Hearing his name, Mark couldn't help but be stunned.
De Bruyne, sitting beside him, poked him with his elbow, and only then did he snap to attention.
I'm starting?!
Although he had anticipated that his first start for Wolfsburg wouldn't be too long in coming.
After all, his efficiency over the past month had been astonishing.
Six substitute appearances, contributing an incredible four goals and three assists!
Such statistics were even more impressive than many Bundesliga wingers who had started half a season!
However, when Hecking announced the news to the entire team, he was still somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected to make his Bundesliga debut after only a month of being promoted to the first team.
What was even more interesting was that the opponent was Hoffenheim, the team he had personally eliminated from the German Cup!
He had to admit, he had quite a connection with Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim, tremble!
Your nemesis has arrived!
Watching Mark suddenly straighten his back, Hecking's heart also smiled slightly.
There was a reason why he chose to give Mark his first professional start in the League match against Hoffenheim.
Firstly, the timing was ripe.
Six consecutive substitute appearances, each performance better than a starter's.
If Mark wasn't given a start soon, not to mention the fans, Raiola would be the first to cause trouble!
After all, this was a person who dared to publicly curse club managers and coaches... Secondly, Mark was the key player in eliminating Hoffenheim in the German Cup quarter-finals.
Facing Hoffenheim again in this match, Mark's start would also have a certain psychological deterrent effect on the opponent.
Of course, even if he didn't do this, Hoffenheim would undoubtedly erupt with a fierce flame of revenge in this match!
After announcing the starting lineup and the squad list, Hecking opened the projection screen in the tactics room and began to explain the tactics to be adopted for tomorrow.
There weren't many changes in the lineup and tactics.
It was just Mark's first start, and whether his stamina could last the entire match was an unknown.
So, Hecking specifically instructed:
"Mark, you need to control your stamina in this match, pass more, and dribble less."
"No problem, Coach!"
After the half-hour long tactical meeting, Mark also received blessings from his teammates.
As the team captain, Benaglio patted the young man's head and smiled:
"Congratulations, young man!"
"Thank you, Captain."
And Gustavo raised an eyebrow at him, joking:
"Your first start, huh? Don't mess it up..."
"Don't worry, as long as you give me the ball, after I dribble past two players, I'll pass it to Kevin, and everything will be fine!"
Meanwhile, De Bruyne, standing beside him, looked bewildered.
How did this get to me?
It's worth mentioning that, besides the teammates he usually got along with, even Caligiuri and Vieirinha, who were in direct competition with him for a position, came forward to congratulate Mark on his upcoming first Bundesliga start.
Although the better Mark played, the fewer starting opportunities and playing time they would have.
However, this did not mean that they would deliberately distance themselves from or even antagonize Mark.
In the world of professional football, competition is like air.
And they were no longer young rookies; they understood this very well.
In sports, strength is king!
Whoever doesn't perform well steps down; whoever performs better rises!
It has always been this way!
...March 2nd.
Twenty days later, Wolfsburg once again arrived in Sinsheim.
Only this time, it was in the Bundesliga.
As the green Wolfsburg bus drove into the small town, Hoffenheim fans wearing blue jerseys were visible everywhere on the streets, instantly perking up.
Some raised their middle fingers, muttering curses;
Others deliberately waved their scarves vigorously, increasing the volume of their team anthem, trying to affect the mentality of the Wolfsburg players inside the bus.
These Hoffenheim fans had not forgotten the cruel fact that Wolfsburg had eliminated them from the German Cup twenty days earlier.
Mark, sitting by the window of the bus, looked at the "very enthusiastic" Hoffenheim fans outside and smiled slightly, then casually turned up the volume of his headphones.
The next second, the music from his headphones immediately drowned out the curses and shouts of the fans outside the bus.
An hour before the match, both sets of fans confirmed the starting lineups via their phones.
When Hoffenheim fans saw Mark's name prominently listed, they were instantly stunned.
That little rascal is actually starting?!
In an instant, their minds recalled that heartbreaking night twenty days ago.
On this very stadium, that number 45, with a brilliant and exquisite goal, had eliminated them!
So, Hoffenheim fans posted their thoughts on the official fan club:
"Winning or losing doesn't matter, what matters is killing that number 45!"
"Upstairs, winning and losing also matters, we have to win!"
"Then let's win, and incidentally take out that number 45!"
"That's more like it..."
Of course, Mark naturally didn't know that Hoffenheim fans had such a strong grudge against him.
However, he would soon find out... because, during the pre-match warm-up, every time he touched the ball, a chorus of boos would erupt in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Mark, however, paid no attention, simply chewing gum and warming up, occasionally even showing off a few fancy keep-ups to deliberately provoke the home fans.
Soon, the match was about to begin.
After both teams' players were ready, they left the locker rooms and gathered in the player tunnel.
Seeing Firmino, with whom he had exchanged jerseys and contact information last time, Mark also proactively went up to greet him.
"Hey, Bobby..."
"Hello, Mark..."
The two shook hands in greeting, then very tacitly lined up in the player tunnel.
This was also Mark's first time lining up in the player tunnel as a starter.
He stood in the middle of the line, with De Bruyne in front of him.
In this match, Hoffenheim, playing at home, also fielded their strongest lineup, determined to get their revenge.
Firmino, Volland, Rudy, Modeste, Beck... As Mark observed the opponent's lineup, his gaze met another pair of eyes.
It was Süle, Hoffenheim's "Leopard 2 tank"!
Süle stared intently at the guy who had defeated him last time, trying to exert pre-match pressure.
But Mark merely raised an eyebrow at him and showed a brilliant smile.
And this ambiguous smile made Süle freeze, and ripples stirred within him.
"Is he mocking me? Or is it disdain?"
Just as his thoughts were turning, the referee at the entrance waved his hand, signaling the players to enter the field.
Immediately after, amidst the loud singing of the entire stadium, the two teams' players streamed out.
"Welcome to the Bundesliga match brought to you by Sky Sports..."
"Hoffenheim hosts Wolfsburg..."
"The last encounter between the two teams in the German Cup was memorable..."
"It's worth noting that in this match, Wolfsburg's recently emerging young talent, Mark, is making his first Bundesliga start!"
When the stadium's big screen focused on Mark, a loud chorus of boos unexpectedly erupted in the stadium!
But in the face of such a unique welcome from the Hoffenheim fans, Mark showed a brilliant smile.
In his opinion, this was a form of attention and fear.
Why didn't Hoffenheim fans boo anyone else, only him?
Because they knew he had the ability to defeat their team!
...
i am sorry to say but because this book has been underperforming, and i have to end it will end at chapter 40,but, but
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but if we can get to 300 collection before chapter 40 we can make this continue or we can chat about what you think on my patreon page if i should continue posting on patreon only. my patreon page is patreon.com/zeaser