Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 172



Only Krnovel

Episode 172 Fine Tuning

Cologne FC, a team that has truly emerged as a saintly team this season.

Some say that the loss of key players such as Modeste and Ozkan weakened the opposing team’s power, but the results alone can refute this claim.

I think I’ve proven myself in the early stages of the Bundesliga.

Of course, Modeste’s absence was revealed (especially in terms of the ttukbaegi), but with the quick tempo changes, creative passes, aggressive breakthroughs, and flexible game management through wing involvement, my skills also shined as I became more familiar with the opponents’ players.

That’s why I don’t make excuses or turn away.

Now, the victory in Cologne is my achievement, and the defeat is also my fault. It was along these lines that I turned a blind eye to Sargis Adamian’s apology or confession.

Now is the time to think about how to play to win rather than criticizing your teammates’ mistakes. The first thing to do is to put your heads together and discuss it with the coaching staff.

I guess so… … .

“It’s not efficient. And the bigger problem is that it’s not lethal.”

“… … .”

As the physical therapist fiddles around checking the condition of my calf, head coach Andre Polak approaches and speaks firmly.

Is it because his head is dull? Even his tongue that points out mistakes is extremely ruthless.

“I’m not saying they played too fast. I’m saying there were very few ‘critical chances’ where they got into the box.”

“That’s it-”

“You were pushed back tactically? That’s right. But your role isn’t to be swayed by tactics. You’re a free role. It’s literally a free role, where you have to think, judge, and move on the field.”

“… … So what did I do wrong?”

“Positioning on the second line.”

“I’m listening.”

But I can’t completely hate this man, not only because he was the one who brought me to Cologne, but also because he always makes valid points.

“Look at the board here. Our line was pushed back from the beginning of the first half, right?”

“huh.”

“I know you were busy moving up, down, left, and right. You were running around diligently to somehow regain the flow. But for now, let’s just look at the movement in the central area. Here, you have two choices. Do you come down and get involved in the midfield ball fight, or do you wait for the ball to come in from the forward area? What was your choice?”

“It was the former. It went down.”

“Yeah. And?”

There’s no need to be discouraged by the added question. I’m in my second year. It’s time to start figuring out what kind of answer the head coach is asking for.

“We put Schiri in the lower line and called in Kainz or Remperle to increase possession. Mark Uth also came down to help.”

“Okay. How did it turn out?”

“No score.”

“Why is that so?”

“… …because the decisive pass (I wiggled two fingers at this point) didn’t go into the box?”

“You were only half right.”

Next, it’s everyone’s turn to nod their heads as if they’re admitting and reflecting. I’m not trying to be sarcastic, but whatever André Pollack says is usually correct.

“The link-up at the bottom is good. As you said, we brought in our players and took the initiative. The opponent retreated further into their own camp, and we even used Jonas and Schmitz to shake up the flank. Overall, we have a pretty good form. But-”

“It wasn’t threatening, was it?”

“That’s correct, but to put it more specifically… … we failed to press the defense. Of course, we succeeded in overpowering Brugge’s central midfielders Raphael, Panakon, and Nielsen through link-ups and dribbling. But there was nothing after that. Since the last defensive line was maintained, we ended up being pushed back by the tight defensive block and finished with a side attack or a direct shot.”

“Because the sides were empty. We called Kainz and Remperle to the center and crowded them together, so there was a limit to how much they could break through.”

“Good point. What should I have done then?”

A second question comes in a row.

The way they made their players think for themselves rather than just giving instructions. That was the style of the Cologne coaches.

“That is… … um, order Jonas or Schmitz to come up more actively? Oh, no. I should have had them join the center.”

“That’s a good idea, too. Since Jonas and Schmitz are vulnerable to counterattacks, it would be less burdensome for them to participate in the midfield battle. The attackers on both sides can return to their positions and fill the gaps.”

“huh.”

“And what else?”

“also?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

But now I really don’t know, so I just stare blankly, and the head coach’s hand moves up and down the tactics board.

“Actually, your method was right until the first half. It was perfect for reorganizing the team’s offensive flow. However, after that, in the middle of the game when the momentum was regained, you should have gone up even more. In some ways, this is also related to the problem of perception.”

“recognition?”

“It’s about noticing something. Here, it means making the opposing players aware of the existence of ‘you.’ Now, look here.”

The board was filled with the 433 prototypes of Bruges and the 4132 prototypes of Cologne. His index finger was touching the red magnet symbolizing the sky. Since it was a position, it was placed close to the three blue magnets in the center.

“You were trying to receive the ball around here. You moved left and right, but rarely up and down. What would the central defenders think?”

“… … They’re fighting in the center.”

“Yes, that’s it. Then you can just leave it to our midfielders. We have to mark the front line attackers. There’s no need to go out there and force yourself. Why? Because there’s an invisible psychological resistance line at the last defensive line. I can’t go all the way to the second line to mark you. And Brugge’s midfielders knew that too. You were staying in that area for so long.”

shit.

I’m starting to understand.

In other words, I was playing stupidly for about 20 minutes out of the first 45 minutes.

“… … He should have been brought down from above. Even if he was involved in a midfield ball fight, he should have first moved up to the front line and then dropped down in a way that the central defenders would have a hard time ignoring. That’s how you cause cracks in the defense.”

“… … .”

Once the correct answer is revealed, no further comments are added.

At that moment, Captain Bear was giving a speech in the middle of the locker room. As soon as we finished talking, we both turned our heads and looked at Steffen Baumgart.

It was deeply related to the topic we just discussed, as if someone might say, “He’s the manager and the head coach.”

“Moving up and down isn’t everything in attacking. It’s the same for both defense and attack. First, the wingers. If you don’t cross the center line and come up, there’s no point in participating in the attack. If the burden of counterattacking is too great, you should have participated in the midfield battle instead. You can make that kind of judgment yourself.”

“……sorry.”

“The strikers are the same. They just kept trying to break the offside line against the opposing defenders. If they kept doing this throughout the first half, would they have a hole in the perfect defense? No way. It’s an absurd attempt. More importantly, was that the kind of tactic I instructed? Huh? What kind of stupid thing is this!”

“… … .”

“Why, do you think it’s unreasonable for me to be angry? Then you should have done your best before you felt that unreasonable feeling. You should have been eager to win before the youngest player on the team shouldered the burden alone. If you can’t even do the most basic things, if you just let the game flow, we won’t achieve anything!”

For some reason, the bear got really angry and started saying my name, and then the players all looked at me as if they had planned it.

Shake, shake, shake.

Then suddenly, I felt hands stroking my calf and thigh muscles.

“Hmm, you’re really crowded. Are you okay?”

“… … ?”

“Sup, it looks like you’re in a lot of pain. Endure it.”

You said there was no problem earlier.

What do you want to do?

When I looked at Oswald, the physical therapist, in disbelief, he secretly winked one eyelid and showed off his disgusted behavior.

Getting a wink from a muscular man.

This is also a rare experience in its own way. But I have to raise the team’s morale at halftime, so I just let it go as it is.

Whether they were new or veteran, everyone had a venomous look in their eyes… … I really liked that.

* * *

Immediately after the second half began.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Side!”

“Come further inside!”

We are finally back in Cologne for the 22-23 season.

Soccer is like Go or chess. I felt this even in the old youth system, but especially as you move up to the higher levels, the importance of tactics goes without saying.

“Spread it to the side!”

“I’ll take care of it!”

Although Brugge remained firmly in the lead, the team’s agility was very different from the first half.

Sargis Adamian noticed my position and moved out to the left flank, and the opposing winger followed him.

It’s a kind of space creation.

This does not stop at the forward’s arbitrary decision, but leads to a chain of movements.

On the left flank, Kainz immediately spreads out to the sideline as soon as he sees Adamian’s movement, while on the opposite flank, Remperle instead penetrates deep into the penalty box. While Mark Ut naturally drops to the second line, right-back Schmitz joins the attack for the first time in a while and takes over the flank.

Step by step.

I think this sound might be heard by the few away fans. The process of occupying space while maintaining a certain distance, as if they were living creatures.

Naturally, Cologne’s performance also skyrocketed, and they scored consecutive goals in the 4th, 9th, and 13th minutes of the second half.

If there is an upturn, there must also be a downturn, and Club Brugge were forced to pay the price for their over-pacing early in the first half as time went on.

Phew!

[Wow!]

Once again, inside the box.

Remperle passes a short pass to Mark Uth, who drops back for a return pass, and his shot is aimed at the right side of the goal, but is narrowly blocked by the opposing goalkeeper.

The number of shots in the second half was 0 to 6.

“left!”

“I know!”

Boohoo!

Just by looking at one indicator, you can tell the difference in performance, so the opposing defenders scatter long passes to avoid missing valuable counterattack opportunities.

The ball lands on the right flank of the Bruges camp, to the left flank of the Cologne camp, where, of all places, there is a trustworthy man.

Phew!

Elias Skyri. If there is a Left or Right Minister in the Kingdom of Heaven, it must be this person. He takes the landing point early and doesn’t even give anyone a chance to compete.

As the ball goes to the back line’s Whibus, the attacking right is once again in the hands of the team.

Thump, thump, thu-uk.

And only then do I feel sure.

The team is back on track because central defender Wheevers boldly brought the ball up to the center line.

Paaak!

“… … !”

So now it’s my turn to go down the line.

Make sure to dig a big enough patch of grass to catch the central defender’s attention, but not too fast. Give him a split second to think and move from the front line to the second line.

“Brandon! If you leave so suddenly… … .”

Bam! Bam!

Then, in the 18th minute of the second half, a strong ground pass from Whibus crosses the central area. I look around, forwards, backwards, left and right, and prepare myself thoroughly.

Now that the ingredients are ready, it’s time to cook.

The well-aged guys catch up by one goal before they become fresh due to player changes.

It was bound to be so.