After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

(Bonus chapter, thank you all for your support)

Early in the morning, the Huocun training base was quiet.

Inside the club's main building, at the end of the corridor leading to the head coach's office, a tall, straight figure stood quietly in front of the closed oak door.

It was Yan Yuan.

Today, he was wearing a loose-fitting Hoffenheim training uniform.

The wound on his forehead was almost invisible, and his right thigh was also mostly healed, but there was still a slight discomfort.

However, compared to this physical discomfort...

The guilt and regret swirling in Yan Yuan's heart at this moment were what truly made him uncomfortable.

Today, he must be here to tell someone what's on his mind.

"Da...da..."

The quiet of the corridor was broken by familiar footsteps.

The footsteps sounded slightly tired, yet still carried a clear rhythm.

Yan Yuan raised his head.

Nagelsmann appeared at the end of the corridor, walking towards his office.

He carried a leather briefcase, wore a well-pressed but slightly wrinkled suit jacket, and his face showed an undeniable weariness; the dark circles under his eyes were clearly visible even in the dim light.

Although that match happened several days ago.

But the pressure from that night at the Bernabéu and the subsequent events clearly still lingers on him.

He kept his head down, seemingly deep in thought, until he was almost at the office door when he saw Yan Yuan standing there.

"Yan?" Nagelsmann was somewhat surprised. He stopped, frowned slightly, and looked his beloved student over.

"You...why are you here so early? Is something the matter?" His voice was as gentle as ever, but there was a weariness that had settled down after experiencing great ups and downs.

Nash's gaze towards Yan Yuan still held deep concern.

He instinctively glanced at the bandage on Yan Yuan's right leg:

"How are your legs feeling? Didn't I tell you to rest more? Why are you up so early today?"

Yan Yuan did not answer immediately.

He looked at the coach's tired but concerned face.

The image of that face, with tears streaming down her face for him not long ago in the hospital, instantly flooded my mind.

at last.

Yan Yuan's courage and emotions, which he had been building up all night, could no longer be contained at this moment.

Yan Yuan took a deep breath, and then...

He didn't speak, but suddenly took a step forward.

With a decisive and emotional force, he opened his arms and embraced his head coach tightly.

Nagelsmann's body stiffened for a moment.

The briefcase fell to the clean floor with a thud, making a dull echo.

He had not expected this at all.

Yan Yuan's strong arms were wrapped around him, his forehead almost touching his shoulder.

This usually calm and composed young commander was caught off guard by the sudden hug.

After a few seconds of deathly silence, Nagelsmann subconsciously raised his hand and gently patted his disciple's back, his voice filled with astonishment and even more confusion:

"Yan? What's wrong with you?" He felt that Yan Yuan's embrace was unusually strong, and even slightly trembling.

"Coach..." Yan Yuan's voice came from Nagelsmann's shoulder, muffled, yet like the opening of an emotional floodgate, carrying an unprecedented heaviness and choked sobs:

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...I'm really sorry!"

Yan Yuan loosened his grip slightly, took a half step back, and instead of picking up the briefcase from the ground, he looked up, his eyes already red.

His clear gaze met Nagelsmann's surprised and even somewhat bewildered eyes.

He began to speak, his voice no longer the calm it displayed on the field or the gentle one he usually wore, but filled with urgency, regret, and a desperate need to reveal himself:

"Coach... I'm so sorry... for what I did at the Bernabéu that night... for my damn stubbornness and naivety..." He spoke quickly, as if he was pouring out the words that had been stuck in his heart, each word carrying the weight of a hammer blow.

"At that time... all I knew was to fight! All I knew was that I had to win! All I knew was that I couldn't give up even the slightest hope! But... I never even considered... refusing to leave the court... I just stubbornly held on... that's not courage at all! That's not responsibility!"

Yan Yuan shook his head excitedly, large tears rolling uncontrollably down his face, which was filled with regret.

"That was selfish! Utterly selfish! I was only thinking about my responsibilities, about scoring goals... about proving something... but I never put myself in your shoes..."

I never imagined how agonizing it must have been for you to see me bleeding profusely and struggling on the field from the sidelines! You wanted to take me off immediately!

But I… but I waved goodbye like a fool! I rejected your kindness time and time again! I ignored your concerns and responsibilities!

Nagelsmann's gaze gradually shifted from initial surprise to a complex and moved expression.

He looked at his beloved student, who was sobbing uncontrollably, and listened to the deep self-reproach contained in his hoarse voice.

In that instant, the taut string of self-blame and worry in Nagelsmann's heart seemed to be gently plucked by something.

"I made you suffer and be in pain... at the very moment when you should have decisively exercised your head coaching authority... because of my stubbornness! After the game, you were in the hospital... in front of my parents, you blamed yourself so much... and shed tears of guilt... but it wasn't your fault at all!"

"It was me! It was me who forced you to fail in your responsibility to protect me! It was me who made you bear pressure and pain you shouldn't have had to endure!" Yan Yuan's voice grew louder and louder as he waved his arms excitedly, the wound on his forehead becoming increasingly glaring in the morning light.

"And my parents... did you see how heartbroken they were that night? I... I was only thinking about playing football and forgot that I'm their only son!"

My willful and reckless behavior almost broke their hearts!

And my teammates… Gnabry, Amiri, Maguire, De Jong, Vogt… they were all worried sick about me… all of this… all because of my own stubborn insistence!”

Yan Yuan finally couldn't continue speaking; his shoulders trembled as he sobbed violently.

Tears blurred my vision, and a salty taste filled my mouth.

Now, he is like a child who has finally broken through his hard shell, revealing his soft and vulnerable inner self.

In front of his mentor, he shattered the "individual heroism" that had been shrouded in glory that night.

Nagelsmann looked at his beloved student, who was trembling with tears, and listened to his heartfelt words, full of self-reflection and even harsh criticism.

The self-blame, confusion, and worry that had lingered in Nash's heart for so many days and nights melted away little by little, like ice and snow under the sun.

Nagelsmann originally thought that he would have to guide Yan Yuan slowly and spend time using training and matches to strengthen Yan Yuan's understanding of the team and his own health.

That takes time, patience, and even more time to work things out.

But he never expected that this young genius, who was usually humble but extremely confident and even a little stubborn, would so profoundly tear off his own "personal hero" persona.

He so sincerely and without reservation analyzed his "mistakes" and apologized for the "harm" he had caused to him, his parents, and his teammates.

This sincerity and courage, which exceeded his expectations; this calm reflection after the impulsiveness; this maturity that dared to face his inner self and acknowledge his imperfections…

While Nagelsmann's heart clenched painfully, a tremendous and unparalleled sense of relief welled up within him.

Nagelsmann's heart was in suspense.

At this moment.

Only then did I truly and completely let go.

A surge of heat rushed up his nose, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Alright, silly boy..." Nagelsmann's voice was also nasal, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

He reached out, no longer in the posture of a coach, but like an older brother or a father, and pulled the still sobbing Yan Yuan into his arms again, patting his back forcefully.

"It's all in the past...it's all in the past..." His voice choked with emotion, carrying a sigh of relief and immense comfort.

"You don't need to apologize...you really don't...you did it for the team, for the victory...I understand everything you did, every single second you were on the court."

He loosened his arms slightly, cupped Yan Yuan's tear-streaked face in his hands, and said earnestly, word by word:

"Yan, look at me. You don't need to apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing. At that time, I should have been firmer and made you get out of there... That was my responsibility..."

Seeing Yan Yuan shaking his head as if trying to explain, Nagelsmann stopped him with a look and continued.

"but!"

His tone suddenly became solemn and full of relief:

"But the fact that you can stand here today and say these words to me..."

Do you know...?

This is more valuable than 10 goals you've scored against Real Madrid, and it makes me...as your coach... so proud! Because it shows...you really...really..." He seemed to be searching for the most accurate words, finally revealing them with immense certainty and emotion:

"I've grown up... I've really grown up!"

Nagelsmann wiped away Yan Yuan's tears with his thumb.

"Good lad!" he repeated, giving Yan Yuan's shoulder a firm squeeze, a relieved smile finally appearing on his face, despite the tear stains.

To ease the overly heavy and touching atmosphere, Nagelsmann deliberately used a lighthearted, even joking, tone:

"Look at you crying, your eyes are all swollen. You've ruined your handsome looks. If your teammates see this, they'll think I, the head coach, am taking my anger out on you first thing in the morning."

Yan Yuan was moved to tears by his joke, and sniffled a little embarrassedly, wiping his face haphazardly with the back of his hand.

The release of his emotions and the affirmation from his mentor made him feel as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from his heart, and he felt much more relaxed.

Nagelsmann straightened up, bent down to pick up his fallen briefcase, dusted it off, and resumed his coaching tone:

"Listen now, kid, the team will always need you, of course, but right now..."

He pointed to Yan Yuan's forehead and right leg.

"You need time for your last few minor injuries to completely heal, and you also need time to calm down and accomplish another equally important task!"

He looked intently into Yan Yuan's eyes:

"Yan, next week is the German university entrance exam, right? Don't think I don't know you have review materials tucked in the back of your training notes."

Although your injury has mostly healed, you are still a little short of being ready to play in competitive matches.

Most importantly, you must give it your all to overcome the hurdle of the college entrance examination. Football is important, but your life extends beyond the football field.

Seeing that Yan Yuan seemed about to offer a guarantee, Nagelsmann waved his hand to interrupt him:

"Don't rush to express your opinion. My plan is: from today until the end of the college entrance examination."

Your primary tasks are only two: First, strictly follow the medical team's rehabilitation plan and carry out restorative training, with the goal of completely resolving the thigh problem.

Second, immerse yourself in your studies and focus on preparing for the exam. Except for necessary physical therapy and recovery, all other training is suspended. You can sit in on team tactical meetings, but avoid participating in high-intensity discussions. Forget about the game for now.

His tone left no room for argument:

"As for leagues and cup competitions?"

And there's me, Gnabry, Maguire, and the others. You don't need to worry. Your teammates are all as reliable as you are.

But what you need to do now is to get yourself back to 100% health and get a college entrance exam score report that will make you and your parents proud!

Do you understand? This is an order!

Yan Yuan looked into the coach's eyes, which were filled with concern and undeniable authority, and saw the clear plan that the coach had laid out for him.

This is not a discussion, it is an order, a protection, and a sharing of responsibility.

Yan Yuan was filled with endless gratitude.

He straightened his back, and although tears still clung to his face, his gaze had regained its clarity and determination, carrying the solemnity of a soldier receiving an order.

"Understood, Coach!" Yan Yuan's voice was steady and strong.

"I promise I will follow your instructions diligently! I will recover well! I will study hard! I will prepare for the college entrance examination with all my might! I will not be distracted by football! And I will never let you and the team down!"

Finally, he looked deeply at Nagelsmann once more, his eyes, which were now even clearer after crying, brimming with the most genuine and profound emotions:

"Coach... thank you! Really... thank you!"

Looking at his disciple, who had shed his youthful naiveté and whose upright posture and solemn promise had finally brought a warm smile of relief, hope, and anticipation to his face.

Nasser reached out his hand, said nothing more, and patted Yan Yuan's shoulder hard again.

Then, he used the key to open the office door.

As he stepped into the office, he stopped, without turning around, but his voice came clearly:

"Go on, kid. Go to the cafeteria for a proper breakfast, then report to the physiotherapy room. Don't let me see you hanging around the training field again for the next couple of days!"

Yan Yuan watched the coach's figure disappear behind the door.

Hearing that last sentence, which was full of care and a slight warning, a smile involuntarily curved the corners of my mouth.

He reached out and gently touched the Hoffenheim team crest on his chest.

Daylight finally broke, and the morning sun illuminated the corridor.

Yan Yuan strode forward into the morning light.