Chapter 159: The Influence of the Champions League

Words : 1476 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Dinamo Zagreb was beginning to attract attention across Europe. They were no longer the small, unknown team just entering the group stage. After two matches—one win and one draw—especially against Real Madrid and Roma, Dinamo Zagreb was naturally receiving significant attention. Most importantly, they were a team of young players. Just a year ago, Ajax had stunned the world with their brilliant display. Now, Dinamo Zagreb seemed to have the same potential as Ajax. That's right! This fierce wind blowing from the Balkan Peninsula had already crossed the Alps and begun sweeping through the heart of Europe. Top European clubs had taken notice of this rising breeze. While they couldn't yet say if it would bring about a "youth storm" like the one from two years ago, these youngsters had already shown enough capability and performance. Scouts from various European clubs had already started settling in at Maksimir Stadium. And once they arrived, they were left stunned. This was practically a breeding ground for wild talents. Beyond the standout starters, even the substitutes were brimming with potential. Naturally, the scouts reported this back to their clubs. Soon, transfer offers for individual players started pouring in through the fax machine. At this point, Bešić began to feel the truth of the saying: "A man fears fame just as a pig fears getting fat." To him, the starters were already developed and could be sold in the summer transfer window. But not the substitutes! These bench players were essential for replacing the starters and continuing Dinamo Zagreb's campaign. He couldn't sell them all at once. On a bus in Zagreb, the moment Sućker and Modrić boarded, there was a brief pause—followed by thunderous applause. Whooooosh!!! "Sućker! Modrić! You were amazing!" "You guys played brilliantly!" "Keep it up, boys from Zagreb!" "Show those European clubs what we're made of!" The passengers clapped enthusiastically, their voices filled with excitement. Since Sućker and his teammates made a name for themselves in the Champions League, they had become the most watched young generation in all of Croatia. Holding Real Madrid to a draw at home. Beating Roma away! Put together, these results had them leading Group B in the Champions League standings. Either one of those would've thrilled the fans—but both together? Absolutely electrifying. Modrić smiled and greeted the passengers before finding a seat. Sućker, meanwhile, stood in the middle of the bus. "Thank you for coming to watch me play. That's the best decision you could've made! I'll repay you with great goals!" Sućker shouted joyfully. The bus erupted into wave after wave of applause. Sućker, fired up by the energy, went and sat down among the passengers. He began telling stories about the Champions League journey—from the qualifiers to the group stage, sharing funny moments and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. His storytelling was vivid and animated, and the fans listened with rapt attention. In no time, the bond between them grew stronger. By the time the bus reached its stop, Sućker had gained a few more loyal supporters. "Sućker, I'm coming to see you play this week—make sure you score!" A young passenger waved as he got off. Sućker nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, it'll be worth every penny! See you, Đorđić!" The passenger, Đorđić, looked surprised—he had only mentioned his name once, but Sućker had remembered it. Clutching his chest, Đorđić pointed at Sućker and said, "Next match against Leverkusen, I'll be there cheering for you! You guys better give it your all!" As the bus drove off, Sućker kept chatting happily with the passengers. It wasn't until the bus arrived at its final stop that he and Modrić finally got off. "Remember to cheer for us!" Sućker waved his arms energetically. The passengers smiled and waved back in farewell. Sućker's personality was infectious. They adored his bright, cheerful spirit. As they walked, Modrić looked at Sućker and said, "You're amazing." Modrić wanted to be like Sućker—confident and outgoing. He had been trying to change, but he still couldn't reach Sućker's level. "Don't force yourself. Everyone has their own personality. You're already doing great," Sućker offered casually. They walked together to the training base. At noon, Sućker was invited to lunch by Modrić's family. Modrić's parents were grateful that Sućker had taken care of their son during their time in Bosnia. Although Modrić believed it was the other way around—he was the one taking care of Sućker. Lunch was delicious—Modrić's parents were excellent cooks. After eating, they returned to the training base. Before the afternoon session began, coach Bešić pulled Sućker aside again. "In the next match, I don't want you tracking back anymore." Sućker was taken aback. Bešić had initially restricted him from tracking back, later allowed it, and now reverted again. What gives? "I let you track back before because of overall tactical needs and the defensive gaps left when Srna pushed forward." "But now, Srna is playing at right-back, partnering with Vargić. Plus, we have Dujmović and Vukojević to provide cover. Behind you is Pranjić, who's more defensively stable. So, you don't need to drop deep anymore." Bešić didn't want Sućker tracking back—he wanted to maximize Sućkers offensive capabilities. Sure, Sućker had great stamina. But initiating attacks from midfield versus from the back are two completely different beasts. He believed Sućker should be positioned in more threatening, dangerous areas. Sućker should be Dinamo Zagreb's sharp spear, not a shovel doing dirty work. "If you feel the need to burn off energy, you can press in the front line. But don't cross the halfway line too often!" Sućker frowned. "But I'm a left midfielder!" Bešić nodded. "That's why, in the next match, you're playing as a second striker." A second striker—or shadow striker—doesn't have a fixed position. They operate behind the central striker. They help organize, link up play, and make runs into the box. With a central striker acting as a wall, the shadow striker's runs can become very dangerous. He wanted to further develop Sućker's abilities in this area. Sure, Sućker's wing play was threatening. But now that teams were catching on—especially Bayer Leverkusen, their next opponent—he needed a new approach. Sućker's knack for making forward runs was strong. With Modrić behind him capable of threading killer passes, the two could become a lethal counterattacking pair. "We have three days before the next match. Starting today, we train this tactic." Bešić had made up his mind. Sućker could only nod in agreement. And he felt that Bešić wasn't wrong. Playing in the Champions League was all about constant adaptation. Within a familiar system, you had to make adjustments and tweaks. If you stayed static, elite European teams would target you relentlessly—and the results would be brutal. The Champions League came down to who had the better form, who had the more diverse tactics, and who had the more stable system. For Dinamo Zagreb, this was all unfamiliar territory. Same for Bešić. So he couldn't guarantee everything he did was right—he was also learning as he went. But better to try something than nothing. Change was necessary. So was tactical depth. It would give them more options when adversity struck. They wouldn't be caught off guard. At the end of the day's training, Bešić gathered everyone. "I know some of your agents have been approached by clubs. I won't interfere with the details. But remember one thing—do not let it affect your performance. If it does, I promise you this: you will not be leaving Dinamo Zagreb." The players looked at each other, uneasily. Bešić's warning sent a chill down their spines. In fact, ever since the first two Champions League group matches, scouts and clubs had started contacting the players' agents. Sućker, Modrić, Mandžukić, Srna—all of them were being scouted by top-tier European teams. Even the standout substitutes were being approached. Bešić didn't want these distractions to hurt their performance. So he laid down the law. Even if he hadn't said it, the players weren't making hasty decisions. They were still focused on the competition. When approached, most took a "delay as long as possible" attitude. After all, the better they played, the higher their transfer fees, salaries, and bargaining power would be. There was no rush. "Shakhtar Donetsk contacted me, but I'm leaning toward Borussia Dortmund," said Srna. Two clubs had contacted his agent recently. One was Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine. The other was Borussia Dortmund in Germany. "No need to think about it. If it were me, I'd pick Dortmund," said Dujmović. "Come on, let's go together." He, too, had received an invitation from Dortmund.

Chapter 159: The Influence of the Champions League

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