"..."
"..."
Manager Tony and Coach Luca locked eyes.
Both were clutching their heads.
Their expressions were even more of a sight.
Their eyes had grown so wide they looked ready to pop out, and their mouths hung open as if their jaws might fall off.
A moment of silence.
Coach Luca was the first to recover from the shock.
"Phewww-"
Coach Luca furrowed his brow and shook his hands dramatically. That distinctive Italian gesture.
"Ahem."
Manager Tony also collected himself belatedly and tried to compose his expression. As if to say, well, I expected something like this.
As if to say, why else do you think I put him in the starting lineup?
However, he honestly couldn't hide his surprise.
"How many distances did he... cover by himself?"
"Around forty or fifty meters, I'd say?"
It was an insane goal.
He received the ball in midfield, exchanged a quick one-two pass while turning, shook off a defender with precise dribbling while maintaining his speed, made a bold run all the way into the box, and then struck a shot that was both accurate and powerful enough to shake the net.
In other words, he had sprinted half the pitch by himself and scored.
Just looking at the expressions on those Napoli kids' faces said it all. Probably none of them expected him to attempt something like that. That must be why their reactions were so slow.
Honestly, even those on this side hadn't expected it, so it wasn't really those kids' fault.
"Even without the goal, I think he deserved an 8 out of 10 rating. But then he goes and scores a goal like that? What are we supposed to do now? Huh?"
"Ha, seriously. He must have felt it while playing. 'Huh? This is actually manageable?' 'I should just go for it myself!' And then, boom. Done."
Manager Tony chuckled and nodded at the flushed Coach Luca's animated reaction.
Before the match, and even as it started.
Lee Ji-an had looked quite nervous.
It couldn't be helped.
His first time in the starting lineup since transferring to the team.
And against Napoli, no less.
Even kids who played every week would be nervous in a situation like this—imagine how Ji-an must have felt.
But as the match went on, he must have realized something.
He knew the opponent was Napoli, and he knew Napoli was a strong team, but...
Even so, he felt like he could handle it.
Why?
Because the kid was executing on the field exactly what he did in training, and Napoli couldn't stop him.
Huh? Things are going my way?
The moment he realized that, he must have instinctively felt it.
That he could afford to be bold.
And the result was that crazy, fantastic goal just now.
"Gives me chills."
Manager Tony shuddered. What was the greatest thrill a manager, a mentor, could feel? Without a doubt, it was watching your own player grow in real-time.
That was exactly what was happening now.
Lee Ji-an was a genius. But he himself didn't know it. No, perhaps he wanted to pretend he didn't know. That was just the kind of personality he had. His environment had made him that way.
And yet, a kid like that had just shown play that suggested he believed in himself.
"This is the joy of developing young players."
This was why being a youth coach was so rewarding. Only here could you watch your pupils grow day by day.
And that wasn't all. Being able to witness the birth of a star before anyone else—that was a privilege exclusive to youth coaches. When everyone else was raving about where this genius had come from, being able to brag that you'd known all along was quite enjoyable.
"Didn't you say it last time? That you were looking forward to a year from now?"
"What? Oh, right, I did say that."
"We might not even need to wait a year."
"Right. Let me revise that. I'm looking forward to next week. Next week."
Coach Luca and Manager Tony looked at Lee Ji-an and shook their heads in disbelief.
That insane talent that had hidden itself away was now stretching and awakening. They felt an urge to show that talent to the world as soon as possible.
*
The first half ended, and I returned to the locker room.
"Back there, you should have passed it faster."
"Hey, guys! Get back on defense faster! That was dangerous for us!"
"Are you going to keep losing your man in the box? Why do you keep ball-watching?!"
The locker room was noisy.
Although we had finished 1-0 up, perhaps the performance wasn't satisfying. Players were exchanging feedback and engaged in constant discussion.
Calling it feedback and discussion was one thing, but if you actually listened, it sometimes sounded like a fight.
In Italy, that level of exchange was actually considered a very polite discussion.
People here were just a bit... passionate by nature.
At first, even I misunderstood, but now I was used to it.
"Damn it! Get your heads on straight!"
...They're not fighting. Really.
They just express themselves a bit intensely, that's all.
"Hoo-"
Anyway.
Meanwhile, I sat quietly and let out a deep breath.
My body was hot. My neck felt a bit stiff too.
For some reason, my arms and legs were visibly trembling.
'That was insane.'
The tension and excitement were hitting me belatedly, only now washing over me like a wave. Even though it was just moments ago, I could barely remember what I had been thinking while playing.
I must have been so tense that I didn't even realize I was tense. That's why the aftershock was only hitting me now.
It felt like I had played the match almost unconsciously.
That's why I was able to make that choice at that moment.
Good lord.
To think I'd try to dribble the ball all the way up by myself and take a shot from there.
If I had been in my right mind, I wouldn't have done that.
Absolutely not.
I must have been temporarily insane to pull off something that ridiculous.
The funny thing was that it actually went in.
Probably because the opponents hadn't expected it either. They must not have anticipated some random black-haired kid they'd never seen or heard of would dare to try something like that.
They're probably dumbfounded right now too.
Well... anyway.
Although I was lucky, strangely enough, I didn't feel the usual anxiety.
Normally, whenever I performed beyond my capabilities, I would feel anxious. The pressure of wondering whether I could do it again next time, telling myself I had to.
But right now... I didn't feel that way.
What was the reason?
Maybe it was because I felt like I could do the same thing next time... like this wasn't just a fluke, but something I had achieved with my own ability.
You've really lost it, Lee Ji-an.
Acting like a genius for so long, you've started to actually think you are one. Even though you're just a fool desperate to be seen as a genius.
"Hoo-"
Anyway.
It wasn't enough yet.
45 minutes and only one goal? Ji-woo might interrogate me. Even if I argued that a genius can't score every match and that the opponent was a strong team and this was already impressive, that kind of excuse wouldn't work on someone as relentless as Ji-woo.
And I didn't want to make excuses like that anyway.
After talking such big game. It would be embarrassing.
More importantly... I was so out of it earlier that I forgot to do a celebration. If the match ended like this, Ji-woo might lecture me until my ears bled.
I had promised her before the game that I'd do a celebration if I scored.
I was taught that promises are meant to be kept.
It wasn't that I wanted to do a celebration for Ji-woo.
It was purely to keep my promise.
"Alright! Gather around, gather around!"
As the second half approached, Coach Luca called us over. We received instructions to keep in mind, and all together we shouted our battle cry.
"Forza-!"
"Viola-!!"
We left the locker room for the second half.
*
I didn't think I had much time left. When I was leaving the locker room earlier, Manager Tony had stopped me and checked on my condition.
I must have looked tired. He told me not to hesitate to raise my hand and signal if I felt like I couldn't continue, so I said I understood.
I could definitely feel that my body was heavy and my breathing was labored. It had been a while since I'd played this long, and I had expended so much concentration throughout the first half. I just hadn't realized it at the time, but I was clearly exhausted.
If that was the case, I needed to focus even more.
Short and intense.
Let's say I have exactly 10 minutes. In those 10 minutes, I would try to create just one more.
"Hold the line, hold the line!"
"Don't get pushed back!"
Was it because they were trailing by a goal? Or were they frustrated about conceding to someone like me?
From the moment the second half started, the opponents ramped up their intensity even more than at the beginning of the first half.
Their defensive line, which was already high, got even higher. To the point where their center-backs were past the halfway line, standing level with me.
Their determination to score an equalizer was palpable...
It was scary, but at the same time, it felt like an opportunity. Looking behind me, the space was wide open. There couldn't be a better environment for counter-attacks.
While covering as much space as I could, I cheered for our defense to win the ball.
At the same time, I ran simulations in my head, preparing for how to execute the counter-attack if we did win possession.
Throughout the first half, the opponents had attacked mainly from the left side... and it was the same now. They seemed to be trying to find an opening on the left... but because of that, the opposite side was left quite empty. So if we launched a counter-attack, we should utilize the space on the left side...
Paang-!
Ah, there it is.
The opponent's pass was intercepted.
I had been watching their attack while calculating in my head, and the moment their pass was cut off, I moved.
"Hey-!"
I ran toward the position I had been thinking about, calling for the ball.
Paang-!
When the ball came to me, I immediately played a through ball toward the left side, just as I had calculated.
Bwooong-!
And I ran.
I sprinted at full speed along the left Half Space.
I had deliberately put a bit of extra power on the pass.
Speed was the lifeblood of counter-attacks. I wanted to make use of Bruno's top speed.
I ran with everything I had to keep up with Bruno.
"Get back!"
"Slow him down!"
While running, I heard the opponent's urgent shouts, and hearing those voices gave me a bit of confidence. That I had made a good transition to counter-attack quickly.
And that confidence allowed me to move with conviction toward the next play in my calculation.
Paang-!
Bruno, who had been running ahead, received the ball.
In front of him was a pursuing opposing Fullback, and in the center, Enzo and the opposing defenders were racing toward the box.
But the opponent's response was actually pretty good.
The Fullback's recovery run was fast, successfully cutting off Bruno's path so he couldn't attack at speed.
With no other choice, just like early in the first half, Bruno began tapping the ball forward to take on the 1v1 at the left corner of the box.
I ran to Bruno's left.
To loop around and enter from the left side.
Tatatat-!
The moment I brushed past Bruno's back,
Tatat-!
Bruno cut inside toward the center.
Today, in situations like this, Bruno's choice had always been to shoot. The opposing defenders knew this too, so they closed in toward the goal to block.
However, Bruno's choice was not a shot.
Paaang-!
A through pass.
Bruno slipped a through pass toward the direction I was running—the left side of the box.
It was a combination we had already practiced in training. A route that turned Bruno's attack patterns—so simple they were called 'macros'—against the opponent.
Shwaaa-
The ball came sliding toward my feet.
I relaxed my ankle as much as possible and cushioned the ball gently. The ball slowed with a soft rustle and stopped about two steps ahead.
Everything up to this point had gone according to my calculations.
But from here on, even I didn't know.
Bwooooong-!
I just struck it with a 'whatever happens, happens' mentality.
It wasn't a situation where I could pick a specific target.
I was dying of exhaustion.
Fortunately, I think I hit it cleanly, but...
Shwoooosh-
...Is it too central?
No.
Actually, that's better.
Clang-!!
The shot sailed over the goalkeeper's head and buried itself inside the goal.
"..."
The moment I confirmed it, I looked for Ji-woo first. The promise... I had to keep it. Ah, there she was. Jumping up and down again. She seemed to be shouting something, but I could barely hear.
My heart felt like it was going to burst... but I ran toward her. Suddenly... something Ji-woo had said before came to mind. That your regular stomach and your dessert stomach were separate. That no matter how full you were from a meal, you could always eat dessert.
Why that came to mind just now, well.
I think it was because I found it fascinating that my body was still moving even though I felt too exhausted to run anymore.
Football stamina and celebration stamina are separate.
I might not have the energy to keep playing, but apparently I had enough left for a celebration.
I sent a two-finger salute toward Ji-woo.
Why would I do this again after getting teased about it?
I don't know either.
I don't know, but strangely, I started to look forward to the walk home with Ji-woo after the match ended.