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

(Yan Yuan's future right-hand man in the England national team, his good junior, Bellingham, makes his debut.)

The restaurant's renovation project was completed efficiently and successfully thanks to the hard work of the professional team and the coordination of Yan's father.

Watching his mother bustling about in the new kitchen with obvious joy, and watching his father chatting and laughing with regular guests at the brand-new oak dining table in the front hall, Yan Yuan felt a growing sense of accomplishment.

The warmth of home truly surrounded him.

The holiday time began to become relaxed and pleasant.

There were no intense training schedules, no early morning flights, only the long-lost slow pace of home and the companionship of parents' rambling conversations.

That afternoon, a rare ray of winter sunlight pierced through the clouds outside the window, casting a lazy warmth.

With nothing to do at home, Yan Yuan was instructed by his mother to go to the attic to sort through old things.

In a cardboard box covered with a thin layer of dust, he pulled out a thick old photo album.

Curious, I brushed away the dust, opened the hard cover, and found inside were photos bearing the marks of time.

Most of the photos are of Yan Yuan as a child, some of him taking his first steps in the park, some of him holding up kindergarten crafts, and many more of him wearing various sportswear, especially soccer gear.

As he flipped through the pages, his finger stopped on a photo that was slightly newer and larger in size.

The background of the photo is the familiar training ground of the Birmingham City Football Club youth academy.

A group of boys aged 12 or 13, wearing blue and white or yellow and green training vests, stood or squatted, surrounding their coach, their faces beaming with youthful yet energetic smiles.

One of them was a boy with a handsome Asian face, short, spiky hair, a bright smile, and piercing eyes.

The boy was 12-year-old Yan Yuan.

The date is clearly marked in white pen below the photo.

Summer 2012

The floodgates of memory were suddenly flung open. 2012 was Yan Yuan's first year officially entering the Birmingham youth academy.

From age 12 to 15, a full three years, filled with sweat, tears, mud, running, the frustration of defeat, and the ecstasy of scoring...

Those deep and shallow footprints left on the clay and artificial turf fields of the youth training camp, those moments of being scolded or gently instructed by the coach, those scenes of competing with teammates for a ball or a contest and then making up in the blink of an eye... all flooded my mind like a tide.

The sky back then seemed much higher and farther than it is now;

Yan Yuan suddenly longed to go back and see the training ground that held the passion of his youth.

Without hesitation, he took out his phone, found and dialed that familiar number.

This number belongs to Gareth White, the former head coach of the Birmingham Youth Academy and now the coordinator of the entire youth training system.

"Mr. Gareth, I'm Yan, do you remember me?"

"Yan...Yan! Oh my god! It really is you! Of course I remember, I've always remembered!" The voice on the other end of the phone was full of surprise. "You're a big shot who's making waves all over Europe now!"

"Coach, please don't make fun of me," Yan Yuan said with an embarrassed smile, his tone sincere.

"I'm back in Birmingham now, on vacation, and I suddenly really want to come back and visit. Is it convenient for me?"

"Convenient, of course convenient! You're so welcome!" Coach White's voice instantly rose, filled with pride. "The fact that you thought of coming back to visit is the greatest affirmation for our academy! You are one of our star graduates. When are you coming? Today or tomorrow? I guarantee everyone you want to see will be there!" He was even a little incoherent.

"No need to trouble yourself, Coach, I just want to take a look around," Yan Yuan quickly said. "It's a bit late today, how about tomorrow afternoon? It's fine if you're free."

"Okay, then tomorrow afternoon."

...

The next afternoon, the weather remained gloomy, with a light drizzle falling and a chilling dampness in the air.

Yan Yuan did not take a car, but chose to ride a bicycle, following the familiar road to the Birmingham youth training base located on the outskirts of the city.

After arriving at the youth training camp base.

The base gate is still the same as I remember it, with a few more traces of time.

The security guard, clearly having been informed beforehand, saw Yan Yuan approaching wearing a hat and mask. After carefully observing his exposed eyes, he immediately and warmly opened the door to let him in.

"It's Yan! Welcome back. Mr. White is waiting for you! Just walk straight ahead and you'll see him!"

With the winter break and Christmas approaching, the Birmingham youth training ground was less bustling with noise and whistles than usual.

Most of the young players have already gone home for the holidays, with only a few scattered on the wet grass. These are the children who live nearby or are particularly dedicated, and they have voluntarily stayed behind for extra practice.

Yan Yuan slowed his pace and walked to the edge of the iron fence at the edge of one of the areas.

This was also the place where he used to work up a sweat.

The field is a bit old, and some of the grass is a little sparse, but he can still see himself chasing the ball tirelessly back then.

"Quick! Send it to me!"

"This side! It's leaked!"

"nice shot!"

A clear, slightly childish shout came from a small goal area not far away, accompanied by a rhythmic "thump thump" of shots.

Birmingham's youth academy is never short of young people who love football.

Coach Gareth spotted Yan Yuan in the distance, strode over from the office area, and gave him a warm hug.

"Good lad! Welcome home! Our star graduate!"

"Thank you, Mr. Gareth, you're just as handsome as you were back then!"...

After exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Gareth for a while, Yan Yuan decided to continue walking around and looking at the surroundings.

He wandered alone through the empty training grounds.

The cold wind swept across the bare tree trunks and blew on his face, yet it made him feel unusually clear-headed.

The synthetic running track, the grass field, the iron goalposts beneath my feet...

Everything was still the same as he remembered, except that the old coaches he used to look up to had aged considerably, and the figures who ran alongside him back then had been replaced by younger, newer faces.

Soon, Yan Yuan's gaze was drawn to a figure on a small basketball court in the far distance.

It was a young Black boy who looked quite young. He was slightly thin but well-proportioned, and he was practicing passing and receiving the ball quickly against the wall by himself.

His movements are fluid and powerful, his touches on the ball are concise and forceful, his ball control is precise, and he passes the ball to the wall at different heights and with different spins, then stops, adjusts, and passes it again with precision.

The pace was fast, with not a single unnecessary movement. The way he was completely absorbed in the performance reminded Yan Yuan of his younger self.

The boy seemed to sense a gaze from afar and subconsciously turned his head during a brief pause in the ball's movement.

When his gaze fell upon that tall and familiar figure standing outside the fence at the side of the field, his eyes widened instantly!

Clearly, the boy recognized who was standing in front of him!

Yan Yuan smiled and nodded at the black teenager.

The boy was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with an unbelievable and overwhelming joy!

He even forgot about the ball at his feet, dropped it, and rushed over like a gust of wind!

Through the metal fence, the boy's chest heaved slightly with excitement and running. He breathed heavily, his eyes shining brightly as he stared at the dark blue down jacket Yan Yuan was wearing over his training uniform.

"Yan...Yan! Are you Yan?! The Bundesliga and Champions League top scorer! My God, this...this is so exciting!"

Yan Yuan was infected by his pure excitement, and his smile deepened: "It's me, hello, what's your name, how old are you?"

"Hello, I... my name is Zud, Zud Bellingham! I'm 14 years old!"

Young Bellingham rattled off his name and age in heavily Birmingham-accented English, becoming somewhat incoherent with excitement.

Because his idol was right in front of him.

Yan Yuan's name is now a household name in European football, especially in England and for the kids playing in the youth teams; he is practically the embodiment of a dream come true.

Not to mention that Yan Yuan, like him, grew up in the Birmingham youth training camp.

Bellingham idolized this star senior, who was only three years older than him but had achieved such terrifying results.

Yan Yuan looked into Bellingham's earnest eyes and said approvingly:

"Zu De, I watched your practice for a while just now. You were very focused, and your basic movements were very solid. I think you played very well."

This affirmation from his idol made Bellingham's face flush instantly. He nervously clenched the hem of his shirt, but the excitement and joy in his eyes were almost overflowing.

"Thank you! Thank you so much! I play in midfield, and my goal is to become a player like Zidane!"

Bellingham passionately expressed his goals.

Yan Yuan nodded and looked at him gently: "The midfield is very important, and you seem to have that potential."

At the same time, I hope you can maintain this effort and develop your talent. I believe you will definitely become a star player in the future.

This incredibly sincere encouragement was a huge boost for Bellingham.

Bellingham's eyes brightened, and he straightened his back, nodding vigorously. "I definitely will! Thank you! I... I'll try my best to catch up with my senior mate first!"

(In English context, "senior" refers to a senior or senior colleague)

He has already started calling him "senior brother" naturally, and his eyes are already sparkling a little.

The address made Yan Yuan pause slightly, and then a warm feeling and a wonderful sense of connection welled up in his heart.

This is a feeling that belongs to "fellow disciples".

Two people, though separated by age, but connected by their shared passion for football and youth academy, chatted happily.

The two chatted in the cold wind, but their conversation became increasingly lively.

"Senior, what is your dream now?" Bellingham asked curiously, his eyes full of curiosity.

Yan Yuan looked at the hazy sky above the training ground and said:

"My current dream... is, of course, to help Hoffenheim win championships, whether it's the league or the Champions League, we'll fight with all our might for every one of them. As for the future..."

He turned to look at Bellingham's young face, a hint of longing in his eyes: "I hope that one day I can wear the England jersey and, together with everyone, bring back the European Championship and the World Cup!"

The dream of the Three Lions Legion was deeply rooted in Yan Yuan's heart.

Upon hearing this, Bellingham's eyes instantly lit up like stars: "Really?! Me too! Senior! My dream is also to help the England national team win a trophy! I also want to wear the national team jersey one day!"

Bellingham shared the same ideal.

Seeing how enthusiastic Bellingham was, Yan Yuan couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Looking into Bellingham's eager eyes, he said confidently, "That day will come, but only if you become stronger."

Next, the two brothers, who are three years apart in age, completely revolved their conversation around football.

Bellingham, like a thirsty student, began to bombard the audience with questions about training, matches, positional awareness, and reading the game.

Yan Yuan, a 17-year-old star player who has already proven his exceptional vision and strategic thinking in the Bundesliga and Champions League.

At this moment, he shared with Bellingham the valuable experience he had accumulated behind his stellar performance in the past half-season without reservation.

Although Yan Yuan plays as a right winger, his insight into the overall situation on the field, his understanding of space, and his anticipation of his teammates' runs are all quite good, surpassing most midfielders.

This knowledge is precisely the essence that the midfield playmaker needs to master.

Yan Yuan shared with Bellingham how he observes the subtle movements of the opponent's defense and how he judges the most comfortable passing route and timing for his teammates.

He even cited examples from his own league and Champions League matches.

"Remember, Zud, midfielders are like the brain. When you're off the ball, your eyes and brain need to be ahead of everyone else. Every time a teammate gets the ball, you need to think of at least two or three ways to receive or protect them in advance."

"For example, when handling the ball under pressure, turning isn't the only way to break the deadlock. Sometimes passing back to the defenders to reorganize is a smarter choice, like our last game against Dortmund..."

Yan Yuan also carefully guided Bellingham in practicing several quick turns to break free from pressure, including the placement of his supporting foot and small changes of direction, and personally demonstrated them several times.

Then, pointing to the training field not far away, he asked Bellingham:

"Zude, look at that small area of ​​competition just now. When you get the ball, what should be your first thought?"

Bellingham thought carefully for a moment and then answered:

"It should be... how to protect the ball, or pass it to a teammate in a better position?"

"Yes, but not enough." Yan Yuan traced invisible areas and lines in the air with his finger.

"You see, the first thing to do is observe the opponent's pressing route and intensity. Is it one person aggressively pressing forward, or two people slowly surrounding them? This determines whether your next step is to break through directly or to protect the ball and turn around."

The second thing to do is check your teammates' positions. Is the nearest support point being heavily marked? Can you exploit any openings in the distance? Where is the weakest point in the enemy's defense?

During an attack, midfielders often only have two seconds, one second, or even a fraction of a second with the ball.

You must act like a high-speed computer, instantly evaluating all this information and then choosing the optimal solution:

Should I dribble a couple of steps to draw the defense before passing? Or should I launch a long pass behind the defense? Or should I pass it back to the defensive midfielder to reorganize the game?

Yan Yuan spoke very seriously, and Bellingham listened intently, his brows furrowed as he tried to digest this "practical information" that far exceeded his daily training content.

This is no longer just about technique, but also about understanding the game, and the perception and calculation of space and time.

"Senior brother, how do we improve this ability?" Bellingham asked.

Seeing his eager eyes, Yan Yuan gave the answer directly:

"Watch the games! Watch lots of games, and watch them purposefully! Don't just focus on where the ball is."

"Then what are you looking at?"

"Watch the off-the-ball movement of a high-level midfield maestro!"

Look at Modric, De Bruyne, or Kroos. Where do they move to receive the ball when they don't have it?

Is it to provide a safe passing option on the side of the defensive midfielder, or to quietly move forward between the opponent's defensive midfielder and center-back to create a threat?

When the opponent's defense is stretched thin, will they be able to spot the opening and exploit it? That's what you need to learn.

"It also depends on the player with the ball's handling of the situation under pressure. Why did he pass the ball that way? If you were in that situation, would you have had a better option? What impact did his pass have on the team's overall attacking rhythm? Did it accelerate or stabilize the game?"

"And then, most importantly," Yan Yuan said, slowing his pace and enunciating each word clearly.

"Review the video of your own matches! Don't just watch the goal and assist highlights."

We need to analyze the moment we lost possession. Why? Was it a misjudgment or poor handling? When we regained possession but failed to mount an effective attack, where did the problem lie?

Was it that you didn't properly observe your teammates' positions before receiving the ball, or that your passing timing was a fraction too slow? Every mistake is a valuable lesson.

Bellingham nodded repeatedly as he listened to Yan Yuan's words, wishing he could memorize everything he heard, and occasionally repeating the key points:

"Observe in advance... provide good angles to support teammates... passing back is also an option... review the game..."

Yan Yuan shared his accumulated knowledge with his talented junior brother without reservation.

Bellingham finally realized that his senior, who was a scoring threat on the wing, also had a profound understanding of the midfield and tactical reading.

Before we knew it, the sky had gradually darkened.

The lights along the field came on, casting long shadows on the ground.

Coach Gareth came over and kindly reminded the two young men that it was getting late and the training ground should be locked.

"Yan, Zude, you two young men should go home now."

Bellingham was then struck by the passage of time, and his face was immediately filled with reluctance.

Yan Yuan also prepared to leave.

"Senior! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Bellingham extended his hand, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I learned so much today! Thank you so much!"

Yan Yuan squeezed his still somewhat thin but powerful hand tightly:

"Work hard, Zude. Remember what I said: think more and review more. I hope that one day we can all wear the Three Lions jersey."

His eyes were filled with expectations for this talented and hardworking junior.

Watching Bellingham nod vigorously in the cold wind, his eyes burning with renewed fighting spirit, Yan Yuan felt a warmth in his heart.

He bent down, picked up the soccer ball Bellingham had just used for practice, and gently tossed it to him.

"Let's continue, future stars, may we all meet at the highest point."

Bellingham caught the ball steadily, holding it close to his chest as if holding a precious promise:

"I will! Goodbye, senior! Have a safe journey!"

Yan Yuan waved goodbye to Bellingham and turned to leave, accompanied by Gareth.

Behind him, in the dim light, the young Bellingham stood ramrod straight, holding the soccer ball, watching Yan Yuan disappear in the direction of the gate.

The cold wind brought a chill, but at that moment, Bellingham felt a burning flame within him.

As Yan Yuan rode his bike back, he recalled their encounter and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Returning to familiar ground, I met a junior colleague with boundless potential and unwavering passion. I shared my experiences and encouraged his dreams...

This feeling is wonderful and amazing.