Chapter 1 When Opportunity Knocks

When Yan Min was called back from the warm-up area by Buvac, he was still a bit dazed, his steps a little unsteady as he ran back—he never imagined that his first appearance for Borussia Dortmund would actually be in the Champions League!

He had thought about when he would get a chance to play for Dortmund, and he thought the most likely possibility was the German Cup.

Because the German Cup wasn't a very important competition, Klopp could easily use such games to give the main squad a rest, providing opportunities for the second team and substitute players to play.

But after playing the German Cup on September 24th, the next German Cup match wouldn't be until December. Didn't that mean he would have to wait until December to make his debut for Borussia Dortmund?

Although Yan Min was a bit anxious, there was nothing he could do.

He could only patiently wait for his opportunity.

Who would have thought that his chance would come sooner than he expected!

And in such an important setting!

This wasn't garbage time to get some playing experience; this was a substitution with a purpose!

After Yan Min ran back, Buvac pulled him aside and began explaining the tactics, telling him what position to play after he came on, and how to run. He explained everything clearly.

Yan Min was learning German and hadn't fully mastered it, so language was a bit of a barrier. Buvac used the simplest words, combined with drawing on the tactical board, to make Yan Min understand.

The TV broadcast director also noticed the new developments on Dortmund's side and quickly switched the camera, so everyone saw Yan Min being pulled aside by Buvac on the TV screen.

The Chinese fans in front of the TV immediately went wild.

"What the heck! Is Yan Min going to play?!"

"This appearance is too unexpected..."

"I didn't expect Yan Min to make his debut in the Champions League!"

...

But some people were also worried.

"Letting Yan Min play when the team is in trouble... Does Klopp think that bringing on Yan Min can solve the problem? This is too much pressure for Yan Min, right?"

"If Dortmund still loses the game in the end, will Yan Min be scapegoated by Klopp?"

But in any case, the worriers were in the minority; most people were happy.

Even He Ping was excited: "It looks like Yan Min is going to play. If he plays, he will become the eighth Chinese player to appear in the Champions League!"

It sounded like eight Chinese players had already played in the Champions League, so the ranking wasn't very high. But in fact, four of those eight people were Zhou Yi, Sun Pan, He Ying, and Yang Muge. Before them, only three Chinese players had appeared on the Champions League stage.

So, being able to become a Chinese player appearing in the Champions League was also very difficult. As long as Yan Min played, he would have his name etched in history forever.

※※※

Zhou Yi also saw this scene on TV. He didn't expect Klopp to give Yan Min a chance to play at this time.

"It's not a good time to let Yan Min play at this time..." his father, Zhou Jianliang, muttered beside him.

"What's not good about it?" Zhou Yi asked.

"It's obvious..." Zhou Jianliang pointed to the TV screen and said. "Dortmund is having difficulties and can't break the deadlock in attack. So Klopp wants to bring on Yan Min to strengthen the offense. It can be said that Yan Min is taking on a heavy responsibility. But before this, he hasn't played a single minute of official Dortmund games. It's not a good thing to challenge such a difficult task right away, in my opinion. It puts too much pressure on him. What if he performs abnormally? Will he be responsible for the loss then? The public opinion will ruin him..."

What Zhou Jianliang said made sense. Generally speaking, that should be the case.

But Zhou Yi shook his head and said, "Yan Min is different from ordinary people. General principles may not apply."

"How is he different?"

"This person is a bit... rash." Zhou Yi chose what he thought was the most appropriate word after careful consideration.

※※※

Buvac had already said everything he needed to say. Yan Min knew what he was supposed to do after he came on. In fact, even if Buvac didn't say it, Yan Min knew what he was supposed to do—go on the field and help Dortmund score!

Then he was called to the sidelines to prepare to come on.

Klopp didn't pull him aside to explain anything separately. On the one hand, Buvac had already said what needed to be said, and on the other hand, there was a language barrier. He was afraid that saying something Yan Min couldn't understand would put too much pressure on him.

In fact, Klopp wanted to help Yan Min reduce pressure, so that he wouldn't have too much pressure. Although the current situation was that the team needed him to contribute, if it really didn't work, he shouldn't force it. The problem couldn't be solved by him alone. As long as he could perform at his normal level, he shouldn't have any extra thoughts.

But if communication wasn't smooth, reducing pressure might turn into increasing pressure.

So Klopp simply adopted a cold approach and didn't talk to Yan Min.

One reason he sent Yan Min on was because Yan Min had never had the experience of coming on as a substitute before. What impact he would have on the team after coming on was completely unknown. It was a fresh experience, an experiment. It was better than choosing someone whose outcome was already known before they even came on.

Another reason was because Yan Min had been training seriously, diligently, and assiduously, and he needed an appearance to encourage him.

※※※

During a break in play, Dortmund was finally able to make a substitution.

Klopp brought on Yan Min, replacing Aubameyang.

"Yan Min is on! He replaced Aubameyang!" He Ping was very excited. He hoped to see more and more Chinese players appearing on the top stage of the Champions League. "His memorable first appearance is in the Champions League. I hope he can bring us some surprises..."

The TV broadcast gave Yan Min a close-up. After high-fiving Aubameyang on the sidelines, he ran onto the field. Judging from his expression, this kid was quite calm.

Marcel Reif was also paying attention to Yan Min. When he came on, he introduced the player to the German TV audience: "He comes from the same country as Zhou Yi. Like Zhou Yi, after joining the Dortmund first team, he didn't immediately get a chance to play. However, unlike Zhou Yi, his time to appear in the first team came earlier than Zhou Yi... This player was discovered by Dortmund during Dortmund's China tour this summer. During the match with Dortmund at the time, he performed well. Subsequently, Klopp asked the club to buy him... However, some sources say that Klopp made the decision to sign Yan Min after carefully and thoroughly inquiring with Zhou Yi... So we can say that Yan Min is a player that Zhou Yi is optimistic about, and Zhou Yi recommended him to the club. So, does he deserve Zhou Yi's optimism? We can wait and see..."

Because Marcel Reif was a German commentator, he naturally had to be very familiar with the signing situation of Dortmund, a German team. And because of Zhou Yi, he was also very curious about Yan Min, who was also a Chinese player, so he naturally did a lot of homework in advance to understand Yan Min.

Commentators from other countries may not have so much free time.

They can only read some very popular information by rote. There is no way to talk about more understanding at all.

Those foreign fans in front of the TV will not try to remember the information of an unknown person. Out of professional ethics, the commentators still have to read the information. Fans may not listen at all.

In this way, Yan Min came on.

He replaced Aubameyang as a left winger.

Yan Min is a right-footed player, but he played on the left when he was in Shanghai Chongming, which allowed him to cut inside and shoot. At the same time, he can also play on the right. When playing on the right, his specialty is crossing to create shooting opportunities for his teammates.

So, in fact, he is a relatively comprehensive player. Klopp chose him also because he valued this ability. Modern football is increasingly requiring players to be comprehensive. A comprehensive but not outstanding player is even more popular than an outstanding but specialized player.

Grosskreutz was able to play for Dortmund because of his comprehensiveness. He can play almost any position except goalkeeper.

Although Yan Min is a right-footed player, he has long-term experience playing on the left, which makes Klopp more flexible in using him.

※※※

After Yan Min came on, the game continued.

He half-guessed and half-understood what Buvac wanted him to do after he came on, using his speed and dribbling to disrupt Arsenal's defense and create opportunities for his teammates.

At the same time, although his position on the field was left winger, he was also allowed to switch positions with Reus in appropriate circumstances and go to the right to cross from the bottom line. All of this was to create trouble for Arsenal's defense and give Dortmund's other players a chance.

This job was very simple for him, and Yan Min was eager to try it.

After being suffocated for so long, he finally got a chance to play. He was like a wild horse tied in a shed, impatiently looking forward to running wildly.

The Champions League stage is certainly more watched than other occasions, and the pressure is also greater.

But so what?

Isn't that better?

Let more people see my, Yan Min's, ability!