The Volkswagen Arena was a sea of humanity.
Last season, Bayer Leverkusen had edged out Wolfsburg by a single point to finish fourth in the league, snatching the final Champions League qualification spot. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg was left to toil in the Europa League.
The sight of the visiting fans was enough to make the local supporters' blood boil. Armed with home-field advantage, the Wolfsburg faithful unleashed a relentless barrage of boos toward the away stand. The Leverkusen fans, undeterred, responded with a chorus of curses and a forest of middle fingers.
"Look at their manager, Schmidt!" a fan on the home terrace scoffed. "I heard he used to be a quality manager at a factory. I wonder if he coaches his team using 5S or Six Sigma principles!"
"Haha! If we're talking automotive quality management, I'm ten times the man he is. Does that mean I get to manage a Bundesliga side next?"
As the die-hard fans traded insults, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch long before the first whistle.
At the pre-match press conference, Roger Schmidt had already begun playing mind games. "Wolfsburg has this new kid lately—his football seems to spend more time in the air than on the ground. I've watched a few of his games... he's certainly talented. I wonder why Bayern Munich let him go? I suspect that before the half-season is up, they'll be looking to... by the way, did Bayern include a buy-back clause?"
Schmidt's tone was laced with malice. Leverkusen was currently enduring a rough patch; two of their key attacking players were being hounded by other clubs and had made it clear they wouldn't renew their contracts. He wanted to sow some discord in the Wolfsburg camp. David Qin was the hottest prospect in the Bundesliga, and every club wanted a piece of him. However, Bayern remained the mountain that loomed over everyone.
In the world of football, many players grow up with dreams of Barcelona or Real Madrid. But for players raised in the Bundesliga, the "Mia San Mia" dream of Bayern Munich is often the ultimate goal. Schmidt wanted everyone to wonder if David was already looking toward the exit.
In the adjacent room, Dieter Hecking fired back. "No, no. David Qin still has a lot to learn. Instead of focusing on a teenager, I think players like Son Heung-min and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, with their established technical profiles, are far more deserving of your attention. Furthermore, David's contract with Bayern was a youth agreement. There are no extra strings—no mandatory buy-backs, no sell-on percentages. Nothing."
In the tunnel, David Qin caught sight of Son Heung-min and his trademark thick fringe. The South Korean star looked back, sizing him up with a sharp gaze. No words were exchanged. After a moment, both men looked away in a silent, mutual acknowledgement of the rivalry.
David's gaze then drifted to Hakan Çalhanoğlu. In the years to come, this man would earn a reputation for his "mercenary" antics. His career had been a series of controversial maneuvers—from accepting a signing bonus from Trabzonspor only to join another team (resulting in a four-month ban and a 100,000-euro refund) to faking an illness to force a move away from Hamburg.
Soon, the players emerged from the dim tunnel into the brilliant lights of the stadium.
"Good evening, everyone!"
"We are live for Round 4 of the 2014-15 Bundesliga season! Wolfsburg versus Bayer Leverkusen!"
"Leverkusen had a perfect start to the campaign, beating Dortmund 2-0 and Hertha Berlin 4-2. However, since the international break, their form has dipped significantly. They were held to a 3-3 draw by Werder Bremen and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Monaco in the Champions League."
"In contrast, Wolfsburg is on fire. After an opening-day loss to Bayern, they've secured back-to-back wins against Frankfurt and Hoffenheim, followed by a gritty draw away at the Premier League side, Everton."
The commentator, He Wei, provided the introduction. After finishing his duties at the World Cup, he had taken over as the host of Football Night. However, a recent reshuffle at the station had brought him back to the commentary booth. With several veteran commentators retiring, the network needed a top-tier voice for the Bundesliga, and He Wei was the natural choice after his stellar performance in Brazil. He had been pulling all-nighters to brush up on his German football knowledge, and the faint bruises under his eyes told the story of his dedication.
"Let's look at the starting lineups!"
"Wolfsburg, in their green-and-white home kit, deploy a 4-2-3-1. In goal..."
"The notable change is up front. The veteran Ivica Olić is likely rested due to fatigue, making way for the Dutch striker, Bas Dost, who scored that dramatic equalizer against Everton."
"Leverkusen also opts for a 4-2-3-1. This formation is ubiquitous in the Bundesliga because it offers a balance between attack and defense without demanding superhuman individual effort. A system like Bayern's back-three, for example, requires immense individual quality, or the defense simply gets pulled apart."
"Leverkusen is essentially at full strength. It's worth noting that while Wolfsburg has had only two days of rest, Leverkusen has had only three—and Champions League football is a far more taxing beast than the Europa League."
"The match is underway! Let's focus on the pitch."
He Wei watched the screen with genuine passion. Since calling the World Cup final, he had often fantasized about one day commentating on his own national team on the world stage. Though past disappointments had tested his resolve, his love remained steadfast.
As he often said: "Football is my love; it is where my faith resides. Chinese football might not be much, but I cannot help but love it. It is the incarnation of me and my compatriots; its brilliance and its humility both reflect my soul. Even if Chinese football is a spittoon to many, it remains my Holy Grail."
Now that he saw a glimmer of hope in David Qin, he wanted to witness every step of the journey.
On the field, Wolfsburg immediately orchestrated an attack down the left flank. Leverkusen was a curious side. Pundits often described them as a team that attacked with everything and defended with nothing. Franz Beckenbauer had once remarked: "You have a hundred reasons to trust their attack, and a hundred reasons to disparage their defense."
Perhaps this was the footballing philosophy of a former quality manager.
When David received a pass from De Bruyne, he used a stutter-step and a sudden halt to lose Lars Bender. Lars was the twin brother of Dortmund's Sven Bender; true to the 'different twins' trope, Lars was the defensive specialist while Sven favored the attack.
"Don't dive in!" Lars shouted to Donati before scrambling back to cover.
Seeing no immediate opening to break through, David feigned a sprint to the byline—only to execute a sudden No-Look Pass.
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