Chapter 12

The twelfth round of the Bundesliga.

Stuttgart 0:2 Bayer Leverkusen.

In preparation for the week's double-header against Arsenal and Bayern, the coaching team still opted for the most conservative defensive counter-attack tactics.

Stuttgart's talented striker, Werner, blasted several shots high over the bar.

Li Kang orchestrated two counter-attacks, with Brandt and Kiessling scoring successively.

At the Mercedes-Benz Arena, the home fans were restless, spewing various slang terms.

Stuttgart's ancestors were very generous.

The only "three consecutive championships" in the history of the German Cup!

This is an honor that Bayern Munich has yet to achieve.

The club has also produced many legendary superstars, such as Klinsmann, Brazilian captain Dunga, Hleb, Lahm... and so on.

There is also a legendary coach well-known in Germany: Löw!

However, Stuttgart at this time is deeply trapped in the relegation zone, unable to climb out.

After the match.

Stuttgart's legendary star, Bobic, found Li Kang at the entrance of the locker room.

This guy was once Voller's little brother when he was young.

With no particular purpose, he simply led his beautiful 17-year-old daughter to ask for an autograph.

....

Another headache for the Leverkusen coaching team: Son Heung-min, who was ruined by the South Korean national team, relapsed in this round of matches, so severely that even the Injury Immunity (Incomplete) buff could not quickly recover him.

He will miss the Champions League do-or-die match and the North Rhine derby.

Considering the severity of the situation, the club has specially approved that the young players do not need to do homework during this time.

....

Back in Leverkusen.

Li Kang's luck was a bit poor.

What he drew from the Stuttgart · Legendary Treasure Chest was actually: [Bobic's "Black Iron Left Foot" Module.]

Several levels lower than Baggio's Golden Left Foot...

It can only be used as a furnace blank.

....

The next day.

On the training ground.

Havertz steadily caught the pass and exclaimed, "Li, half a year ago I never thought I could play in the Champions League round of 16!"

Li Kang smiled and raised his hand to compare their heights.

Brandt pouted and said, "I don't know what you two ate, you've grown so much taller in more than half a year, and your technical movements haven't been affected... I have to adjust my nutritional intake and training direction almost every month. Last year, I could break the fifty-meter record, but now..."

He helplessly patted his increasingly chubby cheeks. No matter how intense the training is, he just can't lose weight.

Wearing an oversized jersey, he looks like a fat guy.

In the distance.

Dino said, "Boss, Spanish coach Del Bosque has sent an email to the coaching team. He said that the European qualifiers will not call up Li, and suggested that we shouldn't let Li play too frequently either, so as to protect the young players."

The Spanish national team has a nickname: King of the Qualifiers.

Old man Toppmöller, wearing a black trench coat, with his hands in his pockets, his exploding hairstyle a mess in the cold wind.

"Damn it, Del Bosque makes the qualifiers sound so easy because the Spanish team has many midfield stars, but we, Bayer Leverkusen, can't do without Li."

.....

Four days later.

The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 officially kicked off!

Two-thirds of the seats in the BayArena have been removed!

More than 30,000 home fans flooded into the narrow stands!

They would rather stand for ninety minutes to cheer for Bayer Leverkusen! To defend the dignity of North Rhine!

Pre-match press conference.

Faced with the reporters' eager questions.

The two coaches' replies were very brief.

"Arsenal is well prepared."

"Bayer Leverkusen can defend their home ground."

.....

"Ctv5! Ctv5! Good evening, friends!"

"We are now broadcasting live the second leg of the 2015/16 Champions League Round of 16!"

"Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal at home!"

"In the first leg, the two sides played a thrilling draw, with Bayer Leverkusen gaining the advantage of two away goals!"

"Tonight, North Rhine will usher in the most suspenseful do-or-die battle!"

"I am the commentator for this match: Duan Xuan!"

"I am He Wei!"

"Now let me introduce the starting lineups of both sides!"

"Goalkeeper:..."

"..."

"Arsenal's side has not changed much from the first leg. Ramsey is unable to play, and Wilshere gets the start!"

"On the other side, Bayer Leverkusen's main winger, Son Heung-min, is injured and out. Youngster Havertz is making his Champions League debut!"

.....

The referee team led the players from both sides out of the tunnel.

The mascot, the little lion Brian, excitedly high-fived his own players one by one!

The stadium's loudspeaker shouted a name

"Lee!"

Tens of thousands of Bayer Leverkusen fans waved their scarves and team flags excitedly!

The BayArena instantly erupted in a tsunami of cheers!

The passionate Champions League theme song was instantly drowned out.

On the north stand, a giant mosaic quietly fell, Leverkusen No. 10!

"Small but complete!"

"The BayArena, which can only accommodate 30,000 spectators, has burst out with a momentum no less than that of a giant!"

"More than a hundred years ago, Bayer established an amateur football team, and hundreds of employees were the earliest fans!"

"They lived a peaceful life in this small city, multiplied and witnessed the prosperity and decline of Leverkusen!"

"The narrow home ground, far inferior to the European giants, cannot express the love of generations of fans for the club!"

....

Beep!

With the referee's whistle!

The match officially began!

"Leverkusen did not continue the conservative style of play from the previous two league games!"

"Playing very aggressively!"

"Five players rushed past Arsenal's half and pressed!"

The ball went through several passes and came to Wilshere's feet.

Kiessling blocked his path forward.

Brandt approached from the side.

Arsenal's No. 10 hooked the ball with his left foot! Shaking off the Bundesliga header monster, he crashed towards Brandt!

At the moment of close quarters.

No fierce hand-to-hand combat!

The ball-carrier's own rhythm changed drastically, one slow and one fast!

Brandt's foot poked into empty space.

Wilshere instantly broke through the double-team pressing!

No pass!

Continue to dribble forward himself!

Arsenal fans, who had traveled with the team, shouted his name madly!

"Jack!!!"

"Jack!!!"

"Jack!!!"

...

In the live broadcast room.

The fans were dumbfounded.

-[What's going on? Wilshere didn't do anything? How did he easily get past those two?]

-[Remember the Earth Defense War back then? Busquets and Xavi, in their peak Dream Team days, couldn't stop him either! He was a Great British Empire Star who almost eliminated Barcelona single-handedly.]

-[It's not really a matter of footwork technique! It's a sense of space when holding the ball!]

-[Without injuries, Wilshere's sense of space when holding the ball and the changes in rhythm when dribbling past people are terrifying!]

-[His effect on Arsenal's overall attack is difficult to reflect in the data. Watch carefully later, and Arsenal's passing range will widen!]

-[I still miss Wilshere wearing the No. 19 jersey, not the No. 10.]