"Jin, an assist hat‑trick!"
"Another long pass from the back, finding Reus! He completes the scoring with a one‑on‑one!"
"They have executed similar plays twice today, and Magath's team has been completely helpless!"
0‑3!
"An assist quadruple! Four assists in a single match!"
"The assist king who strikes fear in the Bundesliga is back!"
"Thirty‑five assists in a single season! Can you believe it?"
"Last season, he broke the historical record with 28 assists, and everyone claimed that this record could not be surpassed, because no player could consistently maintain over 20 assists!"
"But Jin Hayes is synonymous with miracles! Today's insane assist quadruple has pushed the record to an unprecedented and unimaginably exaggerated level!"
"Not only can he break the impossible 30‑assist barrier, but he even has more in him!"
"This season, Borussia Dortmund is fighting on three fronts, and Jin Hayes has already missed many league matches due to rotation and injury management."
"I really can't imagine—if Jin Hayes played every league match, he could definitely break 40 assists!"
Scholl was stunned.
You know, no matter the competition, the number of assists is always harder to break than the number of goals.
Goals only require one's own precise shooting, but to have a high number of assists, besides making threatening passes, one must also ensure that teammates convert those chances into goals.
Jin Hayes's current single‑season record of 35 is simply unbelievable! An assist quadruple in a single match—Wolfsburg, the so‑called title contender, was utterly crushed by Borussia Dortmund!
Contending for the title? No, it was a one‑sided humiliation!
Just look at Magath's expression—Wolfsburg had already given up resisting. His furious pacing had ceased; now he stood motionless, arms crossed, staring blankly at the pitch as if watching a train wreck in slow motion.
On the touchline, his assistant quietly suggested tactical changes, but Magath waved him off with a tired hand.
What was the point? Dortmund had dismantled every plan he had prepared.
Jin Hayes, who completed an assist quadruple, was substituted in the 85th minute of the match.
Even though it was an away game, he deserved to enjoy the cheers of the Borussia Dortmund fans.
He had been working hard all season; it was time to relax. Also, Jin Hayes was too ruthless—Klopp couldn't bear to watch.
Wolfsburg was still a Bundesliga brother; there was no need to torment them too much. Otherwise, with Jin Hayes's passing form today, an 8‑0 thrashing of Wolfsburg wasn't impossible. That would be too disrespectful to a Bundesliga team.
When Jin Hayes was replaced by Götze in the 85th minute, the away stands cheered wildly, raising their scarves and waving flags, the Jin Hayes song echoed through the Volkswagen Arena.
"He is the magician from the East, he is the saviour in the yellow and black!"
"Jin Hayes! Jin Hayes — Westfalen crowns you!"
Jin Hayes also raised his hand to applaud and thank the fans.
Unexpectedly, in the Wolfsburg home stands, after some fans had left early, the remaining fans actually stood up spontaneously and applauded Jin Hayes— the entire stadium was paying tribute to him, to this young man who had just turned 17 and had torn their team apart with four moments of pure genius.
And also expressing dissatisfaction with the home team's coaching staff and players:
"With 20 league goals and 35 assists, Jin Hayes, who topped both goal‑scoring and assist charts, completely destroyed Wolfsburg in less than 70 minutes!"
"Some teams appear to finish the game in 90 minutes, but in reality, they died at the beginning of the second half, just waiting until the 90th minute to be buried."
"Frankly, it's almost impossible for Wolfsburg to score four goals in the final few minutes—"
"After this match, they will be seven points behind Borussia Dortmund!"
"Which means, at the moment the match ends, Borussia Dortmund will be lifting the Bundesliga championship trophy!"
Staring at the huge 0‑4 deficit, all of Wolfsburg's players lost their motivation. The championship would bid them a complete farewell!
Every face showed despair and numbness.
Grafite buried his face in his hands; Džeko walked slowly with his head down, unable to look at the fans who had come hoping for a title party. The Volkswagen Arena, which had been a cauldron of noise at kick‑off, now felt like a library—except for the relentless chanting from the yellow‑and‑black corner.
Meanwhile, the Borussia Dortmund players on the bench were already ecstatic, ready to rush onto the field to celebrate.
Only the final minutes separated them from the championship!
Since the 1995‑1996 season, Borussia Dortmund's squad had undergone several rotations. None of the players currently on the field had tasted the joy of a top‑flight championship. Facing the first top‑tier league title of their professional careers, everyone was excited and thrilled!
.../
Compared to the relaxed atmosphere in the locker room before the match, now, with the championship within reach, the Borussia Dortmund players were even a little nervous.
Hummels' breathing was heavy, and he felt his hands tingling. Marco Reus's mind was already in a daze, but he still forced himself to stand firm for the final shift, not daring to relax.
And the young midfielder Gündoğan was already raising his hands in celebration on the field.
Whenever he didn't have the ball, he would point both hands to the sky, cheering in advance.
"A championship! I can't believe it! Are we really going to win the championship?"
"Yeah, it feels like a dream!"
Even head coach Klopp couldn't believe he was winning the championship in his first season coaching Borussia Dortmund!
Before the match, he was actually quite cautious. Wolfsburg was a tough opponent, and playing at their home ground, Klopp had even mentally prepared himself that if they lost this match, they would go all out in the next two.
Now, it seemed, it wasn't necessary. The next two matches would be used for youth academy players to gain practical experience—today! This season's Bundesliga had already reached its conclusion!
The Borussia Dortmund players on the bench couldn't believe they were so close to the championship!
"We're actually champions? It feels so unreal!"
"Yeah, after so many years of losing, I never thought this day would come."
"Brothers, we are the strongest team in the Bundesliga!"
The German Football Association and Bundesliga official staff had already transported the Bundesliga championship salad bowl to the Wolfsburg stadium. However, since the outcome was not yet certain, they couldn't conveniently bring it out early.
Now, with Dortmund's lead insurmountable, the officials were preparing to engrave the championship salad bowl with Borussia Dortmund's name. Even Borussia Dortmund's club staff had secretly prepared the beer needed for the championship celebration—though they had to keep it hidden from the referees until the final whistle.
While the players on the field had no championship experience, the club still had a little.
A few veterans who had been part of the 2002 title squad—now mostly in coaching or backroom roles—watched from the stands with tears in their eyes, remembering the glory days and knowing that a new era had arrived.
Jin Hayes sat on the bench, listening to his teammates excitedly discussing the championship, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dreaminess.
"Am I already a Bundesliga champion?"
A week before the match, the media and public opinion had already begun to hype the atmosphere of Borussia Dortmund's impending championship. Jin Hayes had remained focused on the match and hadn't paid much attention to it.
Only now did the tight string in his heart finally relax a little. This was the first top‑tier league championship of his professional career!
If he went back two years, back to the 'football kid' reality show, if someone had told him he would win a top European league championship within two years— Jin Hayes would have treated that person as a charlatan or a liar. He never expected such sudden happiness!
It was a bit regrettable that the championship was won away from home. Jin Hayes couldn't share the joy of the championship with Heinrich—his father—immediately.
Borussia Dortmund would only hold a grand championship celebration at their home stadium after the season ended. By then, the DFB‑Pokal and Champions League would also have their results. The Champions League was out of reach for now—at least for him personally, given the suspension that had cruelly ruled him out of the final.
If they could win the German Cup, securing a domestic double, it would still be a season with minor flaws that didn't overshadow its brilliance.
"Alas—"
"You're about to win the championship, why are you sighing?"
Dragging an injured leg, Nuri Şahin was not on the matchday squad but still joined the bench to celebrate the victory with the team. Everyone else was excited—Jin Hayes, on the other hand, looked a bit downcast.
"I—"
"The Champions League, right."
"Exactly, it's a real shame."
Jin Hayes was still bothered by that crucial yellow card.
Even if most of the starting lineup couldn't play, it would have been difficult for him to change the situation alone. At least he would have had a chance to try.
Now, he didn't even have the chance to try, only able to wait for his teammates to create possibilities out of impossibilities.
But as the final whistle approached, the weight of the moment slowly lifted his gloom.
The referee checked his watch, the Dortmund players began to crowd near the centre circle, and the travelling fans started counting down the seconds.
Three... two... one...
PEEEEEP!
The Volkswagen Arena erupted—not for the home side, but for the away supporters who had travelled hundreds of kilometres to witness history.
Borussia Dortmund were champions of the Bundesliga for the 2008‑09 season!
Jin Hayes jumped off the bench, his earlier melancholy swept away by the wave of euphoria.
He sprinted onto the pitch, embracing Reus, then Hummels, then Gündoğan, then anyone he could reach.
The yellow‑and‑black jerseys swirled together in a chaotic, joyful mass.
In the background, the official presentation stage was being hurriedly assembled.
The Bundesliga trophy—the Meisterschale—gleamed under the floodlights, waiting for new hands to lift it.
Klopp walked over to Jin Hayes and put a firm arm around his shoulders.
"You did it, kid. You really did it."
"We did it, coach," Jin Hayes replied, grinning from ear to ear. "All of us."
"Yes," Klopp nodded, his eyes glistening. "All of us."
And as the players lined up to receive their medals and captain Kehl hoisted the trophy high into the night sky, Jin Hayes looked up at the silver salad bowl and made a silent promise to himself.
This is just the first.
The Champions League final might be out of reach this time, but next season—next season, he would be there.
He would make sure of it.
For now, though, he let himself be swept up in the celebration—the champagne spray, the singing, the hugs, the tears.
This was what he had worked for.
This was what it meant to be a champion.
And as the fans chanted his name one last time before the stadium emptied, Jin Hayes knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, this moment—this feeling—would stay with him forever.
Borussia Dortmund – Bundesliga Champions 2008‑09.
...
In his wheelchair, 80‑year‑old Fritz didn't seem very excited; he just quietly watched the celebrating Borussia Dortmund players on TV and nodded silently.
"Well done, boy, well done."
He had seen decades of football—the glory years of the 1960s, the European Cup triumph in '97, and the long barren spell that followed. This young generation had brought the Meisterschale back to Dortmund, and Fritz allowed himself a rare, satisfied smile.
As the match MVP, the close‑up camera remained fixed on Jin Hayes's face. Without a doubt, this season's Club Player of the Season, including the official Bundesliga Season MVP, Jin Hayes would claim all these honours! In the 2008‑09 Bundesliga season, including numerous stars like Robben, Ribéry, Džeko, and Grafite, no other light could overshadow Jin Hayes!
"Ah—"
Anna was both excited and sighing. She wished she had skipped class today and gone to Wolfsburg! At such a crucial moment, she wasn't by Jin Hayes's side! Anna wished she could rush into the TV and throw herself into Jin Hayes's arms.
"I miss you so much."
Looking at the handsome face on TV, Anna murmured to herself. Unexpectedly, Jin Hayes seemed to have anticipated this. He took out his shin guard and showed it to the camera in front of him.
Since last season, for every crucial match, Jin had stickers handmade by Anna or lucky patterns she personally drew. There was the first Champions League match, the first time against Manchester United, and the do‑or‑die match against Barça. Fans in front of the TV were still wondering what Jin Hayes was doing—commentator Scholl even thought these were all prepared by Jin Hayes himself and was giving all sorts of random interpretations, speculating about superstitions or personal rituals.
Anna on the sofa was already covering her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.
"You've always been with me! Every one of my matches from now on will have you by my side!"
The message conveyed through the live broadcast camera, only Anna understood. It was their private code—a promise that no matter how far apart they were, she would always be part of his journey.
Before Jin Hayes could finish savouring the moment—
Splash!
A large glass of beer was poured over his head, drenching Jin Hayes's head and face. He looked back and saw Hummels running away with a mischievous grin.
"Stop!"
Jin Hayes quickly chased after him, joining the beer fight, which had become a traditional event for Bundesliga championship‑winning teams. Within seconds, the entire squad dissolved into chaos—Reus ambushed Gündoğan from behind, Kehl tried to shield himself behind the trophy platform, and even the usually composed Subotić found himself soaked to the bone. Even head coach Klopp couldn't avoid getting drenched, being surrounded by all the players and subjected to a particularly enthusiastic dousing from his own assistants.
Finally, when the farce ended and the players had wiped the foam from their eyes, the Dortmund squad changed into clean championship commemorative shirts, with "08/09 Bundesliga Champions" printed above the yellow and black crest. They lined up, grinning like schoolchildren, as the official presentation began.
German football legend Lothar Matthäus—who had been invited as a special guest presenter for the occasion—stepped forward to hand out the championship gold medals. When he reached Jin Hayes, he paused and clapped him on the shoulder.
"You played really well, keep it up, young man."
"Thank you."
Matthäus couldn't help but praise Jin Hayes, making his teammates envious—after all, a word of encouragement from a World Cup winner and Ballon d'Or recipient was no small thing.
Then Matthäus stepped aside and gestured toward the iconic Bundesliga championship salad bowl—the Meisterschale—gleaming under the floodlights. He handed it to captain Sebastian Kehl.
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh—"
Amidst the cheers from all his teammates, Captain Kehl bent down, took a firm grip, and then lifted the salad bowl high above his head!
At this moment, golden confetti showered all around! Confetti cannons fired in unison, painting the Volkswagen Arena in a cascade of yellow and black. The classic anthem 'We Are The Champions' echoed through the stadium, and the travelling Dortmund supporters sang along at the top of their lungs, their voices carrying across the pitch.
Jin Hayes stood among his teammates, arms around Hummels and Reus, looking up at the trophy that Kehl was now parading in front of the fans. He felt the weight of the season—all the training, the sacrifices, the setbacks, the impossible comebacks—condense into this single, perfect moment.
"Let's congratulate this impressive team, and together say—Borussia Dortmund, are champions!"