Chapter 45: The Terrifying Westfalen
The daily life of a professional footballer was often repetitive—training, recovery, tactics meetings, and matches—but for Ken, this period of time felt anything but dull.
Every day at Borussia Dortmund felt like stepping into a new classroom. Tactical discussions, positional drills, video analysis sessions, and high-intensity pressing exercises filled his schedule. He felt like a sponge thrown into the ocean, absorbing knowledge at an astonishing rate.
Back in São Paulo, Ken had relied heavily on instinct and raw talent. Here, he began to understand that elite European football demanded more—precision, synchronization, discipline, and relentless pace.
He also began to understand something else: why Bayern Munich had hesitated to guarantee him playing time.
Even the most talented young player needed time to adapt to a system, to build chemistry with teammates, and to understand the tactical framework of a club. No coach at a top European giant could simply hand a starting position to a newcomer without that process.
That realization made Ken appreciate Klopp even more.
The German coach had not only promised him opportunities but had also personally guided him through tactical adjustments, encouraging him while still demanding excellence.
Ken had decided silently: I must repay that trust.
So during the past week, he trained harder than anyone else. Extra sprint work after sessions, additional ball-control drills, reviewing match footage late at night—he left nothing undone.
His teammates noticed.
Klopp noticed as well.
"Alright, everyone, gather up!" Klopp called at the end of training.
The players quickly assembled, some stretching their shoulders, others joking and laughing. Dortmund's squad was young overall, and the training ground was always full of energy.
Klopp scanned the group before speaking.
"Tomorrow is our first home match of the season. I don't care who the opponent is — I want intensity, discipline, and a performance worthy of our supporters."
He paused briefly.
"Next, I will announce the eighteen-man squad."
Ken's heartbeat instantly accelerated. Even though his recent training performances had been strong, he still wasn't fully confident. Making the matchday squad at a club like Dortmund was never guaranteed.
Standing beside him, Captain Kehl lightly nudged his shoulder and gave him a reassuring wink.
"Relax," the gesture seemed to say.
Klopp began reading the names.
"Goalkeepers: Mitchell Langerak, Roman Weidenfeller."
"Defenders: Erik Durm, Neven Subotić, Kevin Großkreutz, Lukasz Piszczek, Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer."
"Midfielders: Sebastian Kehl, Marco Reus, Nuri Şahin, Sven Bender, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Jonas Hofmann."
Ken's palms were already damp with sweat.
"Forwards: Marvin Ducksch, Jakub Błaszczykowski, Pierre, Ken."
For a brief moment, Ken thought he had misheard. Then the meaning registered.
He had made the squad.
A firm slap landed on his back.
"Congratulations," Kehl said with a grin.
"Thanks, Captain," Ken replied, unable to hide his smile.
Pierre turned around from the row ahead. "Not bad, rookie. Keep it up."
"Hey, who are you calling rookie?" Ken laughed, lightly pushing him. Laughter spread through the group.
Klopp watched the scene with a faint smile. Seeing the young players bonding always reassured him that the team spirit remained strong.
---
The next evening, Westfalenstadion roared like a living creature.
"Wir halten fest und treu zusammen…"
More than eighty thousand supporters stood shoulder to shoulder, singing the club anthem in perfect unity. Yellow scarves rose and fell like waves across the stands, transforming the stadium into a vast ocean of black and gold.
Sitting on the bench, Ken felt his heartbeat synchronize with the rhythm of the chanting.
He had heard teammates describe Dortmund's home stadium as Europe's most intimidating arena—but hearing it was nothing compared to experiencing it firsthand.
The sound was overwhelming, not chaotic but coordinated, powerful enough to make the entire structure seem alive.
"Hehe… how does it feel?" Kehl asked from beside him.
Ken exhaled slowly. "Captain… is there any stadium in the Bundesliga like this?"
Kehl laughed. "In the Bundesliga? Only here. Even across Europe, very few places can match this atmosphere."
Ken straightened slightly, a sense of pride rising within him. Being part of this club suddenly felt even more meaningful.
---
"Good evening, viewers. Welcome to the live broadcast of the Bundesliga Matchday Two clash between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Braunschweig. I'm your commentator, Dane."
"As a newly promoted side, Braunschweig suffered a narrow defeat in the opening round and will likely adopt a defensive strategy tonight, especially playing away at Westfalenstadion."
"Borussia Dortmund, under Jürgen Klopp, has achieved remarkable success in recent seasons—winning back-to-back league titles and reaching the Champions League final last year. However, this summer saw several major squad changes, including the departure of key players."
"Still, Dortmund reinforced their lineup with several notable signings, including midfielder Mkhitaryan and forward Pierre, who already impressed fans with a hat-trick in the opening match."
"Another player attracting attention is the young forward Ken, recently transferred from São Paulo. He has been included in today's matchday squad and may make his Bundesliga debut depending on the match situation."
As Dane continued analyzing the match, the teams completed the coin toss at midfield.
Dortmund won possession.
The referee checked both sides, raised the whistle to his lips—
—and the match at the terrifying Westfalenstadion began.
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