Guysssss, I am sorry for the lack of update.
But my exams got fked up. And I got to earn enough to support myself real quick. Writing ain't giving me enough money, man. And my parents are pressing me to get a real job
So, they set a goal. If I somehow earn a 100$ through writing and your support before 3rd of July, I get to keep writing, otherwise I would have to drop this book. I am so sorry guys, but it is what it is.
I will try to upload daily till the deadline, so bear with me guys.
Collected ($12.04/$100)
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After the match, Oliver didn't immediately return to the locker room. His gaze swept past his cheering teammates, landing on the figure on the other side of the tunnel, who was being comforted by his Manchester City teammates and leaving the field with strong reluctance.
Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian midfielder's performance, even on a night when Manchester City was largely stifled, still shone with the brilliance of a master.
His passing vision, precise footwork, and ability to create opportunities in tight spaces filled Oliver with respect and a strong desire to learn. With hardly any hesitation, Oliver took a deep breath, pushed through the crowd, and quickly walked over. De Bruyne had just taken a towel from a staff member to wipe away sweat, his face etched with disappointment and extreme fatigue after the match. Seeing Hoffenheim's No. 17 standing in front of him, De Bruyne was slightly startled.
"This is that talented kid with the same number as me. Guardiola has been mentioning him a lot lately."
"Kevin," Oliver began, speaking in authentic Birmingham English, "Your performance was amazing. Can I swap jerseys with you?"
Oliver pointed to his own jersey, then to De Bruyne's. De Bruyne looked at the talented player in front of him, who was much younger but had pierced Manchester City's defense and scored the winning goal in this match. The frustration of defeat had not yet dissipated, but there was no hint of a winner's arrogance in Oliver's eyes, only pure admiration and a thirst for knowledge. A look of surprise flashed in De Bruyne's eyes, then he nodded, revealing a tired but sincere smile.
"Of course." He didn't hesitate, decisively taking off his sweat-soaked sky-blue No. 17 jersey.
Oliver also immediately took off his blue and white No. 17 and handed it over. The two exchanged jerseys.
"Congratulations on your victory," De Bruyne said sincerely as he took Oliver's jersey, "Your goal was incredibly calm, world-class, especially the final touch."
"Thank you, Kevin!" Oliver's eyes lit up, "Your passing is truly magic, especially your escapes in the middle and that forward pass, the timing, the power…"
He paused, seemingly unable to find the perfect words to describe it, and then cut straight to the question he cared about most: "By the way, Kevin, before that counter-attack, around the 38th minute, you received the ball on our flank, facing a double-team. How did you spot that tiny gap for Sane at the far post? I felt like you didn't even look up?"
De Bruyne was somewhat surprised by Oliver's meticulous observation and his desire to delve into details. He wiped some sweat and thought back carefully.
"That was more of a… feeling? I can't quite explain it. Game experience tells me that in that position, at that time, a teammate habitually appears there. You need to understand your teammates' running habits, like a subconscious reaction after a radar scan has been performed thousands of times. Of course, the prerequisite is that in the few seconds of observation before you receive the ball, you already have a mental map of the surrounding players' positions."
De Bruyne roughly gestured with his hand to illustrate the positioning at the time. Oliver listened intently, like the most diligent student.
He then asked, "Then, under such strong pressure, how can you still deliver such accurate through balls? Is there any special technique? Or is it core strength at play?"
De Bruyne looked at the pure thirst for knowledge in Oliver's eyes and felt as if he was seeing his younger self.
He patiently explained: "Core strength is certainly very important; it's the foundation of stability. But passing under high pressure, the key lies in balance. Opponent's collisions will cause your body to wobble. You need to learn to exert force with the smallest range of motion at the moment your body is interfered with, a bit like… leveraging? Find the point of force and the contact point with the ball, maintaining core axial stability amidst body movement."
De Bruyne was very enthusiastic, and he briefly simulated the coordinated movements of body impact and passing with force for Oliver. The brief exchange gave Oliver a sense of sudden enlightenment. Although De Bruyne couldn't reveal all secrets in a few words, the guidance from such a top midfield master was priceless.
"Thank you so much, Kevin! This has been incredibly insightful for me!" Oliver said sincerely.
"You're very talented, and your vision is excellent. Keep it up," De Bruyne said admiringly, patting his shoulder. Then, he took out his phone,
"Want to exchange contact information? Maybe we can communicate more in the future."
"Of course!" Oliver immediately took out his phone, and the two quickly exchanged social media accounts and phone numbers.
"See you next time at Etihad." De Bruyne showed a shy smile.
"See you next time!" Oliver nodded vigorously.
Two No. 17s, two talented midfielders from different camps and nearly ten years apart in age, engaged in a brief, sincere technical exchange after an intense 90-minute match, using jerseys as a bond and football as a bridge.
Kevin De Bruyne interaction +30%
...
The undercurrents of the football world never subside with the end of a match. Just as the entire Hoffenheim team was immersed in the immense joy of defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the first leg. While Oliver was still savoring his conversation with De Bruyne, Far away in Munich, a conspiracy targeting Hoffenheim's core had already been set in motion. After the match, in the Bayern Munich boardroom.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Hoeness, Salihamidzic, and other high-ranking officials gathered in the meeting room. On the giant projection screen, clips of Hoffenheim's match against Manchester City were repeatedly played. Especially Oliver's decisive strike, Nagelsmann's composed demeanor while directing from the sidelines, and Maguire's repeatedly frustrating aerial dominance. The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy and intense.
"Did you all see that?" Hoeness was the first to break the silence, his voice low and carrying unquestionable authority,
"It's Nagelsmann again! With such limited resources, he was actually able to lead Hoffenheim to defeat Guardiola's Manchester City with such intelligent tactical arrangements! This isn't just luck; this is true coaching artistry! The ultimate utilization of space, the precise integration of players' abilities!"
His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Salihamidzic's face: "Sali! We must speed up! We can't hesitate any longer! These two, Nagelsmann and Oliver, are not just our targets; they have already proven themselves capable of becoming the cornerstones of Bayern's future! A top Coach who can build a dynasty, and a forward core destined to shine on the world stage!"
"But, Uli," Salihamidzic responded, his brows furrowed, "Hoffenheim's momentum is strong, and they've gone so far in the Champions League; their morale is very high. Also, don't forget, Oliver's father is a shrewd businessman. It is said that he is very cautious and opinionated, so direct contact would be too risky."
Hoeness's lips curled into a cold and shrewd smile: "Direct contact? No, what we need to do is create a momentum. A momentum that will cause internal instability at Hoffenheim, making Nagelsmann and Oliver feel the call of a higher stage."
He paused, his eyes gleaming with cunning, "For example, send some positive signals to Nagelsmann."
...
Then, Bayern's "open conspiracy" began. A few days later, at a seemingly ordinary football business event, Hoeness "casually" accepted an interview with the German Press Agency. The topic naturally revolved around Hoffenheim's impressive performance against Manchester City.
"Julian Nagelsmann?" Hoeness faced the camera, a smile of undisguised admiration on his face,
"He is an astonishing genius. The tactical wisdom and on-field coaching artistry he has displayed are rare and precious assets in today's football world. At his age, to be able to lead a team with limited investment, to advance victoriously in both the Champions League and the Bundesliga, even defeating the formidable Manchester City… This requires extremely outstanding courage and insight! Bayern Munich will always appreciate and respect such wisdom."
His words were like a huge stone thrown into a calm lake, especially the emphasis on the words "Bayern Munich" at the end, which was just right, yet seemed like an incidental remark. As soon as the report was released, it immediately sparked a frenzy of media interpretations!
"Hoeness publicly praises Nagelsmann!"
"Clear signal? Bayern targets Hoffenheim's young Coach!"
"Will Nagelsmann be Bayern's next helmsman?"
Various sensational headlines instantly dominated the sports pages. At Hoffenheim headquarters, in Chairman Hopp's office, the atmosphere was somewhat delicate. Senior executives sat around, and the tablet on the table was displaying Hoeness's interview video.
"Damn it, Hoeness, that old fox!" Hopp put down his coffee cup, his brows tightly furrowed.
"This is a naked psychological attack! An open conspiracy! What is he implying? He's unsettling Nagelsmann! And even more, he's unsettling our morale!"
Another director's voice was worried: "Exactly, Nagelsmann is our core asset right now, but if his heart is elsewhere… or if the players think he's about to leave… This will be a huge blow to our morale for the upcoming League title race and the Champions League second leg! Just think, if the players start to doubt the Coach's future…"
This worry spread like a virus among the senior management. They were well aware of Nagelsmann's value, and even more so, what it would mean for Hoffenheim, currently at its peak, to lose him. The joy of success was greatly diluted by immense uncertainty and a potential sense of crisis.
Hopp took a deep breath: "Get Julian here. We must ask him directly about his thoughts."
Outside the Coach's office at the training base, Nagelsmann had just finished a tactical meeting and was preparing to analyze data on the next League opponent. Hopp pushed the door open, and without much pleasantry, he directly played the video clip of Hoeness's interview. The office was exceptionally quiet, with only Hoeness's voice echoing. Hopp stared intently at Nagelsmann's expression. The interview footage finished playing.
Nagelsmann didn't speak immediately; he walked to the window, looking at the now empty turf of the training ground, where traces of the recent tactical drill were still faintly visible. Hopp's heart was in his throat. After about ten seconds, Nagelsmann turned around, his face devoid of any emotional fluctuation, his eyes clear and sharp, even carrying a hint of confusion at Hopp and others' worries.
"Mr. Chairman," he looked at Hopp, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather,
"Whether it's Bayern or Hoeness, every word they say to me, here..." He pointed to his chest,
"Compared to everyone present, and the players on the training ground who are giving their all for every tactical detail, it's not worth mentioning."
He paused, his voice not loud, but every word carried immense weight: "In my eyes, now, at this moment, the next second, until the final whistle of the season, there is only one thing: the Championship. That is the only light source that illuminates our Hoffenheim's path forward.
The two words 'Bayern München' are just two words to me; the space they occupy in my mind is less than thinking about how to limit a winger's change of direction and acceleration route."
He walked in front of Hopp, his gaze open and frank: "Mr. Hopp, no need to doubt, no need to worry. Focus your energy on supporting the team and preparing logistics. My and the players' entire body and mind belong only to this season! To Hoffenheim!"
There were no flowery words, no Excited declarations, only a clear, rock-solid statement of purpose. Hopp looked at Nagelsmann's young yet exceptionally calm and determined face; the stone in his heart instantly dropped, followed by a surge of immense emotion and strength.
"Good! With your words, we know what to do!" He firmly shook Nagelsmann's hand.
Bayern's strategy was not solely aimed at Nagelsmann. In the high-level meeting at Säbener Straße, another "hidden move" was also used. Salihamidzic made a phone call to an "insider" within the Hoffenheim team. That's right. It was the winger loaned from Bayern to Hoffenheim, Serge Gnabry.
"Serge, how do you feel about this season at Hoffenheim?" Salihamidzic's tone was relaxed, sounding like routine concern.
"Very good, sir, the team atmosphere at Hoffenheim is great, and I'm playing very comfortably," Gnabry responded cautiously.
"That's good then." Salihamidzic changed the subject, lowering his voice,
"Serge, you guys are doing great in the Champions League, especially your teammate, that kid named Oliver, he's truly talented." He threw out the bait,
"You came from Bayern, and in the future, you're definitely an important player for the Bayern first team. Bayern also hopes to see top-tier teammates gathered together to collectively build a new dynasty," Salihamidzic finished.
Gnabry remained silent. Salihamidzic paused, waiting for a reaction from the other end of the phone, and continued.
"You and Oliver have a good relationship, right? You train and play together every day in the team. As his teammate and friend... Don't you think a top player like him should achieve great things on a bigger stage, with stronger teammates? Bayern is clearly the most suitable stage. Have you talked to him about the future? Or... Is there any possibility of persuading him, letting him know how much Bayern values him? Making him realize how wonderful it would be to fight alongside you at the Allianz Arena?"
Salihamidzic's words were full of hints and guidance, conveying the message to Gnabry:
It's a fact that Bayern values Oliver, and Bayern also thinks highly of you, Gnabry (giving a sweet treat). You and Oliver have a good relationship (you are the most suitable to complete the task), and you can also consolidate your position in Bayern's future blueprint (hinting at future benefits).
Salihamidzic's combination of moves left Gnabry speechless. Gnabry's feelings were extremely complex; he just wanted to play football well, but now it seemed that might not be possible. On one hand, he was a Bayern player, and Bayern's call and future plans were crucial to Gnabry.
On the other hand, during his time at Hoffenheim. Gnabry and Oliver had indeed formed a deep friendship, whether it was their tacit agreement cooperation on the training ground or their relaxed and pleasant interactions off the field. Oliver's hard work, humility, and pure love for football all earned his great admiration. Being asked to privately act as a lobbyist to sway a teammate and good friend's future decision made him feel very awkward and uncomfortable.
(Currently, only Hoffenheim's high-level management knows that Oliver plans to go to Arsenal; Oliver's teammates are unaware.)
A few days later, in the locker room after training, the atmosphere was relaxed. Oliver was organizing his shoes, and Gnabry sat next to him, speaking casually: "Hey, Ollie, yesterday I was scrolling through social media and saw that Karl-Heinz Rummenigge seemed to specifically mention you in an interview."
Oliver looked up, his expression unchanged: "Oh? What did he say?"
Gnabry shrugged, trying to make his tone sound light and gossipy:
"Hmm... He just praised you, saying you're a phenomenal talent, and that Bayern would go to any lengths to bring in future stars and so on. He also mentioned that Salihamidzic and the others have a super high opinion of you. It seems Bayern is really 'convinced' by you, haha."
Gnabry deliberately used a tone of a friend sharing inside information, packaging Bayern's "at all costs" signal as a media news point, lightly telling Oliver. He did not add any of his own opinions or suggestions.
Oliver listened, not even stopping his shoe-wiping motion, and just smiled: "Media, you know, take half of what they say with a grain of salt. All I'm thinking about now is the next League match, and how to survive the away match at Etihad Stadium."
Oliver didn't look at Gnabry, but the sense of focus and determination to block out external interference in his tone was exceptionally clear. Gnabry understood immediately. He cleverly changed the subject, patting Oliver's shoulder and laughing: "You're right! Ollie! Let's think about how to give the opposing defenders a headache in the next League match this weekend! Oh, by the way, want to do some extra shooting practice tonight?"
Gnabry didn't press, didn't probe, and certainly didn't persuade. He subtly conveyed the news he had "accidentally" heard, then immediately retreated, leaving the choice entirely to Oliver. That night, Gnabry made another seemingly insignificant move. He posted a photo of himself training on his personal Instagram, with the Hoffenheim training ground at night as the background. In the corner of the photo, the silhouette of Oliver, who was doing strength training in the distance, was perfectly captured.
His caption was short: "All out! Keep going! @Hoffenheim!"
This photo clearly showed his positive attitude of "being in Hoffenheim, focusing on training" (for Hoffenheim to see), and also conveniently included Oliver in the frame (Bayern could also interpret this as them being close and often working together).
As for the "summoning" message Bayern's high-level management wanted him to convey? He cleverly diffused it with a phrase like "All out! Keep going!"
And the action of tagging the club, emphasizing the present, and fighting for Hoffenheim. Gnabry had really matured a lot; after spending almost a season with Oliver, his emotional intelligence had also increased. Gnabry's move neither refused Bayern's task nor truly acted as a lobbyist.
He didn't offend his old club, nor did he offend his good friend; he maintained the balance between both sides. Gnabry sighed softly and put down his phone. He knew that while doing so might seem a bit slick, it was better than directly harming either party or getting himself into deeper conflicts.
In his own way, he drew a subtle line between loyalty, friendship, and personal future, striving to maintain a temporary balance. Meanwhile, in the locker room, Oliver had long since cast aside the "Bayern praise." As his mentor had taught him, his entire focus was already locked onto the journey to Etihad Stadium.
The external, storm-like disturbances were, to him, merely irrelevant background noise.
The Championship was the only true echo.
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