The next round of matches took place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. It was an early summer night, and a cool breeze carried a hint of chill, yet it couldn't extinguish the burning flames in the hearts of tens of thousands of Hoffenheim fans inside the stadium.
Tonight was the stage for the German Cup final, with Hoffenheim facing Frankfurt. This was Hoffenheim's first time reaching the German Cup final in the club's history, and they were just one victory away from creating new history.
In the locker room before the match, the atmosphere was solemn yet full of power. Nagelsmann stood in the center, his gaze sweeping over every familiar face—Gnabry, De Jong, Maguire, Grillitsch, Amiri…
Finally, his gaze fell on Oliver, who wore the away jersey, his eyes sharp and calm.
"Lads," Nagelsmann's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears,
"We've come all this way, how many strong opponents have we defeated? How many miracles have we created? Now, history is at our feet! Frankfurt is strong; they eliminated Bayern! But so what? Remember who we are! We are Hoffenheim! We never fear any opponent. Tonight, right here, in Berlin! Bring that damn trophy back to Sinsheim! For ourselves! For everyone who supports us! For the glory of Hoffenheim! Fight!"
"Fight!!" A deafening roar erupted in the locker room! The players high-fived each other, their eyes burning with the flame of certain victory.
Oliver clenched his fists tightly, feeling the surge of hot blood in his chest. He looked at his teammates beside him: De Jong's steady gaze, Gnabry's eager excitement, Maguire's resolute expression. This team currently had no bookings, no injuries, and was fully prepared.
The match began.
Just as Nagelsmann expected, Frankfurt displayed tremendous resilience and attacking prowess. They constantly challenged Hoffenheim's defense with physical confrontations and quick counterattacks. The defense led by Maguire was under immense pressure. But Hoffenheim held firm!
De Jong's orchestration in midfield was like a stabilizing force, while Grillitsch and Amiri's interceptions and sweeping covered every corner. Oliver played in the right midfield position for this match. He constantly tore at Frankfurt's defense with his flexible runs and precise passes.
The deadlock was broken in the 38th minute!
Hoffenheim won the ball back in their own half, and De Jong's precise long pass found Oliver, who was making a high-speed run down the right flank! Oliver chested the ball down, and facing the Frankfurt full-back's defense, he did not choose to force his way through, but instead keenly observed his teammate's run in the center. He gently flicked the ball with the outside of his right foot. A curved pass, like a surgical knife, bypassed all the defenders and precisely found Amiri, who was making a high-speed run from the far post.
Amiri arrived just in time. Near the penalty spot, he was unmarked! He met the ball without any adjustment, striking it on the volley with his left foot. The ball, like a cannonball, flew straight into the top left corner of the goal! Frankfurt goalkeeper Trapp was powerless to stop it!
"Goal!!! Amiri!!!!!! Hoffenheim lead 1-0!!!! Oliver's assist!!! A wonderfully precise pass!!!!!"
The Olympiastadion was instantly drowned in cheers. Amiri sprinted wildly towards the corner flag to celebrate. Oliver also ran over excitedly, embracing his teammate tightly. Nagelsmann punched the air on the sidelines. This goal greatly stabilized the team's morale. In the second half, Frankfurt launched an even fiercer counterattack.
Hoffenheim's defense was put to a tremendous test. Goalkeeper Baumann made two crucial saves, stopping shots both high and low. Maguire was like a rock in the penalty area, defusing dangerous situations time and again.
In the 72nd minute, Hoffenheim sealed the victory. It was Oliver again! He received a cross from Grillitsch on the right flank, facing a double-team from two Frankfurt players. He did not force a breakthrough, but calmly observed his teammates' runs. He saw Gnabry on the left, starting like a ghost, making a high-speed diagonal run behind the Frankfurt defense. The timing was fleeting!
Oliver didn't hesitate for a moment, pushing a perfectly weighted ground pass with the inside of his left foot! The ball hugged the turf, as if it had eyes, passing through the narrow gap between two Frankfurt defenders! It was precisely delivered into Gnabry's sprinting path!
Gnabry was through on goal. Facing the rushing Trapp, he calmly placed his shot into the far corner, and the ball once again found the back of the net.
"The fast winger Gnabry!!! 2-0!! Oliver, another assist from him!!! A surgical through ball, Hoffenheim have sealed the victory!!! They have the German Cup in their pockets!!" the commentator shouted.
This time, the entire Olympiastadion completely erupted. Hoffenheim's substitutes rushed onto the field. Nagelsmann excitedly embraced his assistants. Oliver stood still, arms outstretched, welcoming Gnabry who came rushing towards him. The two embraced tightly, two goals, two assists! Oliver, in his signature style, dominated this final.
Ultimately, Hoffenheim maintained the 2-0 score until the final whistle. The moment the referee blew the final whistle, the entire Berlin Olympiastadion became a sea of Hoffenheim fans. Hoffenheim's players rushed onto the field, embracing, jumping, and roaring!
Captain Vogt, on behalf of the entire team, received the shimmering silver trophy, symbolizing the highest honor of the German Cup, from the president of the German Football Association. As Vogt lifted the trophy high, golden confetti rained down. Hoffenheim won their first German Cup title since the club's founding.
"We are champions! Hoffenheim are champions!" the shouts echoed through the sky. Hoffenheim players took the trophy to the sidelines to share the joy of victory with their fans.
…
At the same time Hoffenheim was crowned German Cup champions in Berlin, far away in London, Emirates Stadium was also in a frenzy. In the final round of the Premier League, Arsenal played away against Tottenham. This was a North London Derby that would decide Champions League qualification.
Wenger stood on the sidelines, his brows furrowed. The match was unusually tight, until the 88th minute when Aubameyang received a through ball from Granit Xhaka and calmly slotted it into the net from inside the box!
1-0!
When the final whistle blew and the score was set at 1-0, the entire Arsenal bench and away fans' stand erupted into complete madness. With this valuable away victory, they surpassed Tottenham by 3 points, they successfully secured fourth place in the Premier League, they qualified for next season's Champions League play-offs! Wenger let out a long sigh of relief, a long-lost, relieved smile appearing on his face. The difficulties of this season, the external doubts, the player injuries…
All the pressure was released at this moment. Although the process was thrilling, the goal was achieved! More importantly, this meant they had enough capital and appeal to welcome the upcoming superstar!
…
Sinsheim, Hoffenheim club headquarters.
The celebratory afterglow of the German Cup victory had not yet faded, but another major matter concerning the future was already on the agenda.
A few days later, on a bright, sunny morning. Hoffenheim President Hopp, Sporting Director Rosen, Coach Nagelsmann, as well as Mr. Thorne and Oliver, were already waiting in a spacious and brightly lit conference room. The air was filled with a solemn yet somewhat wistful atmosphere of parting. The door was pushed open.
Arsène Wenger walked in, accompanied by several Arsenal officials. He was still wearing his signature dark coat and scarf, with a gentle and wise smile on his face, and his eyes were full of anticipation and a hint of subtle relief after fatigue.
"President Hopp, Mr. Rosen, Coach Nagelsmann, Mr. Thorne, Oliver," Wenger smiled, greeting everyone present in a mix of German and English. His gaze finally rested on Oliver, with undisguised admiration,
"Congratulations on winning the German Cup! That is an incredible achievement!"
"Thank you, Wenger!" President Hopp warmly stood up and shook Wenger's hand, Oliver, also stood up to greet Wenger.
"Thank you, Coach."
After the pleasantries, the meeting quickly got down to business. Sporting Director Rosen, on behalf of Hoffenheim, once again clearly and solemnly presented their final proposal for Oliver's transfer to Arsenal. They accepted Arsenal's offer of 158 million pounds, but the payment method would be spread over four years, with only 30 million pounds required for the first installment, and no additional interest.
When Rosen finished explaining the proposal in detail, Wenger's expression gradually changed from initial calmness to surprise, then to deep emotion. He put down his coffee cup, leaned slightly forward, and slowly scanned the faces of President Hopp, Director Rosen, and Nagelsmann, his eyes filled with incredible gratitude and respect.
"President Hopp, Mr. Rosen, Coach Nagelsmann…" Wenger's voice had a hint of an almost imperceptible tremor. He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm the turmoil within him,
"I… I must say, this proposal… is completely beyond my expectations. Frankly, before coming here, we at Arsenal had made the most thorough preparations, including the huge financial pressure that a one-time payment of this record-breaking transfer fee might bring."
He paused, his tone becoming even more sincere and emotional: "But, you… you have shown foresight, vision, and a deep concern for the player's future development, which makes me… makes me very touched! This is not just a transfer deal; it is a weighty trust! You have considered everything so thoroughly for Oliver, even considering Arsenal's future squad building space and competitiveness… This thoughtfulness, this responsible attitude towards football and towards players, I, Arsène Wenger, on behalf of Arsenal Football Club, extend my highest respect and deepest gratitude to Hoffenheim!"
Wenger stood up and bowed slightly and solemnly to President Hopp and the others. President Hopp quickly stood up:
"Coach, you are too kind! Oliver has given his all for Hoffenheim; he deserves the best arrangement. We also hope to see him succeed on a bigger stage, and we hope to see Arsenal become stronger because of his addition. This is in everyone's best interest."
Jules was also deeply moved, repeatedly thanking Wenger and the Hoffenheim management. Wenger sat down again, his gaze turning to Oliver, who had been quietly sitting beside his father. His eyes became exceptionally solemn and sharp, carrying the promise and power of a legendary Coach.
"Oliver," Wenger's voice was clear and strong, "Now, on behalf of Arsenal Football Club, I officially extend an invitation to you. We are very, very much looking forward to your joining us!"
He looked into Oliver's eyes and said, word by word: "Regarding the transfer fee, Hoffenheim has already shown the utmost sincerity and support, and we at Arsenal will certainly not betray this trust and goodwill! I promise you: First, the first installment of 30 million pounds for the transfer fee will be paid to Hoffenheim on time and in full as soon as all competitions for this season officially conclude. On this point, President Hopp, please rest assured."
"Second," Wenger's tone became even more resolute, his eyes gleaming with ambition, "The payment method for this transfer fee has given us at Arsenal valuable space and flexibility in this summer's transfer market! This is my personal promise to you, Oliver, I will not let this huge amount of saved money sit idle in the bank! My team and I will do our utmost to find the most suitable and capable reinforcement targets for you, and for Arsenal, before the summer window closes! Whether it's midfield, defense, or offense, we will make targeted and strong signings!"
His voice carried an undeniable determination: "My only goal is to build a new, powerful squad around you that has the true strength to contend for the Premier League and even the Champions League titles! Next season, our goal is certainly not just the top four! We want to challenge for the Premier League title and the European title; we want to go further in the Champions League. I, Arsène Wenger, with my lifelong reputation and coaching career, guarantee you that I will spare no effort to create a stage worthy of your talent and ambition! Allowing you to fully display your talent at Emirates Stadium, in the Premier League, and in the Champions League. To compete for your highest honors."
Wenger's words, like heavy hammers, struck every corner of the conference room, and also struck Oliver's heart. It was not just a Coach's promise, but a football master's depiction of a future blueprint and an unshakeable belief in victory. Oliver looked at the burning fighting spirit and desire for victory in the Coach's eyes, and he too was deeply moved. This was why he chose Arsenal. This was the mentor he longed to fight alongside.
Oliver stood up, facing Wenger, and also facing the Hoffenheim officials, nodding solemnly, his voice steady and full of power:
"Professor, thank you for your trust and promise. I look forward to fighting for the championship with you and my new teammates in London, at Emirates Stadium!"
The meeting concluded in an atmosphere filled with hope, trust, and beautiful aspirations for the future. Wenger shook hands with the Hoffenheim management to bid farewell and arranged for the subsequent formal signing details.
Before leaving, he shook Oliver's hand again, his eyes full of expectation: "Prepare well for the next match, Oliver. Before you leave here, give your first 'home' the best gift. We await you in London."
The "gift" the Coach referred to was the Bundesliga title.
"I will, Coach, I will."
Oliver and Wenger embraced and bid farewell. After seeing Wenger and his entourage off, only the Hoffenheim staff and Oliver and his father remained in the conference room. The atmosphere grew somewhat silent, and a sense of parting quietly permeated the air. President Hopp walked up to Oliver and patted him firmly on the shoulder. This usually composed old man also had a look of reluctance in his eyes:
"Oliver, finally, you can go to London with peace of mind, to a bigger stage. Everyone here will remember you."
"I will always remember everyone here, Mr. Hopp." Oliver embraced the elder Hopp.
Nagelsmann stood by the window, watching the young players running on the training ground outside, his back appearing somewhat forlorn. Indeed, his beloved disciple was going to a bigger stage. Nagelsmann didn't say much, he just turned around and gave Oliver a complex smile. In that smile, there was pride, blessings, and an undisguised sense of parting.
Oliver walked up to Nagelsmann, looking at the Coach who had single-handedly brought him to the Bundesliga and Champions League stage, a Coach who was like an older brother and a strict mentor. A thousand words welled up in his heart, finally condensing into one sentence:
"Coach… thank you… thank you for everything you taught me!"
Nagelsmann hugged him tightly, patted his back, his voice a little hoarse:
"Kid, play well when you go to London, don't embarrass me. Remember, you are always my most prized player, always!"
Oliver nodded heavily. He took one last look at the familiar conference room, at President Hopp, Director Rosen, and his mentor Nagelsmann. Then, Oliver turned, made a final bow, and left the conference room with his father. Stepping out of the building, the early summer sun was a bit dazzling. Oliver looked up towards the training ground, where all his sweat, tears, glory, and growth this season had been forged.
A legendary journey was about to end, and another, even more magnificent journey, awaited him in London. Oliver was about to say goodbye to his "family" at Hoffenheim as his departure was imminent.
...
If you want to read upto Chapter 140 with daily uploads and to support me subscribe to my P*tr+-n below
p*tr+-n.com/Not_Thor
( *=a ; -=o ; +=e )
...
New Bonus requirement:
Every 100 powerstone or 5 five star reviews= extra chapter 🤭🤭
Count resets every week.
...