Son Heung-min is now in a tough spot.
Who would have thought the one pushing him into the spotlight would be his own father!
Before the match, he had already prepared himself mentally â no matter what, he had to give it his all. At the very least, he needed to outperform Ye Chen in either stats or ratings!
But when the starting lineup was announced, he was dumbfounded...
Ye Chen, who made the squad, was placed on the bench.
Son Heung-min suddenly lost his target!
Fifteen minutes into the game, he was still feeling lost...
On the field, not only was he unable to showcase his strengths, but he also became a weak link in defense.
His eyes frequently glanced towards Dortmund's bench.
However, Ye Chen never looked at him even once. Ye Chen's focus was entirely on the game.
Reading the game is an essential skill for players. By observing teammates' and opponents' habits, they can make the best decisions when they get on the pitch.
Next to him, De Bruyne and Wang Chu were also focused. Of course, their main concern was studying their teammates' movements and technical traits.
Knowing each teammate's habits allows for the most precise passes!
Meanwhile, Mané was observing the wing players, contemplating how he would play if subbed in...
Football isn't just about physical strength; it's more of a mental game!
Players who don't think on the pitch are quickly eliminated. Take Modric at Real Madrid â why does he seem to improve with age?
Beyond exceptional stamina, his mind is his sharpest weapon!
Son Heung-min felt humiliated.
He was determined to surpass someone, yet that person completely ignored him.
Within the first 15 minutes, Son Heung-min looked toward Ye Chen's direction at least 40-50 times, but Ye Chen never looked back!
What did that mean?
It meant Ye Chen didn't even see him as a competitor!
Clenching his fists, Son Heung-min thought, "You're hiding on the bench, huh? Think you can win with just two substitutes? Fine, I'll show you what I can do!"
But before he could re-engage with the game, Torsten Fink was already shouting from the sideline.
"Son! What the hell are you doing? If you're not up for this, get off the pitch!"
Son Heung-min quickly nodded and bowed toward the bench, then refocused on the game.
"If you won't come out, I'll force you off that bench!"
Son Heung-min clenched his fists, making a silent vow.
What he didn't know was that Torsten Fink was already considering subbing him out.
Despite being an important substitute this season through his hard work â and earning a starting spot thanks to good preseason form â what was he doing out there for nearly 20 minutes?
"Do you think you're the sixth brother from the Calabash Brothers?"
Even Son Woong-jung, standing by the sideline, frowned.
"What's this little brat doing? He's playing like Carrick!"
"And he wants to challenge Ye Chen? Even Kagawa Shinji is way ahead of him."
At the 20-minute mark, Son Heung-min finally immersed himself fully into the game.
He just needed to wait for the right moment. After Dortmund's goal, they controlled the game, leaving Hamburg to rely on counterattacks.
Son Heung-min's strengths were clear â his defense was average, but his dribbling, shielding, and ball control stood out.
Some even said his shielding was reminiscent of Li Yi!
His crossing accuracy was high, and he had a powerful long shot.
A bit of that "Korean Ronaldo" vibe.
But with Dortmund dictating the pace after scoring, Hamburg's chances were limited.
24:26
Dortmund throw-in from the right.
Kuba launched the ball powerfully into the box. Hummels won the header, but it went out for another throw.
37:55
Dortmund attacked again.
Piszczek drove down the right flank but was taken down by Westermann.
The former German international was excessively rough.
Kagawa Shinji took the free kick. In the crowd, Hummels and Westermann both jumped, and the 190cm-tall Westermann cleared the ball.
Kuba regained possession and sent it straight back into the box.
This time, Dortmund capitalized.
Lewandowski's perfect header found the net!
Dortmund led 2-0 away from home.
Klopp jumped with excitement, while Lewandowski sprinted to celebrate with the away fans.
On the bench, Wang Chu glanced at Ye Chen.
"Bro, looks like you won't have to play today!"
Ye Chen nodded.
"Hamburg is playing 3-5-2. Son Heung-min isn't contributing in attack or defense, leaving their left flank exposed. If they don't adjust, the score will widen."
"Hamburg has quite a few internationals. Jansen, up front, was at Bayern and won titles."
Speaking of internationals, Ye Chen suddenly thought of something.
"If the Chinese FA calls you to play for the national team now, would you go?"
Wang Chu froze.
That was a sharp question.
Eventually, Wang Chu shook his head.
"Let me secure a rotation spot at Dortmund first. I can't afford to get injured again."
It seemed Wang Chu had matured through his injuries.
Ye Chen smiled.
"Remember, don't be blindly loyal."
Loew had already called Ye Chen during the winter break, and Adidas representatives had spoken to him.
If Ye Chen joined the German national team, Adidas could help him secure dual citizenship.
But Ye Chen wasn't in a hurry.
With a year left until the Euros, he wanted to focus on his club matches while giving the Chinese team one last chance.
If no reforms happened, he wouldn't hesitate to join Germany.
But he had to prepare for both outcomes.
In this alternate world, China allowed dual nationality, meaning his identity as a Chinese citizen wouldn't change.
That setup suited him perfectly.
While Ye Chen and Wang Chu chatted, the game took a sudden turn.
Three minutes after Dortmund's goal, Son Heung-min became active on the left flank.
41:21
Djourou cleared the ball, which landed perfectly on the left wing.
Son Heung-min, lurking, sprinted.
His speed and acceleration were easily over 80!
Before the ball crossed the sideline, Son Heung-min saved it, driving into Dortmund's half.
Piszczek chased hard, and Hummels moved to cover.
But Guerrero and Jansen were making runs.
SubotiÄ couldn't mark both, and Hummels hesitated slightly.
That's when Son Heung-min sent a perfect through ball to Jansen.