Under the Spotlight

As Yang Yang pushed open the door to the changing room, every pair of eyes turned toward him, smiles blooming across their faces.

A sudden chill of apprehension seeped into his chest.

"What... what are you planning?" Yang Yang raised his hands defensively, as if to suggest that he was powerless against whatever awaited him.

In an instant, a strong arm encircled his shoulder from the side, and he heard Ibrahimović's raucous laughter close to his ear. "Time for your belated but unforgettable welcome ceremony."

Belated... unforgettable... welcome ceremony? Was this a jest or something more sinister?

"Help, Captain!" Yang Yang implored Van der Vaart, desperately hoping the captain would intervene.

Van der Vaart merely raised an eyebrow and murmured, "This... welcome ceremony... was my idea."

What?

Yang Yang's heart sank. After assisting you in scoring a goal, this is how you repay me?

"I merely suggested a proper welcome; I didn't anticipate it escalating to this extent..." Van der Vaart grinned, a twinkle of mischief in his eye.

Even if he wasn't the architect of this scheme, he was certainly complicit.

Just as Yang Yang braced himself for whatever prank the team had concocted, head coach Ronald Koeman entered the room.

Koeman's typically stern expression signaled that everyone quickly abandoned their plans, scrambling back to their places with barely suppressed laughter as they furtively glanced at the coach.

Koeman, having been a player himself, was well-acquainted with the high emotions following such a game and was not surprised to see the dressing room on the brink of pandemonium.

What was happening?

He had witnessed his share of exuberant dressing room celebrations, with players disrobing and reveling with reckless abandon.

"All right, everyone, let me have the floor for a moment," Koeman commanded.

Ronald Koeman strode to the center of the dressing room and scanned the players before finally locking eyes with Yang Yang in the corner. He was almost incredulous. What had begun as a seemingly inconsequential substitution had evolved into a delightful revelation.

Yet, it also represented a rare opportunity.

This season had posed considerable challenges for Ajax. The departures of Van der Meyde and Chivu had led to substantial losses, but of even greater concern was the instability within the dressing room.

First, there had been the captaincy dispute between Ibrahimović and Van der Vaart. Although Koeman managed to mediate the issue, the media had sensationalized the conflict, exacerbating the discomfort between the two stars. Their uneasy relationship only added to the complications, given their pivotal roles on the field.

Then came the protracted transfer saga involving Trabelsi. The player was resolute in his desire to leave, yet Ajax struggled to reach an agreement. To force his departure, the club implemented a blockade strategy that, while intended to exert pressure on Trabelsi, also inflicted significant damage to the team's morale.

Moreover, the public feud between Van Gaal and Cruyff added another layer of discomfort for the club. Koeman, perhaps more than anyone, was acutely aware of their grievances. Both were influential figures in the club's decision-making processes, and the debate over who was in the right or wrong remained unresolved. Only time would provide clarity.

Now, after a period of turbulence, the team had finally achieved a measure of stability. A crucial victory over Club Brugge had propelled Ajax into the knockout stages of the Champions League. This success not only revitalized the players' morale but also contributed to a more harmonious dressing room environment.

Koeman had observed the reconciliation between Van der Vaart and Ibrahimović and the resurgence of Trabelsi's form with a sense of cautious optimism.

"This season, our Champions League campaign has been tumultuous. The third qualifying round nearly derailed us, and the group stage has been a rollercoaster ride. Yet, we have persevered under immense pressure and advanced to the next stage.

Ronald Koeman did not explicitly mention Yang Yang by name, but it was evident to everyone whom the coach was addressing. The gesture conveyed more than words could.

Koeman met Yang Yang's gaze and nodded in affirmation. "After these months of intense competition, it should be evident to all that our success hinges on unity. We must put aside past grievances, come together, and concentrate on each match."

The players nodded in agreement, grasping the weight of Koeman's message.

"We are all professional athletes, and none of us can predict what the future holds beyond this season. However, as members of this team, we share both the honor and the responsibility of the club's performance. Our objectives are unified, and our interests are aligned.

"We have two league matches and an KNVB Cup fixture on the horizon, followed by the winter break. This year, we'll be heading to Portugal for our training camp. I urge everyone to approach this period with a positive mindset, manage your emotions, and prepare diligently for the second half of the season.

"Believe me, a strong performance in the latter half of the season will benefit each and every one of you."

Ronald Koeman then offered a warm smile to the players and finally directed his attention to Yang Yang.

"Ruud," Koeman called to his assistant coach, "starting tomorrow, Yang Yang will officially join the first team. He will not be returning to the second team."

The players in the dressing room looked at Yang Yang with approving smiles, and Yang Yang himself was overjoyed.

Ruud Krol's brow furrowed. "But... he's still in school."

Koeman and the others were momentarily taken aback. Still in school?

Feeling the weight of everyone's gaze, Yang Yang grew increasingly anxious. Dreading that Koeman might reconsider, he quickly interjected, "It's really no problem, Mr. Krol. I can skip classes if necessary."

The team found this a practical solution. After all, securing a place in the first team was a significant opportunity. Yang Yang's academic performance must not be so precarious if he was willing to prioritize football. His impressive display in the last game had clearly demonstrated that he was ready for greater responsibilities.

"Yes, coordinate with the school to make arrangements so he can fully focus on football," Koeman concurred.

Ruud Krol shook his head with a wry smile. "It's not that simple. The teachers at his school regard him as an outstanding student. They believe he would benefit more from concentrating on his studies rather than football. In fact, they advocate for him to focus solely on his academic pursuits."

"Really?" Koeman and the others were taken aback.

Is this boy an academic prodigy?

The players' attitudes toward Yang Yang shifted, now admiring his dual excellence.

While it's not uncommon for students to excel in both academics and sports, those who achieve remarkable success in both often face envy, especially from their peers.

Even Koeman felt a bit overwhelmed by the situation and decided to leave the matter in Ruud Krol's capable hands.

The first team's schedule was packed with morning and evening training sessions, crucial during weeks with back-to-back fixtures and frequent away games. The recent trip to Club Brugge had been manageable, but future Champions League away matches could prove more demanding, often involving long journeys.

If league matches are also away, players could be away for an entire week, which would be detrimental to their academic commitments.

This was a unique challenge for Ajax. Most players have less-than-ideal academic records and often drop out of school early. Yang Yang was a notable exception, successfully balancing both football and academics.

After the game, Ronald Koeman concluded the press conference, and the players gathered their belongings. They boarded the bus for the journey back to the Park Hotel. Following dinner, they prepared to return home with their luggage.

The decision to return overnight was made with the players' well-being in mind. Given their heightened emotions, staying overnight in Bruges might have led to restless nights. Returning early was preferable to ensure a good night's rest.

Generally, after a game like tonight's, the morning training session is critical for players to recover and adjust to their physical condition.

The atmosphere on the bus back was markedly more spirited than the trip to Bruges. The players chatted and joked, with Ibrahimović playfully teasing Yang Yang about his sleeping habits, revealing that the earlier peculiarities had been part of a team prank.

Yang Yang chose not to elaborate, as he could not disclose that he had a Dream training system in his head.

The journey was filled with laughter and playful banter, and it was nearly midnight when the bus finally arrived at De Toekmost.

Ronald Koeman once again expressed his gratitude to all the players for their dedication. After dismissing the team, he requested a private conversation with Yang Yang. He encouraged Yang Yang to continue working diligently and to hone his skills as rapidly as possible.

Although Koeman's remarks were somewhat indirect, Yang Yang grasped the depth of the coach's appreciation. He felt confident that his opportunities with the first team would increase and that he would gain further chances for development and training, which would be highly beneficial.

Competing in the Champions League had already proven to be more valuable than any previous games, not only for the experience but also for the boost it gave Yang Yang's confidence.

After escorting Ibrahimović back to the Oude Kerk, Yang Yang returned to find Vermaelen still asleep. The Belgian defender, while visibly envious and frustrated, recognized that Yang Yang's success was a result of his own hard work and talent.

While Yang Yang and Vermaelen were chatting in the living room, Wei Zhen, the team leader of China National Television Sports Channel in Manchester, made an urgent phone call to his department in China. Although he was a fan of Yang Yang, Wei Zhen had not been able to watch the live broadcast of Ajax's match against Club Brugge. However, he had just received the news from his brother, Wei Zheng, who was in Almere, Netherlands, and promptly contacted his office back in China.

The long-anticipated call had finally arrived.

"I need to wrap up my filming in Manchester immediately and fly to Amsterdam. I must gather comprehensive information on Yang Yang and collect all relevant details about him," was the directive from the sports channel's management.

Wei Zhen raised his eyebrows and sighed as he reflected on the Chinese teenager's extraordinary ascent in the Netherlands.

This was the first Chinese player to compete in the Champions League!

......

......

While Yang Yang retreated to his room to enter the Dream training system, reviewing his performance against Club Brugge and preparing for the next game, the editorial office of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in northern Amsterdam was in disarray.

"Is this all you've got?"

Editor-in-chief Jan-Kees Emmer slammed an A4 sheet of paper onto his desk, startling his assistants. The sound reverberated through the newsroom, making his frustration palpable.

His anger was unmistakably evident.

"It's been less than five hours since the match ended, and this is the extent of your findings? How am I supposed to craft a compelling story with this? What are we going to present to our readers in Amsterdam and beyond?"

His voice resonated through the newsroom, underscoring the gravity of his dissatisfaction.

"We've done our best, but information is scarce. It's as if he appeared out of thin air," the beleaguered assistant explained, looking disheartened.

"Appeared out of thin air?" Emmer scoffed, shaking his head. "No one will buy that. He was the standout player in last night's critical game, the pivotal figure in Ajax's advancement to the Champions League round of 16. Ajax fans, as well as supporters from other clubs, will want to know more about him. Who is he? Where does he come from? What has he accomplished?"

"And what have you provided me with?" Emmer continued, his frustration evident. "He's Chinese, seventeen years old, played for the Almere youth team, participated in an amateur summer competition, and has been under Van Basten's tutelage. This is not new information—it's all available on the official Ajax website. Are you suggesting that we use this as the basis for informing our readers?"

The assistant could only stare in silence, clearly daunted by the editor's ire.

In truth, Emmer couldn't entirely fault his staff. Ajax had been less forthcoming with information, suddenly thrusting a relatively obscure teenager into the limelight.

Yang Yang had shown promise in the second team, but youth football rarely garnered much media attention. With Van Basten's star power overshadowing him, information on Yang Yang had been minimal.

But who could have anticipated that, overnight, he would emerge as a hero and rescue Ajax?

As one of the largest newspapers in the Netherlands, De Telegraaf boasted a circulation of 700,000 copies, far surpassing that of De Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad, each of which circulated around 300,000 copies. This significant difference was due to De Telegraaf's reputation for rapid and comprehensive news coverage, always staying ahead in meeting its readers' demands.

Emmer was acutely aware that, given the importance of the match and Yang Yang's standout performance, readers—whether Ajax fans or supporters of rival teams—would be eager for more information about the young player.

Yet, despite De Telegraaf's esteemed reputation for in-depth reporting, the team had managed to gather only a single A4 sheet of information on Yang Yang. Emmer's frustration was therefore completely understandable.

"We urgently need to gather more information," Emmer declared. "If we fail to provide our readers with a complete story, we'll be inundated with phone calls tomorrow. Contact Almere immediately to see if we can uncover additional details. Also, reach out to our sources within Ajax for any inside information."

The team nodded in agreement, recognizing this as their best opportunity to address the issue.

At that moment, a knock sounded on the open office door, drawing everyone's attention, including Emmer's.

"Editor-in-chief, there's someone claiming to be from the Super Football website—Michelle Vandersma—who wants to speak with you."

"Super Football?" Emmer frowned, puzzled. "What's that?"

A murmur of confusion swept through the room. No one was familiar with it.

"If he's just wasting my time, send him away," Emmer said, his patience wearing thin. He was too preoccupied with the current crisis to entertain potential distractions.

"But... he mentioned he has exclusive inside information about Yang Yang. If we're not interested, he said he'd take it to NRC Handelsblad and De Volkskrant. He believes they would be very interested."

"What?" Emmer's interest was piqued immediately.

"Quick, bring him into my office."

......

......

"Is it going to snow?"

Yang Yang exhaled softly in the early morning as he stood at the door of his house, gazing across at the roof of Ibrahimović's house.

Having come from southern China, where snow is a rare sight, Yang Yang had only experienced it once last winter in Almere. He found the snow enchanting, filling a void in his experiences.

Unconsciously, he was now into his second year in the Netherlands.

He had set himself the personal goal of maintaining his training routine throughout the winter, adhering to the principle of enduring both the cold and the summer heat. Even with winter's arrival, he continued his early morning sessions, always ensuring to warm up properly before heading out.

As he stepped outside, a brisk wind greeted him, its cold bite invigorating.

Yang Yang followed his usual route: leaving his home, heading east through Oudekerke, circling around Oudekerke Lake, and finally returning to the city. This time, the winter chill had transformed the landscape into a winter wonderland.

Running through the serene, snow-covered countryside, the only sounds were his own breath and the crunch of his footsteps on the snow. It was a peaceful and exhilarating experience.

He could distinctly feel the progress he had made over the past six months.

Initially, he had to consciously regulate his pace and rhythm, but now it came naturally. Every step felt instinctive, and he could almost sense an invisible pair of hands guiding the ball.

Gradually, he pushed himself harder, continuously testing his limits. By the time he returned to the city, he was breathless yet exhilarated.

As usual, he bought two breakfasts on his way, but today the shopkeeper seemed unusually inquisitive.

"Did you really practice against the graffiti wall at the skate park?" the owner asked with a smile.

"Ah?" Yang Yang responded, puzzled.

"I mean when you were in Almere," the shopkeeper clarified.

The shopkeeper handed him a copy of De Telegraaf, the largest daily newspaper in the Netherlands. The headline on the front page covered Ajax's miraculous comeback against Club Brugge to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League. The accompanying photo showed the Ajax team celebrating, with commentary emphasizing Yang Yang's pivotal role in the match, particularly his two crucial assists.

But what caught Yang Yang's attention was a detailed report beneath the main photo, focusing specifically on him.

"Can I take a look?" Yang Yang asked.

The owner handed him the newspaper.

"Thank you."

Yang Yang carefully read the article, which detailed his background in China and Almere, included comments from Almere's coach and teammates, and chronicled his hard work and progress.

"It's incredible how thorough this is," Yang Yang remarked with a wry smile.

He had always been a background figure, rarely noticed. To his surprise, the newspapers had unveiled so much about him overnight.

When he saw that the article was signed by Michelle Vandersma, he remembered meeting her after his first game with the Ajax second team. Vandersma, who had claimed to be an editor from the Super Football website, had traveled to Almere for an interview. Uncle Shen Ming had mentioned that Vandersma was interested in focusing on him.

"So it's all connected," Yang Yang mused, piecing together the situation.

After returning the newspaper to the breakfast shop owner, Yang Yang thanked him and finished his meal.

The owner initially insisted on covering the cost, but Yang Yang insisted on paying for his breakfast. Before leaving, the shopkeeper encouraged him to keep working hard and strive for more championships with Ajax.

For the first time, Yang Yang felt the deep connection between Ajax players and their fans. It was evident that wearing the Ajax jersey carried a significant sense of hope and pride.

As he jogged home, Yang Yang passed by a corner shop and bought three newspapers, rolling them up and tucking them under his arm.

When he arrived back home, Vermaelen was already up and noticed Yang Yang braving the cold for his morning run. Vermaelen felt a mix of admiration and self-reflection, especially grateful for the breakfasts Yang Yang had brought him daily.

Upon seeing the newspapers, Vermaelen's curiosity was piqued, and he took one to read. Yang Yang observed that De Telegraaf had exclusive material about him, while the other newspapers, De Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad, had only published more general reports with considerably less detail.

"It seems like the largest newspaper in the Netherlands lives up to its reputation," Yang Yang remarked with a smile.

"They just report the news. No need to praise them too much," Vermaelen replied, his envy and frustration evident.

The Belgian defender, who had joined Ajax earlier and had been part of the first team for a longer time, was frustrated by Yang Yang's rapid rise. Despite his own early inclusion in the squad, Yang Yang had made a notable impact in the Champions League, providing two assists in less than ten minutes and gaining considerable recognition.

"Don't worry too much. The team is short on players right now, and your chance will come soon enough. The key is to stay focused and be prepared. When your opportunity arrives, you need to seize it. Otherwise, even if you do get a chance, you might not be able to impress Koeman," Yang Yang advised.

Vermaelen nodded, acknowledging the wisdom in Yang Yang's words. Opportunities would come, but making the most of them depended on readiness.

"By the way, do you have school this morning?" Vermaelen asked.

Yang Yang paused for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm skipping today. The recovery training this morning is crucial. I need to be there and be in good shape."

This morning's training session was essential for recovery and adjustment, especially for a team with a busy schedule. Yang Yang knew that, even though he was unsure how Koeman would utilize him, he needed to be in peak form. As for school, he was confident he would manage it later.