Regression - 2
"Waaaaah—!"
"Heja! BVB! Heja BVB!"
The match continued even after my opener.
Objectively speaking, VfL Wolfsburg wasn't a weak team. They were sitting mid-table in the Bundesliga right now, packed with skilled players full of promising potential.
But we'd just grown that much stronger. Borussia Dortmund had changed a lot since facing FC Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Young prospects like us sprout up overnight if you take your eyes off them for a second—it's practically a given.
With our young average age, going head-to-head with Barcelona had straight-up accelerated the growth of Dortmund's prospects.
And I'd changed a ton too. That Barcelona match had been the trigger for me to leap to the next level.
All the countless real-game experiences I'd piled up in my past life were shattering and reforming inside me, one by one, as I faced Barcelona.
"Jino, watch out!"
The moment I got the ball, Wolfsburg's pressure came rushing in.
Just like Xavi Hernandez used to do, I quickly scanned my surroundings before receiving it, then tapped the ball lightly and spun away from the pressure in the direction where Wolfsburg wasn't.
Shaking off the pressure easily opened up passing lanes between the Wolfsburg defenders.
Before Barcelona, I might've hesitated a bit. It was a risky, precarious path—mess it up, and I'd just gift them the ball.
But not now. I whipped my leg out right away and played the pass before the lane closed.
Even if I screwed up, my teammates would have my back.
"Lewa!"
My low, driven pass zipped toward Robert Lewandowski, who turned toward goal with a silky first touch.
One pass and one touch later, Lewandowski was suddenly one-on-one with the Wolfsburg keeper.
Dortmund's away fans started rising from their seats at the golden chance.
The Dortmund players threw their arms up, ready to celebrate.
And Lewandowski's shot, aimed at goal...
Thwack—!
Skyrocketed into the heavens.
"Uh.... Pitch must be in bad shape."
Lewandowski, having butchered the chance, muttered an awkward excuse and flashed me a thumbs-up.
"...".
Is that a taunt?
Silence hung over Wolfsburg's home stadium, the Volkswagen Arena.
More precisely, it was the silence of the home fans.
"We want victory today, we're gonna win!"
Cheers erupted from the Dortmund away section, the excited fans roaring.
Lewandowski dropped deep to receive, pulling Wolfsburg center-back Felipe with him. The moment Jinho and Lewandowski exchanged glances, Jinho passed to Lewa and sprinted into the space behind Felipe.
Confirming Jinho's run, Lewandowski calmly used his heel to flick the ball between Felipe's legs.
One quick 2v1 combo later, Jinho was one-on-one with the keeper. He eyed the space over the keeper's head and unleashed a rocket shot.
The perfectly placed shot rippled the net before the keeper could react.
"Hoooooo—!"
"Borussia! Borussia!"
With Dortmund's away fans celebrating behind them, Wolfsburg supporters stood with ashen faces, filing out of the stadium.
Shortly after, the ref's final whistle blew. Match over.
Final score: 6-0.
A Borussia Dortmund thrashing.