overwhelming league powerhouse like Chelsea.

‘This time, there’s no way he’ll fail.’

Maxwell nodded in satisfaction.

It might seem a bit strange that he was smiling contentedly, hoping his player would hit a wall, but anyway.

There was no way he would fail this time.

Johann would definitely hit a wall and come back.

And then, from the next training session, his attitude would change.

Ah, there are so many monsters in this world,

I need to work hard too, he would realize.

His attitude would definitely change.

‘Just thinking about it is scary.’

Maxwell shuddered with pleasure as he imagined.

Having played in the PL for several years, quickly becoming a coach and guiding numerous promising players,

the lazy talent that surprised him, who had spent his entire life on the football field.

What would happen if that lazy talent started to work hard?

A true monster would be born.

‘And I will be the one who created it.’

His shoulders rose with pride.

Maxwell’s pleasant imagination leaped from the next week, over a few years, and even to several decades later.

The final scene of his imagination was of himself, in old age, writing a page in his autobiography.

‘...Now he’s the best player, but when I first met him, he was a completely different kid. Just a fleeting spark, one of the many lazy geniuses. But, recognizing his talent, I felt a mission to transform him. It all started with his first league start against Chelsea...’

Maxwell smiled.

Through this match against Chelsea, Johann would gain a lot and return.

Maxwell believed this without a doubt.

*

“Is that really true?”

“Yes...”

“That’s great, that’s really great!”

When Johann’s father, Ban Seokho, heard the news that he would play in the match, he was overjoyed.

He had hoped for it, but never imagined it would become reality.

To be selected as a starter in a league match less than a week after joining the academy.

Although he hadn’t made his first-team professional debut yet, the fact that Johann would play in a West Ham uniform was enough to make Ban Seokho pinch himself in disbelief.

“Yeah, Johann. What do you want to eat? Just say it! I’ll give you anything you want!”

“...Really?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I?”

“Then, can I have pizza?”

“Pizza? Pizza... Ah, forget it. Sure! Why not, let’s have it! Johann wants it! What else?”

“Also... chicken?”

“Chicken! Sure!”

Johann’s eyes widened as he watched his father, who had never allowed pizza or chicken, order them.

His father, who was very serious about his diet, had never allowed such foods.

When Johann really wanted chicken, his father would give him a chicken breast salad, calling it chicken.

But now,

his father was allowing pizza and chicken.

Was he that happy about Johann playing in the match?

“Come on, eat! Eat!”

“What? Pizza and chicken?”

“Johann’s playing in the match. It’s a party today!”

“Wow, thanks to my brother, we have such a day. Johann, eat... Oh, you’re already eating.”

Chomp chomp.

As soon as the delivery arrived, Johann started eating voraciously.

Like all the men in the family, Johann was a big eater.

At his age, he could chew through steel, but Johann could finish an entire pizza and a whole chicken while sitting down.

“Ah, that was good.”

“Thanks to you, I had a good meal too, Johann.”

After the storm of eating by the three big eaters,

Johann rubbed his full stomach and thought.

‘Maybe it won’t be so bad.’

Having been on his father’s strict diet since he was young, Johann had always wished to eat whatever he wanted.

Today, just because he was playing in a match, his father allowed pizza and chicken.

Although he didn’t like the idea of playing in a match, maybe it wouldn’t be all bad.

‘Wait. If I score a goal in the match...’

Johann imagined what would happen if he scored a goal, given that he was already allowed pizza and chicken just for playing.

His father would be even happier, and he might even allow Nutella.

The devil’s jam, Nutella.

Nutella was Johann’s favorite jam, but he could only have one bite on his birthday.

His father had never allowed Nutella, saying it would turn him into a pig.

‘Nutella. I want to eat Nutella.’

Johann, who had just finished a hearty meal, was already salivating at the thought of Nutella.

So,

I’ll score a goal.

In this match, I’ll score a goal to eat Nutella.

This thought began to fill Johann’s mind.

...

May 8, 2027.

A stadium in Stratford, London.

The day of the 15th round league match between Chelsea U18 and West Ham U18.

“...”

Maxwell’s expression as he watched the match was peculiar.

He looked both pleased and frustrated.

67:25

WHU 3 : 2 CHE

In the 20th minute of the second half.

West Ham was leading 3-2.

It was a promising situation.

Leading against the overwhelming league leaders, Chelsea, was definitely a good feeling.

However, the problem was Johann.

Maxwell, who had firmly believed that Chelsea would teach Johann a lesson today,

had his belief shattered once again.

Just as Joshua had failed, Chelsea had also failed.

In the task of making Johann feel a wall.

“Should I be happy or sad...”

“Huh? Of course, you should be happy. What do you mean, coach?”

All three goals scored by West Ham.

All three were Johann’s.

Johann, playing as the lone striker.

His opponents, the black center-back duo of Chelsea, were monstrous.

Chelsea was the team with the fewest goals conceded in the league.

The key to this was the center-back duo.

Their physicality was so complete that it was hard to believe they were playing in the 18 and Under league, and their coordination was so good that no striker could break through with individual skill alone.

However,

Johann broke through them three times.

It was unbelievable.

A kid who had joined the academy for less than a week, only 16 years old,

had scored three goals against players who already showed professional-level skills.

Or perhaps,

he could score even more.

Bang!

Near the box, Johann received the ball with his back to the defense.

The defense, trying to prevent Johann from turning, stuck to him closely.

However,

Johann easily pushed the defender away, creating space and turning.

Then, a 1v1.

Johann’s attempt at a bold dribble breakthrough showed no fear.

It was understandable.

Every time he dribbled, he succeeded, so what was there to fear?

‘He did it again!’

Sure enough,

it was a success.

He easily shrugged off the defender.

A few shakes of his upper body easily broke the defender’s balance, and Johann’s burst of speed in the opposite direction was outstanding.

Moreover,

Wham!

Johann didn’t even give the defense time to cover their mistake.

A half-beat, no, a full beat earlier shot.

At a timing when a typical striker would take a couple more touches, Johann shot without hesitation.

With such a quick shooting timing,

the goalkeeper had little time to react.

Whoosh!

Clang!

The net shook again.

This was Johann’s fourth goal.

The previous goals were all like this.

There were no goals from amazing passes or easy pickings in front of the goal.

All were goals created purely by individual skill.

Against the league’s strongest team, Chelsea.

“Ha, ha, ha...”

Maxwell burst into a hearty laugh of disbelief.

Maxwell rubbed his forehead.

Anyway, another failure.

The plan to make Johann feel a wall.

But did it matter?

With such talent, did he really need to be trained and disciplined?

Regardless of his training attitude, or what he did outside, as long as he could be put on the field, wouldn’t it be best to let him do as he pleased?

He was already the best here without training.

‘What a remarkable kid.’

Coach Maxwell, who valued diligence above all, was left speechless by the overwhelming talent, raising both hands and feet.

“I guess I need to contact someone.”

“Huh? Who?”

“Coach Schmidt.”

Maxwell thought he should call Coach Schmidt as soon as the match ended.

Mihail Schmidt.

The current West Ham first-team coach.

The reason for contacting him was obvious.

To tell him that a good player had arrived and to come and see for himself.

To come and see for himself and decide whether to take him or not.

Maxwell already thought Johann was not at the level to be here.

And at that moment,

‘I need to eat Nutella properly.’

Johann was already salivating in anticipation.