"More than that. Look at the playersâ positioning on the pitch, especially SchĂŒrrle and Medinitz. Itâs clear their movements are centered around that Asian player."
"Youâre saying..."
"The kidâs positioning is very smart, and he covers a lot of ground. Heâs more like the attacking core for the U19 front line."
Klopp was somewhat taken aback.
He was familiar with Andre SchĂŒrrle.
The young man was one of Mainzâs most prized academy prospects.
For even him to be willing to play a supporting role to that Asian player... this kid had to be something special.
"Interesting." Kloppâs interest in Wang Shuo deepened.
But even so, under immense pressure from Bayern, Mainz U19 still couldnât find any opportunities.
However, the way the match developed next was somewhat beyond their expectations.
...
As the match entered the 75th minute, Bayern had yet to score against Mainz again.
Kramnyâs team was defending for dear life.
These were all kids around eighteen years old.
After seventy-five minutes of intense play, even the dominant Bayern players were feeling the physical toll.
The pace of the match had clearly slowed.
The defensive pressure on Mainz had eased.
But Kramny still hadnât made any substitutions.
At a disadvantage, the Mainz players had exerted even more energy.
Many of the players were beginning to show signs of fatigue.
Things werenât much better for Bayern, either.
Under these circumstances, only Wang Shuo up front was still tirelessly sprinting all over the pitch.
The contrast with everyone around him only made Wang Shuo stand out more.
In truth, it was hard for him to even get a touch on the ball by running like this on his own.
Bayernâs entire midfield was composed of exceptionally skilled prodigies; their talent was plain to see.
At best, Wang Shuoâs running could only slightly disrupt Bayernâs passing; it didnât do much to change the overall situation.
But even so, Wang Shuo kept running.
Running nonstop!
On the eve of his departure for the trial in Germany, Principal Gao had a long talk with him.
One thing he said left a particularly deep impression on Wang Shuo.
"In an eleven-on-eleven match, the strength of a single person is minuscule, even insignificant."
"But that should never be a reason to give up."
"Through tireless effort and a determination to never give up, one person can inspire many others, creating a resonance on a spiritual level!"
"This resonance is incredibly powerfulâpowerful enough to overcome anything!"
"So, Wang Shuo, you must remember this: in the world of football, strength and weakness are never set in stone!"
"Whether itâs an individual, a club, or even a countryâeveryone needs people who are persistent and never give up!"
Gao Huairen was Wang Shuoâs guide into the world of football.
He was also the elder Wang Shuo respected most in his life.
He believed in what Gao Huairen had told him.
So, whether back home or here in Europe for his trial, he always gave it his all.
When the substitute, Smaili, successfully broke past Kirschhoff and tried to charge toward the penalty area, Wang Shuo sprinted all the way back from the front, chasing him down desperately.
He finally caught up to Smaili just outside the penalty area and executed a perfect sliding tackle, knocking the ball away from Smailiâs feet.
It wasnât even a foul.
The entire stadium erupted in an uproar.
"So relentless."
"Tracking back from the attack all the way to the penalty area... he can really run."
After scrambling back to his feet, Wang Shuo waved at Kirschhoff and immediately sprinted back toward the attack.
He hadnât said a single word from start to finish.
Everyone around him was already too tired to run anymore.
Wasnât he tired?
He was.
But he was still running.
The next moment, possession was lost up front.
Wang Shuo immediately charged over again to help SchĂŒrrle with the high press, forcing Konstantin to make a back pass.
Watching Wang Shuo charge forward again, SchĂŒrrle felt a complicated mix of emotions.
âHe believed that right now, every single Mainz player felt the same way he did.â
âFrustrated!â
âSo damn frustrated!â
âEven against Bayern, being so completely dominated and pinned down... it was just too damn frustrating!â
âWere the Bayern players born with an extra leg or something?â
He looked ahead. Wang Shuo was chasing down Badstuber, trying to win the ball.
When Badstuber passed to Elbu, he immediately went after Elbu.
âThe Bayern players donât look so invincible!â
âArenât they being hounded by Wang Shuo until they have no options?â
âIf Wang Shuo can do it, why canât I?â
âWhy canât *we*?â
As this thought crossed SchĂŒrrleâs mind, he clenched his jaw and let out a fierce roar.
"Letâs do this!"
With that, he charged in Konstantinâs direction.
At almost the exact same moment, Medinitz charged forward from the other side.
In the midfield, Kirschhoff and the others also surged forward.
They had caught their breath, and now they were ready to go to war with Bayern again!
The Bayern players truly hadnât expected this.
The match was already at the 80-minute mark, yet the Mainz players could still surge forward to press them.
It might not have been surprising coming from a senior team, but this was a U19 squad!
The Bayern players were clearly caught off guard when the Mainz players charged at them.
The ball was intercepted near the edge of the center circle in Bayernâs own half.
After intercepting the ball, Kirschhoff passed it to Benjamin Bishoff, who immediately sent it forward.
Wang Shuo received the ball in open space and sent a diagonal pass to the right flank, looking for SchĂŒrrle.
Just as SchĂŒrrle was about to break through, Konstantin chose to commit a foul.
The Bayern left-back received a yellow card.
Mainz, in turn, was awarded a free kick on the right side of the pitch, just outside the penalty area.
Right-back Constantin Flynn jogged up, placed the ball, and then slowly backed away.
At this point, all of Mainzâs tallest players were positioned inside the penalty area.
As the teamâs best crosser from the right flank, Flynn delivered a precise, curving ball that dropped right in front of the center of Bayernâs six-yard box.
The next moment, Kirschhoff broke free from the Bayern defenders, leaped high into the air, and powerfully headed the ball into the back of Bayernâs net.
3â3!
Like a heavy tank, Kirschhoff let out a mighty roar as he landed.
The surrounding Mainz players all rushed toward him.
"Great job, Jan!"
"What a header!"
Like the others, Wang Shuo ran over to hug Kirschhoff, but then immediately broke away, sprinted to the Bayern goal, scooped the ball out of the net, and raced back to the center circle.
"Letâs go, letâs go! Get back! Get ready for the next attack!"
The Mainz players roared in approval.
Even Kirschhoff stopped celebrating and sprinted back to his own half.
All the fans in the stadium were stunned!
Was this still the Mainz team they knew?
On the sidelines, Kloppâs eyes gleamed with excitement.
âThis soaring fighting spiritâthis perseverance and refusal to give up even in the most desperate situationsâisnât this the "five percent" my mentor, Wolfgang Frank, always talked about?â
Kramny was on the sidelines, clapping and cheering relentlessly for his players.
"Well done! Keep playing like this!"
"We still have a chance!"
And when the match restarted, everyone realized the tables had turned.
Having tied the score, Mainz continued to press forward.
The exhausted Bayern players were clearly struggling to fend off their aggressive opponents.
Just six minutes later, Bayern made a passing error in their own half.
A pass from EkiÄ was intercepted by Kirschhoff, who then passed it to Flynn on his overlapping run up the right wing.
Flynn saw Wang Shuo up ahead, hand raised and calling for the ball, and immediately sent a low, diagonal pass his way.
The ball traveled diagonally from the right wing toward the right side of the Arc Top District.
Harried by Badstuber, Wang Shuo burst forward at top speed, shaking off the Bayern center-back and sprinting for his life.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant.
No one could have imagined that after eighty-seven minutes of being on the back foot, Wang Shuoâwho had already run countless kilometersâcould still muster a sprint.
He actually reached Flynnâs diagonal pass a step ahead of Elbu.
Controlling the ball as it entered Bayernâs penalty area, Wang Shuo continued his charge.
The goalkeeper, Oswald, charged out once again.
But to the right of the penalty spot, Wang Shuo reached the ball first and decisively fired a powerful shot.
The ball blazed past Oswald and shot into the unguarded net behind him.
The next moment, the refereeâs whistle blew, signaling a goal!
"A hat-trick!"
"My God, Wang, you actually did it!"