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

The words are divided into two parts.

Hoffenheim, having returned to the league from the Champions League, seemed to have shed some of their heavy psychological burden, playing with more confidence and fluidity, even with a chilling sense of ease.

At the heart of this transformation remains Yan Yuan.

That rising star striker who darted down the right flank at the start of the season has now been given a broader and more crucial position by Nagelsmann.

Midfield hub.

Yes, Yan Yuan is still playing in midfield after the match against Manchester City.

The change in Yan Yuan's position did not diminish his threat; on the contrary, it unleashed his latent organizational talent and overall vision.

Now, he is no longer just the finisher, but has become the starting point and metronome of the attack.

The next two rounds of the Bundesliga matches became perfect proof of the maturity of this new tactical system.

Hoffenheim played with ease against a mid-to-lower table team away from home.

Yan Yuan acted as a lubricant in the midfield, connecting the front and back lines. A precise long pass over the top found Grillitsch, who was offside, and assisted him to score.

In the second half, he calmly slotted the ball past the edge of the penalty area to seal the score at 2-0.

The match was not intense, with Hoffenheim controlling the game and the opponent's counterattacks being sporadic and lacking threat.

Back at home against Freiburg, Hoffenheim unleashed their full attacking force.

Yan Yuan first relied on his keen sense of smell to cleverly follow up and score after the opponent made a mistake in clearing the ball.

He then demonstrated his excellent vision during a quick counter-attack, delivering a precise diagonal pass across the halfway line to Gnabry, who was making a high-speed run down the left flank.

Gnabry went to the goal alone and easily scored.

Although the opponent pulled one back from a set piece in the second half, Hoffenheim quickly scored again through another player, ultimately winning 3-1.

Two games, six points, an easy victory.

In the two matches, Yan Yuan delivered an impressive performance with 2 goals and 2 assists. In his new position, Yan Yuan's efficiency has not decreased but increased.

With 27 goals, Yan Yuan firmly holds the top spot in the Bundesliga top scorer list, a position no one can challenge. In the Champions League top scorer list, his 15 goals also make him stand out from the crowd.

The title of "Youngest Double Top Scorer in History" is like a shining halo, firmly placed on the head of Yan Yuan, who is only 17 years old.

In the league standings, Hoffenheim remains neck and neck with Bayern Munich, and the two-horse race for supremacy remains unchanged.

The league's journey seems to be unfolding as planned, steadily and powerfully.

However, off the field, Hoffenheim has been swept up in an unprecedented frenzy because of one person.

Yan Yuanre, No. 17.

In the quiet town of Sinsheim, blue and white home jerseys with huge "YAN 17" printed on them have become the most eye-catching sight on the streets.

Not only in Hoffenheim's official fan shop, but also in the windows of ordinary sporting goods stores and even some general stores in the town, Yan Yuan's No. 17 jersey is full of or hanging.

"Dad! I want that one! Number 17!" A local little boy excitedly pointed to the number 17 jersey on the mannequin in the shop window, his face flushed red.

"Okay, I'll buy it for you right away." The father agreed with a smile, his eyes full of doting affection and pride in his team.

This craze is not limited to this small German town.

In the far East, Yan Yuan's Chinese heritage acts like a giant magnet, firmly attracting the attention of Chinese football fans.

The number of viewers watching Bundesliga live streams on major sports platforms has surged significantly, with countless eyes glued to their screens late into the night.

Just to see that boy wearing number 17 galloping across the green field.

Every touch of the ball, every shot, and every successful dribble by him captivated the hearts of hundreds of millions of Chinese fans.

Hoffenheim club keenly sensed this tremendous enthusiasm from the East.

They may never have seriously considered this distant market before.

However, this season, especially after Yan Yuan's breakout performance, the importance of the Chinese market has been elevated to an unprecedented strategic level.

As early as mid-season, the club had already proactively launched an official Chinese social media account to publish team news and player interviews.

However, the level of attention it received back then was far less than it is now.

Now, after defeating Manchester City, Hoffenheim's official account has seen its number of followers skyrocket.

The club's operations team works almost 24/7, handling a massive amount of interactions from the Chinese-speaking world.

They deeply realized that Yan Yuan was not only the core player on the field, but also the key to unlocking a huge potential fan base.

Soon, a meticulously crafted short video was released on Hoffenheim's official global platform with an eye-catching title:

A heartfelt thank you from Hoffenheim – to all Chinese fans!

The video begins with a powerful display of cheering from the Rhine-Neckar Arena, then switches to footage of Yan Yuan training diligently on the training field and chatting and laughing with his teammates.

The background music is warm and inspiring.

Then, the camera focuses on a close-up of Yan Yuan facing the camera.

In the video, Yan Yuan, dressed in a neat Hoffenheim training uniform, with slightly damp hair and a sunny and sincere smile on his face, looks at the camera and speaks in clear, pure Mandarin with a northern Chinese accent:

"Hello everyone, I am Yan Yuan, player number 17 of Hoffenheim. I am very grateful to all Chinese fans for their continued support and love."

My teammates and I can feel every word of encouragement and every message you leave.

I know that many people in China stay up late to cheer us on, which gives us tremendous energy on the court. I will continue to work hard and repay everyone with even better performances!

The video ends with Yan Yuan and his teammates waving at the camera and shouting in unison in Chinese:

"Thank you, Chinese fans!"

This video, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly triggered a tsunami-like reaction among Chinese football fans.

"Yan Shen's Chinese is so standard!"

"Yan Shen is so handsome!!"

"Yan Baobao is so handsome, his smile is so beautiful!!" (There are mom fans in every field.)

"Yan Shen, is there a chance to return to China to play friendly matches after the season ends?"

"Hoffenheim's move was absolutely amazing!"

Comments and shares instantly surpassed one million.

Yan Yuan's personal charisma and the club's dedicated response propelled Hoffenheim's popularity and favorability in the Chinese market to new heights.

Yan Yuan, a boy who is about to turn 18, conquers his opponents on the field with goals and assists.

Off the field, his enormous commercial value is being realized at an unprecedented speed, making him Hoffenheim's undisputed "number one cash cow".

The club's management, looking at the soaring jersey sales figures and letters of intent for cooperation in the Chinese market, felt a bittersweet mix of emotions.

The Hoffenheim leadership knew better than anyone that this cash cow was destined not to stay in Sinsheim for long.

Yan Yuan, this young Chinese man from Birmingham, is valued by Hoffenheim's management far beyond his goals on the pitch.

He is the team's spearhead in attacking and scoring goals, and the core of the tactical system.

He also plays a crucial role in the club's expansion globally, especially in the highly promising Chinese market.

Yan Yuan's name and his number 17 jersey have become one of the most valuable assets in the history of Hoffenheim club.

However, as the season draws to a close.

As the Champions League knockout stage enters its most intense phase, another unavoidable topic is becoming increasingly heavy.

That's the transfer issue.

Who will become the youngest ever Bundesliga and Champions League double top scorer?

"17-year-old prodigy Yan Yuan ignites a bidding war among European giants during the summer transfer window!"

Hoffenheim chairman: We want to keep Yan, but reality is harsh…

Similar headlines appear almost daily on the front pages of major sports media outlets, many of which are unfounded speculations by the media.

Yan Yuan's name is associated with Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich...

Almost all the top European clubs that you can think of have been linked together.

Journalists flocked to Germany from all over Europe, and even from as far away as Asia and the Americas, like sharks smelling blood.

They blocked the entrance to the training base and loitered near the players' apartments, trying to dig out any possible clues about Yan Yuan's future.

"Yan, could you tell me about your plans for the future?"

"There are rumors that Real Madrid has contacted your father. Is that true?"

"Nagelsmann might go to Bayern Munich next season, will you go with him?"

Has Professor Wenger contacted you privately? Is Arsenal your first choice?

……

Every time training ended and the players walked out of the training base, Yan Yuan's appearance would cause a stir.

The cameras and microphones focused instantly, and countless questions came flying in like a barrage of bullets.

The flashes were so bright they made it hard to open your eyes, and the noise was almost overwhelming.

Yan Yuan disliked having too much contact with reporters, and even more so, he disliked the feeling of being surrounded by spotlights and microphones, with his privacy being endlessly spied on.

Especially at this sensitive time of the season's final stretch and with transfer rumors swirling around, he just wants to focus on the game at hand and doesn't want to be distracted by these off-field noises.

He knew that every word of his answer could be amplified, interpreted, or even distorted by the media, potentially causing an even bigger uproar.

Head coach Nagelsmann saw all of this.

He understood his beloved student's personality and the pressure he was under.

After witnessing Yan Yuan being surrounded by reporters once again, his brow furrowed and unable to move an inch, Nagelsmann made a decision.

In the locker room, Nagelsmann clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention.

"Listen, lads," his gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Yan Yuan.

"I know it's very exciting outside right now. But what is our core mission? It's to win! It's to win the championship! Yan needs absolute focus now, not to let those microphones and cameras drain his energy."

He turned to several tall, composed defenders:

"Vogt, Maguire, Hübner, from today onwards, after training, your task is to 'escort' Yan away."

The three of you form a human wall, sandwiching him in the middle. Your only goal is to get him onto the team bus as quickly as possible.

Don't answer any questions, don't linger, understand?

Vogt grinned: "Don't worry, boss, I'll get the mission done!"

Maguire nodded vigorously, his tall frame resembling a small mountain. "No problem, coach, leave it to us."

Xu Bu Na nodded calmly in agreement.

This simple, brutal, yet exceptionally effective "human wall escort tactic" was immediately put into action.

The next day, when Yan Yuan appeared at the base entrance after training, reporters swarmed around him as usual. Vogt, Maguire, and Hübner, like three iron towers, instantly surrounded him from both sides and behind.

Vogt and Maguire led the way, their broad shoulders and steady steps carving a path through the crowd. Xu Bu Na followed closely beside Yan Yuan, using his body to shield the reporters who tried to approach and the microphones that were being held out to him.

"Sorry, no comment!"

"Excuse me, please make way!"

"Yan is not giving interviews right now!"

The three men remained expressionless, their voices loud and firm, forming a dual barrier of physical and auditory sound.

Caught in the middle, Yan Yuan only needed to keep his head down, quicken his pace, and follow the path cleared by his teammates.

Flashes went off on both sides, and questions rained down on his teammates who were escorting him, but they were all blocked by this moving human wall.

In just a few dozen meters, the chaos transformed into order, and Yan Yuan successfully boarded the waiting car and drove away in less than two minutes.

This method is simple, direct, and effective.

It protects Yan Yuan's privacy to the greatest extent possible, freeing him from unnecessary harassment and allowing him to concentrate his precious energy on training and competition.

Nagelsmann stood by the office window, watching the brief but intense "escort battle" downstairs successfully completed and Yan Yuan's car leave without incident, a hint of relief appearing on his face.

This is more powerful than any words of comfort.

However, the reporters outside were not satisfied.

They were like a group of starving men barred from a feast, their hearts filled with increasing urgency.

The more Yan Yuan remained out of the public eye and the more silent he became, the more outrageous the speculations and rumors about him became.

They then focused their attention more on Nagelsmann, the only player willing to face the media and the team's core player.

As a result, every pre-match or post-match press conference became Nagelsmann's personal battlefield.

Under the flashing lights, Nash sat there, his eyes calm, even a little tired.

The reporters bombarded him with questions, all revolving around Yan Yuan's future.

"Mr. Nagelsmann, will Yan Yuan still be a Hoffenheim player next season?"

"Are you aware of any reliable sources that Arsenal has made an offer?"

What are your thoughts on Bayern Munich's interest in Yan Yuan? Will this affect your relationship with him?

"How important is Yan Yuan in your future plans?"...

Nagelsmann demonstrated exceptional patience and skill.

He skillfully used diplomatic language and smokescreens to subtly steer the conversation back to the game itself:

"Our focus now is on the next match, the league standings, and advancing in the Champions League."

Yan is a member of Hoffenheim, and his current task is to help the team win every game.

As for the future, that's something to discuss after the season ends; it's too early and pointless to talk about it now.

He sometimes showed impatience with reporters' repeated questioning: "You've asked me the same question many times. My answer won't change. Please focus on the game, not on creating unfounded news."

He would occasionally express genuine appreciation when discussing Yan Yuan's performance:

"His adaptability is amazing. He has shown top-notch football intelligence and vision in midfield. He is a phenomenal player, without a doubt."

However, how he plans his career is something he and his family need to carefully consider; please respect that.

Nagelsmann stood like a sturdy shield, enduring all the bombardment about Yan Yuan's future, striving to create a relatively peaceful space for his beloved disciple amidst the tumultuous transfer storm.

Nash, in his own way, silently protects Hoffenheim, a ship that is advancing triumphantly in the league and creating miracles in the Champions League, as well as his beloved disciple who only wants to focus on the next game.

Chairman Hope sat in his office watching Nagelsmann respond to reporters on television, feeling a mix of emotions.

He knew of Nagelsmann's thoughtfulness and sacrifice, but he also clearly felt that the human wall and Nagelsmann's solo efforts were ultimately just a temporary measure.

The storm is far from over.