On the German streaming platform Twitch, KevinKickz was reacting to the goal replay.
“No way, bro, how did that ball get passed over?
Does it even bend on its own?” Kevin was dumbfounded, looking completely incredulous.
His chat was exploding: “My jaw is on the floor!” “Forgive my lack of culture, a single ‘holy crap’ covers the whole world!” “Magic, this must be magic!” Looking at the replay of the goal, Kevin said with an excited tone: “Come on, chat, let’s enjoy this attack once more.” “Let’s put aside how that ball was passed for a moment, just look at Rolin’s speed and explosiveness—he could totally play as a winger!” “And look at his timing for the pass, it’s truly perfection to the absolute limit.” “You can tell from these past few matches that his football IQ and overall vision are definitely top-notch.
Coupled with his outstanding physical conditioning and technique, isn’t he a surefire superstar in the making?” “After this match, there shouldn’t be anyone doubting him anymore, right?” The chat flooded with responses: “Bro, haters’ mouths are harder than stones!” “Not listening, not listening!
I just want to know how that ball got passed over!” “Flick the ankle outward, the contact point is on the outer lower-middle position…
I can’t make up any more of this, hahaha!” “Looking forward to his subsequent performance, hope he scores a goal.” Red Bull Arena VIP box.
Ralf Rangnick and Streich were chatting happily.
“Guido, I feel that Rolin being recruited by you into the U-20 is a bit of a waste of his talent.
If he can maintain this kind of form, making it into the senior national team won’t be a problem at all,” Ralf Rangnick said with a smile.
Streich shrugged: “Compared to the senior national team, the U-20 definitely needs a player like him more.” “There’s still a little over a year until the 2018 World Cup, he can completely catch up in time.” “If he performs brilliantly in next year’s U20 World Cup, it can also add weight to his chances of entering the senior national team.” Ralf Rangnick had to admit that what Streich said made a lot of sense.
After all, Rolin hadn’t been selected for the youth national team before; selecting him directly for the senior national team was somewhat unrealistic.
You have to walk the road step by step, and eat your meals one bite at a time.
Taking too big a stride can tear your groin!
The camera turned back to the pitch.
Trailing by a goal, Hertha BSC attacked, as they still wanted to take points away from home.
Currently ranked 5th in the League, every point was crucial if they wanted to play in European competitions next season.
European competition didn’t just mean results; the prize money was equally tempting!
Teams entering the Champions League group stage are guaranteed to receive at least 12.7 million euros in prize money.
The prize money for a single win in the group stage is 1.5 million euros, and a draw is 500,000 euros; the Round of 16 prize money is 6 million euros, and the quarter-finals prize money is 6.5 million euros; the semi-finals prize money is 7.5 million euros, the runner-up prize money is 11 million euros, and the champion prize money is 15.5 million euros.
Even the teams participating in the Champions League play-offs have corresponding prize money.
Teams eliminated in the play-offs and transferring to the Europa League can get 3 million euros in prize money, and teams directly knocked out in the play-offs also have 2 million euros in prize money.
The prize money for the Europa League is far inferior to the Champions League.
The fixed prize money for the final champion is 6.5 million euros, which is not even as good as the minimum guaranteed prize money of the Champions League group stage, showing just how huge the gap is.
However, the team that wins the Europa League automatically qualifies for the Champions League group stage next season.
This could also be considered a champion’s perk.
In the 39th minute of the match.
Hertha BSC launched an attack on the left flank.
Kalou and Plattenhardt played a one-two passing combination, leaving Bernardo Fernandes completely beaten.
Compper stepped up immediately to cover the defense.
Kalou first feinted to go down the baseline, threw off Compper’s balance, and then directly chose to cut inside and shoot.
Rolin tracked back very quickly.
The moment Kalou shot, he threw himself out with a sliding tackle.
The ball hit Rolin’s leg and bounced away, successfully defusing the danger.
Rolin quickly got up from the ground and adjusted his football socks.
His expression was extremely calm, as if he had just done an insignificant thing.
Compper ran over, patted Rolin on the backside, and said with a smile: “Well done, kid!” The fans on site also gave applause for Rolin’s defense.
Ralph Hasenhüttl, on the other hand, was extremely dissatisfied with this defense and cursed fiercely at Marcel Sabitzer and Bernardo Fernandes.
In fact, the main responsibility this time still lay with Marcel Sabitzer.
It was precisely because his tracking back wasn’t timely that Hertha BSC got a two-on-one opportunity.
Marcel Sabitzer guiltily avoided the head coach’s gaze and silently returned to his defensive position.
In the final period of the first half, neither side formed a threatening attack.
Subsequently, the referee blew the whistle, and the match entered halftime.
RB Leipzig dressing room.
Ralph Hasenhüttl’s expression was gloomy, and he didn’t speak until everyone was seated: “If any of you don’t want to play properly, tell me in advance, and I can substitute you off.” His sharp gaze swept across the room, and no one dared to make eye contact with him.
At this time, if anyone made eye contact with him, it would be challenging the coach’s authority.
Ralph Hasenhüttl clapped his hands, attracting everyone’s attention: “Lift your heads up and listen carefully to what I’m going to say next.” “As long as you step onto the pitch, as long as the final whistle of the match hasn’t blown, you must brace yourselves with 120% spirit!” “If you can’t do it, get the hell down here, and I will send someone who can do it onto the pitch.” “There are plenty of people eyeing your starting positions.” “I’m not targeting any specific individual; I’m saying this to all of you.” “Did you all understand clearly?” Everyone present answered loudly: “Understood clearly!” Ralph Hasenhüttl then nodded with satisfaction and left the dressing room.
Marcel Sabitzer let out a long breath and said to Rolin with lingering fear: “Bro, thanks!
If that ball had really gone in, I’d be in deep trouble.” “We are a team, no need to be so polite.
Even without me, someone else would have stepped up.” Rolin didn’t take credit for himself.
He really wasn’t just speaking politely; this was his true inner thought.
Marcel Sabitzer patted Rolin’s shoulder and didn’t say anything more.
Instead of fretting here, it was better to put his energy into the second half of the match and strive to make up for the first-half mistakes with a good performance.
Werner smiled, shrugged, and continued drinking his juice.
Halftime ended, and both sides returned to the pitch.
Hertha BSC made personnel adjustments first, substituting Alexander Esswein for Genki Haraguchi.
Genki Haraguchi’s performance in the first half could be said to be very poor.
Whether in offense or defense, he fell completely at a disadvantage.
Hertha BSC hoped to take a point away from home, so adjustments were imperative.
After the second half started, RB Leipzig launched an attack while Hertha BSC had not yet gained a foothold.
Naby Keïta delivered an over-the-top long pass from the backfield, finding Marcel Sabitzer on the right flank.
Hertha BSC’s left-back was positioned very far forward and failed to track back in time, committing the exact same mistake RB Leipzig made in the first half.
Seeing this, Stark had no choice but to step up to cover, otherwise after Marcel Sabitzer’s horizontal dribbling, he could completely take a shot.
The area right in front of the penalty area is extremely dangerous, and a moment of inattention could lead to conceding a goal.
After successive lateral evasions, Marcel Sabitzer didn’t find a good passing opportunity, and then chose to pass back.
Rolin, supporting in the middle, didn’t stop the ball.
Observing Marcel Sabitzer’s intention to run forward, he directly delivered a through ball.
Marcel Sabitzer controlled the ball inside the penalty area with the outside of his boot, adjusted for a step, and directly blasted a shot from a narrow angle.
The ball passed through the legs of the defending player, and then grazed the goalkeeper’s toes to roll into the goal.
2:0!
Just as the second half of the match had begun, RB Leipzig scored another goal.
Now Hertha BSC’s sky had completely fallen.