Two months, a full two months!
Do you know how I lived?
Chen Tao was already numb.
He even recently started to immerse himself in web novels on the Chinese internet, especially football novels in the sports category of Qidian.
After the male protagonist in the novel joins a new team, he is always valued by the head coach, comes on as a substitute in crucial matches, scores a goal, and amazes the world.
This is the ideal scenario for a written work.
The reality is,
East Asian players, especially Chinese players, find it very difficult to get playing time in European clubs.
Even in training matches, Chen Tao had already won over all his teammates with his skills.
In private 1v1 challenges, he won the championship effortlessly.
Especially in the 1v1 against Bundesliga's talented midfielder Nuri Şahin, Chen Tao consecutively used five different technical moves to toy with Şahin.
This made all the watching teammates exclaim, “OHHHHHH—”
Even Şahin, who was recognized as the most skilled, couldn't defeat him, and Chen Tao's status in the locker room suddenly rose.
Everyone went from initial contempt and doubt to actively and enthusiastically greeting him later on.
Chen Tao had already integrated into this team.
However, head coach Thomas Doll had no intention of playing him in the League,
Until October 31st, the German Cup match day.
Chen Tao finally got his professional debut!
...
German Cup Round 2: Magdeburg vs. Borussia Dortmund.
In the first half, Magdeburg scored first with a defensive counter-attack, delivering a fatal blow to a struggling Borussia Dortmund!
Chen Tao also felt very uncomfortable watching from the bench.
The whole team was sleepwalking; the club's debt and poor League performance led to a demoralized team on the field.
They were playing terribly! Chen Tao couldn't bear to watch!
In the 56th minute of the second half, Chen Tao, who had warmed up countless times, finally heard the head coach's call.
“Chen, change your clothes, get ready... Huh? You're already changed?”
Head coach Thomas Doll hadn't even reacted yet, and Chen Tao was already ready, wearing the black and yellow away jersey.
After the fourth official checked the player's equipment and information, he raised the electronic board.
Number 16, right winger Jakub Błaszczykowski, off.
Number 24, substitute midfielder Chen Tao, on!
Chen Tao was actually more skilled as an attacking midfielder, his most familiar position in the football boy training camp, comparable to AC Milan's core Kaka!
His breakthroughs in the center could create greater threats, disrupt the defense, and create opportunities for both wings.
However, in this match, the coach arranged for him to play on the right wing, which somewhat limited Chen Tao's performance.
But what could he do?
Just being able to play was good enough, why ask for more?
When Chen Tao appeared on the sidelines, he received no cheers; almost no one knew who he was.
Facing a 1-0 deficit, no one had any energy.
That Borussia Dortmund had fallen to such a state, the few fans in the away stand were desperate and simply wouldn't pay attention to a 15-year-old Chinese youngster on loan.
“Once you're on, pay attention to your teammates' positions, if you can't break through, pass back, don't try to do too much.”
Coach Thomas Doll repeatedly reminded him.
Treating a dead horse as if it were alive, he didn't expect Chen Tao to change the game; he simply wanted to use the German Cup matches to fulfill the appearance conditions of the contract.
“What if I can get past them?”
“Uh... getting past them would, of course, be even better.”
Thomas Doll chuckled, clearly not believing him much.
No matter how good his skills were in training, it was useless if he couldn't perform in a match.
And so, in an atmosphere of despair from both fans and the coaching staff, Chen Tao made his professional debut.
Just 30 seconds after he came on, Borussia Dortmund's backline passed the ball to the right wing.
“Chen! Watch out behind you!”
Nuri Şahin regretted his pass the moment he kicked it; the German third-tier team's defense was rougher and more aggressive than he had imagined.
The opposing full-back was already charging forward menacingly.
If the Asian boy didn't handle the ball well after receiving it, he would surely be knocked to the ground.
Everyone on the field was staring intently at the ball; the Dortmund coaching staff had already started shaking their heads and sighing.
Magdeburg players were all running forward, preparing to attack; this ball would definitely be intercepted!
How could a skinny Asian man get past... What the fuck?
Just as the opposing full-back was charging with his shoulder, Chen Tao, receiving the ball with his back to the goal, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.
He didn't directly stop the ball at his feet; instead, he flicked it up with the tip of his toe!
The football arced beautifully, looping over his head.
The moment the opponent charged, Chen Tao had already completed his turn, lightly evading the collision, and in a flash, he took a touch and burst out from the wing, breaking free!
“Echt?!!! (What the fuck?)”
“Unbelievable!”
“Well done!! Chen! Go for it!”
In an instant, the opposing players showed expressions of horror, the Dortmund coaching staff exclaimed, clutching their heads, and the Borussia Dortmund teammates hadn't even reacted yet.
Chen Tao's understated handling of the ball stunned everyone on the field!
Nuri Şahin was still the quickest to react, quickly signaling his teammates to move forward and support him, and several players in yellow and black jerseys charged forward side by side.
Chen Tao bypassed the opposing full-back, dribbling at high speed, feeling the wind whistling past his ears!
His 100-meter sprint time was 11.07 seconds, though not as fast as Cristiano Ronaldo's peak 10.6 seconds, he was still incredibly fast, dribbling with long strides towards the penalty area!
Magdeburg's center-back hastily moved over to cover, attempting to hold back the Asian player.
But he saw the Asian player's dazzling step-overs, making it difficult for him to judge the direction, and in a slight hesitation...
Chen Tao dipped his right shoulder, faking out the opponent, but then strangely changed direction to the left, completing a dribble past the defender and into the penalty area, facing the goalkeeper directly!
The home fans' hearts tightened, and the away Borussia Dortmund fans erupted in a fierce cheer.
Bang!
When it's a one-on-one, who can resist taking a shot?
Chen Tao didn't hesitate, lifting his foot for a powerful shot!
The goalkeeper's nerves were taut, and he prepared to dive for the save!
The next second he regretted it, staring wide-eyed in mid-air...
The ball was actually miskicked, turning into a low, curving shot that quickly darted towards the far post!
Coincidentally, a Dortmund player in a yellow and black jersey arrived just in time!
The Swiss international, star striker Alexander Frei, slid to the ground and swept Chen Tao's “assist” into the goal!
“Yes!!! That's so cool!”
“It's in! It's in!”
“Beautiful!! Woohoohoo!”
The Dortmund coaching staff cheered wildly, and head coach Thomas Doll breathed a sigh of relief.
The team had been winless in their last three matches, ranking 14th in the League table, with already poor results.
If they lost to a German third-tier team again, wouldn't he be verbally attacked?
Who would have thought that the Chinese boy, who had just come on for 1 minute, would actually become a substitute surprise!
Dortmund successfully equalized the score away from home, 1-1 against Magdeburg!
Perhaps the only ones unhappy were the home team players, and Chen Tao.
“Damn it, even if I sacrifice shooting accuracy, don't be so ridiculous, right? I clearly aimed for the top corner, but it almost went to the corner flag.”
Chen Tao was still looking down, feeling depressed, when the usually taciturn Swiss striker came up and high-fived him.
Alexander Frei, a star player who had participated in the World Cup, was arrogant as the team's main striker and looked down on everyone.
When Chen Tao challenged everyone in training matches, he remained unmoved.
One assist made him much friendlier, and he praised Chen Tao's “assist” profusely.
“Thanks, great pass, how did you think of the far post? That was brilliant!”
“I, well, I saw you making the run, and I believed you could score.”
“Good, you have a lot of talent, keep playing hard, you'll definitely get into the starting lineup.”
Encouraged by the team's veteran, Chen Tao really had a hard time explaining himself.
He didn't mean to assist; he really just couldn't shoot it into the goal!
The rest of the match proceeded smoothly; Chen Tao continuously used his skills to disrupt the right wing, and his teammates' morale improved, and their form returned.
Dortmund ultimately won 1-4 away, coming back to defeat Magdeburg and advance to the German Cup Round 3!
After the match, Chen Tao's goal, which came from dribbling past two players and a pass-like shot assisting Frey, was also voted the best goal of this round of the German Cup.
Chen Tao, who had completed his debut, was about to head back to the locker room for a good shower when he was quickly stopped by a group of reporters with cameras and microphones.
“Chen! Can we do a quick interview?”
“You completed two brilliant assists and had 11 successful breakthroughs in the entire match in your professional debut, coming on as a substitute and earning the highest rating of 1 point. As the youngest player to appear in the German Cup, what are your thoughts?”
The blonde, large-framed female reporter specifically asked in English to accommodate Chen Tao.
Chen Tao's mouth curved upwards, revealing a smile comparable to Beckham's in the afternoon sun.
Leaving aside his fluent German, his answer alone made all the reporters' eyes light up.
“The coach made the right choice; letting me play only has one result—victory!”