Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: I'm Younger Than You - 2
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─‘Rising Star’ Riccardo Romero scores his 3rd goal of the season··· Lazio 3 : 0 Cagliari Calcio
💬 Comments
— User1
This guy is the real deal.
— User2
He's played 7 games and already has 3 goals. The future of Lazio.
— User3
The term 'star' might be inappropriate. This kid is only 16.
— User4
I'd prefer 'prodigy' over 'star'. This kid is a prodigy.
— User5
A real genius in a long time. This kid knows how to handle the ball.
— User6
The completeness of his play is high for his age.
— User7
It's been a while since I've seen such a destructive dribbler at this age.
— User8
The second Messi.
— User9
Whoa whoa, don't cross the line.
— User10
That's a bit much, but anyway, he's a genius.
"···They say he's a real genius?"
Ji-woo, who was looking at the laptop screen with me, spoke.
I pouted my lips and replied.
"It's not like there are only one or two geniuses in the world."
"But even among geniuses, there's a hierarchy, right? They say he already has 3 goals."
Three goals? That's a lot.
I was about to shrug and act cool, but Ji-woo wouldn't let it go.
"Our Ji-an has only scored two goals so far. Hmph. So there was a real genius after all. Should I start cheering for him now?"
···You're kidding me.
"···If you only count attack points, we're the same."
"Attack points?"
"I have one assist too. That's 2 goals and 1 assist, so 3 points. We're the same."
"Huh? Isn't a goal more important than an assist?"
"···Ha."
I was about to argue more but gave up.
Why should I have to argue in the first place?
When I sighed, Ji-woo giggled.
"Alright, alright. Don't get sulky. Let me search for our Ji-an too."
Tak tak tak.
Ji-woo, a proficient typist, searched for 'Jian Lee' and several news articles popped up.
While pretending to be uninterested, I peeked.
📰 Breaking News
AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho's high praise··· "Lee's play is very impressive"
💬 Comments
— User11
If you only consider today, Lee >> Pellegrini.
— User12
Is there any 16-year-old who can do this at Roma's home?
— User13
Even if you extend it to age 26, it's rare.
— User14
This is what they call a genius.
— User15
His sense is too good. He knows how to win.
— User16
I'll say it. He'll become a better player than Bernardeschi or Chiesa.
— User17
Lee was the most beautiful lily today.
— User18
I'm a Roma fan, and Lee is recognized by us.
— User19
He was a genius, and Juventus didn't know it.
— User20
What's the deal with Juventus?
— User21
A year ago, he moved from Juventus to Fiorentina.
— User22
In 3 years, they'll buy him back for tens of billions. That's their way.
⭐ Top Comment
— User23
As a Viola, I love Lee♥ He is a real genius, incomparable to anyone. I won't send him anywhere on Earth♥♥
Seeing the somewhat awkwardly translated comments, I couldn't help but smile.
It was a bit burdensome, but anyway, they were all good words.
But I held back my smile. To be praised, I had to be strict to be cooler.
"Ooh. Ji-an has more comments?"
"Ahem."
"They all call him a genius."
"What's with the sudden···"
"Hah! That's true."
I casually shrugged my shoulders, and Ji-woo snickered.
I don't know who leaves these comments, but thank you all.
Thanks to them, I saved face.
"So, you're playing against their team this weekend?"
"Yeah."
"Wow, so it's a battle of geniuses?"
"Well··· if I get to play in the match."
"If our genius doesn't play, who will? Hey, you have to win, okay? This is a matter of pride."
I'm actually not that interested.
Since Luca Coach said so, and Ji-woo wants me to win, I guess I have to.
Hmm. But···
"If I lose, will you cheer for him?"
I asked casually, and Ji-woo looked at me with an incredulous expression.
Then, he raised one corner of his mouth and pinched my cheek.
"What are you talking about, you idiot."
"Ah, don't···"
I pretended it hurt and removed Ji-woo's hand, and he smiled brightly again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the afternoon, training in full swing to prepare for the weekend match.
"Hoo, hoo-"
My body feels especially light today.
For some reason, I feel like I have more energy than usual, and my speed seems to have increased too.
"Nice, nice! Nice, Ji-an!"
Since last week's match, I decided to let go of my anxiety and changed my diet first.
I eat the same things but reduced the quantity.
I used to eat five meals, but starting this week, I'm eating four. I cut out one meal.
Thanks to that, I don't feel bloated or heavy. I was worried I might lose weight, but after checking every day, that wasn't the case.
The human body doesn't change easily after all.
As for training, I also decided not to do excessive personal training. I just trained hard without overdoing it, like I did when I was in the U17 team.
That's how I naturally felt my condition rising.
"Hoo-"
As my body became more comfortable, my mind became anxious··· but it wasn't unbearable.
I tried to calm my mind by thinking only good thoughts.
The most effective were thoughts like these.
I'm still young, so people look at me with a more generous eye.
So I can afford to be more relaxed.
Thoughts like that.
Just look at last week's match. Honestly, my performance in that match wasn't that great.
But, just because I scored one goal, people praised me.
Most reactions were like, "He's 16, that's amazing."
Even with the same play, if you're younger, you get more praise. Even with the same mistake, if you're younger, you get less criticism.
I have that privilege.
I decided to enjoy that privilege as much as possible.
Then, the feeling of pressure disappeared a little. And the desire to win grew bigger and bigger.
Of course, there are no matches you can afford to lose··· but I want to win this match even more.
I want to show Coach Toni and Coach Luca the appearance of a well-grown disciple, and I don't want to be the 'lesser genius' in front of Ji-woo.
"Faster, faster, faster, faster!"
Lazio, our opponent, is not an easy team.
Lazio is a team with a higher ranking than AS Roma, and they are a team with such good performance that they are participating in an international competition, the Europa League.
"Hoo, hoo!"
So I'm just training harder.
Because that's all I can do.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
November 7, 2021.
Serie A League Round 12.
The match between Fiorentina and Lazio is about to take place at Fiorentina's home stadium, Stadio Artemio.
"There's no room to put your foot down."
The spectator stands are packed with spectators, nearly at full capacity.
There is an incredible heat even before the start of the match.
Compared to the last home match and the one before that, the number of spectators has clearly increased.
It's probably because Fiorentina's recent performance has noticeably improved.
Just a few matches ago, the spectators were decreasing due to their frustrating performance, and there were voices demanding the dismissal of Coach Vincenzo.
Now, public opinion has completely reversed.
It's not too much to say that it's all thanks to one player.
"Both of them are playing. Good. Let's show them properly."
"Why are you so annoyed?"
Coach Luca and Coach Toni, sitting in a corner of the stands, confirm the starting lineup.
Unlike the A-League, which plays 38 games in a season, the youth league plays only 24 games.
Today was a day without a youth match, and the two came to see the match in person.
"Don't even ask. I even blocked him. But, I have to unblock him after today's match."
"Why?"
"Why? I have to give back what I got. Our Ji-an will show them. Who is the bigger genius."
"Using a disciple for personal revenge. When will you grow up?"
"Grow up? There's no such thing on a soccer field."
Coach Luca chuckled, and Coach Toni shook his head.
But he's not wrong.
Ji-an will show them. Who is the bigger genius.
Because he's a kid who won't lose to anyone in terms of talent.
"Let's go! Let's go!"
Soon, the players enter the field.
"Forza-!"
"Viola-!!"
They shout fighting and disperse to their positions.
As I head to my position, I look around the stands.
Today, it's all a sea of purple.
"Hoo."
Suddenly, I thought, I'm strangely more nervous for home games than away games.
Home fans are scarier than away fans.
Before coming onto the field, the coach said we have to show a winning performance since the stadium is full today.
It's not just full in name; you can see with your eyes that there's no space in the stands.
It's been a while since I've been this tense··· I look at one of the opponents standing at the half-line to find something to focus on.
Number 17.
That's Riccardo Romero.
He's short, about the size of Torreira, but he has a solid-looking body.
He's fast and often attempts aggressive dribbles, so I was told to be careful.
I wonder.
Maybe, just like us, the opposing team is talking about me?
If they are, what would they say?
"Piiii-!"
The match begins.
Vlahovic, who won the coin toss, passes the ball to me, and I pass it back and start the match slowly.
···Hmm.
No. I can't start slowly.
Tak tak tak-!
As soon as it starts, the opposing players rush past me. They are quickly pressing forward.
I knew their style, but I didn't expect them to press up like this from the start.
Not only the forwards but also the midfielders are passing me and advancing toward our territory.
In an instant, the sky-blue players start to populate our zone. That sight instinctively makes me feel threatened.
Thanks to that, I too quickly go down.
Today, the coach emphasized the most was breaking the press from the back and quick transitions.
The opponent has fast players in their attack line. That means their press can be threatening, but conversely, if we can overcome that press and go up, we will get many opportunities.
It's important to be calm and not be afraid.
But it won't be easy.
It's easy to say, but if I were a defender, I might be panicking right now.
The opponent's press is that fast and strong.
I need to help with the defense.
I can't be of direct help as a defender, but I need to be in a position where I can receive a pass at any time. If there's nowhere to pass the ball, the pressure on the defense can only increase.
Tak tak tak-!
I'm moving while reading the rhythm of the opponent's press and the flow of the ball···
"···"
"···"
Momentarily, my eyes meet with Milenkovic, who has the ball.
A quick press is being applied to the senior.
He needs to handle the ball quickly.
But the direction of that handling shouldn't be me. For the ball to come to me, it has to come through another place to be safe.
But the senior's gaze isn't moving.
Is his judgment clouded in this urgent situation?
I'm about to point in a direction by raising my hand, but the senior's foot is already moving.
Paaaaang-!
The senior passes the ball to me, and
Paang-!
It's cut off in the middle.
The opposing midfielder, who was waiting, rushes in like a madman and cuts the ball right in front of me.
The ball immediately goes to the left.
Paaaaang-!
The one who received the ball is Riccardo Romero.
The kid, who caught the ball on the left side, immediately lowers his posture and starts shaking his body.
Did he receive instructions to always attempt a dribble break as soon as he gets the ball?
He puts his gaze only on the ball and starts dribbling, and it's quite threatening.
Tak tak tak-!
The left side is broken.
The defense was fooled by Romero's movement, who seemed to go to the center but then cut in towards the corner flag.
But it might be intentional defense.
Our central defense is tall. They are strong in header contests from crosses, so they might have intentionally pushed the kid to the side.
But, does he know that?
Or is he overflowing with confidence?
Romero makes a different choice.
Bwooooooooooong-!
A loud sound echoes from the left side of the box.
The kid shot directly.
Shwooooooong-
The shot fortunately went over the goal.
There was no angle to begin with, so it wasn't that threatening a shot.
But the situation itself was dangerous.
The ball was cut off in a very dangerous position, and we immediately allowed a dribble break and a shot.
It's fortunate it didn't lead to a goal, but having this kind of play right at the start of the match is a very bad flow.
You can see the seniors letting out sighs of relief, and the opposing players are clapping to boost their morale.
If you're mentally intimidated, you become more vulnerable to the press. The fact that Milenkovic just made a bad judgment was also because he was in a hurry mentally.
What should I do in this situation?
I bite my lip and try to think···
"One more time! One more time!"
An Italian with a familiar accent is heard.
It's an accent full of Spanish, like Torreira's.
"Give it to me one more time!"
It was Riccardo Romero.
The kid was shouting to his teammates.
···Didn't they say he was 16?
How can he be like that?
He shot the ball himself and is even shouting for the ball again. It's a confidence I can't even imagine.
I look at him with a slightly curious eye···
Momentarily, our eyes meet.
"···"
Then, the kid moves one corner of his mouth.
···Did he smile?
I don't know why, but it seems so.
···He's not a face I particularly like.
"Piiii-!"
Our goal kick is about to restart the match, but the opponent is still not falling back.
They are still in our territory, like crocodiles waiting for prey, forcing us to take a long kick.
If we want to handle it safely, it's okay to take a long kick··· but it won't be easy to win the ball.
Even if Vlahovic is there, we are outnumbered.
If we all go up, the opponent will also come down, so it's not much different.
Again, the best thing is to build up from here and go up··· but our defenders seem to want to just take a long kick.
Everyone looks uneasy.
Seeing that, our team's goalkeeper also seems to want to kick it long and steps back.
But, at that moment, I unknowingly raise my hand.
I was standing almost in the position of a defensive midfielder.
I don't know what kind of courage it is, but I wanted to send a signal asking for the ball.
"···"
Let me try.
So, give me the ball.
As I sent the signal, I could see a little hesitation in the goalkeeper's eyes···
But that hesitation wasn't long.
Paaaaang-!
The ball comes to me.
I immediately feel the movement of the opposing players rushing towards me.
Tuk-!
In the middle of the opponent's press, I lightly drop the ball at my feet and turn around.