📅 November 10, 2019
🏙️ Dortmund, Germany
9:11 AM – Morning After Der Klassiker
Karl sat at the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone. Mentions. Notifications. Articles. He hadn't slept properly. The adrenaline from the night before still buzzed in his chest like static.
BILD: "Blue Rose Blooms Under Pressure — Karl Schneider Is No Fluke."
ESPN Germany: "Kaiser-Like. Calm. Calculated. Karl Heinz Schneider announces himself."
Even international pages were running edits. #DerKlassiker. #BlueRose. #Karl13.
He dropped the phone, leaned back against the pillow, and closed his eyes.
This is just the start. That was only 34 minutes. I need 90. I need to play.
10:30 AM – Borussia Dortmund Recovery Session
Training today was light — stretching, pool recovery, tactical review. But the atmosphere was bright. The draw with Bayern, and Karl's explosive cameo, had injected new life into the squad.
Reus gave Karl a nudge during cooldowns. "You feel that?"
Karl raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Reus smiled. "It's shifting. You're part of the team now. Don't lose that."
Favre passed by and simply patted Karl on the back. No words. Just a nod — approval, respect.
In that moment, Karl knew something had changed.
1:00 PM – Media Freeze
The club arranged a short press window. Karl was pulled aside by Dortmund's PR manager.
"Quick interview. Kicker wants five minutes."
He stepped in front of the backdrop.
Kicker Journalist:
"Karl, huge debut yesterday. Assist against Bayern. What does this mean for you?"
Karl:
"I'm grateful. And I want more of them."
Kicker:
"You had nerves?"
Karl:
"No I just adjusted my Mindset before the game. That's how I prepare."
He kept it short. Controlled. Professional.
4:23 PM – Mother's Arrival
Karl stood outside the main gate of his apartment block in Dortmund, black hoodie pulled up, hands in his pockets. Then he saw her.
His mother — elegant, warm, wrapped in a long beige coat. Still radiant in her late 40s.
Brown curls. Soft smile.
"Karl," she said, walking quickly.
He smiled — rare, genuine — and embraced her. Long. Tight.
"I saw you on TV," she said. "You looked like you belonged."
He nodded. "Ja Mama, das stimmt."
5:00 PM – Downtown Dortmund
The strolled through the old town. The golden late-autumn sun dipped over the rooftops. He took her to Alter Markt, then to a quiet café.
"You've grown," she said, sipping her tea. "Not just in height."
Karl smirked. "Football makes boys grow up fast."
She reached across the table and held his hand. "You were just a kid playing in the snow in Cologne. Do you remember?"
"I do," he said. "Every time I tie my boots."
She looked proud — proud, but with a mix of concerned.
"You know, Karl... it's okay to slow down sometimes. You carry so much on your shoulders."
"Mama I like the weight," he replied. "It reminds me I'm processing."
6:45 PM – Evening Talk at His Apartment
They returned to his apartment. Clean.
Minimalist. A single framed photo on the shelf — Karl, age 9, holding a ball in one hand, smiling under the snow.
He cooked pasta. She laughed at how serious he was with seasoning. "Is this football or a MasterChef audition?"
After dinner, they sat on the couch.
"I'll stay in Dortmund till the next match," she said.
"You don't have to—"
"I want to. You're still my son, Karl. Even with the headlines and cameras."
He hesitated, then leaned back. "Good. I want you here."
8:30 PM – Instagram Post📸:
Karl walking past Reus on the pitch, arms out after the assist. The yellow wall behind, slightly blurred.
📲 Caption:
"One step into the fire. 🟡 #DerKlassiker #BlueRose #13"
It exploded. 148k likes in two hours. Reus liked it. Sancho commented: "🔥 Next one's yours."
Karl scrolled through the comments, then locked his phone and looked out the window.
The city glowed. The dream was real.
11:00 PM – Mindset Shift
As his mother drifted off in the guest room, Karl sat alone at the kitchen table. He opened a fresh page in his notebook.
He wrote at the top: "I want to start the next one."
Then below it, he jotted:
Extra finishing drills
Film study: Bayern press patterns
Reus & Sancho link-up sessions
Mental prep: zero noise, pure focus
He closed the book and whispered:
"Starting eleven. Soon."