The difficulty of scoring four consecutive hat tricks hardly needs elaboration; if it were easy, the record would have been broken long ago.
Even players as legendary as Maradona, Pelé, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi have never achieved such a feat.
Because of this, Ye Chen made history by appearing on the prestigious sports publication Kicker.
Ye Chen's accomplishments are not just due to his hard work but also the strong support of his team.
After all, Dortmund is one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. Among the four opponents Ye Chen faced, only Werder Bremen posed a significant challenge. The othersâMainz, Augsburg, and Cologneâwere relatively weaker.
Looking back, the Bremen match was the toughest.
After all, Ye Chen was up against Naldo, a Brazilian international. What a formidable opponent!
Tarou Yayano took a seat, but the other reporters still had many questions to ask.
"We've just received breaking news from my station: Cologne's official website announced they've terminated their contract with Tomoaki Makino. What's your response to this?"
Ye Chen smiled upon hearing the question but quickly became serious.
"Such news is truly regrettable. I think this is a sad day for forwards on other teams."
The reporters chuckled.
Everyone expected Ye Chen to offer some polite platitudes, but his sudden shift in tone took them by surprise. His remark was sharp, even cutting.
Tarou Yayano clenched his fists and raised his hand high once again, but the press officer ignored him entirely.
Li Xinran was called upon instead. The press officer was familiar with her, as Klopp often chatted with her during press conferences.
"Everyone knows why you left the U-17 national team, but I'd like to ask: if the senior national team calls you up, would you join? Do you hold any resentment toward the national team?" Li Xinran asked earnestly.
This was her top concern, though her newspaper had prohibited her from asking it due to their partnership with the Football Association.
But she wanted to know the answer, as did countless fans.
What if the national team summoned Ye Chen? Would he represent his country?
Millions of fans were already dreaming of Ye Chen joining the national team and leading them to victory.
Ye Chen, though slightly taken aback by the question, didn't avoid it. He felt it was time to express his stance.
"First, let me tell everyone that I have always been proud to be Chinese. It's ingrained in my bones, and I will never forget it!"
"Before I turned 17, I dreamed of joining the national team. Even if it was just to train, fetch balls, hand out towels, or serve water to teammates, I'd have been willing."
"But now, I no longer dream of such things."
"When football becomes less pure, when even getting playing time depends on understanding certain 'rules,' what's the point of going back?"
"I know many fans hope I'll represent the country."
"But let me emphasize: it's not that I don't want to play for the national team. It's that they don't value me."
"Besides," Ye Chen smirked coldly, "I now refuse to associate with them."
Li Xinran trembled slightly.
Was this really a 17-year-old speaking? How could he possess such commanding presence?
"Who are you referring to when you say 'them'?" Li Xinran asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"The entire Football Association," Ye Chen said, smiling. "Until there's comprehensive reform, I won't touch that mess!"
Before he turned 17, his dream was to represent his country on the world stage, wearing the national jersey with pride.
But expecting one person to lead the national team to the World Cup?
He wasn't a football godâyet.
Ye Chen had even imagined a scenario where he gave his all to win, only for his teammates to refuse to run. Not because they couldn't, but because they simply didn't want to.
For some of them, just showing up was enough to secure their generous paychecks.
The current state of the Football Association was rotten to the core, beyond what one person could fix.
So he made his thoughts clear.
Ye Chen knew his words would attract criticism and even online harassment.
But he said them anyway.
He would face overwhelming opposition if necessary.
Someone had to stand up against the broken system, even if he was still a minor voice in a vast sea.
Li Xinran was stunned, realizing her question had opened Pandora's box.
If this interview got out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
However, Ye Chen had spoken in German, so every journalist in the room understood him.
"What's going on with Chinese football?"
"Why was Ye expelled from the U-17 team? Anyone know?"
"You don't know that? What kind of sports journalist are you?"
"I don't follow Chinese news, okay?"
Curiosity filled the room.
Meanwhile, Ye Chen stood and addressed Klopp, "Boss, I'm heading back to the locker room."
"Alright, you go ahead," Klopp replied warmly, his face filled with affection.
Truthfully, Klopp felt for Ye Chen.
At his age, Ye Chen should have been surrounded by love and support. Instead, he was all alone.
Sometimes Klopp wondered if he could have endured Ye Chen's struggles.
He didn't have an answer because he couldn't fully empathize with such profound loneliness.
A solitary existence in a foreign world, like a rootless weed adrift...
Who knows how much inner strength it took for Ye Chen to shine in the Bundesliga?
This resilience was why Klopp often declared that Ye Chen was capable of anything.
He believed Ye Chen would one day reach a height that even he would have to look up to.
As Ye Chen walked away, Klopp's smile faded, replaced by a stern expression.
"What's your name again?" Klopp asked Tarou Yayano. "Oh, it doesn't matter. From now on, tell Tokyo Sports to send someone else. And no more offending Ye!"
"Why... why?"
"Do I need to explain? My rules are my rules!" Klopp slammed the table, cutting him off.
In the presence of true strength, the journalist from Japan cowered.
The room fell silent.
Klopp rarely got this angryânot even after losing a match.
But now, Ye Chen had become his one untouchable subject. To challenge that was to court destruction.
Turning to Li Xinran, Klopp said, "Miss Li, you're a friend of Ye, but I hope you won't ask him about the national team again."
"Understood!" Li Xinran nodded quickly.
Klopp nodded approvingly.
"Honestly, if I were Löw, I'd personally invite Ye to join the national team. Then I wouldn't have to choose between Gomez and Podolski!"
The room was stunned.
Did Klopp think Ye Chen was better than both Gomez and Podolski?
Seeing the puzzled faces, Klopp grinned.
"Don't doubt me. Go ask Löw if he wants Ye in the German national team. Oh, and in our next match, Dortmund will do everything to help Ye create his own Guinness World Record!"