Chapter 18: Bundesliga Opening Match!

First-team base.

Bayer Leverkusen head coach, Schmidt, met Li Kang.

After a brief inspection, he smiled, "You look more handsome than in the newspapers. No wonder. Come on, follow me to the training ground."

The two didn't exchange many words throughout.

As they were about to reach the training ground, Schmidt remembered that Li Kang had aphasia.

He spoke in a gentle tone, "Li, you may not be my first-choice player, but I'm not Wolfsburg's puppet either."

"I hope to see your growth."

Li Kang nodded, not taking these words to heart.

On the training ground, Bayer Leverkusen's stars were warming up.

The first-team training session started an hour later than the youth team's.

Bellarabi approached Kislin, "That dragon descendant took Hakan's number 10 jersey."

"But he crushed Monchengladbach and Bayern's youth teams!"

"I watched the highlights. With the club's massive publicity, it's hard not to see them. Aside from a long-range shot, that kid is weak in other aspects. He won't be able to stop me!"

"I think his football intelligence is high, though. The boss is here!"

Kislin signaled for silence.

The assistant coach blew the whistle for assembly.

The Bayer Leverkusen players stopped their training, looking towards Schmidt and Li Kang.

"Welcome, welcome, our new member!"

Sparse applause followed.

Most players had indifferent expressions. After sizing up Li Kang, they looked away.

Bayer Leverkusen was a lapdog for the Dragon Nation, but these players were not.

Schmidt sighed and didn't say much. Such situations were not uncommon even among the powerhouses of the top five leagues.

The plight of a "commercial mascot" was quite similar everywhere, like in the English Premier League.

But since Li Kang wasn't a starting player, there was no need for Schmidt to worry about his integration into the team.

Li Kang remained calm, unaffected by the cold reception.

He couldn't even recognize each player's name standing in front of him.

"Li, welcome!"

Son Heung-min was the first to approach, patting Li Kang's shoulder, "Wow, you're strong!"

Li Kang didn't expect such enthusiasm from him.

Aren't the news saying Son Heung-min is very shy?

Kislin also approached, tapping his forehead, "I've seen your game footage. Remember hitting the ball towards my head during positional play!"

Cramer scratched his head, "Do you play Pokémon?"

Even though the three tried to create a lively atmosphere, they couldn't ignite the enthusiasm of their teammates.

The atmosphere became awkward.

After giving some instructions, Schmidt and the assistant left for a meeting.

With a tactical board in hand, the assistant began announcing the lineup for the scrimmage.

After naming the teams for Group A and B, he tossed a vest to Li Kang, saying, "Li, train on your own for now!"

Li Kang nodded, wearing the vest and warming up along the track.

Bellarabi sneered, "Why are you all so enthusiastic about a mascot?"

Son Heung-min ignored him.

Kislin shrugged.

Cramer was about to retort when Captain Bender shouted, "Don't waste time. Let's start training!"

Chalhanoglu looked at Li Kang's back, conflicted. Bayer Leverkusen had stripped him of his number 10 jersey for a commercial reason.

Li Kang jogged along the sidelines, occasionally glancing at the scrimmage on the field.

From a god's perspective, constructing an overhead view.

Bayer Leverkusen's style was clear: high pressing in the middle and a compact defense in the back.

Kislin and Bender were the defensive pivots.

Chalhanoglu was the attacking core.

The two full-backs overlapped.

This seemingly simple tactic, refined by Schmidt, caused headaches for even the top clubs in the previous season.

In the Champions League Round of 16, they bewildered Simeone's Atletico Madrid.

In a friendly match, they forced Guardiola's full-strength Bayern to play defensively.

Training ended.

Son Heung-min approached Li Kang, saying, "Let me take you to the first-team canteen!"

"Don't mind it. When I first joined Hamburg's first team, my teammates were also indifferent for some reason."

"In my first season at Hamburg, I didn't get much playing time."

"Good luck!"

Li Kang didn't like the Korean.

Especially his sportsmanship.

He couldn't understand why Son Heung-min was so enthusiastic.

The following days for Li Kang were calm and monotonous.

Because he wasn't on Schmidt's squad list, he didn't get a chance in the scrimmage.

Even in the first team's tactical meetings, Schmidt didn't need him.

Li Kang felt like he had returned to La Masia's youth training camp.

Solo training every day.

Weekly physical assessments.

Two days a week listening to lectures by Professor Belenta.

Voller cared about his physical condition every two to three days, having the photographer take pictures of him juggling the ball.

Havertz took him out for walks on rest days.

Son Heung-min occasionally shared some match experiences and dribbling skills.

Time passed quickly.

In a blink of an eye, it was time for the Bundesliga opening match.

Bayern Arena.

Full house.

As the players from both sides walked out, Bayer Leverkusen fans erupted in cheers!

"CTV5! CTV5! Now, we are live broadcasting the first round of the 2015/16 Bundesliga season!"

"Leverkusen hosts Hoffenheim!"

"The fourth-placed team in the last Bundesliga season against the eighth-placed team!"

"I am the commentator for this game, Duan Xuan!"

"I am He Wei!"

"We can see in Leverkusen's substitute bench that there's another Asian face this season!"

"A dragon descendant from La Masia's youth training camp! Li Kang!"

"We hope he gets a chance to play in this match!"

In the Dragon Nation's CTV5 broadcast room.

Bullet comments flew.

-"Why are Duan Xuan and He Wei commentating on the Bundesliga?"

-"Because La Liga hasn't started, and the Premier League doesn't have broadcasting rights. The matches of Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke, and Monchengladbach are tomorrow!"

-"Still, listening to CTV5's commentary is comfortable. Those random little anchors just use 'awesome,' 'amazing,' and '666.' So annoying! Awesome! Li Mingdeng entered the squad; Leverkusen will win this match for sure!"

-"Who is Li Mingdeng? The water dispenser dragon descendant? Leverkusen is better than Wolfsburg, at least bringing people to the scene. Haha!"

-"Li brothers are awesome! Watch and see!"

-"Whether he plays or not, it's hard for Leverkusen to lose!"

-"Awesome? You guys are paid by the Germans, right! Hilarious, the groundwork is well done!"