Explosive!

The atmosphere at the stadium erupted!

All of Dortmund's players surrounded Ye Chen in celebration! Meanwhile, Klopp, standing at the sidelines, was roaring wildly in excitement.

Why didn't he substitute Ye Chen earlier? Because he was waiting for this—Ye Chen's final goal. A player only gets one debut in the Champions League, and Klopp wanted Ye Chen to become the one.

Sharing the glory of four goals with Marco van Basten was one thing, but achieving five? That would make Ye Chen unique in the history of football.

Ye Chen's goal completely ignited Klopp, known for his usual composure. He clenched his fists and punched the air three times in triumph, celebrating with the fans.

Suddenly, someone in the South Stand began singing "Glorious Years", and the voices quickly multiplied:

"The bell rings, signaling the journey home,

In his life,

Carrying a tinge of regret,

The meaning behind his dark skin..."

The song seemed magical, drawing more and more people into its rhythm—5,000, 10,000, 20,000 fans joined in. The powerful melody left Ye Chen awestruck.

Why this song? Ye Chen had sung it during a celebration at Dortmund, and his loyal fans in the South Stand had taken it upon themselves to learn it.

Tears welled up in Ye Chen's eyes. This was true mutual love. He gave his all on the pitch, and the fans reciprocated with their loudest cheers. In that moment, Ye Chen felt that no amount of fatigue or hardship mattered—it was all worth it.

In a quiet moment on the Gugu live broadcast, commentator Zhan Jun let the fans' singing take over the speakers, spreading the moment into countless homes. Born in Chaozhou, Guangdong, Zhan Jun himself joined in the song:

"Struggles of hesitation in a lifetime,

Confidence can change the future,

But who could truly achieve it?"

This was a moment etched in history, a moment when a Chinese player received unparalleled adoration from fans abroad.

On the sidelines, Shinji Kagawa watched with envy in his eyes. Wang Chu tightly hugged Ye Chen, a gesture louder than words.

Eventually, the referee urged Dortmund's players back to the field, but the fans' singing lasted two full minutes before fading.

When the match resumed, the remainder was mere garbage time. Only two minutes of added time were played before the referee blew the final whistle. As the match concluded, the referee picked up the ball and personally handed it to Ye Chen.

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you!" Ye Chen replied with a smile, holding the ball—his tenth match ball, each one worthy of remembrance.

More than that, his five-goal performance in a Champions League debut shook European and global football. He became the first player ever to achieve this feat. Even more remarkable, Ye Chen was now the only player in history to score five goals in a match across the league, domestic cup, and Champions League.

At the final whistle, Dortmund substitutes stormed the pitch in celebration.

"Brother Chun, you're incredible!" Mane shouted, his pearly-white teeth gleaming in joy.

"Brother Chen, you're unstoppable!" echoed Wang Chu.

The players lifted Ye Chen high into the air, celebrating Dortmund's historic 6-0 victory over Inter Milan.

It was an unimaginable scoreline. The largest single-match margin in Champions League knockout history was held by Bayern Munich, who defeated Sporting Lisbon 7-1 in the 2008-09 season, achieving an aggregate score of 12-1. Sporting Lisbon, incidentally, was Cristiano Ronaldo's boyhood club.

After brief pleasantries with Inter's manager Ranieri, Klopp joined the jubilant Dortmund squad, while Inter's players, heads hanging, left the field. For Inter, the blow was devastating. Their executives in Italy held an emergency meeting that very night, deciding to sack Ranieri immediately—a decision originally planned after the quarterfinals. This first-leg result rendered the second leg meaningless.

After celebrating with the fans, the players returned to the locker room to warm applause. Though February in Germany was chilly, Dortmund deserved the most enthusiastic cheers that night.

Ye Chen changed into Adidas gear after his shower, but as soon as he stepped out, Klopp intercepted him.

"Come with me to the post-match press conference!"

"What? No way. They're not going to let me off!" Ye Chen protested, frowning.

"If you don't go now, they'll hound you on the training ground. Your choice." Klopp shrugged.

"Fine, I'll go," Ye Chen sighed, resigned to reality. If he were a reporter, he wouldn't let himself off either—not after becoming the first player in Champions League history to score five goals in a debut.

At the press conference, Klopp glanced at the packed room of reporters and nodded toward a woman in the front row with a notebook. "You start."

The visibly excited journalist, her voice trembling slightly, asked, "Coach Klopp, Ye, as the first player in history to score five goals in a single match in the league, domestic cup, and Champions League, how do you feel?"

Ye Chen smiled calmly. "It's an honor to be the first. I hope to create more football records in the future."

"As the only player to score five goals in a Champions League debut, how did you achieve this?"

"By never missing any opportunity on the pitch."

"Many Inter players underestimated your team before the match, but you defeated them 6-0. What would you say to Inter now?"

"Inter is a great opponent with world-class players. While they didn't perform as well as us tonight, I'm still cautious about the second leg. The San Siro is a magical place, and I hope we can advance smoothly."

Ye Chen's response was honest and respectful, avoiding any traps from the press. As someone who grew up in China, he was used to handling sensationalist headlines and gave answers immune to misinterpretation.

The journalists applauded Ye Chen's poise. Even Klopp smiled. This was why he brought Ye Chen to press conferences—calm, articulate, and mature beyond his 17 years. Klopp knew he had to manage Ye Chen's workload, especially with national team duties coming up, but that was a question for another day.

Tonight belonged to Ye Chen and his historic achievement.