Years later, when 35-year-old Marco Reus was ranked 15th in the Western Conference with the LA Galaxy and eliminated by Tigres UANL in the CONCACAF Champions League.
After the match, Reus stood on the field, staring blankly at the unfamiliar green pitch.
What he remembered most was not the years he struggled to lead Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga as a team regular.
Nor were they the classic battles against powerhouses in the Champions League.
What Reus remembered most was his first season with the Borussia Dortmund first team.
It was the Bundesliga match where he came on as a substitute in the 80th minute and scored twice.
Reus couldn't help but recall the brilliant 15-year-old Asian boy on the field and that thrilling afternoon.
...
4-4!
"Awesome!! Chen! You are simply God!!!"
The 19-year-old Reus was full of vigor; he came on as a substitute, scored twice, and miraculously equalized in stoppage time!
Emotionally agitated, he sprinted wildly towards Chen Tao, who assisted, hugging his head and roaring.
"I know you're excited, but don't get too excited yet."
Chen Tao acted nothing like a 15-year-old boy, more like a seasoned veteran in his thirties.
"Quick, go get the ball, we still have time."
"What time? You wouldn't be..."
"Of course!"
"That's right, Marco, you still don't know Chen."
Nuri Şahin teased Chen Tao from the side:
"This guy is a pressure monster; I've never seen anyone want to win this much."
"Nonsense, who doesn't want to win? Go, go! I haven't won yet, and there's still a chance! We still have time!"
Chen Tao was clearly too exhausted to run. His face was extremely fatigued, and he bent over, holding his knees, breathing heavily.
Reus, who had just come on, was full of energy.
He nodded honestly and quickly rushed into the goal.
Werder Bremen goalkeeper Wiese was still planning to hide the ball, but Reus, quick-eyed and quick-handed, snatched it away.
The other Werder Bremen players panicked.
These Borussia Dortmund madmen have no humanity!
A group of people came to stop Reus, but Reus skillfully dodged them.
Reus at this moment was more like a running back in American football, carrying the ball and constantly dodging as he rushed towards the midfield for a touchdown.
However, Chen Tao did not have it as easy as him.
Dragging his leaden legs slowly, Chen Tao endured the pain of his lungs exploding as he walked towards the center circle.
Normally, he would have been substituted long ago.
But Dick Fuhren chose to trust Chen Tao, using the last two substitution slots to strengthen the defense.
Chen Tao remained on the field.
Without any more substitutions, he had to grit his teeth and persevere even if he couldn't run anymore.
"Still no good?"
Chen Tao usually trained his stamina very hard, but this couldn't be changed overnight.
And his physical condition did not allow for excessive intense training.
Those familiar with Chen Tao had advised him.
He was still young; his physical condition would only reach its peak in a few years, so there was no need to push himself so hard.
But Chen Tao was still not satisfied.
He was unwilling to be substituted due to stamina issues.
He was unwilling to miss a good scoring opportunity in stoppage time just because he couldn't run.
Wait a few more years?
Chen Tao knew very well that his physical condition was not top-notch.
Even if he trained his muscles and stamina like Cristiano Ronaldo, it would still be difficult for him to reach the top physical qualities of European players.
Physical talent is also a kind of talent.
"Is this all there is? If only my physical quality could also be world-class..."
[But at what cost?]
Here it comes again!!
Just as Chen Tao was struggling even to walk, the voice in his mind reappeared!
Exactly the same as the first time!
Then, he sacrificed his shooting skills for max-level technical talent.
And now?
No matter what I sacrifice, take it all! I want max-level physical talent!
[...]
A familiar yet strange sensation reappeared.
A warm current surged from his feet to the crown of his head!
His previously exhausted body gradually regained a trace of vitality.
His legs gradually became lighter, and Chen Tao's slow walk turned into a jog.
"Wait, buddy, you can still run?"
Nuri Şahin couldn't believe it.
Even he was almost unable to keep going, yet Chen Tao was acting as if nothing had happened.
"Of course, you should train more, buddy. Your stamina is worse than mine, is that acceptable?"
???
Nuri Şahin didn't even have the strength to retort.
He couldn't understand how Chen Tao suddenly recovered completely.
It didn't make sense!
In reality, Chen Tao was just teasing his good friend; he wasn't in his best physical condition.
He wasn't entirely sure what he had sacrificed just now.
Chen Tao had only recovered a little stamina, enough to allow him to continue running and dribbling.
Only 2 minutes remained.
One more goal!
As long as there's a chance to qualify for the Champions League, there's no reason to give up now!
...
The 4-4 equalizer completely rattled Werder Bremen.
Their three lines gradually became disconnected.
Attacking players like Pizarro, Hugo Almeida, Diego, and Özil rushed forward hoping for a decisive goal.
The midfielders Borowski and Owomoyela, as well as the defensive line, hoped to stabilize the defense.
The lack of cohesion between front and back also gave Borussia Dortmund an opportunity.
Werder Bremen's pass reached the front, and Diego was about to receive the ball and break through.
But the reliable Borussia Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl, with his seasoned experience, anticipated the opponent's intention, defended in front, and successfully intercepted!
"Kehl!! Borussia Dortmund has another chance for a counterattack! They just scored two goals in two minutes!!"
"Could it be..."
Commentator Sauer was shocked; Borussia Dortmund was even more resilient than he imagined!
Clearly, the entire team trusted Chen Tao.
After Kehl won the ball, he immediately sent a through pass directly to the front!
Borowski stuck tightly behind Chen Tao, interfering and trying to gain position with his body.
He could tell that the Asian was already exhausted and could easily be dealt with by just using his body... What?
Borowski's upper body collided with him as if hitting a solid wall!
Using the force, Chen Tao stepped forward to receive the ball, and with the outside of his foot, he nudged the ball to the right, preparing to turn.
Borowski quickly moved closer, extending his leg to the right to intercept.
"Oh no!"
Just as he extended his leg,
The agile Asian suddenly turned and nutmegged the ball, passing through like a gust of wind!
A powerful burst of acceleration instantly created space!
Borowski had been tricked by his opponent countless times in this match!
"Chen!! He got through!! Cutting inside, straight to the center!"
The Werder Bremen home fans were numb with shock.
Every time the Asian got the ball, he made them nervous, and now they were suffocating with tension!
Only the more than 300 people in the away stands cheered wildly.
Werder Bremen center-backs Naldo and Baumann dared not be negligent, simultaneously closing in to defend.
But they severely underestimated their opponent's speed!
In the final stages of the match, this kid still had enough explosive power!
"Chen—Oh my God!!"
Amidst the cheers from the away stands, the commentator watched wide-eyed as Chen Tao zipped between the two like the wind!
It couldn't help but remind one of the legendary star, the alien Ronaldo's famous goal!
The 15-year-old Asian boy was unstoppable!
"His speed is incredibly fast!! His explosiveness is too strong!! He still has the stamina to sprint in stoppage time!"
"One-on-one—facing the goalkeeper!!!"
Goalkeeper Tim Wiese panicked and rushed out of his goal, diving to embrace the ball.
But Chen Tao touched the ball a step earlier with his toe, his ankle slightly twitching to change direction, narrowly getting past the goalkeeper!
Chen Tao, gaining more strength with every step, sprinted after the ball towards the goal!
At this moment, the Werder Bremen fans were completely desperate!
And in Germany, the city of Borussia Dortmund, cheers erupted almost simultaneously in the sky!
Feeling the continuous surge of power in his legs, feeling the wind whistling past his ears,
Chen Tao, in an instant, had dribbled the ball towards the goal line, almost carrying the ball directly into the empty net!
All was silent...
The moment the ball crossed the goal line, everyone watching the match had their pupils constrict!
"Cheeeeeeeen Taaaaooooo—"
"Game-winner!! He single-handedly killed the match!"
"He dribbled the ball all the way into the goal! He's an unstoppable superman! He's Borussia Dortmund's superhero!!"
"Have you ever seen such a crazy match?"
"There's an incredible comeback at the very end of the match!"
"Borussia Dortmund is unkillable! This is the Black and Yellow spirit!"
The commentator was already incoherent, completely mad, not knowing what he was saying.
5-4!
A crazy score, a crazy match!
Equally crazy were the away fans at the stadium; they witnessed another football miracle!
After scoring, Chen Tao completely let loose, sliding on his knees from the goal to near the corner flag, then standing up to jump onto the 'GG' sign in front of the away stands, raising his arms and shouting!
Commentator Sauer passionately exclaimed in a hoarse voice:
"At this moment, Chen Tao is the God of Borussia Dortmund!"