Liverpool—the port city of northwest England and one of the country's eight core urban hubs. It is a place of endless stories: the home of Britain's first wet dock, the city with the highest unemployment rate in the UK at various points in history, and, of course, the birthplace of The Beatles.
However, in the modern era, the world's eyes are drawn to Liverpool for its two elite football clubs: Liverpool and Everton. Red and Blue. Their clashes are known as the Merseyside Derby, often dubbed by fans as the "Friendliest Derby"—though that nickname is deeply ironic. In their 49 Premier League encounters, referees have brandished 21 red cards.
One need only recall the match in September 1999, where Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld and Everton's Francis Jeffers were both sent off after a brawl, followed by Steven Gerrard receiving a straight red for a reckless challenge.
On the road to Goodison Park, however, David Qin saw only an endless sea of blue.
"David, this is your first time in European competition. Don't be nervous. Just treat it like any other game," Junior Malanda said, noticing David's silence and assuming it was pre-match jitters.
"Thanks," David replied, not bothering to explain that he was actually soaking in the atmosphere. Suddenly, he spotted green-and-white jerseys on the sidewalk worn by fans with Asian features.
"Chinese?" he asked in Mandarin, leaning out of the bus window with a smile.
"Chinese!" a young man shouted back in surprise. He quickly swallowed a mouthful of fries and waved enthusiastically at David.
Compared to Germany, England boasted a much higher population of Chinese international students, largely due to the prevalence of the English language. In this football-obsessed country, many of these students had become die-hard fans. Today, however, they weren't supporting Liverpool or Everton; they were there for the visitors from Wolfsburg.
"David Qin, go for it today! Try to get a goal!"
Amidst the cheers, David nodded with a grin. "Just watch the show!"
Beside him, Malanda looked on with envy. Whether at Zulte Waregem or Wolfsburg, he had never experienced anything like this. To be recognized on the street in a foreign country and greeted with such fervor—it was every player's dream.
"Don't stare," Ivica Olić said knowingly. "David has compatriots in every country, and they'll all be his fans." Olić understood perfectly; he received similar treatment whenever he encountered Croatians abroad.
As the players headed out for warm-ups, the pre-match press conference was in full swing.
"In previous seasons, our attitude toward the Europa League might have slipped slightly, but this season, we are aiming for the trophy," said Roberto Martínez, his hair still quite thick at this stage of his career.
In the Premier League, Europa League regulars like Tottenham and Everton are financial giants, consistently ranked in the top 20 of the Deloitte Football Money League. Consequently, the relatively small prize money of the Europa League often failed to excite them. The grueling English schedule was another major deterrent.
"Playing a Europa League game on Thursday night followed by a Premier League match on the weekend is exhausting," Mauricio Pochettino had once famously said.
However, with UEFA's recent reforms and the adjustment of coefficient points between the Champions League and Europa League, no one could afford to ignore the competition anymore. For Martínez personally, after leading Everton to a club-record 72 points last season with the help of loanees like Lukaku and Gareth Barry, he craved a major trophy to cement his legacy.
"David Qin? I don't know much about Chinese players, but he has certainly never experienced the intensity of the Premier League. I think today will be a re-education for him in what this sport is truly about," Martínez said confidently.
In the adjacent briefing room, reporters relayed these comments to Dieter Hecking. The Wolfsburg manager merely adjusted his black-rimmed glasses.
"There is no denying the intensity of the Premier League is high. But our players aren't made of glass; they are among the best in one of the world's top leagues. As for David... he won't be defeated that easily. Perhaps today isn't about him re-learning football, but about the Premier League fans finally getting to know him."
Hecking had reached an age where he preferred results over rhetoric.
Half an hour later, in the tunnel.
The teams stood side-by-side. David stood near the back, watching Kevin De Bruyne look visibly annoyed, clearly hoping the "giant egg" across from him would stop talking.
"Kevin... that pass you gave me in the last international break was incredible! I feel like we have the chemistry of twins!" Romelu Lukaku's thick lips moved incessantly. Though he had known Thibaut Courtois longer, he didn't much care for the keeper. After all, who likes a teammate who "borrows" someone else's girlfriend? To Lukaku, De Bruyne—the man who could spoon-feed him goals—was the partner he truly valued.
The referee signaled for the walk-out, much to De Bruyne's relief. Lukaku was a chatterbox, while De Bruyne was an introvert; they were polar opposites. More importantly, De Bruyne loathed strikers who wasted chances, and Lukaku had a knack for missing even the easiest sitters.
Stepping out of the tunnel, the deafening roar of the crowd hit David, a slight sting to his eardrums. He looked up at the stands. The vast expanse of deep blue felt like a churning ocean.
"PPTV! PPTV!"
"Good evening, everyone!"
"Welcome to the first round of Group H in the 2014-15 Europa League! Everton versus Wolfsburg!"
"I am your commentator, James Zhan, and beside me is the renowned expert, Dr. Zhang Lu!"
James Zhan delivered the opening with practiced ease. Having recently joined PPTV, which held the Europa League rights, he felt fortunate to be calling David Qin's game. He had previously envied Liu Jiayuan for getting the Bundesliga assignments. To James, using his expertise to introduce David to the national audience was a point of pride—especially since David's first two performances had already stunned the Chinese football world.
"Dr. Zhang, who do you think has the edge tonight?" James asked.
"Hehe... rationally speaking, I'd favor Everton," Zhang Lu replied. "As the saying goes in Premier League circles lately, Goodison Park has become the new yardstick for a team's strength. If your team is good enough, you have to fight for every point to prove yourself. If you aren't ready, prepare to be torn apart."
"Haha, then I'll root for Wolfsburg," James Zhan countered with a smile. "If David Qin maintains his form, their offensive concerns might just vanish. They might even leave Goodison Park with a result."
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