In 2007, the National Football Team had already passed its peak.
Like a heavy truck loaded with garbage and faulty brakes, it was uncontrollably hurtling downhill.
The National Football Team, which had managed to reach the Asian Cup three years prior, was shamefully eliminated in the Asian Cup group stage three years later under the leadership of Coach Zhu.
By 2008, the National Football Team was even double-defeated by Qatar and Iraq at home in the World Cup Qualifiers, finishing last in their group and being eliminated from the top ten.
At the Olympics, Tan Wangsong's "Son-Severing Kick" shattered the hopes of the Olympic team and simultaneously sent the National Football Team into a ditch.
This was precisely when the National Football Team had just suffered a defeat in the Asian Cup, and everyone was criticizing them.
Fans and the public already held strong negative feelings towards Chinese players.
Chen Tao's Bundesliga debut was outstanding; he contributed a hat-trick of assists, helping Borussia Dortmund come back to win 3-2.
News about Chen Tao gradually attracted the attention of fans, but mostly, it was met with disdain.
In the comment section below the Sina Sports news, the voices were not harmonious:
"Stop exaggerating, who still believes it now?"
"Verdict: the next King Dong."
"Don't be happy too soon, the National Football Team is completely rotten."
"It's not easy to update, remember to share 101kansh.com."
"I also had high hopes for overseas players before, but what was the result?"
"I'm too lazy to even read such news. I'm telling you, our players can't establish themselves in Europe's top Leagues."
"Even a fringe first-team player is being hyped up as a football god by unscrupulous editors."
"Who is Chen Tao?"
News editors for portal websites couldn't possibly go to Dortmund in person for interviews; they mostly translated and excerpted second-hand information from foreign websites.
Who was Chen Tao?
No one knew.
Most people just saw it and forgot about it, not taking it seriously at all.
Only a small number of Borussia Dortmund fans and Bundesliga fans would actively search for his information.
At most, they could learn that Chen Tao went to Europe through the Hunan Satellite TV's "football boy" talent show, and that at 15, he was quietly signed by Arsenal and loaned to Borussia Dortmund.
However, on Baidu Arsenal Bar, a small group of Gunners fans noticed him and were following Chen Tao's recent developments.
"The 15-year-old kid the professor signed last time, loaned to Dortmund, is doing pretty well."
"Are you talking about Tao Shen? I've been watching his games, and honestly, he's really fierce!"
"I saw it too! The Dortmund vs. Werder Bremen match, he was incredible!"
"Ah? Is he that good? Isn't it just media hype?"
"Whether he's strong or not, see for yourself."
"Train in the Bundesliga for two years, then come back to my club and dominate!"
"The midfield combination of Tao Shen + Xiao Fa is simply invincible!"
"I feel like his talent is even higher than Xiao Fa's."
"However, Dortmund's performance this year is very poor, but I hope he gets more chances to play."
...
Chen Tao didn't know that his Bundesliga debut had caused a stir in China.
After the match against Werder Bremen, he focused more on the enhancement of his own talent.
He constantly tried on the training ground to figure out how to trigger the feeling of a "Heartfelt Pass," but unfortunately, the intensity of the team's training matches was insufficient, and he couldn't replicate it.
He could only verify it in the next real match.
"Chen, they're all talking about going to a nightclub to relax after training, are you coming?"
Nuri Şahin, panting after just finishing his shuttle runs, leaned in mysteriously.
Chen Tao glared at him as if he were an idiot:
"Look at me, can I even get in?"
"But they're all talking about it, Tinga said he's treating."
Nuri Şahin had been quite well-behaved before, but now he couldn't help but be a little restless.
"You're still young, focus on training and matches, don't let them lead you astray."
"Sometimes, I really feel like you're not like a teenager at all," Nuri Şahin said, shaking his head as he looked at Chen Tao.
Chen Tao hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.
He looked back at his teammates, who were lazily chatting and laughing during training.
Then he looked for the head coach... where was the head coach?
Only assistant coach Dick Fuhren was on the field; head coach Thomas Doll was nowhere to be found.
This was incomprehensible to Chen Tao.
Borussia Dortmund was only in 11th place, and the season was only a little over halfway through.
If they worked hard, they still had a chance to contend for a Champions League spot.
But everyone seemed quite satisfied with the current situation and had no motivation to strive forward.
Looking at the more than ten-point difference, none of them wanted to work hard anymore.
Anyway, they could avoid relegation by just playing casually, with no relegation pressure at all.
The entire team was in a relaxed and leisurely state.
Lazy training, lack of ambition among players, and even more peace of mind in deliberately underperforming after winning, then going to nightclubs to party.
Is this really right?
There are still many problems with the team!
The central and back defense has many loopholes, and coordination is poor.
The front-line offense is chaotic, without its own system; everyone is playing by feel.
If Chen Tao hadn't torn open a gap with his own skills in the last game, Borussia Dortmund would probably have been whitewashed by Werder Bremen!
At the time when the team needed adjustment the most, head coach Thomas Doll was nowhere to be seen, and it was unclear what he was busy with.
Chen Tao, a loaned player, was more concerned than the head coach.
"I have a premonition that the coach might not last much longer."
"Ah? Are you saying Mr. Doll will be sacked? He led the team to successful relegation avoidance last season."
Nuri Şahin couldn't believe it.
"Relegation avoidance? Is our goal only to avoid relegation?"
"This..."
Nuri Şahin also froze.
Yes, when did Borussia Dortmund fall to such a level?
He remembered that when he was a child, Borussia Dortmund was the Bundesliga champion, a team that overshadowed Bayern Munich, and that passionate Black and Yellow!
...
As expected, the team's training state was also reflected in the matches.
In the 13th round of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 with Frankfurt.
Chen Tao was on the squad for this round but didn't start, still warming the bench.
In the first half, Dortmund opened a gap on the wing, and main striker Frey received a cross and scored with one kick.
They led Frankfurt 1-0 at home temporarily.
His teammates played very relaxed afterward, even squandering several good scoring opportunities.
Chen Tao sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Pass the ball! Such a good position, pass it!"
"Why are you still holding onto the ball?"
"Someone behind, behind!! Not vigilant at all."
Tinga must have taken his teammates to party again; everyone on the field felt weak in the legs.
The 20-year-old Nuri Şahin was also sitting on the bench.
He also realized the team's problems.
"Chen, you're right, we seem to have big problems."
"If we keep playing like this, we'll probably drop points at home."
In the second half, Chen Tao's prediction came true.
In the 52nd minute, the defender missed a man in the penalty area, allowing Frankfurt to easily get a shooting opportunity and equalize the score.
1-1!
Just 3 minutes later, in the 55th minute.
Left-back Lee Young-pyo was easily broken through by an opponent; his frail body simply couldn't stop him.
He watched helplessly as the winger dribbled into the penalty area and scored with a powerful shot from a tight angle.
1-2!
Two goals conceded in a row!
The 3 points that were originally within reach were now completely lost.
The close-up shot showed the Westfalen stands; the fans' eyes were bewildered, not knowing why the team was like this.
Thomas Doll's expression was serious, his lips tightly pressed.
Finally, after Chen Tao's countless warm-ups, and with the game reaching the 85th minute, the head coach finally remembered that he still had 3 substitutions left.
He called both Chen Tao and Nuri Şahin back.
"You two, quickly change and get ready to go on."
As for how to play, Thomas Doll couldn't articulate it; his mouth moved, and it came out as a simple sentence:
"Come on, run more, try to find opportunities."
Chen Tao and Nuri Şahin exchanged glances, seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
"How to play?"
"Pass it to me, I'll handle it."
Chen Tao was confident, taking the responsibility for the offense on his shoulders.
Nuri Şahin had no doubts; he knew that Chen would have a way.
After coming on, Chen Tao indeed worked hard. Playing as a right winger, he continuously created dangerous situations on the right flank.
Each time, he managed to break past the opposing full-back and cross into the penalty area.
But his efforts were not met with support; the passes he sent out flew directly towards the opposite touchline.
"Hey! What the hell?!"
"Sorry, my bad, my bad."
Striker Frey chuckled awkwardly.
He couldn't believe that Chen Tao could actually dribble past two players consecutively and cross the ball.
"I'll definitely pay attention next time!"
In the 88th minute, Frankfurt's attack was collected by the goalkeeper, and the goal kick went to Nuri Şahin.
Nuri Şahin looked up to observe the front field; his teammates were almost all standing still, waiting.
Only Chen Tao, playing as a right winger, attempted to run towards the center.
"It's up to you, Chen."
The opponent's formation was pushed forward, revealing many gaps.
If they didn't score this time, there probably wouldn't be any more opportunities.
Nuri Şahin estimated the distance and sent a high-quality long pass.
The football traveled across half the field, flat and fast, accurately reaching Chen Tao.
Frankfurt's defenders maintained basic caution; one player marked Chen Tao from behind, and another came forward to double-team him.
Just as Chen Tao was about to be caught in the pincer movement, that familiar sensation came from his right foot again, enveloped in a warm energy!
"Is this... the fifth successful dribble?"
In that instant, he didn't have time to think too much.
Facing the incoming ball, he touched it with his right heel, and without looking, he gently flicked it towards the penalty area.
"What is he doing?!"
Everyone around was stunned; was this guy just kicking wildly?
The Frankfurt players didn't react for a moment, until a yellow-and-black figure burst out from the crowd and charged into the penalty area!
"Alexander Frei!!!"
Tens of thousands of people in the Westfalen stands rose to their feet collectively!