Not far away, John Stones and Seamus Coleman exchanged a wary glance. Stones hung his head and let out a heavy sigh. "I guessed he might try a sudden stop, but I never expected his transition to be that fast."
What happens when a reader of the game meets a master of technique? Stones had predicted every move correctly, yet he had fundamentally underestimated David Qin's sheer physical and technical execution. To turn and flow into a push-pass in one motion—if that was purely an instinctive reaction, Stones wouldn't believe it for a second.
He felt David had planned the entire sequence. But thinking of it that way was almost more terrifying.
"Don't overthink it, John. It was just a fluke. Treat the game like it's just starting," Coleman offered as consolation.
Stones nodded, though a sense of unreality lingered. David was only seventeen, and Stones found himself reflexively searching for excuses to bridge the gap between their ages and David's performance.
The match soon resumed. As the intensity on the pitch settled into a temporary lull, the cameras panned to the touchline.
At the Wolfsburg bench, Dieter Hecking wasn't celebrating. Instead, he watched with a focused scowl. "Is David finishing his training on time? Is he doing extra sessions in private or altering his regimen?"
"No, Boss," assistant coach Ton Lokhoff replied, shaking his head. "I keep a close eye on him every day specifically to prevent him from overtraining."
Years of German sports science research had identified "Overtraining Syndrome" in youth players. It could trigger multi-system failure, including neurological dysfunction and a spike in stress hormones, which ultimately hindered recovery and stunted growth in strength and speed.
"Well... that just means David's rate of improvement is simply off the charts," Hecking mused, clicking his tongue in amazement. He had seen geniuses before—Gündoğan, Choupo-Moting, and De Bruyne among them. But he had never seen anyone like David Qin, who seemed to elevate his game like a rocket every few weeks.
"His attitude is impeccable. I suppose he's just a boy who is desperate to move forward," Lokhoff added with a smile.
While they spoke, the neighboring bench was silent. Roberto Martínez watched De Bruyne for a moment, then fixed his gaze on David for a long time. What was he thinking? He was thinking about how to poach them.
As a manager known for his ability to nurture young talent, he saw a thousand details in their play that screamed elite potential. "God really isn't fair," he muttered. He looked at Lukaku; he had once thought the big man was a world-beater, but now he seemed... adequate. If he could lure those two to Everton, his possession-based system would reach a whole new dimension.
Tweet—Tweet!
The piercing whistle interrupted his thoughts. The first half ended in a 1-1 draw. To the sound of applause from the traveling supporters, David and his teammates headed for the tunnel.
"So? Premier League teams are tough, aren't they? The tempo is high, especially in transition," Hecking said in the dressing room. "But you all deserve praise, especially the midfield screen. You haven't given them much room."
He pointed to the tactical board. "Everton started Naismith and Mirallas to exploit their speed and tear us apart early. I expect them to adjust in the second half—likely bringing on Deulofeu and Barkley to change the nature of their attack."
"When that happens, remember to contract the shape, but you must dominate the 'zone 14' areas to prevent long shots. And wait for the chance to hit their half-spaces." Hecking looked toward David in the corner. "David, I need you to pin Barry down. Whatever it takes, draw him out of that half-space."
Without neutralizing Everton's double pivot, attacking those gaps would be nearly impossible.
"Boss... can I have more of the ball then?" David asked tentatively.
"Of course. But like the last game, make sure Luiz is there to 'clean up' behind you," Hecking nodded.
"It's not 'cleaning up,' it's tactical protection," David muttered with a smirk. He was genuinely excited. Previously, fearing he'd be labeled a ball-hog, he had suppressed his natural flair.
The fifteen-minute break vanished, and Goodison Park returned to its boisterous self.
"Welcome back, everyone! Mirallas and David Qin provided the goals in a first half that leaves us deadlocked at 1-1. The second half promises even more!"
The whistle blew. Everton had possession. McCarthy chose to push down the left rather than the right. The reason was simple: Coleman had to hold his position to guard against a David Qin counter-attack. After witnessing that goal, even if they told themselves it was luck, they gave him the respect he had earned.
Gareth Barry also consciously drifted toward David's zone. But as the saying goes, can a bird fly with only one wing? With the threat on David's side drawing so much attention, Wolfsburg's defensive pressure on the other flank was manageable. Malanda, Vieirinha, and a retreating Caligiuri easily repelled Everton's surges.
Unable to break through, Baines opted for a diagonal cross from the wing. Thwack! The ball spiraled into the box as Lukaku, like a charging rhino, muscled his way toward the goal. But Naldo and Knoche were aerially dominant and had already secured the primary landing zone.
"Dieter Hecking proves why he's a master of organization," James Zhan noted. "He's tuned this Wolfsburg defense beautifully. They may lack a bit of punch up front, but with De Bruyne in the middle and a 'future-star' like David Qin, I think the Wolves are looking at a very successful season."
As the clock hit the 70th minute, both teams made their moves.
"For Everton, Samuel Eto'o comes on for Lukaku. Yes, the 'Lion' himself, former Barca and Inter superstar. He joined on a free from Chelsea this summer. Of course, time waits for no man; he isn't the player he was a decade ago. Ross Barkley also replaces Naismith to bolster midfield control."
"Wolfsburg brings on Bas Dost for Olić. The 36-year-old Croatian veteran has given everything he had left in the tank."
On the pitch, David watched Eto'o with a sense of awe. The man's resume was blinding: four Champions League titles, three La Liga trophies, two Serie A titles... even an Olympic gold. David never imagined he'd be competing on the same grass as an "Ancient God" of the game.
Three minutes after the substitution, Barkley received the ball in midfield. The former England U16 captain muscled Malanda aside with raw power before sliding a perfect through-ball to a surging Eto'o.
The Lion was old. The blistering pace was gone, but his experience was infinite. He timed his run to perfection, staying just onside while gaining a sliver of space on Naldo.
"Eto'o with the poke!"
"GOAL!"
"73rd minute—Everton leads again! The veteran Samuel Eto'o makes his mark!"
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