Hoffenheim's "ultimate goal" reporters just talked in private and laughed at it, but did not put it on their respective pages to talk, because they felt that this matter was not news, but only laughed. Just chat in private, and there was no need for everyone to know. Moreover, Hoffenheim just tied Manchester United, which was sought after by many people. Publicly mocking this team will not add any benefits to them.

So after the game, in the interview about Chu Zhongtian, they only said, "When facing the reporters' questions about what the 'ultimate goal' is, Chu did not give an answer, but returned to the locker room."

This is just a small part of it, and more topics revolve around the game. Although everyone has ridiculed Hoffenheim in private, they still expressed affirmation and praise for Hoffenheim's performance in the public page.

"Although Hoffenheim was the Bundesliga champion last season, when facing Manchester United, we still habitually thought that Manchester United would win at home. Maybe they would not win too easily, but they would win in the end. We were wrong. Not only did Hoffenheim not lose to Manchester United, but also had the upper hand in the game. They even almost won the home team... This was really beyond the expectations of many people."

"Ferguson once said at a press conference before the game that Chu was Hoffenheim's best player and would also be the player that poses the greatest threat to Manchester United in this game. Now it seems that his words are not sugar-coated shells, but real praise. Although Chu was closely guarded in this game, he still used his excellent footwork and consciousness to organize attacks and score points."

"This Champions League group stage must have made many Chinese fans who stayed up late to watch the game. Because Hoffenheim, who plays for Chinese player Chu Zhongtian, tied the strong Manchester United at Old Trafford Stadium, and Chu Zhongtian also performed very well. The goal he scored in the game was also the first goal of a Chinese player in the Champions League. In addition to the goal, he also showed us a lot of his superior side. All of this was not yet when he just entered our vision. After five seasons of professional league training, he has become more and more mature!"

The Chinese media were even more crazy, almost blowing Chu Zhongtian into the third king of football after the game. They were "compared with Maradona", "compared with Zidane", "conquering Old Trafford", "the only protagonist in the Dream Theater"... Anyway, they say whatever they are stingy. But except for a very few people, everyone actually likes these praises. Especially when reprinting the comments of foreign media about Chu Zhongtian, watching the media in developed football praise Chu Zhongtian so much, which greatly satisfy the vanity and national self-esteem of a group of people.

Because for these people, they think Chu Zhongtian's performance is worthy of these evaluations, even if it is a bit stingy.

There is still no big improvement in Chinese football at present. There are some rumors that something is going to happen within Chinese football. But what is going to happen is vague. Everyone is not interested in this. Anyway, fans only look at the team's performance. If the team's performance is good, naturally everything is good. If the team's performance is not good, there must be something wrong. At this time, only Chu Zhongtian in the whole Chinese football can bring you a little psychological comfort.

If Chu Zhongtian was a table tennis star, he would probably not have such a great social influence. Many people say that football is declining in China, but in fact, the topic of "Chinese football" can still arouse the reaction and attention of many people in China. What happened to the stars is still the focus of major media reports. There are still many people who are watching and scolding the national team game. So football is actually the number one sport.

That's why Chu Zhongtian received so much attention and was under such a huge pressure.

※※Hoffenheim returned to Sinsheim with the first place in the group. Without rest, he started training directly, and there were still competitions on the weekend.

At the training ground in Hoffenheim, they were warmly welcomed by local fans. Almost the whole village was dispatched to cheer for this team that made them proud.

"You are our pride!" Hoffenheim's "village" hung such a huge banner on the barbed wire outside the training ground. All the players could see it as soon as they looked up.

Today, the fans who came to the training ground to watch the team's training were more than twice as many as before. Before the game, Hoffenheim fans felt that as long as they didn't lose too badly in this game, they would be satisfied. Unexpectedly, the team actually had a draw and almost won. This made them ecstatic.

After the training, the players went to sign autographs for fans. Chu Zhongtian was surrounded by the most people, and even a big star like Van Nystruey could not take away his halo. The 30 million yuan worth is the highest since Hoffenheim founded, and his performance also proved that he deserved this value. Hope is not the kind of boss who casually gave 30 million yuan or even more than 30 million euros to buy people, so Chu Zhongtian's position as "the first value in club history" may have to be long... He won Huo with his actual actions

The love of Finnheim fans, of course, those players who have just joined the team cannot compete with him. What I feel most deeply after coming here is Chu Zhongtian's position in the minds of local fans. After each training, he always has the most fans around him, and he has always patiently met the fans' requirements. Even if the jerseys are still wet, there is no impatience. This alone is something that not all players can do.

He didn't have any star airs when signing the fans. The fans patted his shoulder and asked him: "Chu, how do you feel when you score a goal at Old Trafford?"

"It feels great!" Chu Zhongtian replied while signing.

Everyone laughed.

In this atmosphere, small teams also have the benefits of small teams. Because the team is small and the place is small, people here can be regarded as "looking up but not looking down". Everyone knows and is familiar with each other, and they are very friendly. Unlike teams in big cities, players and fans always pass by a layer of diaphragm, they come and go in and out of high-end hotels, shops, bars and nightclubs. In Hoffenheim, Chu Zhongtian sometimes goes out for a walk when it is empty at night, just like an ordinary person. He bought a house in Sinsheim, which is not the kind of luxury villa with high security, but an ordinary two-story building with ordinary people around him, very close to the city center. Chu Zhongtian chose a nearby supermarket when he went shopping. The employees in the supermarket knew him. He was very excited at first, but then it was the same thing.

Apart from being on the training ground and on the court, Chu Zhongtian did not feel like a big star in life. He liked this relaxed and leisurely atmosphere. This is also the reason why he liked small places but not big cities. Ribery liked big cities, so he went to Bayern Munich, and Chu Zhongtian liked small places, so he became friends with small teams along the way.

Having tied Manchester United, the Champions League group is temporarily ranked first, Hoffenheim is in a good mood.

The atmosphere was relaxed during training, and Rangnick always had a smile on his face when he chatted with the coaches.

Their opponent in the next round of the league is the newly promoted Mainz. This team is not strong. The last round of the league just lost to Werder Bremen 0:3. Although they are currently unbeaten at home and have beaten Bayern Munich 2:1 at home. However, Hoffenheim has a psychological advantage over Mainz. Because the two sides once played in the German Second Division a season ago, that was their only two matches. Hoffenheim won and tied, and remained unbeaten. Because the time of the match is not long, the players on both sides have not changed much. Many players on the team have participated in those two games at the beginning, so Hoffenheim players have psychological advantages when facing Mainz.

Therefore, Hoffenheim, who had just tied Manchester United, was very energetic and did not take the newly promoted Mainz seriously at all.

Although Simonic missed this game due to torn thigh muscle fibers during training, no one thought it was a big deal. Anyway, after a week of double games, the team will definitely be rotated. Even if Simonic is not injured, it will probably not start in this game. Therefore, it has no impact on Hoffenheim's plan.

Pogattz joined the team as a left back during the winter break last season, but in fact he can play as a left back, as a central defender and a midfielder, and can be regarded as a defensive versatile player. Since Kolarov joined the team, he has been playing as a central defender and is a rotation player. In this game, he will return to the left back position, while Kolarov will rest. Metzeld and Nilsson will start, while the right back is young Gould.

The goalkeeper is still starting with Hildebrand. There is no physical overdraw in the goalkeeper position, so the substitute goalkeeper can't play several games in a season... In the midfield, Sana and Chu Zhongtian's partner were dismantled, Sana rested, and Chu Zhongtian and Sana partnered. In fact, it may not be because Sana is tired and needs rest, but to allow more players to get the chance to play. Chu Zhongtian is the core of the team. If he can't move, he can only move Sana. Therefore, when facing a weak team, Rangnick will consider giving more opportunities to play.

Salihovic was replaced by Vukoccevic, and Eduardo continued to start. Originally, if Weis was not injured, Eduardo and Salihovic took turns to compete for the left side position, so Eduardo did not have too many opportunities to play. Now he will naturally have to let him play a few more games if he has the chance. Once Weiss recovers from injury, the right side will still be his territory. He can attack and retreat and defend here, which is much better than Eduardo who can only attack and not defend.

The forwards also rotated, with Ibissevic and Van Nistruei not starting, and the starters were Wellington and Tracino, which were just the first Bundesliga starter for this young player born in the 1990s.

Tracino was very excited and couldn't wait to make a contribution in the game.

But the reality is cruel... Hoffenheim, who has replaced a huge part of the main lineup, suffered a failure at the Bruch Road Stadium in Mainz.

Just six minutes into the game, Hoffenheim, who was best at scoring goals at the beginning of the game, conceded this time.

Former Hoffenheim player Lov passed the ball across the penalty area, Ivansit shot directly from 14 meters away, and the football went straight to the upper right corner. Facing this ball, Hildebran did not react at all.

Hoffenheim, who was confident in continuing the unbeaten since the start of the league, was stunned by the goal he lost so quickly, and they also tasted the taste their opponents had once tasted.

But Hoffenheim's nightmare is not over yet.

In the eleventh minute, Mainz scored another goal. This time Ivansitz sent the cross back to the goal at the back point. Xuerle and Metzeld competed in front of the small penalty area. The football bounced high, and Bonsey, who was ambushing the left corner of the small penalty area, resisted Neilsson's header and hung into the far end. Hildebran continued to have no choice but to watch the football enter the goal. He did not move any other than watching the football enter.

He lost two goals in just 11 minutes of the game and finally woke Hoffenheim up. In the 26th minute, Kolarov volleyed in the 23rd metre, but was easily confiscated by Mainz goalkeeper Muller. Two minutes later, Wellington received a cross from the right and shot barbing in front of the small penalty area. In the 33rd minute, Tracino made a cross from the side. Chu Zhongtian, who followed, jumped high and headed the ball, hitting the goalkeeper.

After conceding the ball, Hoffenheim launched a wave of offensives under Chu Zhongtian's organization, but they all returned in vain. Wellington was seriously injured and returned, but Tracino was too young... In the second half, Rangnick made adjustments and replaced Tracino with Ibissevic.

This young player born in the 1990s only played for 45 minutes before being substituted. Obviously, when the team was in trouble, he could not help the team and was the first target for the head coach to consider making adjustments. Tracino seemed very disappointed when he left the court, and he still had a long way to go to become a striker like Ibisevic.

After Ibisekic came on the court, Hoffenheim's offensive changed, but Mainz also made targeted adjustments. They no longer pursued attack, but retreated and defended the penalty area.

They intend to hold the lead of both balls.

The entire second half was basically Hoffenheim's half-court offensive and defensive battle. However, the whole Hoffenheim team liked to solve the opponent in a fast offensive and defensive transition, but they were not very adaptable to everyone's fixation, stabilized their position and launched an attack, so they didn't have many ways to face the opponent's defensive defense. Chu Zhongtian frequently shot from a long distance, hoping to score. Unfortunately, his goal luck seemed to be left at Old Trafford and was not brought to Mainz. His shot either went too far or was rejected by Mainz goalkeeper Muller, who was brave.

In the 78th minute, Chu Zhongtian, who had been shooting from a long distance, suddenly changed his rhythm and strategy, fake shots and dunked the Mainz player who was defending him, and then broke into the penalty area and tripped to the ground by Pekovic. Everyone thought it was a penalty kick, and even the Mainz players were stunned for a moment. But they did not hear the whistle of the referee. The quick-responsive Mainz defender Soto quickly drove the ball out with his feet and gave Hoffenheim an extra-bound ball.

The Hoffenheim players did not serve outside the boundary ball, but surrounded the referee and asked for an explanation. They thought it must be a foul, and the referee's booth was very good and he could see the whole process clearly, but he did not say anything.

The referee was indifferent to the protests of Hoffenheim players, and he just signaled them to serve out the ball.

No matter how angry the Hoffenheim players were, they could only accept this penalty.

Chu Zhongtian just shook his head. However, Rangnick off the court was very dissatisfied with the referee, roared at him, and was warned by the fourth official. Rangnick did not want the team to end the league unbeaten at Mainz's home court.

It was not until the 87th minute that Hoffenheim relied on Kolarov's low shot to score a goal. This was his first goal for his new club, but after the goal, he had no time to celebrate, so he ran back with Chu Zhongtian. Chu Zhongtian held the football in his hand, which he snatched from his opponent. The ball was also strategic. The opponent's goalkeeper leaned over to hug him, and he stole it away with one kick, and then pounced on it and snatched the football back.

The whole Hoffenheim team had no time to celebrate and was in a hurry to kick off. There was still time for the game, and they wanted to score a goal. It was very difficult to win this game, but don’t lose if you can’t win... Unfortunately, they didn’t score either in the end. Mainz paid two yellow cards in the remaining minutes in order to win this game, one goalkeeper and one midfielder, all because of intentional delays in the game.

When the referee blew the whistle at the end of the game, Hoffenheim finally got their first defeat in the new season. Mainz continued to remain unbeaten at home.

It seems that it is not good to change too much in one breath. Hoffenheim's defense line made mistakes in the game, which was the main reason for them to concede two goals in a row. The forward line was too tender, which also made them miss opportunities repeatedly in the subsequent counterattack.

The defeat in this game reminded Rangnick that their bench depth is still not enough. If they want to fight in the domestic league and Champions League, it will become more and more difficult as the season progresses.

Of course, first he had to denounce the whole team and tell them not to be too proud.

Of course, you can't just scold. Especially for young players, you need to be kind and do good. Rangnick, who is a coach from the youth team, is very clear about this, so after he scolded, he still expressed some affirmation of everyone's performance, but his luck was not very good. If the penalty kick was awarded, the result would definitely not be like this, at least it would be a draw.

He focused on comforting Tracino and told him that he was not dissatisfied with his performance in advance, but was just due to the need for team tactical adjustments.

In fact, this may not be the case, but the head coach's statement is still very important to the players. They realize that in the coach's mind, their performance is not that unbearable and there is still hope.

After hearing Rangnik's comfort, Tracino's mood suddenly improved and almost burst into tears to laugh. He did not cry before, but looking at his expression, it was no different from crying.

The head coach is often like a nanny... Losing to Mainz on the road did not affect Hoffenheim's league ranking. They won six wins and one draw in the seventh round of the season, and other competitors performed poorly, especially Bayern Munich, who even ranked eleventh at one time. So even if they lost the ball, Hoffenheim still ranked first in the league.

For the losses of Hoffenheim players, it temporarily affects their mood...
Chapter completed!