Setting Out! Goodison Park

The European competition group stage was about to begin.

Most Chinese fans had not focused their attention on the star-studded UEFA Champions League, packed with powerhouse clubs.

The discussion centered on Chinese youngster Li Luo's first European competition match: Everton vs. Wolfsburg.

The major media outlets had caught the scent and began heavily building up the match:

<Wolfsburg travel to challenge Everton as Li Luo prepares for his European competition debut.>

<Everton vs. Wolfsburg: Viewership may vastly surpass that of several UEFA Champions League group-stage matches.>

<English and German powerhouses face off at Goodison Park. Martínez is a master strategist with a strong squad at his disposal, while Hecking is unfamiliar with Merseyside's treacherous terrain and may struggle to escape unscathed.>

<The Sun: Li Luo may meet privately with an Eastern girl after the match.>

<Chinese youngster Li Luo makes his European competition debut, sending Europa League popularity soaring.>

The number of comments, likes, and shares skyrocketed.

-[No problem, right? Wolfsburg should be able to beat Everton, shouldn't they?]

-[Hard to say. Everton finished fifth in the Premier League last season, and their entire squad is fit at the moment. They could very well claim a big win at home.]

-[The odds keep shifting. Everton's odds are getting lower and lower. Is it the bookies trying to lure bets, or have a lot of brothers placed heavy wagers on Wolfsburg?]

-[Bet against the favorites!]

-[This match will probably be tough. The news is right—Everton have a strong squad and home advantage. What if Wolfsburg's players aren't used to the local conditions and get diarrhea?]

-[Everton, the boss monster on the little hill near the beginner village.]

-[Boss monsters in games drop good loot. What can Everton give Li Luo in real life? Haha.]

-[Winning or losing doesn't matter. We haven't seen a Chinese player in European competition for years. Li Luo is the pride of Chinese fans.]

Braunschweig Airport.

Quite a few Wolfsburg fans had gathered outside the security line.

They sang the club anthem, cheering on the team as they saw them off.

Their voices were thunderous.

The players were deeply moved, and their desire to return with the fruits of victory grew even stronger.

Bendtner looked disdainful. "When I was at Arsenal, when was I ever afraid of a team like Everton? We beat them 6–1 a few years back! Though I didn't score or assist in that match."

Captain Benaglio spoke sternly. "Times are different. Everton have been very strong these past two seasons. We can't let our guard down."

On the plane.

Li Luo held a tablet and carefully watched recordings of Everton's recent matches.

"Their tactics change every match."

Gustavo leaned over for a look and said, "That's the right path for a mid-table Premier League team that wants to climb higher."

The former Bayern Munich player did not spout empty encouragement or meaningless platitudes.

"Players in many positions at mid-table clubs have obvious strengths and weaknesses."

"The head coach must make proactive adjustments according to the characteristics of each opponent."

"Martínez is a very talented head coach. He took Everton to fifth place in the Premier League last season."

Arnold, sitting nearby, could not help asking curiously, "Why doesn't our head coach make tactical adjustments so frequently?"

Gustavo replied as if it were only natural, "A giant peak by the shore remains unchanged no matter how the waves crash against it."

Hecking, seated in front, could not help but blush in embarrassment.

It was not that he did not want to change.

Who did not want to keep up with the times?

When he had taken over Wolfsburg in a crisis years ago, he had been able to carry out sweeping reforms.

Now that the tactical framework was stable, continuing to reform it... was difficult. The club's upper management would also see no need for it.

Many coaches in the five major leagues kept reforming and reforming... until they reformed themselves out of a job.

The plane landed at John Lennon Airport.

The airport had been named in memory of John Lennon, the famous member of The Beatles.

It was also England's first airport to be named after a celebrity.

In Merseyside in September, the wind still carried the last lingering warmth of summer, yet the clouds already revealed the desolation of autumn.

"I want to see the River Mersey ferry tour."

"Or visit the Maritime Museum and learn about Liverpool's history as a port city and its influence on global trade."

"Bullshit. Bendtner, you brat just wants to go to nightclubs and casinos. Don't think we don't know."

"Coming back to Great Britain again, I'm actually a little nervous."

The two Premier League castoffs had complicated feelings.

Li Luo followed the team out through the arrivals gate and discovered quite a few Manchester United fans waving at him.

"Li!"

"Good luck!"

"Whatever you do, don't get hurt."

What fans hoped for from a young player was not merely results, but fewer injuries as well.

Without lingering for long, Li Luo briefly interacted with the fans before boarding the bus to the team hotel.

There was still one day until matchday.

Wolfsburg still needed to inspect the pitch.

At Everton's training ground, the players listened attentively as the coaching staff laid out their plans:

"Bendtner's dominant foot is his right, and he's also quite good in the air. But he isn't much of a threat to our defensive line. This striker hasn't displayed a complete skill set at Wolfsburg; I believe that most of the time, he serves as a target man."

"Gustavo is very strong defensively in one-on-one situations, but he has little desire to push forward or launch attacks in transition. He also fouls easily. Once this guy gets a yellow card, he'll become one of the areas we can exploit."

"De Bruyne—limit him with physicality and challenges. That kid is a huge problem."

"Li... there's too little data on him for us to judge his dominant foot. During settled play, there's no need to worry too much about his heading."

"You have to understand that Maradona and Cruyff were both quite good in the air too, but their success rate in aerial duels against tall defenders wasn't high."

Lukaku wore a serious expression.

Everton's assistant coach patted him on the shoulder. "In tomorrow's match, don't drift wide whenever you please. You need to take on a striker's responsibilities like Bendtner."

He then said to several other players, "When Li operates in midfield, he relies too heavily on One-Touch Passing to conceal his inability to handle the ball while facing forward. We have to turn up the intensity hard against him."

The following day.

Goodison Park.

The roar of the crowd was deafening, and the stands resembled a surging blue ocean.

"Zhuangdian TV! Zhuangdian TV! Good evening, viewers!"

"We're bringing you live coverage of the first round of the 2014/15 Europa League group stage."

"Everton host Wolfsburg."

"England's Toffees against Germany's Wolves—what kind of sparks will fly?"

"Director Zhang, what do you think?"

"Hehehe."

The commentator continued explaining the origin of Everton's "Toffees" nickname to the audience.

Director Zhang, meanwhile, reminisced about European matches from years ago: back then, football tactics and techniques were limited by the era, but the two teams in European competition came from different leagues and had completely different tactical styles, making the matches especially entertaining.

The players' tunnel.

Lukaku exchanged a high-five with his Belgium national team teammate, De Bruyne. Judging by their expressions, they were not particularly close.

He then looked at Li Luo.

His gaze was clear.

"Li, we meet again. Tonight, we'll shut you down."

Everton's lineup: "..."

They wanted nothing more than to cover the little black egg's mouth, lest he reveal their pre-match tactical plans.

Li Luo was just about to respond.

Then, suddenly.

A cold, mechanical synthesized voice quietly sounded in his mind.

[It has been detected that you are about to compete in the Europa League.]

[The exchange function for the Europa League All-Stars Blind Box has been unlocked.]

[After every Europa League match, you may use Shock Points to exchange for Europa League All-Stars Blind Boxes.]

The Europa League Blind Box had a broader card pool?

It wasn't limited to Bundesliga All-Stars!

Who could he draw after the match ended?