Chapter 303: Determined to Win

“This was a great victory!”

In the post-match mixed zone, Yang Yang stood before reporters from all over the world.

In the crowd, he spotted Wei Zhen, a reporter from China Central Television (CCTV).

Yang Yang was soaked from head to toe, reeking of champagne as if he’d just been fished out of a river of it. Moments before, he and his teammates had been celebrating wildly.

The Man of the Match champagne had been almost entirely poured over Yang Yang.

But he didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. Grinning from ear to ear, his unadulterated joy—even euphoria—was plain for all to see.

This was the first major European trophy he had won as a starter!

Last year’s Champions League title. This season’s UEFA Cup title. Yang Yang had been there for it all. He had personally helped forge a golden era in Ajax’s history. Tonight’s performance would cement his status as an Ajax legend.

“I want to say that this victory isn’t down to any single person. It belongs to everyone on the team, from top to bottom—including our teammates, whether they were here at Alvalade Stadium tonight or not, as well as our coaches and staff. Every single one of them played a part in this win.”

Regarding the match, Yang Yang believed the team’s start was crucial.

“We had a dream start. Before the game, the coach told us the first half would be critical. He said we had to control the match and convert our advantage into a win, and we did just that.”

“Moscow Central Army is a very capable team, but they weren’t at their best in the first half. We capitalized on our chances and turned them into goals, which was key. We should be very proud of our performance in the first half.”

Regarding his brace and one assist in the match, Yang Yang was quick to credit his teammates.

“Thomas Vermaelen always says he should be a striker. His positioning and goal-scoring instincts in the box are incredible. Both of my goals came from the left flank. I have to thank Maxwell and Pinaar; they delivered perfect passes to me. All I had to do was put the ball in the net. They’re the real heroes.”

“Sneijder made a lot of great plays today too, and Maicon as well. They were all outstanding.”

Yang Yang paused for a moment. “I believe we are a team, not just one individual. This was a team victory, not the work of any single person.”

When a reporter asked if, after winning the Champions League and now the UEFA Cup, he would consider leaving Ajax, Yang Yang stated he had no concrete plans at the moment.

“I love Ajax, and I’m very grateful to the club, but professional football is full of uncertainty. I don’t have any detailed plans right now. Perhaps I’ll make a decision soon, once the season is over.”

As for this weekend’s Eredivisie match, Yang Yang said he was filled with anticipation.

“This has been a dream season. And I feel I have to give a special thank you to one person in particular: our fitness coach, Winston Bogard. I want to say, thank you, Winston. You’re the one who’s out there training with me every morning. I hope you find a girlfriend soon.”

Upon hearing Yang Yang’s words, the crowd of reporters burst into laughter.

“Personally, I feel I’m still in great shape. My teammates and I won’t be celebrating too hard tonight because we’ve already agreed. Once we walk out of Alvalade Stadium, we’re going to put this UEFA Cup title behind us as quickly as possible. We need to refocus for the league match this weekend.”

“I want to save the biggest, craziest celebration for the weekend. The Eredivisie title and the Top Scorer award—we’re determined to win them both!”

……

……

As the footage of Yang Yang’s media interview was broadcast live back to the Netherlands, Kuyt was sitting in his living room in Rotterdam, watching.

When he heard Yang Yang mention the Eredivisie title and the Top Scorer award, that look of supreme confidence sent an inexplicable wave of panic through him, even a touch of irritation.

He had been training hard these past few days, but he always felt like he was missing that final bit of drive.

‘Could it be true, just like Van Gaal said? Once you lose that momentum, it’s incredibly hard to get it back.’

Kuyt ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He regretted being so careless.

A three-goal lead with two matches left, and he’d thought the title was in the bag. And now…

‘Why did I ever believe what the media was saying?’

On the television, Yang Yang finished his interview and walked back onto the pitch, laughing and joking with his teammates.

The trophy ceremony was about to begin.

This time last year, Ajax had made history by winning the treble. This year, they were likely to defend their Eredivisie title and, with this UEFA Cup win, complete a double. It would mark another golden era in the club’s history.

Ronald Koeman, Yang Yang, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, and Ibrahimovic would all go down in the history books for this.

What an honor.

And Yang Yang was destined to become the legend of these last two seasons.

Especially this season.

Despite the departure of five core starters, he had single-handedly carried Ajax, shouldering the team’s entire offensive burden and breaking Ronaldo’s legendary decade-old record in the process.

This season, Yang Yang had undergone a complete transformation. He was no longer the fledgling “golden substitute” of a year ago.

If Ajax won the league title this weekend, if Yang Yang took home the Top Scorer award, if he even broke Ronaldo’s 30-goal record… then Yang Yang would become a legend that all Ajax fans, and indeed all fans in the Netherlands, would talk about for years to come.

‘That’s Ronaldo’s record, for crying out loud!’

Honestly, Kuyt had to admit that if he were in Yang Yang’s shoes, he would fight to the bitter end for it too.

So, Kuyt had a strong premonition: Yang Yang was definitely going to score in the weekend’s match. The only question was how many. Maybe one, maybe two… he might even score a hat-trick.

‘Oh, right. He’s never actually scored a hat-trick in his career.’

‘Who knew what could happen?’

This premonition was placing an immense pressure on Kuyt, so much so that he felt like he could barely breathe.

‘Yang Yang will score this weekend. But what about me?’

……

……

The television cameras focused on the presentation stage, where the players of the Russian Super League team, Moscow Central Army, were walking up to the podium. Led by their coach, Gazayev, they looked utterly crushed by their defeat to Ajax.

「Manchester, England」

At that moment, the eyes of the young Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, seemed to spit fire.

He was once the darling of Alvalade Stadium, but tonight, this very stadium was singing the praises of his rival.

Though he couldn’t see Yang Yang on the screen at that moment, he could easily imagine his joy.

“He must be ecstatic,” Cristiano Ronaldo muttered.

Ever since Ajax had eliminated Sporting Lisbon, he had considered Yang Yang and his team major rivals. He’d even spent tonight’s match secretly hoping Moscow Central Army would slaughter Ajax and shut Yang Yang down completely.

But he never expected that the Moscow Central Army he was rooting for would end up as nothing more than a stepping stone for Yang Yang’s ascent.

It was easy to imagine that after tonight, Yang Yang would become the new darling of European Football.

British papers were already rumoring that he was set to leave Ajax.

‘So where will he go next?’

‘A Champions League giant, for sure. But which one?’

Manchester United was currently embroiled in controversy. Ferguson was in a huge public dispute with the club’s two largest shareholders over the “Rock of Gibraltar” stud horse affair, and the American Glazer family was taking the opportunity to launch a takeover bid.

‘Surely, with all that going on, Manchester United won’t be in a position to sign Yang Yang, right?’

But Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t dare to be complacent.

Watching the dejected, defeated figures of the Moscow Central Army players on the screen, an unprecedented fighting spirit surged within the Portuguese star.

He wouldn’t lose to anyone. Not even Yang Yang!

‘I refuse to be a loser!’

……

……

When Yang Yang reappeared on camera, his smiling face as he chatted with his teammates was broadcast clearly to all the viewers and fans watching.

It also appeared before the eyes of Lionel Messi in Barcelona, Spain.

He had watched the entire match live. He had seen with his own eyes how Yang Yang first assisted Vermaelen, then scored two goals in quick succession.

Frankly, he was a little disappointed. Tonight, Yang Yang hadn’t even used his signature Pendulum Move. His dribbles and breakthroughs had been simple and efficient, with no wasted motion. It clearly didn’t align with Messi’s own footballing aesthetic.

But he had still scored a brace, provided an assist, and single-handedly orchestrated the entire final.

The UEFA Cup had admittedly fallen from grace. It didn’t have the same prestige, and it didn’t draw as much attention. But it was still a major European tournament.

More importantly, Yang Yang was only eighteen.

Seventeen-year-old Messi had missed seeing seventeen-year-old Yang Yang lift the European Champions Cup, but now he had witnessed firsthand eighteen-year-old Yang Yang dominating the UEFA Cup final. The impact was profound.

Watching Yang Yang ascend the podium and receive congratulations from numerous football dignitaries, including UEFA President Johansson, filled Messi with envy. Almost every single one of them pulled Yang Yang aside to say a few words, likely words of encouragement.

He yearned to be as successful as Yang Yang.

At that moment, the words of his coach, Rijkaard, surfaced in his mind.

“Yang Yang is the best role model for you.”

But in the next moment, that feeling was replaced by a gnawing anxiety.

Media in the Catalonia Region were reporting that Barcelona had listed Yang Yang as a key transfer target they were scouting.

‘If Yang Yang comes to Camp Nou… what about me?’

Messi asked himself.

‘Will I have to leave, just like Fàbregas and Pique did? But where would I even go?’

The anxious Argentinian teenager was in for a sleepless night.

And on this night, the image of Yang Yang and his Ajax teammates lifting the UEFA Cup trophy in Lisbon’s Alvalade Stadium was broadcast across the entire world!