The deep silence of the German night was shattered as the fallout from the clash between Schalke 04 and Wolfsburg sent shockwaves through the footballing world.
Bild led with a pragmatist's view: "In football, anything is possible. Schalke allowed their focus to slip and paid the ultimate price with a conceded goal. They have no one to blame but themselves."
Schalke Revier took a far more aggressive stance: "THIEVES! Wolfsburg used dishonorable tactics to steal a victory from us. This is an insult and a desecration of a great club's integrity. We will remember this grudge and await the moment for revenge!"
Kicker focused on the breakout star: "The Bundesliga's newest sensation, David Qin, dazzled with sublime technical skill. Reports suggest over seven major clubs across Europe's top five leagues have already submitted inquiries for the winter window, including heavyweights like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal."
The British tabloids couldn't resist a bit of hyperbole. The Sun claimed: "Reliable sources report all eight fax machines at Wolfsburg HQ have mysteriously broken down to ensure no players can be sold this January!"
Beneath the headlines, the digital landscape was a battlefield of fan opinions.
@BlueRoyalPainx: Absolutely zero sportsmanship. Disgraceful.
@WolfInsSheeepsClothing: Rubbish. If that's a lack of sportsmanship, then Suarez should be facing a firing squad!
@Tactica1lGnome: He's got a point, actually.
@Bundesliga33Banter: It's within the rules. Stop moralizing every little thing.
@Hindsight2020: Looking at it from ten thousand feet... aren't you the one at fault for being distracted?
@SchalkeSnark: Huh?
@QinCity1: Back to the point, David's Rainbow Flick over Uchida was pure therapy. I'm still buzzing.
@NuutmegNation: That nutmeg into the Rabona... was he just playing around at that point?
@PitchSidePsycho: Probably! He looked possessed out there. Completely different energy compared to his usual self.
@UpsetSppecialist: Is he a masochist? The more the Schalke fans cursed him, the more his 'Inner Super Saiyan' came out.
@DragonFan99: Maybe we should try booing him during the next National Team home game?
@RealityChecksx: Mess with the best, die like the rest!
As the curtain fell on Matchday 12, the table remained largely stable. Bayern Munich had dismantled Hoffenheim 4-0—with Lewandowski, Götze, Robben, and Rode all finding the net—reasserting the dominance of the Bavarian giants. Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, had been held to yet another draw, this time by newly promoted Paderborn. Whispers from within the Westfalenstadion suggested that the countdown to Jürgen Klopp's departure had officially begun. Bayer Leverkusen secured a win over Hannover 96, featuring a brilliant solo effort from Son Heung-min.
Then, the football world pivoted to the next major event: the release of the 23-man shortlist for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
Waking up late the next day, David Qin scanned the names. The usual titans—Ronaldo, Messi, Ibrahimović, Neymar, Neuer, and Robben—were all there. Luis Suárez was a notable omission, likely sidelined by his appetite for opponents. Six Germans made the cut, while England and Italy failed to produce a single nominee.
"I wonder when I'll see my name on that list," David mused.
He knew that in a World Cup year, international performance was the ultimate yardstick. But in the modern era, commercial value seemed to weigh just as heavily. Perhaps he needed to start thinking about his brand?
Forget it, he thought, his stomach rumbling. Breakfast first.
He settled for some oat milk and granola before slipping back under the covers for a nap. Usually, Dieter Hecking was a hawk about his schedule, but it was a rest day. De Bruyne was out too, apparently meeting a "friend" he'd met online.
"Maybe I should try that," David thought. He was nearly eighteen, after all. It was high time he found a girlfriend. His requirements were modest: stunningly beautiful, fit, empathetic, optimistic, and emotionally stable.
With those "simple" criteria in mind, he drifted back to sleep.
When De Bruyne returned from his date, the perpetual slump of his shoulders was gone, replaced by a lingering, goofy grin. David saw the writing on the wall immediately. The man was smitten.
"Kevin, remember what I told you," David lectured with mock gravity. "No woman, no cry... and better football! You have to stay focused!"
He was genuinely worried. If this girl turned out to be another heartache, De Bruyne might actually implode.
"Michele is different," De Bruyne said, his smile widening.
"Fine. Bring her around sometime. I've seen enough of the world to help you vet her."
David felt the name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Deal. I was actually hoping to introduce you," De Bruyne agreed readily.
Beside them, Ivan Perišić burst into laughter, pointing at David's boyish face. "You? A man of the world? You've seen the world through a computer screen, maybe. Do you want me to introduce you to some actual girls? Doing it 'by hand' all the time isn't good for your stamina, kid."
"Ivan! Keep your mouth shut!" David barked, his face flushing crimson.
Junior Malanda chimed in with a wicked glint in his eye. "David, if you'd just said something, I'd have taken you to the bars. The girls there are very... welcoming. One night and you'll be a changed man."
Unfortunately for them, someone leaked the conversation to the boss. That evening, Diego Benaglio was pulled aside by Hecking and told in no uncertain terms that if any teammate led David into the nightlife, they should start packing for a winter transfer.
Hecking treated David like a prize stallion. He worried if the boy trained too much, worried if he didn't wear enough layers in the cold. If anyone dared to corrupt his star pupil, Hecking wouldn't hesitate to swing the axe. He had seen too many prodigies flame out in the neon lights of the city. David was a talent that would not be ruined on his watch.
The days blurred into a grind of training. On November 28th, Matchday 5 of the Europa League Group H arrived: Wolfsburg vs. Everton.
Having already decided to prioritize the upcoming league clash against Gladbach, Hecking fielded a heavily rotated "B-team." Everton walked away with the win thanks to goals from Lukaku and Eto'o. However, because Everton had dropped points in earlier rounds, they still trailed the Wolves by two points. It meant Wolfsburg only needed a win against Lille in the final round to top the group—and even if they stumbled, their fate was largely in their own hands.
The fans were slightly disgruntled to see their unbeaten streak snapped, but Hecking remained pragmatic. "I'd rather have points in the bank than a record in the books," he told the press.
Two days later, the Wolves were back in North Rhine-Westphalia, specifically the city of Mönchengladbach. There was a long-standing friction between these two clubs. Back in the 1998-99 season, Wolfsburg had humiliated Gladbach 7-1, a record for the most goals conceded by the Foals away from home.
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