The media have good and bad comments on Klopp's choice. Those who support Klopp think this is a smart move, which is considered a "strong man cut off his arm". Moreover, choosing to lose when facing Bayern Munich requires courage and to withstand the pressure of public opinion.

Of course, there are also many opposition voices, believing that Klopp's choice is surrenderism. When facing his direct competitor to the domestic league this season, he lost the game, which will severely slash the team's morale and leave an indelible psychological shadow on the players.

Moreover, Klopp may not have a good result if he bet like this. If both the league and the Champions League are lost in the end, then the move to give up the German Cup now will be considered a joke.

In response, no one from the Dortmund team came out to express their opinions, while Klopp denied that this was his intentional abandonment of the German Cup. His statement at the post-match press conference was his answer to this matter: "Rotation is a strategy we have been sticking to since the beginning of the season. Since it is a rotation, there will definitely be players who will sit on the bench. Losing some games is also an objective side effect of rotation. We have been insisting on rotation from the beginning of the season to now. I understand why there are still people who are surprised and incomprehensible about it... "

Of course, Klopp's statement was characterized by the media as "talking lies with his eyes open". What Zhou Yi said in an interview after the game was also considered to be lying without drafting, and lying, and he was simply unchanged and his heart was not beaten.

These two are perfect matches when they are together.

In the group of excluding Lao Guo, Zhou Yi told the truth to the people who were on the gossip: "... Klopp had asked me before the game and told me that he was a substitute in this game, and it was hard to say whether he could play on the game. I know what Lao Ke means, he is going to give up the German Cup. I have no objection. Anyway, he has won the German Cup last season, and Lao Ke also won two German Cups in his post, which is not a very important championship. Giving up the German Cup can also allow the team to play fewer games and have more room for maneuver when they need to sprint, so I agreed."

"... Of course this is a gambling, but everything has risks. I think giving up the German Cup is better than giving up the league or the Champions League, right? The media said it was their business, I don't think this matter was done wrong anyway. And the morale in the team was not affected. It doesn't mean that as long as you lose, it depends on what kind of loss, I can accept such a loss, and everyone can accept it. If I were Klopp, then I chose to give up the German Cup before the winter break and lose to Hannover. It is better than losing to Bayern and Munich in terms of public opinion influence than losing to Bayern and Munich. Because every game we have with Bayern Munich, everyone attaches great importance to..."

※※※

After "giving up" the German Cup, Dortmund welcomed his 24th round of opponent in the league, Hannover 96.

In this game, Dortmund played at home, and Zhou Yi played and helped the team defeat Hannover 96 3-1.

Bayern Munich beat Hoffenheim 1-0 away.

The two teams continued to chase each other, and no one fell behind.

The league is a long marathon, which is a very severe test for both teams, not only physically but also psychologically.

Dortmund's stubborn behavior may bring great pressure to Bayern Munich. But in turn, Bayern Munich's performance in such a stable manner will continue to accumulate despair in the minds of Dortmund players.

It depends on who has a greater psychological endurance in the end and collapses later than his opponent.

After playing this league, Dortmund will welcome the Donesque Miners at home. Although he has two away goals, Dortmund dares to underestimate his opponent because of the lessons from the first leg. Who knows what tricks the Donesque Miners can do away?

In this game, Dortmund sent the strongest lineup and did not rotate.

Zhouyi continues.

From the first minute of the game, Dortmund kept the rhythm firmly under his feet.

In the 30th minute, Zhou Yi suddenly shot a cold arrow outside the penalty area, earning a corner kick for Dortmund.

Gotze assisted centre-back Felipe Santana headed the ball, and Dortmund led 1:0!

In the 37th minute after seven minutes, Lewandowski gave Goze an assist, who scored and expanded the score to 2:0. Dortmund already led the Donetsk Miners 4:2 in the total score. If the Ukrainian team wants to advance, they must first score two goals away to equalize the total score.

But judging from this game, it is difficult for the Donesque Miners to do it. Without the environment they are familiar with, they are completely different from the first round.

In the second half, the two sides played again. In the 59th minute, Zhou Yi gave a last assist, helping Reus score, 3:0, and the total score was 5:2!

Marcel Leif announced that the game had lost its suspense.

There were huge cheers at West** Stadium, and it was a foregone conclusion that Dortmund advanced to the quarterfinals.

Then, Klopp began to make substitution adjustments, replacing the players who had fought continuously before, giving them full rest.

However, Zhou Yi still stayed on the court, using his passes to help the team control the rhythm, curb the Donesque Miners' counterattack, and prevent the Donesque Miners from having a chance to turn over.

This is an arrangement for security.

Finally, when the referee on duty in this game, Damir Scormina, blew the whistle to the end of the game, the Dortmund players rushed into the stadium to celebrate the victory, and they eliminated the Donesque Miners with a total score of 5:2.

He reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League for three consecutive seasons.

※※※

A day later, the second leg competition between Sun Pan and He Ying began, losing 1:2 to Atletico Madrid's Paris Saint-Germain 1:00 away. After returning to his home court, he only needed to score another goal to eliminate Atletico Madrid.

In this game, Paris Saint-Germain was the main force, and played the most powerful combination of firepower in the offense. Ibrahimovic, Cavani, He Ying and Ravic all played.

Take turns to attack the goal guarded by Sun Pan.

But Sun Pan fulfilled what he said to He Ying after losing the game last round. He took the high and low blocks and really didn't let Paris Saint-Germain score!

In the ninety-minute game, Sun Pan was the absolute protagonist, Atletico Madrid defended the entire line, and then relied on Sun Pan's last line of defense, making Paris Saint-Germain's offense come back again and again.

The fans of Atletico Madrid were going to have a heart attack in this game. In the last fifteen minutes of the game, Paris Saint-Germain had almost half-time offense and defense, and the overwhelming offensive made people breathless.

But Sun Pan stood firm and really kept the score of 0:0 until the end of the game.

When the referee blew the whistle to the end of the game, Sun Pan was lifted up by the excited Atletico Madrid defenders Godin and Philippe, and other teammates also rushed towards Sun Pan.

Commentator He Ping said excitedly: "Sun Pan is definitely the biggest contributor to Atletico Madrid's promotion to the quarterfinals! Paris Saint-Germain shot as many as 27 times in this game, of which there were 21 shots within the goal frame! But all of these 21 shots were rejected by Sun Pan! That's amazing! He is the Great Wall of China on the football field!"

The Spanish commentator is not much better than He Ping. He could hear him screaming Sun Pan's name throughout the game.

After the game, the Spanish media also praised Sun Pan's performance, believing that he showed the qualities of a world-class goalkeeper in this game. Atletico Madrid's ability to advance should be thanked first for his outstanding performance.

Atletico Madrid made it to the quarterfinals because of Sun Pan's outstanding performance, while He Ying could only say goodbye to the Champions League with a little loss. In this game, he shot six shots, all of which were within the goal frame, but he could not get even a goal.

Looking at his lost back, many He Ying's supporters burst into tears in front of the TV.

Some people are happy and others are lost. This is football and this is life.

※※※

As Zhou Yi said to his friends, the failure in the German Cup did not affect the mood and condition of the Dortmund players. They won one after another in the league and the Champions League and performed well.

In the next 25th round of the league, Bayern Munich has the best opportunity to widen the gap with Dortmund. Dortmund will challenge Schalke 04 away and Ruhr derby!

If Dortmund loses to Schalke 04 away and Bayern Munich defeats Dusseldorf at home, the gap between the two sides will widen to five points. With nine rounds left in the league, the gap of five points can be said to be very large.

This ensures that Bayern Munich has a safe distance from one game. Even if they lose one game, they still have a two-point difference against Dortmund, which will greatly reduce the psychological pressure of Bayern Munich players.

And what about Dortmund?

Facing Schalke 04, they must win, and winning the Ruhr derby away is not an easy task. So the pressure is all on Dortmund's side, and it is very large.

Before the Ruhr derby, the reporters went to interview Zhou Yi and wanted to hear his opinion on the analysis. Facing the reporters' camera, Zhou Yi nodded and said seriously: "It is difficult to win the Ruhr derby away? Of course, it is very difficult. Schalke 04's home court is like an indestructible fortress, so we defeated them last season in the away game. The three-pointer was not easy at all..."

After he answered, he said goodbye to the reporters, and he was still shaking his head when he left, as if he thought of that game, it made him feel unbearable to look back.

But in the eyes of the reporters, he thought it was strange no matter how he thought it was. He admitted that it was difficult to play Schalke 04 away, but in the end he said they won... So he was praising Dortmund in disguise! The reading comprehension of this sentence should be "Although Schalke 04 is very difficult to defeat at home, we Dortmund still beat them on their territory"?

※※※

Yang Muge also accepted an interview with reporters from China and Germany. In the interview, he smiled and said, "I know what Zhou Yi means. He wants to suggest that they can win the game. He can say that, but the result may not be what he imagined. We are good friends, but in the game, I will temporarily put these relationships aside."

A reporter asked a difficult question: "Will you foul him?"

Yang Muge said: "I will make reasonable use of my body and rules."

He did not answer this question positively, but everyone knows what he means.

"If you beat Dortmund, Bayern Munich will definitely thank you very much..."

"We fight for ourselves, not for Bayern Munich." Yang Muge shook his head.

"So will this game affect Schalke 04's Champions League next? After all, it will be a match against Galatasaray in the middle of next week... In addition, what are your expectations for Schalke 04's prospects in the Champions League?"

"I don't think it will affect the Champions League. We are used to the double matches in a week. Of course, I hope the team can go further and further in the Champions League, but it also depends on our strength and luck..."

※※※

"Old Yang's answer to the reporter's questions is really boring..." Zhou Yi complained about Yang Muge's answer in the interview in the group.

Sun Pan rolled his eyes and said to him: "You are so embarrassed to say Lao Yang? Look at your answer after losing in the German Cup."

Zhou Yi made a grimace.

Yang Muge said: "Zhou Yi, that's not a scene. Every word I say is the truth. You must be extra careful at that time."

"It seems that Schalke 04 is asking you to guard me again?" Zhou Yi said. "Keller is clearly trying to sow discord between us. Don't be fooled, Lao Yang!"

"Damn, I've never seen such a shameless person..." Sun Pan was speechless.

Guo angry and laughed loudly, while He Ying made a series of ellipsis.

After emitting the ellipsis, Yang Muge said: "Don't worry, Zhou Yi, I will try my best to make you feel in pain."

Zhou Yi made an expression of sticking out his tongue. (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!