Chapter 68: Stunning Performance, Determination of Bayern's President
"Our team's performance on all fronts this season has been excellent. Although Heynckes is retiring, this old coach hasn't relaxed his management of the team at all. Now the team's performance is soaring!"
In the VIP box of the Allianz Arena, watching the team completely dominate Werder Bremen on the field, Bayern Munich's club manager, Hoeness, began to boast about his team's achievements to the club president, Rummenigge.
Although most of the credit for these achievements belonged to Heynckes, as the club's manager, Hoeness also played an indispensable role in recruitment and providing various support and guarantees for the team.
Rummenigge nodded approvingly and praised, "Well done, you've done a great job, but we still can't be complacent. Our ultimate goal is to win the Champions League. Winning the league is just an appetizer; you need to understand that!"
Since taking over Bayern Munich as president ten years ago, Rummenigge's biggest dream has been to lead Bayern back to the top of Europe.
During these ten years, their performance in European competitions has been poor. Although they reached the final twice, they returned empty-handed both times.
For a powerhouse like Bayern, without enough Champions League trophies, their influence in the European football arena cannot match that of super clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United.
And this is something the giants of the Bundesliga find hard to accept.
"Yes, Mr. President, both Heynckes and I are aware of this."
This season, Borussia Dortmund has faltered, and other teams pose no threat to Bayern Munich. The league has become a training ground for them to prepare for European competitions.
Heynckes has experimented with new tactics and formations in the league several times before using them in the Champions League.
Rummenigge nodded and withdrew his gaze to the field.
His eyes scanned the Bayern forwards; Ribery, Muller, Kroos, Schweinsteiger, and others, all players he had high hopes for.
With these players as the core, along with the stars on the bench, Bayern could easily build a powerful dynasty.
Unfortunately, the old coach is retiring. If he hadn't retired this season, and if Bayern had won the Champions League, their dynasty would be secure.
But Guardiola is also a world-class coach. His arrival might further enrich the team's tactical repertoire and elevate their strength to another level.
Thinking of this, Rummenigge remembered the young player he had intended to buy as a favor to Guardiola.
He scanned the field and quickly locked onto the number ten player from Werder Bremen.
This kid has become quite famous in the Bundesliga recently!
Back at the Allianz Arena, Rummenigge thought he might be a successor to Robben and Ribery after they retire, so he became interested in Lin.
Now, after five rounds of Bundesliga matches, he had pleasantly surprised him.
His powerful dribbling ability, efficient goal-scoring rate, mature mindset, and comprehensive technical skills were all attributes of top-class superstars, and he had them all.
This made him even more certain that this young man was the best choice for Bayern's future wing.
Ribery is already 29 this year, and Robben is 28.
They don't have many years left, but Lin is only 16 this year.
Five or six years from now, when Ribery and Robben retire, he'll be just growing up, perfectly poised to take over!
Thinking of this, Rummenigge's eyes were full of smiles, and he even felt a strange anticipation:
He wanted to see if in this game, the opponent could score against Bayern again, just like they did at the Allianz Arena before!
Just as he had this thought, there was a sudden change on the field.
Ribery's breakthrough was intercepted, and Werder Bremen launched a swift counterattack.
Seeing Lin sprinting with the ball, Hoeness ended his endless boasting.
He widened his eyes, couldn't help but stand up, stretched his neck to look at the field, his eyes filled with worry and astonishment.
He even had a familiar feeling in his heart: Where had he seen this scene before?
At this moment, Rummenigge was also deeply engrossed. He saw Lin cleverly get past the pressing Badstuber, accurately pass to his teammate.
Then, like a nimble sports car, he raced into the penalty area at lightning speed, receiving the ball in an unexpected position.
One-on-one! Without any suspense, in a duel with Neuer, Lin defeated his opponent again and scored!
Rummenigge closed his eyes, and in his mind, like a slow-motion replay, he carefully reviewed every frame of this attack.
The opponent's breakthrough, vision for passing, movement without the ball, and the final shot, all seemed flawless to him.
That guy's playing style isn't flashy at all. I've never seen him do any fancy moves like bicycle kicks, nutmegs, or other showboating tricks.
He just keeps it simple, yet he's completely disrupting Bayern's defense.
And unlike last time, this time the opponent is playing even smarter. He passes to his teammates and then, when he's off the ball, he cleverly moves to evade the defending players, which impresses Rummenigge.
He feels like the opponent has improved since the last time he saw him at the Allianz Arena!
A player like this must be brought to the Allianz Arena!
With that in mind, Rummenigge suddenly opens his eyes wide and, to the bewildered Hoeness who hasn't recovered from the blow of conceding a goal, he says:
"Send someone to Barcelona to find out the details of this kid's contract. If the release clause isn't too high, as soon as the winter transfer window opens, make an offer to Barcelona!"
It's a pity it's not the transfer window now; otherwise, he would want to bring Lin to Bayern immediately.
By the time the winter break comes, after half of the Bundesliga matches have been played, who knows how many teams will be eyeing this kid.
When Bayern wants to sign him, they might have to engage in a fierce competition!
But Rummenigge isn't too worried. After all, he's already close to sealing the deal with Guardiola, Lin's foster father.
With Guardiola on board, if Bayern plays the emotional card, the chances of luring him away from Barcelona will greatly increase.
Huh? Something doesn't seem right here.
Previously, buying Lin was meant to attract Guardiola with an emotional appeal, but now, Guardiola has become the emotional card?
...
On the field, Neuer lies on the ground, pounding the grass in frustration.
Almost, just almost!
He guessed the direction right, but the angle of the opponent's shot was just too tricky. He leaped with all his might but could only barely touch the ball with his fingertips, unable to prevent it from flying into the net.
How many times is this now?
Neuer looks at the guy celebrating with a backflip by the sideline, feeling bitter inside.
This is the fourth time he's been beaten by this guy!
It must be because I'm not strong enough!
If I become a little stronger, I won't let the opponent score so easily!
With that thought, Neuer stands up, his eyes no longer lost!
He's decided that when he goes back, he'll practice even harder. Next time he faces him, he absolutely won't let the opponent score again!
At the moment Lin scores at the Weser Stadium, the fans erupt into an unimaginable roar.
Werder Bremen's fans are ecstatic!
Though they came to support their team at the venue, they didn't hold much hope.
Bayern's dominance is evident throughout the Bundesliga.
So, many were prepared for the team to lose.
But, never did they expect the team to actually take the lead!
"This kid is truly our lucky star!"
"Haha, with him around, we haven't lost a game at our home ground. Bayern, Bayern's nothing!"
"Exactly, Bayern is just like that. We can defeat them even in their away games, let alone at our home ground!"
The fans are both excited and thrilled, singing loudly, with some even starting to compose songs for Lin right there.
In the commentary box, Beckmann and several commentators are incredulous at Lin's goal.
"The mighty Bayern surely didn't expect to face such a tough resistance at the Weser Stadium. Werder Bremen's number ten has staged a fantastic long-distance run and scored a goal to rewrite the scoreline. Will this match end the Bundesliga giants' winning streak?"
Beckmann's excitement is palpable, while Marcko beside him can't stop smiling.
"Hehe, I've said it before, Bayern isn't that invincible!"
Beckmann quickly comforts the other, who seems unable to accept this blow. After all, he's a legend in German football; they can't afford to upset him, or who will come on their show in the future?
Marcko waves his hand:
"I'm not that fragile; I'm just thinking, if we put Werder Bremen's number ten in Bayern's lineup, how would we make the best use of him?"
Beckmann and Marcko are left speechless. Seems like he's still not giving up, wanting to snatch away Werder Bremen's star player?
(End of this chapter)