Chapter 187 The End of the Match?

Duan Xin was right, for the vast majority of Chinese fans, Zhou Yi being substituted off meant the end of the match.

Even though there were still about half an hour left.

For example, Zhou Jianliang was a representative of this sentiment.

Seeing Zhou Yi leave the field, Zhou Jianliang got up from the sofa.

"Where are you going?" his wife, Li Cuiyun, asked.

"To wash up and get ready for bed."

"The game hasn't finished yet…"

"My son's off the field, what's the point in watching anymore?" Zhou Jianliang walked into the bathroom without looking back.

The outcome of the game was already decided. For him, the remaining half hour was just garbage time. Without seeing his son perform, sitting in front of the TV was just a waste of time.

He might as well go to bed early.

Seeing her husband leave, Li Cuiyun thought for a moment and simply turned off the TV.

※※※

Although many Chinese fans didn't care about the rest of the game anymore…

Götze did care, very much.

After playing two games, Zhou Yi had already completed three assists and one goal. Meanwhile, he, who had come to the first team with Zhou Yi and had been given even more hope, had yet to achieve anything.

Young Götze had found someone to compare himself to and a goal to pursue.

That was Zhou Yi.

He wanted to prove that he deserved the expectations everyone had for him, that he was worthy of those cool titles, like "a genius once in thirty years"...

So Götze played very hard after coming on the field.

He and Zhou Yi were actually different types of players, with different playing styles and roles.

Klopp's request for him was to use his breakthroughs and shots to maintain the threat to Nuremberg's goal after coming on the field, and he told him to play freely and give full play to his abilities, even if he made mistakes and lost the ball.

Anyway, the team was leading by a large margin, and the outcome was no longer in doubt. So the players didn't have to bear too much pressure.

This was a good thing for the players.

But Götze didn't see it that way, because it also meant that no one had placed much hope on him.

Even if others didn't think there was any need to work hard in this game, he wanted to do his best to show himself.

For others, it was garbage time, but Götze cherished this half hour very much.

However, Götze wasn't very lucky. He had several successful dribbles and some beautiful shots, but he was just a little bit short of scoring.

Although commentator Marcel Reif praised Götze's performance, and the fans in the stands were generous with their applause, Götze himself was still not satisfied.

Of course, this might also be related to the fact that after Zhou Yi left the field, Borussia Dortmund was leading Nuremberg by a large margin, and the other players had relaxed. After all, they only needed to maintain the situation, and didn't need to consider taking risks to score goals.

In the end, in this game, Borussia Dortmund defeated Nuremberg 5:0 at home.

After the game, Zhou Yi was once again voted the best player of the match by the German media.

Being the best in two consecutive games, Zhou Yi had established himself as a "genius supernova," and no one would worry that he was just a flash in the pan.

At the post-match press conference, Klopp was also asked by reporters about Zhou Yi.

"I personally decided to sign Zhou Yi, when he was still an unknown. I am very happy with Zhou Yi's current performance, but not surprised, because I knew he had such ability."

German reporters were very surprised by Klopp's words—Zhou Yi was actually signed on Klopp's decision?

Previously, the Chinese media believed that Zhou Yi was spotted by Borussia Dortmund because of his outstanding performance in the reality show and the match against Borussia Dortmund. The German media only thought that Zhou Yi was one of the results of Borussia Dortmund's global search for outstanding talents.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi's joining had even alarmed Klopp, the coach of the first team.

Everyone suddenly felt that Zhou Yi's success was not accidental, but inevitable…

And they understood why Zhou Yi only played in the youth team for half a season, and was transferred to the first team, and why he had not been demoted to the youth team or the reserves after not being able to play in the first team for five months.

Because Klopp had always attached great importance to and had high hopes for Zhou Yi!

That kid Zhou Yi… even if he doesn't stand out now, he will eventually stand out sooner or later!

The happiest person about Zhou Yi's outstanding performance in this game was not Zhou Yi himself, but the Chinese reporters who had traveled all the way to Germany to wait for him.

This made their wait and travel expenses in Germany worthwhile.

When Chinese football was so dark, there was still a spark in distant Germany that could bring some warmth to Chinese fans.

The Chinese reporters sincerely hoped that Zhou Yi could continue to maintain this momentum in Germany.

During the post-match mixed zone interviews, almost every Chinese reporter, in addition to asking Zhou Yi questions, would give him a thumbs up, encourage him, praise him, and cheer him on.

This was very similar to the Olympic Games, where Chinese reporters would also cheer for their own country's athletes.

But in the world of football, Chinese reporters rarely had this opportunity.

Because in this world, there were no Chinese players who could make them cheer so unreservedly.

※※※

In China, Zhou Yi's second game, which was also his first start at Westfalenstadion, ignited everyone's attention.

Before, Zhou Yi came on as a substitute, which was a bit sudden, and many people may not have had time to see it. But this time, the TV station promoted the live broadcast in advance, and more people were waiting in front of the TV.

Before the game, some people worried that such huge attention would turn into huge pressure, causing Zhou Yi to perform poorly.

But after watching the game, everyone knew that the kid on TV seemed to have no idea what "pressure" or "nervousness" was.

His performance on the field was as normal as breathing and eating.

Those who had been worried about him before cheered and nodded with a smile.

Zhou Yi's outstanding performance in the second game gave the media more room for hype, and the discussions on the Internet were even more enthusiastic.

In professional sports forums, Zhou Yi's name once again dominated the charts.

Everyone was excitedly discussing Zhou Yi's performance in this game, and what level he could eventually reach.

Some people even compared Zhou Yi to Fabregas. They were both midfielders, and both became famous at a young age. And now Fabregas, who is in Arsenal, is at his peak, in the best state. He has grown into the leader of Arsenal.

Many Chinese fans hoped that Zhou Yi could become the leader of the club, and also become the leader who led the national team.

However, in a large number of Zhou Yi's names, some people also mentioned He Ying.

When he went abroad to study, He Ying was much more popular than Zhou Yi. After all, he joined a giant like Barcelona. Moreover, He Ying was already a bit famous before going abroad. In the professional fan circle, he was favored by Chinese fans a few years ago, and they hoped that he could become the leading figure of Chinese football in the future.

However, after going to Barcelona, He Ying gradually fell into silence.

On the contrary, Zhou Yi rose strongly and became a dark horse in everyone's eyes.

Now that Zhou Yi is in the limelight, He Ying has naturally become the backdrop.

※※※

"Xiao Li, your son is amazing!" In the office, Old Sun held the *Qingyang Daily* again and said to Li Cuiyun. "Today, the Daily used a whole page to report on your son!"

As he said this, he shook the newspaper with a rustling sound, and there was only the sound of his voice and the newspaper in the office, but there were not only him and Li Cuiyun in the office now, everyone else was there, but no one said a word.

How could they say anything at this time?

A week ago, they deliberately wanted to embarrass Li Cuiyun, but now they have been slapped in the face for two weeks in a row.

The *Qingyang Daily*! That is the party newspaper, and the party newspaper used a whole page to publish the news about Li Cuiyun's son. For these people sitting in the office, what could be more glorious and promising than this?

Faced with Old Sun's praise, Li Cuiyun smiled slightly and said, "He did perform well."

Without Chinese-style modesty, she just accepted all the praise for her son so calmly.

※※※

This Monday, Zhou Jianliang didn't need to distribute newspapers to his colleagues anymore, but when he arrived at the office, his colleague gave him a newspaper: "Old Zhou, look, your son is on the *Qingyang Daily*! A whole page! Amazing!"

Zhou Jianliang smiled and took the newspaper: "I don't mind if I take it to read, do I?"

"Of course not, of course not, you can read it as you like!" The colleague waved his hand. "But you have to help me get your son's autograph. My son is now your son's loyal fan!"

"Okay, no problem! As many copies as you want!"

Now, every Monday, after the two-day holiday, the morning when he starts work has become Zhou Jianliang's happiest day.

※※※

"Zhou Yi is really amazing! He's already started in Dortmund! And two assists in ten minutes, it's awesome!"

"When I watched that reality show, who would have thought that a student who started halfway could reach today's height?"

"I'm afraid no one could have imagined it. That show was also evil! No one went at all at first, but as a result, five people succeeded in going abroad to study. I wanted to go to the second season and found that they didn't want me, alas!"

"Yes, yes, it suddenly became a hot commodity. Everyone wants to go, and the competition is fierce…"

Three or five teammates walked past Liang Qiqi, discussing recent hot topics in football as they walked.

Liang Qiqi sat on the edge of the training field, leaning against the iron railing, looking up at the gray sky in a daze.