Dad was a Genius - Chapter 39
Only Noblemtl
My Dad Was a Genius Episode 039
‘In my opinion… … we have a very high chance of scoring the first goal around the 30th minute of the first half.’
‘… … ?’
A few days before the match against Pohang.
Cha Seong-eun called the players together at the training ground and spoke.
‘Our players, who are stuck in the swamp of coach Kim Woo-seok, will flounder in it and be counterattacked, allowing a corner kick. And Pohang will score the first goal with that corner kick.’
Cha Seong-eun was an amazing director.
He always had a prediction of how the game would go and when we would score.
Surprisingly, almost all of his predictions came true.
So, at this point, there was even a joke saying that the director should be betting on sports instead of directing.
But today was definitely different from other days.
This was the first time that there was a prediction that Cheonan would concede a goal after scoring first.
‘The reason I’m saying this is to tell you not to panic even if we get the first goal. Getting the first goal is already in my scenario, and as always, you just need to follow my instructions and move according to the tactics.’
Until then, the players honestly did not believe Coach Cha Seong’s words.
Isn’t Pohang a team that goes all-in on defense?
For Pohang, it was a bit early to score the first goal in the 30th minute of the first half.
But right now.
“It’s really the first 30 minutes… … ?”
“It’s like a ghost.”
“Crazy. Creepy.”
The faces of the Cheonan players turned pale.
You keep attacking and then get countered?
No, that wasn’t the reason.
“It’s exactly the same time period as the director predicted.”
“How did you know? Did you really see the future?”
The first 30 minutes were what the coach had said.
His prophecy came true.
But I didn’t find it all that surprising.
“……shit.”
Cheonan’s goalkeeper Lee Kang-cheol.
He let out a short sigh.
That’s the position of goalkeeper.
Even if it is a position that cannot be helped, in the end, you suffer from guilt that you were unable to stop it.
This time I tried to stop it somehow, but it ended up working.
The opponent’s header was so sharp that Lee Kang-cheol couldn’t even react.
“Brother, it’s okay.”
“We’re sorry. We should have done better with Mark.”
“It’s not your fault, Kangcheol. Lift your head.”
Even if it was an angle that would appeal to anyone, Kang-cheol Lee could not hear those comforting words.
But one thing.
‘Player Lee Kang-cheol.’
There was something he kept thinking about throughout the game.
When predicting the flow of the game against Pohang that day, Cha Seong-eun left a separate message to Lee Kang-cheol.
‘I’ve said this many times, but Lee Kang-cheol’s strength lies in his feet.’
Before the season started, when Cha Seong-eun first interviewed Lee Kang-cheol, he said the same thing.
Your strengths lie beneath your feet.
‘Nowadays, we only expect goalkeepers to make insane saves, but as football tactics develop, what will be most demanded of goalkeepers will not be crazy saves, but their feet. And in my tactics, the goalkeeper’s feet are also very important.’
When passing the ball, there are times when the ball goes to the goalkeeper due to pressure from opposing players.
If you can’t kick it calmly, you’re giving your opponent an opportunity.
Moreover, in Cha Seong-eun’s tactics, the first build-up was always started by the goalkeeper.
‘Lee Kang-cheol has a habit of passing the ball accurately to his teammates even in urgent situations. He is also very accurate. That’s why I gave Lee Kang-cheol the goal. He is one of the few goalkeepers in the domestic league with outstanding kicking ability. In that sense, Lee Kang-cheol is a genius.’
genius.
In his entire life of playing soccer, this is the first time that Cha Seong-eun has heard the words “genius.”
You may think it’s empty talk, but Lee Kang-cheol knows.
Cha Seong-eun is not the type of person to just say nothing.
Isn’t he very cool and accurate when evaluating players?
‘The reason I didn’t ask for great saves from Lee Kang-cheol was because the players handled the opponent’s balls before they reached our goal.’
It’s true.
In fact, there weren’t many instances of the opponent’s ball going into the goal during the game.
That’s what a strong team is.
With excellent pressure, the opponents can’t even get close to the goal because they cut everything in front.
but,
‘This Pohang match is different. Of course, we will knock on Pohang’s goal unilaterally, but when it comes to set pieces, we will be completely overwhelmed in the air battle. So, can I ask you a favor this time?’
It was the first time.
It is a request to use the expression ‘I am asking for a favor’ to oneself.
‘It’s okay to concede the first goal, but you can’t concede the second. Get a feel for how your opponent heads the ball through the first goal. And in a similar situation the second time, you absolutely, absolutely have to stop it.’
Cha Seong-eun emphasized the word ‘must’ twice.
‘The result of the Pohang match is in Lee Kang-cheol’s hands. If we allow the second goal in the same way, we will lose to Pohang. But on the contrary-.’
Lee Kang-cheol vividly remembered Cha Seong-eun’s intense eyes.
‘If only Lee Kang-cheol could make a save there and pass the ball that bounced out to Kang Dae-ho in front… … .’
It was just then.
“Brother Steel!!”
Pohang, who had already switched to counterattack,
This time, as always, Pohang’s mid-range shot flew in.
[Center front!! Goalkeeper punches and goes out!]
The ball flew straight at me, but I couldn’t catch it.
Because the shooting power was extremely strong.
It still felt like both my hands were shaking.
“Everyone, take your positions!”
“We can’t get pushed back this time either!”
The second corner kick situation created in this way.
The Pohang players, who had been huddled together as if they had hidden honey behind their backs, rushed to the Cheonan camp.
It’s a similar situation to when we lost the first goal.
As if there was already a planned play, Pohang took the same positions as before and prepared to jump.
‘A second goal is not possible.’
Lee Kang-cheol was out of breath.
A feeling of pressure throughout the body.
Not only were the Pohang players tall, but I also felt mentally shaken as the scene of their first goal kept flashing through my mind.
Besides, if a goal is scored here, Cha Seong-eun said that they will definitely lose the game.
But on the other hand, if you create an opportunity here through prevention-.
‘I can do it. I can do it!’
This time, I will definitely stop it.
Because the director said he would ask me to do it and that he would rely on me!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I never wanted to disappoint the director.
[High cross! Pohang players jump high! Header!!]
However, Lee Kang-cheol missed the opposing player due to a cross that flew quickly to the opposite side.
“ah-.”
I was wondering if they would give up another point so absurdly like this, but
[Sharp header! But it hits the defender’s body and goes out!]
Fortunately, the defender covered for us, so we were able to avoid conceding a goal.
But it’s not over yet.
I just overcame a crisis once.
It was another corner kick opportunity for Pohang.
“Hyung, it’s okay. We’ll cover you as best we can.”
“Don’t worry. You can do it, Kangcheol.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Lee Kang-cheol felt an even heavier sense of responsibility as he watched his colleagues cheering him on.
‘It must be stopped.’
The coach and the players are relying on him.
In fact, many Cheonan players have received attention in the past. However, goalkeeper Lee Kang-cheol has hardly been mentioned among them. In fact, there have been even some who say that Lee Kang-cheol is the player with the most problems on the team.
The reason is simple.
This is because Lee Kang-cheol allowed several goals despite the ball rarely reaching the Cheonan goal.
He had a higher chance of conceding goals than other goalkeepers.
Lee Kang-cheol knew this better than anyone else and was ashamed of himself, so he gritted his teeth and trained.
‘Today proves that those efforts were not in vain.’
Lee Kang-cheol also knows.
That he himself does not have much talent for defense.
That’s why it was so desperate. That’s why it was so desperate.
Please, please, please, just for today, I hope I can make a save that saves the team from danger.
He bit his teeth again.
[Pohang! Fly high again! Header!!]
Pohang’s ace, Lee Dae-cheon, flew up and headed the ball.
The exact same scene as when we lost a point earlier.
It was a sharp header aimed at the right corner.
‘We have to stop it!’
I flew reflexively.
It was definitely a similar situation to before, so the reaction was much faster.
This is exactly what the coach meant when he said to get used to it through the first goal.
‘Will it reach us?’
The problem is that the shooting speed is quite fast. Lee Kang-cheol felt like his arms were short.
‘Please… … Please!!’
Bam-!
The ball barely made it to my fingertips.
Thud-!
The ball hit the goal post and bounced out.
But this was just the beginning.
[Ah! The goalkeeper’s save!! But it goes back to the Pohang attacker. Shoot-!!]
The Pohang striker caught the rebounded ball and kicked it straight towards the goal.
[Eww! The goalkeeper’s divine save!! He blocks this!]
However, Lee Kang-cheol, who did not lose focus until the end, blocked the ball with a punch, then quickly got up from his seat and caught the ball flying high.
“Wow!”
“Brother Steel!!”
The attackers shook their heads in disbelief, and the Cheonan team defenders ran towards Lee Kang-cheol in excitement. But he had no time to celebrate with them and shouted in a loud voice.
“Kang Dae-ho!!”
Kang Dae-ho is alone in the front.
Lee Kang-cheol kicked the ball far away while calling his name loudly.
“go!!”
A low, fast, straight ball.
The ball landed very accurately on Kang Dae-ho’s front foot.
“Huh!”
“this!”
As soon as Kang Dae-ho caught the ball, he ran as fast as he could.
Three defenders in front.
‘It’s worth doing. No, it’s something you have to do.’
Because it was a golden opportunity created by my teammates.
“Stop it!”
He first outpaced the oncoming defender with his speed and then outran another with a tuck into his leg.
And the last remaining defender made a tackle from behind, but did not reach Kang Dae-ho, who had already gone ahead with an explosive sprint.
[Player Kang Dae-ho! He’s fast!! I can’t catch him! One-on-one chance!!]
A one-on-one chance created like that.
Hailed as the best striker in the K-League, he did not miss this opportunity.
[Wow!! Cheonan is bringing this game back to square one!! What a huge goal!!]
Lee Kang-cheol, who had been anxiously watching Kang Dae-ho running from the half-line, knelt down and roared as soon as the goal net shook.
“Eww-!!”
“Brother Steel!!”
The defenders also ran to Lee Kang-cheol and hugged him.
It is not only Kang Dae-ho’s outstanding dribbling and finishing ability that is important, but it was Lee Kang-cheol who created the opportunity.
He looked between the defenders.
The face of the director, who is smiling and clapping at him, is Cha Seong.