Dad was a Genius - Chapter 35
Only Noblemtl
My Dad Was a Genius Episode 035
[Ah! The defensive wall is too thick. I can’t break through the attack.]
[Pohang had a huge lead in possession, but in the end, they won. The game ended in an instant with one counterattack.]
[Pohang is really making the most of their corner kick chances! Who on earth can break through this team!]
Players watching a video together in the auditorium.
“… … .”
They stared blankly at the large screen and swallowed dry saliva.
I realized this while watching highlights from the Pohang game they were about to face.
Their defense is much stronger than you might think.
“Those who have been watching Pohang games regularly will know.”
Then, as the video ended, Cha Seong-i stood on top of the auditorium.
As always, a sharp and charismatic face.
Like Pohang’s defensive wall, his attire and posture were flawless.
“Pohang hates conceding goals more than dying. That’s why they don’t mind at all even if the game is headed toward a draw.”
In soccer, offense is usually considered the top priority, and more emphasis is placed on offense than defense.
So, the stronger the team, the more aggressive it is.
They always win because they keep charging without giving their opponents a chance to attack.
But Pohang was a unique team that went against that concept.
“A 5-back team with five players defending. However, it is a typical total football tactic where the midfielders and even the attackers participate in defense. The only difference here is that they participate in defense and use only the minimum number of players for attack.”
As Cha Seong-eun’s story began, the players listened to him intently.
He doesn’t just work his magic on the field.
Even in this auditorium, which is perfect for falling asleep, he works his magic to suck people in like a black hole.
“So how does Pohang score? It’s the set pieces. Especially corner kicks.”
Pohang has attempted the most mid-range shots of any K-League team.
If you’re lucky, it goes in, if not, it hits the goalkeeper or defender and forces you out of the line.
The corner kick situation that is created like that.
Pohang scores there with their average height.
This was Pohang’s scoring method, which only pursued defense.
“People criticize Pohang’s games as boring. That’s right. Their games are boring and uninteresting. They just play defense all the time, so it must be frustrating for the fans. But what about our players?”
“… … .”
“It’s a swamp. It’s a deep swamp that you can’t get out of once you fall in. It might be a boring tactic for the fans, but for a team like us who likes to attack, it’s a very scary team.”
Cheonan takes the ball away while playing a pressing defense.
However, it is not the case that we just go into a counterattack just because we have stolen the ball.
If it seems like there’s a lot of defense, I deliberately pass the ball back to attract the opposing players.
The attack is carried out by poking the ball into the space created in this way.
“So far, that tactic has worked well because, like us, the opponents want to attack quickly and score a goal. But this tactic won’t work against Pohang.”
Usually, when you start passing the ball from the back, the opposing team slowly advances.
It was their instinct to attack quickly that provoked them.
However, the Pohang players, who have had even that instinct castrated by the manager, remain as still as stone.
It’s the same even if you pass the ball around for 90 minutes.
They never take the bait.
“How could such a team exist… … .”
“Is that possible?”
Naturally, the players reacted with puzzlement.
Soccer is a game where you have to win by scoring.
This is not a game where you can win just by standing there with a shield.
“That’s exactly the kind of thinking that Pohang wants to induce. Think about it. We want to attack. But if the enemy doesn’t come out of the wall until the end, we’ll have no choice but to attack. That’s exactly the picture Pohang wants.”
Wait for your opponent to come in first.
This was Pohang’s strategy.
The moment you fall for it, your opponent will inevitably fall into the swamp that Pohang has created.
“Usually, managers can’t maintain that concept for long. If they only play defense, the play becomes very frustrating and there are too many disadvantages compared to advantages. But Pohang has maintained that concept. And in the end, they created the best defensive tactic in K-League history.”
Pohang covered up the numerous shortcomings that come up when using 500 with a perfect iron wall defense.
That’s why,
“Pohang will be more difficult and terrifying than any team we have ever faced. If Cheonan had not been there, Pohang would have naturally become the team that won the K-League championship.”
Then there was a commotion in the auditorium.
Pohang was the team that would win the K-League?
The fact that such words came from Cha Seong-eun means that they are stronger than any team they have faced so far.
I thought Ulsan was the strongest team, but in fact, there was another real boss.
“Unfortunately, we have to go into that swamp. Even if we don’t want to go into it, we can’t help it. We have to attack and score. Even though we know it’s a trap set by the opponent, we have to overcome that swamp.”
Players who have experienced Cha Seong-eun to some extent seemed to know what he meant by that.
So, another dry saliva rolled down my throat on its own.
Because hellish training awaits them.
* * *
Paat-!
A low cross flying in from the left outside, curved like a painting.
The defenders couldn’t react to the cross, but Kang Dae-ho jumped up with all his might and tried to get his foot on the ball.
But Kang Dae-ho also missed the quick cross.
“Brother. I think Cross is too fast… … .”
Kang Dae-ho smiled awkwardly and spoke to Lee Su-yong.
But as always, he responded with a cold, stiff expression.
“Then you run faster and keep pace.”
“Hey, faster from here?”
“Why? Can’t you do it?”
“Wouldn’t it be difficult to run faster from here?”
“Then don’t do it. I won’t cross anymore either.”
“omg.”
Then, Lee Soo-yong turned his head and continued speaking.
“I just have to break through and shoot. The goalkeeper blocks it and you can score the ball if it bounces.”
“Oh, no. What I mean is… … .”
Kang Dae-ho turned his head toward the director and looked at him for help.
but,
“Player Kang Dae-ho.”
“Oh, yes, sir.”
“What Lee Su-yong said is correct.”
Cha Seong-eun smiled and said to Kang Dae-ho.
“Just like Lee Su-yong said, move faster and somehow get your foot on that cross.”
“Oh my. Even the director… … .”
“In fact, the reason why Lee Su-yong makes fast and low crosses is because I ordered him to do so.”
A quick ground cross that even the defenders can’t react to.
Of course, it is difficult for the attacker to match up.
I guess I can somehow fly my body to hit it.
“It’s not just about hitting the ball. It has to go into the goal.”
Cha Seong-eun went one step further and ordered the ball to hit the goal accurately.
Training is always like this these days.
Quick attack, quick attack again.
Lee Su-yong’s quick centering was also key.
“But no matter how I look at it, the pass seems too fast… … .”
“I don’t always say that I always roll and roll until I hear you.
Cha Seong-eun’s unique expression, occasionally seen at the training ground, was revealed.
“I know your threshold very well, so I push you just enough to not exceed it. That’s why I’m talking to Kang Dae-ho.”
Kang Dae-ho shivered when he saw that.
“You can do it. No, just do it until you can do it.”
That was the smiling face of the evil Cha Seong-eun.
* * *
Five hundred tactics.
The so-called cowardly tactic.
Many managers have criticized the 500 as a low-level tactic that drastically reduces the fun of football.
The funny thing is that there was a time when the 500 tactic was popular.
However, after realizing that only defense would never lead to scoring opportunities, he gradually returned to attacking football and has continued on to where he is today.
But there are weirdos in every field.
‘Director Kim Woo-seok is exactly that kind of case.’
A person who is obsessed with just one thing.
We call such people weirdos.
Director Kim Woo-seok showed a strange obsession with these 500.
He was a weirdo.
‘But it’s beautiful.’
Even though other managers have trampled on it as a weak team or a useful tactic, and even burned it in a shredder so that it never comes out again, someone keeps refining it and refining it.
Even if the tree is completely rotten, it is given new life in the name of art through the craftsman’s meticulous hands.
That was director Kim Woo-seok’s tactic.
‘Am I weird?’
There was one thing that was peculiar about me since my last life.
When I saw the tactics of the so-called master directors, I felt an inexplicable joy when I saw how beautifully and intricately they were woven.
Moreover, the moment that tactic worked as planned in an actual match, I couldn’t come to my senses because of the thrill that surged up to the top of my head.
My fellow coaches called me crazy when they saw me like that, asking how I could do that.
For them, tactics are just a headache.
Yeah, it was something like science and math.
But to me, it was an art and the driving force of my life.
And when I see the tactics that eccentric people like director Kim Woo-seok have created by cutting into their souls, that driving force becomes an 800 horsepower engine and excites me.
“Oh my. Who is this? Isn’t this coach Cha Seong who is keeping our K-League alive? Hahaha!”
S Hotel, the best hotel in Korea.
The banquet hall there was bustling with people.
As soon as I stepped inside, people flocked to greet me from all sides.
“Hello, Chairman.”
“Yes. Please continue to take good care of our K-League. If we continue to have great coaches like Coach Cha Seong-eun, wouldn’t this Korean soccer nation develop?”
The chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation held my hand and shook it repeatedly.
“Yes. I will work hard.”
I was also invited to a banquet hosted by the Football Association, where club owners, sponsors, and managers who support each team were invited.
Up until now, K-League coaches have always been invited to events like this, but I have never received an invitation.
That’s understandable, because they probably thought I was the main culprit in ruining the sacred K-League.
But not anymore.
“That scary coach who trampled our team without mercy was here?”
“Hey. Doesn’t it look even better in person when you see it from outside the stadium?”
“Stop holding hands and get out of the way. I want to talk to our coach.”
Club owners.
In other words, the heads of large corporations were rushing to shake my hand.
“I was wondering why Chairman Cha cherished you so much. Now I understand. You’re not married yet, are you? Do you want to meet someone? I have a beautiful youngest daughter… .”
“No. Do you think you’re the only one with a pretty daughter? Our youngest is no joke either. You don’t know how much she likes our coach.”
Then, my father came out from behind me and gave a small shout.
“Who the hell is telling my precious child to do this or that now? Do you think I’m going to send my son to those guys?”
But these guys were pretty persistent.
“Then? Are you going to just cherish and care for your talented youngest son until he dies?”
“Well, if possible, I would like to do that.”
“Haha! That’s true. I would be like that too. It’s too bad. I was thinking of bringing him to my family as my son-in-law and making him the coach of our team.”
“Stop joking and go sit down, you idiot.”
The presidents stayed around me for a while and then left for somewhere else.
“You’re here, Father.”
“Yeah. I don’t usually come to places like this, but I thought those guys would tease you, so I came here.”
My father patted my shoulder and said,
“Originally, those gentlemen didn’t come to events like this. But they all came because they wanted to see your face.”
“Me?”
“Yes. In fact, you are the one who created the current K-League popularity. You turned a perennial last-place team into the current K-League number one team, and you’re not even married. Of course, those guys are going to get greedy.”
Somehow.
It was a bit surprising that the heads of large corporations would attend such an event in person, but there was a reason for it.
“Haha. The chairman who doesn’t have a daughter will try to connect with you by dragging in even his nephews. If there’s a child you’re interested in, let me know. I won’t object if you say you’re okay with it.”
“I have no intention of getting married yet, Father.”
“Well… … You won’t be absentminded even after the season ends, right?”
I smiled and answered my father’s subtle question.
“I’ll answer that when I get there. And the person I want to talk to is sitting over there.”
“Huh? Who the hell are you with… … Ah-.”
My father nodded with a smirk.
“Anyway, I told you that you like soccer more than girls, so you’re in big trouble. Go ahead.”
“Yes. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. I’ll be meeting people for the first time in a while, so take your time and talk.”
“yes.”
I approached an older gentleman who was sitting alone, enjoying the banquet food.
“Senior. If it’s not too much trouble, would it be okay if I join you?”
Then he glanced up at me and shook his head.
“Oh, dear. You’re trying to cause pain to an old man who already has indigestion.”
For someone with poor digestion, there were quite a few empty plates.
“Have a seat, junior. I guess I’ll have to take a lot of digestive medicine later.”
He is none other than the weirdest of weirdos.
Pohang’s coach was Kim Woo-seok.