A sharp, booming sound continued to ring in his ears. The dark mass of people in the stands was now covered by a Gaussian blur filter in his vision. He felt as if he was underwater, and the cheers and shouts from the stadium were a distant, muffled sound, like something from another world. His teammates' large faces crowded around him, and they seemed to be saying something to him. But İlkay Gündoğan couldn't hear them at all; he could only see their mouths moving.
"Hey! Brother."
"Hey!"
Slap, slap, slap.
After a few firm pats to his cheeks, Gündoğan finally snapped out of his daze.
"Are you okay? Pull yourself together!"
"N-no, I'm fine."
"It's over, this kid is beyond help."
Hummels sighed and looked at Jin Hayes next to him.
"What should we do?"
"How would I know?"
Jin Hayes wasn't a psychology expert, and besides, it's inherently difficult to manage an athlete's sudden nervousness and panic during a game. No matter the sport, there are always those who perform brilliantly in training but falter in crucial matches. Gündoğan had the skill—everyone in the squad had seen his composure and passing range on the training ground—he was just a bit nervous making his first start in a final.
Last league match against Wolfsburg, Gündoğan had also felt nervous. Later, Jin Hayes's goal had boosted the team's morale, and Gündoğan had performed much better after overcoming his initial jitters. However, in today's DFB-Pokal final, Gündoğan's nervousness had led directly to a ball-control error, which the opponent capitalized on to score the opening goal. As the primary person responsible for that concession, Gündoğan's nervousness and self-blame were amplified, causing him to fall into a vicious cycle and perform worse and worse.
Just now, Gündoğan's pass to the wing had gone directly out of bounds without any pressure. Such unforced errors would further amplify his emotions. At this moment, his mind was already muddled. Bayer Leverkusen would definitely exploit Gündoğan's weakness and launch attacks before the end of the first half. Vidal's dribbling breakthrough just now had almost created a second goal.
No matter what, they had to get Gündoğan back in form as soon as possible, or at least keep him from losing his head completely.
"İlkay, look at me, brother."
"Jin?"
Gündoğan's eyes were full of confusion. Jin Hayes originally wanted to give a standard pep talk—something about trusting his training, about how every player makes mistakes—but looking at Gündoğan's dazed expression, he knew ordinary psychological methods wouldn't work. He needed something more immediate, more dramatic, something that would snap the young midfielder out of his spiral.
An idea formed in his mind.
Jin Hayes reached out and pressed firmly on Gündoğan's shoulders, then tapped him on the bridge of the nose and between his eyebrows—acupressure points he'd read about in a sports psychology article once. The sharp sensation made Gündoğan wince.
"Hey? What does that mean?"
"İlkay, do you know why I can stay so calm under pressure?"
"Why?"
This was also something Gündoğan was curious about. Jin Hayes seemed to have an unshakable mental fortitude on the field, never fazed by hostile crowds, never panicking when the team fell behind. Teammates had discussed it privately, wondering if he had some kind of secret technique or mental trick.
"I'll tell you a secret," Jin Hayes said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "It's a mental reset technique. Sports psychologists use it with elite athletes. The pressure points I just pressed are meant to disrupt the panic response and refocus your nervous system."
"Really? So that's it!" Gündoğan's eyes lit up with renewed interest.
"Don't tell anyone else. Today we need you to pull yourself together, so I'm passing this on to you."
"Me?"
Gündoğan was flattered. He looked at Jin Hayes with a mixture of awe and gratitude.
"Yes. Those three points I pressed just activated what sports scientists call the 'parasympathetic reset'—it interrupts the fight-or-flight response. Do you feel your arms, chest, and forehead slightly warm and tingly?"
"It feels like it a little!"
Gündoğan indeed felt this way! His breathing had already begun to slow, and the trembling in his hands was less noticeable.
Jin Hayes almost couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth. The classic "you step on it, you'll also feel numb" approach to placebo suggestion was working perfectly. Gündoğan had been hyperventilating—slight respiratory alkalosis—and the sharp physical stimulus, combined with Jin Hayes's calm, authoritative voice, had naturally interrupted the panic cycle. But Jin Hayes wasn't done yet.
"Now, I want you to repeat a focus mantra after me. It's a technique used by top-level performers to centre themselves under pressure. Remember, you must keep it to yourself—the power comes from internal belief, not from showing off."
"Don't worry!" Gündoğan's eyes gradually became serious, his earlier panic fading.
Jin Hayes nodded and began to teach Gündoğan a simple breathing mantra—a rhythmic phrase designed to regulate breathing and focus attention: "Inhale calm, exhale fear. Steady now, clear and near."
Gündoğan, one of the smartest young players on the squad, quickly caught on. He repeated the mantra under his breath, feeling his heart rate gradually return to normal.
"Do you feel your body has recovered some strength?"
"It seems so—I feel warm all over—"
This kid was completely bought in. His slight respiratory alkalosis had been interrupted by Jin Hayes's intervention; his attention had shifted away from panic, his breathing normalized, and his blood oxygen levels had increased. Of course he felt better.
"Yes, this is the power of focused intention. The mantra will continue to help you centre yourself in the future. Remember, the stronger your belief in your own ability, the stronger your performance will be. If your focus wavers, it won't work."
Jin Hayes's expression was serious enough that Gündoğan believed him completely, nodding heavily.
Seeing that Bayer Leverkusen was about to take a corner kick, the players in the penalty area were almost finished jostling and ready for the delivery. Jin Hayes also had no time to dawdle with Gündoğan.
"Believe in yourself. The stronger your belief, the stronger you will become!"
After giving his final instruction, Jin Hayes had to rush back to the penalty area to defend the corner kick. Only Gündoğan remained at the edge of the penalty area, savouring Jin Hayes's words. His eyes gradually cleared, then became increasingly firm.
"Don't worry, Jin, I won't let down this precious technique you've given me!"
On the other side, Hummels was very curious.
"Jin, what did you say to him?"
"Nothing, just told him to cheer up and mark his man, brother!"
"Really?"
Hummels mumbled suspiciously and ran off to defend the opposing striker, Kießling.
"In the 42nd minute of the first half, Bayer Leverkusen earns a corner kick."
"Dortmund midfielder Gündoğan is a bit nervous today, which has made him a weak point for the 'Werkself,' who have been continuously attacking through the middle."
"In the first half, Bayer Leverkusen has already had 7 shots on goal and scored 1 goal. This is their first corner kick, taken by Toni Kroos."
Commentator Berenberg was also very surprised. He had expected Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund to sweep Bayer Leverkusen and claim a double. It seemed Bayer Leverkusen were not giving up; they were putting up a tenacious fight. They were even outplaying Borussia Dortmund! Judging by the Werkself's squad, they were still a very strong team. Especially Toni Kroos, who was in excellent form and truly the engine of Bayer Leverkusen's midfield!
"Toni Kroos takes the corner… OHHHH—a direct shot on goal!!"
The corner kick had an incredibly exaggerated curve, looking like it would spin right into the net! Kroos's choice was overly bold, but completely unexpected! Jin Hayes's heart immediately leaped into his throat. Fortunately, Weidenfeller was reliable enough; he took a few steps back and, with a flying leap, gently palmed the ball out. Schmelzer at the far post quickly cleared the ball!
"Counterattack opportunity!"
Seeing this, Jin Hayes instinctively charged forward to receive the ball. He didn't expect Gündoğan to react even faster, having already created space and run to the perfect receiving spot. Schmelzer kicked the ball out of the penalty area, sending it to Gündoğan's feet.
Based on his performance in the first 40 minutes, Gündoğan, facing the double‑teaming of Vidal and Rolfes, would surely have panicked and lost the ball. But this kid actually started playing, dragging the ball horizontally to evade the opponent's outstretched leg, then cleverly using a drag‑back and pivot to break through the two‑man encirclement!
"Beautiful!!"
Jin Hayes trusted Gündoğan and continued to charge without slowing down. Just as Gündoğan broke free from the encirclement, he threaded a pass to Jin Hayes's feet, then continued his forward run! Reus on the left and Jakub Błaszczykowski on the right simultaneously pushed forward, creating a 4‑on‑3 situation in the attacking third! Borussia Dortmund's characteristic fast counterattack!
"Borussia Dortmund's counterattack is here!! Jin, pushing forward very quickly!"
"Running diagonally to draw the defender's attention—misdirection!!! Beautiful, a nutmeg and a change of direction! Completely unexpected!!"
The Bayer Leverkusen full‑back came up to defend. Jin Hayes originally pulled to the right, ran two steps, then suddenly changed direction with a nutmeg, accelerating instantly to create space. It was 4‑on‑2 in the attacking third! Jin Hayes's brilliant breakthrough drew thunderous applause from the Berlin Olympic Stadium!
He deliberately ran to the left, attracting two centre‑backs to come over, preparing to link up with Reus on the left. As everyone from Bayer Leverkusen defended on the left side, Toni Kroos, who was tracking back, felt a chill in his heart!
"Oh no! This Jin fellow—"
Toni Kroos's judgment was correct. Jin Hayes pushed left, feigning a pass. But with the outside of his right foot, he unexpectedly curled a shot—no, a pass—bypassing the defender and heading straight for the right flank!
"What a pass!!"
This brain‑tingling inswinging pass with the outside of the foot was something Toni Kroos himself couldn't replicate. It was a move that could certainly be perfected with a little practice on the training ground, but to execute it so effortlessly in a match was incredible!
"When did his—passing get so strong?"
In Toni Kroos's eyes, Jin Hayes's evolution speed was simply terrifying! His passing was gradually becoming lethal, just like his dribbling breakthroughs, combining artistic flair and practical deadliness!
Jakub Błaszczykowski easily dribbled into the penalty area, receiving Jin Hayes's perfectly weighted pass. If the Polish winger didn't score now, it would be truly inexcusable!
"Jakub Błaszczykowski!!! A stylish low shot into the net! 1‑1, the score is level!!"
"Dortmund's youthful storm of attack is simply a joy to behold!"
Berenberg roared passionately, dragging out the final syllables. This Bundesliga season, only Borussia Dortmund could produce such smooth and fluid attacks, reminiscent of Arsenal or Barça in their prime. Compared to the latter two, Borussia Dortmund's biggest characteristic was speed! They were completely decisive, sweeping through like a whirlwind, giving opponents no time to react. Whether it was Gündoğan's transition from defence to attack, Jin Hayes's masterful pass in the attacking third, Reus's intelligent runs, or Jakub Błaszczykowski's decisive finish—everyone was playing to their strengths.
"Seriously, Şahin's departure wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because they could promote Gündoğan."
"In the first half, this young midfielder's performance was indeed disastrous, but after adjusting, he is still one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga!"
There was one more thing Berenberg didn't say: Şahin might have excellent ball control and precise passing, but Gündoğan had a higher football IQ, played a more significant role at Borussia Dortmund, and had a higher overall ability than Şahin. The director was also mischievous, giving a close‑up shot of Şahin in casual clothes in the stands for a full 5 seconds. Şahin applauded with a smile, congratulating the team on equalising, but his micro‑expressions were enough for the experts on the forums to write a small essay.
On the field, as Borussia Dortmund quickly pushed forward and equalised, Toni Kroos wasn't dejected; instead, he felt a sense of relief. Because from this goal, he knew that defeating Borussia Dortmund in the second half would become increasingly difficult. A full‑strength Borussia Dortmund was not something Bayer Leverkusen could handle. Outmatched, he conceded defeat. Toni Kroos just wanted to give his best effort—the outcome of the match was no longer a consideration.
As Toni Kroos expected, less than 5 minutes into the second half—
"OHHHH—Borussia Dortmund's rapid advance is back again!!"
"Jin Hayes!!! A dreamlike dance in the box, beating the goalkeeper to score!"
"2‑1! Borussia Dortmund takes the lead!"