Chapter 1 The Intense Battle

Trailing by one goal, Bayern Munich launched a fierce offensive against Borussia Dortmund's goal. They were unwilling to lose to Borussia Dortmund, even at Borussia Dortmund's home ground, especially since they were the favorites.

And Borussia Dortmund certainly wouldn't allow Bayern Munich to defeat them on their home turf.

The two teams then engaged in a head-to-head attack.

This was a familiar routine for both teams.

Their rivalry had been the main theme of the Bundesliga in recent years. They were very familiar with each other, needing no probing or holding back. They used all their skills. In a contest of this magnitude, anyone who held back would likely lose the game, a consequence they couldn't afford and were unwilling to bear.

Such an all-out attacking battle was naturally the most exciting and satisfying for the fans.

In last season's Champions League final, the two teams had put on a passionate, all-out attack in front of fans worldwide.

Now, back on German soil, there was no exception.

※※※

In the nineteenth minute, Borussia Dortmund's attack advanced to the frontcourt. Zhou Yi received the ball near the edge of the penalty area. He feigned a breakthrough to the left, tricking Bayern Munich's defensive midfielder, Toni Kroos, into shifting his weight towards the center, creating an opening on the right.

Zhou Yi quickly seized this opportunity and passed the ball diagonally.

The ball slipped through the gaps in Bayern Munich's defense and landed at the feet of Reus, who was cutting inside from the wing.

Reus was almost in a one-on-one situation, but instead of shooting himself, he immediately swept the ball across the goalmouth!

"Mark—!" In the drawn-out roar of commentator Marcel Reif, Mark, who had followed up in the center, slid in for a shot!

The ball was blocked by Neuer, who was at point-blank range, with his body!

"Neuer! He made a world-class save! The back-and-forth attack between the two teams is truly wonderful!"

Mark didn't even have time to hold his head in懊恼 for missing this opportunity, because the game continued. Neuer also had no time to celebrate his successful save. The ball he blocked rolled out of the penalty area in the opposite direction, luckily allowing his teammate to get it. If a Borussia Dortmund player had received the ball, it would have been dangerous...

The pace of the game was too fast. The TV broadcast only replayed Borussia Dortmund's attack once before immediately switching back to the live action.

Yan Min in the box was also watching with excitement. Whether it was Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich, the speed they showed in their attacks was something he liked very much. He was also a fast attacking player. If Borussia Dortmund's attacking rhythm was always this fast, it would be a good thing for him.

The pace and speed of this game were much faster than the Chinese league. He wasn't worried that he wouldn't be able to adapt. On the contrary, he was eager to try. This was the kind of football he wanted to play!

※※※

Next, both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund had very good opportunities.

In the twenty-fourth minute, Bayern Munich launched an attack on the left. Thomas Müller went to the wing to pass the ball, passing it to left-back Alaba, who had cut into the penalty area from the flank. Alaba then passed the ball across the face of the goal.

This was a very clever cross for Bayern Munich, but a very tricky one for Borussia Dortmund. Subotić wanted to slide tackle the ball out of bounds, but he also had to bear the risk of scoring an own goal.

Weidenfeller lunged back from the near post, partly to defend against the Bayern Munich players at the far post, and partly to prevent Subotić from actually kicking an own goal...

As a result, Subotić didn't touch the ball. It was hard to say if this was a good thing or a bad thing...

The ball leaked to the back post, where Lewandowski and Subotić made the same move, sliding towards the ball!

"Lewandowski—!" Marcel Reif shouted, thinking, is he about to breach his old club's goal?

But Lewandowski also failed to touch the ball...

The ball slid across the face of the goal between the two players!

A burst of exclamation rang out in Westfalenstadion.

In the thirty-second minute, Bayern Munich orchestrated another attack. Müller passed the ball, and Lewandowski headed the ball from a small angle on the left. The ball was pushed out by Weidenfeller with one hand.

Lewandowski, who didn't score, looked a little regretful. He held his head in his hands, and a burst of boos rang out from the South Stand...

As a "traitor," this was the treatment he had to enjoy upon returning to Westfalenstadion.

Of course, there were also banners and slogans in the stands thanking Lewandowski for his performance at Borussia Dortmund. There were many Borussia Dortmund fans. Some hated Lewandowski for leaving the team, while others chose to be tolerant.

"Lewandowski has been very active in this game, threatening Borussia Dortmund's goal many times. To be honest, his performance is very professional. I think if Lewandowski can continue this performance, it won't matter even if he doesn't score in this game. As for Mandžukić, he said before that Lewandowski's arrival wouldn't threaten him, and that he wasn't afraid of competition. But looking at it now, perhaps the countdown has already begun for his time at Bayern Munich..."

※※※

This fast-paced, high-intensity attack continued until the last few minutes of the first half. In the forty-second minute, Borussia Dortmund launched an attack.

Kuba switched to the right wing to break through. After a successful breakthrough, he passed the ball towards the center.

Reus's follow-up shot in front of the goal was blocked by Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago. The ball hit his leg and bounced into the penalty area, landing right at Zhou Yi's feet.

Under the defense of Toni Kroos, Zhou Yi took a shot from long range after receiving the ball. However, due to the interference of Toni Kroos, the shot wasn't very powerful. The ball speed wasn't fast, and the power wasn't great. It was caught directly in the arms of the leaping goalkeeper Neuer.

This was the last threatening attack of the first half for both sides.

Until the end of the first half, the score hadn't been changed. Borussia Dortmund was still leading Bayern Munich 1-0.

Although there weren't many goals, the scene was very exciting. In the back-and-forth attack, the game time also passed quickly. When the first half ended, many people were surprised to find that forty-five minutes had already passed...

In the box, agent Li Jicheng asked Yan Min, "After watching half the game, how do you feel?"

Yan Min said excitedly, "Awesome! This is high-level football!"

"Reus, Kuba, and Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang are also sitting on the bench. You have a lot of competitors, and they're very strong..." Li Jicheng wanted to remind Yan Min not to be too optimistic.

But Yan Min shook his head confidently and said, "It's okay, I'm not afraid of competition!"

Although he had hesitated and lacked confidence when deciding whether to come to Borussia Dortmund, once he decided to come, he never doubted the correctness of this decision. Fierce competition? Isn't that to be expected? He didn't think that he could play in the game just by coming to Borussia Dortmund. Of course, opportunities had to be fought for, so he had to train hard and perform well, just like Xu Zhi said.

Yan Min was really not afraid of competition. Whether it was in the Shanghai Chongming team, the Chinese national team, or Borussia Dortmund, he had never been able to play smoothly. Didn't he have to face competition everywhere?

Li Jicheng looked at Yan Min's fearless appearance and couldn't help but recall the scene when Xu Genbao found him and asked him to be Yan Min's agent.

Because Yan Min had been training on Chongming Island since he was a child, he had never had his own agent. This time, when Borussia Dortmund wanted to buy Yan Min and discuss the personal contract with the player, there had to be an agent to preside over the matter. Xu Genbao found his friend Li Jicheng.

Li Jicheng was a well-known agent in China and also had experience dealing with foreign clubs. Xu Genbao was very relieved to hand it over to him.

Li Jicheng didn't expect Xu Genbao to be so concerned about such a young player as Yan Min. Since Xu Genbao had found him, as an old friend of many years, he certainly couldn't refuse.

However, he was quite skeptical in his heart. He agreed to Xu Genbao for the sake of Xu Genbao's face. It had nothing to do with Yan Min.

As a professional agent, since he was Yan Min's agent, he certainly had to do his best. But it was only the professional ethics of his work that restrained him. He didn't feel that Yan Min was a player worthy of his attention. He came only to fulfill Xu Genbao's request and give his old friend an explanation.

He had vaguely heard Xu Genbao say that Yan Min was generally unpopular in Chongming and wasn't very likable.

But Xu Genbao didn't explain to him why, and now Li Jicheng knew why this kid wasn't likable...

Such an arrogant, ungrateful young man, few people would like him... Look at Zhou Yi, who has achieved so much, but is still humble and cautious, keeping a low profile.

In comparison, Li Jicheng's enthusiasm for Yan Min was almost zero. After helping Yan Min negotiate a contract this time, he planned to return to China to run his own business. There were many players waiting for him to negotiate contracts with their clubs.

Li Jicheng felt that those people would at least listen to him and show him respect.

Anyway, he had signed a one-time contract with Yan Min, with a service period until he joined Borussia Dortmund. In fact, he couldn't be considered Yan Min's agent anymore...

As for what kind of development Yan Min would have in the future, Li Jicheng didn't care. He could even imagine that with Yan Min's temper and personality, he would only be battered and bruised in the unfamiliar Borussia Dortmund and achieve nothing.

Li Jicheng also tried to kindly persuade Yan Min, but obviously Yan Min didn't take his advice to heart.

Thinking of this, Li Jicheng said to Yan Min, "I'm going back to China tomorrow. You're alone in Germany, unfamiliar with the place, and don't speak the language. It will definitely be difficult. But I still hope you can overcome these difficulties and play football well in Germany."

"I will, thank you." Yan Min nodded, paused, and added. "Teacher Li."

Li Jicheng was slightly relieved that Yan Min could at least address him with such respect, feeling that these days he hadn't served him in vain—Li Jicheng had forgotten that these days he was definitely not busy for nothing, because he had also taken a commission...