Chapter Summaries

After Villarreal lost 2-3 to Barcelona, Tang Ye missed out on La Liga’s Player of the Month award while Escribá won Coach of the Month. Neymar later gave Tang Ye advice on tackling during a CS:GO session, and Tang Ye unlocked Casemiro’s superstar Foul Interception Template during training.

• Escribá defended Villarreal’s performance in the press room, where a reporter noted that MSN’s assist total had tied Tang Ye’s, making the claim “1>3” become “1=3.”
• Suárez won La Liga Player of the Month for December, while Escribá received Coach of the Month after Villarreal won all three of its league matches.
• Escribá rallied the players after the Barcelona defeat and urged them to focus on their upcoming Copa del Rey match, especially encouraging Haller to score.
• Tang Ye invited Ousmane Dembélé to play CS:GO with Neymar, who advised Tang Ye to conceal his approach before tackling an opponent.
• Tang Ye returned to training and spent 640 Comeback Points to unlock Casemiro’s Adidas Gloves, gaining the superstar Foul Interception Template and increases to his Defense and Physicality.

Tang Ye scored a free kick and assisted Sebastian Haller as Villarreal took a 2-0 first-half lead over Real Sociedad, then left the match early. Villarreal conceded once but won 2-1 and advanced to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, while reports about Tom’s French math homework baffled reporters.

• Escribá urged Villarreal to focus despite their first-leg advantage, and Tang Ye reacted quickly to Real Sociedad’s opening long ball to help his teammates win possession.
• Tang Ye won a free kick and scored directly from it in the fourth minute, putting Villarreal ahead.
• Tang Ye set up Sebastian Haller for a second goal, helping Haller regain confidence as Villarreal led 2-0 at halftime.
• Escribá substituted Tang Ye off in the 60th minute, and Villarreal conceded in the 74th minute before holding on to win 2-1 and advance 5-2 on aggregate.
• Reports revealed that two pages of Tom’s math homework had been completed in French, with unusually low accuracy.

Tang Ye's homework scandal revealed that Ousmane Dembélé had written Spanish math homework in French, prompting Villarreal to investigate a leak at Ceramic International School. After taking a make-up exam, Tang Ye returned to training focused on Villarreal's second-half matches and his goal of reaching eighteen assists.

• Bruno and Escribá questioned Tang Ye about French in his homework, and Tang Ye remembered that Dembélé had helped him during the Golden Boy trip to Monaco.
• Dembélé denied doing Tang Ye's homework at a press conference, then accidentally admitted that he had helped with math and apologized to Tang Ye.
• Reporters besieged Ceramic International School, where Tang Ye refused to answer their questions and went to class under security escort.
• Villarreal suspended Tang Ye's teachers while investigating whether a school employee had leaked his homework to reporters.
• After completing a make-up midterm exam, Tang Ye returned to training and told Escribá he was ready to focus on matches and pursue his eighteenth La Liga assist.

Tang Ye helped Villarreal take a 2–0 halftime lead over Deportivo La Coruña with assists for Sansone and Haller, then scored in the second half. His goal completed the French Superstar Chest mission, which required either 18 assists or 10 goals.

• Tang Ye set up Sansone's opening header with a quick lofted pass, giving Villarreal a 1–0 lead and bringing his assist count to 16.
• Tang Ye combined with Haller to create Villarreal's second goal, making the score 2–0 and raising his league assists to 17.
• At halftime, Tang Ye told Rodri he believed he could earn another assist in the second half.
• Tang Ye escaped Guilherme's pressure and helped build an attack with Bakambu, but Deportivo La Coruña's defense cleared the cross.
• After Bruno and Rodri recovered possession, Tang Ye cut inside and curled the ball into the top corner to score.
• Tang Ye realized his 10th goal had completed the French Superstar Chest mission, even though he had been pursuing an 18th assist.

Tang Ye helped Villarreal defeat Deportivo La Coruña 3-0, then learned that Barcelona had offered Utrecht up to €80 million for him. He said he would stay focused on Villarreal for now, while his new chest-upgrade mission and a packed January schedule awaited him.

• Tang Ye put his French Superstar Chest into the Money-Saving Jar and received a mission to create 18 attacking opportunities in one match to upgrade it to a French Legendary Chest.
• Barcelona's €75 million offer to Utrecht for Tang Ye became major news, with reports that Barcelona would raise it to €80 million if Utrecht signed a pre-contract.
• Tang Ye received his first La Liga yellow card for a tactical foul, and Villarreal finished their 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruña with Tang Ye credited for a goal and two assists.
• Tang Ye recorded progress of 3/18 on his chest-upgrade mission and attended the press conference, where he thanked Barcelona but said he would not consider other options for now.
• Escribá discussed Villarreal's tactics and the transfer situation, then reviewed the team's upcoming four matches in twelve days.

Utrecht owner Weilhof rejected Barcelona’s offer for Tang Ye, insisting that the midfielder was not for sale before his loan ended. Tang discovered he had already met the system’s chance-creation target several times, then began the Copa del Rey quarterfinal against Alavés aggressively, but Villarreal fell behind after a rapid counterattack.

• Weilhof told reporters Utrecht would not decide Tang Ye’s future until his Villarreal loan ended, despite Barcelona’s 75-million-euro offer and interest from other clubs.
• Tang Ye checked his statistics and found he had created at least 18 attacking chances in a match four times that season.
• Escribá warned Tang Ye not to focus on statistics, then suspected Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had made him play too urgently.
• Villarreal and Alavés began their Copa del Rey quarterfinal, with Tang Ye roaming across the pitch as the home side pressed aggressively.
• Asenjo rushed out to clear Ibai Gómez’s cross, and Tang Ye then created a chance with a through ball to Bakambu.
• Bakambu lost possession, Alavés counterattacked through Llorente, and Deyverson scored to put Villarreal behind 0–1.

Villarreal drew level through Tang Ye’s assist to Haller, but Alavés’ targeted counterattacks put them back ahead and frustrated Escribá’s attempts to find an equalizer. The chapter ended with Villarreal trailing late in the second half after Haller’s final header sailed over the crossbar.

• Asenjo berated Musacchio after Deyverson scored Alavés’ opening goal, and Escribá urged Villarreal to stay focused against counterattacks.
• Tang Ye combined with Bakambu and delivered a fast cross that Haller headed into the net to make it 1-1 before halftime.
• At halftime, Escribá warned Villarreal that Alavés’ counterattacks had grown more dangerous and told the players to recover quickly after losing the ball.
• In the 67th minute, Alavés moved the ball rapidly across the pitch, and Camarasa scored after Deyverson flicked Gómez’s cross back to him.
• Escribá adjusted Villarreal’s approach, restricting Tang Ye’s passing, while Alavés continued to limit their attacks and counterattacking chances.
• Late substitutions brought Soriano and Cheryshev on, but Tang Ye’s cross found Haller, whose header went over the bar as Villarreal remained behind in the 89th minute.

After Villarreal lost the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, Tang Ye encouraged his teammates to believe they could win the return match while Escribá began considering how to beat Alavés. Meanwhile, a La Sexta segment analyzing Tang Ye’s homework alarmed Escribá and Bruno, who arranged for players across the team to help with future assignments.

• Villarreal lost 1:2 at home to Alavés, and Bruno criticized the team’s performance while Tang Ye urged Rodri and Haller to focus on winning the second leg.
• Escribá told reporters he still aimed to win the Copa del Rey and believed Villarreal could adjust before the return match.
• Tang Ye learned from Ousmane Dembélé that Barcelona had offered Borussia Dortmund sixty million euros for him, but the transfer was unlikely to happen during the winter window.
• La Sexta aired an interview in which Solanas analyzed Tang Ye’s homework and pointed out that its accuracy declined across sections written with different pens.
• Escribá showed Bruno the program and warned that suspicion could damage the club, then tasked him with getting midfielders, defenders, and the goalkeeper to help with Tang Ye’s homework.
• Escribá considered how to overcome Alavés after their tactics had contained Villarreal.

Villarreal lost 0–2 at home to Valencia after Tang Ye created chances that the forwards could not convert and Soler scored from long range. With the second leg against Alavés only three days away, the team faced mounting pressure to find a way past opponents who had exposed its weaknesses.

• Tang Ye’s friends eased his burden by dividing up his homework as he recovered from Villarreal’s first-leg loss to Alavés.
• Valencia took an early lead when Nani set up Santi Mina, while Garay and Valencia’s compact defense repeatedly thwarted Tang Ye’s chances for Villarreal.
• At halftime, Escribá told Villarreal’s forwards to use crossing runs and suggested that the team look for long-range shots.
• In the 71st minute, Soler scored from distance to put Valencia 2–0 ahead after Tang Ye warned Bruno to mark him, but Bruno reacted too late.
• Villarreal failed to recover, and Valencia won 2–0 as Tang Ye received a two-point comeback penalty for not encouraging his younger teammates.
• Tang Ye returned to a subdued locker room, and the press questioned whether Escribá could help Villarreal overcome its struggles before the away match against Alavés.

After Villarreal lost 0-2 to Valencia, Escribá faced criticism and prepared major tactical changes for the Copa del Rey quarterfinal second leg against Alavés. Training began the next morning, where Escribá told Tom his role would remain that of a playmaker creating more chances for his teammates.

• Escribá accepted responsibility for the defeat and told Mati that Villarreal needed to beat Alavés to quiet the critics.
• Escribá rallied the players, explained new attacking and defensive adjustments for the second leg, and canceled their rest day.
• Tang Ye told Ousmane Dembélé he would stop gaming to prepare, then asked Bruno whether the team could win; Bruno said the changes could improve their chances.
• Escribá refined the tactics in training, assigning new responsibilities across the team while keeping Tang Ye as the front-line playmaker.
• When Tang Ye asked what he needed to change, Escribá told him to take more attacking actions and create more opportunities for his teammates.

Villarreal fell behind Alavés in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal second leg, but Tang Ye sparked a comeback with a cross that led to Haller’s equalizer. At halftime, Escribá prepared the team to use position-swapping runs to break Alavés’s defense as Villarreal remained one goal behind on aggregate.

• Escribá urged Villarreal to stay confident, but Alavés pressed early and scored through Toquero in the 21st minute, extending their aggregate lead to 3:1.
• Tang Ye helped Villarreal build an attack, crossed toward the far post, and set up Costa’s header back to Haller, who scored to make it 1:1.
• Tang Ye stopped Garcia’s late first-half counterattack with a sliding tackle, and the half ended with Villarreal trailing 2:3 on aggregate.
• Escribá instructed Tang Ye to swap positions with the forwards and use crossing runs to disrupt Alavés’s compact defense.
• Tang Ye led Villarreal’s halftime chant, and the players gathered to prepare for the second half.

Tang Ye scored twice as Villarreal defeated Alavés 3–2 in the second leg, advancing to the Copa del Rey semifinals on away goals. Villarreal celebrated their victory and prepared to face Celta.

• Ibai Gómez scored from a counterattack to put Alavés 2–1 ahead and give them a two-goal aggregate lead.
• Tang Ye volleyed in Bruno’s corner in the 79th minute, bringing Villarreal within one goal on aggregate.
• Tang Ye set up Haller for a goal that was ruled offside, leaving Villarreal with little time to find a winner.
• In stoppage time, Tang Ye curled a shot into the top corner to give Villarreal a 3–2 win in the second leg and advance on away goals.
• Villarreal held off Alavés’s final attack, and the players celebrated reaching the semifinals against Celta.

Tom led Villarreal past Alavés and into the Copa del Rey semifinals, then saw his market value rise to €50 million. The club reconsidered its plans around him, and Roig told Escribá to build the team around Tom for the rest of the season.

• Tom celebrated Villarreal's 3–2 win over Alavés, which sent the team through 4–4 on aggregate via away goals to face Celta in the semifinals.
• Escribá defended his tactical adjustments at a press conference and avoided explaining his supposed tactics for a team without Tom.
• Transfermarkt valued Tom at €50 million, while his teammates' values also rose; Tom received 1,000 Comeback Points from the system.
• Roig told Escribá that the club planned to capitalize on rising player values by selling players in the summer, but promised Villarreal would pursue Tom if a transfer remained possible.
• Roig instructed Escribá to make Tom the team's core, and Escribá admitted he had never actually created a lineup without him.

After losing to Granada, Tang Ye and Rodri discussed their desire to win the Copa del Rey, while Marca praised Escribá’s evolving tactics. In the semifinal first leg against Celta, Tang Ye helped the Yellow Submarine take an early lead with a cross that Bakambu scored.

• Escribá said the Yellow Submarine would give its all in every match and was adjusting its tactics as opponents learned its approach.
• Tang Ye and Rodri discussed reaching the Copa del Rey final and how much they wanted to win a title together.
• Marca reporter Alades described the Yellow Submarine’s season in three tactical stages and praised Escribá’s adjustments.
• On the bus to face Celta, Tang Ye received a good-luck message from Neymar and discussed the possible final with Rodri.
• Tang Ye created chances against Celta and delivered a cross that Bakambu converted to give the Yellow Submarine a 1-0 lead.
• Tang Ye celebrated the goal and moved closer to completing his mission to create eighteen attacking opportunities.

Yellow Submarine dominated Celta as Tang Ye scored directly from a free kick and assisted Haller twice, building a 3–0 lead. Tang Ye kept creating chances in pursuit of the system’s 18-chance target, which stood at 15 late in the match.

• At the 37th minute, Tang Ye was fouled by Gómez while shooting, then beat Álvarez with a direct free kick to put Yellow Submarine 2–0 ahead.
• Before the second half, Escribá told Tang Ye to focus on attacking rather than defending, while Mati wondered whether he had been poisoned.
• After play resumed, Tang Ye set up Haller with a toe-poke through ball, extending Yellow Submarine’s lead to 3–0.
• Tang Ye created more chances for Haller and Bakambu, bringing his system count to 15 as Celta defended more cautiously.
• Escribá admitted he could not explain how Tang Ye found so many attacking opportunities.

Tang Ye was dissatisfied with creating 16 chances in Yellow Submarine’s 3-0 Copa del Rey semifinal win over Celta, then improved his physical duels rating to 74 and overall rating to 81 during training. As Yellow Submarine prepared to face Sevilla in La Liga, Escribá and fitness coach Kyle discussed Tang Ye’s potential.

• Tang Ye finished the match against Celta with 16 attacking chances created, two short of upgrading his Superstar Chest, as Yellow Submarine won 3-0.
• Tang Ye gave gum to Yellow Submarine supporters, answered a reporter that the team could handle either Barcelona or Atlético Madrid, and said he might prefer Barcelona because he had friends there.
• Escribá urged Tang Ye to focus on the team’s wins and suggested Yellow Submarine could pursue both the league and the Copa del Rey, while Tang Ye said he would work toward winning La Liga’s February Player of the Month award.
• During strength training, Tang Ye raised his physical duels rating from 73 to 74 and his overall rating from 80 to 81, then chose to save his Comeback Points rather than buy another item.
• Kyle told Escribá that Tang Ye’s physical traits gave him a high ceiling, and Escribá argued that Tang Ye’s unusual temperament suited his role as a midfielder.
• Yellow Submarine named Tang Ye and Rodri in the squad for their February 5 away La Liga match against Sevilla.

Tang Ye helped Villarreal take a first-half lead against Sevilla and kept creating chances despite tight marking. In the 78th minute, his cross set up Sansone’s goal, bringing his chance-creation count to 17/18 and earning him a Legendary Chest.

• Sevilla adopted a defensive counterattacking approach, but Bakambu scored after Tang Ye let Sansone’s cutback run through to Rodri.
• Tang Ye created several more chances before halftime, while Sampaoli told Sevilla to defend him as they had defended Lionel Messi.
• Sevilla pressed high after the break, but Villarreal played through the pressure and Tang Ye struck the crossbar with a curling shot.
• Tang Ye received the ball on the right, crossed into the box, and Sansone scored to put Villarreal further ahead.
• Tang Ye reached 17/18 created chances and obtained a Legendary Chest after Sansone’s goal.

After the Yellow Submarine beat Sevilla 2-0, Tang Ye opened his French Legendary Chest and gained Zidane’s Rhythm Control template. He discovered the template let him vary his pace while running, passing, and dribbling, then tried it out in FIFA with Ousmane Dembélé.

• The Yellow Submarine defeated Sevilla 2-0, and Tang Ye celebrated with Bruno and his teammates.
• Tang Ye reviewed the team’s crowded February schedule, including upcoming matches against Roma and Real Madrid.
• Tang Ye signed a young fan’s jersey with a gel pen and told him the Yellow Submarine could probably beat Barcelona.
• Tang Ye opened the French Legendary Chest and received Zidane’s Rhythm Control template, which raised his Ball Control by one point.
• Tang Ye tested the template in FIFA, feinted past Ousmane Dembélé’s defender, and scored while Dembélé complained about his feints.

Tang Ye spent his day off gaming, then hosted Escribá and Rodri, who discovered his Golden Boy trophy was warm and dusty. After training, Tang Ye scored with a clever pause and shot; ahead of Villarreal’s Copa del Rey semifinal against Celta, he hoped to meet Neymar’s Barcelona in the final.

• Tang Ye refused an American tech company’s endorsement offer and later played Counter-Strike with Neymar and Ousmane Dembélé.
• Rodri brought Escribá to Tang Ye’s home, where Escribá and Rodri found Tang Ye’s Golden Boy trophy warm and dusty.
• Escribá warned Tang Ye to rest before Villarreal’s busy February schedule, and Tang Ye assured him he rarely stayed up late.
• During training, Tang Ye beat Musacchio with a sudden pause and scored, while Mati revised his notes about Tang Ye’s discipline.
• After Barcelona qualified for the Copa del Rey final, Tang Ye and Bruno discussed the possibility of facing them as Villarreal prepared to host Celta in the semifinal second leg.

Tang Ye scored his first professional header and helped Villarreal defeat Celta 2-0, advancing 5-0 on aggregate to the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. After the semifinal, Tang Ye learned the final might not take place until May, while reports debated its date and venue.

• Villarreal began the semifinal second leg cautiously, and Tang Ye scored with a header in the 29th minute after Haller flicked the ball into his path.
• Tang Ye beat Planas with a pause and cutback in the 57th minute, setting up Rodri to head in Villarreal's second goal.
• Escribá substituted Tang Ye as Villarreal led 2-0, and their defense held firm to secure a 5-0 aggregate victory and a place in the final against Barcelona.
• Two days later, Tang Ye learned from Bruno that the Copa del Rey final might not be played until May and complained about the long wait.
• Mati said the later final could give Villarreal time to adapt to their tactical changes, while reporters debated moving the match to April and Cornarga reported that the Bernabéu was a leading venue candidate.