Chapter 305 - 298: The Final Battle

After returning to Amsterdam from Lisbon, Ajax held a training session that same afternoon.

Once training was over, Yang Yang brought Chen Tao to a hotel south of the Amsterdam Arena.

Wei Zhen and several reporters who had made a special trip from China were already waiting there.

The moment they saw Yang Yang and Chen Tao, they were overjoyed and immediately gathered around them.

The conversation naturally began with a round of congratulations for Yang Yang helping Ajax win the UEFA Cup. Yang Yang politely thanked them for their support and even agreed to an impromptu interview, answering a few of their questions. This left the Chinese reporters with an excellent impression of him, and they repeatedly wished him luck in breaking the record.

Chen Tao’s trials in Europe had also drawn the attention of the Chinese media. This wasn’t just because Yang Yang was pulling strings for him, but also because the Eredivisie teams he had previously trialed with all had high praise for him.

"For this trial at Anderlecht, I’m most grateful to Yang Yang, of course, but I also have to thank Arie Haan."

Besides his career in the Netherlands, Arie Haan also had an excellent stint at Anderlecht. He still had some connections at the club, so when he heard Chen Tao was going for a trial, he even made a personal trip to Anderlecht.

"How did the trial go?" Wei Zhen asked with concern.

Wei Zhen had helped negotiate with Chen Tao’s club before he went abroad, so he was particularly invested in the outcome.

"Anderlecht gave me a great review, and they’re very serious about wanting to sign me. According to intel Guido Alberts got, they were originally planning to sign two attacking players from other Belgian clubs, both of whom play in positions similar to mine. But now, they’ve put those plans on hold, just waiting for my answer."

The moment Chen Tao said that, Wei Zhen and the others knew it was a promising sign.

"Anderlecht is a strong team, and they play in the Champions League every year. If you can make a name for yourself on that team, your future will be quite promising. At the very least, the Four Major Leagues would be within reach," Wei Zhen analyzed with a nod.

Yang Yang and Chen Tao exchanged a glance. Yang Yang said encouragingly, "Yeah. I told you, he has the skill."

Chen Tao’s face was full of gratitude. Yang Yang had arranged all his food, lodging, and travel in Europe. His National Team teammate wasn’t looking for anything in return; he was doing it purely out of friendship. How could Chen Tao not be grateful?

"I’ve always found it strange. Why do our youth teams always get good results, but then it never works out for the senior team? What’s the problem here?" one of the Chinese reporters asked.

Wei Zhen nodded and thought for a moment. "I think it’s definitely related to the chaotic state of our youth development system. But we shouldn’t just write the whole thing off. We have indeed produced quite a few talented young players."

"That’s right," Yang Yang nodded in agreement. Players like Chen Tao, Zhou Haibin, Feng Xiaoting, and Hao Junmin were all very talented.

This crop of the National Youth Team was quite good. The generation with Qu Bo and Du Wei, who were so impressive at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, were also very talented. Otherwise, how would you explain Qu Bo nearly signing with Tottenham Hotspur?

"The problem now lies in the transition phase from the youth team to the senior team. We have a gap there," Yang Yang said.

Hearing Yang Yang say this, everyone present, including Wei Zhen, had been involved in the Chinese football scene for years. They only had to think for a moment to understand exactly what he meant and to know that he was right.

People are inherently lazy.

When the environment around you tells you that you only need to use sixty percent of your ability to be competent and easily earn money, then who would be willing to work hard to use eighty percent, let alone try every possible way to tap into their own potential?

Furthermore, the current football environment in China was indeed not conducive to the growth of young players.

Take Chen Tao, for example. With his current ability, he could easily be an undisputed starter at his club back home. How could he keep improving then? But here in Europe, it’s different. He sees more, better players, and the environment forces him to give one hundred percent effort just to get on the pitch. That’s how he’ll constantly discover his potential and continue to grow.

No one in this world is a saint. No one has the self-discipline to stay in their comfort zone and still constantly force themselves to challenge their limits. That’s just not possible.

’The moment I feel Ajax can no longer help me improve, I’ll choose to leave without hesitation,’ Yang Yang knew. ’I have to keep striving, keep getting better.’

He believed that Ajax would understand and respect this way of thinking.

Right now, the domestic football leagues simply couldn’t create an environment that was conducive to players’ growth and improvement.

"Chen Tao’s trial in the Netherlands was a great success. A lot of teams are taking a fresh look at Chinese players now, especially this group from the National Youth Team," Yang Yang said with an optimistic smile. "It also happens to align with the preferences of Dutch clubs, because they can develop a player for a few years and then sell them on to one of the Four Major Leagues."

In Europe, it was just business.

"Coincidentally, this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup is being held in the Netherlands. Guido Alberts will invite some teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, and even Germany to watch the Chinese Team’s matches. He hopes to help more Chinese players leave the country and come to Europe."

Guido Alberts had become quite famous in China recently. He first engineered Zheng Zhi’s move to Mainz and then helped Chen Tao contact teams for trials. This had made many talented domestic players who wanted to play abroad eager to make a move.

According to Yang Yang’s own assessment, several players on the National Youth Team had the ability to play abroad. The key was whether they themselves were willing to take that step, and whether their domestic clubs were willing to let them go.

......

......

"This is for you."

While the reporters were holding up Chen Tao, asking him about his trials, Wei Zhen pulled Yang Yang aside and handed him a hand-woven bracelet made of multiple colors.

"My little sister made this lucky bracelet for you. Look, it even has your name on it."

Yang Yang took it and looked. Sure enough, the name "YANG" was woven into it with different colored threads.

"When did she learn how to make these?" Yang Yang asked with a smile, a warm feeling spreading in his heart.

"I have no idea. When she heard I was coming to Europe, she specifically made me bring it for you. She insisted that you must wear it on your left wrist, saying that it brings good luck and improves your relationships with people."

As he said the last part, Wei Zhen couldn’t help but chuckle.

’Girls and their weird, quirky ideas. Guys will never understand them.’

Seeing Yang Yang examining the bracelet with great interest, Wei Zhen said, full of envy, "It’s really well-made. I originally wanted her to make one for me too, but she said she’s too busy studying for her college entrance exams and doesn’t have time."

At this point, Wei Zhen shook his head with a sigh and patted Yang Yang’s shoulder firmly. "To be honest, I’ve discovered that ever since you showed up, my aunt and uncle, and my little sister... they treat you better than they treat my brother and me."

"Guess it’s a personality thing," Yang Yang chuckled.

As he spoke, he put the bracelet on right away.

According to the rules in European football, players are allowed to wear some accessories. For example, some players wear rings, but they need to be wrapped with cloth or tape. As for woven items like bracelets or hairbands, they are generally not restricted.

After putting it on, Yang Yang took a closer look and found that it looked quite good.

"A lucky bracelet, huh? Then I’ll wear it in my matches. Hopefully, it’ll bring me good luck," Yang Yang said with a smile.

"Good luck!" Wei Zhen said emphatically.

......

......

「May 22nd, noon.」

The final match of the Eredivisie season: Ajax versus Groningen at home.

After Ajax’s comeback victory against Eindhoven in the previous round put them at the top of the table, and with Yang Yang’s brace keeping him hot on Kuyt’s heels, this final round of the season was fraught with unpredictability. It had captured the attention of media and fans across the Netherlands, Europe, and even the entire world.

But compared to the league title, the fans were more concerned about whether Yang Yang could overtake Kuyt for Top Scorer, and also, if he could break Ronaldo’s legendary record.

Long before the match, Groningen’s head coach, Jong Yangsi, stated in a media interview that Groningen would not hold back in the away game, even though the match would no longer affect their league ranking.

"Out of professionalism and sportsmanship, we will do everything we can to show our greatest strength at the Amsterdam Arena. This is not just out of respect for the match, but also respect for our fans, and even more so, respect for Yang Yang."

For this match, Groningen once again deployed a 4-4-2 formation.

This was also their most-used formation this season.

Ajax didn’t dare to be careless either. Head coach Ronald Koeman said before the match that playing three games in just eight days, and traveling more than five thousand kilometers, was immense pressure on the players. But he believed the team could overcome this pressure because everyone wanted to win another championship.

As for Yang Yang, Ronald Koeman said he didn’t need to give him any kind of motivational speech at all.

"I’m confident he’s fully prepared!"

For this match, Ajax also fielded a very strong attacking lineup.

The goalkeeper was Stekelenburg. The back line consisted of Maxwell, Vermaelen, Heitinga, and Maicon. In the midfield, Galasek played a holding role, with Pinaar and Sneijder in the center. Mitja was on the left wing, Charisteas was the center-forward, and Yang Yang was on the right.

Starting Mitja made it clear that Ajax was still going all out to support Yang Yang in his fight for the Top Scorer title, while also hoping Yang Yang could strive to break Ronaldo’s legendary record.

It wasn’t just about the two opposing teams; the Amsterdam Arena was also packed to the rafters.

All the Ajax fans hadn’t just come for the league title; they also hoped to be lucky enough to witness this historic moment with their own eyes.

The media’s attention, the fans’ expectations, the support from everyone at the club—all of it was focused on Yang Yang.

For him, this was both motivation and pressure.

He couldn’t avoid it. He could only face the challenge head-on.