Chapter Forty-Six: The Dream of Football
This chapter focuses on some domestic matters, and it weighs heavily on my heart—as a fan like me.
The next match is scheduled for October 26, 2002.
Munich 1860 faces Borussia Mönchengladbach away.
In this game, Momo was not included in the 18-man squad; Coach Pacult decided to rotate the lineup.
Although Momo never had any stamina issues, Pacult chose to give him a longer rest during this match.
He would only return to the field in the 13th round of the Bundesliga against Borussia Dortmund.
This was an unavoidable decision. Initially, Momo's goal bonus was set with many complicated conditions.
The expectation was roughly ten goals as a good target, yet he had already scored eight.
Although Momo stated he wouldn’t transfer away from Munich 1860 during the winter window, who could say for sure?
Under these circumstances, Pacult’s choice gained widespread approval from Munich 1860’s upper management.
Meanwhile, Mino planned to take advantage of this time to bring Momo to China to negotiate endorsement deals.
From October 26 to November 16, Coach Pacult demanded Momo return to the team by November 10.
But this period was sufficient for Momo to resolve some matters.
Besides, whenever Momo closed his eyes, he could enter the trainer system for training, so maintaining form was never a worry.
Fan Zhiyi’s trial at Tottenham in the Premier League failed; he then played for Crystal Palace for a while and later joined Cardiff City, but reportedly, it was an unhappy experience, and he planned to return home.
Hao Haidong had some contact with Sheffield United, but their attitude was lukewarm. In recent years, most Chinese players who went abroad played in English leagues.
Momo’s return to China was quite low-key, which made Mino somewhat displeased.
According to Mino, “You brat, don’t you know the importance of exposure?! We’re going to negotiate advertising deals.”
But the wind did not cease as the tree wished for stillness.
Momo indeed wanted to keep a low profile, yet Pepsi and Yanjing Beer, the parties involved in the negotiation, actively promoted the event.
Pepsi even prepared the advertising slogan:
“Chinese football, striving with all our might to shine again.”
(This was truly the slogan at that time.)
Momo’s return stirred quite a bit of debate. Hao Haidong, Fan Zhiyi, and others were already considered old.
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Among the new generation, Momo was undoubtedly the most outstanding leader.
What?! You disagree? He’s the youngest player to participate in the World Cup, the youngest Chinese goal scorer in the tournament, and China’s best scorer in World Cup history with two goals.
One could even say Momo was the most valuable Chinese player at the time.
Under such circumstances, some people already regarded Momo as the new pillar of Chinese football.
It was precisely this discussion and situation that prompted Pepsi and Yanjing Beer to make their decision.
When Momo was on the plane, it caused a minor sensation, though not a huge one.
After all, football in China, to be honest, only gained some attention during the World Cup; most people went back to their own affairs afterward.
Moreover, in the days that followed, lottery players far outnumbered football fans.
(Later on, during the Asian Cup, China performed well but was still criticized because most people had bet on China to lose.)
In this context, some young fans took photos with Momo and shared the information widely.
Many in China loved football, but most admired foreign stars because China lacked a figure like Kaka, Ronaldinho, Zidane, or Beckham.
Yet Momo had great potential to become such a figure.
When Momo stepped off the plane, the airport was awash with vivid red, resembling blazing flames.
“Come on, Chinese team!!!”
“Momo! Lead us back to the World Cup!”
“Let’s go!!! Rise up, China!”
A myriad of voices rang out, stirring emotion in Momo. Mino nudged him and said,
“Come on, you brat, what are you standing there for?”
Momo turned his head; Mino’s eyes held a strange expression, not understanding that these fans were the lifeblood supporting everything.
Players and clubs could be hands, feet, body, or mind.
But fans were the blood.
Even in the darkest days of the national team, it was those who never abandoned them who kept hope alive.
Perhaps they couldn’t play for various reasons, but countless players emerged from among them.
Legendary players often came from families with a football dream, all deeply passionate about the sport.
Momo had every reason to believe that among these fans, under their influence, a future superstar might arise in the next generation.
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One day, when he achieved fame and success, he might say, “My family all loved football, especially my grandfather, and I finally fulfilled their dream.”
Ignoring Mino’s objections, Momo stepped forward to greet the fans—these pure-hearted supporters!
If not for family advice in a previous life, he might have been just like them.
“Can we make it? Will we get into the 2004 World Cup?!”
“Keep it up! Don’t get complacent with small achievements!”
“Momo!!! I watch every match you play.”
Looking into these hopeful, yearning faces, Momo felt a heavy weight in his heart.
The World Cup?! In a past life, there was talk that to win, China only really needed two players:
A formidable striker and a goalkeeper who could save every shot; the rest could just defend in their own half, and victory was guaranteed.
Football is a game of eleven players; Momo couldn’t promise anything. He could only say,
“I’m just a striker. I can’t make promises, but I will work hard to score goals.”
After he spoke, the crowd seemed somewhat disappointed but also relieved. One middle-aged man said,
“Alright, alright, honest words—no empty boasts.”
Others came to understand; no one here was blind, just occasionally harboring unrealistic hopes.
Momo then carefully signed autographs for each of them and took photos before leaving with Mino.
Seeing Mino’s displeased face, Momo poked him.
Mino turned his face, serious:
“You got too close! What if something dangerous had happened?”
Momo knew well that now was not the time to say “it’s fine” or such words, as it would only make things worse.
Just as Momo was pondering what to say, someone approached.
Momo’s eyes widened as he exclaimed,
“It’s you?!”