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

Tonight is the draw night for the Champions League semi-finals.

The meeting room at the Rhein-Neckar Arena was brightly lit. In this room, all the players of Hoffenheim's first team, the club's senior management, Chairman Hopp, head coach Julian Nagelsmann, and sporting director Rosen were all present.

On the giant screen, the live broadcast of the UEFA Champions League semi-final draw ceremony was playing, accompanied by solemn and even somewhat somber music.

This music usually sounds powerful, but today it makes me feel increasingly tense the more I listen to it.

Now, four prominent team logos are displayed side by side above the large screen in the drawing room:

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AS Roma, Hoffenheim.

The first three need no further explanation; each of their names represents a glorious history, profound heritage, and countless classic battles in the long history of European warfare.

But only the name Hoffenheim seemed so novel here.

Some even seem out of place.

If some new Real Madrid fans saw Hoffenheim's crest alongside their home team's tonight, they would surely be tempted to say:

What is this thing?

For European football, and even for Hoffenheim itself, for an unknown team to reach the semi-finals is somewhat of a magical realism.

The lottery has begun.

Director Rosen clasped his hands tightly together and leaned slightly forward.

He was praying, trying to project his willpower onto the screen to influence the lottery results.

Rosen seemed to be muttering something to himself, his eyes filled with anxiety.

The camera occasionally panned across the suited VIPs at the lottery draw, but Rosen's gaze seemed to pierce through them, eagerly searching for the ball that would decide their fate.

"Don't let it be Real Madrid...don't let it be Real Madrid...don't let it be Real Madrid..." he prayed almost fervently, and even the high-ranking officials around him were infected by this tension, their breathing becoming much lighter.

"Please don't let it be Real Madrid... even Bayern would be fine... at least they're from our league, and we even beat them once at home..." Rosen's self-comfort seemed so pale, yet so real, in the face of the enormous gap in strength.

Nagelsmann sat in the middle of the front row, with his hands on his knees, looking much more composed than Rosen.

Nash also looked tense, but he didn't pray. His eyes, which were fixed almost unblinkingly on the screen, betrayed the intense turmoil in his heart.

His mind raced through various tactical plans and personnel status analysis diagrams, but faced with the shadow of Real Madrid, any plan seemed to dim instantly.

Everyone present could afford to lose their composure, but Nagelsmann alone had to remain calm.

Because he is the team's head coach.

The villagers of Hockville were even more restless.

They huddled together, some rubbing their hands together incessantly, some tapping the carpet with their toes unconsciously, some biting their nails, their eyes fixed on the transparent glass tank full of small balls on the screen, as if they could see every name labeled inside.

Grillitsch whispered to Kramaric beside him, "Do you dare watch the results? I feel like my heart is going to explode..."

Kramaric swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving the screen, and he only nodded very slightly.

Yan Yuan sat not far behind Na Shuai, his body slightly hunched over, his arms crossed over his chest.

His face was also tense, and his eyes, which were usually full of confidence and optimism, now showed only a rare look of bewilderment and anxiety.

He could clearly hear his heart pounding heavily in his chest, each beat pounding against his taut nerves.

He didn't need to look around to feel the suffocating tension and underlying unease that permeated the entire room.

The guest who drew lots dipped his long, slender fingers into the glass tank.

then,

The first ball is opened and unfolded; a close-up shot clearly shows:

【real Madrid】

With a "buzz..." sound, it was as if someone had sucked all the air out of the conference room.

Everyone's gazes froze instantly.

Immediately afterwards, the second ball was opened.

The guest in charge of drawing lots glanced at the slip of paper and clearly announced:

Hoffenheim

The simple word, like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, didn't elicit gasps in the conference room, but rather a unified, resounding chorus.

A hissing sound of gasping for air.

A moment of absolute silence.

The air is completely frozen, so we can save on air conditioning costs in Hockville.

Director Rosen closed his eyes and leaned heavily back in his chair, as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant. All his prayers had vanished, leaving only unbelievable frustration.

Sitting next to him was Chairman Hope, an elderly man who had witnessed the club's journey from obscurity to its current state. His wrinkles seemed to have deepened, and he shook his head with a slight sigh.

"well…"

The expressions on the players' faces were indescribably complex.

Some people's eyes widened instantly, as if they had seen the end of the world; some people's lips turned down, their disappointment undisguised; while others looked blankly in the direction of their commander, seeking some guidance or comfort.

Schultz, sitting in the back, couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath: "Scheisse!" He then realized the situation and quickly covered his mouth.

Nagelsmann's body stiffened for a moment.

His almost frozen gaze shifted back and forth between the names "Real Madrid" and "Hoffenheim" several times.

He was somewhat speechless.

In the past, no matter who the opponent was, he could always quickly ignite his fighting spirit and at least say some encouraging words to everyone.

But tonight, he was truly speechless at the result of the draw.

Whether it was advancing from the group stage or the quarterfinals, he was always the one who led the way in "believing in miracles".

But this time, facing that Galacticos who have just completed an incredible two consecutive Champions League titles, with a star-studded squad, a bench full of stars, and experience so rich that it would intimidate any non-top-tier club,

Nash opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something to everyone, but in the end he just raised his hand and unconsciously rubbed his temples.

The coach's silence, more oppressive than any sigh, enveloped the entire room.

Yan Yuan felt as if his brain had been hit by an ice-cold hammer.

The words "Hoffenheim vs Real Madrid" on the screen were particularly glaring.

Real Madrid… Bernabéu… Zidane… Cristiano Ronaldo… Ramos…

A string of resounding names and countless glorious images flashed and exploded in his mind in an instant.

They are facing Real Madrid, who are at their peak and aiming for an unprecedented three-peat!

The team's overall strength, squad depth, European experience...

On every level, the gap between them and Hoffenheim is something that Hoffenheim can hardly hope to catch up with now.

Yan Yuan was almost dizzy.

The glory of being the top scorer with sixteen Champions League goals seems to have become insignificant at this moment.

After the lottery ceremony ended, the meeting room remained silent for a long time.

Finally, Nagelsmann took a deep breath, stood up, and faced his soldiers.

He tried to adjust his expression, still wanting to say something to everyone.

"Alright, guys." Nash's voice sounded lower than usual today, as he tried to remain steady.

"The draw results are in. Real Madrid, a formidable opponent, perhaps the strongest opponent in the world right now." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces etched with complex emotions.

"I know what you're thinking. Almost everyone outside thinks our Champions League journey is over."

His words were straightforward and did not embellish the truth.

"Listen," he raised his voice slightly, with a hint of stubbornness.

"Being able to get this far and be among the four strongest teams in Europe proves your ability and the strength of our team. Regardless of the outcome, we have created a small miracle for this club and perhaps even for the entire European football world!"

Don't forget who we defeated to stand here!

The room remained quiet, but a slight tremor could be felt.

Nagelsmann did not continue to forcefully inject motivation.

He changed his tone, adopting a more pragmatic one:

"Now, we need to face reality."

Real Madrid is incredibly strong, there's no doubt about that. The training ground will be our battleground for the next few weeks. I will continue to study them closely and look for every possible opportunity. Meanwhile, his tone shifted, his gaze becoming more serious.

"The league title race has also reached its most crucial moment! We are closely chasing Bayern! I ask everyone, from this moment on, to be on high alert! Don't be drowned out by the pessimistic voices from the outside world! Focus on our own task!"

Meeting adjourned. Get some rest, see you at training tomorrow.

He waved to his men, ending the heavy but brief "mobilization".

This mobilization was the least like a mobilization ever.

The players silently rose and filed out, their steps heavy, talking in hushed tones.

Gone were the usual pre-match noise and laughter; only a somber atmosphere permeated the corridor.

While Hoffenheim were still caught up in a mix of emotions, the media across Europe were in an uproar over the draw results.

The headlines of major sports media outlets almost unanimously pointed to Hoffenheim's "death sentence":

The headline in Bild was ruthless:

[Hoffenheim's Champions League fairytale ends! Their Champions League journey stops at the Bernabéu.]

Marca didn't even mention Hoffenheim:

[Best draw! Bayern Munich is Real Madrid's only remaining obstacle on their path to a third consecutive Champions League title.]

Sky Sports' column was so rational it was almost cruel:

The gap in strength is huge; Hoffenheim is unlikely to challenge the Champions League champions, but reaching the semi-finals is already a phenomenal achievement, and there is no need for regret.

A BBC football commentator wrote in his column:

For young Hoffenheim players and Nagelsmann, this season's Champions League journey may have come to an end at the Bernabéu. But they brought back dignity, experience, and the acclaim of the world; this dream journey was truly wonderful.

Without a doubt, over 90% of the media reports clearly point to the fact that Hoffenheim's "dark horse" journey has been officially ended by the draw, with their opponent being the almost invincible Real Madrid.

Their core viewpoint is consistent: Hoffenheim's run to the semifinals is not a failure, because reaching the semifinals was already a pleasant surprise for them.

Aside from these mainstream voices, a few media outlets focused their attention on Yan Yuan:

Kicker magazine analyzed:

"Yan Yuan's 16 Champions League goals are astonishing, leading Cristiano Ronaldo by 3 goals in the top scorer list. But can he maintain his hot scoring form against Real Madrid's strong defense? The head-to-head confrontation with the 'Champions League Man' will be the most severe test of Yan's career."

The online football analysis website Spox made a somewhat pessimistic prediction:

"Hoffenheim's Yan's individual feats can hardly bridge the huge gap in the team's overall strength."

This may be the first time this promising European Golden Boy has truly experienced the limits of 'individual heroism' in a top-tier league.

There is also a very small number of voices supporting the "dark horse" theory, but most of them express a weak expectation rather than confidence.

A reporter from The Independent wrote:

"Don't forget how Hoffenheim has repeatedly surprised everyone this season when they were the underdogs."

Their fast-paced attacks and high-pressing are their weapons, and Nagelsmann is a tactical genius. Although the probability of a miracle is extremely small, anything can happen in football!

The Portuguese newspaper A Bola commented with a hint of schadenfreude:

"Real Madrid drew the weakest opponent in theory? Don't forget that Hoffenheim advanced by defeating Porto in the Portuguese league! They proved they can beat us, and maybe they can even give the Whites a run for their money."

On fan forums and social media of other Bundesliga teams, the sentiments were more direct and even somewhat utilitarian:

An anonymous post on a Bayern Munich fan forum reads:

"Great, Hoffenheim drew Real Madrid, Bayern's chance has come! Personally, I think Hoffenheim is more difficult to deal with than Real Madrid this season."

Dortmund fan accounts also left comments:

"Although I am a Bundesliga fan, I still hope that Hoffenheim can go far in the Champions League."

Realistically speaking, it's highly unlikely we'll get past Real Madrid, so it's better to strategically forfeit and focus all our efforts on winning the Bundesliga title! Even winning a single title would be a historic breakthrough!

There is true kindness in the world.

In stark contrast to the generally pessimistic outlook from European media and the "rational advice" from other Bundesliga fans, Hoffenheim's own fans displayed a heartwarming and touching reaction.

On Hoffenheim's own fan forum, and under the players' personal social media accounts, almost all the comments were expressions of understanding, gratitude, and pride:

An elderly football fan, Hofmann, spat at Real Madrid's star-studded lineup on the TV screen in a pub, then laughed:

"Hey, what do those guys know? Our kids have come this far, even put up two real fights against Real Madrid—I never even dared to dream of this! Losing? Losing is normal! Winning is a blessing from heaven! We're already very satisfied with this season!"

The forum administrator pinned a post:

"Be proud of our heroes! The semi-finals! This is the moment when Hoffenheim's name will resound throughout Europe! No matter what the scoreboard at the Bernabéu ultimately shows, you have created an indelible legend! Hold your heads high and fight to the end! We will always be here for you!"

The most liked comment under Yan Yuan's latest Instagram post celebrating his advancement is:

"Yan, go get the Golden Boot!"

Another highly upvoted comment also expressed the sentiments of many fans:

"Playing against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals is a dream come true for three generations of my family of football fans! Enjoy it! Hoffenheim, don't be afraid!"

While it was being hotly debated throughout Europe.

While the senior executives pondered the future in their respective offices, Rosen was still fretting about how to deal with the pressure from the board of directors.

Nagelsmann stayed in the tactics room with his team tonight, with footage of Real Madrid's recent key matches frozen on the screen.

His eyes, though stern, gradually rekindled a flame of defiance.

Research is necessary!

Searching for that one in ten thousand chance that is almost impossible!

Yan Yuan had finished training. He didn't do any extra training today, but instead sat alone on the stands of the training field, watching the lights of the town dotting the horizon in the distance.

His back looked somewhat forlorn.

This night was destined to be long for the young Hoffenheim and for the young Yan Yuan.

Will fairy tales ever have sequels?