The God of Football Starts With Passive Skills

Dortmund’s "Lightning" Strike Crushes Chelsea!

Following the conclusion of the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Kicker Magazine immediately published a commentary on the match at Westfalen Stadium.

Wang Shuo, who scored a hat-trick to help Dortmund come from behind to beat Chelsea, was the undisputed star of the show!

In the article, Kicker Magazine stated that Dortmund had a chaotic first half.

The primary reason was a mistake by Reus, which completely disrupted the team’s rhythm.

"This young team made an unexpected error when facing the experienced Chelsea, plunging them into an unimaginably dire situation!"

"Who would have thought that Dortmund, a team known for their strong starts, would ’gift’ their opponents a precious away goal right at the beginning of the match?"

Kicker Magazine believed this wasn’t just a tactical setback for Dortmund, but a heavy psychological blow as well.

Dortmund played terribly throughout the entire first half.

But after halftime, Wang Shuo’s goal in the second half helped Dortmund rediscover their long-lost rhythm.

In the previous round against Hannover 96, he scored five goals in nine minutes after coming on as a substitute. This time, against Chelsea, Wang Shuo completed a hat-trick in the second half.

He had saved his team twice in the span of just four days.

Kicker Magazine believed that Wang Shuo was proving, match by match, that he was worthy of the trust and reliance of Klopp and everyone at Dortmund. He possessed the individual ability to change the course of a game all by himself.

More importantly, the authoritative German magazine pointed out that after his hat-trick against Chelsea, Wang Shuo’s Champions League goal tally for the season had reached 14.

So, just how significant is that number?

In Champions League history, the player with the most goals in a single season was Altafini of AC Milan. Back in the 62/63 season, he scored 14 goals in 9 matches, winning the Golden Boot with a record number of goals for the competition.

All these years later, even after the Champions League underwent numerous format changes and expansions that increased the number of matches, no one has been able to surpass Altafini’s record.

Since the Champions League was rebranded, the most goals scored by a Golden Boot Award winner in a single season was 12, achieved by Van Nistelrooy for Manchester United in the 02/03 season.

But now, Wang Shuo has scored 14 goals, tying Altafini’s record.

Back when Altafini scored his 14 goals, it took him a total of nine matches, and that included an eight-goal haul across two legs against a weaker opponent in the first knockout round.

And Wang Shuo?

His opponents in the group stage were by no means weak.

In fact, one of his group stage opponents, Benfica, was the very team Altafini’s AC Milan defeated in the final to win the Champions League all those years ago.

And since Wang Shuo didn’t play in the final match of the group stage, he technically achieved this feat in only eight games.

"Perhaps this season, we’ll have the chance to see Altafini’s historic record be broken!"

Kicker Magazine was filled with anticipation.

Subsequently, the authoritative German media outlet published another special commentary detailing Wang Shuo’s past.

From being rejected by 18 clubs at trials, to first making his mark at Mainz, and now to achieving fame across the European football scene with Dortmund, Wang Shuo’s journey has been anything but smooth sailing.

Kicker Magazine used one passage to summarize why Wang Shuo’s success was no accident.

"Throughout history, nearly all gifted players known for their explosive power, speed, and technique have tended to have mediocre stamina, not known for their endurance or work rate."

"But Wang Shuo is the exact opposite. Ever since he arrived at Mainz, he has always been known for his incredible stamina."

"Since making his Bundesliga debut with Mainz, Wang Shuo’s average distance covered per match has consistently been over 12 kilometers."

"And he’s now in his third season of doing so!"

Kicker Magazine also mentioned another point that marks the biggest difference between Wang Shuo and other fast, technical prodigies.

His durability.

A look at Wang Shuo’s appearance record shows that it has always been exceptionally high.

He is constantly picking up minor knocks. For example, after this match, the media reported that he had been elbowed by Ivanovic, had his shin guard cracked by a tackle from a Chelsea defender, and his legs were covered in scrapes and bruises.

But as for serious injuries that affect his ability to play? None.

This is something truly amazing, or rather, utterly incredible!

Kicker Magazine specifically interviewed Dortmund’s coaching staff and medical team, and their conclusion was that Wang Shuo’s physical condition is the result of his years of accumulated hard training and insane self-discipline.

His punctual 5 AM "check-ins" on Twitter, which he has maintained for years, have become a well-known topic of conversation among fans all over the world.

It has even become one of Wang Shuo’s trademarks!

As for why Wang Shuo is rarely injured, the Dortmund medical team believes it has a great deal to do with his speed, agility, and on-field awareness.

"In fact, we often notice injuries on his legs after a match. If he weren’t quick enough to react and nimbly evade the tackles, they could have very well been serious injuries!"

The Dortmund medical staff believe it’s not that opponents are going easy on Wang Shuo; it’s that his reactions are so quick he’s always able to avoid the worst of the impact, suffering only superficial wounds instead of damage to his bones or ligaments.

At the end of its profile on Wang Shuo, Kicker Magazine revealed that many clubs are currently monitoring his situation, stating, "Nearly all of Europe’s powerhouse clubs hope to sign Wang Shuo from Dortmund this summer."