Chapter 1 The Holy Land

In Europe, every successful team has a stadium to match. The Mestalla Stadium, as Valencia's home ground, is renowned and a sacred place in the hearts of Valencia fans.

Now, Zhou Yi and his teammates have set foot on this sacred place, and they are not here to worship, but to destroy it.

At least that's what Zhou Yi thinks…

During the warm-up, the Borussia Dortmund players fully felt the "enthusiasm" of the Valencia fans – they used boos and jeers to welcome the visiting Borussia Dortmund players.

This situation did not stop until the Borussia Dortmund players left the field and returned to the locker room.

However, the Borussia Dortmund players had been to many away games and did not take these boos to heart.

Or rather, they didn't pay attention to the fans' boos at all, their minds were full of the Champions League.

Being able to play in the Champions League is the pursuit of many European professional players. Some players are willing to change teams in order to participate in the Champions League.

Some teams fight desperately for a season in order to play in the Champions League next season.

Being able to participate in the Champions League is not only a consideration for the club's finances, but also for the players' self-pursuit.

Being able to play in the Champions League can attract the attention of more top clubs and embark on the peak of life.

Everyone has their own goals and their own plans. But they all have a common goal, and that is victory.

If they are eliminated after playing six group stage matches in the Champions League, losing every game and becoming the laughing stock of Europe, how can they talk about performing in front of top clubs, or about their own football pursuits?

Klopp stood in the locker room. His players had changed their clothes and were sitting in their seats, looking at him, waiting for his speech.

"I have nothing to say, lads. You all know some things. Today is a world of highly developed media, what news can be kept secret? So I believe you have all seen what the media says about us. Many people think that it's good enough for us to participate in the Champions League this season, and that the important thing is to accumulate experience, not anything else. But I don't see it that way, I hope we can at least get out of the group stage this season. To this end, this first game is very important. I hope we can get off to a good start."

After Klopp finished speaking, he waved his hand and continued, "The outside world says we have no experience, but that's just a far-fetched excuse. The experience of any team starts from scratch, and we have a lot of other people's experience to learn from. Remember those things we have been emphasizing in training. As long as you can earnestly implement the training content into the game, then whether it is the Champions League or the league, there is actually no difference..."

Klopp spread out his hands and looked at everyone.

Zhou Yi nodded slightly.

He thought Klopp was right. Any experience is accumulated from scratch. No one is born with rich experience, and the first step always has to be taken. If you are afraid of the unknown future and hesitate to take this first step, then that is a complete failure.

"So, lads. Don't listen to the nonsense from the outside world. Although they claim to be experts, they are nothing more than pseudo-experts in front of you! Because the final decision on victory or defeat is up to you, you are the ones who go on the field!" Klopp concluded his speech in a passionate voice.

After Klopp finished speaking, captain Kehl also stood up, clapping his hands vigorously, and loudly reminded his teammates: "Guys! I want to remind you of one thing - German teams have an advantage over Spanish teams! So the ones who should be afraid now are them, not us! Let's go!"

Although Kehl did not start this game, he is still fulfilling the responsibility of a captain.

Everyone was encouraged by him and stood up from their seats, shouting with him: "Let's go! Borussia Dortmund! Let's go!"

Zhou Yi was also among them. He liked this feeling of everyone being united and fighting for victory. This is the wonderful experience that team sports like football can bring him.

※※※

When Zhou Yi and his teammates were waiting in the player tunnel to enter the field, the stadium announcer was broadcasting the starting lineups of both sides.

The focus was naturally on the home team, Valencia.

Each time the live announcer called out a name, it would elicit cheers from the Valencia fans in the stands.

Zhou Yi listened carefully and found that the starting lineup for this game was exactly the same as the Valencia team he had encountered in the virtual world.

He felt even more confident.

After introducing the starting lineups, the stirring Champions League theme song sounded.

Zhou Yi had watched Champions League live broadcasts on TV before, and had also heard the Champions League theme song through the TV screen, and even in the virtual space, he had heard this theme song countless times.

But this time, when he heard the Champions League theme song in real space and time, he still felt a tingling in his scalp, as if an electric current was passing through his whole body.

He shivered slightly.

Then, he turned his head, stretched out his arm, and said to Kagawa Shinji behind him: "Look, goosebumps!"

Kagawa Shinji smiled and also stretched out his arm, saying in not-so-fluent English: "Me too."

Zhou Yi saw that his arm also had a layer of goosebumps.

So Zhou Yi also laughed.

No matter what, this is the Champions League after all!

Besides the World Cup, perhaps the highest stage for professional players is right now!

※※※

When Zhou Yi stood still on the field, the noise in the stands subsided a lot, and the stirring theme song had long disappeared.

The huge stadium was filled with people, but suddenly became quiet.

This feeling is very strange, and if you are not on the scene, you will find it contradictory. But at this time, you will feel that it is not contradictory at all.

Zhou Yi looked around, checking the positions of his teammates, and also seeing the positions of the opposing players clearly.

While he was looking around, the referee of this game, Moen, blew the whistle to start the game.

"Friends of the audience! Welcome to watch a match in Group A of the 2010-2011 season of the European Champions League, between Valencia at home against Borussia Dortmund!" He Ping's voice rang out.

As a La Liga commentator, He Ping naturally comments on La Liga matches. Bundesliga matches are not his responsibility, so he usually does not comment on Zhou Yi's matches. The Champions League is his only opportunity to comment on Zhou Yi's matches.

He was also a little excited.

What kind of performance will Zhou Yi be able to deliver in the Champions League?

※※※

In front of the TV, Li Cuiyun, who had already fallen asleep, was vigorously woken up by her husband: "Wake up, the game has started!"

Li Cuiyun opened her eyes and saw the fluorescent light from the TV screen reflected on Zhou Jianliang's face, casting a reflection in his eyes. At first glance, it looked like Zhou Jianliang's eyes were shining, and his excited expression was difficult to suppress.

She was stunned for a moment before she realized why she had fallen asleep on the sofa, so she got up, leaned on her husband's shoulder, and turned her head to the TV.

The TV happened to show a close-up of her son, so her sleepiness immediately dissipated, and she raised her head from her husband's shoulder and stared at the TV screen.

He Ying did not go to the stadium to watch the game, that was too unrealistic, but he sat in front of the TV on time when the game started to watch the TV broadcast of the game.

Like him, Sun Pan, Yang Muge, and Guo Nu also used the TV broadcast to pay attention to this game.

At the same time, while watching the game, they did not forget to use mobile QQ to complain and exchange opinions in the group.

※※※

In this game, Valencia, playing at home, kicked off first. They used their kickoff possession advantage to launch an attack on Borussia Dortmund's goal. And the Valencia fans in the stands cheered loudly for their team.

Valencia's attack ended quickly. Aduriz's long shot from outside the penalty area was a bit outrageous.

If this were at Borussia Dortmund's home stadium, the Yellow Wall in the Südtribüne would probably have erupted with schadenfreude jeers from Borussia Dortmund fans.

But here, there was only applause.

"Damn! They even applaud such a terrible shot, it really is Valencia's home stadium!" Seeing this scene, Sun Pan complained in the group.

※※※

After Valencia's attack ended, it was Borussia Dortmund's turn to control the ball.

Weidenfeller did not kick the ball directly into the frontcourt, but passed the ball to center-back Hummels.

Hummels then passed the ball to Zhou Yi.

When Zhou Yi received the ball, Zhou Jianliang, He Ying, Sun Pan, Yang Muge, and Guo Nu in front of the TV, as well as countless Chinese fans who stayed up late or just got up, squinted their eyes and stared intently at Zhou Yi in the screen. Those who were still yawning and sleepy had all disappeared.

"This is Zhou Yi's first touch of the ball in this game!" He Ping said as if he was announcing an important milestone event.

After Zhou Yi received the ball, Valencia's most forward striker, Soldado, rushed up, trying to interfere with Zhou Yi's possession of the ball.

Zhou Yi did not wait for him to get close, but passed the ball out, and then quickly ran to the next location. Then he asked his teammate for the ball.

His teammate also passed the ball over.

After receiving the ball, he passed the ball out again, and continued to change places to receive the ball. In this process, Borussia Dortmund pushed the ball past the midfield line and advanced towards Valencia's thirty-meter area.

It seemed to be the same as when Zhou Yi played in the league, but those who really understood saw some differences.

"Zhou Yi's running frequency is faster than in the league." He Ying sent such a sentence in the group.

"Don't pretend, He Ying. You can see that?" Sun Pan said disdainfully.

"He Ying is right." Yang Muge retorted Sun Pan's statement. "Borussia Dortmund's passing speed is also faster."

"I didn't expect to hear commentary and guest analysis in the group while watching a game." Sun Pan rolled his eyes.

He Ying ignored Sun Pan and continued to focus on watching the game.

He hasn't had the opportunity to participate in the Champions League yet, and he wants to learn something from Zhou Yi's game.

Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Yi has already become his guiding star...

And He Ying himself may not be very clear about this yet.