Chapter 232 225: Money Printing Machine

Yang Yang: The Invincible Iron Man!

One Goal, One Assist—Wonder Kid Yang Yang Saves the National Team!

A 2-1 Comeback Against Kuwait! The Chinese Prodigy Shines in Kuwait City!

A Magical Night! The Chinese Team Has Found Its Future Leader!

...

When news of the Chinese Team's 2-1 comeback victory in the away game against Kuwait reached home, the entire nation erupted in celebration.

The following day, all the major national newspapers scrambled to report on the crucial match.

The media's assessment of the National Team's performance was universally split into two halves, with Yang Yang's substitution onto the field as the clear dividing line.

Without a doubt, everyone agreed that Yang Yang coming on as a substitute was the turning point of the game.

Even the head coach of Kuwait stated at the post-match press conference that he had done everything in his power to try and shut down Yang Yang, but he never expected Yang Yang to repeatedly seize his chances in the end.

"He had an incredible performance tonight. I find it hard to believe that a player who just arrived this morning after a long-haul flight of more than twenty hours could play so brilliantly in the evening."

"I can only say that he completely caught all of us by surprise."

"We didn't lose to the Chinese Team; we lost to Yang Yang."

These words from Kuwait's head coach were widely reported by the Chinese media, who felt they perfectly encapsulated Yang Yang's performance and value. At the same time, however, they expressed dissatisfaction with the Chinese Team's performance before he came on, believing the team played with no discernible strategy.

"We find it hard to believe this is the kind of football an Asian Cup champion team would play. There was no substance to their game. They mounted a few decent attacks, but none of them posed a real threat, and they failed to put any pressure on Kuwait's goal for long stretches."

"On the defensive end, on the other hand, one terrible mistake nearly extinguished the team's hopes of advancing from the group stage."

"Besides Sun Xiang, who should be held responsible for the goal conceded, the performances of Li Weifeng and Zhang Yaokun were also unsatisfactory. They were like ticking time bombs on the back line, ready to explode at any moment and drag the team into an abyss of disaster."

When interviewed by the media after the match, Li Weifeng expressed remorse and shame for his performance. He stated that he hadn't trained properly for two months and had spent the past month battling injuries and receiving treatment in Belgium, so his body was not in peak condition.

"Physically, I admit I wasn't in ideal shape, but mentally, I was fully prepared. Besides, the team's situation was clear. With Zheng Zhi absent, the team needed me, and I believed I could grit my teeth and pull through."

Regarding his mistake during the game, Li Weifeng said he was very ashamed and had let the whole team down.

"But the most important thing now is that we've advanced to the final qualifying round. This gives us more time to prepare thoroughly."

At the post-match press conference, National Team head coach Arie Haan stated that a major reason for the team's poor performance in the first half was that their opponents played exceptionally well.

"Away games are very tough, and we had prepared thoroughly. In fact, we started off quite well and played decently in the first half, but in the second half, we made a mistake that absolutely shouldn't have happened."

"It was obvious Kuwait could no longer afford to be patient in the second half. They started attacking proactively, which caused us a lot of trouble. Around the time we conceded the goal, our players became very flustered. They were clearly used to the rhythm of the first half and had trouble adapting to our opponent's change in tactics. As a result, Kuwait capitalized on one of our mistakes."

Arie Haan remarked that in the period surrounding the goal they conceded, the team was not the Chinese Team he was familiar with. He also added that if it weren't for the opposing Goalkeeper's excellent performance, the Chinese Team would have already scored first in the first half.

"We are by no means weaker than them. Why they were the ones to score first is something we need to analyze carefully. And I also want to say that Kuwait played very well in this match."

As for Yang Yang, who came on as a substitute to deliver a goal and an assist, Arie Haan expressed his complete satisfaction.

"No head coach could possibly ask for more from Yang. He pushed himself to his absolute limit. He traveled thousands of kilometers on a flight that took over twenty hours, and then, just ten hours or so after arriving, he threw himself into the match and delivered such an outstanding performance. It's simply unbelievable."

"Without a doubt, he has become an indispensable member of this team. Moreover, the intelligence he displayed during the match and his profound understanding of football are things that all National Team players, and indeed all Chinese players, should learn from."

Regarding Yang Yang's upcoming schedule, Arie Haan stated that he would not be calling him up for the match against Hong Kong, China.

"He's too tired. He's only seventeen, but he hasn't had a proper rest since the winter break at the start of the year. The match against Hong Kong, China is meaningless in terms of qualification, so I want to use this game to evaluate other players, especially a center-forward. I want to find the best partner for Yang Yang."

"And I also hope Yang Yang can take this opportunity to get a good rest. I believe it's what he needs."

It wasn't just the Chinese National Team and domestic media who were singing Yang Yang's praises. Foreign media outlets also paid close attention to the match. French Reuters wrote an article stating that the Chinese Team had achieved a rare and crucial comeback, with Yang Yang as the number one hero.

"In the final round of the group stage, Kuwait will face the weakest team, Malaysia, while the Chinese Team will play Hong Kong, China. Therefore, the Chinese Team was determined to win this match, or at the very least, secure a draw."

"Unfortunately, the Chinese Team missed their chances in the first half and were punished in the second, with their opponents scoring the first goal."

"At the critical moment, Arie Haan substituted on the seventeen-year-old Ajax prodigy, Yang Yang. This brilliant rookie, who had shone brightly at the Asian Cup and had just reaped both the Best Player and Golden Boot awards at the AFC U-19 Championship, saved the Chinese Team with a goal and an assist immediately after coming off the bench."

"And what's most incredible is that just ten hours earlier, he had completed a long-distance flight of several thousand kilometers that lasted over twenty hours. This only makes one admire the strength of this young Ajax star even more."

The Dutch media also paid close attention to this match.

The Dutch Telegraaf commented in an article that Arie Haan had made tactical errors in his lineup, but Yang Yang's clutch performance saved the Dutch legend, and by extension, the Chinese National Team.

"He has repeatedly played the role of savior in the Chinese Team's matches, from the Toulon Cup to the Asian Cup and the subsequent AFC U-19 Championship, and now in the World Cup qualifiers, he has consistently played a crucial role."

"Yang Yang's outstanding performances for his national team have filled Ajax fans with great expectations for him."

"Without a doubt, Ajax is in deep trouble. Ronald Koeman is once again facing a crisis that threatens his job. Right now, Ajax needs Yang Yang even more urgently than the Chinese Team does."

Besides the Telegraph, the Common Daily and the People's Daily also reported on the Chinese Team's match.

Yang Yang's excellent performance once again drew widespread attention within the Netherlands. Ajax fans were especially filled with anticipation for his return, hoping he could save the team and pull them out of their slump.

However, many were also worried: after shuttling back and forth for the National Team, would Yang Yang still be able to maintain his excellent form upon returning to his club?

...

...

Amidst the widespread media attention both at home and abroad, Yang Yang flew back from Kuwait City to Amsterdam with the National Team the very next day.

However, he didn't continue on with the team, instead saying his goodbyes at Amsterdam Airport.

Head coach Arie Haan and Dejan didn't return either. With the match over, they had a short vacation period and chose to stay in the Netherlands. After a week's rest, they would depart for China, where their top priority would be to review the match and scout for a center-forward.

At the airport, Arie Haan was in a good mood, even joking that he hoped to find a Chinese Ibrahimovic.

Yang Yang simply smiled and wished him good luck.

After the three said their farewells at the airport, Yang Yang hailed a car and returned to Oude Kerk.

On the way, he made a point to call his parents to let them know he was safe, and then he called Su Wenhong.

After the match last night, Su Wenhong had specifically called Yang Yang's cell. Su Ye had told him to remember to call back and let them know he was safe once he returned to Amsterdam, just to put the family's minds at ease.

On the call, Su Wenhong, Ye Ziqing, and Su Ye all took turns speaking, offering nothing but words of concern. They were just like his own family, which made Yang Yang feel incredibly warm as he readily agreed to their well-wishes.

Next, Yang Yang called Wei Zhen. Unexpectedly, Wei Zheng was right beside him and snatched the phone to report on his latest work achievements.

"Just now, both Coca-Cola and the country's largest mobile network operator called me separately to discuss endorsement deals. We're talking eight figures. It's a lock," Wei Zheng said with a laugh.

He was currently holding two positions, working for Yongqiang Shoes while also acting as Yang Yang's agent in China. He was responsible for negotiating all sponsorships and endorsements, and it looked like he was doing a fine job.

"Eight figures?" Yang Yang was a little surprised. An endorsement fee of over ten million a year? In China, probably only the Yao Giant could command that kind of money.

"Your current endorsement fee is a little higher than the Yao Giant's, but I'm sure after yours goes up, his will follow suit," Wei Zheng said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll leave these things in your hands." Yang Yang seemed rather unconcerned about it.

"Don't worry, these two were already mostly negotiated. Once they're signed, you'll have an income of at least twenty million a year. Add that to the thirty million from Nike, and you're a real tycoon now," Wei Zheng exclaimed with a laugh.

It had to be said, Yang Yang was like a money-printing machine right now; he was making an incredible amount of money.

Of course, this was also the result of his own painstaking hard work and dedication.

Putting everything else aside, just his expedition to Kuwait to save the National Team alone—how massive of a sensation would that create back home?

"I'm confident I can lock down at least three more deals before the New Year. Just get ready to count your money," Wei Zheng said, full of confidence.

Yang Yang smiled faintly. He wasn't concerned with how to make money; he had Raiola and Wei Zheng to worry about those things for him. He only cared about how to play football and how to win games.

Especially when it came to Ajax, whose situation was even more dire than the National Team's.

Never mind facing the two giants, Juventus and Bayern Munich, in the Champions League group stage; in the domestic league, they were being squeezed from both sides by Eindhoven and Feyenoord. On top of that, Ajax itself had just sold five key players, severely weakening the squad.

How to help Ajax get out of its predicament—that was the real challenge Yang Yang had to face next.