"So, that's the situation. Ladies and gentlemen, does anyone have anything to say?"
Early morning, the tactical meeting room at the Dortmund Training Base. The projector displayed the group stage draw for the 2008-2009 Champions League season.
Group A: Chelsea, Roma, Bordeaux, CFR Cluj.
Group B: Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis.
Group C: Barcelona, Sporting CP, Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk.
Group D: Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Zenit Saint Petersburg, FC BATE Borisov.
Group E: Manchester United, Villarreal, Celtic, Aalborg.
Group F: Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua București, Fiorentina.
Group G: Real Madrid, Juventus, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund.
Group H: Arsenal, Porto, Fenerbahçe, Dynamo Kyiv.
*Atletico was originally in group D while FC BATE Borisov was in group G. In this fanfiction having eliminated Atletico, BVB qualified and while it should have been in Group D it's in Group G, as the author decided it so.
Jürgen Klopp leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head, elbows flared out. His assistant, Željko Buvač, rested his chin on his hand, shaking his head with a soft sigh. The Borussia Dortmund players had varying expressions; some were excited, some fearful, and some just dazed. And then there was Nuri Şahin, who was practically slumped over the table like a blob of jelly.
"It's over—I thought we could make a run for the knockout stages, but how are we supposed to play this? Game over."
Mats Hummels tilted his head back at a 45-degree angle, gazing at the ceiling with a melancholic profile.
We're doomed!
Neven Subotić and Marco Reus both felt a sense of helplessness. They had clearly defeated the powerful Atlético Madrid to snatch an entry ticket. Was it only to experience six group stage matches?
To get a taste of the Champions League atmosphere and then be eliminated?
Seeing the heavy atmosphere in the tactical meeting room, Klopp looked toward captain Sebastian Kehl, signalling with his eyes for the captain to step up and liven things up. Kehl was also at a loss; he didn't know what to say.
Was he supposed to say he'd lead the team to beat Real Madrid, beat Juventus, and charge into the knockouts?
Forget them—even Marseille wouldn't be easy to deal with.
Thumping Bayern 5–1 in the league only meant they were familiar with Bayern. In the Champions League, every team is a powerhouse, and giants often stumble against smaller clubs from less heralded leagues. No one present had any Champions League experience, and even Klopp didn't know how to navigate the tournament yet.
Kehl subconsciously looked toward the youngest member of the team, Jin Hayes. Only his eyes were still sparkling.
"Me?" Noticing the captain's hint, Jin Hayes didn't shy away. He slapped the table and stood up, drawing everyone's attention.
"There's a saying I find very fitting: all enemies are paper tigers." Jin Hayes emphasized the German word "Papiertiger"—a tiger made of paper. It was the first time the Dortmund players had heard this phrase, and they couldn't help but find it novel.
"Real Madrid—after Robben left, they're left with just Raúl, Higuaín, Gago, Sneijder, and Van der Vaart. Compared to Bayern's squad, are they really that strong? Not really. I don't even think they're as strong as Atlético Madrid's squad. We crushed Atlético and Bayern by huge margins, so why can't we beat Real Madrid?"
"Juventus is the same. They look like a giant, but in reality, they finished third in Serie A last season—ten points behind Roma."
The Dortmund players' eyes widened at Jin Hayes's evaluation.
Real Madrid and Juventus were world-renowned giants; in the hearts of these European players, they were powerful and unshakable entities. How did they become so beatable in Jin Hayes's mouth?
If these words got out, the media would surely hype it up as a massive story. But thinking carefully, Jin Hayes wasn't wrong. They weren't much stronger than Bayern Munich. There was no reason to be afraid of them.
"Brothers, you have to believe—we, Borussia Dortmund, are strong!" Jin Hayes clenched his fist, his voice echoing through the meeting room with conviction. His infectious energy spread quickly. Without knowing who started it, everyone began clapping and whistling. The atmosphere, which had been so low just moments ago, was suddenly fired up. Though they weren't entirely sure what they were fired up about.
"Exactly. Jin is right." Klopp stepped forward to summarize. "We really don't need to fear any team. They should be afraid of us. I've already given my word to the management: we're reaching at least the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season. Do you have the confidence?"
"Yes!" The room erupted with excitement. The Dortmund players were chomping at the bit, wishing they could head to the Champions League pitch right now.
Klopp grinned happily. Young people really were easy to motivate; a little bit of hype was all it took to mobilise their enthusiasm. If it were a bunch of seasoned veterans, it wouldn't be so easy. The drive of youth was this team's most precious competitive edge.
…
While the Dortmund players were discussing the Champions League situation, the European football media had already begun their carnival.
The 2008-2009 group stage draw didn't have many narratives; there were no major rivalries within the groups, and the skill gaps were quite obvious. One could basically tell at a glance which two teams would advance from each group. Therefore, the entire conversation surrounding the Champions League draw focused on Group G—the Group of Death.
Real Madrid, the European giants with nine Champions League titles, the overlords of the competition. Juventus, the rulers of Serie A, gradually regaining their strength after Calciopoli, with two Champions League titles. Marseille, a powerhouse in Ligue 1 and a Champions League regular, winners of the 1992-1993 season. Borussia Dortmund, winners of the 1996-1997 Champions League.
All four teams in the group had glorious histories; every single one of them was a former champion. Based on recent strength, anyone had a chance to advance, and no team could guarantee they wouldn't be eliminated. The suspense was at its peak.
Turin Sports Daily: "The suspense in Group G is no less than the race for the Serie A title! Juve must be wary of Dortmund's rising stars; the road to revival after Calciopoli will be tested in this 'deadly swamp'!"
L'Équipe: "Marseille is trapped in a siege by three giants, but Ligue 1's strength in European competition should not be underestimated—this might be the perfect script for the 1993 miracle to repeat!"
Marca: "Real Madrid eyes their tenth title! Group G is merely a stepping stone before the Galácticos ascend the throne; Raúl and Sneijder will show what it means to be kings of the Champions League!"
Münchner Abendzeitung: "Can Dortmund's courage from beating Bayern carry over to the Champions League? Rookie Klopp faces Real Madrid and Juve; this might be where the Bumblebees' wings are clipped!"
According to the major media outlets, Real Madrid and Juventus still held the advantage to advance. Real Madrid's Raúl remained the legendary striker at the top of the Champions League all-time scoring list, looking down on everyone with 66 total goals.
Juve's veterans like Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet also possessed a wealth of Champions League experience.
Relatively speaking, Jin Hayes's Dortmund were all newcomers, lacking in European pedigree. In the eyes of the media and fans, they might just be the 'experience fodder' in the Group of Death.
"According to the odds from major bookmakers bwin and William Hill, Chelsea is unanimously considered the favourite to win this year's Champions League, currently ranked first with odds of 6.0; Real Madrid at 6.5 and Manchester United at 7.0 are ranked second and third respectively. … The 'Youth Storm' of Borussia Dortmund is currently ranked outside the top ten with odds of 65.00."
After all, it was the Group of Death, and Dortmund fans weren't very optimistic about their team's chances either. For several days, Frank and Hans had faces full of worry. Jin Hayes browsed the Kicker forums on his phone; the mood among Dortmund fans was not high. On the other hand, the Bayern Munich fans, who had just suffered a 5–1 defeat, were acting quite arrogant and high-profile on the forums.
"The Bundesliga can only rely on us. You guys just go and enjoy the atmosphere."
The Werder Bremen and Dortmund fans remained silent, letting them have their say. Jin Hayes couldn't take it anymore and replied to a post using a burner account: "Borussia Dortmund is the true face of the Bundesliga. Just you wait and see."
This comment naturally drew a lot of mockery from Bayern fans, but Jin Hayes didn't care. He simply poured his heart and soul into training, working even harder on the pitch.
"12, 13, 14…"
"Jin, take a break! I'm afraid you're going to pull a muscle." In the gym, Mats Hummels watched Jin Hayes perform four consecutive sets of 100kg bench presses. Even as a defender, he wasn't this intense. As a technical attacking midfielder, Jin Hayes was being incredibly competitive.
"No, I haven't finished my plan yet." Jin Hayes wasn't worried about overexerting himself. After his physical talent was enhanced, his injury risk had dropped significantly, and his training growth rate had accelerated. He could fully handle the increased volume.
If he could reach his physical limit soon, with a maxed-out strength level, he would be a human bulldozer on the pitch. Beasts like Yaya Touré or Claude Makélélé wouldn't be able to withstand Jin Hayes's impact—he'd steamroll his way to the goal.
Jin Hayes's relentless training stimulated his teammates. Nuri Şahin and Marco Reus couldn't help but grit their teeth and do extra work as well. Unfortunately, their bodies were still relatively slight. After completing a few sets of strength training, they were all sprawled over the equipment like dead dogs.
Looking up, they saw Jin Hayes was still training.
"Seriously, are you even human?"
"My god, Jin! Take a rest, or you'll make me look like a piece of trash."
"You already are." Jin Hayes glanced over dismissively, making Şahin nearly choke up. He remembered when he could still overpower Jin Hayes in terms of strength. In less than a year, he had been overtaken. Now, this guy could probably hold his own against Subotić's physical defence.
Terrifying.
Şahin and Reus exchanged a look, seeing the fear in each other's eyes. The bad news was, they had encountered a monster. The good news was, the monster was on their side.
Being drawn into the Group of Death had galvanised these young Dortmund players. They were already itching to get out on the pitch and prove themselves. The first battle, in one week.
The opponent: Juventus.