The team's training match officially kicked off.
The two sides were divided into nine-player teams, with each half lasting 30 minutes.
Ye Chen wore the yellow vest, and Shinji Kagawa was on his team.
Additionally, Ilkay GündoÄan, who would redeem himself at Manchester City, and Christian Pulisic, who would later dominate Serie A, were also part of his team!
It must be said, Dortmund's attacking lineup during this period was truly dazzling.
Perhaps this was the key to breaking Bayern Munich's dominance.
The yellow team huddled in a circle, led by team captain Kehl.
Kehl, a 32-year-old midfielder, held great respect within the team.
"Everyone should know the significance of today's match. If Ye is in an open position, get the ball to him immediately, understood?" Kehl said firmly.
The players all nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Shinji Kagawa added in English, "You need to tell us your playing style. It'll help us deliver good passes to you."
Ye Chen smiled and replied, "My playing style has three key points: endurance, long shots, and decent speed."
Everyone nodded again, and Kehl placed his hand in the center of the circle.
"Guys, even though it's just a training match, what's our goal?"
"Victory!"
"Right, we go all out!"
"Let's go, let's go, let's go!"
All the players stacked their hands together and roared passionately!
For a moment, Ye Chen felt a rush of blood and couldn't help but marvel at their enthusiasm. It's just a training match, does it need to be this intense?
But once the match began, he realized why Dortmund had risen so quickly in the Bundesliga.
The players approached every training session with such seriousnessâhow could they not succeed?
Moreover, the tempo of this training match was incredibly fast.
Ye Chen did his best to adapt to the pace while Klopp observed him closely from the sidelines.
Many players had good individual skills but didn't fit into certain tactical systems.
What Klopp needed now were players who could seamlessly integrate. If Ye Chen failed to show certain qualities, he might be sent to the reserve team.
In the reserves, he could play matches to gradually adapt to the Bundesliga.
But as Ye Chen let his thoughts wander, the Ye Chen on the field had already taken a shot.
From 24 meters out on the left side of the penalty area, Ye Chen received a pass from Shinji Kagawa.
The shooting angle was narrow, but Ye Chen seized the opportunity.
"Boom!"
This wasn't a power shot but a precision strike.
The ball traced a beautiful arc in the air, heading toward the far post!
Dortmund's vice-captain, Weidenfeller, leapt to make the save. At 32, Weidenfeller was still in peak form as a goalkeeper.
Yet, even he didn't dare take this shot lightly. It was too sudden!
"Smack!"
Weidenfeller's fingertips grazed the ball, and it finally glanced off the post and went out for a corner.
"What a save!" Sven Bender from the red team cheered for Weidenfeller.
Meanwhile, the yellow team players praised Ye Chen.
Shinji Kagawa gave him a thumbs up, saying, "Nice shot, Ye!"
"Thanks," Ye Chen replied calmly.
Perhaps due to historical reasons, Ye Chen felt a bit distant from Shinji Kagawa.
But with such courteous praise, he couldn't be impolite, so he responded nonetheless.
The match continued!
Ye Chen gradually adjusted to the team's tempo and actively participated in pressing high up the pitch.
Now everyone understood why he claimed to have good stamina.
Whenever the ball was passed into the red team's backfield, he pressed aggressively, and his teammates followed suit.
This was the essence of the "mad dog" strategy.
Of course, the red team wouldn't back down either, leading to frequent changes in possession.
The first goal, however, came from the red team's Robert Lewandowski.
With a low shot, he pierced through substitute goalkeeper Langerak's defense.
But Ye Chen's goal wasn't far behind. At 24:28 in the first half, Ye Chen received a through ball from Shinji Kagawa inside the box and calmly slotted it past Weidenfeller.
After scoring, Ye Chen high-fived Shinji Kagawa, who rushed over to celebrate.
It must be said, Kagawa's passes were truly delightful.
Far more precise than Januzaj's.
Perhaps this was the caliber of a Bundesliga MVP!
The first half ended in a 1-1 draw, with a 10-minute halftime break.
The players gathered to discuss the first half. Kehl shared some positioning tips with Ye Chen, including habits of the red team players.
Meanwhile, Klopp scribbled notes in his book.
"What do you thinkâcan he stay?" Buvac asked the question that concerned him most.
Klopp nodded. "Of course. I'm thinking about how much we should pay him to ensure he's happy to stay at Dortmund."
"His last contract was a youth apprentice deal," Buvac reminded him.
"I know that. But his performance warrants a weekly salary exceeding â¬10,000!"
"I think we shouldn't offer too much for his first contract, or it could cause issues during future renewals," Buvac suggested quietly.
"If we offer too little, it'll be easy for someone to poach him. We must show our sincerity," Klopp said firmly.
Although it was only a half, amateurs watched for fun; professionals analyzed the game.
First, Ye Chen's adaptability stood out.
He adjusted to the game's pace in just minutes and showed eagerness and skill in pressing.
This was a pleasant surprise for Klopp.
Second, his movement and shooting.
While Kagawa's passes were sharp, Ye Chen's elusive runs made him a challenge for defenders.
The opposing center-back duo of Hummels and SubotiÄâkey to Dortmund's Bundesliga title the previous yearâcouldn't stop him from finding space.
Most notably, Ye Chen's finishingâa display of killer instinct.
Finally, his stamina.
After 30 minutes of high-intensity play, Ye Chen wasn't even breathing heavily.
This was a high-paced game where Klopp demanded match-level effort and intensity.
Not only did Ye Chen keep up, but he thrived.
This kid's like someone playing a video game with cheats!
Most importantly, Ye Chen was only 17 years old!
What could he grow into with time?
Perhaps an even greater talent than Götze...
Years ago, Klopp had seen Chinese films and learned an important lesson: sincerity is key when dealing with the Chinese.
To win hearts, you need to be genuine.
Thus, Klopp decided to offer Ye Chen a generous salary.
As for the exact amount, that would depend on his performance in the second half...
Now, Klopp eagerly anticipated the second half. After adapting in the first half, what kind of energy would Ye Chen unleash next?
Time to find out!