Chương 237: Returning to Weser Stadium
"Word has it your team is having some issues?"
Before departing for Bremen, Lin received a call from Guardiola.
Guardiola had been extremely busy lately, with a mountain of things to handle at Bayern, which is why it took him so long to call Lin.
"Yeah, there are some problems," Lin responded honestly. Manchester City's issues were no secret in England, and it wouldn't be long before the news reached Germany.
On the other end of the line, after hearing Lin's response, Guardiola said, "After the Champions League match, do you have time to come to Munich?"
"Sure!"
Lin didn't ask why he needed to go to Munich. Knowing Guardiola, he wouldn't ask him to come for no reason.
"Do well in the Champions League. Good luck!"
"You too! Don't lose at home to Mourinho!"
"Heh, don't worry. I've prepared a surprise for Chelsea that I'm sure they'll enjoy!"
Guardiola sounded confident, as if Kroos' departure hadn't significantly impacted his team. Whether he was bluffing or truly had a master plan, only time would tell.
On February 18th, the entire Manchester City squad landed in the northern German city of Bremen.
After several months, Lin and De Bruyne returned to this city. However, unlike before, when they donned the green jersey of the Parrot Army to fight for Werder Bremen at Weser Stadium, today, they were returning as opponents.
This brought mixed feelings to both of them.
"Do you think they'll boo us?" De Bruyne asked, a bit worried.
He didn't feel much attachment to Chelsea, but he had fond memories of his time at Werder Bremen. He was concerned about hearing boos from the home fans.
"Don't worry, they won't. I'm sure of it," Lin said, patting De Bruyne on the shoulder as they walked through the airport terminal together.
"They're here!"
"Lin!"
"De Bruyne!"
"Welcome home!"
As soon as they stepped out of the terminal, they heard a commotion outside.
Looking up, they saw thousands of fans at the airport.
But these fans weren't wearing Manchester City's blue jerseys; they were clad in the green jerseys representing their home team. If you looked closely, you'd notice they were wearing last season's Werder Bremen jerseys, with the number 10 and number 6 being the most common.
Seeing this, Lin and De Bruyne were stunned.
They never expected that upon returning to Werder Bremen, they would receive such a warm welcome.
The worry they had earlier instantly vanished as they exchanged glances.
It was clear that they wouldn't be hearing any boos at Weser Stadium.
"Lin, don't hold back on the field. Even if Werder Bremen falls in the Champions League knockout stage, it'll be while standing tall!"
"Even though we're not as strong as you, don't underestimate us. We're the indomitable Parrot Army!"
As they signed autographs and took photos with the fans who had come to welcome them, they kept hearing such words.
Obviously, the fans were aware that returning to Weser Stadium as former Bremen stars could be challenging for Lin and De Bruyne.
So, they tried to ease the pressure by encouraging them to play their best, even if it meant facing their own team.
What a considerate group of fans!
Both Lin and De Bruyne were deeply moved. They patiently signed autographs and took photos with every fan there, thanking them for their support.
"Are Lin and De Bruyne really that popular at Werder Bremen? I heard Bremen is just a small team!"
Aguero, who had been scorned by Atlético Madrid fans, found this scene unbelievable.
"When Lin and De Bruyne were here, Werder Bremen was competing for the title with Bayern. Now they've fallen to a relegation battle, so naturally, the fans miss them a lot," David Silva explained. Unlike Aguero, who had a contentious departure, Lin and De Bruyne had left after their loan spells ended, so the fans held no grudges against them.
...
Though Werder Bremen fans showed kindness to Lin and De Bruyne, the German media was not so gentle with Manchester City.
At the pre-match press conference, a German reporter bluntly asked Pellegrini, "Mr. Pellegrini, your team hasn't won in three Premier League games. If you lose to Werder Bremen in this round, will you resign?"
The German reporters held some hostility towards Manchester City. Part of it stemmed from their role as an opponent in the Champions League, and another part was related to City's status as a wealthy club.
Most Bundesliga teams are member-owned clubs, meaning they belong to the fans, not a single owner. While this model ensures financial stability, it also limits their spending on transfers. Hence, many traditional Germans harbor some resentment towards a club like Manchester City, which was built on money rather than honor and tradition. In their view, this isn't a healthy way to run a football club.
"My team will win on the road, so your question is invalid," Pellegrini replied coldly, glancing at the German reporter.
"But if you lose, will you resign?" The reporter persisted, determined to get an answer.
Pellegrini, visibly angered, stormed out, ending the press conference early.
The reporters snapped photos of him leaving in a huff, already thinking up headlines for tomorrow's news. If Manchester City lost, Pellegrini would surely face widespread criticism from the media.
Under immense pressure, Pellegrini was meticulous in organizing the team's training session. He stood on the sidelines, watching the players intently, lost in thought.
"The coach seems a bit off," Aguero whispered to Lin, taking advantage of a moment when Pellegrini wasn't looking.
Lin glanced at the coach, who stood on the sidelines with a stern expression, and nodded slightly, "The coach must be under a lot of pressure. We need to play well in this match and try to win. That's the only way to silence the critics."
With City winless in three games, criticism had been mounting. Instead of wasting time arguing with the outside world, it was better to train hard and respond with a convincing victory.
As professional players, they all understood this.
"Yeah, if we win this game, the next one at home will be easier. But, hey, Lin, you're not going to go easy on them, are you?" Aguero looked at Lin suspiciously. Could he really bring himself to go all out against his old club, a club that treated him so well?
"Don't question my professionalism. Giving it my all is the greatest respect I can show Werder Bremen!"
If Lin had any lingering concerns before arriving in Bremen, the scene at the airport had erased them entirely.
On February 19th, at Weser Stadium, before the match started, Lin and De Bruyne visited the home team's locker room.
Lin gave each of his old teammates a finely crafted watch. Even the club's staff received one. Last year, he was on a youth team contract with a modest salary, so he hadn't been able to give his teammates any meaningful farewell gifts. Now that he could afford it, he was making up for it.
"Wow, you've really changed since joining Manchester City! These watches must've cost a fortune," Arnautović marveled at Lin's generosity.
Old captain Fritz chuckled, "It wasn't cheap. Each watch must be worth at least 30,000 euros!"
Fritz's words drew the attention of everyone. Arnautović gasped in shock, exclaiming, "Goodness, that's almost a year of my salary!"
Philipp nodded in agreement, "That's two years' wages for me!"
Petersen's eyes lit up, "Lin, does Manchester City pay that well? Do you think there's a chance for your little brother…"
Mielitz smacked Petersen on the head and bluntly said, "Manchester City only buys top stars. You, a Bayern reject, shouldn't dream like that!"
Petersen clutched his head, looking aggrieved, "A man's got to have dreams, right? Otherwise, wouldn't I be just like a salted fish?"
Schaaf clapped his hands, halting the playful banter among the players, "Alright, if you have dreams, then show it on the field today. Try to score a goal against Manchester City. Maybe then they'll notice you!"
"Got it, boss! Just watch—I feel like I'm going to get a hat trick today!"
"Ha! Keep dreaming. If you manage three shots, that'll be a success!"
"Here's a tip: when you're on the pitch, shout 'Lin, pass the ball!' Maybe you'll trick him into passing it to you. Then you might have a chance!"
"Brilliant idea! You're a genius!"
...
Lin and De Bruyne exchanged glances. Their old teammates hadn't changed much since they left—just as fun-loving and full of jokes.
The match time soon arrived. As Lin and De Bruyne walked through the player tunnel and stepped onto Weser Stadium, a massive cheer erupted from the crowd.
"Lin!"
"De Bruyne!"
The home fans rose to their feet, giving the two players a standing ovation.
Although they were no longer wearing Werder Bremen's green jerseys, the fans were still grateful for the trophies and beautiful memories the two brought them last season.
As the fans rose to their feet, Werder Bremen's players also held up prepared cards, forming a hand-drawn "Werder Bremen Family Portrait."
Behind the players, a giant framed photo of last season's Werder Bremen squad appeared on the south stand. Lin and De Bruyne's images were part of both the family portrait and the
framed photo.
Seeing this, Lin and De Bruyne couldn't contain their emotions.
The two walked up to embrace each of their old teammates, but the players pulled them to the center and took a new "family portrait."
In the CCTV broadcast studio, commentator He Wei was deeply moved by the scene. "Perhaps this is the charm of football. Beyond victories and trophies, there's something more."
Although Werder Bremen's fans showed kindness to Lin and De Bruyne, it didn't mean they didn't want their team to win. Once the match started, Werder Bremen played with great intensity.
Coach Schaaf had clearly studied Manchester City's match footage. He employed tactics based on Mourinho's blueprint, specifically assigning players to disrupt the connection between Kroos and De Bruyne.
One served as Manchester City's metronome, while the other was their frontline playmaker. Neutralizing them would halve City's attacking threat.
In the first ten minutes, Werder Bremen's players, through relentless running, managed to achieve their tactical objective.
On the stands, as the home fans saw their team not only holding their ground but also gaining a slight advantage, their cheers grew louder.
Watching from the stands, German national team coach Joachim Löw noticed how Kroos was struggling and shook his head. Pellegrini's coaching ability was indeed inferior to Guardiola's. Under Guardiola, Kroos performed much better than he did at Manchester City.
If Kroos's form didn't improve at City, Löw might conclude that joining Manchester City had been a mistake for him.
Kroos was smart. He realized he was being targeted, so he deliberately dropped back closer to his team's defense, reducing the pressure when receiving the ball. This move paid off, as the interference he faced when receiving the ball decreased significantly.
Once in possession, Kroos found more options as he advanced the ball forward. With several skilled passers in the team, City didn't necessarily need to go through the midfield; they could initiate attacks from the flanks as well.
In the 18th minute of the first half, spotting an opportunity, Kroos passed the ball to David Silva on the wing. Silva executed a one-two with Lin, bypassing the defense and then passing to an unmarked De Bruyne.
De Bruyne delivered a precise through ball to the onrushing Lin, who easily slotted the ball home, giving City a 1-0 lead.
After scoring, Lin made a calming gesture with his hands, signaling that he wouldn't celebrate.
Seeing Lin score, De Bruyne also hung his head and turned back, showing no intention of celebrating. His face didn't even register any joy.
On the sidelines, however, Pellegrini was elated. An away lead was excellent news. Even if they were eventually held to a draw, they'd have a significant advantage due to the away goal.
Watching the goal, Schaaf couldn't help but shake his head. They just couldn't stop it—there was no way to defend against it. The players of the two teams were simply not on the same level. Lin's positioning had improved significantly since last season, and De Bruyne's passing ability had also advanced.
The home fans felt a twinge of bitterness. The Lin-De Bruyne connection was the same deadly weapon that had helped them dominate the Bundesliga last season. They never imagined that one day, this weapon would be used against them.
After a moment of silence, someone started clapping. They were applauding not only for the beautiful play between Lin and De Bruyne but also for the respect they showed by not celebrating.
With the lead, Manchester City seemed to relax, and their play improved, leading to several brilliant combinations.
More goals soon followed. In the 32nd minute, Lin assisted Aguero to score. In the 44th minute, Lin latched onto a long pass from Kroos, broke the offside trap, and scored again.
Before halftime, Manchester City was already leading 3-0 away from home.
The gap in quality between the two teams was glaring.
Since losing Lin and De Bruyne, Werder Bremen's performance had plummeted. This season, the demands of playing in the Champions League had severely impacted their league form. Currently, after 21 rounds, Werder Bremen had only managed five wins and had lost 10 times. They had just 21 points, sitting just above the relegation zone.
Their opponent today was the Premier League leaders.
A 3-0 halftime scoreline might be the most accurate reflection of the gap between the two sides.
During the halftime break, Pellegrini made no personnel changes.
Werder Bremen, on the other hand, substituted two defenders for two attackers, indicating they were not ready to concede and wanted to fight for their dignity at home.
Werder Bremen played with great determination, despite being at a significant disadvantage in terms of possession. They seized every opportunity to push forward and threaten City's goal.
Their efforts paid off!
In the 67th minute of the second half, Fritz sent a free-kick into the box, where Arnautović outjumped Kompany and headed the ball into City's net.
After scoring, Arnautović was ecstatic, running to the corner and roaring towards the fans in the stands.
The stadium erupted, with over 50,000 fans giving him a thunderous ovation. His teammates rushed over to join him in celebration, overjoyed by the goal.
This goal seemed to inject a surge of energy into the home team, leading to a brief period of intense pressure on Manchester City. The City players seemed a bit rattled, making several mistakes that nearly allowed the hosts to capitalize.
But in the crucial moment, Lin stepped up. Dribbling down the wing, he beat three defenders, single-handedly tearing through Werder Bremen's defense, and scored.
This goal was like a cold shower, snapping Werder Bremen back to reality. They realized they were up against a truly formidable opponent.
"That kid is still so hard to defend," Schaaf said with a wry smile on the sidelines.
Having coached Lin, Schaaf knew better than anyone how difficult it was to stop him. Even Bayern's top defenders struggled to contain him, so it was unrealistic to expect Werder Bremen's players to succeed.
With Lin on the field, winning against Manchester City was almost impossible.
After completing his hat trick, Lin again chose not to celebrate. He helped the defender he had just outplayed, Selassie, back to his feet and gave him an apologetic nod.
Selassie didn't seem to mind, ruffling Lin's hair to show there were no hard feelings.
Weser Stadium fell into a prolonged silence. This time, no one applauded Lin's goal.
His strike not only halted Werder Bremen's momentum but also ended any suspense in the match.
If the game ended 4-1, Manchester City would virtually have secured their spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Given Werder Bremen's capabilities, there was no way they could score four goals at Etihad Stadium.
Thinking of this, some fans couldn't hold back their tears.
Compared to last season's glory, this season had been a nightmare. The team was caught in a relegation battle, out of the Champions League at the Round of 16, and knocked out early in the German Cup.
Would things have been different if those two were still on the team?
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