Chapter 15 After the Hat Trick

Not long after Mark completed his hat trick, he was subbed off by Ecker, replaced by Hank.

Starting and completing a hat trick in this game, Mark's performance exceeded many people's expectations.

Head coach Ecker gave Mark a hug, then patted him affectionately on the head.

The Wagners rushed to the edge of the stands and shouted into the field, "Mark! Well done! Mark! You're great! We're all proud of you!"

Hearing his parents' calls, Mark looked up and found them, also seeing his sister beside them. He happily waved to them and held up three fingers.

"Sister! Did you see that! Three goals! A hat trick! My hat trick!"

He shouted proudly to his sister.

Kotana could only smile at her brother's excitement.

Then she shifted her gaze from her brother to Zhou Yi on the field.

Who caused all this?

Of course, it was this person in her eyes.

He had given Mark three assists in the game, helping Mark score three goals.

Who gave her brother so much confidence?

It was Zhou Yi.

Since moving into her home, this person had been influencing her brother in every way.

Her brother listened to him completely.

That's how today's situation came about.

But…

Kotana thought of the smile on her brother's face and decided not to bother with Zhou Yi this time.

※※※

In fact, before Mark was substituted, the Dortmund youth team had already begun a large-scale substitution.

After Mark was replaced, the substitutions continued.

Because it was a warm-up match, there was no limit to the number of substitutions.

By the sixty-fifth minute of the game, the Dortmund youth team had even changed goalkeepers.

But Zhou Yi was still on the field.

The purpose of this game was to assess whether Zhou Yi's physical fitness could adapt to the game, so it was naturally impossible to substitute him early.

It was still visible that as time went on, Zhou Yi's control over the midfield was decreasing.

This decrease was due to his declining physical fitness.

Zhou Yi's style of play was very dependent on physical fitness, so physical fitness was his foundation.

Ecker looked at his watch; it was the seventy-third minute of the match.

Considering that Zhou Yi had contributed six assists in these seventy-three minutes, and another two goals, although not directly assisted by him, were also initiated by him…

Although it was only seventy-three minutes of game time, this efficiency might be far greater than an average player's performance in a full ninety minutes.

Thinking of this, Ecker decided to substitute Zhou Yi.

Considering Zhou Yi's previous actual situation, being able to play for more than seventy minutes as a starter was already very good.

Ecker was very satisfied with the results of this test. He believed that Zhou Yi had met the conditions for playing in a match. There were still a few more warm-up matches to continue training and testing Zhou Yi.

He believed that if things continued this way, it wouldn't be long before Zhou Yi could play a full game.

At the same time, the team's tactics had to be adjusted to suit Zhou Yi's characteristics. Today, Zhou Yi was completely in charge of the game, and other players still lacked active cooperation with Zhou Yi. Only Mark did the best in this regard, so he also scored three goals.

This had to be emphasized in the upcoming daily training.

This would allow Zhou Yi to run less distance, giving him more opportunities to rest, which would naturally extend his playing time.

※※※

When Zhou Yi was substituted, the Wagners stood up and applauded and cheered for him.

Not only them, but other spectators watching the game in the stands also stood up and applauded for Zhou Yi.

Some people even whistled excitedly.

They didn't know much about Zhou Yi before, only knowing that a Chinese player had come to the youth team, but they had never seen him play. They also didn't know about the previous game between him and the Dortmund youth team.

They didn't expect that today, after seeing him, they would be amazed!

Zhou Yi's performance in the game not only impressed Ecker but also impressed the audience in the stands.

Anyone who knew a little about football could see how well Zhou Yi had played in this game.

It was not an exaggeration to give such applause when Zhou Yi left the field.

When the applause sounded, Zhou Yi was very surprised because he didn't have parents who would come to the scene to cheer him on, so he didn't expect anyone in the stands to cheer for him.

He never expected to have a single blade of grass, but he got a whole forest when he came off the field.

Realizing what was happening, he was a little touched and quickly waved to the crowd in the stands.

As Zhou Yi waved to them, their applause became even louder, and some people gave him a thumbs up.

This was just a warm-up match…

When he was still a fan, he already knew that Dortmund fans were known for their staunch loyalty and enthusiasm.

Now, although he only played a warm-up match on behalf of the Dortmund youth team, he had fully realized what Dortmund fans were!

This enthusiasm was as beautiful as first love.

※※※

When Zhou Yi returned to the bench, his teammates gave him high fives one by one. As his debut in the Dortmund youth team, it was perfect.

Although he didn't score a goal, in the face of such a performance, there was nothing to regret about not scoring.

Mark was the most excited. He not only gave Zhou Yi a high five but also directly pulled Zhou Yi into his arms, giving him a big hug.

In this game, he staged a hat trick, and Zhou Yi performed even more prominently. Both of them performed well, and he couldn't be happier.

He was also full of confidence and anticipation for his future.

After Zhou Yi was substituted, the warm-up match was effectively over.

Neither side had any intention of continuing.

In the end, the Dortmund youth team defeated the Dusseldorf youth team 8-0, ending their first warm-up match in 2009.

※※※

The family, plus Zhou Yi, sat in the car driven by old Wagner. Mrs. Wagner excitedly announced that to celebrate Zhou Yi and Mark's outstanding performance in the game, they would not eat dinner at home tonight but would go to a restaurant instead.

After saying that, she specifically instructed her daughter: "You are not allowed to run away halfway!"

Kotana smiled and looked at Zhou Yi, saying, "How could I, Mom? What kind of person do you think I am? Today is a day for my brother to be happy, why would I run away?"

"It's good that you know. I was very disappointed when you were late today!" Mrs. Wagner hummed.

After spending more than a month with Mark's family, Zhou Yi had become very accustomed to their family atmosphere. To some extent, he even felt a sense of kinship.

Because Mark's mother, apart from talking a little more, was truly like his own mother in terms of being strong-willed.

And old Wagner was like a silent version of his father.

In addition, Zhou Yi also discovered that, most of the time, the only person who could handle Kotana was probably Mrs. Wagner.

But why is this woman looking at me when she says this?

Is it provocation?

Does she think that my assisting her brother in completing a hat trick will lead her brother down the path of professional football?

As a counterattack, Zhou Yi stared unblinkingly at Kotana's lips.

Of course, this was a little impolite, but Zhou Yi believed that if he was polite when dealing with Kotana, he would die miserably.

※※※

Old Wagner drove straight to the restaurant.

Zhou Yi was also familiar with this restaurant because Mark's family often came here. Having lived in Mark's house for more than a month, Zhou Yi had come here three times with them.

It could be considered Mark's family's designated dining spot.

The restaurant was not big, with only five tables inside, but the business was very good, and the food tasted good.

On the way here, Mrs. Wagner had already made a reservation by phone; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to eat when they arrived.

The restaurant owner was an old acquaintance of the Wagner family. Seeing the Wagner family arrive, he greeted them warmly: "Old Wagner, what's the good news today? You all look so happy!"

Mrs. Wagner was waiting for the owner to ask this question. She immediately puffed out her chest, proudly and loudly answering, "My son completed a hat trick today!"

The restaurant owner was first surprised, then overjoyed: "This is something worth celebrating! I'll give you a bottle of wine!"

Mrs. Wagner and old Wagner were very happy, thanking him repeatedly.

At the same time, the diners in the restaurant also offered congratulations to the Wagner family and to Mark.

Amidst everyone's congratulations, Mark seemed a little embarrassed, and he only knew how to giggle foolishly.

Zhou Yi poked him with his arm, amused by his silly look.

The two young men poked each other back and forth, laughing together.

Kotana secretly rolled her eyes at the two children's unserious appearance—following this Chinese boy, her brother seemed to have changed a lot.

But was this change bad or good?

Kotana narrowed her eyes, considering this question while observing Zhou Yi.

※※※

After dinner, the whole family returned home, and Kotana also went home to stay for the night.

As soon as they got home, Zhou Yi burrowed into Mark's room, and the two of them started playing soccer games, of course, still using the game for special training. Mark, who had completed a hat trick in the game, had already experienced the benefits of this special training.

Anyone could see that, in the entire Dortmund U17 team, only Mark and Zhou Yi had the best cooperation. Other players mostly waited for Zhou Yi to pass them the ball, while Mark catered to Zhou Yi's passes through his runs.

This was the result of the two of them training together.

Just like any two young people playing games together, the two of them were shouting loudly, and their shouts could be heard clearly by Kotana across a corridor and a wall.

"Run into space!"

"If you run again, you'll be offside. You have to pass earlier!"

"Bullshit! You definitely won't be able to receive it if I pass earlier! Don't worry about being offside; I'll take care of whether it's offside or not. Come on, let's do it again!"

"Insert... insert! Ouch!"

"Did you pass it too far?"

"Hey, after all, it's controlled with a controller, it's not as comfortable as using your feet..."

"Hey, an excuse!"

The two of them were arguing so much that Kotana couldn't even read her book anymore. She helplessly put down her book, got up, and planned to remind them to be quiet, and not disturb others while playing games.

She had just opened her door when she heard Mark speaking from the room with the open door opposite: "Zhou Yi, do you think this hat trick is enough for me to enter the U19?"

Hearing this, Kotana stopped.

"You want to enter the U19 with just one hat trick? Is it that easy to enter Dortmund's U19?" Zhou Yi said, "Not enough, not enough, at least you have to get a few more hat tricks!"

"Then I'll get a few more hat tricks!" Her brother's voice was full of confidence and fighting spirit. "I must enter the U19, and then... take the starting position back from Schneider!"

"Okay, young man, you have ambition! But you have to look at the long term. Why are you competing with Schneider in the U19? You should go to the first team as soon as possible. If Schneider wants to be the starter in the U19, let him continue to be it."

"That's not how it should be said, Zhou Yi. If I want to enter the first team as soon as possible, shouldn't I be a starter in the U19 now?"

"What you said also makes sense... Okay, then we'll temporarily borrow his starting position! When we go to the first team, we'll give the starting position back to him."

The two young men talked about the future and laughed happily.

Kotana leaned against the door frame, listening to the laughter coming from across the hall, imagining what her brother's expression must be like at this moment.