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

The office door closed gently behind Yan Yuan, shutting out the silence of the training base at night.

Nagelsmann's office is not luxurious, but it is modern, with a huge tactical screen occupying one wall and shelves filled with books and data reports on the other.

Instead of immediately sitting down behind his large desk, Nash walked to a small workbench in the corner, where an exquisite coffee machine and various utensils were placed.

"sit,"

He gestured to the sofa, indicating that Yan Yuan should sit down.

Then he focused intently on operating the coffee machine, his movements practiced and skillful.

"Yan, try this. It's different from the 'fuel' in the base canteen."

Yan Yuan sat down as instructed, his body still somewhat tense, his gaze lowered, seemingly still pondering the disallowed goal and the yellow card that followed.

Nagelsmann, with his back to him, spoke calmly as he worked, as if recounting a long-ago anecdote.

"Yan, I still remember the first time I saw you on Hoffenheim's training ground. You were seventeen, like a little lion who never gave up." Nagelsmann's voice carried a hint of amusement.

"Back then, you were battling against the old guys on the team, getting knocked down several times, but you got up faster and faster each time. The fire in your eyes was terrifying."

At the time, I thought, "This kid is born to play soccer."

He turned around and placed a cup of deep-colored, fragrant coffee on the coffee table in front of Yan Yuan.

"Look at you now, you've become the captain and the soul of the team, but the core of you hasn't changed at all."

Still so competitive, so eager to win, even intolerant of the slightest seemingly unfair flaw—that's good, Yan, that's excellent. An athlete who loses their competitive spirit is like someone who has lost their soul.

Yan Yuan finally looked up, took the warm cup of coffee, but didn't drink it.

He watched as Nagelsmann sat down opposite him, his eyes filled with confusion and struggle.

"Coach," his voice was a little hoarse, "I know... I know what you said at the meeting. The world of football is not black and white."

I've watched too many matches, Maradona's Hand of God, Lampard's goal-line injustice...

But when it actually happened to me, in a derby like this, a moment that could decide the course of the season… I…” He shook his head vigorously.

"I still don't understand. Why? Why can't the rules be clearer? Why does victory have to be taken away this way? This feels... awful."

Nagelsmann did not answer immediately; he slowly sipped his coffee, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

After a moment, he put down the cup, leaned forward slightly, and looked deep in thought.

"Yan, let me tell you a story. I didn't make it up; an old coach told me it many years ago." Nagelsmann's voice slowed, taking on a narrative rhythm.

"Imagine you are a highly skilled carpenter, the best carpenter in the world."

You've acquired a flawless piece of wood, ready to craft a masterpiece. You've spent countless days and nights, exhausting all your skills, each cut precise, each detail perfect. Finally, the work is complete; it's breathtakingly beautiful.

Nasser paused, observing Yan Yuan's reaction, before continuing.

"But the night before you were about to show it to the world, a storm struck your workshop without warning."

The rain soaked the wood, causing it to warp slightly and develop a tiny crack that you would never have expected.

The next day, when people saw the work, they still marveled at its exquisite beauty, but someone would always point to the crack and say, "Look, what a pity, it's not perfect."

"If you were a carpenter, what would you do?" Nagelsmann looked into Yan Yuan's eyes.

"Would you ruin the whole piece because of this crack that you didn't cause? Would you give up carpentry altogether?"

Or would you accept that the crack is part of the artwork's destiny, and perhaps, someday in the future, when your skills are even more refined, try to cleverly incorporate the crack into your design, making it a unique treasure that carries a story?

Yan Yuan remained silent, the excitement in his eyes gradually subsiding, replaced by contemplation.

"Yan, the football field is your workshop."

Nagelsmann's tone became more forceful.

"The referee's misjudgment, the opponent's dirty tricks, and even an untimely rain are all part of that storm."

These are variables beyond your control; that disallowed goal was the 'crack.' It blemished your 'masterpiece'—this victory that should have been a perfect comeback. But the question is, do you want this crack to ruin your entire season's masterpiece? Do you want it to erode your confidence and affect your performance in the next game?

Nash shook his head and continued.

"Young man, a true master accepts imperfections and continues to move forward, proving with even more brilliant works that temporary setbacks cannot conceal true talent."

That crack, instead, becomes a driving force that inspires you to achieve even greater things. The gray area of ​​football lies in its ever-present unpredictability and variables, and the hallmark of great players and great teams is their ability to remain focused amidst these variables, carving out their own path to victory.

The office was completely silent.

The only sound was the faint hum of the coffee machine keeping the coffee warm.

Nagelsmann's words were like a key, slowly unlocking the lock in Yan Yuan's heart.

The confusion and anger in his eyes gradually faded, and something deeper and more resilient began to take shape.

After a long while, Yan Yuan let out a long sigh of relief.

He exhaled the breath he had been holding in his chest.

He raised his head, his gaze becoming clear and firm once again.

"I understand, coach. We can't let one crack hold us back. The game is over, the result can't be changed, but the season is still long."

Seeing his disciple regain his spirits, Nagelsmann smiled with satisfaction.

"That's right! Since Tottenham stole two points from us in this way," a sharp glint flashed in Nagelsmann's eyes.

"Then next time, at our Emirates Stadium, we'll make them pay double! With a resounding victory that leaves them speechless, we'll settle today's score with interest!"

"Definitely!" Yan Yuan's voice was resolute.

Then, he suddenly picked up the untouched cup of coffee, as if making a vow, tilted his head back and gulped it down in one go, his movements bold but slightly rough.

Nagelsmann was taken aback for a moment when he saw his protégé gulping down his coffee, then pointed to the empty cup with a wry smile.

"Hey! Yan, it's good to cheer up, but these are top-quality coffee beans that I specially sourced during my trip to Colombia! Are you just going to drink them like water? If you drink coffee like this again next time, I'll have to give you plain water."

Yan Yuan put down his cup, wiped his mouth, and showed his first smile since the competition ended, a smile tinged with a hint of teasing.

"Coach, as long as we win, I'll do anything for you, not just coffee, I'll even maintain the whole coffee machine for you next time. But to be honest, the taste... is quite unique, it's just a bit bitter."

"After hardship comes happiness, you know? Just like today's match!" Nagelsmann laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright, go back and get some rest. Tomorrow is training, and I want to see your best!"

"Yes!" Yan Yuan stood up, straightened his chest, and the gloom in his eyes was gone, replaced by familiar fighting spirit and the radiance of a leader.

He nodded solemnly to Nash, turned and left the office with firm and powerful steps.

……

Just as Nagelsmann successfully calmed the locker room's core members and the mentor and protégé reached a consensus on "double repayment," a storm of public opinion was just beginning to brew.

On the internet, especially on social media platforms.

The topic of "controversial refereeing decisions in the North London derby" has completely ignited the discussion.

Arsenal fans' anger erupted like a volcano, sweeping through every corner.

The latest victory celebration post on Tottenham's official account received over half a million comments in just a few hours, the vast majority of which were angry condemnations and sarcastic remarks from Arsenal fans:

"Congratulations! A draw stolen thanks to VAR! Great Tottenham, great 'fair play'!"

"I suggest you frame the ball used in this match and write on it: 'Thanks to VAR for the 1 point!'"

"Son Heung-min is indeed world-class, but the way you won was truly 'world-class' ugly!"

"Who's coming to Oliver's tonight?"

"The referee and the VAR referee should be nominated for Tottenham's Player of the Season award!"

Hashtags such as "#ShameOnSpurs" and "#VARcheat" quickly became trending topics.

Fans of Arsenal and Tottenham engaged in a fierce online war of words, exchanging insults and refusing to back down.

Offline conflicts also occasionally occur.

According to media reports, several Tottenham Hotspur official gift shops in North London were targeted by extreme Arsenal fans late at night after the match.

The store window was spray-painted with huge words like "Thieves" and "Disgrace" in red paint.

It was also sprayed with the Arsenal team crest.

Although the police intervened in time and prevented further damage, this egregious act further exacerbated the animosity between the two sets of fans.

Faced with overwhelming public opinion.

After remaining silent for most of the day, Arsenal Football Club finally made an extremely clever and intriguing response.

The official social media account did not post any comments directly questioning the referee, but instead updated with the following post:

Sometimes, the most beautiful goals are those that, even if they aren't recorded on the scoreboard, will remain forever in people's hearts. #Arsenal #LookForward #COYG

The caption was accompanied by a short video.

Arsenal officially edited together slow-motion replays from multiple angles of Yan Yuan's disallowed world-class goal.

From the initial kick to the beautiful arc it traces, and finally to the ball bouncing into the net, every moment is crystal clear and a feast for the eyes.

The video has no narration, only the original sound from the scene, and includes the deafening cheers from the away team's stands the moment the ball went into the net.

This post was immediately shared and interpreted wildly.

Without a single direct protest, it was more powerful than any vehement words.

It subtly guides people to re-examine the perfection of that "invalid" goal, silently conveying the immense grievances and injustices felt by the club and its fans.

It also expresses a "looking forward" attitude, revealing a broad vision.

The comments under this post became an outlet for gun fans to vent their emotions:

"We officials really know how to play the game!"

"I'll never forget this goal! To hell with VAR! To hell with the referee! To hell with Tottenham!"

"We've been wronged, but we won't wallow in it! That's the true spirit of a wealthy family!"

"Captain Yan, let's get this done next time!"

The tension in North London didn't dissipate after the match ended; instead, it spread from the stadium to the internet and the streets.

Under Nagelsmann's leadership, Arsenal has stabilized its morale and transformed its anger into motivation.

Everyone knows that the seeds sown by this draw will surely bear even more intense fruit in their next encounter.