"Jin, regarding continuously breaking the assist record and pushing the league's single-season assist count to 35, what are your thoughts on this?"
Wolfsburg 0–4 Borussia Dortmund.
After Borussia Dortmund secured the Bundesliga title early, Jin Hayes, as the player with the highest rating of 1.0, the MVP of the match, and the best player of the season, accepted media interviews with his head covered in beer foam, holding the Bundesliga championship trophy.
"Records? They don't mean much to me. I'm just trying my best to help the team win."
"The current competitiveness and intensity of the Bundesliga are somewhat lacking. Only two Bundesliga teams reaching the Champions League quarter-finals might be related to our league's lack of depth. In the league, I can indeed feel the intensity weakening at times; it's far from teams abroad like Manchester United, Barça, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea. Borussia Dortmund is crushing some teams here; me racking up stats in the league is useless. Even if I get 50 assists, it won't help the Bundesliga rise. I hope to see more Bundesliga teams grow stronger and appear on the Champions League stage."
Jin Hayes's words surprised all the reporters present. They had initially thought that a young player achieving such a world-shocking feat—one destined to be etched in Bundesliga history and never surpassed—would surely be overly arrogant and start boasting on the spot. Who would have thought Jin Hayes would consider the issue from the perspective of the entire Bundesliga, hoping for the league to regain sufficient competitiveness?
Indeed, this year, Bayern's dominance had declined, and teams like Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart, and Schalke 04 had seen their competitiveness weaken. Having only Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund contend for the title was indeed a bit hard to bear.
Wait a minute—Jin Hayes was indirectly commenting on the state of the league! Calling the title race against Wolfsburg a "crushing of weak teams"—perhaps only Jin Hayes would dare to say that. However, Wolfsburg lost 0–4 at home, and Borussia Dortmund clearly didn't play with full effort.
If that's not crushing a weak team, what is? Jin Hayes was stating facts!
The reporter quickly changed the subject:
"Congratulations, and congratulations to Borussia Dortmund on successfully winning the championship. As the youngest title winner in Bundesliga history, winning the championship as a core player in your second Bundesliga season, and potentially challenging for a domestic double this season, what are your own thoughts?"
Jin Hayes looked at the heavy Bundesliga salad bowl in his arms:
"Winning the championship is very happy, but the German Cup is still waiting for me. Compared to a single Bundesliga title, a double crown sounds better."
"Then, may I ask, do you regret missing the Champions League final this season due to accumulated yellow cards? Does Borussia Dortmund have a chance to win the Champions League even with multiple players absent?"
When the Münchner Abendzeitung reporter asked this question, the surrounding reporters all turned their heads, some even with angry looks. Jin Hayes was already a humble, polite, and professional young player. He was the pride of the entire Bundesliga, helping the league preserve its last bit of dignity by leading the team to the final. Everyone knew that with many key Borussia Dortmund players unable to play, the final had already been decided in favour of the opposition. Why ask such an unnecessary question?
The reporters were worried that Jin Hayes would break down in anger on the spot. Most young players struggle with emotional management. But Jin Hayes just smiled lightly, seemingly never taking the reporter seriously, not giving him any thought.
"No matter what, my teammates participating for Borussia Dortmund will fight until the last moment, even if they lose, they will die standing."
"As for regret, there's only one champion, and many people feel regret every year. But some people sink into it and never recover. Some people start fresh and embark on a new journey. Next, I will play every game well and strive to climb this unfinished peak again next season—"
Up to this point, Jin Hayes's interview had been very proper. He expressed both confidence in his teammates and the courage and fighting spirit to start anew. When the report was published, Jin Hayes's image would surely be one of maturity and determination.
But at that moment, Jin Hayes—whether it was the unyielding spirit of youth or his emotions finally giving way—blurted out the following words:
"...I can say it now: next season's Borussia Dortmund will not only reach the final again but will also lift the Champions League trophy."
???
The reporters looked at each other, then frantically pressed their shutters; the flashlights almost turned into flashbangs.
"Jin! May I ask—"
"Jin!! I have one more question!"
Reporters rushed forward, but Jin Hayes had already left the interview area, carrying the "salad bowl."
"I didn't expect him to actually explode like that. His tone was so firm about winning the championship next year? Even Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi wouldn't dare to say something so bold."
"Messi might not dare, but Cristiano Ronaldo definitely would."
"Leaving that aside, Dortmund won't be so lucky next year."
"Yes, Barça will definitely make a comeback next year, and there's the Galacticos of Real Madrid, the heavily invested Chelsea, Mourinho's Inter Milan, and Bayern Munich under a new manager—just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!"
Next year, all the teams competing with Borussia Dortmund for the title would be top-tier powerhouses in their prime. With just these players from Borussia Dortmund? Even if Jin Hayes is strong, it will be very difficult to beat them, right? Especially Barcelona; this year, they still underestimated Jin Hayes and Borussia Dortmund a bit. If Guardiola carefully studies Borussia Dortmund's weaknesses next year, Dortmund might not necessarily win!
"Difficult, too difficult."
The sports reporters present discussed for a long time and finally reached a unanimous conclusion: Borussia Dortmund's chances of winning the Champions League next season are probably very low; they might not even make it out of the group stage. Most non-powerhouse teams that reach the final perform very poorly in the Champions League the following season. At that time, Jin Hayes will definitely face a boomerang effect.
Indeed, when the media released this news, the German internet exploded. Haters of Jin Hayes came out in full force, pushing a post to the top of the forum.
"I bet Jin won't make it to the Champions League semi-finals next season."
"A Bundesliga title has made him arrogant. Usually, such young people quickly fall from grace. I'm specifically posting this here to witness it."
Many rival fans—particularly those from Bayern Munich and Schalke 04—were thrilled. Borussia Dortmund's championship win had driven them crazy, and Jin Hayes's remarks and this post finally became an outlet for their emotions, as they flocked to leave comments.
"Leaving my name, waiting for Dortmund to be eliminated."
"I don't know what he's so arrogant about."
"Does he really think European powerhouses are just decorations?"
"Next year, they won't be so lucky."
Soon, Borussia Dortmund fans came to support Jin Hayes.
"We can eliminate Manchester United, Barça, Real Madrid, Juve, and crush Bayern; we can do it again next season."
"BVB is at least the Bundesliga champion; what championship did you win this year?"
"I believe in Jin, no fear of the boomerang!"
Soon, Bundesliga netizens were embroiled in a heated argument. The comment sections of every major sports outlet became battlegrounds, with statistics, historical comparisons, and bold predictions flying back and forth. Some fans dug up old interviews where other young stars had made similar promises and failed, while others pointed to Dortmund's remarkable consistency throughout the season as proof that this team was different.
As the backdrop for Dortmund's championship, Wolfsburg's coach Magath still had to attend the press conference, looking miserable. Jin Hayes's four assists today had completely subdued this arrogant and famous Bundesliga coach. Magath, who had always worn a mocking smile and looked triumphant, now sat slumped at the table, taking off his glasses with trembling hands. The reporters present thought Magath would summarize today's lessons learned, striving for two final wins to contend for a theoretical chance at the championship.
However, Magath dropped a bombshell.
"First, congratulations to our opponents, Borussia Dortmund, on winning the championship; they deserve it."
"Regarding Wolfsburg, I want to say that the players performed excellently, and we had a nearly perfect season."
"But due to my own arrogance and insufficient tactical decisions, I failed to lead the team to seize the opportunity for the championship."
"I apologize to the club, to the players, and to the fans."
"I hereby announce that I will automatically step down as Wolfsburg's head coach after the season ends."
Hiss—another coach fired by Jin Hayes? The "coach killer" strikes again!
A Bild reporter in the audience couldn't help but complain to his colleague next to him.
"Jin is truly a coach killer. If this continues, the coaches he's gotten fired could form a football team."
"You're right, this kid looks so sunny, but his actions are really heavy-handed. Magath was such an arrogant person, and Jin Hayes directly turned him into humble mode."
"I really want to know what happens when Jin Hayes meets the 'Special One,' Mourinho."
"That's difficult; they'll probably only meet in the Champions League next year."
The reporters present couldn't help but gasp in amazement. Over the course of the season, several Bundesliga coaches had lost their jobs after facing Dortmund—some directly, others as a result of mounting pressure following heavy defeats. Abroad, Real Madrid's Schuster and Juventus's Ranieri had also felt the heat after their teams were eliminated by Dortmund. If it weren't for the sufficiently stable positions of Arsenal's Wenger, Manchester United's Ferguson, and Barça's Guardiola, all three of them might have found themselves under threat as well.
Even so, topics like "Wenger fired" and "Guardiola fired" were constantly appearing in online fan discussions, usually as jokes or wishful thinking from rival supporters. As Jin Hayes's moniker "coach killer" continued to be proven true, coaches who met Jin Hayes next would have to weigh their positions carefully, creating an invisible layer of psychological pressure on opponents before a ball was even kicked.
On Borussia Dortmund's championship night, as Jin Hayes and his Dortmund teammates celebrated wildly in the locker room, Jin Hayes used his DV to film and record his teammates' crazy antics and their happy moments. The champagne flowed freely, the songs grew louder, and for a few hours, the weight of the season lifted from every shoulder.
Meanwhile, 460 kilometres away from Wolfsburg, in Poznań, Poland.
An ordinary-looking young striker was watching Borussia Dortmund's championship celebration on TV. His name was Robert Lewandowski, and he had just finished a season with Lech Poznań that had caught the attention of several European clubs.
"Robert, have you really decided to go to Germany? Didn't you say you'd stay in Poland for another year and fight for a championship together?"
"I'm sorry, coach. I broke my promise, but the conditions offered there are very tempting, and I will show my strength on a bigger stage, so..."
"Forget it, I won't try to persuade you anymore. You really shouldn't be buried here. Borussia Dortmund is quite good, very suitable for you, and you can play in the Champions League directly next season, so you'll definitely have opportunities to perform."
"Thank you, coach."
Robert Lewandowski lightly clenched his fist. He was ready to embrace new challenges. He had watched Dortmund's style of play closely—the high pressing, the quick transitions, the fluid attacking movement. It suited his game perfectly. He could already imagine himself leading the line, finishing the chances that Jin Hayes and Reus would create.
Of course, the first thing he would do upon arriving at his new club was to challenge the young man on TV—the one who had just conquered Germany with his dribbling, his vision, and his relentless ambition. Lewandowski smiled to himself.
"We'll see who the real star is next season."
He turned off the television and began packing his bags. A new chapter was about to begin.