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

After the match, Yan Yuan did not immediately return to the locker room.

His gaze passed over his cheering teammates and landed on the back of a man on the other side of the tunnel, being comforted by his Manchester City teammates and leaving the field with intense resentment.

Kevin De Bruyne.

Even on a night when Manchester City struggled overall, this Belgian midfielder's performance still shone with the brilliance of a master.

His passing vision, precise footwork, and ability to create opportunities in tight spaces filled Yan Yuan with respect and a strong desire to learn.

Without much hesitation, Yan Yuan took a deep breath, pushed through the crowd, and strode over.

De Bruyne had just taken a towel from a staff member to wipe his sweat, his face showing disappointment and extreme fatigue after the match.

De Bruyne was slightly taken aback when he saw the Hoffenheim number 17 blocking his way.

[This is the talented young man who shares the same number as him; Guardiola has been mentioning him a lot lately.]

"Kevin," Yan Yuan began, speaking in fluent Birmingham English, "your performance was fantastic. May I exchange jerseys with you?"

Yan Yuan pointed to his own jersey, then to De Bruyne's.

De Bruyne looked at the much younger, talented player in front of him who had pierced Manchester City's defense and scored the winning goal in this match.

The frustration of defeat had not yet dissipated, but there was not a trace of the arrogance of a victor in Yan Yuan's eyes, only pure appreciation and a thirst for knowledge.

A look of surprise flashed across De Bruyne's eyes, then he nodded, giving a somewhat tired but sincere smile.

"Of course." Without saying a word, he simply took off his sweat-soaked sky-blue number 17 jersey.

Yan Yuan immediately took off his blue and white size 17 and handed it over.

The two exchanged jerseys.

"Congratulations on your victory," De Bruyne said sincerely as he took Yan Yuan's jersey. "Your goal was very calm, world-class, especially the final touch."

"Thank you, Kevin!" Yan Yuan's eyes lit up. "Your pass was real magic, especially that move in the middle and the subsequent surge forward—the timing and power were perfect..."

He paused for a moment, seemingly unable to find the perfect words to describe it, and then cut straight to the question that concerned him most:

"By the way, Kevin, before that counter-attack, around the 38th minute, you received the ball in our half-space, facing a double-team. How did you spot that tiny opening at the far post in Sané? I don't think you even looked up?"

De Bruyne was somewhat surprised by Yan Yuan's keen observation and his desire to explore details.

He wiped his sweat and thought about it carefully.

"It's more of a...feeling? I can't quite put my finger on it."

My experience in the game tells me that my teammates will habitually be there at that position and at that time.

You need to understand your teammates' movement habits, like an unconscious reaction after a radar scan has been performed hundreds of times.

Of course, this assumes that in the few seconds before you receive the ball, you have already mentally visualized the positions of the surrounding players.

De Bruyne roughly gestured with his hands to indicate where he was standing at the time.

Yan Yuan listened intently, like the most attentive student.

He then asked, "Under such intense pressure, how could you still deliver such accurate through balls? Was there any technique involved? Or was it your core strength that was at play?"

Looking into Yan Yuan's eyes, De Bruyne felt as if he were seeing his younger self.

He patiently explained: "Core strength is certainly important, as it is the foundation of stability, but when passing the ball under pressure, the key is balance."

An opponent's collision will cause your body to sway. You need to learn to generate power with minimal movement at the moment your body is disturbed, somewhat like... using someone else's momentum? Find the point of force generation and the point of contact with the ball, and maintain core stability amidst the body sway.

Ding Ding was very enthusiastic. He gave Yan Yuan a simple demonstration of the coordinated movements of being hit and passing the ball.

The brief exchange gave Yan Yuan a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

While De Bruyne couldn't possibly reveal all the secrets in a few words, the guidance from such a top midfield maestro is invaluable.

"Thank you so much, Kevin! This is so inspiring!" Yan Yuan said sincerely.

"You're very talented, and your vision is excellent. Keep it up," De Bruyne said approvingly, patting him on the shoulder. Then, he took out his phone.

"Could we exchange contact information? Perhaps we can exchange ideas more often in the future."

"Of course!" Yan Yuan and De Bruyne exchanged contact information verbally.

"See you at Etihad next time," De Bruyne said with a shy smile.

"See you next time!" Yan Yuan nodded vigorously.

Two number 17s, two talented midfielders from different camps and nearly ten years apart in age, engaged in a brief but sincere technical exchange after a fierce 90-minute match, bound by their jerseys and using football as a bridge.

Kevin De Bruyne's interaction rate increased by 30%.

……

The undercurrents in the world of football never subside with the end of a single match.

Just as the entire Hoffenheim team was immersed in the immense joy of defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the first leg.

While Yan Yuan was still reflecting on his conversation with De Bruyne...

Far away in Munich, a conspiracy targeting Hoffenheim's key player has already begun.

The meeting room at Bayern Munich after the match.

Rummenigge, Hoeneß, Salihamidzic and other senior officials gathered in the conference room.

On the huge projection screen, clips of Hoffenheim's match against Manchester City were playing repeatedly.

Especially Yan Yuan's fatal blow, Nagelsmann's composed command from the sidelines, and Maguire's repeated, despairing aerial dominance.

The atmosphere inside the meeting room was both solemn and intense.

"Did you all see that?" Hoeneß broke the silence first, his voice deep and carrying an undeniable authority.

"It's Nagelsmann again! With such scarce resources, he managed to lead Hoffenheim to victory against Guardiola's Manchester City with such a brilliant tactical setup!"

This isn't just luck; it's true coaching art! The ultimate utilization of space, the precise integration of player abilities!

His gaze swept intently over everyone, finally settling on Salihamidzic's face:

"Salihamidzic! We must speed things up! We can't hesitate any longer! These two, Nagelsmann and Yan Yuan, are not just our targets; they have already proven themselves to be the cornerstones of Bayern's future!"

A top-tier coach capable of building a dynasty, and a striker destined to shine on the world stage!

"But, Uli," Salihamidzic replied, his brow furrowed.

"Hoffenheim is on a roll and has gone so far in the Champions League, so they are very ambitious."

Also, don't forget, Yan's father is a shrewd Chinese businessman. He's said to be very cautious and decisive; direct contact would be too risky.

Hoeneß's lips curled into a cold and shrewd smile: "Direct contact? No, what we need to do is create a momentum."

A force that began to shake Hoffenheim, making Nagelsmann and Yan Yuan feel the call of a higher stage.

He paused, a shrewd glint in his eyes, "For example, sending some positive signals to Nagelsmann."

……

Then, Bayern's "open strategy" began.

A few days later, at what appeared to be an ordinary football business event, Hoeneß "casually" gave an interview to a reporter from the German Press Agency (dpa).

The topic naturally revolves around Hoffenheim's stunning performance against Manchester City.

"Julian Nagelsmann?" Hoeneß looked at the camera, a smile of undisguised admiration on his face.

"He is an amazing genius. The tactical wisdom and on-field command he has shown are rare and valuable assets in today's football world."

At his age, he was able to lead a team with limited resources to great success in both the Champions League and the Bundesliga, even defeating the then-dominant Manchester City...

This requires exceptional courage and insight! Bayern Munich will always appreciate and respect such wisdom.

His words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, especially the last few words "Bayern Munich," where the emphasis was just right, yet it seemed like a mere casual mention.

The report immediately sparked a frenzy of media interpretation!

"Hoeneß publicly praises Nagelsmann!"

"Clear signal? Bayern Munich locks in Hoffenheim's young coach!"

Will Nagelsmann be Bayern Munich's next leader?

Sensational headlines instantly dominated the sports section.

The atmosphere was somewhat delicate in the office of Hoffenheim's chairman, Hopp.

The executives sat together, and a tablet on the table was displaying a video of Hoeneß's interview.

"Damn it, that old fox Hoeneß!" Hope put down his coffee cup, his brow furrowed.

"This is a blatant psychological warfare tactic! A calculated move! What is he implying? He's undermining Nagelsmann! And even more so, he's undermining the morale of our troops!"

Another director sounded worried:

"Yes, Nash is our core asset right now, but what if his heart isn't elsewhere... or the players feel he's about to leave..."

This would be a huge blow to our morale for the upcoming league title race and the second leg of the Champions League! Just imagine, if the players start to doubt the manager's future…”

This concern spread like a virus among high-level officials.

They were well aware of Nagelsmann's value, and even more aware of what losing him would mean for Hoffenheim, who were at their peak.

The joy of success was somewhat overshadowed by the immense uncertainty and sense of potential crisis.

Hope took a deep breath: "Bring Julian here. We need to get his thoughts directly."

Outside the head coach's office at the training base, Nagelsmann had just finished a tactical meeting and was preparing to analyze information on the next league opponent.

Hope entered the room and, without much small talk, immediately started watching a video clip of Hoeneß's interview.

The office was unusually quiet, with only Hoeneß's voice echoing.

Hope stared intently at Nagelsmann's expression.

The interview footage has finished playing.

Nagelsmann didn't speak immediately. He walked to the window and looked at the now empty grass on the training field, where traces of the tactical drills were still faintly visible.

Hope's heart was in her throat.

After about ten seconds, Nagelsmann turned around, his face expressionless, his eyes clear and sharp, even carrying a hint of bewilderment at Hope and the others' worries.

"Mr. Chairman," he said, looking at Hope, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather.

"Bayern Munich, Hoeneß, every word they said to me, it all means the same to me..." He pointed to his chest.

"Compared to everyone here, and to the players who give their all on every tactical detail in training,

They're not worth mentioning.

He paused for a moment, his voice not loud, but every word carried immense weight:

"My eyes, right now, at this moment, in the next second, until the final whistle blows at the end of the season, are filled with only one thing: the championship."

That is the only light that illuminates our path forward for Hoffenheim.

The name Bayern Munich is just two words to me; it doesn't occupy as much space in my mind as it does when I'm thinking about how to limit a winger's change of direction and starting path.

He walked up to Hope, his gaze open and honest:

"Mr. Hope, there is no need to doubt or worry."

Focus your energy on supporting the team and preparing logistically.

My players and I belong entirely to this season! To Hoffenheim!

There were no flowery words, no exciting declarations, only a clear and rock-solid statement of goals.

Looking at Nagelsmann's young yet remarkably calm and determined face, Hope felt a weight lift from her heart, followed by a surge of immense emotion and strength.

"Great! With that, we know what to do!" He squeezed Nagelsmann's hand tightly.

Bayern's strategy was not solely aimed at Nagelsmann.

Another "secret weapon" was used during a high-level meeting on Seberna Street.

Salihamidzic made a phone call to one of his own teammates at Hoffenheim.

That's right.

It was Sergi Gnabry, the fast winger on loan from Bayern Munich to Hoffenheim.

"Sergi, how's it going at Hoffenheim this season?" Salihamidzic asked casually, sounding like he was just asking a routine question.

"Very good, sir. The team atmosphere at Hoffenheim is fantastic, and I'm very comfortable playing there," Gnabry responded cautiously.

"That's good." Salihamidzic changed the subject, lowering his voice.

"Sergi, you guys did a fantastic job in the Champions League, especially your teammate, that kid Yan, he's really talented." He threw out the bait.

"You came from Bayern Munich, and you will definitely be an important player for Bayern's first team in the future. Bayern also hopes to see top teammates gather together to build a new dynasty," Salihamidzic said.

Gnabry remained silent.

Sally paused, waiting for the response from the other end of the phone, before continuing.

"You and Yan have a good relationship, right? You train and compete together every day in the team."

As his teammate and friend... Don't you think a top player like Yan should achieve great things on a bigger stage with stronger teammates?

Bayern Munich is clearly the most suitable stage for him. Have you talked to him about the future? Or... is it possible to persuade him and let him know how much Bayern values ​​him?

"How can Yan realize how wonderful it would be to play alongside you at the Allianz Arena?"

Salihamidzic's words were full of hints and guidance, conveying the following message to Gnabry:

[It's a fact that Bayern values ​​Yan Yuan, and Bayern also has high hopes for you, Gnabry (offering you a reward). You have a good relationship with Yan Yuan (making you the most suitable person to complete the task), and this will also solidify your position in Bayern's future plans (hinting at future benefits).]

Sali's series of punches silenced Gnabrygan.

Gnabry's feelings were extremely complicated. He just wanted to play football well, but now it seemed that was no longer possible.

On one hand, he is a Bayern player, and Bayern's call-up and future plans are crucial for Gnabry.

On the other hand, during his time in Hoffenheim.

Gnabry and Yan Yuan have indeed developed a deep friendship, both in their seamless teamwork on the training field and in their relaxed and pleasant interactions in private.

Yan Yuan's hard work, humility, and pure love for football are all things he greatly admires.

Asking him to act as a lobbyist in private to sway his teammate and good friend's future decisions made him feel very awkward and uncomfortable.

(Currently, only the Hoffenheim management knows that Yan Yuan plans to go to Arsenal; his teammates are unaware.)

A few days later, the atmosphere was relaxed in the locker room after training.

Yan Yuan was tidying up his sneakers when Gnabry sat down next to him and casually began to speak:

"Hey Yan, I was scrolling through social media yesterday and I saw that Rummenigge seemed to have specifically mentioned you in an interview."

Yan Yuan raised his head, his expression unchanged:

"Oh? What did you say?"

Gnabry shrugged, trying to make his tone sound light and gossipy:

"Well... I'll just praise you, say you're a phenomenal genius, say Bayern will spare no expense to bring in future stars and stuff like that."

They also mentioned that Salihamidzic and others have a very high opinion of you. It seems Bayern Munich has truly been "defeated" by you, haha.

Gnabry deliberately used the tone of sharing gossip among friends to package Bayern's "at any cost" signal into a newsworthy story for the media, and casually told Yan Yuan about it.

He did not add any of his own opinions or suggestions.

After listening, Yan Yuan didn't even stop polishing his shoes; he just smiled.

"As for the media, just believe half of what they say. Right now, all I'm thinking about is the next league match and how to survive the away game at the Etihad Stadium."

Yan Yuan didn't look at Gnabry, but the focus in his tone and his determination to block out external distractions were exceptionally clear.

Gnabry understood immediately.

He cleverly changed the subject, patting Yan Yuan on the shoulder and laughing, "You're right! Yan! Let's think about how to give our next league opponent's defenders a headache this weekend! By the way, how about we practice a few more shooting drills together tonight?"

Gnabry did not press further, nor did he probe or offer any advice.

He cleverly conveyed the information he had "accidentally" overheard, then immediately retreated, leaving the initiative entirely to Yan Yuan himself.

That evening, Gnabry made another seemingly insignificant move.

He posted a photo of himself training on his personal Instagram account, with the night view of Hoffenheim's training ground in the background.

In the corner of the photo, a silhouette of Yan Yuan, who was doing strength training in the distance, was captured.

His caption was brief:

"Give it your all! Keep going! @Hoffenheim!"

This photo not only clearly shows his positive attitude of "being in Hoffenheim but having his mind on training" (for Hoffenheim to see), but also conveniently includes Yan Yuan in the picture (Bayern can also interpret this as the two having a close relationship and often acting together).

As for the "call to action" that Bayern's management wanted him to convey? He cleverly used the phrase, "Give it your all! Keep going!"

The matter with the club has been resolved; the focus now is on the present, on fighting for Hoffenheim.

Gnabry has really improved a lot. After spending almost a season with Yan Yuan, his emotional intelligence has also increased.

Gnabry's move neither rejected Bayern's request (I took photos to express my positive attitude) nor actually acted as a lobbyist (he didn't mention any transfer or persuasion to Yan Yuan).

He didn't offend his former employer, nor did he offend his good friend; he maintained a balance between the two sides.

Gnabry sighed softly and put down his phone.

He knew that although this approach seemed a bit tactful, it was better than directly harming either party or getting himself into a deeper conflict.

In his own way, he drew a delicate line between loyalty, friendship, and personal future, striving to maintain a temporary balance.

Meanwhile, Yan Yuan in the locker room had already forgotten about the "praise from Bayern".

Just as his mentor had taught him, his entire focus was already on the journey to the Etihad Stadium.

The tumultuous interference from the outside world was nothing more than insignificant background noise to him.

The champion is the only true echo.

(Now I'd like to ask for everyone's opinion. This is what I think: Hoffenheim only needs to win the Bundesliga title and the German Cup this season. They don't need the Champions League.)

There are two reasons. One is that this lineup winning the Champions League is indeed a bit outrageous. The other is that if the protagonist's life is perfect so early, it would be too boring. Real Madrid will win their three consecutive championships, Yan Yuan will win his Bundesliga title, German Cup title and European Golden Boy title. Everyone has a bright future.

I haven't finalized my thoughts yet. I'd like to solicit everyone's opinions. Whether you want to see Hoffenheim or Real Madrid win the Champions League, please feel free to share your thoughts. I'd like to hear what my readers have to say.