Chapter 42

Returning from IJsselmeervogels with a 4-0 victory, most players of the second team wore happy smiles. This positive mood would linger for the next few days, until the weekend match against Jong Vitesse.

This was the first round of the Beloften Eredivisie.

Upon arriving at the training base, Van Basten announced that the team was dismissed for the day.

Yang Yang went to the dressing room to gather his belongings, handing over his torn jersey and dirty clothes to the kit manager. By the time he arrived for training the next afternoon, two clean jerseys would be waiting in front of his locker.

It was still early. After finishing up, Yang Yang walked out of the locker room and headed to a secluded area by the fence. He began his personal training routine, alternating touches on the ball with both his left and right feet. He continued this practice, occasionally passing the ball against the wall.

He recalled assistant coach Van Schip mentioning that when Bergkamp was in the youth team, he also trained by passing against the wall.

Yang Yang had been at it for some time when he suddenly heard a voice behind him.

"See, I told you, he'd be here."

Turning around, Yang Yang saw Vermaelen, Ibrahimović, and Maxwell approaching. He smiled and kicked the ball toward them.

"Just in time, guys! I only played thirty minutes in the game, so I'm still itching for more," he laughed and jogged over to join them.

"Zlatan, did you get scolded again today?" Yang Yang teased.

"Of course not! Do I look like someone who gets scolded all the time?" Zlatan retorted.

"Not really, but you do have a face that looks perpetually troubled," Yang Yang joked.

"Haha, Yang Yang's right, but it's his charm," Vermaelen added with a laugh.

"Get lost! What do you country bumpkins know? This is my style, okay?" Zlatan shot back.

"We don't understand," the three men said in unison, shaking their heads.

"In any case, I'm in a bad mood today, so don't mess with me," Zlatan warned.

"You've been in a bad mood for several days every month," Maxwell chuckled.

"Who riled you up this time?" Yang Yang asked.

"Who else but you? Who else dares?" Zlatan replied.

"How did I mess with you?" Yang Yang inquired.

"I heard you played well this afternoon and stole the spotlight," Zlatan said.

"What are you getting at?" Yang Yang asked, sensing a setup.

"Come on, man, after such a performance, you should treat us," Zlatan declared.

"Did you treat us when you scored?" Yang Yang countered.

"Uh, that's different. Anyway, today's performance is the result of our training sessions together. Shouldn't you repay us with a good meal?" Zlatan insisted.

"Alright, alright, I'll treat you guys," Yang Yang agreed, laughing.

"Really?" Zlatan asked, eyes wide with anticipation.

"Of course, no problem, isn't it just a treat?"

"Hey, you're a good sport, but you might be getting yourself into trouble," Vermaelen teased.

"What's the problem? I'll treat tonight, but I'm worried that if Helena comes over and I accidentally say something wrong, what can I do?" Yang Yang looked genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, what should we do?" Vermaelen and Maxwell both laughed heartily.

"Uh..." Zlatan's expression shifted as he realized the implication. He quickly changed his tone and approached Yang Yang with a more agreeable demeanor. "Haha, I was just kidding with you, don't take it seriously. I've been mooching meals off you all day. I should be practicing with you, so how could I be so shameless as to expect you to treat me again?"

"Are you practicing with me?" Yang Yang asked, his tone skeptical.

"Uh, no, no, I mean, I asked you to accompany me to practice. I owe you, hehe," Zlatan said, still grinning but with a hint of nervousness.

"Zlatan, you have the thickest skin in all of Detoekmost."

"I'm ashamed to be associated with someone like you," Maxwell added, shaking his head.

"Alright, you two, get out of here," Yang Yang said, laughing.

The four young players headed to the training ground, their banter making the session more enjoyable. Maxwell and Yang Yang took charge of crossing from the left and right wings, while Ibrahimović and Vermaelen focused on the central play, vying for position and testing each other's skills.

What would have been a routine training session turned into something much more engaging due to their camaraderie and playful interactions.

Despite his imposing stature and rebellious personality, Ibrahimović had a surprising romantic side. He was dating Helena, a renowned model ten years his senior.

I heard that the two met at a party a year ago. Later, Ibrahimović took the initiative to pursue, and finally chased her under the indiscriminate bombing. The two did not really establish a love relationship not long ago.

Since Helena has her own career in Sweden and Ibrahimović's current career has just started, the two are navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship.

Because of this, Yang Yang and the others often teased the Swedish striker about Helena.

However, this kind of teasing came at a cost.

Both Yang Yang and Maxwell were in charge of crossing from the wings, but the unlucky Vermaelen, who laughed the hardest, became the target of Ibrahimović's vented frustration.

The towering Nordic giant unleashed his wrath on the Belgian defender, who struggled to keep up.

Even Ronald Koeman, who had just walked out of the first team head coach's office nearby, couldn't help but cringe at the sight. The normally stoic coach found it hard to watch the Nordic powerhouse unleash such intensity on his teammate.

...

...

In the 4-0 victory away against IJsselmeervogels, the most notable figure was coach Van Basten.

As a former legendary Dutch striker, Van Basten delivered a commendable and flawless performance in his first official game as head coach, raising expectations for his future coaching career.

According to media reports, the team faced a tough opponent in the first half. However, Van Basten's astute substitutions in the second half completely turned the game around, leading to three goals and securing the win.

Under Van Basten's strong presence, Yang Yang, who came off the bench, performed admirably. Despite his significant contribution to the game's reversal, Yang Yang's name was not even mentioned. The focus remained solely on Van Basten's bold decision to promote a 16-year-old, who played a key role in breaking down the home team's solid defense.

As for the other players, whether it was goal scorer Fred Benson or the team's star, Babel, none were highlighted by the reporters. It was clear that they did not consider these players to attract the fans' attention, nor did they feel the need to mention them.

Although Yang Yang was not named directly in the newspapers, seeing his performance mentioned, especially in European and global publications, made him very happy. He knew that the attention from the first round of the KNVB Cup was largely due to Van Basten's influence.

Since the game was neither broadcast live nor highlighted by the media, Yang Yang returned to his usual routine. His life remained calm, with studies in the morning and training at De Toekomst in the afternoon.

At school, some students who knew he played for Jong Ajax looked at him with envy, and occasionally, a few female students would greet him. However, this attention did not affect Yang Yang's focus on his studies and training.

Classes were held on Friday, and Saturdays were free. He spent all day Saturday at De Toekomst.

Due to his previous experience with the Almere Youth team, the player information between the two clubs was shared, so Yang Yang did not undergo a detailed medical examination upon joining Ajax. However, on Saturday morning, Van Basten asked John van 't Schip to take Yang Yang to the team doctor and then to a nearby partner hospital for a comprehensive physical examination.

The entire examination took the whole morning. Afterward, Yang Yang met with the team's dietitian to discuss his usual diet and work habits, which were quite regular.

After a busy morning, Yang Yang returned to the second team's head coach's office. Van Basten, his idol, told him that he hoped Yang Yang could adjust his training and appropriately strengthen his physical fitness.

"You should know that as the level of competition increases, the physical demands on players will only grow. Whether you stay in the Netherlands or move to other leagues in the future, even in the technically focused La Liga, players need to meet high physical fitness standards," Van Basten advised.

"In professional football, if you don't have the necessary physical attributes, no matter how good your technique and speed are, you'll struggle to perform at your best."

Yang Yang took Van Basten's reminder to heart.

However, Van Basten and the coaching staff emphasized that he should not rush to improve his physical strength too quickly. They advised him to strengthen it gradually, considering he was still in a critical stage of physical development. Excessive physical training at this stage could be detrimental.

At the same time, Yang Yang was not blindly compliant. He emphasized that he was still focused on improving his basic skills. Excessive physical training might not be beneficial for him, as maintaining his agility and flexibility was crucial, especially for his dribbling and attacking skills inspired by Ronaldo.

Van Basten, Van 't Schip, and Witschge, all former professional players, understood Yang Yang's concerns and assured him that the coaching staff would take this into account.

"You have to trust that Ajax has decades of experience in training players," Van Basten reassured him.

Yang Yang naturally believed in the capabilities and experience of Van Basten and Ajax.

In addition, Van Basten informed Yang Yang that due to his excellent performance midweek, the coaching staff decided to include him in the squad for Sunday's league match, encouraging him to prepare in advance.

This news delighted Yang Yang.

However, Ibrahimović was not as pleased. He was excluded from the roster for the second round of the Eredivisie on Saturday night due to his full participation in the midweek game.

Ajax's first team faced newly promoted RBC Roosendaal, a team that didn't seem to warrant their best efforts, so Ibrahimović was scheduled to rest.

As it turned out, Ajax played poorly on the road. Their defense was shaky, and they lacked offensive prowess.

Without Ibrahimović, Van der Vaart did not live up to his status as the team's star, and the newly signed forward, Wesley Sonck, also underperformed.

Ultimately, Maxwell assisted left-winger Soetaers in scoring the only goal, securing a narrow 1-0 victory for Ajax.

The league began with two straight wins, but doubts about Ajax's performance persisted among fans and critics.

...

...

On Sunday afternoon in Amsterdam's southeast New Town, De Toekomst.

The new season of the Beloften Eredivisie had finally kicked off.

In the first round, Ajax's team faced Jong Vitesse at home.

Jong Vitesse's left-back, Leo Ramos, studied the dark-haired, yellow-skinned Chinese player in front of him with a wary gaze. He had heard that three days ago, the player had made a significant impact as a 30-minute substitute in the Dutch Cup, earning praise from his head coach, who had warned him to be vigilant.

This season was crucial for Leo Ramos, as it would determine his future. He needed to either secure a place in the first team or face the prospect of leaving Jong Vitesse without knowing where he might end up.

He had performed well in the season opener and hoped to continue that form. A strong performance in this game would not only give him a solid start to the season but also bolster his confidence.

With these thoughts in mind, Leo Ramos' eyes were filled with determination. He was resolved to neutralize his opponent completely.

Yang Yang, on the other hand, was unaware of the thoughts running through Leo Ramos' mind. He simply sensed the hostility from the Dutch left-back, which was to be expected in such competitive matches.

On the sidelines, Yang Yang's family, led by his uncle Shen Ming, arrived to support him. The three of them came once again to cheer him on.

Last night, Ibrahimović was in a foul mood because he was unable to participate in the game. Accompanied by his old friend Maxwell and his girlfriend Helena, who had just arrived in Amsterdam, Ibrahimović's frustration was evident.

Yang Yang suspected that Ibrahimović's irritation stemmed from the fact that, despite Helena's special trip to see him, Ronald Koeman had left him off the matchday squad, which likely added to his displeasure.

As for Yang Yang, he was filled with excitement for the new season. As a familiar right-winger, he was eager to make his mark.

The previous night, Yang Yang had used the Dream Training system to simulate a virtual training session with a representation of Leo Ramos, based on the scouting report provided by the coaching staff. Initially, he had set the simulation to reflect the level of the Dutch third division, but he later raised it to match the Eerste Divisie standard.

He did this to ensure thorough preparation; without detailed data on Leo Ramos, he preferred to overestimate rather than underestimate his opponent's capabilities.

With this preparation in mind, Yang Yang looked at the Dutch left-back across from him with determination. He was determined to use this game to secure his position as the starting right winger.

...

...

As with most head coaches, Van Basten preferred to use successful formations from previous victories.

In this match, he maintained the attacking trio of Babel on the left, Fred Benson in the center, and Yang Yang on the right. Krohn-Dehli and Maduro continued to control the midfield and distribute the ball.

Van Basten clearly aimed to replicate the intense offensive performance his team had displayed in the last 20 minutes of their KNVB Cup match against IJsselmeervogels.

The focus was naturally on Yang Yang.

Before the game, Van Basten had emphasized that he wanted Yang Yang to exploit the right flank, delivering multiple crosses for Benson and Babel, while also making several breakthrough runs to destabilize the opponent's defense.

Encouraged by the home crowd, Jong Ajax adhered to Van Basten's strategy from the outset.

Yang Yang awaited his opportunity on the right wing. Within the first three minutes of the match, he executed a brilliant breakthrough, using a series of step-overs and feints to deceive Leo Ramos before delivering a precise cross to the goal area.

This was a well-practiced routine for Ajax. Babel made a quick run into the penalty area, controlled the ball with his chest, and took a shot. Unfortunately, his attempt was poorly aimed and was easily caught by the Jong Vitesse goalkeeper.

Having missed this early chance, Babel looked visibly disappointed.

The fans on the sidelines were momentarily stunned, and murmurs of discontent rippled through the crowd, with some questioning Babel's finishing abilities.

Yang Yang suspected that some of these criticisms were coming from Ibrahimović, and he couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.

If it had been Ibrahimović in that situation, he likely would have scored. Babel's handling was indeed problematic. Yang Yang often felt that Babel lacked decisiveness and an imposing finishing ability.

Despite Ibrahimović's usual aloof demeanor, he was, in reality, a very confident player on the field. This confidence, though sometimes leading him to miss opportunities, was a fundamental quality of a key player.

Babel clearly lacked this kind of gritty determination.

After missing the chance to score early, Jong Ajax continued to ramp up their attack against Jong Vitesse.

Although Yang Yang's right wing was the focal point of the opponent's marking, Leo Ramos was the only one assigned to closely follow him. The opposition couldn't afford to allocate additional resources to cover Yang Yang due to their need to defend other areas.

Moreover, Yang Yang's abundant physical energy and wide-ranging movements, including frequent shifts to the middle, kept the opponents on their toes and often left them struggling to keep up.

Leo Ramos was particularly challenged by this, as he had to balance his defensive duties with maintaining the overall defensive shape.

All these players were young and, tactically and defensively, they were clearly not as refined as the first team.

In Yang Yang's opinion, Leo Ramos' defensive awareness was even less effective compared to Pierre Tashi of IJsselmeervogels, who had several years of experience in the Dutch third division and was known for his solid defensive skills.

Soon, Yang Yang spotted another opportunity. He quickly withdrew the ball, turned, and dribbled into the penalty area, drawing the attention of two defensive players. With a sudden burst of skill, he passed the ball to Krohn-Dehli, who made a precise pass behind the defense.

Babel seized the chance, making a sharp run into the penalty area. He took a right-footed shot and scored his first goal of the season, releasing the frustration he had felt over the past two games.

The fans on the sidelines responded with enthusiastic applause, acknowledging Babel's goal.

With the first goal secured, Jong Ajax played with renewed clarity and confidence.

Given their superior strength and the advantage of playing at home, Ajax dominated the match against Jong Vitesse and quickly organized a series of attacks.

Yang Yang continued his excellent performance from the previous game, remaining highly active on the right wing. Whenever he received the ball, he moved forward decisively, causing significant problems for Leo Ramos and disrupting Jong Vitesse's defense.

In the twenty-fourth minute of the first half, Yang Yang received a pass from Maduro in the space between the defender and the left back of Jong Vitesse. He swiftly turned, used his speed to advance the ball, and pushed it forward with precision.

Leo Ramos rushed to defend immediately, but Yang Yang, already moving at top speed, didn't wait for him to get close. He executed a slick left shoulder feint and broke through on the outside, drawing cheers from the Ajax fans on the sideline.

After Yang Yang successfully bypassed Ramos, the opposing center defender quickly shifted to cover the inside, forcing Yang Yang to advance rapidly along the right. However, Yang Yang maintained his awareness of the restricted area through his keen observation.

Noticing that Fred Benson had positioned himself advantageously, Yang Yang made a swift decision. He adjusted his stance, positioning his left foot at a 45-degree angle to the ball and raising his right foot. With practiced precision, he delivered a curved pass into the penalty area.

The ball soared over the head of the opposing center defender, tracing a high arc before descending slowly.

The trajectory of Yang Yang's pass made it difficult for the goalkeeper to commit to a decision. Unsure whether to come out or stay put, the goalkeeper chose to remain near the goal. Fred Benson, however, capitalized on the opportunity, calmly meeting the ball as it fell and striking it into the net.

2-0!

After Fred Benson scored, he rushed over to Yang Yang in celebration.

The Ghanaian forward realized that Yang Yang was turning into his lucky charm. In two games, Yang Yang had provided two crucial assists, making it relatively easy for Benson to score as long as he timed his runs correctly.

Yang Yang felt a surge of excitement watching Benson score, seeing firsthand the results of his hard work.

This precise arc pass was the culmination of his intense training over the past months. While he still had a long way to go before reaching Beckham's level of crossing, his deliveries were undoubtedly more reliable than before.

On the sidelines, Van Basten nodded in approval.

He could see that Yang Yang had fully embraced his earlier advice on crossing. Van Basten had instructed him on how to deliver accurate passes, create the right arc, and target the optimal area for the striker to score. It was evident that Yang Yang not only listened but had also diligently applied these lessons.

"In just two weeks, this kid's crossing has improved remarkably," remarked Robb Witzger, who had been observing Yang Yang's progress closely.

Having seen Yang Yang's training and performance during the Ajax talent selection event, Witzger had noted both his rapid development and his initial weaknesses, particularly in crossing. As a right-winger known for his breakthrough ability, Yang Yang's crossing was previously a significant area of concern.

However, in the two weeks since joining Ajax, Yang Yang's crossing ability had seen rapid improvement, often creating scoring opportunities from the right wing. In this game alone, he had already provided two crucial crosses that led to goals.

"I mentioned before that crossing was his weak point. Now, it seems he has addressed this issue effectively," praised John van 't Schip. As an assistant coach, van 't Schip was well aware of Yang Yang's diligence and hard work, noting that he was one of the most dedicated players in Jong Ajax.

In contrast, his direct competitor, De Mul, had struggled with his crossing despite the coaching staff's efforts to improve it over the past year. His persistent issues were a stark comparison to Yang Yang's rapid progress.

Van Basten was equally impressed by Yang Yang's swift development. With his current rate of progress, Van Basten was eager to see how far Yang Yang could go.

The potential of this young player was intriguing, and Van Basten found himself curious about how much further Yang Yang could advance.