Super Wingstorm

”Goal!”

”Ajax scores!”

”What a brilliant run from Yang Yang!”

”My God, it’s hard to believe this is a Chinese player.”

When the footage of Yang Yang’s assist to Litmanen was broadcast back in China, the commentator for National Television cried out in astonishment.

”This was a personal performance that truly showcased his ability. Yang Yang’s movement and dribbling on the right wing were full of intelligence, and the final pass to assist Litmanen was perfectly placed.”

”It’s simply unbelievable. The individual skill Yang Yang has shown in this match is stunning, especially in that last attack. He dribbled past three of their players in a row: Lee Yong-Soo, Hoffland, and Van Bommel—and Van Bommel is Eindhoven’s captain.”

”I believe that right now, every viewer in front of their TV feels the same immense excitement as I do. We can hardly believe that one of our Chinese players is capable of such an outstanding performance in a major European league.”

”The camera is doing a close-up on Yang Yang. Let’s get reacquainted. This is Yang Yang. He’s only seventeen and currently plays for Ajax, but we believe he is the hope of Chinese Football, and he will become the pride of all Chinese people.”

...

Before the television commentator could even finish, tears started streaming down Shen Lifang’s face.

She had always been the most opposed to her son playing football. Her greatest wish was for Yang Yang to focus on his studies, get into a good university, and find a good job. Then she could be at ease.

She even held a bit of a grudge against her brother, Shen Ming, for encouraging Yang Yang to go play football in the Netherlands.

But at this moment, watching Yang Yang on the television, listening to the praise from the National Television commentator, and looking at the reporters sitting beside her, she felt a sense of pride she had never experienced before.

That was her son, and her pride.

Yang Yongqiang sat silently to the side, but his eyes were red. He was clearly holding back his own powerful emotions.

He had always been Yang Yang’s biggest supporter, enduring no small amount of complaints and blame from his wife for it. But he had never imagined that his son would one day bring him such a tremendous surprise.

He didn’t understand football and had no idea what kind of team Ajax was. All he knew was that Yang Yang was performing very well for this team, attracting the attention of countless fans and media outlets back home. Even National Television had come specifically to interview them, wanting to know everything about Yang Yang. Even the city leaders were paying special attention.

He’d heard that even the National Team was starting to take notice of Yang Yang. The Dutch head coach of the National Team was likely to select him to play for the country in the Asian Cup being held in China this summer, to win glory for his nation.

And tonight, all across the country, countless fans were glued to their television screens just to witness his match with their own eyes.

He did not disappoint.

Although Yang Yongqiang didn’t understand the game, he could read the expressions on the faces of everyone present: surprise, shock, and disbelief.

...

...

After the shock from Yang Yang’s assist to Litmanen gradually subsided, a reporter from Capital TV made a point to explain the significance and brilliance of that play to Yang Yongqiang and his wife.

This still left the couple, who knew nothing about football, mostly confused, but they understood one thing: their son had performed exceptionally well, especially in his direct matchup against that South Korean player named Lee Yong-Soo, whom he had completely bested.

Meanwhile, the live broadcast continued.

”Hiddink can’t help but make a substitution. He’s probably not willing to accept this.”

”Eindhoven was already one point behind Ajax in the Eredivisie. If they lose this match, the gap will be four points.”

”A draw would be acceptable, but a loss is definitely not part of Eindhoven’s plan.”

”Ronald Koeman is also making a change. Vermaelen is on. Who’s he replacing?”

”Galasek. Hmm, it looks like he’s pushed Heitinga into the midfield, with Vermaelen partnering with Escude.”

”Galasek has been pushing through the last few games. His stamina is probably an issue.”

”After the substitution, Ajax has started to play more steadily, with their overall formation dropping back a bit.”

”Let’s look at this attack from Eindhoven. The ball goes to Robben on the left wing again.”

”De Jong is marking Robben tightly. Robben uses his speed to break free and forces a cross.”

”Escude clears it at the near post...”

”Heitinga heads it away again, and Sneijder gets to the second ball...”

”Now for the Ajax counter-attack. Sneijder plays a through ball...”

”Yang Yang takes off at full speed...”

”He’s onside... the linesman’s flag is down, the referee hasn’t blown his whistle...”

”Eindhoven’s center-back, Hoffland, was the last man back. He’s scrambling to defend.”

”Yang Yang is dribbling at high speed, breaking into Eindhoven’s final third, but Hoffland gets back just in time.”

”Let’s see this one-on-one on the right wing, Yang Yang against Hoffland...”

”It’s the Pendulum Move again...”

”Yang Yang shakes off Hoffland in an instant and drives straight into the box...”

”A chipped pass to the far post...”

”Wesley Sonck...”

”GOOOOOOOAL!!!!!”

”In the 83rd minute, Ajax scores again!”

”Another assist from the number 99 right winger, Yang Yang! The Belgian striker, Wesley Sonck, at the far post with an open goal, taps it in from close range to extend the lead to 3-1!”

”There’s no doubt about it, this goal seals the game!”

”Looking at the slow-motion replay, we can see that the South Korean star, Lee Yong-Soo, was chasing him relentlessly from behind and tried to pull Yang Yang down for a foul several times but couldn’t hold on. And all the while, Yang Yang was using his body to shield the ball from him.”

”Facing Hoffland, he used another deceptive Pendulum Move to get past his opponent. When he broke into the box one-on-one with the keeper, he unselfishly chose to pass the ball across to Wesley Sonck at the far post, who didn’t waste the assist from Yang Yang and easily tapped the ball into the empty net.”

”Ajax 3, Eindhoven 1. Ajax has come from behind to win.”

”The young substitute, number 99 Yang Yang, has once again changed the course of the game.”

”After watching tonight’s match, Arie Haan should be able to make his decision.”

”Even though he’s only seventeen, his ability and his potential are more than enough to make him the sharpest weapon on the right wing for the Chinese National Team.”

...

...

Hiddink stood on the sideline, covering his mouth in frustration. He shook his head and walked back to the coach’s bench.

On the pitch, after Wesley Sonck’s goal, Yang Yang turned and ran past the end line, but the Belgian striker quickly caught up and tackled him onto the grass in celebration.

Immediately after, the rest of the Ajax players followed, crowding around the two of them.

The entire Amsterdam Arena erupted in thunderous cheers, a tidal wave of sound that swept over the stadium, awe-inspiring in its intensity.

”I can’t believe he’s the one who changed the game again,” Hiddink said resentfully.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t been worried about Yang Yang. Before the match, he had specifically instructed Lee Yong-Soo to be extremely careful as soon as Yang Yang came on, and the South Korean player had indeed done so.

It was difficult to blame Lee Yong-Soo for the first goal. Yang Yang’s positioning was too clever. He first drifted towards the center and then suddenly sprinted back to the wing to receive Sneijder’s pass. Lee Yong-Soo did his best in the one-on-one.

As for the second goal, Eindhoven had been desperate to equalize, which gave Ajax the opportunity to counter-attack.

Both goals came from Yang Yang’s assists. Coupled with the fact that Yang Yang had changed the game every time he’d come on in the past few matches, Hiddink couldn’t help but wonder, ’Just where did this Chinese kid come from?’

”He’s getting more and more confident with every game, his skills are improving, and he’s progressing faster and faster,” the assistant coach said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Lately, with consistent appearances as a substitute, Ronald Koeman’s use of him has also been quite strategic, generally playing to his strengths while mitigating his weaknesses. This has been a huge boost to his development.

Every player goes through a period of rapid growth like this. Yang Yang’s was just beginning.

”It must be Van Gaal. Ronald Koeman isn’t known for developing players, but Van Gaal is an expert at it.”

Van Gaal was Ajax’s technical director, Ronald Koeman’s direct superior. More importantly, he was famous for nurturing young players, having developed a whole generation of Europe’s top stars at Ajax back in the day.

”If this keeps up, Ajax won’t be able to hold on to him,” the assistant coach said, finding some dark humor in their rival’s potential misfortune.

Yang Yang’s contract renewal issue had already been exposed to the public. As his performances grew more and more outstanding, an increasing number of teams would want him, making it harder and harder for Ajax to keep him.

Hiddink shook his head and sighed. ”He’s only seventeen, too young. Leaving Ajax too early isn’t necessarily a good thing. But if he stays at Ajax, he’ll definitely be our biggest threat.”

Changing clubs is a tricky business. Some people keep climbing higher and higher, but many others slip and fall straight into a bottomless abyss. Who can say what will happen?

Just look at Van der Meede, who was Ajax’s best performer last season. He went to Inter Milan, a glorious move to a powerhouse club. But what was the result?

Even if he wanted to return to Ajax now, Van Gaal probably wouldn’t agree. First, his salary is too high, and second, Ajax is clearly focused on developing Yang Yang. If they bought Van der Meede back, where would Yang Yang play?

...

...

While Hiddink was discussing Yang Yang from the away team’s bench, up in the chairman’s box, Van Gaal, who was watching the game with Van Pragg, had a very complex expression on his face. He had just realized he’d made a mistake.

”I should have agreed to Raiola’s terms back then,” Van Gaal said with a wry smile.

Van Pragg, of course, knew what Van Gaal meant. If they had agreed right away, Yang Yang’s contract would already be renewed by now.

Unfortunately, Ajax had always been meticulous with its finances. As the technical director, Van Gaal had to consider the team’s budget and salary structure, so he hadn’t agreed immediately.

”Then give him a call. Tell him to come over and sign it right away. 3000 euros it is,” Van Pragg said magnanimously.

With the team advancing to the Champions League knockout stage, there wasn’t much financial pressure.

Van Gaal thought about it and agreed it was acceptable. He stood up, walked to the lounge in the chairman’s box, took out his phone, found Raiola’s number, and made the call.