Chapter 960: DFB Pokal!

Two days later, the training session got another break. This time, it was because the team had to play in the DFB Pokal, and this time, they had to fight against SSV Ulm.

Never heard of this team, right?

Yeah, even some of the fanatics in this country would also be confused when they heard their team would fight against SSV Ulm. After all, this was a team that was playing in the fourth division, the same level as Schalke II.

Since it was a small team with a logistic that was far from being ideal, it would be impossible for them to travel to Gelsenkirchen that would take at least four hours to arrive.

So, it was decided that Schalke would be the one to go for the away game, going straight to Donaulstadion with a capacity of only 10,000 people, the same as Schalke II’s home ground.

Honestly, Higo himself didn’t have to join the squad, not when most of them were just the benchwarmers here.

The coach gave a special privilege to the main players: the training session that day was cut in half under Waldoch’s supervision, and most players picked that one up since they didn’t want to travel too much in such a harsh winter period.

Still, having nothing important to do, Higo decided to follow the team for this away game.

Another reason was that he would never have a reason to go to a small town that could even be called a village here if not for this competition.

The last time he travelled like this was when he was in the second team, and the boy wouldn’t be embarrassed to say that he missed that feeling of having to go to a small city in Germany that no one knew about.

Of course, Frohling had to warn him first so that the boy didn’t feel offended by his decision.

"Listen, Higo, you are just here to fill up the number, and even if Fahrman gets injured, you will not be my second option here. So, just sit tight and watch the game, okay?"

"Sure, Sensei. Don’t worry, I will be a good kid and sit quietly on the bench." Higo nodded readily.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the boy underestimated his reputation here.

The moment the bus arrived and everyone went out, the supporters who took their time to go there noticed that Higo was among the squad, so they didn’t hesitate to swarm the boy for a photo and a sign.

"Hey, Higo! Can we take a picture, please?!"

"Don’t push around! Don’t push around! I want his sign first!"

"Let’s do a group photo! Come on, everyone!"

Well, Higo just accepted the meet-and-greet session politely. After all, the crowd itself wasn’t that big, just around 15 people here.

It didn’t take too long for him to finish accepting everyone’s request, and the moment he was back, Higo couldn’t help but gulp, feeling that everyone was staring at him with eyes full of jealousy.

"Um... Is there anything I can do?" He rubbed the back awkwardly.

"Tch! It is so nice to be a superstar, right?!" One of them clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Man! I also want people to come at me and ask for a photo, for God’s sake!"

"Well, maybe you can be famous first, okay? Try it!"

"Ha?! You think it is that easy, Bastard?!"

People were laughing their asses off at the bickering, somehow finding the heavy atmosphere earlier dissipated instantly. Higo couldn’t help but sigh in relief as well, finding that they were not serious before.

Still, one person looked at him with a complicated gaze, probably more serious than anyone else in the room.

That person was none other than Jonas Hofmann, as he felt like time had passed so quickly since he knew about the goalkeeper a year ago.

’Yeah, at that time, he was just a rookie whose German was still full of stutters, right? Who would’ve thought that he would be in this position right now, leaving me to the dust...’ He chuckled in self-deprecation.

It wasn’t just him who felt that way. No, it was Morita and Fabian as well, as they all came from the same generation of the second team.

Still, the biggest feeling was directed at Higo, as he saw clearly how the boy climbed from having no one know his name to the point where even people in this small town would ask for a photo with him.

Compared to that, he felt like he was just walking on the spot, not knowing how to improve his game anymore.

’No, no, no, I cannot get drowned in self-pity like that.’ The boy shook his head quickly, trying to keep the negative vibe from slipping into his head.

’Today is going to be my chance to showcase my worth; I cannot mess this up due to lack of concentration! Come on! I can do this!’

A moment later, after everyone was ready with their jersey, Frohling finally came into the locker room with a thick winter coat engulfing him, as if the man was ready to climb Mount Everest or something like that.

Well, not that he could be blamed for this, since the weather outside was far colder than in Gelsenkirchen. Hell, even half of the pitch was covered in snow, which would make things difficult for the team to develop their game later.

Still, the boss was not there to talk about technical things like that.

No, his gaze swept through the entire locker room, silencing everyone else at this moment.

"Some of you here have been benchwarmers for quite a long time, while some even think about leaving the club this winter; I know it." The man spoke straight to the point, enough to make some of those he mentioned tremble in fear.

"Oh, I am not angry here. No, in fact, I am glad you grow some spines and want to challenge yourself outside of this team." Frohling shook his head when he noticed some of them tensed.

"However, if you really want to leave the team, this will be your only chance to raise your worth, and if you fail, no one will ever take a glance at you! So, treat it as a game to die for, and come back with a win for me, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

"YES, BOSS!"