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

(July 1st. Huh??? Manchester City was eliminated by the New Moon??? It felt like Guardiola pulled off some amazing plays in the second half.)

The case is solved! Guardiola is reading my book too. He knows I wrote about Manchester City being eliminated in this chapter, so he conveniently eliminated New Moon as well (doge). If this is New Moon's true level, then Ronaldo was right. You can imagine the opponents they've faced in Saudi Arabia these past two years.

After the game, Yan Yuan was repeatedly tossed into the air by his ecstatic teammates, and his legs were still slightly weak when he landed.

His jersey was already soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his back.

As the wave of celebration subsided, the players began to greet their opponents.

Yan Yuan composed himself and searched for the dejected blue figure in the crowd. He spotted Sané adjusting his socks.

He walked toward Sané.

Sané looked up. The winger, known for his speed and dribbling, was now filled with fatigue and disappointment. After recognizing Yan Yuan, he still nodded politely.

"Hi, Leroy," Yan Yuan said in fluent German, "You played really well. That breakthrough down the wing was so fast."

Sané forced a wry smile and tugged at the corners of his mouth, as a response to this post-match respect.

"You too, Yan, that header...very calm." Sané was referring to the winning goal.

"It's an honor to compete against you," Yan Yuan said, pointing to his jersey, which was now completely mangled.

"Can I...switch with you?"

Sane was taken aback, probably not expecting that the opponent's key player would take the initiative to make an exchange with him.

But he quickly nodded and began to take off his blue jersey.

"Of course." The two handed each other their jerseys. Sane's jersey was also wet, still warm from the intense match.

After the exchange was completed, the two shook hands briefly. Sane whispered, "Good luck," and then turned and walked towards the locker room, his back looking somewhat forlorn.

Yan Yuan draped Sané's blue Manchester City jersey over his shoulder and let out a long sigh of relief, as if he had unloaded some kind of heavy burden.

He turned around, preparing to walk towards his teammates who were still celebrating on the sidelines.

Just then, a hand gently, but with considerable weight, patted his left shoulder.

Yan Yuan subconsciously stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look.

A shiny bald head came into view.

It's Pep Guardiola.

The world-renowned coach did not show any post-match frustration on his face at this moment; instead, he wore a peculiar gentleness and an inquisitive smile.

Before Yan Yuan could even speak, the hand on Yan Yuan's shoulder squeezed Yan Yuan's trapezius muscle, which was slightly tense due to the strenuous exercise. The pressure was moderate, and the movement was as natural as an old coach checking on his beloved student.

"Hey, kid." Guardiola's English was thick with Spanish accent, his eyes appearing particularly deep and playful under the stadium lights.

"How was the match? Did you get any muscle cramps? I saw your last move very clearly, especially the one against Otamendi. You used a clever trick with your core muscles. Very smart."

Yan Yuan was a little confused by this sudden act of intimacy and opening remarks, and could only subconsciously shake his head:

"Um... thank you, Mr. Pep. Thank goodness, I... didn't cramp up."

"Haha, youth is wonderful." Guardiola's smile widened a bit. His hand was still on Yan Yuan's shoulder, his body leaned forward slightly, and his voice was lowered, making his tone more natural.

"How's it going? Kid, have you secretly counted how many goals you've scored this season? Hmm? Let me guess... Hmm, league... 27? Champions League knockout stage, including that header that killed us, 16?" He winked slyly.

"A double Golden Boot in the Bundesliga and Champions League, how many more games to go? Those old guys at Bayern are green with envy. As for the European Golden Boy... honestly, I think it's a foregone conclusion." His tone was half-joking, half-genuine praise.

"You and your Hoffenheim teammates, to play like this, is really...tsk tsk, unbelievable." He clicked his tongue, looking at the Hoffenheim players celebrating not far away.

Yan Yuan was a little embarrassed by Guardiola's praise. The blush that had just faded from his face due to exercise returned. He could only grin and chuckle a couple of times with a somewhat naive air, not knowing what to say.

Guardiola's smile faded slightly, and his eyes became more serious.

He tightened his arm around Yan Yuan's shoulder, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret:

"Listen, kid, I know very well that Hoffenheim can't keep you. Summer is almost here..." He paused slightly, observing Yan Yuan's expression.

Have you ever thought about... coming to Manchester for a visit?

Guardiola noticed Yan Yuan's suddenly dilated pupils.

Without giving Yan Yuan any chance to think or catch his breath, he quickened his pace and said:

"We have plenty of money, and we can give you a top-tier contract that matches your worth, teammates?" He gestured with his chin towards De Bruyne and the others who were leaving dejectedly not far away.

"Look, Kevin, Aguero, David, Leroy... you've seen them all, world-class level! Even more pure and focused on football than some of the so-called top clubs I've seen!"

Here, you'll play alongside the best of the best, and brainstorm together how to play the best football! Most importantly,

He looked directly into Yan Yuan's eyes and said clearly, word by word, "Yan, I assure you, as long as you come, as long as you can deliver the performance you had this season, or even half of it, you will definitely go further than you have on other teams!"

You'll definitely be the core here!

Will there be a specific position for you in my attacking system? Imagine, at the Al-Ittihad… enjoying the feeling of creating and winning together with the best teammates in Europe?

"How was it, kid?"

Facing the legendary coach up close, his burning gaze and his straightforward, almost naked, invitation.

Yan Yuan felt a surge of heat rush to the top of his head, and his cheeks burned.

A tremendous sense of surprise, a subtle hint of vanity, an instinctive longing for the atmosphere of a strong team, and an unwavering plan in my heart...

A mix of complex emotions instantly filled Yan Yuan's chest.

He could even smell a faint scent of perfume on Guardiola.

Yan Yuan opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously, his face flushed red, and he felt as if his tongue was tied in knots. In the end, he could only utter a mumbled syllable:

"Uh... Mr. Pep... I..."

The words "I want to go to Arsenal," which I had prepared, ultimately got stuck in my throat.

Faced with Guardiola's enthusiastic invitation in person, Yan Yuan was really at a loss.

Just as Yan Yuan was so embarrassed he wanted to disappear into the ground, and Guardiola, with piercing eyes, was about to add fuel to the fire…

"Hey, Mr. Pep!" A relaxed, cheerful voice approached from afar, breaking the subtle tension between the two.

Nagelsmann strode over, his face still flushed with the victory, but a teasing smile already playing on his lips.

He seemed to have noticed the commotion earlier and came specifically to help.

He naturally placed one hand on Yan Yuan's other shoulder, forming a protective stance, and looked at Guardiola.

Nagelsmann pointed at Guardiola in an exaggerated tone, as if complaining yet joking.

"No way, Mr. Pep, what does this mean?"

In front of me, the head coach, how could you so openly "seduce" my trusted and beloved player?

"That's not very gentlemanly. We just finished playing, and you're already trying to poach him right in front of me. That's a bit too fast, isn't it?" Nash said jokingly, looking at Guardiola.

Guardiola was interrupted by Nagelsmann's sudden appearance. He was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter, without immediately letting go of Yan Yuan's shoulder.

He looked at his colleague and rival, who was much younger than him but had just won a tactical battle against him. The tension in his eyes during the match was gone, replaced by admiration.

"My Julian! Please!" Guardiola smiled openly, his expression filled with genuine admiration.

"Don't blame me for not being able to resist! Look at this gem you've nurtured! Such a genius, such performance, he'll shine anywhere! I just... um... provided this kid with a bigger stage?"

He released his grip on Yan Yuan and raised his hands in a "surrender" gesture, but the action looked like a deliberate attempt to flatter him.

"But I must say, your tactics today were truly superb." Guardiola put away his jokes and spoke sincerely to Nagelsmann, his tone even carrying a hint of respect for a worthy opponent during a post-game analysis.

"A clear mind, resolute execution, especially the on-field adjustments in the final stages... I saw your ideas, and I also felt the pressure from you." He paused, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the young and handsome Nagelsmann and Yan Yuan, whose cheeks were still slightly flushed and who seemed somewhat flustered, as if he were looking at a beautiful picture representing the future of German football.

"Tsk tsk, you two, master and apprentice, are both remarkable. This season... no matter where you end up, you deserve the utmost respect."

He said this to both Na Shuai and Yan Yuan.

Finally, Guardiola precisely turned his gaze back to Yan Yuan.

He reached out, this time not to put his arm around the shoulder, but as if he were treating an evenly matched opponent.

He patted Yan Yuan twice forcefully below his right shoulder blade, the sound crisp and powerful, carrying the elder's expectations for his highly admired junior and a touch of regret.

"Yan," his voice was clear and solemn, carrying the meaning of parting words.

"I hope you will seriously consider my invitation. Manchester City's doors are always open to talented young people like you." He repeated, his tone extremely earnest.

"If you decide to leave the Bundesliga and play in the Premier League, remember to always put Manchester City on your list of options." He turned slightly to the side, glancing at the magnificent but somewhat deserted Etihad Stadium.

"Trust me, this place is really great, you'll love it." Guardiola's eyes shone with enthusiasm and sincerity.

After speaking, Guardiola smiled and nodded at Nagelsmann, then gave Yan Yuan, who was still processing everything, a meaningful look before turning and striding towards the home team's locker room.

Despite the loss, Guardiola's posture remained incredibly upright.

The commotion on the sidelines seemed to quiet down for a moment in that small area, leaving only the faint sound of his leather shoes on the grass, leaving Nagelsmann and Yan Yuan standing there.

Yan Yuan watched Guardiola's figure disappear into the player tunnel entrance.

He felt as if the warmth and strength of that legendary coach's hand still lingered on the shoulder where he had just been patted.

"Tsk," Nagelsmann watched Guardiola's retreating figure, shook his head with a half-smile, and muttered softly.

"That's how Pep is... He poachs people without batting an eye." He squeezed Yan Yuan's shoulder tightly, pulling him back to reality.

Nagelsmann turned around to face Yan Yuan and deliberately teased him.

"How does it feel, kid?" He deliberately raised an eyebrow at Yan Yuan with a teasing tone. "Being personally invited by a famous European coach in public—there aren't many young players in all of Europe who would lower themselves like that to speak up for you."

Yan Yuan touched his still slightly flushed face; the complex emotions he had just felt were somewhat diluted by the familiar teasing from his head coach.

He smiled sheepishly, his voice light and relieved:

"Hehe... Coach... I..."

"Alright, alright," Nagelsmann interrupted him, his smile full of understanding and trust. He gave Yan Yuan a firm push in the back, heading towards the red torrent of his teammates.

"Enjoy the victory, with your teammates, the ones who fought alongside you all the way to this point! You are all heroes today! As for the rest... we'll talk about it later!"

"Yes, Coach!"

Yan Yuan nodded emphatically, the fog in his mind clearing away, and his goal becoming clear once again.

Clutching Sané's jersey, he strode toward the crowd still celebrating wildly.