Chapter 87: The Whetstone

Compared to last year, the Yun Jia Tianyu 1989 youth squad had noticeably worse luck in this year's invitational tournament. The three group-stage opponents hailed from Shandong, Sichuan, and Shenyang—regions whose teams were all veteran powerhouses in the top league. In recent years, Shandong had become one of Yun Jia Tianyu’s strongest league rivals. Naturally, the football academies affiliated with such established teams were anything but weak.

In fact, during last year’s tournament, Shandong reached the semifinals, while Sichuan and Shenyang finished in the top eight and top sixteen, respectively. Although this group wasn’t quite as fearsome as the previous year’s “group of death”—which included Yun Jia, Shanghai, Shandong, and Dalian—it was still daunting. Thus, before the competition began, all the media covering the event agreed: although Yun Jia Tianyu had the strength to advance, the path would be fraught with difficulty. A single misstep could easily lead to disappointment.

But the matches defied everyone’s expectations.

From the very first game, the Yun Jia Tianyu 1989 squad showed outstanding form, storming through the group stage and soundly defeating each opponent. With scores of 3-1, 2-0, and 2-1, they secured three consecutive, undisputed victories and advanced from the group stage.

After lying dormant for a year—having posted the worst result among Yun Jia Tianyu’s five youth squads last season—the 1989 team had finally bared its fangs.

“This team hardly seems like it’s made up of thirteen-year-olds… It’s rare to see a youth squad that combines individual brilliance with seamless teamwork! They remind me of a viper—calm, sharp, and deadly with every strike. Yet unlike a cold-blooded snake, their spirit burns with passion. If they can maintain this form, I doubt any team in this tournament can stop them. The only question is, have they peaked too soon?”

So wrote a well-known sports journalist who watched all three of Yun Jia Tianyu’s group matches.

The paper that ran this article was quickly passed around among Long Bisheng and his teammates. Although no one was mentioned by name, seeing their team praised in the press—even as a collective—was cause for great excitement.

However, the journalist’s metaphor drew strong protests from those around them—comparing lively, charming, and beloved boys to venomous snakes was surely the greatest injustice imaginable. This remark prompted immediate groans and mock retching; once the laughter died down, the hapless “adorable boy” was subjected to a playful beating and sternly warned never to use such nauseating descriptions again—or face another round of retribution.

“This journalist really knows his stuff. Our team does play like a viper on the field—I love that image,” Ding Yu chuckled heartily in the coach’s office, waving the same newspaper.

“These matches have showcased a high level of play. But Coach Ding, is it really wise to push so hard in the group stage?” Coach Zhao asked, holding his own copy. “The journalist makes a good point—if something goes wrong during the knockout rounds, then all this effort in the group stage will have been in vain.”

“It’s nothing to worry about, Old Zhao,” Ding Yu replied with a smile and a shake of the head. “Our players have been holding themselves back for a year; their momentum won’t fade so quickly. Besides, there’s no need to be so utilitarian in these matches—letting them play freely is best. Our squad’s cohesion and desire to win are far beyond last year’s level. No matter the opponent, I have the confidence we can beat them!”

“I have a question: during the matches, you’re always jotting things down in that notebook. What are you recording?” Coach Zhao shifted the topic.

“Want to see?” Ding Yu picked up his notebook from the table and tossed it over.

“Shenyang number 3, Wang Shuai, right back, quick and energetic, limited technical skills, but fearless on the pitch. Shandong number 8, Gao Zhifa, right winger, strong defensively, possibly able to play right back, excellent long passes, tough defender. Shandong number 6, Sun Qing, defensive midfielder, raw technique, outstanding stamina, covers a lot of ground, great at intercepting. Shi Shun, Sichuan number 1, goalkeeper, average reflexes but steady, excellent goal-line technique…”

Coach Zhao barely read off four names before looking up in surprise. “Is this what you’re writing down?”

“That’s right,” Ding Yu nodded. “They’re the standout players on the field. I later found out their names.”

“What’s the point of keeping tabs on them?” Zhao asked, a bit puzzled. “At this age, any kid good enough to play as a starter in Beijing is already a top prospect at his club. We can’t poach them, and even if we could, it would strain relations with other clubs.”

“I have no intention of poaching,” Ding Yu laughed. “I just want to familiarize myself with the best players in this age group, just as I did last year. Some young talents from Tianjin and Meixian caught my eye—maybe someday they’ll fit into my plans.”

Noticing Zhao's lingering confusion, Ding Yu laughed even more heartily. “What can I say? I’m quite ambitious… The 1989 age group—what does that number mean? Well, perhaps I’m mixing business with pleasure here.”

He straightened his expression. “Now, let’s discuss tactics for the day after tomorrow’s round of sixteen match. Our opponent won’t be easy. If we can’t get past this hurdle, it’ll be a huge blow to our players’ confidence…”

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Yun Jia Tianyu’s opponent was the third-place finisher from another group: the 1989 squad of Wuhan Ejinlong Football School.

Among domestic clubs, Wuhan and Yun Jia have perhaps the closest relationship. Since Yun Jia’s founding, the club has risen swiftly to become one of the strongest in the league, while Wuhan has bounced between the top and second divisions, with last year’s sixth place and a single FA Cup trophy as its best achievements. Yet this difference in strength never hindered the close ties between the two.

Their connection dates back to the second year of the professional league, when Yun Jia Tianyu, newly promoted to the second division, began collaborating with Wuhan thanks to a strong personal friendship between their chairmen. Back then, Wuhan, a top second-division team, generously transferred a key defender to Yun Jia Tianyu. In return, Yun Jia Tianyu, having already secured promotion, went on to defeat Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the closing rounds, allowing Wuhan—then in fourth place—to leap into promotion.

After both clubs entered the top division, their relationship only grew closer. Backed by immense financial resources, Yun Jia Tianyu sold its top striker Yi Xiaofeng and defensive linchpin Feng Gang to Wuhan Elegant. Although Yun Jia Tianyu had recruited the nation’s top forward Hao Dong and Italian center-back Materazzi, Yi Xiaofeng and Feng Gang were still capable of being starters or key substitutes. Even though Wuhan Elegant was ultimately relegated that season, the contributions of those two players kept the club in the fight until the final round.

Thanks to this foundation, personnel exchanges between the two clubs became frequent—not just among first-team players, but also among youth squads and coaches. Even Long Bisheng’s 1989 squad had close ties to Wuhan: Dai Guangming, Zhou Wei, and Wu Bufan had all been recruited from Wuhan Ejinlong Football School, while the coach of Wuhan’s 1989 squad was a Yun Jia Tianyu appointee.

To outsiders, this match might have seemed easy—given the clubs' strong relationship and the obvious fact that Yun Jia Tianyu’s 1989 squad was gunning for the title, as evidenced by their all-out effort in the group stage. Wuhan Ejinlong Football School, it seemed, could afford to ease up—after all, there was little pressure in a youth tournament like this.

But Ding Yu knew better. Their opponent would not go easy on them. First, despite their coach being a Yun Jia Tianyu dispatch, he would be all the more determined to prove his mettle in this match. Second, Wuhan was one of the first clubs to benefit from Yun Jia Tianyu’s expertise in youth development, and after Yun Jia, the first to achieve results through their academy. Wuhan Ejinlong Football School was among the country’s elite football academies. Much like Wuhan Elegant’s understated but solid league performances, their youth squads were quietly formidable.

So this match would be anything but easy. Yet Ding Yu felt no fear. He relished facing strong opposition, for only against the best could he truly test and hone the talents of his remarkable young players.

In Ding Yu’s eyes, the top teams from across the country were not just Yun Jia Tianyu’s rivals—they were the whetstones for his own squad.

Only on a fine whetstone can a blade be honed to true sharpness.