Chapter 11 U19

Zhou Yi and Mark were the center of the Borussia Dortmund players' celebration.

Hänsel now understood why Zhou Yi had asked him to pass the ball with force, because he hadn't intended to receive it at all!

From the start, he'd been aiming to let the ball through to Mark.

But what puzzled Hänsel was...

"How did you know Mark would run into that empty space behind you?" While running back after celebrating the goal, Hänsel approached Zhou Yi and asked the question that was on his mind.

"Because Mark believes I'll definitely get the ball into that open space," Zhou Yi replied. "No matter how."

Hänsel was speechless in the face of Zhou Yi's answer.

He turned his head to look at Mark.

As Mark continued to score goals, everyone secretly discussed why he had suddenly improved so much and was scoring so frequently.

Because many of Mark's goals were assisted by Zhou Yi, some people speculated that it was because Mark had improved his relationship with Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi now lived in Mark's house, and the two trained together and went home together, almost inseparable. People who didn't know them might have thought they were gay.

At the time, some people thought that Mark's initiative to have Zhou Yi live at his house was a brilliant move.

But after watching the two goals in this game, perhaps no one would hold those previous views anymore, right?

Zhou Yi did assist Mark with a lot of goals, but many of those goals could only be received by Mark!

How many of those who were jealous of Mark for relying on his relationship with Zhou Yi to score goals could unconditionally trust Zhou Yi to Mark's extent?

Before Zhou Yi let the ball through to Mark, Mark had run many times in vain and wasted a lot of energy.

Most people probably wouldn't continue doing that after running two or three times, right?

But Mark would, and always would.

What was there to be jealous of when someone could score so many goals?

※※※

After Mark put Borussia Dortmund ahead again, Borussia Dortmund's morale soared, and they regained the initiative on the field.

Schalke 04, on the other hand, was clearly hit hard, especially Peter Lak, who was responsible for marking Zhou Yi.

After Mark scored, he seemed to not know how to defend Zhou Yi anymore. His movements in the game became increasingly rough, and Zhou Yi was fouled and fell to the ground again and again.

This drew boos and jeers from the Borussia Dortmund fans in the stands.

Fortunately, extreme fans rarely came to youth team games, otherwise the cursing would have been even worse.

And the Borussia Dortmund substitutes and coaching staff were also dissatisfied with Peter Lak's fouls.

Players from both sides almost clashed on the field.

In the end, Peter Lak, who received a yellow card, was substituted off, and Zhou Yi was also substituted off by Eckel for protection.

However, although Peter Lak was substituted off, Yang Muge was not the one who came on.

In fact, Yang Muge never got a chance to play.

Neither side scored afterward, and Borussia Dortmund U17 defeated Schalke 04 U17 2-1 in this U17 Ruhr derby.

With this victory, Borussia Dortmund U17 rose from fifth to third in the U17 West League.

But in reality, this had nothing to do with Zhou Yi and Mark anymore.

When the game ended, Zhou Yi had originally planned to go find Yang Muge, but Yang Muge waved his hand at him: "We lost the game, the coach is not happy. I definitely can't stay in Dortmund alone, I have to go back with the team. Let's meet again next time, Zhou Yi."

Zhou Yi was a little regretful: "I wasn't able to get you on the field..."

"It's okay." Yang Muge smiled, not caring whether he played or not. "There's still a lot of time, I still have a chance."

"Okay, next time, next time when we meet again, you must be on the field!"

"Don't worry, I will."

The two said goodbye, and Zhou Yi watched Yang Muge leave the Brackel training base with the defeated Schalke 04 players.

He and Mark were then called to the sidelines by youth training director Lars Ricken.

"I don't think I need to introduce this one, right?" Eckel said in annoyance. He really couldn't be happy that the other party was here to steal his talent…

"Ricken!" Mark seemed very excited, but he was not excited because of Ricken's current status, but because in his mind, Ricken was a superhero in the eyes of this Borussia Dortmund kid.

It was Ricken's calm chip after coming on as a substitute in the Champions League final that helped Borussia Dortmund win their only Champions League trophy in history. Although Ricken's later career was not as good as expected, a Champions League trophy was enough for him to be regarded as a hero and idol for life by the children of this city.

"Alright, put away your fanboy face." Eckel couldn't stand Mark's useless appearance. "Now is not the time to ask for an autograph."

Mark also realized that he was too excited just now, and smiled embarrassedly.

Ricken waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, Sasha. If he wants my autograph, I can give him ten copies."

Then he smiled and said to the two children: "Young men, congratulations on your wonderful performance in the Ruhr derby. I'm here to tell you that starting tomorrow, you don't have to train with the U17 anymore, but will be switched to the U19."

The two were stunned when they heard this news, but Mark's reaction was more exaggerated than Zhou Yi's.

Zhou Yi turned his head and saw Mark's shocked and somewhat dazed expression, and quickly pinched his arm. The pain made Mark gasp: "What are you doing!"

"Now you know it's not a dream, right?" Zhou Yi said.

"Thanks!" Mark rolled his eyes.

"You're welcome, Mark. Friends should help each other." Zhou Yi said seriously.

"Do I need to help you verify it?" Mark reached out and pinched Zhou Yi's waist, but Zhou Yi dodged it nimbly.

"No need! I'm not worried at all that this is a dream!"

Ricken watched with interest as these two treasures put the matter of going to the U19 behind them and started fighting.

The U17 coach Eckel, who was next to him, couldn't stand it anymore and coughed loudly: "The director is watching you!"

The two then stopped and stood obediently in front of Ricken again.

Seeing this, Ricken spread his hands: "I have nothing to say, I look forward to seeing you in the U19. But now, go enjoy the victory!"

He pointed to the Borussia Dortmund U17 players behind them who were celebrating.

Zhou Yi and Mark looked at each other, said goodbye to Ricken and Eckel, and ran back to the team.

"Hey, Mark, if the U19 makes you so excited, what will you do when you go to the first team in the future?" Zhou Yi nudged Mark with his arm.

"Mind your own business! I'll still be excited!" Mark bumped back.

Looking at them bumping into each other from behind, Ricken smiled.

He could understand why first-team coach Klopp valued young players so much.

Because they have endless vitality and... possibilities.

Only such young people can inject new vitality into the terminally ill "Bumblebee" and create more possibilities in the Bundesliga.

※※※

After the game, the players were picked up by their parents and family members, and they were going to celebrate this Ruhr derby with their family and friends.

In the parking lot, Zhou Yi and Mark also met the latter's parents and sister.

"We're going to have a good celebration!" Mrs. Wagner announced excitedly.

But Mark had news to tell them.

"Um, Zhou Yi and I have been promoted to the U19..."

The smile on his mother's face froze. She didn't seem to expect it at all.

Then, tears welled up in her eyes, and she hugged her son directly, murmuring: "Oh God... Mark, you did it, you did it..."

Mark's father, old Wagner, came up and patted his wife on the shoulder. Mrs. Wagner let go of her son, and her father came up to hug him: "Congratulations, son."

Cottana was also a little surprised.

She didn't expect that her younger brother, who had been sitting on the bench of the U17 for so long that his butt was about to grow calluses, would be promoted from the U17 to the U19 with just two goals in an official game!

This upgrade was too fast, wasn't it?

When old Wagner also let go of Mark, Mark stood in front of Cottana.

"Sister, I know you never wanted me to become a professional player. But now, I will prove it to you step by step. I hope to get your congratulations one day!" Mark said solemnly.

Cottana smiled: "I will congratulate you now too, Mark."

"No, I want to get your heartfelt congratulations, sister. I love you very much, but on the football field, I have my own insistence."

"Then you have to think clearly, Mark. Seventeen-year-olds will be facing competitors who are older than you. Becoming a professional player is not that easy," Cottana said.

"I know." Mark nodded and said very seriously: "Regarding this point, Zhou Yi has already told me. He said that pursuing dreams is the easiest thing to do with just moving your lips. If I really want to realize my dreams, then I have to go all out! I will go all out! Just like I went from the U17 to the U19, I will go from the U19 to the first team!"

Hearing these words actually came from Zhou Yi, Cottana looked at Zhou Yi in surprise.

"Uh, my mom also used these words to encourage me..." Zhou Yi scratched his head, not daring to steal his mother's credit.

"No matter what, Zhou Yi. I must thank you." Mrs. Wagner turned to Zhou Yi and said, "Mark can have such a performance because of you. It was you who restored his confidence..."

Zhou Yi quickly waved his hand: "Don't say that, Mrs. Wagner, you take care of my life meticulously, I should thank you! Besides... Mark and I are good friends, and good friends should help each other!"

"No matter what... I'm really glad Mark can meet such a good friend as you. Today, we must have a good celebration!" Mrs. Wagner said happily.

※※※

That night, the Wagner family and Zhou Yi enjoyed a big meal together in a restaurant and enjoyed it. As a celebration of their successful promotion to the U19.

At the same time, it also meant that after they were promoted to the U19, such wonderful days might be far away from them.

Just like Mark himself realized.

If you want to use the U19 as a springboard to advance to the first team, you must go all out.

And going all out is very hard.