Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Messi or Ronaldo, Would Be Benched for Him

Ferguson's comment was like an explosion across Europe, dominating headlines everywhere.

At that moment, Ye Chen had no idea what was going on!

Dortmund's game was scheduled for 9:30 PM, while Manchester United's match was set to kick off at 10:00 PM.

This half-hour gap was enough to stir up an uproar.

Ye Chen was essentially minding his own business—or more precisely, relaxing at the hotel—when suddenly, he found himself in the eye of the storm.

All because of Benzema!

After dinner, Ye Chen and Lina went for a stroll. Thanks to his mask, no one recognized him.

After walking around and getting tired, they decided to book a room. This time, it wasn't a business suite but a full-fledged suite.

Simply put, the room was bigger but had only one bed.

Learning from his last experience, Ye Chen turned on the TV while Lina went to shower, hoping to catch the latest sports news.

Instead of seeing something praising him, he saw Ferguson's comment.

And just like that—chaos ensued.

Ye Chen once again became the center of attention.

His first reaction to the news was frustration.

He thought, I'm the one who got terminated and abandoned, yet it's somehow my fault?

But frustration aside, he didn't dwell on it. After all, he was 17 now and knew tears were worthless.

Better to channel that energy into training and wait for the right moment to explode onto the scene again.

He firmly believed he'd get his revenge one day.

After all, Manchester United also plays in the Champions League, and Dortmund was bound to face them sooner or later—especially since UEFA loves a good storyline.

While some insist that Champions League draws aren't rigged, Ye Chen remembered how Manchester United had drawn PSG in the Round of 16 before he traveled back in time. It was clearly staged to hype up a Messi vs. Ronaldo clash!

Luckily, that draw was redone later. But before Ye Chen's time travel, Manchester United had reached a point where they could barely beat anyone. Management's overreach had stifled the team, making progress nearly impossible.

Even a superstar like Ronaldo could only endure the humiliation of finishing sixth in the league.

Who would've thought that the Champions League king, Ronaldo, would one day have no Champions League games to play?

But that's a story for another time. Ye Chen didn't know if his presence would change the future—only time would tell.

"Click..."

Just as Ye Chen's thoughts wandered, the bathroom door opened.

Lina stepped out wrapped in a towel.

Seeing her fresh and radiant appearance, all thoughts of football disappeared from Ye Chen's mind. His focus was entirely on her.

This time, he vowed to give it his all!

Early the next morning, Ye Chen saw Lina off to the airport before returning to the team.

With national team players away, and with the team having won their last match, everyone had been given the day off. The training ground was unusually quiet.

As soon as Ye Chen arrived, Klopp called him into his office.

Ye Chen was puzzled and asked, "Boss, what's the matter?"

Klopp gave him an odd look. "That girl you're dating—is she Solskjær's daughter?"

Ye Chen was stunned. "How do you know that?"

"I think everyone in football knows by now!" Klopp replied, tossing several newspapers onto the desk in front of Ye Chen.

Yes, several newspapers—all featuring front-page headlines.

• "Dortmund's Young Star Ye and His Stunning Girlfriend!"

• "17-Year-Old Dortmund Striker Seen Booking a Room with His Girlfriend!"

• "Ye Chen's Blissful Life: A Rising Star on the Pitch and Off It!"

• "Is Ye Chen Destined to Fall?"

• "Shocking: Dortmund Striker Ye's Girlfriend Revealed to Be..."

• "Solskjær: I Have No Comment on This Matter!"

About seven or eight newspapers in total were splashed with news about Ye Chen and Lina.

Reporters had followed them from the parking lot after the match, through their shopping trip, and all the way to the hotel.

In his previous life, Ye Chen had been a minor player, with no reason for reporters to follow him. His news wasn't valuable.

But now, with his back-to-back hat-tricks and newfound stardom in Germany, everyone was watching him.

He was a rising star, and every move he made was under scrutiny.

This would've been a minor tabloid story—if not for Ferguson's comment, which had sent Ye Chen's fame skyrocketing. His Chinese background only added to the intrigue.

China, after all, was developing rapidly, and its domestic football league was thriving. Naturally, there was immense interest in Ye Chen.

Adding to the drama was Lina's identity as Solskjær's daughter, which turned this into a sensational story.

That's why Klopp had called Ye Chen in immediately after hearing the news.

"Boss..." Ye Chen was a bit embarrassed. "I'll make sure reporters don't catch me next time!"

Klopp nodded. "We don't care if you date, but remember this: you're a professional footballer. Only good performances can justify your salary and the expectations of the club and fans. No matter what happens, don't let it affect your training or match fitness. Understood?"

Ye Chen nodded. "Don't worry! I have a complete plan for my career."

"I heard from Buvač that you're looking for a place to live? Planning to move out of the training facility?"

"Yes. Now that I have a girlfriend, staying at the training ground feels a bit inappropriate," Ye Chen replied. "But there's an issue—I don't have a guardian."

As a 17-year-old minor, Ye Chen needed a guardian to live independently abroad, or he'd have to stay in supervised accommodation.

After a moment of thought, Klopp said, "I happen to have a house for rent near the training ground. It's just a ten-minute walk away. If you're interested, I can show it to you. And until you turn 18, I can act as your guardian... but don't think I won't keep tabs on you!"

"Really?" Ye Chen's eyes lit up. "But on one condition—you have to let me pay rent!"

"Of course!" Klopp laughed. "I'm not running a charity!"

"Thank you, Boss! I'll give it my all!" Ye Chen said with determination.

"Come on, let's skip training today. I'll show you the house."

Ye Chen quickly gathered his things and left with Klopp.

Little did he know, Klopp had deliberately come to the training ground just to meet him—after meticulously analyzing the upcoming schedule.

Dortmund had only one point from two Champions League matches, sitting third in their group, just ahead of Olympiacos.

Shifting focus to the Champions League could jeopardize their Bundesliga campaign.

With Dortmund now sixth in the league after eight matches, thanks to Ye Chen's two hat-tricks, they trailed Bayern Munich by six points. But the season was still young, and Bayern had Champions League commitments too. If they prioritized Europe, they might falter in the league.

Klopp decided to aim for a balanced approach—targeting a Champions League Round of 16 berth while maintaining domestic form.

The next German Cup match was against Dynamo Dresden, an obscure team. Klopp planned to let Ye Chen start, provided his performances in upcoming matches against Werder Bremen, Cologne, and Olympiacos remained strong.