What? This Time It's an East German's Module?

Hoffenheim's fans did not leave in anger.

Their eyes burned as they stayed loyal, using their club anthem to rally the players:

"We come from the village, we have nothing~"

"We are immensely strong, we worship freedom~"

"We are Hoffenheim! Come taste our football~"

The impassioned melody bloomed with the resilience of a small-town club.

Gustavo was filled with emotion. What would have happened if he had never joined Bayern Munich and had stayed at Hoffenheim? Pulling himself from his thoughts, the Brazilian could not help telling the nineteen-year-old Arnold beside him about Hoffenheim's history.

Arnold said he had heard enough and turned to thank the Wolfsburg fans who had traveled with the team.

The Wolfsburg prince suddenly asked curiously, "Why did Hoffenheim become so aggressive as they played?"

After thinking for a moment, the older players gave various answers related to tactical adjustments.

In the end, Bendtner said, "Their head coach got anxious. For some older coaches at lower- and mid-table clubs in the top five leagues, their mentality during matches just isn't good enough."

No one took it seriously.

But Li Luo felt that Bendtner's words made some sense.

Why would a team built around a low-block bus still counter-press on the spot in the attacking third instead of quickly dropping back into position?

The answer might not have been that complicated.

Their head coach was simply "experimenting."

De Bruyne suddenly stepped forward, his expression serious. "In the upcoming UEFA Europa League, we'll be facing an even stronger Everton."

The Belgian midfielder had a strong desire to win, and sometimes he became anxious.

He was not a bad person. He just occasionally failed to realize that he was the one putting pressure on his teammates.

Bendtner's expression was complicated, but he said nothing.

The two Premier League castoffs wanted to prove themselves against a Premier League side.

Gradually, as the Wolfsburg fans in the away stand began to leave, everyone returned to the locker room.

Li Luo walked at the very back of the group, watching the lights of Neckar Arena gradually dim.

[Do you wish to spend 100,000 Shock Value to exchange for a Bundesliga Star Blind Box?]

[Exchange in progress.]

Rumble!

A gigantic card suddenly rose before him!

A figure slowly emerged from within the card.

Every time he opened a blind box, it was a little nerve-racking and exciting.

What would it be this time?

Li Luo felt that drawing another one of Müller's abilities would not be bad either, such as the transition between shooting movements.

Or perhaps an ability from Leverkusen's midfield core, Çalhanoğlu... He had happened to recall one of his dribbling-escape tutorial videos during the match tonight, and it had actually worked.

Come on.

Müller.

Or Çalhanoğlu.

[Blind Box opening...]

[A proud figure stood tall, one foot on the ball, raising a finger...]

[The East German midfielder who operated with machine-like stability.]

[The supplier of German missiles.]

[The art of speaking: Don't lose through poor expression.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained: Kroos's "Front-Facing Reception Escape" module.]

[A supreme static-duel concept that enables escape without relying on ball-control attributes.]

[It does not depend on flashy tricks, but on a static technique centered on body balance, shifts in center of gravity, and Spatial Awareness.]

[The simplest and most efficient static escape. It does not strain the body and can be executed with calm composure.]

What?

The back of Li Luo's head tingled slightly.

Countless scenes flashed through his mind: dozens of front-facing, under-pressure situations in different match scenarios, along with eleven effortless ways to escape.

A high, high, high... high-end version of Çalhanoğlu?

"Another module that can be combined with Spatial Awareness!"

"This kind of escape concept... is incredibly useful for a midfielder."

"Why is the color of Kroos's shirt inside the card constantly changing? One moment it's Leverkusen, then Bayern Munich, then the Germany National Football Team?"

The post-match press conference.

Hecking looked calm as he quietly accepted the media's praise.

Inside, he was secretly delighted.

His tone remained composed:

"Li's two goals were crucial. He is on the path to conquering the Bundesliga."

"However."

"What surprised me even more... was how intelligently he dismantled Hoffenheim's counter-pressing tactics."

"As long as he is on the pitch, Wolfsburg becomes exceptionally fluid."

"Mm, mm... I can't say it was all my credit, but I did put a lot of thought into having Li and De Bruyne form a dual-core midfield."

A few minutes later.

Marcus appeared in the hall.

His face was livid.

"The coaching staff was not properly prepared, and some players were not in the right state on the pitch."

"We played very well in the closing stages."

"I do not wish to make any comments about China's Li."

"Yes, he is a genius."

"The whole world is already familiar with his style. For most of the match, he adjusts his body orientation like a Premier League midfielder, while passing and receiving like a Spanish midfielder... Combining those two approaches brings many advantages, but I believe that against more outstanding all-around midfielders, his bad habits will be exposed."

"Li relies too heavily on one-touch play. In midfield, he does not possess elite front-facing static ball-handling ability!"

"Against stronger opponents, he will disappear and provide no help to the team whatsoever."

A moment later.

After showering in the locker room, Li Luo changed into sportswear, slung on his backpack, and left with his teammates.

They passed through the mixed interview zone.

Bundesliga reporters had already been waiting for a long time.

"Li! Wait a moment!"

"You scored two wonderful goals tonight and were named Man of the Match by the Bundesliga's official media. Is there anything you would like to say?"

The crowd rushing forward nearly pressed the security barrier into a convex shape.

The security staff wore gentle expressions and symbolically spread their arms.

Li Luo thought for a moment before saying, "It was what I should have done."

If he spoke this way, the Shock Value from future matches should come faster, right?

A tall blonde reporter with big wavy hair continued her questioning:

"In a few days, you will face the stronger Premier League powerhouse Everton in the UEFA Europa League."

"In a few months, you will lead the China National Team in the Asian Cup."

"In your first season since beginning your professional career, will these difficult challenges become a source of pressure for you?"

Stronger?

Leading the China National Team in the Asian Cup?

That was a good thing!

Li Luo smiled, his thoughts drifting far away. Everton were very strong overall, and the teams China would face in the Asian Cup... were relatively strong too. When the time came... if he performed a little better, how much Shock Value could he gain?

Perhaps the UEFA Europa League and Asian Cup could unlock a wider range of star blind boxes...

Many outstanding players had played in the UEFA Europa League.

And international football history certainly did not lack legendary superstars.

"I like challenges like these."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Thunderous applause erupted at the scene and continued without end.

Camera flashes flickered.

The Bundesliga reporters scribbled furiously: The smiling Chinese genius became more excited the stronger his opponents were.

One news item after another climbed China's trending charts.

<The pride of Chinese football: Eighteen-year-old Li Luo scored twice in the Bundesliga!>

<Ghostly movement, elite instincts: Genius Li Luo's shadow-striker form.>

<An astonishing diving header, the flying Chinese man—Li Luo.>

<In-depth review: How midfield-form Li Luo countered Hoffenheim's tactical adjustments.>

Good morning, Chinese genius Li Luo.

<Matthäus: This guy Li's sense of timing when making runs is very similar to mine when I was young.>

<Korean media: Li Luo will suffer a heavy blow at the Asian Cup.>

<China National Team head coach: It will be difficult for us to fit Li Luo's style as perfectly as Wolfsburg's system does. Other China National Team players may struggle to ensure consistency in passing and receiving, which will dilute Li Luo's strategic value. The China National Team will design the tactical system best suited to Li Luo around him!>

The number of comments, likes, and reposts kept rising.

Video compilations of Li Luo's "ghostly poaching" and "diving headers" spread across the entire internet.

-[Moved. A Chinese player scored twice in a single match in one of the top five leagues.]

-[When I used to see similar clips of other stars, I would at most say they were awesome. But seeing Li Luo perform like this in one of the top five leagues... makes me both emotional and happy.]

-[So strange. Matthäus actually praises young players too? I remember him always criticizing this person and that person. Looking back at old footage, the way the two of them timed their forward runs from midfield... is indeed a little similar.]

-[He is so talented. I feel that Li Luo is gradually adapting to the Bundesliga. Slowly, he will show his true strength and true level.]

-[Yeah, I guess Wolfsburg's coaching staff is afraid Li Luo will get injured and does not want him getting kicked all over like Neymar, so they have given him the tactical role of midfield commander.]

-[What is the China National Team head coach talking about? Won't having Li Luo at the Asian Cup be great? What does he mean? The other China National Team players cannot work with him? How could they not?]

-[Think about the Chinese Super League. What kind of foreign players work well there?]

-[I get it. One style at club level, another with the national team. For example, the super talent Alaba plays as a fullback at Bayern Munich, then returns to Austria and plays as an attacking midfielder.]

-[Li Luo, keep it up!]

The next morning.

Wolfsburg gave all the players a day off.

Hecking's main concern was the string of away trips. He was worried the players' bodies would not be able to handle it.

Li Luo quietly trained in the yard at home.

Smack.

Facing forward, he moved backward to receive the ball.

Smack.

Facing forward, he ran toward the ball and used an opposite-direction touch to control it.

Smack.

Facing forward, he took a large step and dropped his shoulder to deceive, receiving with one foot and controlling with the other.

"Too easy."

"It really requires very, very little reliance on ball-control attributes."

"For ordinary people, the key is to observe in advance, calculate the distance from the opposing player, and then choose different ways to deal with the ball."

However, Li Luo possessed the Spatial Awareness module.

Kroos's front-facing escape fit him perfectly, and it could even cover up Li Luo's weaknesses.

What was even more terrifying was this.

Li Luo understood that as his ball-control attributes improved, his front-facing static ability would also continue to improve.

After training for just over two hours,

Tom arrived and made him stop.

Tom was also an educated man, having graduated from Loughborough University's sports program.

"Li, we have a UEFA Europa League match in two days. You cannot train at too high an intensity!"

"Don't do resistance training either."

"Let's watch some footage together."

Li Luo took the dry towel and wiped away his sweat. "Everton's footage? I've watched it."

"No, not Everton's footage—Bolt's Australian A-League trial footage!"

Bolt, the legendary Jamaican track sprinter, was famous around the world for the 100-meter dash.

The pinnacle of human sprinting.

A while later.

After showering, Li Luo walked into the living room and sat on the sofa with Tom to watch Bolt's trial footage.

"It'll definitely help you."

"Many players developed through Premier League academies have Bolt's sprinting habits."

On the big screen.

Bolt's speed... simply could not be fully unleashed.

A football match was not a 200-meter acceleration run. Players had to constantly change direction and make return runs according to the situation on the pitch.

"I noticed that."

"After Bolt finishes sprinting, he still needs to take so many steps to slow down."

"Li, Premier League academies have gradually started paying attention to this issue this season."

Li Luo picked up his phone.

<Giroud shares his secret: the Giroud Speed Training Method. Who says speed can't be improved through training?>

Tom added seriously, "Most players who come through Premier League academies have this weakness. Southampton is an exception. French academies have a clear advantage in this area; they've developed several young speedsters in batches."

"Sir told me to remind you to take this seriously. It's your only weakness."

What?

Even the Manchester United Crown Prince had a weakness?

Li Luo realized that the study materials he had collected were indeed useful.

The Giroud Speed Training Method contained detailed analyses of sprinting postures for different match situations, down to distinctions in which part of the foot touched the ground.

His speed attribute in the system panel was 86.

It was not slow to begin with.

As long as he gradually learned the most advanced training methods, he would be able to fully unleash his speed.

Of course.

Li Luo did not dismiss Bolt. In a counterattack without the ball, Bolt's straight-line sprinting speed was the pinnacle of humanity.

Another two hours passed.

Li Luo discovered that this guy Giroud's instructional videos contained very little explanation about speed.

Most of the content was about how to protect one's body.

The teaching material should have been renamed <Giroud Teaches You How to Protect Your Body: How to Sprint Without Getting Injured>.

"Not watching anymore."

"I'm going to write my diary."

He returned to his bedroom, shut the door, opened his notebook, and began summarizing.

"Hoffenheim's tactical adjustments, crossed out."

"In the second round of the Bundesliga, I learned how to deal with teams that set up in a low block. My stamina distribution during matches also became more reasonable. The improvement in match experience can't be put into words, crossed out."

"Firmino is an excellent player, but I don't need to think too much about how to limit him. I need to devote more energy to helping the team relieve pressure and launch attacks. Football isn't boxing, crossed out."

"Kroos's body feint to break free, huge improvement."

"In a few days, the Europa League group-stage opponent, Everton, will be very strong. Wolfsburg may be at a disadvantage on the road."

"In the upcoming matches, I need to pay attention to the issue of speed."

He closed the notebook.

Li Luo stood up, left the desk, and sprawled onto the bed.

Before he knew it, he drifted into sleep.

He had a dream. In it, Everton was the rookie village's final boss, grinding Wolfsburg into the ground and ultimately crushing the armor-stripped Wolfsburg 4–1.

Great Britain, Merseyside.

Everton's training ground.

The football was passed rapidly between blue shirts.

Head coach Martínez stood by the pitch, silently taking notes in a small notebook.

He was Espanyol. Last season, he had led Everton to fifth place in the Premier League, and his ability was not to be underestimated.

"Competing on multiple fronts is truly troubling. As the schedule progresses, the team will gradually suffer more and more injuries. Our squad depth is far behind the other Premier League teams."

The assistant coach comforted him. "Don't worry. It's only the beginning of the season."

Martínez put away his notebook and said calmly, "Then we must beat Wolfsburg at home."

Most of Everton's key players were currently healthy.

A fully fit fifth-place Premier League side was practically a Europa League tyrant.