Chapter 618: Dortmund's New Season Dilemma, Haaland's Nordic Cod

Check Dongqiu Di pinned post: Tang Ye joins Borussia Dortmund on loan, contract lasts 1+1 years, conditions for activating the second season temporarily unknown. (173,924 comments)

The pinned poster features Tang Ye's official photo wearing the Dortmund No. 10 jersey, with Escrivá beside him wearing a broad smile.

The new season has already launched, and with Dortmund making one loan signing and one transfer, they have directly cranked the hype to its maximum point.

Dortmund is a good club because it not only generates hype for itself but also gives their neighbors Bayern Munich a push.

Click-click!

Just as the second round of Fan Fan Dejia concluded, Bayern head coach Sitting Like was asked five consecutive questions about Dortmund during his post-match interview.

"What is your attitude towards TY's transfer?"

"Do you approve of Dortmund's method of signing players on loan?"

"What preparations has Bayern made to compete for the Fan Fan Dejia title this new season?"

"Will the arrival of a Ballon d'Or player change the landscape of the Fan Fan Dejia league?"

"Will Bayern be pinned to the ground and beaten?"

The reporter was from Germany, but unsurprisingly not from Munich, since every one of his questions seemed designed to embarrass Sitting Like.

"I admit that TY is among the very best active players, but... hmm, football is ultimately a game of eleven people on the pitch, and currently Bayern's overall configuration is naturally superior to Dortmund's."

Sitting Like nodded: "We do feel pressure, but this pressure is within bearable limits. After all, what Ferran brought over was a single player, not the entire Manchester United."

Sitting Like seemed to be mocking Escrivá.

There was no helping it; Ferran had gone to other leagues first to poach players just to mess with him.

"Last season in the Champions League, we lost to Manchester United, not to TY alone, so you see..."

Sitting Like's meaning was quite clear.

A full-strength Manchester United could only manage a 2-2 draw with Bayern over ninety minutes; so even if you, Escrivá, poach one player from Manchester United, even a key player, the end result cannot possibly be that you become Bayern's match.

"Manchester United's front line, especially the midfield trio, is almost unbreakable, but as you know, Dortmund does not possess such a configuration."

Click-click!

"Haaland and Pogba are excellent."

"No, hmm, I know both of them are very good, but Haaland is too young; he lacks experience partnering with top-tier midfielders, and furthermore..."

Sitting Like looked at the reporter: "Tom excels at high-ball crosses, but I don't see Haaland possessing particularly outstanding heading ability."

"What about Dortmund's second new signing, Jude Bellingham? What is your evaluation of him?"

Sitting Like gritted his teeth.

In truth, the content of his remarks today had already exceeded the scope appropriate for a head coach, but the reporters were so aggressive that they provoked all of Sitting Like's temper to flare up.

"There is a huge difference between an established player and a teenage prodigy; Bellingham comes from a secondary league."

Sitting Like gave Dortmund no face.

After all, Bellingham hails from the EFL Championship; performing well there might label one a prodigy, but there is a chasm between a prodigy and a top-tier player, and Bellingham has not yet bridged that chasm.

"..."

While Sitting Like was being interviewed, Escrivá was secretly peeking at him on his phone, just as he had once spied on Tenghahe Sect's interview during the La Liga season.

Sitting Like was a bit excessive, but Escrivá dared not make a sound.

Because what Sitting Like said was the truth: this season for Dortmund was no different from gambling.

Manchester Evening News front-page headline: Passive Measures? Manchester United Plans to Intercept B. Fei.

"This appears to be an emergency measure by the Manchester United coaching staff to cope with TY's loan departure; Coach Tenghahe Sect's staff is unwilling to trust Lin Lin Jiade because the player performed averagely in last season's Premier League," guessed the Man Evening News reporter.

Bild front-page headline: TY's TUE application form is expected to be approved within one week; Dortmund plans to have the player settle in before undergoing the physical examination.

The German Anti-Doping Agency's work efficiency is not high; even with expedited processing, it will take at least four days.

However, judging from what the agency staff told reporters during interviews, Tang Ye's TUE approval is essentially a foregone conclusion; one could say this matter is already settled.

"Come on, Tom."

Assistant coach Marti led Tang Ye to the gym; having rested for three days after landing, Tang Ye, now at full condition, was ready to undergo his physical fitness test.

"Beep!"

Numbers appeared on the display screen, and the fitness coach hurried over to record them.

【Tang Ye】

【Age: 21 years 6 months】

【Height: 1.82 cm】

【Weight: 75.2 kg】

"What a pity."

Tang Ye looked at the numbers on the screen and sighed softly.

Marti looked up at him: "Pity about what?"

"I thought I could still grow taller."

"Haha!"

Marti gave Tang Ye a light tap: "I recall you were previously around 174 or 175? Back at Utrecht. Never mind, it's all the same; anyway, I think 182 is very suitable. Any taller and you'd have to play as a defensive midfielder."

"We already have two defensive midfielders."

Marti pointed behind him; outside the glass door, a crowd of players from the Dortmund youth academy were lying prone, along with Bellingham and Haaland.

This was Tang Ye's second visit to the Dortmund base, and the players inside were curious about this fellow whose value exceeded 200 million euros.

"Hey!"

Tang Ye raised his hand to greet his opponents, then suddenly asked Marti: "How tall is Haaland?"

"Over 1.9 meters, but not quite 2 meters."

"Hey, can't you be a bit more rigorous, Matty?"

Tang Ye complained.

One meter ninety and two meters even—that's a full ten centimeters difference; how is one supposed to judge that?

"Haha, but Erling didn't use a header, so don't scold him."

"Scold him? I'm not that kind of person, okay, Matty."

Matty shrugged his shoulders, clearly not believing Tang Ye's words: "Weren't you cursing non-stop during last season's Champions League? From the quarter-finals all the way to the semi-finals. Hiss... I feel like you're getting fiercer."

"Erling is a good guy; don't bully him."

Matty said, but Tang Ye merely waved his hand: "Not knowing how to head the ball is a minor issue; just practice slowly. Hmm... what's the next item?"

Dortmund Official: Look who's here. (. jpg)

Dortmund Official: Outstanding endurance! (Muscle) (Muscle) (Muscle) (. jpg)

Dortmund Official: How does the Ballon d'Or winner pass? (. jpg)

Dortmund Official:...

Dortmund's official media had been acting as if injected with adrenaline these past few days, posting a photo of Tang Ye every half day, ranging from his medical check-up to meals, and then to Tang Ye interacting with new teammates; it was evident they were truly excited.

Meanwhile, inside Dortmund, preparations were underway for their upcoming matches in October.

Bang!

Snatching the ball from under Guerrero's feet, Tang Ye immediately dragged it back and turned, easily shaking off Pogba, who was defending him.