Blue Dream Trail (Soccer) - Episode 50

──Saturday, November 4, 2028

Bundesliga Round 9

vs *Bremen (@Home)

Last season’s ranking: 11th

Last year, Augsburg had one win and one draw against Bremen.

A slightly cloudy afternoon.

A cold wind was blowing into Augsburg’s home stadium.

“It’s not going to be an easy game.”

Ren was convinced of this even before he stepped onto the pitch.

Bremen was a club somewhat lower in the table, but they were a troublesome team with a compactly organized defense and players with speed and height up front.

The start was close.

Whenever Ren gets the ball, two or three players surround him.

However, even in those situations, he continued to disrupt the rhythm with small touches and deliver through passes that allowed the ball to escape wide.

It was the 26th minute of the second half.

Ren received a pass from the left wing, and without slowing down, he evaded one of the opposing midfielders and immediately sent a low pass vertically to center fielder Himmel.

Ren stops moving for an instant, guiding the enemy defender’s attention.

Then, one beat later, he sprinted past him from diagonally behind – Himmel didn’t miss the chance. He took him down with one touch.

He then gently floated the ball with his left foot, and the winger on the opposite side headed it in to take the lead.

“Shhhhhhhh!”

The stadium was buzzing for the first time in a while.

However, they were then subjected to a fierce attack from Bremen.

The defensive line was pushed down, and there were some dangerous shots in added time.

After 40 minutes into the second half, due to the influence of substitute players, Ren dropped back from midfield to the last line, buying time and acting as a breakwater.

🗣【Live】

“This is more of a commander’s job than a game maker’s. 21-year-old Naoe shows incredible composure and judgment!”

The game is over.

A narrow 1-0 victory.

Ren’s assists and defensive play said it all.

“It’s not an easy win.

But still, getting three points after this performance is big.”

🟩【After the game, in the locker room】

Sitting on the bench next to Ren, taking a deep breath, veteran midfielder Kemmer spoke while drinking water.

“…We didn’t win by luck alone.”

“Picture?”

“Naoe, with you there, the runners in front can run without hesitation. They can attack without hesitation. That’s the reason for our victory today.”

“……thank you”

“But don’t forget. I’m sure you understand, but playing in a way that doesn’t lead your teammates astray is the heaviest responsibility. It’s not easy to keep doing that forever.”

The words were quiet but significant.

Ren nodded silently.

Because I realized that it wasn’t a scolding, but advice given out of trust.

📄【Local newspaper the next morning】

“Naoe Ren – The silent key man for victory”

A tribute to the heart of Augsburg’s team.

📌Next episode preview: “Episode 51: The Lone Star”

11/8 (Wed) CL League Phase 4 (H) vs AC Milan

We must win–

A night of determination.

———-

*SV Werder Bremen

✨ In one word…

“A noble northern institution that is honest, warm, and coexists with the town.”

Werder Bremen is

Although it may not be glamorous, it is a club that is completely honest and full of humanity.

Offensive football and hometown pride,

And we continue to maintain our belief in “our style.”

🟢⚪ Werder Bremen’s culture, atmosphere, and characteristics

1. “The Northern Club” and “Citizen Pride”

-Bremen is a free city in northwestern Germany.

-Werder Bremen was founded in 1899 and is a city club with a long tradition.

– A “proud, down-to-earth club” that is a northern football powerhouse alongside Berlin and Hamburg.

② Aggressive and beautiful football is a tradition

・The club’s philosophy is “show off and win.”

– In the early 2000s, under manager Schaaf, the team became regulars in the Champions League thanks to their elegant attacking football.

-Famous players such as Claudio Pizarro, Diego, Micoud, and Frings are in action.

・”Honest attacking football is synonymous with Werder.”

3) A prestigious club with a proven track record

– Bundesliga title: 4 times (most recently in 2003-04)

-DFB Pokal winners: 6 times

– As a regular participant in the Champions League and Europa League, the club has produced many memorable matches on the European stage.

However, in recent years, the club has struggled with financial difficulties and player loss, and was unfortunately relegated to the second division in 2021, only to immediately return the following year.

④ Supporter culture: loyalty, warmth, and tenacity

– Supporters have a strong sense of unity rather than enthusiasm, and there is a deep-rooted culture of applauding until the end, even in a loss.

-The atmosphere at the home stadium is “family-like and comfortable, but with a strong core.”

– He is known for his humane support that values ​​the individual, such as his long-standing “love for Pizarro.”

⑤ A fusion of local flair and freedom

-Bremen is a free city with a unique atmosphere that combines music and port city culture.

– The club blends into the town and is “a place for the common people and a source of pride.”

– “It’s a place where everyday life and soccer are mixed,” with musicians writing cheering songs, and the distance between players and fans being unusually close.

🏟 Weserstadion

– Capacity: Approximately 42,000. Located on the banks of the Weser River in the center of Bremen.

– As a waterfront stadium, it has a unique landscape even in Europe.

・The pitch and the spectator seats are close, so you can hear the voices of the supporters directly.