Dad was a Genius - Chapter 95



Only Krnovel

My Dad Was a Genius Episode 095

Michael Shermer, who had been spending his time in the minor leagues without knowing when he would be called up to the first team.

Then, at the end of the second division, I was suddenly called up.

As his position was center back, he thought the sudden call-up was due to an injury issue among the first-team center backs.

However, Cha Seong-eun, who personally called him up to the first team, said something unexpected.

‘From today, Michael’s position is goalkeeper.’

At that moment, Michael thought he had misheard something.

Why are you suddenly telling me to play goalkeeper?

‘You were originally a goalkeeper during your youth, but then changed your position to center back, right?’

He became a goalkeeper because he was tall and had long arms, but his defensive abilities weren’t that good, so he changed his position to center back.

However, since he had not shown any notable ability as a center back, it would not have been surprising if he had been released at any time.

‘I’ll be honest. Michael’s defensive ability is average. But that doesn’t mean he’s a good center back. He has a lot of shortcomings.’

Fact violence.

That’s what he meant when he suddenly called me.

If that’s the case, then why did he get himself called up to the first team?

‘However, he is good at handling aerial balls using his height, and he is excellent as a sweeper, running out first to clear the ball.’

After being excitedly beaten with facts, this time he was giving medicine.

‘But since I’m not very fast on my feet, that weakness is clearly revealed when I have to compete with attackers in terms of speed. In that case, I have to be strong in physical combat to push away my opponent, but even that is just average.’

‘… … .’

‘But Michael is a very good player with his feet. He is very good at getting the ball through the air with his head and accurately passing it to his teammates, and he has a great talent for calmly putting the ball under his feet in dangerous situations.’

Whip, carrot, whip, carrot.

Michael was at a loss as to which beat to follow.

‘Michael, you have great talent as a sweeper and you also have the ability to pass the ball calmly. That’s why I want to use you as a goalkeeper.’

You’re using him as a goalkeeper when he has such great sweeper skills?

Doesn’t the word sweeper usually mean a center back?

‘It’s good if the goalkeeper makes good saves. But I don’t think the goalkeeper’s ability to make saves is important because I think that if a goal is meant to go in, it will go in.’

‘then…….’

‘I want a goalkeeper with good kicking power who can run and intercept long-range balls like Michael and calmly build up the game from the back.’

I want a goalkeeper who can play as a sweeper.

It’s the first time I’ve heard that a goalkeeper has to take on that kind of role.

‘In our tactics, the goalkeeper’s role is the most important. This is because the goalkeeper has to take responsibility for the open space behind the goal. However, if he cannot play the role of a sweeper, he will be in a one-on-one situation with the opposing attacker, and unless he has a really good defensive ability, he will inevitably concede a goal.’

So, are you saying that preventive ability isn’t really necessary?

If you are good at playing the sweeper role, you will block the opponent’s shot before he even gets to it, and if you are not good at that role, you will be forced into a one-on-one opportunity and it will be eaten up anyway.

‘Michael is a player I really need. I won’t tell you to improve your defensive skills right away. You can do that step by step. So please think carefully before you make a decision. You have to play the most important position in our Wolves. And I believe Michael is the best person for that role.’

They say that once Cha Seong-eun says something, even the most stubborn player will just ignore it.

As expected, the rumor was not an exaggeration.

How could I refuse when he says something like that?

“… … We finally got here.”

When Michael came to his senses, he found himself wearing gloves on both hands.

At first, I was full of questions.

I really wonder if I can do well.

However, through continuous training and practice matches, he built up his confidence.

Of course, I was mentally exhausted after losing four games in a row in the preseason, but as Cha Seong-eun said, I didn’t dwell on winning or losing and practiced what I had trained in real games.

And then I found out.

Cha Seong-eun talked about his talent over and over again.

This unique position of being both a goalkeeper and a sweeper was a perfect fit for him.

And he had a successful debut, keeping a clean sheet in the previous match against West. But the anxiety was indescribable.

The most important person in this Wolves.

Your own pass from the back is the start of the attack, and if you are unable to jump forward and block the long pass coming at you, you will concede a goal.

You can’t know the pressure unless you experience it yourself.

Although such a heavy sense of responsibility was weighing on Michael’s shoulders,

“Not bad.”

Michael was fine.

No, on the contrary, it was good.

Because for the first time, I felt like I was doing something as a soccer player.

Also, Cha Seong-eun often speaks to herself and gives her courage through interviews.

‘You are the most important person in our Wolves.’

‘It’s okay to make mistakes. You can learn from them.’

‘I, and we all, believe in you.’

‘You can do it.’

No. It wasn’t encouraging, it was almost brainwashing.

But thanks to that, Michael, who had always been depressed, gradually regained his confidence and even his lost smile.

So I decided.

For this team, Cha Seong, who discovered his talent, said that he would play without sparing his body for the coach.

however,

[Ah! The ball hits a Wolves player and goes backwards!!]

[The space is completely empty!!]

An accident occurred.

It could be called a lucky shot for the opponent.

Wolves vs Hull City.

Wolves, who had been pressing hard up front with a tactic called gegenpressing, took the lead from the beginning. Then, when the ball was kicked by an opposing player in the center, it hit a Wolves player and luckily passed to the striker in front of him.

[Hanesa is fast!!]

[The defenders try hard to follow, but the ball is delivered perfectly! 1v1 chance with the goalkeeper!!]

Hull City’s fastest player, Hanesa, was on the move.

Should I go out and block it, or should I stay here at the goal and guard it?

There’s only one thing that comes to mind at that time.

‘Do what you do best. That will always be the right answer.’

This was the advice Cha Seong left for all the Wolves players.

“… … !”

Then my body reacted instinctively.

He ran towards the approaching Hanesa.

Hanesa saw the oncoming goalkeeper and tried to knock him away in one breath.

But when I saw his tall stature and size running towards me, I felt my body stiffen for a moment.

So I changed my mind.

Not by blocking, but by shooting.

Pfft-!

I had a gut feeling the moment I hit the ball with my foot.

This is a goal that must go in!

It felt that good.

“!?”

But the ball ended up being blocked by the goalkeeper’s hands.

[Ahhh!! What an amazing save!! Michael Shermer saves Wolves from crisis with a great save!!]

‘Oh, how on earth!?’

Clearly, everything from the angle to the power was perfect.

But the goalkeeper made a godlike save.

He blocked a ball that he thought was unstoppable.

“Eww!!”

After blocking the ball, Michael and Hanesa’s reactions were completely opposite.

One side was roaring loudly, while the other side had its head on the floor and was unable to get up.

“Michael!!”

“This crazy kid!!”

The center backs also roared along, patting his head wildly.

‘I stopped it. I stopped it!!’

Michael clenched his fists as a thrill engulfed his entire body.

Honestly, I don’t know how I stopped it.

I just gave in to my instincts.

“ah-.”

But the happiest thing wasn’t the prevention.

There, in the distance, is Cha Seong, who is giving a thumbs up to himself.

Yes. I was most happy to be recognized by that person.

* * *

“Wow… … How on earth did you stop that?”

“This is crazy.”

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Michael’s save was the save of the year.

The coaches burst into applause at his amazing save.

“This too is the director’s dignity. Haha.”

“I was skeptical at first when the manager chose the center back as the goalkeeper… … .”

“You still doubt our coach. You knew Michael had such great defensive skills and brought him in yourself.”

“I was foolish. Please forgive me.”

When I told him that I would change his position from center back to goalkeeper and make him a regular player, the coaches looked at me as if they were asking if I was being serious.

But now he said that he had realized my deeper meaning.

But actually, I didn’t pick Michael because of his defensive ability.

He was brought into the first team after seeing his talent as a sweeper.

Honestly, I didn’t expect any defensive ability at all.

“As expected, you really have a creepy eye for people. Who else but you would have known that the center back was such a genius?”

“… … .”

I was about to say, “I didn’t know either.”

Anyway, it’s true that Michael, whom I forced to defecate, made a crazy save.

In times like this, it’s best to just be shameless.

“He’s a player I’ve been keeping an eye on for a while.”

“Oh. As expected.”

“You see the goalkeeper’s talent in a center back? And you’re seeing that in a player who was in the second team… …!”

But how did you actually stop it?

I felt like I discovered a new side to Michael.

And just now it was really dangerous.

If that goal had gone in, it would have been a huge crisis for Wolves.

Because most of the players are still young.

When you are young, you naturally have better stamina and superior physical abilities.

But we shouldn’t ignore older players.

Because they are experienced and mentally strong.

A mentality that allows you to turn things around even if you accidentally concede a goal.

A mentality that doesn’t give up even after conceding two goals.

It was somewhat lacking for the young players.

So if a goal had gone in just now, the entire team would have been shaken, starting with the player who made the mistake.

But on the other hand, there was an advantage in that fraud also increased quickly.

With Michael’s great save and loud roar, the players forgot their mistake and started to run wild even more.

[Wolves take the lead again! They continue their fierce attack!]

[Hull City keeps trying to find the space behind and throw long passes, but they are not penetrating at all. They are an iron fortress!]

Wolves, who had emerged from the crisis, were pushing Hull City to the brink.

Hull City didn’t get a single step outside that halfway line.

Because when they get the ball, Wolves will win it back through a lot of pressure.

‘This is what makes soccer so fun.’

I like thoroughly calculated tactics.

I like the game to go according to plan.

But sometimes, the thing I hate the most about variables like this is the thrill they bring.

If the game had gone according to my calculations without any variables that made dopamine flow like crazy, I might have hated soccer.