Leverkusen Training Base.

The coaching staff was in a flurry of activity, holding a meeting.

Suddenly, a sharp voice startled the birds, sending them scattering.

"Defense? Impossible!"

"Does Leverkusen still have 23-year-old Lucio?"

"Their opponent is Lee of Arsenal!"

Bang, bang, bang!

Old Man Topp pounded the tactical board forcefully.

Dino whispered a reminder, "It's Arsenal *with* Lee."

Benefiting from heavy investment during the summer transfer window, and unburdened by the 50+1 ownership rule, Leverkusen continued its strong performance in the Bundesliga. Past the season's halfway point, they were second only to An's Bayern in the standings.

"All of Europe is thinking about how to resist Arsenal's attack, or directly break through their defense!"

"Neither of these extreme solutions is suitable for Leverkusen."

"We must strengthen midfield penetration."

"Lee, pushed forward by Wenger, has limited options when dropping back to defend! Everton and Monaco have provided the answer."

Old Man Topp pounded the tactical board, looking at the bewildered expressions of the coaching staff, and argued passionately, "I am the head coach who understands Lee the best in the world!"

On the training ground.

J. Rodríguez was engaged in shooting practice with Leno.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The Colombian superstar unleashed a series of powerful long shots!

He was enjoying everything about Leverkusen, eager to prove to the world that he was still a world-class midfield superstar.

J. Rodríguez wasn't bad at all.

Golden Boot winner at the 2014 World Cup, his super world-class goal shocked the world!

He was very strong during his time at Real Madrid.

In the 2014-15 season, he scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists, being named La Liga's best midfielder of the year.

In the 2015-16 season, plagued by injuries, his playing time was greatly reduced, but he was still the second-best midfielder in terms of creating scoring opportunities per game.

During this period, in terms of commercial value and popularity, almost no one could steadily surpass J. Rodríguez in the midfield position.

Unfortunately, after Zidane took over, he explicitly told him: "Your style is not suitable for my tactical system."

Team configurations are often like dating, there is no right or wrong, only what is suitable.

Zidane said that J. Rodríguez was very similar to his younger self, but in the midfield position he could not compete with Modrić, Kroos, and Casemiro, and in the forward position he could not shake the BBC combination of Ronaldo, Benzema, and Bale.

J. Rodríguez's strength had not regressed at all. Returning to the national team, leading a group of tier 1-tier 2 teammates, he could still play pleasing attacking football.

Çalhanoğlu sullenly leaned on the large basket filled with soccer balls, continuing to toss them one by one onto the field.

He still hadn't been able to reclaim his Leverkusen number 10 jersey.

Last season it was Lee.

This season it was J. Rodríguez.

J. Rodríguez had a contract with the sponsor Adidas that required him to wear the number 10 jersey at every club.

Real Madrid was able to satisfy this requirement in the past.

Leverkusen could naturally satisfy it as well.

"Hakan, why are you slowing down?"

Leno asked, puzzled.

J. Rodríguez squeezed out a bright smile: "Hakan, take a break, you are our core."

Çalhanoğlu's body immediately shuddered, and he continued to increase the speed of tossing the balls!

The Champions League match day arrived as scheduled.

Lee Kang and his teammates boarded a plane and arrived at Düsseldorf International Airport.

The sky was gloomy.

The cold wind made the billboards rattle.

At the arrival gate, there was a sea of people.

Security personnel stood guard on both sides of the cordon, on high alert.

"Lee!!!"

"Lee!!!"

"Lee!!!"

The severe cold of North Rhine did not deter people's enthusiasm.

Many fans from other clubs also came to the scene.

However, the emotional state of Leverkusen's local fans was more complex.

Some people thought that Lee Kang was a hero who created club history, while others thought that he was a traitor.

It was even worse than Kroos's "treatment" in North Rhine back then.

The Arsenal club bus slowly drove forward, and extremist fans on both sides of the road threw out flares.

This made it difficult for the security personnel to tell whether this was an "attack" or a "welcome".

"Don't get close to the windows, I swear the glass will be shattered any minute!"

"Luckily, Lee's previous Bundesliga club wasn't Stuttgart or Bremen, their fans would have removed the bus tires!"

"Now I can feel the benefits of the Stamford Bridge library!"

Welbeck and Maguire chattered non-stop, complaining about the behavior of the extremist fans.

Bould and the coaching staff were discussing pre-match preparations. They were a little worried: Would Old Man Topp sprinkle sand on the green field?

Morata swapped seats with Lee Kang, getting closer to the window himself.

He patted his teammate on the shoulder and comforted him, "When I scored against Real Madrid on behalf of Juventus, I didn't celebrate. I was drowned out by the applause of the old club's fans, and the media praised me a lot. Actually, I was worried that the goal was offside again at the time."

Lee Kang nodded with a smile.

Pre-match press conference.

Wenger and Old Man Topp shook hands simply before taking their respective places.

The two had a good relationship. They had been playing against each other in the Champions League since the 2001/02 season, with each having wins and losses. After the game, they would always praise each other.

"Mr. Topp, with Lee standing on the opposite side of Leverkusen, will it be a horror movie for you?"

Horror movie.

Back in the days of the three-time runner-up season, Old Man Topp once described Ferguson's Manchester United as a horror movie.

The Leverkusen coach shook his head, "Lee created the club's history. This is always his home. No matter the outcome of the game, it will be a heartwarming silent film for me."

On the other side.

Wenger was also answering questions from reporters.

"All of Arsenal's players are in very good condition."

"Except for Mertesacker, who needs to rest, the main players will be sent to all other positions."

"It will be a very difficult game, but we are confident of winning."

Another curse.

For six consecutive years.

Arsenal had not won the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage!

BayArena.

All the seats had been removed.

Two waves, one black and red, and the other red and white, churned in the stands.

Various banners fluttered in the wind.

Flares spewed out thick red flames.

"Ctv5! Ctv5! Good evening, viewers!"

"Welcome to the first leg of the 2016-17 Champions League Round of 16!"

"Leverkusen hosts Arsenal!"

"Last season, Wenger's team was eliminated only due to the disadvantage of away goals!"

"Tonight, can he avenge his shame? Can he break the Gunners' curse of not winning the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage for six consecutive years?"

"Let us wait and see!"

Players' tunnel.

Çalhanoğlu and Bellarabi adhered to the "old school" tradition of confrontation: even if they were familiar teammates in the past, they should not show any enthusiasm as opponents.

In fact, the two were not that old.

Çalhanoğlu was only a few years older than Lee Kang.

He envied Xhaka: They were both young cores of upper-middle-level Bundesliga teams, so how could he get to Arsenal?

Havertz and Brandt excitedly hugged Lee Kang.

"You jinx, you were the one who said last season that we would meet Lee in the Champions League!"

"Isn't this a good thing? I originally thought we could only step on the same pitch as Lee in a charity match!"

Leno smiled and pushed the two away, gently patting the Arsenal number 10 on the shoulder.

"Welcome home."

I'm not being lazy. Last year I could update 6,000 words a day, but this time I can't hold on. My head is too dizzy, and I can't concentrate at all. Everyone must pay attention to their health and be sure to eat thoroughly cooked food.