"Marc, you come!"
After Benaglio lifted the trophy, he handed it to Marc, the biggest contributor to the championship, who was standing nearby.
Marc, without ceremony, excitedly raised the trophy.
The more than 20,000 Wolfsburg fans in the stadium did not hesitate to give cheers and applause to the black-haired teenager who helped them win the club's first title!
Half a year ago, this black-haired teenager made his debut.
At that time, they never imagined that this handsome young man would be able to help the team achieve a breakthrough from zero and win their first German Cup.
Below the stage, the Bayern players, who watched their opponents lift the championship trophy, some looked bitter and helpless, while others were expressionless.
Originally, when they learned that their opponent in the final was Wolfsburg, they thought that a German Cup three-peat should be a sure thing.
Who knew that Wolfsburg not only showed astonishing energy in the final but also shattered their dream of a three-peat with two goals!
Thinking of this, Bayern players, including Ribéry, Robben, and Müller, all looked at the black-haired teenager on the stage, holding up the championship trophy and smiling brightly.
It's all this kid's fault!
Guardiola's eyes were filled with admiration and contemplation as he watched the spirited black-haired teenager on the awards podium.
Two months ago, it was this black-haired teenager who scored a goal in the match, making Bayern momentarily think the game was out of control;
Two months later, this kid actually stole the show on the final stage!
Whether it was the formidable Robben and Ribéry duo or talents like Götze and Müller, they all paled in comparison to his god-like performance.
It's no exaggeration to say that in this final, Bayern didn't lose to Wolfsburg, but to Marc!
After coming on as a substitute, this Wolfsburg prodigy immediately used his brilliant and incisive dribbling to tear open Bayern's defense again and again on the wing.
Finally, he even used two set-piece opportunities he personally created to help Wolfsburg score two goals!
Especially the second direct free-kick goal, which was simply breathtaking!
That bizarre arc, even all the top goalkeepers in the world, wouldn't dare to guarantee they could save that free-kick.
You know, before the final, Bayern had only conceded two goals in five matches.
But in the final, in just half an hour, Marc made them concede two goals!
Witnessing Marc's performance on the field, Guardiola had a feeling deep down:
"This kid will definitely become a great player!"
And the last eighteen-year-old player who made him think this way was that little flea from Barça!
At this moment, he suddenly thought of the team's Robben and Ribéry duo.
Ribéry was already thirty-one, and Robben was thirty; both were nearing the end of their professional careers.
Although from their performance and statistics, they were still a top-tier wing duo in the Bundesliga.
However, considering the club's long-term future and the need for new and old players to transition in the club's age structure, finding successors for the Robben and Ribéry duo should be on the agenda.
While Götze could also play as a winger, he was ultimately more suited to playing in the middle, where he posed a greater threat.
From this perspective, Marc might be a good candidate.
German nationality, visible talent and potential, young, top-tier footwork...
However, Wolfsburg would certainly not let him go easily.
It seems someone needs to be sent to inquire if there's a release clause in this kid's contract...
[Ding]
[Congratulations to the host for completing Season Mission One—German Cup Champion]
[Reward: Ten potential points!]
[Ding]
[Congratulations to the host for completing Season Mission One—German Cup Best Player]
[Reward: Three potential points]
[Ding]
[Mission Content: Score or Assist]
[Completion Status: Achieved]
[Reward: One potential point]
[Ding]
As the awards ceremony concluded, Marc's mind was filled with a series of pleasant system prompts.
Of course, he ignored them and was immersed in the joy of winning the championship.
This match was his first final.
Fortunately, the outcome was beautiful.
The wonderful feeling of victory and championship made him feel very accomplished.
And as the entire stadium chanted his name, he admitted he was a little addicted...:
Therefore, he would continue to pursue victory and championships as always!
Marc, who scored the decisive goal in the final, was undoubtedly voted the Man of the Match!
In three German Cup matches, he scored an astonishing four goals!
It can be said that this eighteen-year-old Wolfsburg prodigy was the absolute hero in Wolfsburg's astonishing achievement of winning the club's first German Cup!
After the awards ceremony, Dieter also brought Marc and the championship trophy to the post-match press conference.
This was also Marc's first press conference.
As he and Dieter entered the media room, numerous media outlets, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately pressed the shutters of their long and short lenses.
For a moment, flashlights flickered non-stop, almost blinding Marc's eyes.
Marc quickly lowered his gaze and sat down next to Dieter.
"Dieter, congratulations. Can you share your feelings with us at this moment?"
"Very honored, and very excited. This is a wonderful moment..."
"This is the first championship trophy of your coaching career."
"I hope this won't be the last one..."
As soon as he finished speaking, friendly laughter immediately erupted in the media room.
Just then, a blonde female reporter raised her hand and asked Marc:
"Marc, first of all, congratulations on winning the championship."
"Thank you."
"What I want to know is, before you took that free-kick, you had a conversation with Naldo. Can you share what you two actually said?"
Hearing this, Marc just smiled mysteriously:
"It's a secret! But what I can tell you is that I'm very grateful to Naldo for letting me take that free-kick."
Facing Marc's charming smile, the female reporter couldn't help but bite her lower lip before casually replying:
"Okay, thank you for your answer."
Immediately after, another reporter also asked him:
"Marc, this is your first direct free-kick goal, and it happened in a match like the German Cup final. Do you usually train free-kicks specifically?"
"Yes, I've loved Juninho since I was a child. I think his free-kicks are simply incredible. So I also practice free-kicks extra..."
"Marc, this is your first season. Are you satisfied with your performance?"
"I think..."
Facing the barrage of media questions for the first time, Marc appeared very composed and generous, not at all like an eighteen-year-old boy attending a press conference.
Even with tricky questions about transfer rumors with Dortmund and Arsenal, and rumors with Pamela, he answered fluently and did not fall into the reporters' "traps."
And such a performance also made Dieter and the reporters marvel.
"This young man, in addition to his mature football skills, is so composed even when facing the media!"
After the press conference, Marc was about to return to the locker room with Dieter when he saw Raiola wearing small sunglasses in the player tunnel.
"Mino? Didn't you say you were in Paris?"
"How could I miss your first championship?!"
"If I took a plane, it would take one or two hours from Paris to Berlin, and at that time, we wouldn't have finished the final yet..."
How did you know I would win the championship?"
Facing Marc's question, Raiola just smiled, then raised his hand and tapped his head:
"Intuition!"
"Haha, I almost believed you."
"Believe it or not, when I first saw you, my intuition told me that you would definitely become one of the best in the world!"
"That's also why I came to you, and why we are standing here talking!"
As soon as he said this, Marc also smiled and shrugged his shoulders:
"A very convincing reason!"
With that, he also gave Raiola a big hug.
"Thanks, mate."
Alone in this world, without parents, Marc sometimes felt lonely.
Fortunately, he still had friends and companions around him with whom he could share his joy...
However, as soon as he returned to the locker room, he saw Gustavo holding a large beer mug full of beer and splashing it on him!
Only managing to close his eyes, Marc was drenched all over by the splashing beer!
By the time he wiped the beer from his face, he heard the joyful laughter of his teammates:
"Hahaha!"
Among them, Gustavo's laughter was the loudest.
Amidst his teammates' cheers, Marc immediately grabbed a large mug of beer from the table and chased after Gustavo.
For a moment, the locker room was in chaos.
Finally, with Dieter's intervention, the scuffle stopped.
And Wolfsburg also took a championship photo in the locker room.
Marc also held the championship trophy and took selfies with teammates like De Bruyne and Malanda, then created a nine-grid photo collage and posted it on his social media account.
And captioned it:
"We are the champions!"
"Go, VFL!"
The next day.
All major media outlets reported in detail on this German Cup final.
Many sports sections of newspapers featured Marc's celebration after scoring the winning free-kick as their cover.
Winning the German Cup for the first time allowed Wolfsburg to join the "double-winners club" of teams that have won both the Bundesliga and the German Cup. As the key figure in the final victory, Bild gave Marc a new nickname:
The Little Prince of the Cup!
In its report, Bild also listed Marc's key performances in the German Cup this season to prove his importance in Wolfsburg winning the club's first title:
A goal against Hoffenheim in the quarterfinals, a brace against Dortmund in the German Cup semi-finals, and a super free-kick against Bayern in the final...:
In three German Cup matches, he was involved in five goals!
Moreover, he was also the second youngest goalscorer in a German Cup final, second only to Draxler!
At the end of the report, Bild even boldly predicted:
"This young man has already shown the extraordinary potential of a superstar. In time, he will display his brilliance to the world of football in an even more powerful way!"
For Wolfsburg, winning the German Cup was definitely a great achievement.
Because this was the club's first German Cup title in 69 years!
Everything for the first time is very precious.
Therefore, no matter how grand the celebration, it would not be an exaggeration.
So, after discussions between the Volkswagen Group and the city government, it was decided to hold a championship parade in front of the city hall!
The date was set for the 19th.
And on the day of the championship parade.
The players all wore handsome suits, then took a train to the parade route set up at the city hall.
The section from the train station to the city hall had already been cordoned off by police dispatched by the city government.
On both sides of the fence, fans wearing Wolfsburg jerseys were packed.
And in the center of the road were various new car models from the Volkswagen Group this year.
Ultimately, the reason the Volkswagen Group runs a football club is merely to build brand awareness and encourage more people to buy their cars.
Car manufacturing is the main business; playing football is just a sideline.
As a wholly-owned subsidiary club of the Volkswagen Group, Marc and other Wolfsburg players are, strictly speaking, "employees" of the Volkswagen Group.
Therefore, they also served as brand ambassadors for Volkswagen, sitting in new cars and waving to the fans on both sides.
Sitting in a slowly moving white Volkswagen convertible, Marc and De Bruyne conversed in low voices while waving to the fans:
"Marc!"
"Look here!"
"Marc, I love you!"
Finally, the Wolfsburg players arrived on the stage set up in front of the city hall.
Below the stage, thousands of Wolfsburg fans, dressed in green jerseys and waving team flags, had already gathered.
Many of these fans were employees of the Volkswagen Group.
Of course, they were also Wolfsburg's most loyal supporters!
After the Wolfsburg mayor's opening remarks, the players kicked balls one by one to the fans below the stage.
Subsequently, the host grabbed the microphone and interviewed each player.
First the head coach, then captain Benaglio, then the team's defensive stalwart Naldo, and then it was the turn of the final's key player, Marc.
When the young and handsome Marc appeared, a warm cheer erupted from the crowd below the stage.
"I'm very happy to be able to help the club win the championship; this is my motivation for playing football!"
"I hope the team can continue to improve next season..."
Halfway through his speech, Gustavo, holding a large beer mug, ambushed him from behind, pouring a large mug of beer over Marc's head.
The next second, Marc was completely drenched.
His white suit clung to his faintly visible abs, making the young women and wives in the audience feel parched.
However, he didn't mind his teammate's prank at all and maintained his bright smile.
Nothing else, just happiness.
For Marc personally, his debut season was absolutely stunning.
He not only helped the team achieve a third-place finish in the League, securing qualification for next season's Champions League group stage.
He also helped the team win the club's first German Cup!
And he himself delivered an impressive record of ten goals and eight assists in nineteen appearances across all competitions!
This is absolutely unprecedented for an eighteen-year-old.
Even Messi or Ronaldo at the same age could not achieve the great feat of being involved in nearly one goal per game over half a season!
And this German Cup trophy will become an unforgettable beautiful memory for him and countless fans!
However, as the season truly drew to a close, his thoughts had already drifted south, to Italy...: