Dad was a Genius - Chapter 81



Only Krnovel

My Dad Was a Genius Episode 081

“Manager Steven is an experienced manager. With his experience, he was able to turn Cardiff City around and show them why quick-and-rush tactics work in the second division.”

But that held him back.

Quick and Rush is literally a 2nd-tier exclusive tactic.

The reason why teams that made it to the first division with overwhelming scores in the second division are relegated again is because tactics like quick and rush will never work in the first division.

The tactical differences between Part 2 and Part 1 are quite significant.

Long pass-based tactics such as quick and rush have already been dealt with, and in leagues with strong teams such as the EPL, short passes are attempted as much as possible.

Long passes don’t have a high success rate and end up handing the ball over to the opponent.

For that reason, Cardiff City lost twice in a row to our Wolves.

And by a very large margin.

The biggest reason was that our Wolves were well-prepared for the quick and rush tactic, which is exclusive to the second division, so Cardiff City’s tactic did not work.

“Even though they have lost to us twice in a row, they will not want to lose to us three times in a row. Forget the Cardiff City we knew. Now that they are in the relegation battle, they will play with all their might, just like we did.”

But what you have to realize is that this is a lift-off.

And in these confrontations, variables always arise.

It was a game where no matter how much I calculated and planned the scenario, there were bound to be variables that I couldn’t deal with.

“So we have to take the game early. If we don’t break their momentum early, we can’t guarantee the result.”

I looked around at the players gathered in the locker room.

The tension was palpable, but I actually liked that aspect.

Even though we won twice in a row, we never look down on our opponents.

Moreover, a little tension can increase concentration.

“We have overcome many hardships to get here. In fact, it is a miracle that we are standing here. But I think it is natural. We have trained hard to get here and have worked harder than any other team to win.”

We’ve been lucky, but we didn’t get here by luck alone.

This is because, in the end, winning or losing in sports is determined by the difference in pure skill and training.

“They say there are no empty seats in the stadium today. And as you know, every Wolves game is a hot topic. We are recording the highest viewership ratings in EFL history. And now even the top division teams are watching us.”

The players’ expressions changed little by little.

First division teams are watching.

This one word provoked them even more.

Because they are watching because this match could catch the eye of a big club.

“Let them see clearly that if we get promoted to the first division, we will cause a big stir, just like we did in the second division.”

“yes!!”

The players answered vigorously and stood up from their seats.

We entered the stadium where the Yellow Corps and the Red Corps were divided.

Since the promotion/relegation match took place at a neutral stadium, the cheering was extremely heated.

“We really came this far.”

Ramsey was also quite nervous and was panting.

That’s exactly what he said.

We’ve really come this far.

“At first I thought you were crazy. Of course, you are crazy.”

“What great insight.”

“Yeah. But history is always made by crazy people, right? Like today. Who would have ever thought that Wolves would come this far?”

Ramsey tapped me on the shoulder.

“Let’s definitely win today, Coach.”

“I’m still a coach.”

“I don’t know. Just call him a director. You have to be like that.”

After leaving those words, Ramsey ran to the coaching zone.

… … As a director.

I let out a shaky breath for a moment.

The first Asian manager in EPL history.

The day when that dream will come true is not far away.

* * *

“The more I look at this team, the more disgusting it becomes.”

“yes?”

“Team X.”

“… … .”

The coach’s mouth fell silent at Steven’s harsh insults.

Disgusting team.

It was a phrase that suited Wolves very well.

Cardiff City try to break the lines with quick and rush, but are always blocked by their own offside trap.

No matter how well I trained, I kept getting stuck every time I tried.

Sometimes, when the ball was about to be eaten, the quick-footed fullbacks on both sides would run at the speed of light to cover it.

“Thinking about using those fullbacks as mezzalas to implement a tactic? Isn’t this team really annoying? I feel like punching the guy who came up with that tactic in the face.”

Although he swore at me coolly, looking at it another way, it was no different from praising the other person.

Tactically, it means that you are tied up with all your hands and feet so that you can’t do anything, and the only thing you can do is curse.

[Gooooool!! Wolves’ Angsen scores the first goal!!]

Eventually, Wolves scored the first goal in the 20th minute of the first half.

“It still doesn’t work.”

Steven has been putting everything he has into his last desperate attempt to come up with a tactic to take on Wolves.

But somehow, the opponent blocked all the routes and passes as if they were above his head and then connected them to the goal.

“I don’t think I can possibly overcome this with my skills.”

Once again, I feel the high wall before my eyes.

however,

“Just because you can’t get over something doesn’t mean you can’t find fault with it.”

The corner of Stephen’s mouth twisted bizarrely.

* * *

It was clear that Cardiff City had prepared a lot for this match.

But in the end, they couldn’t give up their quick-and-rush tactics.

I understand completely.

This is a team that got this far with just this tactic.

It would have been worse for such a team to suddenly abandon their main tactic and adopt a new one during the relegation match.

But Cardiff didn’t match up well with us.

Aren’t Wolves the best at countering quick and rush?

In the end, Cardiff failed to overcome the tactical disadvantage and ended up conceding the first goal.

“Now they’re going to go crazy trying to score the equalizer.”

As Ramsey said, the opponents will rush up the line to score an equalizer.

We have to score a goal somehow, so we have no choice but to push ourselves.

however,

“Wait a minute. Why are you lowering the line instead? Am I seeing something wrong?”

No. Ramsay was looking straight ahead.

Even though the line was raised to the edge of the goal, Cardiff surprisingly lowered the line completely.

“Is this also a quick and rush? Something like deliberately lowering the line and trying to counterattack with a long ball…?”

That’s a possibility too.

But something was strange.

The Cardiff I know wouldn’t use this tactic.

In addition, if you want to push the line extremely low and then try to counterattack with a long ball, it is right to place fast players in the front.

But instead, manager Steven suddenly made a substitution, taking out the striker and putting in a defensive midfielder.

Beep-!!

[Ah! That’s such a deep tackle. I wonder if it was really necessary to make that tackle from that position.]

Even the defense suddenly became rough.

There was no need to tackle like that, but the defender just threw his body first.

What on earth do you want to do?

Are Cardiff not thinking of winning this game?

Right then.

‘no way…….’

Something suddenly came to mind.

‘Are you going to try Operation Water Ghost?’

This is a scene that can be seen a lot in tournament matches.

When a team decides that it will be difficult to defeat its opponent or that it will not be able to advance to the next round, it will have to choose one of two options.

Just give up and play the game in a daze.

Or make your opponent fall in the same way.

And usually, I choose the latter.

Because there’s nothing that makes me more angry than when someone other than me gets promoted.

To put it simply, it means to be a jerk.

So what can Cardiff do for us?

That would hinder us from playing at full strength in the next game.

The easiest of these was injury induction.

[Ah! Another rough tackle! This time, the referee immediately pulls out a yellow card!]

“No. Are these guys crazy?”

“You seem too excited. Are you going to get kicked out like that?”

It’s not exciting.

Look at the faces of the defenders.

Just following the director’s instructions like a machine.

‘If it’s a match I can’t win anyway, I’ll just throw my weight around to the max, is that it?’

Although it is a spirit that has eaten away at the spirit of sports, the problem is that this kind of thing happens all the time on the soccer field.

It is human nature to fall and not fall alone, so we grab hold of anyone around us and fall together.

Its cruel and ugly nature was clearly on display in this stadium.

“Coach, we need to make a substitution right now.”

“Huh? Already?”

“Yes. Coach Steven has no intention of winning today. He is just targeting key players right now so that we can somehow get eliminated in the next relegation match.”

“Ah-. So that’s what it was like. I thought something was strange. That author, Steven, said this would be the last season, but he’s acting so ugly.”

Coach Richard quickly called the coach and ordered a substitution.

however,

“Eww!”

A terrible scream echoed through the stadium.

The crowd also burst into cheers in surprise, and everyone looked at Angsen, who was suffering in the penalty box, with stiff faces.

[A direct red card is given!! It was a very dangerous tackle in the penalty box.]

[Ah. It looks like he got tackled to the point where his ankle was twisted. Angsen’s condition is not good right now.]

Following the referee’s call, medical coaches quickly entered the stadium.

Soon they were marking an x ​​with their hands.

It was a sign that a change was needed.

“this-.”

Unfortunately, Wolves’ key scorer, Angssen, was injured.

It’s still far away so we don’t know how serious the injury is, but judging by the coaches’ reactions, it was clear that he would definitely be out for the next game.

Am I a little late?

Soon, Angsen was being carried out on a stretcher.

That sight made me feel even more heartbroken as it reminded me of my father, and at the same time, I felt a surge of anger.

“No. These guys have no sense of partnership.”

“Those guys do that and they’re soccer players!?”

It was the same for coaches.

I caught them as they were about to cross over to the opposing camp in a fit of rage.

“Everyone, calm down.”

“Ha, but Coach!”

“Now is not the time to get excited. Be calm. It’s unfortunate that the player got injured, but it’s not a situation that will get better if we go and yell. What’s important now is to make a quick substitution.”

“……yes.”

I’m also furious, but if I get excited here, it will end up going according to Director Steven’s will.

So, for now, we decided to proceed calmly with the substitutions and leave out some of the starting players.

[Gooool! Wolves successfully complete the penalty they have earned. The game is 2-0! Cardiff City have a player sent off!]

The game continued.

A game that is already irreversible.

But Cardiff, who had no intention of winning from the start, got what they wanted.

I looked at the Cardiff camp with contempt.

Director Steven just smiled at those eyes.