Chapter 9

Lazy Genius Striker - Chapter 9 (9/202)

< Chapter 008 – How to Train a Lazy Person >

"…So, you're playing soccer after two years?"

"Yes."

"Is that really true…?"

"It's true. I didn't play at all for two years. And even before that, I wasn't really that serious about it…"

Upon hearing Ban Seokho's words, Maxwell, the coach of the under-18 team, wore an expression of disbelief.

Maxwell, who had seen Johann's genius on the first day of training, had immediately instructed to bring his father in for a meeting the next day.

However, Maxwell was first surprised to learn that the father was Ban Seokho.

It made sense now why he had seen talent; it was in the blood.

The problem was,

he couldn't understand anything else.

First, Johann's soccer career was unbelievable.

He had been forced to play when he was young because his father made him, and even then, he had completely quit soccer two years ago.

And, the day he kicked the ball after two years was the day of the tryout.

For two years, he hadn't even looked at a ball.

'So, the kid I saw yesterday was someone who hadn't kicked a ball in two years.'

Maxwell couldn't understand how that was possible.

Recalling the dribbling Johann had shown during the mini-game training yesterday, Maxwell was even more puzzled.

That dribbling, from a kid who hadn't touched a ball in two years.

The opponents Johann had easily bypassed were kids who had been training diligently every day.

And they had been doing so since they were very young, for several years.

Were those kids lacking in talent?

Not at all.

This under-18 team was a place where only the talented could rise to.

The fact that they had made it this far was proof of their talent.

Yet,

a kid who hadn't touched a ball in two years had ruthlessly dismantled them.

It was an unbelievable situation.

"Other sports? Like basketball, or even bodyweight exercises…"

"None at all. The only exercise he gets is coming to and from school."

The second thing Maxwell couldn't understand was,

that Johann had done no other sports at all.

It was impossible.

His thick build was visible even through his training gear.

Not only did he have a naturally good frame, but his broad frame was evenly filled with solid muscles.

Yet, this was a body that had only eaten and played.

Even for a growing teenager with hormones surging.

Wasn't this an unfair level of physicality?

If he had done weight training as well, he might already have a top-tier physique even in the pros.

What could this be called?

It was as if he was born to play soccer.

"So, I was really frustrated. When a kid like that says he doesn't want to play soccer. He could be the best if he just tried, but his lazy nature makes him find it bothersome."

"Lazy…"

"Even this morning, I barely managed to wake him up. After waking him, I practically had to carry him out the door. His showing up at the training ground today is a miracle, so I don't know how long this will last…"

Outside the window.

Ban Seokho, looking at Johann running slowly on the training ground, felt a mix of emotions.

He was happy that Johann was training at West Ham's training ground.

However, he couldn't help but feel anxious.

Honestly, Ban Seokho couldn't guarantee how long Johann would last.

His showing up for training the past two days was a miracle.

He might not come tomorrow, or the day after. In fact, the likelihood was high.

He couldn't let it end like this.

This was a rare opportunity.

One failure could be understandable, but two?

He might never play soccer again in his life.

Ban Seokho wanted to do whatever it took to put Johann on the path of a player this time.

"I feel the same way."

Maxwell felt the same.

Recalling Johann's lackluster attitude during the first day of training, Maxwell thought:

If a regular player had shown that attitude,

Maxwell would have kicked him out of the team without hesitation.

But,

Johann was different.

No matter how lazy he was, or how his attitude was off-putting,

he wanted to mold him, to nurture his talent and put him on the field.

In grander terms, he felt a sense of destiny as a soccer coach.

To develop this talent into a player who could make the world's soccer fans cheer.

To give up on this talent just because he was lazy would feel like dereliction of duty.

The talent Maxwell had seen in Johann was that significant.

With their opinions aligned,

"Then, how to do it is the key…"

"How to…"

Indeed, the question was how to gently train this lazy genius.

"Hmm."

Maxwell listed the names of players he associated with "lazy geniuses" in his mind.

Johan Cruyff.

Hómariu.

Michael Laudrup.

Antonio Cassano.

Adriano.

These were the names that came to mind.

'Lazy geniuses have something in common.'

Despite different eras, nationalities, and growth environments,

Maxwell could see one common trait in them.

The very reason they were lazy.

The quintessential lazy genius, Hómariu, once said:

"I know how to run, so why do I need to train?"

They had never found soccer difficult.

This was likely the common trait of lazy geniuses.

Since it wasn't difficult, there was no reason to try hard.

Thus, they appeared lazy to others.

Johann was definitely a case like this.

"That's right. I'm not saying this because he's my son, but he was always the best wherever he went."

Ban Seokho nodded.

He had never seen anyone more talented than Johann, wherever he went.

Perhaps because of this, Johann might have lost interest in soccer.

"Alright. If that's the case, I can try to create an environment for him."

Maxwell looked out the window.

Many kids were training diligently.

One of them caught his eye.

'Joshua.'

Joshua Bailey.

A 16-year-old wing forward, the same age as Johann and the youngest in the team.

But he wasn't the least skilled.

He was one of the most talented in the current under-18 team, and even in the under-21 team. He was expected to debut in the first team within 1-2 years.

'This kid…'

Maxwell thought that through Joshua, he could give Johann his first experience.

For the first time in his life,

he would face someone more skilled than himself.

Since he had never felt a challenge, he had no choice but to be lazy.

If he confirmed that there was someone more talented than him,

the lazy Johann might develop a sense of improvement.

"For now, please trust me. I'll give it a try."

"Please take good care of him, Coach."

Maxwell nodded confidently.

The training of the lazy genius began.

...

"Okay. Rest is over! Let's move on to the next training!"

As usual, today's training was boring and tedious.

Thinking it had been about 30 minutes, it turned out to be only 10.

Thinking it had been at least an hour, it was only 20.

Meanwhile, the 10-minute break felt like a minute.

He had thought about running away today, but reconsidered because his father was here for the meeting.

In the end, all Johann could do was try to get through the training as easily as possible.

Sigh.

What would the next training be?

"Pair up like this. Pair up like this."

The coach started pairing the kids.

Each pair received a ball.

"From now on, we'll do 1v1. We'll alternate between offense and defense. Scoring a goal is 1 point for the attacker, and taking the ball or sending it out is 1 point for the defender. The first to 10 points wins."

1v1 training.

Johann shrugged after hearing the coach's explanation.

It seemed better than the passing and tactical training they had done earlier.

He could see a way to get through it easily.

Losing wasn't a big deal.

There was no penalty for losing.

"Ah, and. There is a penalty for the loser. I'll tell you what it is after, but it's a terrible penalty, so everyone try your best."

...He had heard that words could come true, but could thoughts also come true?

Johann sighed at the coach's mention of a penalty.

Hmm.

So, he had to win, then.

"Hi. My name is Joshua."

"Ah, yeah. I'm Johann."

Johann's partner was a kid named Joshua.

Joshua, who seemed to have a bright personality, smiled and extended his hand.

Seeing Joshua's face, Johann felt a bit guilty even before they started.

One of them had to receive the penalty, and Johann didn't want to receive it.

So, Joshua would end up getting the penalty, and seeing his cheerful smile made Johann feel bad.

"Then, beep!"

With the whistle, the 1v1 started.

Johann and Joshua.

Joshua went first.

'I've never defended before.'

Johann didn't know how good his defensive skills were.

He had no memory of defending.

His father had once said that even attackers should participate in defense, but

Johann found even attacking tedious, so he had never participated in defense.

Therefore,

Johann's defensive stance looked somewhat clumsy.

In contrast,

Joshua's movements, as he dribbled the ball towards Johann, were skilled.

Tap-tap-tap!

'He's fast.'

Joshua was fast.

Being a versatile player who could play as a winger or a second striker, 1v1 was his strength.

Even experienced defenders found 1v1 with Joshua challenging, so it would be even harder for Johann, an attacker who had never defended.

Therefore,

Joshua was the most surprised by the unexpected result.

Clang!

"…!?"

"It's out. So, I get 1 point, right?"

Seeing the ball go out of bounds, Joshua was stunned.

He had tried a skill move.

He had planned to use a body feint to disrupt the balance and then use a la croqueta to bypass Johann.

However,

it didn't work at all.

Johann, standing clumsily like a stone, extended his foot as Joshua tried to break through,

and the ball, touched by his foot, went out of bounds.

Defense win.

Johann had scored the first point.

"…Hehe. Right. You get 1 point."

After a moment of shock, Joshua scratched his head and laughed.

Well,

just 1 point.

It was his first time, and he had tried a skill move that he was still practicing, but his footwork had failed.

It was his mistake.

He would do better next time, so Joshua dismissed it easily.

However,

"I get 1 point, right?"

"…!"

After a few more exchanges,

the smile had completely disappeared from Joshua's face.

*

"…Huh."

Maxwell, watching Johann and Joshua's 1v1, let out a short sigh of disbelief.

This 1v1 training, hastily arranged, was for Johann.

By pairing him with Joshua, the best in the team, he wanted Johann to feel a challenge he had never faced before.

Through this, he intended to awaken Johann's sense of improvement and competitiveness.

However,

it turned out differently.

Their 1v1 ended the fastest among the kids.

The score gap widened quickly.

10-2.

The one who reached 10 points first was

Johann.

'Not even Joshua…?'

The trusted Joshua's crushing defeat.

If even Joshua, the team's top talent, couldn't do it, who could make Johann feel a challenge?

'The under-21 team? No, not at all.'

Joshua was the best prospect across all age groups.

There was no one in the under-21 or under-23 teams who could surpass Joshua.

So,

there was only one option left.

'But that's impossible.'

It was an impossible situation.

It meant sending a 16-year-old trainee, who had only been training for two days, to the first team.