Chapter Summaries

Tang Ye helped Borussia Dortmund beat Juventus 3:2 with one goal and two assists, then faced questions about his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. As Dortmund’s form improved and the German Klassiker against Bayern Munich approached, Tang Ye was named a finalist for the 2020 World Player of the Year.

• Tang Ye assisted Piszczek’s goal to put Borussia Dortmund 3:1 ahead, and later helped Cristiano Ronaldo up after tackling him and apologized.
• Morata scored late for Juventus, but Borussia Dortmund held on to win 3:2; Tang Ye was named Man of the Match.
• At his press conference, Cristiano Ronaldo praised Tang Ye as a top player, said they were on the same level, and chose Tang Ye over Lionel Messi while noting Tang Ye still lacked honors.
• Tang Ye recorded an assist hat-trick as Borussia Dortmund beat Bielefeld 4:0, then Dortmund defeated İstanbul Başakşehir 2:0 to earn their second Champions League win.
• FIFA named Tang Ye, Robert Lewandowski, and Lionel Messi as the final nominees for the 2020 World Player of the Year ahead of the award ceremony in December.

Tang Ye struggled to learn German before Borussia Dortmund faced Bayern Munich in the German Clasico. Bayern took an early lead from Lewandowski’s penalty, and Dortmund ended the chapter under pressure.

• Tang Ye and Bellingham attended German lessons, where Tang Ye struggled to recall football terms despite showing a sharp memory for details.
• Dortmund fans gathered outside Westfalenstadion before the derby, and Sancho started the match on the bench.
• Tang Ye helped lead Dortmund’s attack in the opening minutes, but Reus’s shot was blocked and Boateng cleared the ball.
• Kimmich launched a Bayern counterattack, Gnabry went down in the box after Hummels challenged him, and VAR awarded Bayern a penalty.
• Lewandowski scored from the spot in the 24th minute to put Bayern ahead 1–0.
• Coman crossed for Müller, whose header was gathered by Bürki after the goalkeeper briefly spilled the ball.

Borussia Dortmund came from behind against Bayern Munich as Tang Ye assisted Haaland’s equalizer and then helped create goals for Pogba and Guerrero. Dortmund led 3–1 at home, putting Bayern Munich at risk of their first defeat of the season.

• Tang Ye delivered a Rabona pass that let Haaland equalize after Lewandowski’s penalty had given Bayern Munich the lead.
• Tang Ye received a new task to provide Haaland with ten assists across league, Champions League, and German Cup matches.
• After halftime, Pogba scored from a tactical corner set up by Tang Ye to put Borussia Dortmund ahead 2–1.
• Sancho replaced Reus and crossed for Haaland, who headed the ball back to Tang Ye; Tang Ye then set up Guerrero for a goal that made it 3–1.
• Tang Ye completed an assist hat-trick as Borussia Dortmund took control of the match and moved above Bayern Munich in the standings if the score held.

Borussia Dortmund let Bayern Munich come back from 3:1 to 3:3, but Tang Ye won a late penalty and scored the decisive goal. Dortmund won the match and moved above Bayern to the top of the Bundesliga, while Tang Ye later reconciled with Paul Pogba and warned him to defend more reliably.

• Müller scored from distance and Lewandowski equalized after Gnabry set him up, bringing Bayern level at 3:3.
• Tang Ye confronted Pogba over repeatedly abandoning his defensive position, and Haaland intervened to keep the argument from escalating.
• Tang Ye drew a penalty in the 86th minute, and Haaland handed him the chance to take it.
• Tang Ye sent Neuer the wrong way and scored the late winner, giving Borussia Dortmund a 4:3 victory over Bayern.
• After the final whistle, Dortmund celebrated taking first place in the Bundesliga, and Tang Ye was named Man of the Match.
• Tang Ye accepted Pogba's apology but told him he had to defend better against stronger teams.

After Borussia Dortmund beat Bayern Munich to take first place in the Bundesliga, Tang Ye faced interviews and a wave of media claims that he had bullied and racially abused Paul Pogba. Dortmund then beat Istanbul 3-2 in the Champions League, but the Munich Times continued to suggest Pogba had been intimidated by Tang Ye.

• Tang Ye said Erling Haaland was Dortmund's first-choice penalty taker and explained that the team's strong understanding had helped them reach the top of the Bundesliga.
• Dr. Dagen analyzed Tang Ye's interview mannerisms as signs of insecurity, while Tang Ye and Jude Bellingham dismissed the analysis.
• Bild claimed Tang Ye had emotionally hurt Pogba, and Dortmund's players reacted as the allegation spread online alongside a separate racism rumor.
• Tang Ye questioned what racial discrimination meant and recalled an earlier false report that he had bullied classmates, which the Football Association had disproved by noting he never attended high school.
• Tang Ye assisted Jadon Sancho's goal as Dortmund beat Istanbul 3-2; Pogba denied being bullied at a press conference and said he wanted to learn from Tang Ye.
• The Munich Times cited psychology and neurology experts to claim Pogba might have been forced to deny the bullying and that Tang Ye's ADHD medication could make him aggressive.

Tang Ye advised Erik ten Hag on Manchester United’s tactics before helping Borussia Dortmund beat Cologne 3-2 while they tested a new formation. As December arrived, Dortmund prepared to host Chelsea in the Champions League, with the match beginning at the chapter’s end.

• Erik ten Hag called Tang Ye for tactical advice, and Tang Ye suggested changes to Manchester United’s attack and defense despite repeated signal interruptions.
• Tang Ye assisted twice as Borussia Dortmund took a 2-0 halftime lead against Cologne, then Escribá introduced the 3-2-4-1 formation in the second half.
• Borussia Dortmund beat Cologne 3-2, and Tang Ye told reporters the team had been training the four-wide-midfielder tactic.
• Tang Ye noted that Borussia Dortmund led Bayern Munich by two points and that his assist task for Haaland remained incomplete.
• Chelsea arrived in Dortmund ahead of the Champions League match, and both teams’ starting lineups were introduced as play began.

Borussia Dortmund took a 2–0 lead over Chelsea in the first half, with Tang Ye assisting Haaland before scoring himself. Escribá urged the team to stay composed and keep pressing as they prepared for the second half.

• Tang Ye set up Haaland with a chest pass from Pogba’s cross, giving Borussia Dortmund a sixth-minute lead.
• Tang Ye advised his teammates to attack through the left and middle, and Chelsea later pressed forward while Dortmund defended.
• Tang Ye slid in on Abraham, received a yellow card, and argued with referee Anthony Taylor.
• Tang Ye dribbled past Mount and Chilwell before scoring against Chelsea in the 37th minute.
• At halftime, Tang Ye and Haaland signed a fan’s jersey, and Escribá told Borussia Dortmund to stay steady while maintaining their attacking pressure.

Tang Ye helped Borussia Dortmund beat Chelsea 3-2, then completed his assist mission and received a legendary Juninho dipping-shot template. Dortmund secured Champions League knockout qualification and continued its strong league form, while FIFA 21 ranked Tang Ye as the world’s top player.

• Kanté scored from long range, and Tang Ye assisted Haaland’s goal from a set piece as Dortmund took a 3-1 lead over Chelsea.
• Tang Ye came off in the 80th minute, and Hudson-Odoi scored soon afterward; Dortmund still won 3-2 and topped Group D, with Tang Ye earning one goal, two assists, and MVP honors.
• Tang Ye completed the winning-streak mission and received 8,500 Reversal Points, then unlocked a new mission to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.
• Dortmund beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2, and Tang Ye completed his ten-assist task for Haaland to earn a Legendary Champions League Chest.
• Tang Ye opened the chest and gained Juninho’s ultra-long-range dipping-shot template, improving his set pieces and shooting and unlocking De Bruyne’s far-corner curl.
• FIFA 21 ranked Tang Ye first with a 96 rating, ahead of Messi and Ronaldo.

After Borussia Dortmund lost to Juventus and advanced as a group runner-up, Tang Ye fielded Erik ten Hag’s request for advice on Manchester United using the team’s current analysis materials. Dortmund drew Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of sixteen, while ten Hag sent Tang Ye a massive report on Manchester United’s opponent, Porto.

• Tang Ye dismissed reports that he had already won World Footballer of the Year, while Haaland congratulated him.
• Borussia Dortmund lost 0-2 away to Juventus, finished second in their Champions League group, and learned that Haaland would miss at least two weeks with an ankle injury.
• Dortmund beat Stuttgart 3-1, then awaited the Champions League draw as an unseeded team facing one of seven seeded opponents.
• Ten Hag asked Tang Ye for advice on Manchester United and sent him the club’s current tactical materials, while insisting that sharing them was not spying.
• Tang Ye received a call confirming he had won World Footballer of the Year.
• The Champions League draw paired Borussia Dortmund with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United with Porto, after which ten Hag emailed Tang Ye a Porto analysis report over 2 GB in size.

Tang Ye won the 2020 World Footballer of the Year award and celebrated with his Borussia Dortmund teammates. After collecting further honors, he prepared to face RB Leipzig as Dortmund sought to protect its Bundesliga lead.

• Tang Ye attended FIFA’s ceremony in Switzerland and was announced as the 2020 World Footballer of the Year, ahead of Lewandowski and Messi.
• Infantino called Tang Ye’s victory fully deserved, while fans, football organizations, and Borussia Dortmund celebrated his award.
• Tang Ye let Haaland hold the trophy and joked with Haaland, Bellingham, Reus, Pogba, and Thorgan about winning football’s top individual honors.
• Tang Ye later received the Globe Soccer Awards Best Player award, the Asian Footballer of the Year award, the Asian Ballon d'Or, and Bundesliga Player of the Month for December.
• Before Borussia Dortmund’s January 10 match against RB Leipzig, Tang Ye said winning the Bundesliga was why he had joined the club.
• The broadcast introduced the starting lineups for the Bundesliga match between third-place RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.

Tang Ye helped Borussia Dortmund defeat RB Leipzig 3–0 away, scoring once and assisting twice as Haaland returned from injury. After Round 15, Tang Ye led the Bundesliga assist chart with 19 assists, while Dortmund rose to the top of the title odds.

• Tang Ye set up Bellingham’s long-range goal in the 21st minute to give Borussia Dortmund a 1–0 lead.
• Nagelsmann saw Leipzig’s goal ruled out for offside, then Tang Ye stayed on after halftime despite Escribá offering him rest.
• Tang Ye scored with an outside-of-the-boot shot to make it 2–0.
• Tang Ye delivered a curved through ball for Haaland, who scored on his return from injury to seal a 3–0 win.
• Tang Ye’s two assists and one goal left him first in the Bundesliga assist chart with 19, while Borussia Dortmund topped the league title odds.

After the Munich Times reported that Tang Ye had bullied Paul Pogba, the German Football Association investigated Borussia Dortmund and questioned both players. The first phase found no substantive evidence, but the inquiry remained unresolved as the association reviewed the reports and footage.

• Escribá and Mati discussed Borussia Dortmund’s January schedule and chose to keep using their 3-2-4-1 system ahead of the Champions League knockout stage.
• The Munich Times published a video showing marks on Paul Pogba’s arm and suggested Tang Ye had beaten him, prompting Borussia Dortmund to deny the report and threaten legal action.
• The German Football Association announced an investigation, while reporters gathered outside Borussia Dortmund’s training ground and discussed possible penalties for Tang Ye.
• Miller questioned Tang Ye about bullying, his medication, and whether he confused games with reality, while Tang Ye denied harming Pogba and said the injury came from the gym.
• After two days, investigators found no substantive evidence beyond clips of Tang Ye shouting at Pogba, and Miller’s supervisor criticized him for prolonging the inquiry.

Borussia Dortmund beat Bayer Leverkusen 3:1, with Tang Ye scoring twice and becoming the club’s first-choice penalty taker. Escribá later substituted Tang Ye and Sancho to conserve energy for Dortmund’s demanding January fixtures and Champions League campaign.

• Tang Ye denied the bullying allegations at a press conference but walked out when reporters continued questioning his temper and treatment of Pogba.
• Dortmund won an early penalty after Bellingham’s shot struck a defender’s hand, and Reus handed the ball to Tang Ye, who scored and celebrated with Bellingham and Haaland.
• Tang Ye scored again in the 34th minute to put Dortmund 2:0 ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.
• Escribá replaced Haaland with Brandt, and Leverkusen pulled a goal back through Leon Bailey after Diaby led a counterattack.
• Tang Ye and Bellingham created an attack that ended with Reus scoring Dortmund’s third goal from Pogba’s cross.
• Escribá substituted Tang Ye and Sancho as Dortmund prepared for their remaining January league matches and the Champions League knockout rounds.

Borussia Dortmund beat Paderborn 3-2 as Tang Ye discussed the upcoming Champions League and gained a new dribbling template. While Tang Ye prepared tactically for Porto, Escribá realized that Tang Ye was helping Erik ten Hag analyze Manchester United’s opponent, leaving him feeling as though he and ten Hag were cuckolding each other.

• Tang Ye celebrated Dortmund’s 3-2 German Cup win, then told reporters that Manchester United would try to beat Paris Saint-Germain if they met in the Champions League.
• Transfermarkt’s update kept Tang Ye at €260 million, raised Jude Bellingham’s value by €50 million, and showed Manchester United players’ values had declined overall; Erik ten Hag defended the club’s form in an interview.
• Tang Ye used 8,000 Counterattack Points to obtain Phil Foden’s Fishing Rod and gain Foden’s two-footed dribbling template, raising his ball control from 92 to 93.
• Tang Ye studied Porto’s lineup and tactics, then mentally planned how Manchester United could counter their pressing game.
• Mati reassured Tang Ye that fans would accept the winter transfer window, while Escribá noticed Tang Ye was studying Porto ahead of their match against Manchester United and felt that he and Erik ten Hag were NTR’ing each other.

Escribá grew furious as reports credited ten Hag with shaping Tang Ye’s career, while Tang Ye’s Borussia Dortmund prepared to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Round of 16. Paris took an early lead, and Dortmund’s first major chance ended with Haaland heading wide.

• Escribá watched reports praising ten Hag’s success and influence on Tang Ye, then lost his temper and struck the coffee table.
• Tang Ye recorded a goal and three assists as Borussia Dortmund beat Hoffenheim 5–2, extending their lead over Bayern Munich to six points.
• Tang Ye and Mbappé exchanged good-luck wishes before Borussia Dortmund hosted Paris Saint-Germain at Westfalenstadion.
• Paris Saint-Germain scored in the fourth minute when Kean crossed from the right and Icardi headed past Bürki.
• Tang Ye urged his teammates to stay focused and helped organize Dortmund’s defense against Mbappé.
• Tang Ye’s corner reached Sancho, who chipped the ball into the box, but Haaland’s header went wide.

Paris Saint-Germain led Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at halftime after Mbappé scored twice, but Haaland pulled one back soon after the break. Dortmund were left chasing an equalizer as the second half continued.

• Haaland missed an early header, then Tang Ye set up a chance that Marco Reus finished from an offside position.
• Tang Ye and Dortmund struggled against Paris Saint-Germain's possession, while Mbappé had a breakaway ruled offside and Bellingham was denied a penalty after a VAR review.
• Mbappé exchanged passes with Mauro Icardi and scored his second goal just before halftime, giving Paris Saint-Germain a 2-0 lead.
• Tang Ye criticized Dortmund's attackers in the dressing room, while Pochettino urged Paris Saint-Germain to keep exploiting their speed on the wings.
• Escribá replaced Marco Reus with Brandt as Dortmund reshaped their attack, and Tang Ye played a through ball that Haaland struck into the net to make it 2-1.

Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, then beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 in the German Cup as Escribá struggled with the team’s poor European form. With only two days between their Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich and the Champions League return leg, Dortmund refused to abandon either contest, and the chapter ended as their match against Bayern began.

• Borussia Dortmund pressed for an equalizer against Paris Saint-Germain, but Haaland’s attack broke down and Brandt wasted a chance before PSG won 2-1.
• Tang Ye accepted the MVP trophy and admitted in his interview that Dortmund’s coordination was poor and that they needed to adjust before the second leg.
• Escribá and Mati argued over Dortmund’s tactics and whether to give up the German Cup, then Dortmund beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 with Haaland scoring twice.
• Dortmund’s executives decided the team would fight both Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain despite only two days separating the matches.
• Tang Ye and his teammates prepared for the snowy Bayern Munich match, and the Bundesliga contest kicked off at Allianz Arena.

Borussia Dortmund took a 1–0 lead over Bayern Munich through Paul Pogba, but Leroy Sané equalized after the break. Tang Ye then caught Bayern off guard with a quick free kick, setting up Erling Haaland to score the winner and leave Dortmund ahead 2–1.

• Bayern fans taunted Dortmund as the match began, while Bayern pressed down the wings and Manuel Neuer made an early save against Erling Haaland.
• Tang Ye delivered a long set-piece cross, and Paul Pogba headed Dortmund into a 1–0 lead.
• Dortmund built a coordinated attack that ended with Haaland shooting at Neuer, who pushed the ball away.
• Bürki saved shots from Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski, but Leroy Sané scored from the rebound to make it 1–1.
• Tang Ye missed a direct free kick, then took a quick restart in the 82nd minute and sent Haaland through to score Dortmund’s 2–1 winner.

Dortmund beat Bayern Munich 2–1 to complete a season sweep and strengthen their Bundesliga lead, while the club’s finances and Tang Ye’s loan terms became a focus ahead of their Champions League second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. As Escribá privately prayed for a Champions League title, Tang Ye told him he could simply ask for one.

• Tang Ye assisted Dortmund’s 2–1 win over Bayern Munich, and Dortmund’s players celebrated the season sweep as he reassured Müller after the final whistle.
• Tang Ye discussed the upcoming Paris Saint-Germain match with reporters, while Escribá explained that Dortmund’s loan deal and finances made advancing in the Champions League important.
• News outlets debated whether Dortmund could extend Tang Ye’s loan and calculated how much his arrival had cost the club after prize money and broadcast revenue.
• Commentators argued that Dortmund’s deal could inspire other clubs to buy titles through loans, prompting concern that football’s loan rules might need to change.
• Escribá prayed alone for help winning the Champions League, and Tang Ye overheard him before saying that Escribá could simply ask him for a title.

Borussia Dortmund traveled to Paris for the Champions League Round of 16 second leg, where Tang Ye confronted teammates over their failure to follow tactics and urged them to fight back. After Paris welcomed Neymar and Di María back from injury, the match began with Dortmund attacking aggressively, and Marco Reus advanced as Tang Ye searched for a chance to combine.

• Tang Ye and Borussia Dortmund arrived in Paris to face abuse from Paris fans, while reporters questioned manager Escribá about the pressure of the match.
• At the team meeting, Tang Ye reprimanded Sancho and Jude Bellingham for ignoring tactical instructions and warned everyone to follow the plan against Paris.
• Paul Pogba decided to use Tang Ye's criticism as motivation to perform well and avoid being singled out again.
• On match day, Tang Ye told reporters Dortmund would not accept being eliminated in the Round of 16, then greeted Neymar in the players' tunnel.
• Paris started Kylian Mbappé as center forward, and Borussia Dortmund immediately attacked after kickoff, with Bellingham and Marco Reus advancing from Tang Ye's passes.