The Wolfsburg City Stadium was a sea of green and white. The atmosphere was stifling, with every seat filled by fans who believed their fortress was impenetrable. Having shadowed Bayern Munich all season and maintained an undefeated streak in the Europa League, Wolfsburg was a juggernaut. Every local supporter firmly believed that their home advantage would be the undoing of Fiorentina.
As the cameras panned to the VIP stands, a thunderous roar erupted. Alongside club manager Fred sat a figure of German football royalty: the legendary striker Klinsmann. His presence wasn't a surprise to the locals; rumors had been swirling for weeks that the legend might take the reins of the club next season.
While Klinsmann's coaching career had seen its share of ups and downs, his aura alone brought a level of commercial gravity and prestige that the club craved. Beside him, Fred watched the warm-ups with a keen eye, gauging the strength of the squad Klinsmann might soon inherit.
However, the sight of the legend caused the color to drain from the face of Dieter, the current Wolfsburg manager. Dieter's contract was set to expire this summer, and negotiations had stalled over salary demands. Leading the team to a fantastic season wasn't enough; the management was using Klinsmann's presence as a silent hammer. To regain his leverage, Dieter knew he didn't just need a win—he needed a demolition.
"Hello to our viewers around the world!" the lead commentator's voice boomed over the airwaves. "Today, we bring you a highlight battle of the Europa League! The Bundesliga's high-flying Wolfsburg hosts the Serie A powerhouse, Fiorentina!"
"Thousands are tuned in specifically for the young maestro, Renzo Uzumaki. After his stunning assist hat-trick against Everton, the world is waiting to see if the Japanese-born genius can repeat his magic against a far more formidable German side."
The lineups were announced to a chorus of cheers and whistles. Wolfsburg deployed their lethal 4-2-3-1. Benaglio, the Swiss veteran, stood in goal. Naldo and Kroch anchored the defense, flanked by Vieirinha and Ricardo Rodriguez. In the engine room, Luiz Gustavo and Guilavogui provided the steel, while the attacking trio of Schürrle, Perisic, and the phenomenal Kevin De Bruyne sat behind the tall Dutchman, Bas Dost.
Fans across the globe engaged in heated debates as the teams took their positions.
[Nervous about this one. Wolfsburg is a different beast. They actually beat Bayern here earlier this season.]
[Watch De Bruyne. His passing is on another planet right now. Chelsea must be sick knowing they let him go.]
[This is the true test for Renzo. A direct battle between the two best young playmakers in Europe.]
The referee's whistle pierced the air, and the match began with a frantic energy. Wolfsburg, fueled by their home crowd, didn't just attack—they swarmed.
Under their system, the two holding midfielders acted as an iron shield, allowing the front four to play with a terrifying level of freedom. Their forward runs were bold, direct, and immediate. Fiorentina's defense was under siege within seconds.
Captain Manuel Pasqual could feel the heat. He barked orders, urging his backline to tighten the gaps and compress the space. But as the minutes ticked by, it became clear that holding the line against Wolfsburg's movement was one thing; holding it against De Bruyne was another entirely.
In the 6th minute, De Bruyne found a pocket of space in the final third. With a casual flick of his boot, he sent a diagonal ball through a forest of legs, finding Bas Dost in stride. The striker turned and hammered a shot that whistled just wide of the post.
Only four minutes later, the Belgian was at it again. Receiving the ball in a congested midfield, he shrugged off a challenge and threaded a needle-sharp through-ball between Fiorentina's center-backs. It was a pass of surgical precision, finding André Schürrle on a diagonal run. The resulting shot was blocked, earning a corner, but the message was sent.
Two lethal, defense-splitting passes in the first ten minutes.
The stadium was buzzing, and the global audience was stunned. The level of passing on display was staggering.
[De Bruyne is a monster. He's outperforming Robben and Müller in the stats this year for a reason.]
[Those passes were just as good as anything we've seen from Renzo.]
[The Maestro has finally met his match. This isn't a game anymore—it's a duel.]
30+ chapters are available now and daily updates! @patreon.com/Authorzero