Chapter Summaries

Liverpool traveled to La Manga for a week of recovery and heat acclimatization before moving to Athens, where Yang Yang spent time with his family. Two days before the Champions League Final, Benitez began Liverpool’s tactical preparations against AC Milan, but several places in the lineup remained undecided.

• Liverpool arrived at La Manga for a secret seven-day training camp, where the players relaxed with activities such as diving and go-karting while following the coaching staff’s recovery and conditioning plans.
• Yang Yang’s family and relatives traveled to Europe for the final, and he had arranged for Su Ye to guide them before they reunited in Athens.
• The team moved to Athens three days before the match, and Yang Yang spent the day off with his family and relatives.
• Benitez and the coaching staff analyzed AC Milan’s recent matches and planned to use Yang Yang on the left to attack the space behind Jankulovski or Oddo while Gerrard, Mascherano, and Xabi Alonso handled key midfield duties.
• Liverpool began closed training two days before the final, but the coaching staff had not settled the remaining positions, leaving the squad list difficult to finalize.

On the day of the Champions League Final, Ancelotti weighed two tactical plans for containing Liverpool, while Benitez and his staff debated their lineup. Benitez made his final decision, and Jesper spoke privately with Crouch as Benitez gave Yang Yang personal instructions just before the match.

• Ancelotti told Mauro Tassotti that his public praise of Crouch mixed truth with deception, and explained how AC Milan could exploit Crouch's limits or prepare for Liverpool without him.
• Ancelotti said Yang Yang and Gerrard were Liverpool's greatest threats and worried that Oddo and Gattuso would struggle to contain Yang Yang.
• Yang Yang met Su Ye in the gym and pool, where she gave him a friendship bracelet, while Demichelis teased him about their supposed coincidences.
• Benitez overruled the coaching staff's objections and settled Liverpool's plans before the afternoon tactical meeting.
• Jesper spoke with Crouch in his room, while Benitez gave Yang Yang personal instructions as the Final approached.

Liverpool and AC Milan prepared for the Champions League final, with Benitez surprising Ancelotti by starting Kuyt and Pennant instead of Crouch. The match began with Milan pressing aggressively and Liverpool trying to find space down the flanks.

• Benitez named Kuyt at center forward and Pennant on the right, keeping Crouch as a substitute and giving Yang Yang freedom to attack.
• Ancelotti studied Liverpool's lineup and decided to leave space for Pennant's crosses while allowing Jankulovski to push forward.
• Liverpool kicked off, but AC Milan pressed high and forced Yang Yang to pass back under pressure from Gattuso and Oddo.
• Kaka dispossessed Mascherano, but Liverpool recovered the ball and Reina passed it to Finnan.
• Finnan sent a long ball behind Jankulovski, and Pennant chased after it.

Liverpool scored through Yang Yang’s header just 37 seconds into the Champions League Final, breaking the record for the fastest goal in a final. AC Milan recovered from the shock, withdrew into a disciplined defense, and halted Liverpool’s attempt to extend the lead.

• Pennant crossed from the right, Kuyt redirected the ball to Gerrard, and Gerrard sent a diagonal pass into the penalty area.
• Yang Yang feinted before bursting past Oddo and heading Gerrard’s pass into the goal after 37 seconds.
• Yang Yang celebrated with the Liverpool supporters, while Benitez urged Liverpool to press their advantage and protect their defense.
• Ancelotti told AC Milan’s players to steady themselves and avoid conceding again.
• Maldini and AC Milan’s veterans organized a retreat into defense, and their Christmas Tree Formation stopped Liverpool’s fierce attacks.

Liverpool dominated AC Milan in the first half of the Champions League final, but Inzaghi’s deflection sent the teams into halftime tied 1–1. Benitez urged Liverpool to maintain their approach and planned to bring on Crouch as a surprise attacking option if they had not scored again.

• Liverpool exploited gaps in AC Milan’s Christmas Tree Formation, with Yang Yang scoring early and Pennant, Gerrard, Kuyt, and Xabi Alonso creating further chances.
• AC Milan offered little in attack, but Kaka won a free kick in the forty-fourth minute, and Pirlo’s shot deflected off Inzaghi into Liverpool’s goal.
• Liverpool’s players protested the equalizer, but referee Vandel ruled that Inzaghi had handled the ball unintentionally.
• In the dressing room, Yang Yang believed Liverpool needed reassurance and patience rather than a change in tactics.
• Benitez praised Liverpool’s first-half performance, told the players to keep using the space behind AC Milan’s defense, and planned to introduce Crouch around the fifteenth to twentieth minute if needed.

Liverpool and AC Milan remained locked in a tense Champions League final as the heat and fatigue blunted both sides’ attacks. With Liverpool’s pressure fading, Yang Yang spotted a chance to create an opening and signaled Crouch, leaving the story poised for Reina’s long pass.

• Liverpool struggled to break through AC Milan’s defense as Kaka’s counterattacks were checked and Inzaghi repeatedly fell offside.
• Benitez brought Crouch on for Pennant, and Ancelotti responded by replacing Jankulovski with Kaladze and tightening AC Milan’s defense against crosses.
• Kaladze helped shut down Liverpool’s flank, while both teams’ attacks stalled and Liverpool’s players began to tire in the Athens heat.
• Seedorf took AC Milan’s first shot of the match, but Xabi Alonso blocked it as Yang Yang realized Liverpool needed to force an opportunity.
• Yang Yang signaled to Crouch as Liverpool recovered the ball, and Reina looked up to find Crouch after receiving Xabi Alonso’s back pass.

Yang Yang scored his second goal in the Champions League final to put Liverpool ahead 2–1, then helped set up Kuyt’s goal as Liverpool extended their lead to 3–1. With only minutes remaining, Liverpool had taken firm control of the match.

• Crouch flicked Reina’s long pass behind Oddo, and Yang Yang beat Nesta and Maldini before scoring with a left-footed shot to make it 2–1.
• Yang Yang celebrated with the Liverpool supporters as his teammates piled on him, while Ancelotti faced the need to send AC Milan forward.
• Ancelotti substituted Gilardino for Oddo, and Benitez sent Arbeloa on for Finnan as Liverpool prepared to defend and counterattack.
• Xabi Alonso launched a pass into the space behind AC Milan’s defense, and Yang Yang raced down the left before crossing toward the far post.
• Kuyt headed Yang Yang’s cross into the net in the eighty-fourth minute, giving Liverpool a 3–1 lead.

Liverpool defeated AC Milan 3–1 in the Champions League Final, with Yang Yang scoring twice and assisting once before being named Man of the Match. He affirmed that he would stay at Liverpool as the team celebrated its title and looked ahead to winning more honors.

• After referee Vandel ended the match, Yang Yang shook his hand and exchanged jerseys with the tearful Kaka, encouraging him to keep working hard.
• Yang Yang joined Gerrard and the Liverpool players in thanking their supporters, then received the Final’s Man of the Match award.
• In the mixed zone, Yang Yang praised his teammates and Benitez, said he had not reached his peak, and confirmed that he planned to remain at Liverpool.
• Yang Yang finished the Champions League season with thirteen goals and nine assists, leading both scoring and assists.
• Platini presented Yang Yang with his championship medal, and Yang Yang and Gerrard raised the Saint-Brice Trophy as Liverpool celebrated the victory.

After Liverpool won the Champions League, media around the world hailed Yang Yang as European football’s new superstar and a leading contender for the European Golden Ball Award. The chapter ended with Chinese fans celebrating his achievement while wondering whether his nationality and China’s footballing weakness might hinder his chances at individual honors.

• The Times praised Yang Yang’s complete attacking ability, disciplined life, and decisive role in Liverpool’s Champions League victory, and reported that he intended to stay and renew his contract.
• German and French media declared Yang Yang Europe’s best player of the season and credited his goals, assists, and influence with driving Liverpool to the title.
• The Dutch Telegraph celebrated Yang Yang’s rise from De Toekomst and reported that his success had made Almere and its Skate Park famous.
• Media outlets worldwide, including Chinese newspapers and National Television Station, reported Liverpool’s triumph and hailed Yang Yang as a world-class Chinese superstar.
• Chinese fans celebrated Yang Yang’s performance and hoped he would win major individual awards, while some worried that China’s standing in football could count against him.

After reviewing his first season at Liverpool, Yang Yang reflected on his growing confidence and looked forward to the next season. Back in Beijing, he trained at Winston Bogarde’s gym and helped guide young Chinese players preparing for careers in Europe.

• Yang Yang reviewed his Premier League season at the Summer Palace, recognizing his improvements and resolving to keep challenging himself against Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi.
• Yang Yang returned to Winston Bogarde’s gym, where National Team players including Chen Tao, Zheng Zhi, Feng Xiaoting, Gao Lin, and Zhou Haibin trained for the Asian Cup.
• Yang Yang advised Wang Dalei to join Alkmaar, where he could train under Frans Hoek, and Wang followed his recommendation.
• Ajax signed the young forward Wu Lei for one million euros and planned to prioritize his development; Yang Yang asked Vermaelen, Heitinga, and Luther Carroll to look after him.
• Wu Lei stayed in Beijing to train with Winston Bogarde, while Yang Yang arranged a physical-development program suited to his age.
• With Yang Yang’s approval, Wei Zheng invested twenty million yuan in a Zhongguancun online-shopping startup after meeting its entrepreneur at the gym.

Yang Yang visited Su Ye on the Red Cliff set and learned how grueling filming was, then returned to training and decided to improve his free kicks. Old Bing laid out the demanding standards for a top-class free-kick specialist, and Yang Yang recognized the ability as a weapon that could deter opponents from fouling.

• Yang Yang drove to the Red Cliff set, watched Su Ye and the cast film late into the night, and realized how exhausting the work was.
• Su Ye explained that she was memorizing lines to keep the production on schedule and chose to continue acting despite Yang Yang offering to support her.
• Yang Yang stayed with the crew for two days, then returned to Beijing and continued training while visiting Su Ye weekly during her filming schedule.
• After a year of practicing Klinsmann's Header, Yang Yang felt his heading had improved and decided to work on his direct free kicks.
• Old Bing described the standards for elite free-kick takers: enough attempts and a stable success rate, proficiency across distances and angles, and mastery of different techniques.

Yang Yang chose to learn Juninho’s free-kick technique through Old Bing’s [Juninho's Free Kick] Star Skill and studied the mechanics behind Juninho’s varied shots. After realizing that mastering the skill would require endless practice, Yang Yang accepted the work and prepared to begin training.

• Yang Yang rejected learning Robert Carlos’s powerful free kicks and insisted on studying Juninho instead.
• Old Bing rated Juninho historically top-tier and transferred the [Juninho's Free Kick] Star Skill to Yang Yang.
• Yang Yang watched Juninho’s goals and studied the follow-throughs behind his dipping, curved, and S-shaped free kicks.
• Yang Yang noticed that Juninho used different toes and contact points to create distinct free-kick trajectories.
• Old Bing explained that free kicks depended on a connected sequence of conditions and mechanics that required repetitive practice.
• Yang Yang accepted the need for hard training and said they should begin.

Yang Yang watched Messi’s late-season surge and used the threat of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as motivation to train harder for the Asian Cup. After spending time with Su Ye and considering a luxury villa near the Summer Palace, he joined China Team’s training camp and agreed with Arie Haan’s plan to rotate against Malaysia and focus strength on Iran and Uzbekistan.

• Barcelona finished level on points with Real Madrid but lost the league title on head-to-head record, while Messi’s late-season performances earned worldwide recognition.
• Yang Yang saw Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as future rivals and intensified his training alongside Chen Tao, Gao Lin, and Feng Xiaoting as China prepared for the Asian Cup.
• Su Ye returned to Beijing for two days, moved in with Yang Yang, and joined him in viewing a luxury villa development near the Summer Palace.
• Arie Haan analyzed China Team’s Asian Cup group, identifying Iran and Uzbekistan as major challenges and Malaysia as the weakest opponent.
• Yang Yang supported Arie Haan’s plan to rotate the lineup against Malaysia, save strength for Iran and Uzbekistan, and keep Yang Yang ready on the bench in case the opener went badly.

China won all three of its Asian Cup group matches, with Yang Yang scoring a hat-trick against Iran and adding a goal and an assist against Uzbekistan. China advanced as group winner and was drawn against Korea in the quarterfinals.

• China defeated host Malaysia 5–0 in its opening match, with Wang Dong scoring twice and Han Peng scoring twice.
• Yang Yang started against Iran and scored twice in the first half as China built a 3–0 lead before Iran pulled one back.
• Iran rallied after halftime, but Yang Yang scored from outside the box to complete his hat-trick and secure China's 4–2 victory.
• China beat Uzbekistan 2–1, with Yang Yang scoring once and assisting Gao Lin for the second goal.
• China finished the group stage with three wins from three matches and was drawn against Korea in the quarterfinals.

China defeated Korea 2–0 in the Asian Cup quarterfinal, with Yang Yang scoring twice to send China into the semifinals. China drew Japan next, and Japan’s coach Osim vowed to shut Yang Yang down.

• Yang Yang scored in the twenty-ninth minute after cutting inside from the left, giving China a 1–0 lead over Korea.
• China’s patient passing created another chance, but Chen Tao arrived too late and Korea’s goalkeeper collected Yang Yang’s diagonal pass.
• Arie Haan sent Zhao Junzhe on for Shao Jiayi, and China defended Korea’s second-half pressure while counterattacking.
• Yang Yang’s chip was cleared off the goal line before he scored from Gao Lin’s header in the eighty-fourth minute to seal China’s 2–0 win.
• Japan beat Australia on penalties, Iraq defeated Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia beat Iran; China drew Japan in the semifinals.
• Osim said Japan had prepared to completely freeze Yang Yang in the semifinal.

China Team faced Japan Team in the Asian Cup semifinal, trading the lead in a fierce match as Japan dominated possession and attacked relentlessly. Yang Yang scored a late winner by beating Yuji Nakazawa, leaving China Team ahead as the match approached its end.

• Osim and Arie Haan identified Yang Yang as the key to the semifinal, while Arie Haan secretly set China Team up to defend rather than contest possession.
• Japan Team dominated the opening twenty minutes, but Yang Yang created chances before setting up Gao Lin to score in the thirty-fourth minute.
• Yuji Nakazawa equalized with a header before halftime, and Chen Tao restored China Team's lead a minute into the second half after Yang Yang crossed from the left.
• Japan Team equalized again from a corner, then pressed forward as Arie Haan reshaped China Team's defense and sent Zhao Xuri and Cui Peng onto the field.
• In the eighty-third minute, Yang Yang combined with Sun Xiang, dribbled past Yuji Nakazawa, and scored to put China Team ahead 3–2.

Yang Yang scored the only goal against Iraq to lead China Team to a 1–0 victory and defend their Asian Cup title. After the final, he urged China to keep improving its football system and encourage more young players to go abroad.

• Chinese media praised Yang Yang after his two assists and goal helped China Team defeat Japan and reach the final, while Iraq advanced by beating Saudi Arabia on penalties.
• Yang Yang warned that China still lagged behind Japan and Korea in football development and called for continued reform and more young players to join European leagues.
• Japan lost the third-place playoff to Saudi Arabia on penalties after a goalless draw.
• China Team attacked Iraq throughout the final, but Iraq’s deep defense kept the match scoreless through the first hour.
• In the sixty-third minute, Yang Yang dribbled between two defenders and scored with a powerful right-footed shot.
• China Team defended its lead against Iraq’s late attacks and won the Asian Cup title.

China Team returned to Beijing after defending the Asian Cup, and Yang Yang signed a five-year contract extension with Liverpool. Liverpool also confirmed key renewals and transfers as the club prepared to challenge for the Premier League title.

• China Team arrived in Beijing to a huge welcome, with Li Weifeng carrying the Asian Cup trophy and fans celebrating Yang Yang's standout tournament.
• Liverpool general manager Rick Parry and agent Raiola met Yang Yang in Beijing, where Yang Yang signed a new five-year deal paying £150,000 per week.
• Raiola warned Yang Yang that Liverpool's American owners might be burdened by debt, while Parry insisted they would not pass their personal debts onto the club.
• Parry told Yang Yang that Finnan, Aurélio, and Xabi Alonso had renewed their contracts and that Liverpool had bought Mascherano outright for £20 million.
• Parry described Liverpool's summer squad changes and said the club aimed to remain competitive in Europe and challenge for the league title.

The chapter reviewed the Premier League clubs’ summer transfers and title prospects, with Manchester United emerging as the favorite and Yang Yang as the leading Player of the Year contender. It ended with Yang Yang returning to Liverpool ahead of schedule after the Asian Cup, ready for the new season.

• Manchester United spent heavily on Anderson, Nani, Hargreaves, and Tevez, strengthening its squad and becoming the bookmakers’ title favorite.
• Chelsea signed Malouda, Belletti, Alex, Sidwell, and Pizarro while selling Robben, and Arsenal also profited from its transfers after Henry’s departure.
• Liverpool invested in Mascherano, Benayoun, and Lucas Leiva, renewed contracts with key players, and announced Yang Yang’s new record Premier League wage.
• Bookmakers ranked Chelsea second and Liverpool third among title contenders, while Yang Yang led the odds for Premier League Player of the Year.
• Benitez expressed confidence that Yang Yang had adjusted his condition despite missing preseason, and Yang Yang arrived at Heathrow Airport ahead of schedule.

Yang Yang returned to Melwood early and reunited with his Liverpool teammates as the squad prepared for the new season. Gerrard predicted Liverpool would win the Premier League, and Yang Yang challenged him to a fortune-telling contest after training.

• Yang Yang arrived back at Melwood ahead of schedule, surprising his teammates.
• Aurélio, Gerrard, Carragher, and the rest of the squad welcomed Yang Yang and introduced him to new players Benayoun, Voronin, and Lucas Leiva.
• Yang Yang caught up on the team’s preparations and learned that Liverpool planned to focus on collecting league points from the start of the season.
• Yang Yang asked Gerrard to predict Liverpool’s prospects, and Gerrard forecast a Champions League title defense and Liverpool’s first Premier League championship.
• Yang Yang challenged Gerrard to a fortune-telling contest after afternoon training, involving Aurélio and Xabi Alonso.