Chapter 1240 Considering the Future

This time Zhou Yi came to Madrid, and Sun Pan didn't go to see him, even though he was also in Madrid.

The last time he treated Zhou Yi to dinner, the media speculated that he was going to Borussia Dortmund. Now that he was in an even more sensitive situation, it was naturally inconvenient for him to go to Zhou Yi.

As the end of the season approached, Sun Pan's loan to Atlético Madrid was about to expire, and it was time for him to consider his future.

There were many rumors about him circulating outside.

For Sun Pan, who had fully proven his ability at Atlético Madrid, his future was a bit complicated.

If he hadn't performed so well, he would have simply returned to Chelsea when his loan expired. If he couldn't get a game at Chelsea, he would seek another loan.

But with his performance at Atlético Madrid, Chelsea probably wouldn't let him go easily.

But would he be a starter if he went back?

Currently, Petr Čech is guarding the goal for Chelsea. His performance at Chelsea has always been stable. Even if Sun Pan went back, it wouldn't be easy to squeeze him onto the bench.

Moreover, Chelsea's results this season, after changing coaches, have been very poor. They ended up with nothing, the defending champions were eliminated from the Champions League, and they lost consecutive league games, losing the chance to compete for a Champions League spot. Next season, they could only play in the Europa League.

He's a starter at Atlético Madrid and can play in the Champions League. If he goes back to Chelsea, not only is it uncertain if he'll be a starter, but he definitely won't be playing in the Champions League.

Why go back?

But leaving isn't that easy either. Chelsea certainly wouldn't let him go easily. Although Čech is a starter, he's getting old, and the club has always wanted to find a successor for him. They not only signed Sun Pan but also brought in the young Belgian goalkeeping prodigy, Courtois.

Seeing Sun Pan succeed at Atlético Madrid and become an excellent successor to Čech, how could they sell him at this critical moment?

At that time, they might have to spend a whole summer messing around.

Everyone didn't talk much about Sun Pan's future in the group, because Sun Pan wouldn't ask for everyone's opinion in the group. He himself was a very opinionated person and didn't need others to talk too much.

※※※

Before Real Madrid's home game against Borussia Dortmund, a large number of Real Madrid fans had gathered outside the Bernabéu Stadium.

As called for by *Marca*, many Real Madrid fans came to the scene to watch the game, wanting to turn the Bernabéu into "hell."

In the locker room, Klopp was constantly urging his players: "In this game, Real Madrid will definitely do their best. When such a team bursts out with all its strength, it is very terrifying, so you must be prepared. Especially at the very beginning of the game, be sure to withstand their attack. It doesn't matter if you're a little embarrassed on the field, but you must not let them score after the game has just started, that will make their confidence explode, their morale greatly increased, and you will fall into a very passive situation. Remember, if we don't concede a goal at the start, we've won half the battle!"

When the two teams of players entered the stadium to the Champions League theme song, they looked up and saw a giant tifo made up of countless pieces of paper, covering the entire stadium.

Judging from this appearance alone, it was indeed very impressive and enough to show Real Madrid's determination in this game.

Especially when the Borussia Dortmund players walked out of the players' tunnel, they could even hear the Real Madrid fans roaring and shouting at them.

"Welcome to the mournful Bernabéu hell!"

"Get ready to pack your bags and go home!"

"Now is the moment to witness a miracle!"

……

Although what they were shouting were mostly Spanish words that the Borussia Dortmund players couldn't understand, their ferocious expressions, intense tones, and raised middle fingers could clearly convey their emotions to the Borussia Dortmund players.

In addition, Real Madrid Club President Florentino stood at the entrance of the players' tunnel when the players came out, high-fiving each player and saying "Add oil!"

You have to know that this was the only time this season.

This was enough to show how much Real Madrid valued this game.

This game was indeed very eye-catching, even more so than Barcelona's home game against Bayern Munich the next day.

Because Barcelona could be said to be completely dead, while Real Madrid still had a chance to be rescued...

Celebrities gathered in the presidential box at the Bernabéu, and even King Juan Carlos II of Spain came to watch the game and cheer for Real Madrid.

All these extraordinary high-standard treatments were nothing more than the hope of seeing Real Madrid complete an almost impossible comeback at their home stadium, creating a miracle, a myth.

When stepping into the Bernabéu Stadium, the Borussia Dortmund players suddenly felt a sense of oppression that "they were going to be enemies with the whole world."

Many people's heartbeats sped up unconsciously...

But there were exceptions to everything. In the tense team, Zhou Yi behaved like an anomaly.

He even waved to the roaring Real Madrid fans!

Of course, this move of his was naturally understood as a "provocation" to the Real Madrid fans, and then he was met with even more crazy abuse and boos from the Real Madrid fans...

Subotić, who was walking behind Zhou Yi, reached out and patted Zhou Yi on the shoulder, and then said to him when he turned his head: "Zhou Yi, don't provoke them, it's not good for us..."

Zhou Yi spread his hands and said very aggrievedly: "I just wanted to express friendliness..."

"..." Subotić was speechless when he heard Zhou Yi's answer.

Want to express friendliness at this time? No one would believe it!

※※※

When the two teams shook hands with each other before the game, every Borussia Dortmund player could feel the "power" from the Real Madrid players—the literal meaning of power.

The Real Madrid players shook their hands very hard when they shook hands with them, pinching their hands painfully.

This may be a psychological tactic, trying to put more pressure on the Borussia Dortmund players through this small trick, so that they are psychologically at a disadvantage.

Zhou Yi was pinched quite badly. He didn't know how others were, but after he shook hands, he couldn't help but grimace and shake his hand.

He was the only one in the entire Borussia Dortmund team who did this...

Subotić said to him: "See, I told you that provoking them is not good..."

"Damn!" Zhou Yi shook his hand and said, "I didn't expect the players and fans to be so united!"

Subotić continued to kindly remind him: "You have to be careful, Zhou Yi, this is just what happened outside the game. When it comes to the game later, they will definitely not hold back when they tackle you, learn to protect yourself, and fake a fall when necessary, don't get injured..."

Zhou Yi nodded while shaking his hand: "I know, thank you for your reminder, Neven."

Subotić smiled: "You are the most indispensable person to us. If you get injured, even if we make it to the final, no one will be happy."

"Cough, you are also indispensable, everyone is important." Zhou Yi was not being modest. For him, the team was a whole, and everyone in this whole was of course important and indispensable.

But Subotić took Zhou Yi's words as kindness and modesty, and he smiled.

※※※

After the game started, as Klopp said, Real Madrid launched a fierce attack on Borussia Dortmund's goal.

Only two minutes into the game, they got a corner kick. After Borussia Dortmund cleared the corner kick, Di María appeared at the second landing point and shot directly from outside the penalty area, but the ball went wide.

Although it didn't go in, Di María's shot seemed to be a declaration, telling everyone in Borussia Dortmund that this was the tone of the game!

In the fourth minute, Modrić intercepted Schmelzer's ball on the right side of the frontcourt, and the ball fell to Özil's feet. After the German international got the ball, he quickly passed it straight, and Higuaín formed a one-on-one!

"Higuaín—! Good ball! One-on-one! A great opportunity for Real Madrid!" The Spanish TV commentator shouted excitedly.

Faced with this one-on-one, Weidenfeller rushed out in a hurry.

Higuaín then shot from six meters away from the goal, and the ball flew towards the far post along the grass.

Weidenfeller pounced in the wrong direction. When he fell to the ground, he could only try to stretch his legs out as much as possible to increase the defensive area.

This subconscious action saved the Borussia Dortmund team—the ball hit his foot and went wide of the goal...

In this attack, the Real Madrid fans in the stands were first excited, and then sighed.

"Weidenfeller made a brilliant save!" Marcel Reif was excited. "Well done!!"

He Ping was frightened: "Only four minutes into the game, Real Madrid has already had two shots, and Higuaín's shot almost scored... Real Madrid's determination to come back at home is all reflected in their rapid attack. Can Borussia Dortmund withstand the surging Real Madrid?"

"Damn, we must withstand it! We must!" Nervous Chinese fans in front of the TV shouted.

※※※

The corner kick was taken, and Subotić jumped up and headed the ball out again, but the second landing point of the ball was taken by a Real Madrid player again. Cristiano Ronaldo passed the ball out after getting the second landing point, and Di María volleyed directly without stopping the ball, but missed again.

Then Real Madrid quickly launched another attack. After continuous pressure, they got another corner kick opportunity. After Özil took the corner kick, Cristiano Ronaldo volleyed from ten meters in front of the goal, but missed.

Then in the thirteenth minute, Real Madrid had an even better opportunity.

Di María sent a precise thirty-meter lob, and Cristiano Ronaldo told him to stop the ball with his chest after he plugged in!

"Ronaldo!!"

"Be careful with this ball!"

Amidst the commentators' exclamations with different emotions, the Portuguese rose into the air less than six meters away from the goal and swept his right foot in the air!

As a result, the ball hit Weidenfeller's chest and bounced out!

"Weidenfeller! He made another world-class save! He blocked Ronaldo's shooting angle!" Marcel Reif shouted.

"Ronaldo! It's a pity, he missed a great opportunity!" The Spanish commentator held his head in his hands.

"This is so tense... Only thirteen minutes into the game, Real Madrid has already had two close-range scoring opportunities. It's a pity that they didn't seize any of them. But if Real Madrid continues to play like this, maybe they won't be far from scoring..." He Ping, although he was sitting in the Beijing studio thousands of miles away, also felt his heart beating fast. If he was at the scene to comment, his voice would probably tremble at this time. He didn't dare to imagine how much pressure the Borussia Dortmund players on the field were under...

The TV broadcast happened to give close-up shots of several Borussia Dortmund players. In the close-up shots, these Borussia Dortmund players all looked serious and nervous, and the sweat on their foreheads reflected the lights of the Bernabéu Stadium, which was clearly visible.

Even Zhou Yi, who had a relaxed expression before the game, became serious.