Chapter Summaries

After Tang Ye’s impressive run of assists drew attention in China, he returned to Guangdong for a brief visit because his visa was expiring. He reunited with his parents, exchanged gifts, and turned down their suggestion that he buy a house in the Netherlands.

• Luneng Taishan shared Tang Ye’s scouting report and assist video, prompting Chinese fans to discuss his position, ability, and potential value.
• Tang Ye returned to Guangdong to renew his visa and met Tang Zhengxiong and Zhang Qingqing at the airport.
• Tang Ye gave Tang Zhengxiong Dutch chocolate and Zhang Qingqing a Miffy plush toy, delighting both of them.
• Tang Zhengxiong asked whether Tang Ye wanted to buy a home in the Netherlands, but Tang Ye refused because his dorm was only 150 meters from the training base.

After Utrecht’s defeat to Heracles Almelo, Tang Ye tried to lift his teammates’ spirits during training and practiced shooting. Erik ten Hag then built new set-piece tactics around Tang Ye’s free kicks, ending with a successful delivery that Balazhit headed into the net.

• Tang Ye messaged Amrabat to encourage him after Utrecht’s loss, but Amrabat replied angrily about the referee.
• Tang Ye volleyed a cross wildly out of the training ground, prompting his teammates and Erik ten Hag to tease him about his shooting.
• Erik ten Hag organized set-piece practice and assigned Tang Ye and Ramselaar to take the kicks for their teams.
• Erik ten Hag explained that Tang Ye should observe the penalty area and place the ball where Utrecht’s attackers could reach it.
• Tang Ye delivered a curving, topspin free kick, and Balazhit headed it into the net.
• Erik ten Hag praised the tactic and told Tang Ye to keep pace with his instructions.

Utrecht prepared to face Ajax, with Ten Hag setting a wing-focused plan and giving Tang Ye a role in set pieces. In the match, Ajax gradually took control, but Tang Ye stopped Klaassen’s shot with a sliding tackle.

• Utrecht beat De Graafschap 1–0, and Ten Hag told the players their next opponent was Ajax.
• Assistant coach Mitchell van der Gaag outlined Ajax’s fast passing and possession style, while Ten Hag assigned Ramselaar and Tang Ye shared responsibility for set pieces.
• Before kickoff, Ten Hag said Ajax should fear Utrecht because Utrecht stood second in the standings and Ajax third.
• Tang Ye combined with Ramselaar early in the match and sent a long pass to Haller, whose move set up Janssen for a shot that Cillessen saved.
• Ajax took control with 65% possession, and Tang Ye slid in to block Klaassen’s shot near the edge of the box.

Tang Ye defended fiercely as Ajax dominated possession, then took Utrecht’s late free kick and appeared to score the winning goal. The replay revealed that the goal was not Haller’s header, leaving the scorer—and the result—uncertain.

• Tang Ye apologized to Klaassen after a sliding tackle, and Ajax’s players argued about how Klaassen should have reacted.
• Ajax dominated the first half, but Utrecht held on to a scoreless halftime despite facing nine shots.
• Frank de Boer warned Ajax to watch Tang Ye, admitting that he did not understand how the Utrecht midfielder played.
• Tang Ye fouled Younes during an Ajax attack in the 62nd minute and received a yellow card.
• Ramselaar let Tang Ye take Utrecht’s free kick in the 84th minute, and the ball went into the net.
• Wang Chao celebrated a supposed Haller header and 1–0 win, but the replay showed Haller had not scored.

Tang Ye scored a late direct free-kick winner to give Utrecht a 1–0 victory over Ajax, then celebrated with his teammates while Erik ten Hag praised him to reporters. After training resumed, Tang was late again, and Ten Hag gathered the first team over dinner to talk with them.

• Tang Ye's topspin free kick bounced past Ajax goalkeeper Cillessen after Haller and Balazhit missed it, giving Utrecht a 1–0 lead.
• The referee's signal confirmed it was a direct free kick, and Wang Chao celebrated his winning bet as Utrecht's fans chanted Tang Ye's name.
• Utrecht held on to win 1–0, and Ramselaar led the locker-room celebration before Tang Ye challenged his teammates to FIFA.
• Erik ten Hag told reporters he had expected the victory and said his approach to Tang Ye was to help him improve.
• Utrecht resumed training the next afternoon, where Ramselaar revealed Tang Ye had stayed up playing FIFA and Ten Hag scolded him for arriving late.
• Ten Hag joined the players for dinner and called for their attention, while Tang Ye ate his burger as the teammates watched him.

After Utrecht’s board raised its season target to the top four, Erik ten Hag made Tang Ye attend extra training, where Tang Ye improved his far-corner curling shot and discovered that his new positioning skill could keep leveling beyond its supposed maximum. The chapter left Tang Ye surprised as the skill advanced to a new level during the drill.

• Erik ten Hag told the players that Utrecht’s new goal was to finish in the top four, and Tang Ye pointed out that the team currently led the standings.
• Erik ten Hag persuaded Tang Ye to train that evening, where Tang Ye met Isaac Zaka and watched him practice a Cruyff move.
• Erik ten Hag paired Tang Ye and Zaka in a shooting drill, and Tang Ye raised his De Bruyne Far-Corner Curl from level one to level two.
• Tang Ye unlocked De Bruyne Spatial Positioning and found its proficiency far beyond the amount needed to reach level five.
• Tang Ye practiced making runs with Zaka and noticed that his level-five positioning skill had advanced to level six.

Tang Ye helped Utrecht reach the Dutch Cup quarterfinals with two assists against Achilles, then scored the equalizer in a 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar. The chapter ended with Tang Ye drawing attention after Transfermarkt released updated player valuations.

• Tang Ye studied his system, found that five league assists could upgrade his France Advanced Chest, and decided to save it for the upgrade.
• Utrecht beat Achilles 5-1 as Tang Ye provided two assists, secured a place in the Dutch Cup quarterfinals, and heard Captain Ramselaar call for the team to win the trophy.
• AZ Alkmaar took a 2-0 lead over Utrecht, but Haller scored and Tang Ye curled in an equalizer before the match ended 2-2.
• Tang Ye discussed his positioning and attacking role with Haller, Ramselaar, and Balazhit on the way back to the dressing room.
• Erik ten Hag claimed Utrecht should have won against AZ Alkmaar, while Dongqiudi drew attention to Transfermarkt's updated valuation of Tang Ye.

Tang Ye learned that Transfermarkt had valued him at €4 million, celebrated Christmas with his teammates, and wished to win the Eredivisie with Utrecht. After his agent told him Feyenoord wanted to trigger his release clause, Tang missed Erik ten Hag’s holiday party to meet someone, leaving Erik suspicious about where he had gone.

• Tang Ye discovered that Transfermarkt had valued him at €4 million, making him the most valuable player in China.
• Tang Ye spent Christmas Eve playing FIFA with Zaka and wished to win the Eredivisie with Utrecht.
• Boer told Tang Ye that Feyenoord wanted to pay his €200,000 release clause and asked whether he would agree to transfer during the winter window.
• Tang Ye asked Zaka to tell Erik ten Hag he could not attend the holiday party because he was meeting a friend in Montfoort.
• Erik ten Hag grew angry that Tang Ye had missed the party and became alarmed when he heard Tang was meeting a friend.

Tang Ye turned down Feyenoord and Utrecht revised his contract, while Erik ten Hag signed Frenkie de Jong and insisted Utrecht could reach the top four. In Utrecht’s match against Groningen, Tang Ye assisted Balazhit’s opener, made a costly error that led to Sørloth’s equalizer, and then attempted another pass that baffled Joosten.

• Erik ten Hag confronted Tang Ye about Feyenoord’s offer, but Tang Ye said he would stay at Utrecht to help the team reach the top four.
• Utrecht gave Tang Ye a five-year contract paying 7,000 euros a week and removed his release clause.
• Erik ten Hag signed Frenkie de Jong for 9 million euros, then claimed Utrecht’s chances of finishing in the top four had risen to 99%.
• Tang Ye assisted Balazhit’s goal against Groningen with a cross that put Utrecht ahead.
• Tang Ye lost the ball to Sørloth, who scored to equalize for Groningen.
• Tang Ye sent an outside-foot pass toward the left touchline, leaving Joosten confused about where it was going.

Tang Ye helped Utrecht defeat Groningen 4–1, recording three assists and completing an assist hat trick. After the match, Erik ten Hag claimed Utrecht could have won by an even larger margin.

• Tang Ye assisted Haller to put Utrecht ahead 2–1 before halftime.
• Tang Ye beat Groningen’s press and helped start the attack that ended with Ramselaar scoring, though Kapelhoff’s challenge prevented Tang Ye from being credited with the assist.
• Tang Ye tracked back, won the ball from Kapelhoff, and helped Utrecht build another attack.
• Tang Ye passed to Balazhit instead of shooting, giving him an open goal and completing Tang Ye’s assist hat trick.
• Utrecht won 4–1, and Erik ten Hag told reporters the score should have been much higher.

Tang Ye welcomed Utrecht’s new signing Frenkie de Jong, then suffered an ankle injury during a match against Zwolle that left the team struggling to attack. Utrecht drew 1–1 after Nijland equalized, and Erik ten Hag said Tang might miss a month while insisting the team did not depend on him.

• On the bus after Utrecht’s win, Balazhit thanked Tang Ye for passing to him, while Erik ten Hag warned the players that PSV Eindhoven and Ajax were closing in.
• Erik ten Hag introduced Frenkie de Jong as Utrecht’s backup defensive midfielder, then sent Mitchell van der Gaag to wake Tang Ye, who was late because he had slept in his warm room.
• During a five-a-side scrimmage, de Jong showed his ball control and passing ability, and Tang Ye scored from his return pass.
• Against Zwolle, Tang Ye assisted Joosten for an early goal, but Nijland knocked him down and twisted his ankle, forcing him off the pitch.
• With Tang Ye sidelined, Utrecht struggled to create chances, and Nijland equalized in the second half to make the match 1–1.
• At the press conference, Erik ten Hag blamed the draw on luck, said Tang might need a month to recover, and denied that Utrecht’s attack depended on him.

Tang Ye recovered from his ankle sprain far faster than expected thanks to his doubled metabolism, while Utrecht struggled through three matches without a win. After Erik ten Hag discovered that Utrecht attacked more effectively with less possession and recognized Tang Ye’s importance, Tang returned to training and earned a starting place against PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Cup quarterfinal.

• Tang Ye realized that his injury had doubled his metabolic rate, helping his ankle recover quickly, but hid his progress from Erik ten Hag.
• Utrecht drew with Roda JC and lost to Twente without scoring, while Weilhof remained convinced by Erik ten Hag’s explanation that the team was still on track.
• Mitchell van der Gaag showed Erik ten Hag that Utrecht produced more effective attacks with less possession, and Erik noticed the statistics linked Tang Ye with attacking success.
• Tang Ye told Erik ten Hag his ankle would be fully recovered by the afternoon of February 4, and the coach grew suspicious after hearing a broadcast about piglets’ fast metabolism.
• Tang Ye returned to training, impressed Erik with a through ball, and persuaded him to start against PSV Eindhoven after insisting his ankle had healed.

Tang Ye returned from injury for Utrecht’s Dutch Cup quarterfinal against PSV Eindhoven, but Utrecht went behind 2-0 despite his creative play. Tang Ye helped start a counterattack that made it 2-1, leaving Cocu wary as ten Hag remained calmly seated.

• Tang Ye set up Haller with an outside-of-the-foot pass, but Haller’s finish was ruled offside.
• Pröpper launched a counterattack that ended with Narsingh scoring for PSV Eindhoven.
• At halftime, Tang Ye used FIFA player cards to identify PSV players’ weaker feet and discussed exploiting them with ten Hag.
• Locadia scored early in the second half to put PSV Eindhoven 2-0 ahead.
• Tang Ye helped Utrecht regain possession and launch a counterattack, which ended with Joosten scoring to make it 2-1.

Tang Ye helped Utrecht overturn a 2–0 deficit against PSV Eindhoven, scoring once and assisting twice to secure a 3–2 win in the 91st minute. After the match, he celebrated with his teammates and joined Erik ten Hag at the press conference, where the coach credited him with carrying out halftime instructions.

• After Joosten scored, Tang Ye stole the ball from Hendrix and scored with an outside-of-the-foot shot to make it 2–2.
• Tang Ye drew a foul during Narsingh’s corner goal, and the referee disallowed the goal.
• In the 91st minute, Tang Ye chipped de Jong’s pass into the penalty area, where Kleiber headed in Utrecht’s winning goal.
• Tang Ye celebrated in the dressing room with Balazhit, Ramselaar, and Haller, then joined Erik ten Hag for an interview.
• At the press conference, Erik ten Hag told reporters that Tang Ye had followed his halftime tactical instructions, and Tang Ye went along with the claim.

Tang Ye decided to stay in the Netherlands for Chinese New Year so he could keep playing for Utrecht, then considered how to spend his saved Comeback Points to develop faster. After Erik ten Hag advised him to prioritize his body, Tang Ye unlocked Cristiano Ronaldo's Chicken Breast and discovered its hunger-inducing side effect.

• Tang Ye discussed his Chinese New Year plans with his parents, and Tang Zhengxiong supported his choice to remain in the Netherlands and focus on football.
• Tang Ye checked his status panel and found he had saved 108 Comeback Points, leaving him to choose between improving his ball feel and unlocking a new item.
• Tang Ye asked Erik ten Hag what would help him get stronger quickly, and Erik ten Hag said he should build his body through strength training.
• Tang Ye spent 80 Comeback Points to unlock Cristiano Ronaldo's Chicken Breast, which increased the benefit of strength training for three hours but made him extremely hungry afterward.

Tang Ye helped Utrecht defeat PSV Eindhoven 2–0, and Cocu later attacked Erik ten Hag at a press conference. The chapter ended with Cocu claiming ten Hag was a tactical fraud and a freeloader.

• Tang Ye trained with Amrabat and Haller before Utrecht’s match against PSV Eindhoven.
• Tang Ye set up Balazhit’s early goal, giving Utrecht the lead before the tenth minute.
• Cocu brought on Narsingh early as PSV Eindhoven chased an equalizer, while Utrecht defended under heavy pressure.
• After Janssen was injured and replaced by Frankie de Jong, Tang Ye assisted Haller’s goal to put Utrecht 2–0 ahead.
• Ten Hag substituted Tang Ye to protect Utrecht’s lead, and Utrecht held on to win 2–0.
• At the press conference, Cocu said ten Hag lacked tactical ability and called him a pig and a freeloader.

After Utrecht’s victory over PSV Eindhoven, Erik ten Hag answered Cocu’s insults and the team celebrated returning to first place. Tang Ye gave six home-match tickets to Chinese fans, then assisted Joosten against Cambuur to upgrade his French Advanced Chest into a French Superstar Chest.

• Erik ten Hag defended his tactics at the press conference by citing Utrecht’s improving results against PSV Eindhoven, then taunted Cocu in the parking lot.
• Chinese fans debated Erik ten Hag’s remarks, and he explained that God had saved him while reporters publicly supported his management.
• Tang Ye trained his far-corner curl, joined Utrecht’s team celebration, and gave six home-match family tickets to three Chinese international students for their group.
• Utrecht took the lead against Cambuur through Haller, and Tang Ye later assisted Joosten after a one-two with Ramselaar.
• Tang Ye’s fifth league assist completed the French Advanced Chest upgrade and unlocked the French Superstar Chest.

Utrecht faced Willem II with Tang Ye limited by youth-protection law to playing only until 10 p.m., but Erik ten Hag started him anyway. Tang Ye scored early, and as the legal cutoff passed, ten Hag still refused to substitute him, leaving the reason for his decision unresolved.

• After learning Tang Ye could play for only thirty minutes in the late kickoff, Erik ten Hag said Utrecht would still try to win and Tang Ye gained a Kylian Mbappé Volley Slash Template from a chest.
• Tang Ye's parents visited his room, and Tang Zhengxiong learned that Tang Ye had given his family ticket slots to fans before the couple toured Utrecht and left.
• Erik ten Hag started Tang Ye against Willem II, and Tang Ye scored from Janssen's pass just over ten minutes into the match.
• Tang Zhengxiong shouted instructions at Tang Ye from the stands as the match continued toward the legal cutoff.
• After thirty minutes had passed, Erik ten Hag made no substitution, and Willem II coach Boqi realized ten Hag had deliberately decided to keep Tang Ye on the pitch.

Utrecht’s 2-1 win over Willem II brought the Youth Protection Act’s restrictions on Tang Ye’s late-night appearances into focus, but ten Hag refused to reduce his playing time. As Utrecht faced Feyenoord, Tang Ye helped create a chance with a precise long pass, but Haller failed to score and Feyenoord remained ahead.

• ten Hag said the Youth Protection Act had forced him to substitute Tang Ye in the 60th minute of Utrecht’s 2-1 victory over Willem II, and Utrecht was fined €27,000.
• Utrecht’s request to change late kickoff times was rejected, and ten Hag insisted Tang Ye would continue to receive fair playing time despite the legal restrictions.
• Tang Ye measured 177 cm and 68 kg, then received extra conditioning work from ten Hag ahead of the Feyenoord match.
• Feyenoord took an early lead when Kuyt scored after Vejinovic’s header hit the post, with the broadcast blaming Utrecht’s defensive marking.
• Tang Ye dropped deep in the 32nd minute and sent a precise long pass to Haller, whose close-range attempt was blocked by Kenneth Vermeer.

Tang Ye helped Utrecht equalize against Feyenoord with a cross for Haller, then assisted Balazhit to give Utrecht the lead in the second half. Balazhit celebrated by demanding more chances as Tang Ye tried to explain how difficult one-on-ones were to create.

• Tang Ye won the ball from Karim El Ahmadi with a sliding tackle and crossed for Haller to head in Utrecht’s equalizer.
• Ten Hag shifted Tang Ye into a deeper role, and Utrecht held Feyenoord to a 1:1 scoreline through halftime.
• Haller and Balazhit each urged Tang Ye to create more scoring chances for them during the break.
• Tang Ye’s father, Tang Zhengxiong, watched from the stands as Feyenoord dominated possession after halftime.
• Tang Ye sent Balazhit through on goal, and Balazhit scored to put Utrecht ahead 2:1.
• Balazhit ran to celebrate with Tang Ye and demanded more one-on-one chances.