Chapter 1 Dortmund's Enthusiastic Fans

As the Borussia Dortmund players walked out of the hotel, ready to board the bus, the Dortmund fans gathered outside cheered.

The flashes of cameras held by reporters went off frequently.

Among these fans and reporters, there were also many Chinese faces. The Chinese reporters were there to report on Zhou Yi—it was their job. The Chinese fans, on the other hand, were purely there to cheer for Zhou Yi.

After the two sides of the Champions League final were determined, it was said that some people in China with a keen eye for business launched a multi-day European tour called "Watch the Champions League Final Live, Cheer for Zhou Yi." Apparently, business was booming.

But while traveling to Europe was easy, with tickets and rooms sorted, Champions League final tickets were hard to come by.

So, in reality, only a small number of people were able to come to Wembley Stadium in London to watch the Champions League final.

Nevertheless, many Chinese fans were willing to spend a lot of money to come to London, even if they could only wait outside the hotel where the Dortmund team was staying, catch a glimpse of Zhou Yi from afar, or watch the live broadcast in a pub or hotel in London… They were all willing.

This was the long-suppressed passion of Chinese fans.

In previous Champions League finals, it wasn't that no Chinese fans went to watch live, but when football was linked to national pride, the energy that erupted was truly astonishing.

This was the first time a Chinese player had appeared on the stage of the Champions League final. This alone was enough to excite many Chinese fans.

In addition to the fans and tourists from China, there were also many Chinese students studying in the UK and Europe, many of whom were also fans.

When other players came out of the lobby, they simply waved in response to the cheers. But when Zhou Yi saw those compatriots, he simply walked over and took a group photo with them.

Then, amidst their warm cheers, he boarded the bus.

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"Zhou Yi even ran over to take a photo with the fans. He looks very relaxed and in a good mood. This is a good sign…" In the studio in Beijing, the host and guests had just finished watching the real-time report sent back from the front lines.

"But Zhou Yi is always like this. I've never actually seen him nervous…" one of the guests said.

"Sometimes it's hard to believe that he's just a twenty-two-year-old young man," another guest, Bai Songyan, exclaimed. "Which domestic player of this age has his composure?"

"Sun Pan and the others are also good…" the host said.

"Of course, of course," Bai Songyan nodded repeatedly, "but the feeling they give people is still different from the feeling Zhou Yi gives. Zhou Yi really has a maturity beyond his age. He's only twenty-two years old, but he's already the core of Borussia Dortmund, and I think he's also the core of the national team for the next ten years."

Bai Songyan's evaluation of Zhou Yi was very high, but he originally liked Zhou Yi very much, and this was no secret. As a fan, he had participated in many football-related programs, and in these programs, he had praised Zhou Yi more than once.

Previously, he even believed that if any Chinese player was most likely to win the Ballon d'Or, it would definitely be Zhou Yi.

This was a very high evaluation.

And now, looking at Zhou Yi's development trajectory, it seemed to be very consistent with Bai Songyan's evaluation.

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When the players arrived at the stadium, Wembley Stadium was already packed.

Everywhere you looked, there were yellow and black Borussia Dortmund fans and red and white Bayern Munich fans.

The fans of the two teams hadn't even completely entered the stadium yet, and they were already at each other's throats in the square outside the stadium.

This season, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich had been battling for an entire season. Starting with the Super Cup at the beginning of the season, the direct competition between the two teams had begun. This competition was entirely their own affair, and other teams couldn't get involved at all.

Bayern Munich won against Borussia Dortmund in both the Super Cup and the German Cup.

But in the most important league, Borussia Dortmund reversed the situation at the last moment, giving Bayern Munich a heavy blow.

Now, the Champions League final was simply moving the competition between the two teams in Germany to the grand stage of the entire Europe.

Some media even joked that European football in the 2012-2013 season was actually a record of the competition between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Other media worried that the two teams had played against each other so many times domestically, and were too familiar with each other. Would this make the Champions League final lack suspense and not be exciting enough?

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The players from both sides finished warming up and returned to their respective locker rooms.

The two head coaches were about to make the final preparations for the match.

"Alright, lads, put down what you're doing and listen to me." In the Borussia Dortmund locker room, the last one to enter was always their head coach, Klopp. He also closed the door and clapped his hands loudly.

All the Borussia Dortmund players who were busy stopped and turned to look at him.

"Without a doubt, this is our most important match of the season, more important than any league match. Because this match determines who will become the King of Europe," Klopp began. "Some people outside are worried that after winning the league title, we might lack some motivation… But I know you, none of you are satisfied with just winning the league title. We've been league champions every season for the past three seasons, but so what? Our goal is the Champions League title!"

Klopp spread out his hands.

"To be honest, I'm only worried about one thing—will our victory over Bayern Munich in the league make us feel relaxed? Will it make us underestimate the enemy? I think this is very possible. Remember how I've reminded you more than once in the past week to forget about the league? You need to know that the Champions League and the domestic league are two completely different events. Our ability to defeat Bayern Munich in the league doesn't mean we can do the same in the Champions League. If we don't give it one hundred percent, then we will be the ones who lose in the end!"

Klopp's tone became stern.

"After sixteen years, we've returned to this stage. Are we just here for a 'quick visit'? No! Of course not! Did we overcome so many difficulties just to get a runner-up medal? No! Of course not!" Klopp waved his fist forcefully. His body language and impassioned tone infected the Borussia Dortmund players in the locker room. "This season, we came from behind in the league and won the championship. Now there's only one last step left. Don't leave any regrets in this wonderful season! That way, when you recall the 2012-2013 season many years later, you will be proud that you didn't squander your time, put in all your efforts, and reaped the rewards you deserved!"

At the same time, in the Bayern Munich locker room, Heynckes was also giving his players a pep talk: "I know there's a view out there—that this is a revenge match. Because in the league, they defeated us, causing us to lose the league title after leading for a season. I don't deny this view. In a sense, it is indeed revenge. But I have another view. I think it's also a redemption match."

The old coach looked around at his players.

"Since 2010, this is the third time we've reached the Champions League final in four years. We're no strangers to this stage, but we always end up as supporting actors for others. In 2010, it was Inter Milan, and last year it was Chelsea. The defeats in the two Champions League finals have had a big impact on us. The runner-up position seems to have become a huge stone weighing on all our minds. No team that has reached two Champions League finals in a short period of time and lost has the courage to face the third challenge. But I am happy to accept this challenge. In my opinion, Bayern Munich, which has reached the Champions League final three times in four years, is very strong. The only thing that can defeat us is ourselves. Rather than saying that today's final is a battle against Borussia Dortmund, it's better to say that it's a battle against the past us, a battle against the shadow looming over us. If we fall for the third time, many people will say that this is our fate. But are you willing to accept that?"

There was no sound in the locker room, but Heynckes had already seen the flames of unwillingness burning in the eyes of many players.

"There are many strong people in the world who can defeat countless opponents, but I think the real strong people are those who can overcome themselves. Today, you have such an opportunity to be truly strong. Thank God for putting this opportunity in front of you, please don't let it slip away in vain."

A player stood up excitedly and shouted, "We must win this time!"

"Victory belongs to us! To hell with damn fate!"