Chapter 923: The Savior Called Matthew Hoppe!

His name was Matthew Hope.

His resume was impressive, what with him spending a few years studying at La Masia before getting recruited here. That was the best youth academy in the world, the one that gave birth to the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

Not only that, even though he was a little bit thin for someone whose height was 191 cm, the man built like an ox, so strong and had a hidden built behind the jersey that he always wore.

He was the second team’s main striker after getting recruited by Schalke last year, and so far in that league, the 19-year-old boy managed to bag at least 10 goals in 13 games. That meant almost once in every game, a statistic that no player in the fourth division could top.

That was why he received the call from Frohling to join the team just for this game, knowing that they needed every single reinforcement from the frontline.

However, that was different than in the fourth division with Schalke’s second team.

No, this was going to be his first ever game with a pro team, and no lesson in La Masia, even when Lionel fucking Messi himself came, could prepare him for this moment.

It didn’t really matter if this was still the COVID era where no supporters would be able to get into his head, but the boy felt his stomach twist the moment he heard his name was called by the head coach.

’Yeah, this is my chance, right?!’ The boy clenched his teeth tightly while also warming up a little bit to get his body ready for the game.

Before walking down the tunnel, Higo also saw the boy’s current state, and his gaze softened instantly when he noticed the nervousness on the boy’s shoulders.

"Don’t think too much about it." He patted the boy on the back, startling the striker for a moment. "You will be able to adapt sooner or later. Just take your time; you will be able to let go of your burden once you step onto the pitch." The goalkeeper said in the tone of a senior who seemed to know everything.

Hoppe himself was taken aback by the sudden approach, but a little wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth after he realized that it seemed his face showed everything.

"It is that obvious, huh?" He muttered.

"Don’t worry, it is okay to be nervous!" This time, it was Omar Mascarell who said that, as the captain always paid attention to all of his teammates. "Just know that this is your chance to make a name for yourself, so no matter how nervous you are, force yourself to still be a dangerous striker in the box, okay?"

Hoppe’s gaze sharpened for a moment, knowing that the captain and Higo were right. This was the best chance to make a name for himself, not just as Matthew Hoppe who learned a thing or two in La Masia, but as a striker who could be relied on when the team needed him the most.

"Don’t worry, Captain! Higo! I will do my best to get us a lead in the second half!" His voice was suddenly full of determination, enough to catch those two off guard. "Trust me!"

Omar Mascarell just chuckled here, treating the young man’s declaration as a casual speech to let the boy himself pump up before the game began.

Oh, Omar didn’t know just how wrong he was right now.

After everyone was ready on the pitch once again, the striker stood in front of the ball, ready to initiate the kick-off. His gaze was so sharp toward the opposition half, not even hiding his intention. Even Morita himself smiled wryly right now, wanting nothing but to smack the boy on the head.

’Yeah, what the hell happened with learning how to be subtle? Why is he showing his intention before the game even starts?!’ He cursed inwardly, half-amused and half-complaining.

Not that there was anything to hide, since everyone knew that once Schalke got a kick-off, they would start everything in a blitz, wanting to catch everyone off guard.

True enough, the moment the referee blew the whistle...

FWEEE!

Hoppe passed the ball behind before he pounced forward immediately, not even caring whether the ball would come through. Hell, even Fabian Reese and Benito Raman were left behind, not expecting that the boy would move this fast from the beginning.

The opponents, even more so, didn’t expect that a boy with the height of 191 cm could be this quick and agile when it came to avoiding all the defenders around him.

’Hah! You think I am fast? This is normal in basketball, you know?’ The boy grinned as he somehow managed to get closer to the defensive line in a blink.

Yeah, the boy himself was an American, growing up with a basketball in his hand. In that sport where height was everything, being tall and quick was a must, so Hoppe wasn’t really strange with this kind of burst movement to get past the defenders even as a tall player.

Morita also saw this sudden movement, so instead of rushing far to get a second ball on the opposition half, he asked for it from Nabil immediately in his own half, and with the calmness of a maestro, the midfielder dinked the ball casually, letting it fly above Hoffenheim’s territory.

Thud!

Hoppe, who saw the ball out of the corner of his eye, could only help but grin here. ’Oh! What a pass!’ He exclaimed, forcing his lower limb to work harder to increase his speed.

"CALM DOWN! CALM DOWN!"

"DEFENDERS, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE STRIKER! DON’T LET HIM SNEAK IN!"

"CLEAR IT AWAY!"

All the Hoffenheim players around the striker also still had their attention on the ball, probably wondering where it would fall.

Little did they know, though, that the moment it touched the ground, Hoppe was already there, in the best position, and with a half-volley shot, he didn’t even control the ball first to whack it as hard as possible.

BAM!