July 15, 2006 - Dortmund II Preseason:
The first tackle came in the fifth minute of training.
Marco received a pass in midfield, took a touch, and immediately a shoulder crashed into his back. He stumbled forward, nearly falling, the ball rolling away.
"Welcome to 3. Liga, kid!" the defender shouted, grinning.
Marco got up, jaw tight. The man was twenty-eight years old, 85 kilograms of muscle, a journeyman who'd spent a decade in lower-division football. To him, Marco was just another cocky teenager who needed educating.
The next hour was brutal. Every time Marco touched the ball, someone hit him. Not dirty—just hard, physical, but legal. This was adult football. This was reality.
In practice matches, Marco's usual moves didn't work. The cut-inside? Defenders didn't commit early like U19 players—they stayed patient, forced him wide. Through balls? Adult defenders read them, intercepted them. Speed? He was fast, but so were they, and they were stronger.
After ninety minutes, Marco was exhausted and frustrated.
The reserve team coach—Hans Müller, former Bundesliga defender—gathered the squad.
"Some of you are wondering about the kid,"
Müller said, nodding toward Marco. "European U17 semi-finalist, U19 Bundesliga champion and top scorer. Basically, he'd got a very impressive résumé." He paused. "Means absolutely nothing here."
A few players chuckled. Marco's face burned.
"In U19, you were the man, Reus. Here, you're the youngest player by three years. These guys have mortgages, families, careers on the line. They don't care about your trophies. You have to earn respect." Müller's expression softened slightly.
"But you can. I've seen your tape. You have talent. Now prove you have character."
After the session, Marco's body was aching in several places, and his mind was replaying the scenes. He analysed both physical and mental aspects of the training.
Physically, his speed was good even here. But not outstanding. He was not the fastest one on the team. Stamina wise, he was average. His disciplined work schedule and efficient system training had led to a stamina stat that was better than most of his peers. But it was not a strong point in the stage of adult football.
Strength was a major weak point. He cannot handle direct collisions with his teamates. He was easily knocked off balance when faced with deliberate collisions.
But it doesn't mean that he has to bulk up. Increase weight will reduce the speed and explosiness. If so, it will be counter productive.
The solution is to focus on building core strength.
Players like Messi and Iniesta has light bodies. But they can handle collisions on the pitch because they have immense core strength hidden inside their small bodies. It helps them to easily adjust balance after a collision.
If he considers the mental aspect, the main area of improvement should be with anticipation and timing. Compared to the U19, reserve team's game has much faster pace. He has to continuously refine his timing and traine the anticipation.
'I know I can do this. It's only a matter of when.', he reminded himself. Reserve football, then first team. That's the path. Keep grinding.
* * *
The first two months in Dortmund II were humbling.
Marco started on the bench. When he came on as a substitute, he was competent but unremarkable. The physicality overwhelmed him. Opponents kicked him, pushed him, talked trash constantly.
"Go back to the kids' league!"
"You're too small for this, boy!"
"Mommy's waiting outside!"
Marco gritted his teeth and kept playing.
The veteran players weren't cruel—just indifferent. He was the kid, and kids had to prove themselves.
Nobody liked it when some kid took their spot in the team. These gritty veterans naturally despised the youthful arrogance of talented youngsters. But they would love you if you can actually win matches for them.
It's just a matter of ability.
* * *
October 29, 2006:
Dortmund II vs. Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. 3. Liga match, away game, hostile crowd.
Marco started on the left wing. The opposing right-back was thirty-two years old, experienced, cynical. He fouled Marco three times in the first twenty minutes—nothing the referee punished, just professional roughness.
Marco stayed patient. Worked the channels. Made runs. Built trust with teammates.
67th minute, score 0-0.
Dortmund won a throw-in deep in the opponent's half. The ball came to Marco at the edge of the box, back to goal, defender tight on him.
Marco touched the ball to his left, accurately anticipating the defenders lunge, while creating half a yard of space, then spun. Marco was past his main, rushing to wards the goal.
But their defence reacted immediately. Two defenders rushing to close him down.
But as soon he got the chance, Marco shot. Low, hard, placed into the far bottom corner.
1-0.
His first goal in men's football.
The celebration was muted—teammates congratulated him, but it was professional, workmanlike. This wasn't U19, where every goal was celebrated wildly. This was just doing your job.
But inside, Marco was elated. This goal was the proof that validated his efforts. It gave him the confidence to boldly March forward.
Final score: 1-0. Marco's goal won the match.
His first solid, professional performance for the reserves.
* * *
After the first goal, something clicked.
Marco became a regular starter. His game evolved—less flashy than U19, more efficient. Quick combinations with teammates. Intelligent runs. Defensive work rate that impressed coaches.
The goals came steadily:
November: 3 goals in 5 matches
December: 2 goals in 4 matches
January: 3 goals in 4 matches
By January, he'd scored 8 goals in 18 reserve team matches. Not spectacular, but solid for a seventeen-year-old in adult football.
His reputation grew within the club. First-team coaches attended reserve matches more frequently. Scouts from other clubs appeared in the stands.
In January, he got many enquiries from other club, which was used by Krahn for increased wages from Dortmund.
He now has a monthly salary of €6000, which was a very good amount for a youth player.
Remember, he has yet to debut for the first team, which was major milestone to decide a player's worth.
* * *