Football: Start with the Kaka template, dominate the football field!

The euphoria of conquering the Bernabéu intoxicated the entire Dortmund team. However, as the team returned to the Bundesliga, the aftereffects of that epic battle began to surface.

"Real Madrid syndrome"—this is a term coined by the German media for all teams that, after a fierce battle against the two Spanish giants in the Champions League, return to a slump in their league performance.

Westfalen Stadium, weekend.

Borussia Dortmund will host Mainz, a team known for its defensive "iron wall" formation.

Before the match, everyone thought it would be an easy victory. The fans were looking forward to their hero putting on a spectacular goal-fest at home.

But once the match started, the situation on the field surprised everyone.

The Dortmund players were visibly exhausted. Their suffocating high pressing had become listless. Their passing and movement were also frequently botched due to slow reactions.

Reus appeared isolated on the wing, while Lewandowski was completely surrounded by the opponent's muscular center-backs.

Qin Feng, for the first time, experienced a true "cage".

Mainz's head coach has tailored a defensive system specifically for him. As soon as he gets the ball, at least two players will immediately swarm him like mad dogs, not to steal the ball, but simply to slow him down.

In the 15th minute of the first half, he attempted a forced breakthrough, but as soon as he started moving, he was fiercely tackled by three opposing defenders, bringing him and the ball to the ground.

He scrambled to his feet, rubbing his bruised shoulder, his brow furrowed. For the first time, he realized something acutely—when everyone knows you're going to race in a sports car capable of 300 km/h, they won't give you a track anymore. They'll just pile up roadblocks.

"No..." he told himself. "The core of the Kaka model is impact, but the core of football is space. Without space, no matter how fast you are, you're just standing still."

He began to force himself to suppress the instinct to charge forward with the ball, and started to observe and think.

……

Halftime, in the locker room.

Klopp didn't roar; he simply looked calmly at each player.

"I know you're exhausted. But a championship isn't won with just one victory. It's earned point by point through ugly, tough matches like these."

His gaze finally settled on Qin Feng.

"Qin, if they don't give you space, then create space for your teammates. You're not just a knife; you can also become... the one wielding the knife."

Klopp's words struck Qin Feng like a bolt of lightning, hitting the very point he had been pondering throughout the first half. He nodded emphatically.

At the start of the second half, Qin Feng's playing style changed significantly.

In the 55th minute, he tried to create space by making runs, but the position he ran into was a fraction too late for Gündoğan's pass, which was anticipated and intercepted by the opponent, almost leading to a dangerous counter-attack. Klopp on the sidelines did not reprimand him, but simply gestured for him to continue.

"No... my positioning and my teammates' passing rhythm aren't fully synchronized yet." Qin Feng quickly adjusted during the defensive transition. "I can't just consider the openings I 'see,' I also have to consider whether they 'can't' pass to me in the first instance."

In the 65th minute, he made another run, this time deliberately slowing down by half a step. Although Reus's pass found him, the opportunity had already slipped away, and he had no choice but to pass it back.

But he knew he had the right feeling.

……

The game was deadlocked, with every second ticking away.

In the 70th minute, the air in the Westfalenstadion became tense. The chants from the south stand also carried a hint of urgency.

Just then!

Gundogan delivered a low through ball from midfield, finding Qin Feng who had drifted to the edge of the penalty area!

opportunity!

But the moment he caught the ball!

Mainz's defense, like a tightening net, instantly closed in on him!

Center-back Nowitzki is heading straight at you!

Defensive midfielder Gus blocked the shot from the side and rear!

Full-back Pospech cut off his connection with Reus from the outside!

Three men surrounding them! A completely sealed cage!

"He's trapped! Qin Feng has no space! He can only pass back!" The commentator's voice was full of regret.

Qin Feng's body was firmly held down by Nowitzki, preventing him from even turning around. His eyes were fixed on Schmelzer, who had dropped back to receive the ball on the left flank, seemingly preparing to safely pass it back.

All of Mainz's defenders believed it!

But at this very moment!

His right foot, which seemed to be about to pass the ball to the left, unexpectedly flicked the ball inward at the last moment before contact with the ball at an inexplicable angle!

No-Look Pass! Passing the ball without looking!

The ball slipped through the theoretically non-existent gap between Nowitzki and Guss from his right side!

Time seemed to stand still at this moment!

The expressions on the faces of the three defenders who had surrounded him completely froze! They stood there like three statues that had been tricked!

And the direction the ball rolls...

It was a gap that no one was watching!

There, the same golden figure appeared again, arriving with perfect understanding!

It's Marco Reus!

"My God!!! What kind of pass was that!!!"

The commentator's voice cracked instantly, filled with shock and ecstasy!

Reus even had enough time to adjust his footing and calmly slot the ball into the far corner past the onrushing goalkeeper!

Swish!

The ball went into the net with a thud!

1-0!

After seventy minutes of silence, the Westfalen Stadium erupted in cheers!

After scoring, Reus rushed towards Qin Feng immediately, excitedly pointing to his eyes and then to his own feet, the meaning of which was self-evident—this ball is yours!

Klopp, standing on the sidelines, paused for a second before turning around abruptly and embracing his assistant coach Buvac tightly!

……

This goal completely shattered Mainz's mental defenses. In the end, Dortmund easily defeated their opponents 2-0.

As the final whistle blew, his teammates embraced and celebrated. Qin Feng, however, did not leave immediately. He walked alone to the center of the field and slowly closed his eyes.

He was savoring the moment.

Reflecting on every off-the-ball movement in the second half, and the instant the "No-Look Pass" was delivered, the inspiration that flashed through my mind like an electric current.

Just then, that cold, mechanical voice rang in his mind.

【Ding! 】

[Detection indicates that the host has undergone a transformation during actual combat and has mastered a completely new kicking style...]

[The host demonstrated a tactical and strategic vision that surpassed the current template during the match...]

Template integration accuracy increased by 2%!

Qin Feng looked at the progress, which had only increased by 2% this time, and pondered. "As expected, it gets harder as we go on..."

[...Current template integration level: 48%!]

【Ding! 】

[Detected initial fusion of the host's "Intelligent Playing Style" and "Kaka Template," granting the new [Passive Trait]: Field Scan (Beginner)!]

[Court Scan (Beginner): 0.5 seconds before receiving the ball in a non-contact situation, your field of vision will briefly widen, allowing you to more quickly identify the optimal passing lane. This trait can be gradually upgraded through gameplay.]

A completely new sensation washed over Qin Feng as he opened his eyes. The massive yellow stands of the Westfalenstadion seemed to become even clearer and more three-dimensional in his vision.

The German media gave him a completely new title the following day.

Bild's front-page headline: "The Magician of Westphalia!"