Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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"That's the situation. Whilst I really want to suggest you go to Real Madrid, according to our initial agreement, the final say is yours. Think it over carefully. Oh, and play well in today's match and try to win the double."
Hanging up the phone in a daze, his teammates were already changing and preparing to go out.
The German Cup final, Bayer Leverkusen vs. Wolfsburg, was about to kick off for the final battle.
"Lance, hurry up, we're waiting for you."
"Don't rush him, Lance is chatting with a girl. It's not easy for him to be in a relationship."
"What! Lance is in love? How come I don't know?"
"There's a lot you don't know…"
"Then we definitely have to celebrate. Who is it? Have we met her?"
"I bet it's that girl he brought last year, the one we met at the barbecue party."
"Wow! That girl was really impressive. Lance, this guy, has such good luck."
"Scram, you bunch of pigs."
Lance grumpily shooed away the guys.
Although he was a bit flustered, he was good at adjusting.
Taking a deep breath, he immediately focused on the match.
Regardless of whether he stayed or left next season, at least he had to play this match well, to give Bayer Leverkusen a good ending to the season…
"The German Cup could very well be the last stand for Bayer Leverkusen's main lineup. After all, it's well known that many of them cannot appear on the Champions League final stage. And several giants have already set their sights on Bayer Leverkusen's players…"
"What, do you mean Bayer Leverkusen would let players go after only one season?"
"Actually, such situations are not unheard of."
As the season drew to a close, although the transfer window hadn't opened, clubs in various European leagues were already making moves and strategising.
A large portion of deals were finalised in May, with some even completed in April.
Everyone was becoming more competitive, acting decisively and accurately once they identified their targets.
If anyone was a step too slow, good players would have already been picked, leaving only unwanted goods.
Therefore, with many Bayer Leverkusen stars performing brilliantly, there was no reason for them not to be noticed.
"For example, Real Madrid defender Pepe joined Porto from Portugal's Marítimo in the 2007 winter window. After only half a year, he joined Real Madrid for a high price of 26 million. There's also Anelka, who signed with Arsenal for 500,000 euros in 1999. After playing one good season, his value skyrocketed, and the following year he joined Real Madrid for 22 million pounds. These are all cases of short stays for one season, followed by high-priced transfers."
"So you mean that if a player shows significant improvement and a surge in value in just one season, they are easily picked up by other clubs?"
"Exactly. Bayer Leverkusen is a typical example. Who would have rated them at the start of the season? But these young men proved with their actions that they were all underestimated players, and now they have all returned to their rightful value, perhaps even higher."
On German television, commentators Scholl and Kahn discussed the latest transfer rumours.
Van Dijk, Maguire, Antonio Rüdiger, Nathan Aké, De Bruyne, Son Heung-min, Lance… all the standout performers were being targeted, and the starting lineup was about to be gutted.
Especially Lance, who was already being pursued by giants last season, with rumours linking him to Real Madrid and other teams.
This season, it seemed to be for real.
"Look, Bayer Leverkusen fans have already started taking action."
In the stands, many fans held up signs to keep Lance.
[Lance, please stay!]
[You must stay at Bayer Leverkusen!]
[We don't want you to leave!]
[Forever LU39]
Walking out of the player tunnel and seeing this scene, Lance couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
He even wanted to promise publicly that he would definitely stay at Bayer Leverkusen, and accompany these fans forever, one man, one city.
But… Lance looked back.
After the transfer window opened, many teammates would inevitably leave.
There would be no such lineup next season.
How could they contend with Real Madrid in their most glorious period?
How could they snatch the Champions League three-peat from their hands?
The Champions League trophy he yearned for, relying solely on his own cheat was useless.
In basketball, with five players, a cheat might carry the whole team.
But the football pitch is too large, the scope too wide, and one person's abilities are limited, simply unable to cover everything.
"Lance, what are you thinking about? Transfers?"
"Forget it, let's just play this game well first, after all, it's the last battle."
"Hmm, play this game well! We'll talk properly after the match."
De Bruyne hesitated, then nodded seriously…
"After the baptism of overcoming strong opponents in the Champions League, this Bayer Leverkusen team is truly a bit terrifying. With their formation spread out, they play with precision and truly have the demeanour of a strong team."
"They are a strong team! A team that can consecutively eliminate Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, what else could they be?"
"You're right."
Kahn smiled.
Indeed!
Being able to directly confront peak Barcelona, and defeat MSN, even with the referee's help, Barcelona couldn't win.
Bayer Leverkusen, led by Lance, was truly strong!
If the lineup remained intact, they would have a great chance to win the Champions League!
"It's just a pity. This is Bayer Leverkusen's only chance in this lifetime…"
As a Bundesliga fan, Scholl truly felt sorry for them.
"At least in this match, they can win the trophy. Wolfsburg has almost no room to fight back."
"Lance, he's playing brilliantly today! He's dropped back to form a midfield double pivot with De Bruyne, and Bayer Leverkusen is playing a 4-5-1 formation today. Their continuous ball control in the front is truly dominant… Look at this goal! Perfect, the perfect combination of the Belgian Gemini!"
Lance and De Bruyne directly attacked through the middle.
Their continuous one-touch passing was delightful and fluid!
Wolfsburg's midfield couldn't stop them at all, and they were instantly broken through with consecutive one-twos!
De Bruyne chipped the ball from outside the box.
Lance sprinted diagonally into the box, perfectly controlled the ball to evade a defender, attracting all of Wolfsburg's defensive attention.
From a tight angle, he drew back his foot as if to shoot, a posture that tensed Wolfsburg players' nerves, and they all rushed towards him like moths to a flame.
Striker Firmino was completely unmarked at the penalty spot!
Lance backheeled the ball through the crowd to him.
Even if Firmino's shooting was terrible, he couldn't miss this goal!
He cleanly and sharply blasted it into the top corner!
"Gooooooal!!!"
"Less than 20 minutes into the first half, Bayer Leverkusen broke through Wolfsburg's iron curtain! Lance assisted Firmino's goal! 1-0 lead!"
"…Taking the initiative, Bayer Leverkusen played with more composure. You'd think it was Barcelona if you didn't know."
"Oliver, are you insulting Bayer Leverkusen? Barcelona were their defeated opponents."
"Hahaha, my mistake."
As Scholl and Kahn chatted and laughed, Bayer Leverkusen launched another attack in the final third.
This time it was Son Heung-min's turn to perform.
Lance pulled to the right, combining with De Bruyne and Julian Brandt to launch a series of dangerous attacks, drawing all the defenders over.
Son Heung-min on the left was suddenly free!
Lance feigned a dribbling breakthrough, then suddenly knocked the ball back to De Bruyne behind him.
De Bruyne made a wide, precise cross-field pass, a long ball even more accurate than in FIFA games!
Son Heung-min controlled the ball with his chest on the left, dribbled past the full-back, burst into the box, and blasted a shot that tore into the net!
"2-0!!! Son Heung-min—"
"Bayer Leverkusen's goals are effortless!"
What was called the German Cup final, actually turned into a Bayer Leverkusen exhibition match.
By the 71st minute of the second half, Lance had accumulated [Tiger Shot 4/4], a 39-metre ultra-long-range power shot!
He dribbled the ball through midfield, and then suddenly fired!
Wolfsburg's goalkeeper was caught off guard!
"World-class goal!!! Lance has unleashed his power!!"
"3-0!!!"
"This goal has secured the best goal of the German Cup!"
"However, Lance has so many beautiful goals that, compared to his other wonder goals, this long-range shot seems less spectacular."
For anyone else, such an ultra-long-range blast would be praised to the heavens.
But for Lance, it seemed rather ordinary.
Wolfsburg was completely demoralised.
So much so that by the 85th minute of the match, Wolfsburg was practically defending with their eyes.
Seeing this, Lance didn't bother being polite with them.
He dribbled all the way from the centre circle, activating the [Bachira Meguru] skill effect.
He continuously dribbled past four players and burst into the box.
His brilliant footwork and elegant style drew thunderous applause from the Berlin Olympic Stadium!
"Lance!!! Dribble past him!!! Past another one!!! He can keep dribbling!!!"
"He's simply a God of War, no one can stop him, no one!"
"It's in!!! That goal is in!!! A brace!"
"4-0!!! No suspense at all!!!"
"Even though there are still a few minutes left in the match, I want to announce it now! Bayer Leverkusen — are the champions!! This season, whether in the Champions League or domestic competitions, they have displayed world-class strength! Breaking Bayern Munich's dominance, becoming the new kings of the Bundesliga! Two consecutive league titles, plus the double this season! What a perfect season!"
"Indeed…"
Kahn was equally moved, the only slight regret being the Champions League.
But today was a day for celebrating the championship, and Kahn didn't want to spoil the mood.
Let these young men celebrate properly.
The match ended; the referee added not a single second of injury time, blowing the whistle precisely at 90 minutes!
Bayer Leverkusen won 4-0 against Wolfsburg!
With the help of German Football Association officials, Lance, as the team's third captain, replaced Rolfes and Lars Bender.
Standing at the front of the team, he personally lifted the German Cup trophy!
He placed the trophy at his knees, and, to the increasingly loud cheers of his teammates on the podium behind him, raised it high!
"OHHHHHHH—"
"Hey!!!"
Just then, golden confetti showered down, and cannons roared!
Bayer Leverkusen lifted a trophy for the second time this season!
Crowned Double Champions!
Queen's classic song, "We Are The Champions," echoed through the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Bayer Leverkusen fans in the stands were all in tears, tens of thousands of them singing the championship song in unison with the players on the pitch.
Half their tears were of excitement, the other half probably of reluctance to part.
"Next season, it's likely to be very difficult to see this scene again."
This night was destined to be a sleepless one!