Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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Using the Tiger Shot ability, which guarantees a goal after a 2.5-second charge, for a free kick—this wasn't a sudden idea.
Lance had wanted to do this since he first saw the skill description.
During the run-up, he could charge freely without interference.
It was just rare to find a suitable free-kick position; angles too wide or distances too close wouldn't work.
The Tiger Shot is a straight shot with the instep.
If it's blocked by the wall, the skill effect cannot be triggered, and if it's too far from the goal, it also won't trigger.
He couldn't aim a shot at the corner flag and have the skill forcefully pull it back—that would be too fantastical.
Although the current skills are already quite fantastical, at least they are within the reasonable scope of football.
In any case, with a 1-0 lead at half-time, Bayer Leverkusen is getting closer and closer to defending their title!
"If Bayer Leverkusen can win the championship today, they will have created new history!"
Bundesliga commentator Scholl was very excited.
Despite being a Bayern legend, he was very happy to see Bayern's throne overturned.
"In the history of the Bundesliga, since its official establishment in 1963, only three teams have achieved back-to-back championships. Bayern Munich need not be mentioned. From 1969 to 1971, Borussia Mönchengladbach achieved back-to-back championships, briefly breaking Bayern Munich's dominance."
"Next was Borussia Dortmund, achieving back-to-back championships in the 2010 to 2012 seasons, once again pulling Bayern off the throne. Most of the other times, occasionally a team could win the championship, but Bayern Munich remained the unavoidable ruler of the Bundesliga."
"Today, we can finally witness the birth of a new king in the Bundesliga! To defeat Bayern Munich head-on during a relatively strong period for Bayern, and achieve the feat of back-to-back championships! Of course, they need to hold on for another 45 minutes, and push through the final finish line in one go!"
During half-time, Bayer Leverkusen fans were both excited and nervous.
They were so afraid of jinxing it that they didn't even dare to open champagne during the break.
Except for those who absolutely couldn't hold back, everyone at the BayArena stayed in the stands.
The strangers around them were now like blood relatives, brothers and sisters.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, singing the team anthem in unison.
Many had hoarse voices but continued to shout themselves hoarse, hoping to contribute their last bit of strength to Bayer Leverkusen.
"He is the King of Bayer Leverkusen, Lance!"
"Great Lance!"
"Mighty Lance!"
"Lead us to the championship!"
"Lead us to witness a miracle!"
"Lance——"
"Lance——"
Half-time ended.
When Lance walked out of the player tunnel, the unified singing of nearly 60,000 people in the stadium formed a heart-stirring power!
All who heard it were moved!
"Lance, honestly, I really envy you."
"Don't you have your own exclusive song too?"
Kevin De Bruyne had been with the team for one season.
His excellent performance was adored by Bayer Leverkusen fans, and he also had his own song.
"No, it's not the same, I don't have such a grand presence."
De Bruyne's eyes gleamed with envy and relief.
Only he knew that when Lance was seven years old, he lacked talent and was tormented by the children at Genk.
This kid had a fierce determination.
He would hug the ball and practise basic skills frantically on the grass until dark.
He even took the ball with him on his way to school.
Once, the ball went too far and rolled onto the road, and he desperately rushed to continue dribbling.
Such a dangerous scene is not recommended for children to imitate, but De Bruyne understood Lance's obsession with football.
Now, to be praised by all the fans in the stadium, this was the glory he deserved.
"Come on! Last 45 minutes, let's try to get this championship!"
"Brother, come on!"
"Hey, what about me!!"
Son Heung-min was jealous on the side.
Since Kevin De Bruyne joined the team, was Son Heung-min no longer a brother?
"That's right, you too!"
"Lance, don't forget us!!"
"Everyone's brothers, alright? Hurry up and get on the pitch, no more talking!"
A group of young men from Bayer Leverkusen, full of vigour and spirit, walked onto the pitch with their heads held high, ready for the final 45 minutes of this Bundesliga season...
In contrast, at the Allianz Arena, the faces of Bayern Munich's many star players were not looking good.
Everyone was preoccupied and morale was low.
One might think Bayern had lost, but the scoreboard actually showed them leading Mainz 3-0.
Thomas Müller looked at the scoreboard and couldn't help but sigh.
"Don't be discouraged, Thomas, theoretically we still have a chance."
Lahm patted Müller's back to comfort his good friend.
He couldn't reach Müller's head, so this was all he could do.
Müller just shook his head and gave a bitter smile.
As long as that kid Lance was on the pitch, Bayern theoretically might turn the tide and win the championship, but wanting to turn the tide and win the championship was also not very likely.
"If only we had known, we should have found every way to keep him at Bayern."
Not just Müller, but the Bayern executives in the stands—Rummenigge, Hoeneß, and even "Football Emperor" Beckenbauer—all had grim expressions.
They must have regretted it bitterly.
"I heard that Lance... we could have kept him?"
"Yes, Mr Beckenbauer."
Beckenbauer is currently a World Cup organising committee official and no longer manages Bayern Munich, but he is, after all, a former chairman and a Bayern legend.
Hoeneß and Rummenigge were sweating, secretly cursing that wretched Erik ten Hag!
Erik ten Hag had simply left and returned to the Eredivisie as a coach, so Hoeneß himself had to take the blame.
Hoeneß quickly pulled out his phone and sent a mass message in the work group.
"Put down all current work and focus all efforts on signing Lance!"
"No matter what Bayer Leverkusen's asking price is, we must have him in a Bayern jersey before September!"
Bayern Munich's "fine tradition" is that no matter how many talented star players other Bundesliga teams have, they all end up at Bayern.
Lance was unaware that even before the current Bundesliga season ended, an undercurrent was already spreading across the European continent...
"Jose, I want to sign someone."
"No problem, Mr Abramovich, who do you want to sign?"
"That Easterner, Lance."
"You know, I've already sent scouts to observe him. If he's with us next season, I'm confident we can win the championship back."
...
"Sir Ferguson, any instructions?"
"I'm just a retired old man, no instructions, just a suggestion. You might try to contact that very popular talent in the Bundesliga recently."
"Lance? Of course, we are already in contact with Mendes. But perhaps you, Sir, will need to step in and talk to Mendes."
"No problem, I'll call him later. But... will Mr Van Gaal use him?"
"We discussed it in a meeting earlier, and Mr Van Gaal also admires him very much."
"Then there's no problem."
...
"Stan... can't the budget really be increased?"
"You know, Arsène, the Emirates Stadium still has a certain amount of debt..."
"Of course I know! But we need more money to strengthen the squad. If we want to win the championship, the old transfer policy really needs to change."
"So how much money do you need?"
"A hundred million."
"WTF? Are you kidding? An 18-year-old kid needs a hundred million? Euros?"
"I'm not kidding. Others' valuations might be inflated, but he's really worth a hundred million."
...
"This is my transfer scouting list. Taking over the team next season, I hope..."
"No need to say more, the person you're talking about, we are already in contact with him."
"As expected of you, Mr Florentino."
"After all, he's the one who eliminated us. I don't want to be eliminated by him again next year."
...
Madrid, Manchester, London, Munich, Paris... Tonight, many pairs of eyes from different regions were focused on the final Bundesliga matchday, all watching Bayer Leverkusen's game.
The second half's 45 minutes quickly passed, and Bayer Leverkusen's 1-0 lead was maintained until the end.
At the BayArena, when the match entered the final minute of injury time, almost everyone stood up and cheered, welcoming that moment with the greatest enthusiasm!
Bayer Leverkusen's opponent, Frankfurt, had no more will to play.
Both sides played lightly, tacitly letting the final moments pass.
The referee looked at his watch and blew the final whistle!
Beep!
Beep!
Beep——
"Match over!!! Full-time!!!"
"Thanks to Lance's free-kick goal, Bayer Leverkusen defeated Frankfurt 1-0!"
"They experienced a tumultuous season! From unstable results and much criticism at the beginning of the season, to later eliminating strong opponents consecutively and regaining form. Facing a three-front battle in the Champions League, league, and Cup, Bayer Leverkusen never feared difficulties, never feared strong opponents! They played a season that earned everyone's respect!"
"Today, they are about to lift the Bundesliga championship trophy for the second time!"
"Let us all shout together—"
"Bayer Leverkusen—"
"Are champions!!!"