"Hey, did you guys watch it? Yesterday's match."
"What match? The World Cup?"
"Oh, no, the Bundesliga! A Chinese player scored! It was incredibly exciting!"
"Ah, can the National Football Team also score goals?"
"Not the National Football Team…"
"Chen Tao, right? I watched it too! Holy cow, I was so excited then!"
"Right, right!! He's truly awesome!"
Tianhe District, Zhongshan Third Hospital staff cafeteria.
Chen Jianping, head of the Information Department, was hunched over, eating his meal quickly, eager to finish and get back to work.
Suddenly, hearing someone discuss his child, Chen Jianping couldn't help but slow down and listen intently.
It was a few medical interns. The girls who didn't follow football hadn't heard of Chen Tao yet.
The boys who often watched football, however, revered Chen Tao like a god.
Hearing others praise his child, Old Chen's heart was practically overflowing with joy.
He wished he could rush over and tell them:
Chen Tao is my son!
But one must be modest, so Chen Jianping controlled his impulse.
Just then, a colleague from the department opposite Chen Jianping suddenly stopped his chopsticks:
"Wait a minute, Section Chief Chen, isn't your son also named Chen Tao? Is he studying abroad?"
"Yes, in Germany."
"What a coincidence, he has the same name as the football star Chen Tao."
"Hehehe… not the same name, he IS my son."
Chen Jianping finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Ah?!"
Amidst the stunned looks of his colleagues, Chen Jianping picked up his tray and left the table, walking away with his head held high and chest puffed out.
Heh, he finally got to show off for once.
…
While fans in the East were discussing Chen Tao, European football erupted again.
Chen Tao's goal, where he dribbled past multiple players and scored with a backheel Marseille Roulette inside the six-yard box, repeatedly appeared on sports channels of major TV stations.
"In yesterday's Bundesliga Round 27 focus match, Chinese prodigy Chen Tao scored with a shocking dribbling display, helping Borussia Dortmund equalize.
In the second half, it was again Chen Tao who actively created opportunities on the right wing, with Nuri Şahin assisting Alexander Frei for the go-ahead goal.
Ultimately, Borussia Dortmund defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at home, rising to 5th place in the standings."
"…Let's take a closer look at this goal. Chen used his exquisite skills to successively dribble past Barnetta, Vidal, Karim Haggui, and Friedrich, then break through the goalkeeper to score into an empty net.
We cannot describe this goal, the best in Bundesliga Round 26, with words!
Rumor has it that FIFA is considering establishing the Puskás Award, and we don't know when the official selection will begin.
If it starts this year, then Chen Tao's goal against Wolfsburg, where he dribbled past 6 players, including this backheel goal from the goal line, could all be nominated.
At least in the selection for the best goal of this Bundesliga season, Chen Tao's goals will sweep the top three spots!
Let's follow the video replay and enjoy his perfect footwork once more…"
"…Next, we turn our attention to the Bundesliga. In the recently concluded Round 27, a god-like goal was born…"
North London, Wenger's home.
Anne Brosterhous was slightly surprised when she saw the TV screen:
"Oh, isn't that the young man who came last time, your favorite student?"
"That's right."
Wenger didn't even look up, focusing intently on his laptop.
"Are you going to recall him to Arsenal next season?"
"Emmm…"
Wenger finally looked up, took off his glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"It's a bit troublesome; he doesn't have a work permit."
"Go to the FA for a hearing, isn't there that clause?"
Anne, through osmosis, had some understanding of English football.
"Not necessarily, it depends on the club."
Wenger himself was unsure about the board's stance.
Chen Tao had no international match experience, completely failing to meet the work permit requirements, making him ineligible to play in the Premier League.
Compared to other Leagues, the FA's restrictions on overseas players are the strictest.
Just that damned work permit alone has barred countless young talents.
At the same time, no more than 3 non-EU players are allowed on the field, which forced Wenger to give extra consideration to the team's lineup.
Furthermore, Chen Tao's physical condition still didn't meet Premier League standards.
He could wreak havoc in the Bundesliga, but in the Premier League, he'd be waiting for a broken leg.
Next season, Wenger still planned to let Chen Tao continue to train abroad.
After all, he was still young enough that even if he trained abroad for three to five years, he would still return as a U21 youngster.
"Is that so? That's quite a shame. Our daughter keeps talking about wanting to play with her big brother."
"Is that so? How come I didn't know?"
"Hmph, you never pay attention to home, always busy even when you're here. Of course you wouldn't know."
Anne crossed her arms unhappily.
"I'm sorry, the pressure has been quite high recently. Work is important; I'll make it up to you after the season ends."
Wenger chuckled, trying to comfort her.
Anne sighed deeply.
Even though they weren't married yet, Anne could already see what married life would be like.
She couldn't help but wonder if she and Wenger could truly make it work.
…
"Hey, our hero, good morning!"
"Chen!! The savior is here!"
"Sign an autograph for me! Chen!"
As soon as he entered the training base, Chen Tao was surrounded.
Those surrounding him weren't crazy fans, but crazy teammates.
Ever since the 2-1 comeback victory against Bayer Leverkusen last time, Chen Tao's prestige within the team had almost reached its peak.
When Chen Tao was not on the field, Borussia Dortmund suffered 3 consecutive losses.
When he returned, the team embarked on an 8-match unbeaten streak across all competitions!
3 consecutive wins in the German Cup, successively defeating Jena and Hoffenheim, powerfully reaching the German Cup final to face Bayern Munich!
4 consecutive wins in the League!
Successively defeating Hamburg, Karlsruher, Bochum, and Bayer Leverkusen,
He single-handedly, forcefully lifted Borussia Dortmund from 13th place in the League to 4th place!
A furious chase of 12 points!
Currently, they lead 5th placed Hamburg by 2 points,
And are only 3 points behind 3rd placed Schalke in the Bundesliga!
In the past, they would have had to look up even to qualify for the Europa League, but now, Borussia Dortmund is leaping with all their might, even having a chance to touch the Champions League!
That's the Champions League!
The most coveted stage for every professional football player in Europe!
Many people cannot make it into the National Football Team, so the Champions League becomes their World Cup.
This not only means more exposure and opportunities to play against world-class giants, a more convenient path to fame,
But also a substantial bonus!
When Chen Tao was showing off on the field, his teammates not only wouldn't be jealous but would admire and worship him even more.
Who would turn down money?
Clinging to the strong to climb the ranks is not shameful!
According to Hummels:
"Who can the team rely on now? Rely on the coach's tactics?"
"At most, we try our best to defend in the back, and up front, we can only rely on Alexander and you. And you, my friend, are the only savior."
So Chen Tao had recently clearly felt that his teammates were even a bit overly enthusiastic.
"Do you think we have a chance to enter the Champions League this season?"
Nuri Şahin frowned slightly.
The top tier of the Bundesliga was still too strong, and there were only 5 rounds left in the League.
Borussia Dortmund was about to face its most important devilish schedule.
Their next opponents would be the top 5 teams in the League!
2nd placed Werder Bremen, 3rd placed Schalke 04, and in the final round, they would face the Bundesliga's ultimate boss, Bayern Munich!
From early April to mid-May, would Borussia Dortmund push through to the Champions League, or would they exhaust themselves and fall back to the middle of the League?
Every match was crucial!
Nuri Şahin's concerns were not unfounded.
"The Champions League?"
Chen Tao was, of course, full of longing for the Champions League. If a Champions League ticket was placed before him, he would definitely not miss it.
Even if many of the Bundesliga's powerhouses stood in his way.
"Yes, brother. Yes!"
Chen Tao was still at the entrance of the training base cafeteria, clenching his fists, full of vigor.
Little did he know that the 4-match winning streak of Borussia Dortmund was about to be hit hard,
And the hope of Champions League qualification, which had just appeared, became uncertain again.
Bundesliga Round 28, Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Hannover 96!
"No, what's going on?"
All Borussia Dortmund fans wanted to know what exactly had happened to the team.
They thought the devilish schedule was the real test,
So why did the team falter even before the devilish schedule began?