Chen Tao remembered that the Ruhr Area in Germany had been mentioned in his junior high geography class, and there seemed to be related questions on the high school entrance exam.
It is a heavy industrial base located in the lower Rhine region, crucial for Germany's rise in the 20th century.
The development of heavy industry, of course, relies on coal and steel.
Supported by the coal mining industry in Gelsenkirchen and Dortmund, an important German steel industrial city, they are naturally the most dazzling twin cities in the Ruhr Area.
Coal miners and steelworkers are inherently tough and fiery, and coupled with the competitive relationship between the two cities due to resources and development,
the people of Gelsenkirchen and Dortmund have long been in a state of opposition.
Football became the perfect vehicle for the competition between the two cities.
Schalke 04, the team from Gelsenkirchen, and Borussia Dortmund, have regarded each other as enemies since their inception.
The inherent fighting spirit of the workers injected passion into the derby matches between the two teams.
Everyone says the "Ruhr Derby" is one of the most intense derbies in the world.
Chen Tao hadn't felt it deeply when watching on television before.
In his opinion, even if the two teams were enemies, how crazy could the fans get?
However, during the days of the Ruhr Derby, Chen Tao truly gained a new perspective.
The night before the match.
Chen Tao was about to depart for the Mercure Hotel Dortmund Central to meet up with the team.
At the Heinrich home, Hans and Maria were sprawled on the floor,
drawing and writing on a huge cardboard sign.
"No, no, no, what you wrote isn't aggressive enough. Look at mine."
"That's true, you're truly my husband. Here's a kiss as a reward."
"Ewwww… you two! Get a room!"
In the living room, Anna, who was flipping through a fashion magazine, looked utterly disgusted.
Her parents were both over 50 and still acting so lovey-dovey every day.
They weren't even shy with Chen Tao there.
"Chen, help us take a look. Is the slogan aggressive enough?"
Chen Tao was tidying up his team uniform and football gear. Hearing this, he glanced over curiously.
"We can still hear your cries from losing the championship!"
This was Aunt Maria's masterpiece.
In the 2006-2007 season, Bayern was in a slump.
The championship race between Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 remained suspenseful until the very end.
At that time, Werder Bremen had 67 points, and Schalke had 65 points.
Schalke 04 only needed to defeat Borussia Dortmund to take the lead in the championship race and clinch the title by a single point.
However, at Borussia Dortmund's home stadium, Dortmund easily defeated Schalke 04 2-0, personally shattering their arch-rival's championship dream.
The pain of 49 years without a championship continued.
Maria's slogan was practically rubbing salt in the wounds of Schalke 04 fans.
And Uncle Hans's slogan was even simpler and cruder.
"Championship Showdown, Dortmund 10-1 Schalke"
Chen Tao smiled at this.
What seemed like a childish quarrel felt perfectly reasonable on the football field.
At this moment, Chen Tao neatly folded his black gloves and placed them into his bag.
Anna keenly noticed that he seemed to value her gift greatly, wearing it in every match and carefully putting it away.
The young girl unconsciously used the fashion magazine to cover her face, hiding her uncontrollable smile.
"Chen, I heard you might start?"
"Not yet confirmed. The final starting lineup will be announced tomorrow on match day."
After his "friendly exchange" with Thomas Doll last time, he might actually have a chance to start.
"Then we need to organize everyone to make a new slogan."
"No problem!"
The couple immediately agreed and excitedly prepared to visit their neighbors to discuss.
"Huh? What content?"
Chen Tao was starting to get curious.
Uncle Hans smiled mysteriously: "You'll know when you're on the field."
… …
Bundesliga Round 21, Borussia Dortmund vs. Schalke 04 Match Day!
Westfalen Stadium, the scene of the Ruhr Derby.
"Aren't they out yet?"
"Almost, almost, we can see them."
The Heinrich in the South Stand waited anxiously, the huge cardboard signs standing at their feet almost blocking their view.
Uncle Hans stretched his neck, vaguely able to see the figures of both teams' players in the player tunnel.
"Whoa! This scene is truly magnificent!"
Standing in the player tunnel waiting to enter for the first time, Chen Tao personally experienced the intensity of the Ruhr Derby!
Normally, the singing at Westfalen was already powerful enough,
but today, the entire stadium singing in unison elevated it to another level, from powerful to frenzied!
80,000 people filled the entire stadium, even more spectacular than a Taylor Swift concert! The unified singing and cheering from all four stands converged, forming an overwhelming force above the stadium!
It surged into the player tunnel, causing the Schalke 04 players to change color, feeling the immense pressure from the devil's home ground.
For the Borussia Dortmund players, the home fans' singing was simply an aura of courage.
Everyone was filled with a desire to fight!
It didn't matter if they hadn't played well in the previous few matches…
But today was the Ruhr Derby! In front of their fellow townsfolk, they had to fight to the death against those miners!
Seeing Chen Tao's legs seemingly trembling before entering the field,
Nuri Şahin felt a sense of superiority well up within him:
"Chen, don't be nervous for your first start."
"I'm not nervous." Chen Tao clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, "I'm excited!"
"Uh…"
Nuri Şahin was speechless.
He was so nervous his face went numb during his first start, yet Chen Tao showed no stage fright at all?
He truly was a monster born for the game!
"Hey! Ladies and gentlemen! Time's up, let's go."
With a call from Bundesliga's top referee, Wolfgang Stark, players from both sides streamed onto the field.
Chen Tao, holding a young ball boy's hand, followed his teammates out of the player tunnel and was immediately enveloped by the overwhelming applause and cheers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us give our warmest applause to our warriors!"
"First, let's introduce the away team players…"
Westfalen Stadium's live DJ, Gerd Fischer, used his passionate voice to orchestrate the entire audience.
"Schalke 04 goalkeeper, number 1, Manuel Neuer—"
"Arschloch!!! (Asshole!!!)"
The unified roar of 80,000 people made the young goalkeeper Neuer tremble.
"Defender, number 2, Heiko Westermann—"
"Arschloch!!!"
Every Schalke 04 player introduced was met with the synchronized insults of tens of thousands of people.
From players to the head coach, no one escaped!
When it was the home team Borussia Dortmund players' turn, the treatment was completely opposite.
"And now, our warriors!"
"Goalkeeper, number 1, Roman Weidenfeller!!"
"Defender, number 23, Felipe Degen!!"
The most enthusiastic cheers greeted them.
Just walking the short distance from the tunnel exit to the field, Chen Tao felt like his eardrums were about to burst.
Until the DJ introduced him.
"Midfielder, number 24, the hero from China, Chen Tao—"
"Chen!! Chen!!! Chen!!!"
In an instant, the explosion of noise almost made Chen Tao deaf.
He could clearly see the audience in the front rows in a frenzy, waving yellow and black scarves, cheering wildly for him.
Looking up at the South Stand, Chen Tao immediately spotted the Heinrich!
The couple, along with the nearby fans, held up a huge banner.
"Savior from the East! Lead BVB to victory!"
Savior?
Chen Tao hadn't expected that the Heinrich and Borussia Dortmund fans would trust him so much.
Then today, on this important stage, he absolutely could not let down everyone's trust!
If there was still a hint of defiance before, hoping to prove head coach Thomas Doll wrong with this match.
At this moment, Chen Tao had only one reason to win!
That was the Borussia Dortmund fans supporting him throughout the stadium!