Chapter Summaries

Villarreal celebrated its Copa del Rey victory over Barcelona as Tang Ye collected the winner’s medal and Final MVP award. King Felipe VI praised Tang Ye’s talent and criticized Spain’s declining player development, prompting debate about whether La Masia could produce a player like him.

• Tang Ye received his winner’s medal, celebrated with Neymar, and watched Bruno accept the Copa del Rey trophy from King Felipe VI.
• Bruno lifted the trophy, and Villarreal’s players passed it around as Tang Ye and Rodri led the fans in cheering for the team.
• Tang Ye received the Final MVP trophy, then celebrated with his teammates and comforted Bruno after the captain became emotional.
• Felipe VI visited Villarreal’s locker room, learned that Tang Ye was eighteen, and later praised him while questioning Spain’s youth development system.
• Spanish media reacted to Felipe VI’s comments, and a reporter asked La Masia director Roura whether the academy could develop a player like Tang Ye; Roura said he did not know.

Tang Ye celebrated Villarreal’s historic Copa del Rey win, unlocked Iniesta’s La Croqueta, and trained his long passing until he reached a new level. After Villarreal won another La Liga match without him, Escribá and Mati questioned whether the club owed Utrecht an extra €3 million for the cup victory.

• Escribá defended his role in Villarreal’s Copa del Rey triumph and said Tang Ye had finished ahead of Lionel Messi in the Player of the Season voting.
• Tang Ye opened the Barcelona Legendary Chest and obtained Iniesta’s La Croqueta Template, raising his ball control and physicality.
• Tang Ye posted his trophies online, received Bruno’s congratulations, and learned that he and Escribá had won February’s Player and Manager of the Month awards.
• Tang Ye trained long passes with Rodri, taught him how to tailor passes to different forwards, and raised De Bruyne Standard Long Pass to Lv.4.
• Villarreal beat Celta 1-0 without Tang Ye, while Escribá and Mati discussed Utrecht’s claimed €3 million payment and Mati pointed out that the club might not owe it for winning the Copa del Rey.

Villarreal faced Lyon in the Europa League Round of 16 second leg, with Tang Ye helping his side take the lead before Lyon equalized amid protests over a foul. After Villarreal regained the lead through Cheryshev, they held a 4–2 aggregate advantage and moved closer to the quarterfinals.

• Tang Ye won a penalty when his shot struck Diakhaby’s hand, and Haller scored to put Villarreal ahead.
• Tolisso knocked Tang Ye down before Lacazette scored, but the referee allowed Lyon’s goal to stand despite Villarreal’s protests.
• Lyon threatened from consecutive corners before the first half ended, and Escribá urged Villarreal to turn their anger into a win.
• Asenjo rushed out of his box to clear the ball during Lyon’s second-half press.
• Tang Ye sent Bakambu’s headed layoff forward first time, and Cheryshev dribbled past the defense to score.
• Villarreal went 2–1 ahead in the match and 4–2 ahead on aggregate.

Villarreal defeated Lyon to reach the Europa League quarterfinals, then beat Las Palmas and finished March unbeaten in all competitions. Tang Ye faced growing transfer interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Manchester United, and the chapter ended with his arrival in Beijing for China’s national team matches.

• Tang Ye stole the ball from Tolisso and dribbled past Gonalons with a La Croqueta, but Morel tackled him before he could complete his planned move.
• Villarreal beat Lyon and advanced to the Europa League quarterfinals, where they were drawn against Beşiktaş.
• Boer told Tang Ye that Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Manchester United were interested in signing him, and Erik ten Hag advised him to reject Barcelona and Bayern.
• Tang Ye scored in Villarreal’s 4-1 win over Las Palmas, which left the team unbeaten throughout March.
• The players checked the league standings and discussed Villarreal’s crowded April schedule and Tang Ye’s upcoming national team commitments.
• Tang Ye arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport ahead of China’s AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Tang Ye joined the Chinese national team, completed his welcome ceremony, and impressed Lippi during his first training session. After B team took a 3–0 lead with Tang Ye scoring twice and setting up another goal, Lippi ordered him moved to the starting side ahead of China’s match against South Korea.

• Feng Xiaoting and the other players helped Tang Ye settle into the dorm, where Tang discovered he had forgotten to bring his boots.
• Feng Xiaoting introduced Tang to the team, and the players welcomed him by slapping his back as he ran between two rows.
• Lippi told Tang he might come on as a substitute against South Korea and urged him to integrate quickly, while Tang borrowed boots from Wu Lei for training.
• Tang nutmegged Wu Lei, dribbled past Feng Xiaoting, and scored with a curling shot to give B team the lead.
• Tang helped launch Zhang Yuning’s goal with a long ball, blocked Wu Lei’s shot, then scored again from a cross as B team went 3–0 up.
• Lippi told Massimo Maddaloni to move Tang onto A team after the starters fell three goals behind.

Tang Ye’s first training session with the national team revealed how much he could contribute, and his teammates grew confident ahead of the World Cup qualifier against South Korea. After fans uncovered his childhood Tieba post criticizing Zheng Zhi, Tang Ye arrived in Changsha and learned he would start the match, leaving the players’ tunnel nervous beneath the Chinese flag on his chest.

• Fans unearthed a 2008 Tieba post in which young Tang Ye criticized Zheng Zhi’s passing and argued that he could make the national team.
• Tang Ye created eight attacking chances and participated in every goal during a practice match, impressing Lippi despite losing possession seven times.
• Wu Lei told the national team players that Tang Ye could anticipate positions across the attacking half, and Zhang Yuning reminded them that Tang Ye was on their team.
• Tang Ye arrived in Changsha, signed autographs for fans, and gave them pieces of gum before the China–South Korea qualifier.
• Lippi announced that Tang Ye would play, then gave him shorts with pockets so he could carry gum while playing.
• Tang Ye entered the players’ tunnel with the team and admitted he felt nervous because this time he wore China’s flag on his chest.

Tang Ye helped China take a 2–0 lead over South Korea in a World Cup qualifier, assisting Yu Dabao before scoring himself. After his goal, the Chinese supporters celebrated him by singing the GGBond theme song.

• Tang Ye made his senior China debut and helped defend against South Korea's early attacks.
• Tang Ye launched a counterattack with a curved through ball, but Wang Yongpo failed to convert the chance.
• Tang Ye crossed for Yu Dabao to score China's opening goal in the 37th minute.
• Tang Ye nearly scored before halftime, then received a good-luck message from Erik ten Hag during the break.
• Tang Ye set up a second-half chance for Yu Dabao and Wang Yongpo, then scored from outside the box to make it 2–0.
• Chinese fans began singing the GGBond theme song after Tang Ye's goal, leaving him bewildered.

Tang Ye scored twice and assisted once as China beat South Korea 3–0, giving the national team its first win of the third qualifying round. After celebrating with the fans and answering questions about his old Tieba posts, Tang Ye joined the team’s victory gathering, where Lippi said Nike would prepare shorts with pockets for him before the Iran match.

• Tang Ye scored from Yu Dabao’s cutback to complete a brace and put China 3–0 ahead of South Korea.
• After the final whistle, Tang Ye celebrated with the fans and gave his shirt to the crowd as China claimed three points.
• Lippi said China could beat Iran next, while Tang Ye told reporters he wanted to reach the World Cup together with his teammates and coaches.
• Tang Ye confirmed that an old Tieba account belonged to him and asked reporters not to dig through his teenage posts.
• At the team’s victory gathering, Tang Ye joked about not receiving an MVP trophy, and Zheng Zhi teased him about the Tieba posts.
• Lippi told Tang Ye that the football association had arranged for Nike to make him shorts with pockets before the Iran match.

Tang Ye joined China’s preparations for their away match against Iran after China’s 3–0 win over South Korea, while Villarreal prepared to face Eibar without him. As the team arrived in Tehran, Nike released Tang-style shorts with zipperless pockets, and Tang Ye spotted China supporters outside the stadium.

• The Football Association and Nike arranged a batch of match shorts with zipperless pockets for Tang Ye, while Villarreal coach Escribá confirmed Tang Ye would miss the Eibar match and joked privately that his claim about two strong squads was nonsense.
• Tang Ye upgraded his chicken breast and hot chocolate milk through his system, then told Zheng Zhi about playing with older youth teams and recalled a teenage striker who defended him after a foul.
• China began training for Iran, and Lippi favored a 4-3-3 formation with Zhang Yuning replacing Yu as the taller center forward.
• China and Nike announced Tang-style match shorts with zipperless pockets, and fans discussed the new design ahead of the Iran match.
• After China’s players arrived in Tehran, Tang Ye asked why there were no women at the stadium, and Hao Junmin explained that women were not allowed to enter.
• Tang Ye spotted China supporters wearing red beside a statue as the team bus approached the stadium.

China took an early lead against Iran through Gao Lin after Tang Ye set up the goal, but Iran scored twice to go ahead 2-1 by halftime. After the break, Tang Ye nearly equalized with a curling outside-of-the-foot shot that beat the goalkeeper but skimmed past the post.

• Tang Ye drew Iran's defense and threaded a short pass to Gao Lin, who scored to put China ahead 1-0.
• Masoud Shojaei equalized for Iran after Taremi pulled the ball back into the box.
• Feng Xiaoting handled Reza Ghoochannejhad's shot, and Jahanbakhsh converted the penalty to give Iran a 2-1 lead.
• At halftime, Tang Ye persuaded Lippi to let him take set pieces, while Lippi told China to attack with more players and bring on Wu Lei.
• After the restart, Tang Ye combined with Zhang Yuning and Wu Lei, then struck with the outside of his right foot, but his shot skimmed past the post.

Tang Ye scored and assisted as China came from behind to beat Iran 3:2, lifting the team into fourth place in its World Cup qualifying group. After returning to Villarreal, he watched the club lose to Eibar, leaving Escribá under pressure over the team’s dependence on Tang Ye.

• Tang Ye scored China’s equalizer against Iran, then created the set piece that led to Wu Lei’s winning rebound goal.
• China held off Iran’s late attacks to win 3:2, and Tang Ye checked the standings with his teammates before saying he wanted direct qualification.
• Tang Ye attended the post-match press conference, discussed his national-team goals, and told a reporter the reporter could not beat him at CS:GO.
• Tang Ye returned to Villarreal but stayed on the bench as Eibar beat the Yellow Submarine 4:3, with Escribá deciding not to risk playing him after his long flight.
• Escribá faced reporters and criticism over his claim that Villarreal had two strong squads, then opened Twitter and chose to delete the app.

Tang Ye improved his physicality, received an April mission to record a hat-trick or assist hat-trick, and helped Villarreal build a 2–1 lead over Athletic Bilbao. The match turned against Villarreal when Ruiz was sent off in the 59th minute, leaving them a man down for the final half hour.

• Tang Ye raised his Physicality to 75 and learned that his April mission required a hat-trick or assist hat-trick for a Random La Liga Legend Chest.
• Reports linked Tang Ye with major European clubs, and speculation about Manchester United pushed his expected transfer fee above €100 million for many fans.
• Tang Ye scored the winning goal in Villarreal's 1–0 away victory over Real Betis.
• Against Athletic Bilbao, Sansone assisted Haller's opener, then Tang Ye set up Bakambu to give Villarreal a 2–0 lead.
• Laporte scored from long range just before halftime to bring Athletic Bilbao back to 2–1.
• Ruiz tripped Aduriz outside the box during a counterattack and received a red card, leaving Villarreal with ten players.

After Ruiz was sent off, Tang Ye scored to help ten-man Villarreal beat Athletic Bilbao 3–1 and was named MVP. As transfer rumors linked him with Manchester United, Erik ten Hag discussed Champions League qualification and revealed his plan to pursue a Premier League top-four finish.

• Ruiz was sent off for a foul on Aduriz, but Tang Ye scored Villarreal’s third goal after combining with Bakambu, and Villarreal held on to win 3–1.
• Tang Ye was named MVP, celebrated his goal for Ruiz, and learned that Villarreal had closed to three points behind Barcelona in the league table.
• Dembélé told Tang Ye that Barcelona had made a €90 million offer for him and was reportedly more interested in Tang Ye than in Dembélé; Tang Ye remained unsure where he wanted to play next.
• A report said Erik ten Hag had contacted Tang Ye’s agent and that Tang Ye wanted Champions League football, prompting speculation about a possible Manchester United move.
• Erik ten Hag told Murtough that Manchester United should target a Premier League top-four finish rather than focus on winning the Europa League, using expectations about their European campaign to surprise their league rivals.

Tang Ye scored twice and assisted Sansone as Villarreal beat Beşiktaş 3–2 away in the Europa League quarterfinal first leg. Talisca’s late penalty narrowed the margin, while Tang Ye finished one goal short of earning his Legendary Chest.

• Tang Ye read transfer reports, received Weilhof’s advice to choose Barcelona, and decided to focus on Villarreal’s season and Europa League campaign.
• Tang Ye scored in the seventh minute from a rehearsed indirect free kick to give Villarreal an early lead.
• Talisca equalized for Beşiktaş before halftime with a header from Quaresma’s cross.
• Tang Ye scored again in the second half by finishing the rebound after Rodri’s shot hit the post, putting Villarreal ahead 2–1.
• Tang Ye beat two defenders with a La Croqueta and crossed for Sansone to score Villarreal’s third goal.
• Talisca converted a late penalty to make the final score 3–2, and Escribá comforted Rodri after the penalty conceded.

After Villarreal’s Europa League victory, Haller discovered Tang Ye led the scoring charts, while Tang Ye received a lucrative Trek endorsement offer and helped Villarreal beat Alavés 3-1. The Yellow Submarine celebrated the league win, but their packed April schedule loomed as Tang Ye considered how to spend his limited system points.

• Haller discussed chasing the Europa League Golden Boot with Cheryshev, then saw Tang Ye leading the scoring chart with seven goals.
• Boer told Tang Ye that Trek had offered him an annual endorsement deal worth 2.1 million euros after tax, and Tang Ye left the offer open for discussion.
• Villarreal took a 2-0 lead against Alavés through Bakambu and Haller, with Tang Ye assisting Haller from a set piece.
• Ibai Gómez scored for Alavés, but Haller headed in Tang Ye’s late setup to secure Villarreal’s 3-1 away win.
• Tang Ye found he could not buy Kanté’s Hot Chocolate Milk on match day, held off upgrading his Ronaldo Chicken Breast, and bought Hazard’s Tartar Sauce Burger instead.

Villarreal advanced to the Europa League semifinals after defeating Beşiktaş on penalties, despite Tang Ye stepping back from the shootout because he did not feel ready. The chapter ended with Escribá explaining that Tang Ye had declined the planned fifth penalty, while Villarreal prepared to face Ajax.

• After extra time ended with the aggregate score tied, Escribá chose Villarreal’s penalty takers and initially planned for Tang Ye to take the fifth kick.
• Tang Ye declined the penalty, so Escribá assigned the fifth kick to Sansone and placed Tang Ye eighth in the order.
• Talisca, Haller, and the other takers traded successful kicks and misses until Sansone scored Villarreal’s decisive penalty, securing a 4–3 shootout victory.
• Villarreal celebrated advancing to the semifinals, where they would face Ajax, and Tang Ye told Bruno he did not regret skipping the shootout.
• At the press conference, Escribá said Tang Ye had originally been scheduled to take the fifth penalty but had declined because he did not feel ready.

Tang Ye set out to complete his April system mission in Villarreal’s away match against Atlético Madrid, with only two matches left to record a hat trick or three assists. He created Haller’s opening goal with a dribble past Godín and a cutback, leaving him convinced he could earn the La Liga Legendary Chest that day.

• Villarreal drew 1-1 with Leganés after Escribá rested key players, leaving Tang Ye with fewer than twenty minutes to pursue his mission.
• Tang Ye realized he had only the Atlético Madrid and Sporting Gijón matches left in April to complete the system objective.
• Before the Atlético Madrid match, Escribá fired up Villarreal’s players, and Bruno reminded Tang Ye that he was competing for April Player of the Month.
• Tang Ye carried the ball forward against Atlético Madrid’s compact defense and beat Godín with a La Croqueta near the byline.
• Tang Ye crossed back to Haller, who beat Oblak to the ball and scored Villarreal’s opening goal.
• With Villarreal dominating possession, Tang Ye reached one assist and believed he could complete an assist hat trick against Atlético Madrid.

Tang Ye completed an assist hat-trick as Yellow Submarine extended their lead over Atlético Madrid to 3–0. After Saúl fouled him and earned a yellow card, Tang Ye returned to set up Sansone from a free kick and claimed a La Liga Legendary Chest.

• Tang Ye broke Atlético Madrid’s pressure with a pass that led to Haller scoring his second goal, giving Yellow Submarine a 2–0 halftime lead.
• Simeone ordered Atlético Madrid’s defenders to mark Tang Ye closely and use intimidating challenges if necessary.
• Saúl slid into Tang Ye and caught his ankle, earning a yellow card as Tang Ye recovered and continued playing.
• Tang Ye curled a free kick toward the penalty area, where Sansone headed it in to make the score 3–0.
• Tang Ye received 40 Comeback Points and a La Liga Legendary Chest after completing his assist hat-trick.

After Villarreal beat Atlético Madrid, Tang Ye learned that his contract would expire at season’s end and remained undecided about his next club. He unlocked Cristiano Ronaldo’s Tomahawk Free Kick template through extra strength training and prepared for Villarreal’s match against Sporting Gijón.

• Tang Ye and the Villarreal players celebrated their 3–0 win over Atlético Madrid and discussed their remaining fixtures, including their crucial Round 36 match against Barcelona.
• Tang Ye admitted to Rodri that he still had not decided where he would play next season, while news spread that Barcelona wanted to obtain his training records from Luneng Football School.
• Tang Ye opened the La Liga Legendary Chest and received Cristiano Ronaldo’s Tomahawk Free Kick template, which required Physicality 76 to activate.
• After reflecting on his teammates carrying him through a penalty shootout, Tang Ye asked Escribá for permission to train in the gym after hours, and Escribá arranged for Kyle to supervise him.
• Tang Ye trained with Kyle, raised his Physicality to 76, activated the Ronaldo Tomahawk Free Kick template, and increased his Set Pieces attribute to 76.

Tang Ye helped Villarreal defeat Sporting Gijón 3-1, setting up Haller with a quick back-to-goal pass and later helping create Cheryshev’s goal. After the match, he looked ahead to Villarreal’s remaining league and Europa League games and explained how he calculated the first-half assist.

• Bakambu gave Villarreal an early lead with a long-range strike, and Tang Ye assisted Haller with a fast pass after controlling a long ball with his chest.
• Sporting Gijón scored through Moi Gómez after Tang Ye pushed forward and Rodri was absent to cover the space behind him, prompting Escribá to bring Rodri on at halftime.
• Rodri replaced Soriano, improving Villarreal’s possession through his chemistry with Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye used a feint and a hidden hand signal to help Cheryshev create Villarreal’s third goal, and Villarreal beat Sporting Gijón 3-1.
• Tang Ye told Bruno that Villarreal would win the championship and told a reporter that he had calculated his teammates’ runs before assisting Haller.