Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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14 March 2015.
Bundesliga Matchday 25: Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart.
Two days prior, the team had just finished a tough Champions League knockout match, decisively eliminating Atlético Madrid.
To protect the players, Lance watched the entire match from the substitutes' bench.
Key players like De Bruyne and Son Heung-min did not play.
Theoretically, VfB Stuttgart should be a strong team, and Bayer Leverkusen should field its main players to contend with them.
At least in previous years, VfB Stuttgart had always been a significant 'top four' rival for Bayer Leverkusen.
However, by 2015, things seemed off.
Fans noticed that a team once difficult to deal with now seemed like a roadside opponent kicked to death.
The team didn't even need to send in Lance; Kießling alone completely finished off the opponent.
2-0!
Kießling scored twice, a complete victory!
Even though Lance didn't play a single minute, reporters still sought him out after the match.
Who wouldn't want to interview such a handsome, high-value young man who looks great on camera and can boost TV ratings!
"This is the post-match interview segment for German TV Sport1."
"Thank you, Lance, for accepting our interview."
"How do you think your teammates performed today? What score would you give them?"
Although Stefan Kießling hasn't had many appearances, he seized the opportunity today and rediscovered the feeling of his peak form.
Effort truly does yield rewards.
Lance couldn't help but give a thumbs-up to this Bayer Leverkusen legendary star.
"If it's by Bundesliga standards, of course, it's the highest score of 1."
"If it's a hundred-point system, I'd choose 82 points."
"Why?"
"Because the remaining 18 points, I would give out in the form of '666'." (T/N: Do I need to explain this?)
???
The German reporters present were utterly confused.
What does '666' mean? The demon Lucifer?
Did Lance mean that Kießling's ruthless way of finishing off opponents was like a devil from hell?
Only the Chinese reporters present smiled knowingly.
The foreigners simply didn't understand Lance's meme.
After being reposted and reported by Chinese journalists, Lance's remark also became one of the trending memes of 2015, widely spread on the internet.
Back at the post-match scene, the reporter didn't dwell on Lance's words, because another important question awaited Lance.
"During the match, the Champions League draw ceremony for this season was announced."
"Would you like to know who your opponents are in the quarter-finals this year?"
"Are there any opponents you hope to meet? Who is the opponent you least want to meet?"
Lance's phone was in the changing room, and the rest of the coaching staff was focused on the match, so they hadn't paid attention to the Champions League draw.
He really didn't know who they were playing.
"I'm really looking forward to playing against strong opponents."
"Last time against Atlético Madrid, I felt I grew a lot."
"If we could meet Barcelona or Real Madrid, that would naturally be the best."
"Of course, the team I least want to meet is Bayern Munich... if I may be so bold, I've beaten Bayern too many times in the league; it's lost its thrill."
OHHHHH—
The eyes of the German media present instantly lit up.
Indeed, it's always best to interview Lance; he brings the showmanship!
He was already known as the "Bayern nemesis," and Bayern fans and the club hated him to the core.
Coupled with the animosity from his rough expulsion during his time in the second team, Lance's words were full of gunpowder!
This would generate more hype and attention!
Yet, Bayern fans had no way to deal with Lance.
Was there anything wrong with what he said?
Bayern, just tell us if you've ever beaten him!
"So, who is our opponent?"
"Guys. Now we face the classic question."
"Do we prioritise the league, the Champions League, or do we want it all?"
After the match, the Bayer Leverkusen players didn't celebrate.
They all gathered in the changing room, looking serious as they faced Sascha, Hyypiä, and team manager Michael Schade.
Even top executives from Bayer Group were there, looking determined to cheer on Bayer Leverkusen.
Watching these German leaders give impassioned speeches in the changing room, Lance felt it was a bit over the top, and quietly whispered to De Bruyne beside him:
"It's just Real Madrid, isn't it? No need for such a grand display, right?"
"This..."
De Bruyne looked up at Lance.
The younger man's expression was indeed dismissive; he didn't take Real Madrid seriously at all.
De Bruyne didn't know what to say.
Bayer Leverkusen had indeed beaten Real Madrid twice in the group stage, playing two high-quality matches, but Real Madrid in the group stage and Real Madrid in the knockout stage are different.
Real Madrid had been on the rise these past two years, always seeming to get a boost in the knockout rounds.
Last season, they couldn't get past the semi-finals, falling in the final four.
Would they be eliminated in the quarter-finals this time?
De Bruyne, for one, was under a lot of psychological pressure.
For most European players, the giant club Real Madrid is a formidable mountain in front of them.
Climb over this mountain, and there's another mountain!
The favourites to win, Barcelona!
The Champions League quarter-final draw results were announced, shocking the football world!
Upper Bracket:
Bayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid
Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain
Lower Bracket:
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Juventus vs Monaco
Clearly, Bayern and Juventus had drawn the best matchups; their opponents couldn't stop them from reaching the semi-finals.
Paris and Bayer Leverkusen, however, were in trouble.
Especially Bayer Leverkusen; their Champions League draw this year was arguably the worst in history!
They entered a 'group of death' in the group stage, grouped with Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Roma, yet emerged as strong group winners.
In the Round of 16, they immediately met the defending champions, Atlético Madrid, and surprisingly defeated Atlético Madrid to advance to the quarter-finals.
The result was a quarter-final opponent that was last season's runner-up (Champions League winner in the original timeline), one of this season's favourites to win, Real Madrid in its prime.
If they managed to eliminate Real Madrid and reach the semi-finals, there would be the biggest favourite to win, peak Barcelona with MSN, the Champions League winner in the original timeline! The 2015 treble winner!
So much so that the moment the draw results were seen, the Bundesliga win just wasn't as sweet anymore.
Whilst the leaders were speaking, Lance secretly opened his phone to check Twitter, and many Bayer Leverkusen fans expressed despair on Twitter.
"Did Bayer Leverkusen offend UEFA? Are they trying to kill us?"
"It's over, Bayer Leverkusen can't go far."
"This year's Champions League, this is as far as it goes, I'm tired."
"I reasonably suspect UEFA has inside information; Bayer Leverkusen's draw was rigged."
Even German media outlets immediately posted on Twitter after the results.
"Bayer Leverkusen Enters Champions League Hell Mode: The Most Difficult Road to Glory in History"
"Bundesliga's Hope Lies Only with Bayern Munich; Bayer Leverkusen Surrounded by La Liga Giants, Promotion Hopes Slim"
Of course, there were still many fans supporting Bayer Leverkusen.
"People always need dreams; what if?"
"I'll make an unrealistic dream first: defeat the three La Liga giants all the way to the final, and then defeat Bayern to win the championship!"
"How much vodka did he drink?"
"I think Bayer Leverkusen can do it; believe in the team, believe in King Lance! He is best at creating miracles!"
Creating miracles?
Seeing this comment, Lance suddenly felt a sense of mission.
Whether for his own dreams or the hopes of the fans, he didn't want to give up easily.
It's just Real Madrid and Barcelona, isn't it? It's just the most prosperous period of La Liga, fighting against the three La Liga giants alone?
So what if it's hell mode?
I'm cheating, why should I avoid your edge?
Just do it!