The team meeting room at their Shanghai hotel buzzed with the quiet intensity that preceded important matches.
Tactical boards covered in magnetic markers displayed formations and movement patterns, while laptops showed video analysis of their next opponents.
But what caught Mateo's attention most was the data sheet that Klopp's assistant coach was distributing performance metrics from their previous match that told a story beyond the final score.
"These numbers are remarkable," the assistant coach announced, his voice carrying genuine surprise as he reviewed the statistics. "Mateo, in your thirty minutes on the pitch, you covered 3.2 kilometers that is more distance per minute than any other player in the match. Your sprint count was exceptional, and most importantly, you completed fourteen successful tackles and interceptions."
The room fell silent as teammates absorbed this information. Physical statistics were rarely discussed in such detail, but the numbers painted a picture of transformation that went beyond technical ability. Klopp studied the data with the intensity of someone who understood that such improvements didn't happen by accident.
"This is what dedication looks like," the manager said, his eyes finding Mateo across the room. "Extra training, systematic physical development, and the mental commitment to push beyond your comfort zone. These numbers prove that talent without work rate is just potential but talent combined with this level of physical commitment becomes something special."
The validation from his manager was meaningful, but what struck Mateo most was the reaction from his teammates.
These were players who had achieved success at the highest levels of the game, who understood the subtle differences between promise and performance. Their growing respect was based on daily observation of his improvement rather than media hype or transfer speculation.
"The kid's becoming a machine," Aubameyang commented to Lewandowski as they reviewed the tactical preparations. "He's not just creating chances anymore, he's winning the ball back, covering ground, making the kind of runs that create space for everyone else."
The second match of the tour was scheduled against a team that presented a completely different challenge from their first opponents.
This squad featured several former European internationals who had brought tactical sophistication to complement their technical ability.
Their coach, a respected German tactician who had managed in the Bundesliga, was known for his ability to neutralize creative players through systematic pressing and man-marking.
"They will try to isolate you," Klopp explained during the final tactical briefing. "Their strategy will be to assign a dedicated marker to shadow your movements, to make you work harder for every touch of the ball. This is where your improved physicality becomes crucial not just to escape the marking, but to maintain your effectiveness throughout the entire period you're on the pitch." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
The System provided its usual pre-match analysis, but the data now reflected the improvements that months of dedicated training had produced:
"Physical conditioning optimal for sustained high-intensity performance.
Cardiovascular efficiency increased 18% from baseline measurements.
Core stability metrics allow for effective ball retention under physical pressure.
Tactical recommendation: Use improved work rate to create overloads in attacking positions while maintaining defensive responsibilities."
The atmosphere at the stadium was even more electric than their first match, with 68,000 fans creating a wall of sound that seemed to vibrate through the ground itself.
The choreographed displays were more elaborate, the singing more sustained, and the energy more intense. As Mateo sat on the bench during the first half, he could feel the difference in competitive intensity from their previous match.
The opposition had clearly studied the video of their first performance, because their approach to containing Dortmund's attack was much more sophisticated.
They pressed higher, marked tighter, and showed the kind of tactical discipline that made creating chances significantly more difficult. By the 55th minute, the score was still 0-0, and both teams were showing signs of the physical and mental strain that came with such intense competition.
When Klopp called his name in the 58th minute, Mateo felt a different kind of anticipation than he had experienced in his debut. This wouldn't be about making a good first impression this would be about proving that his initial performance hadn't been a fluke, that he could adapt to different tactical challenges and maintain his effectiveness against opponents who were specifically prepared to stop him.
"They're going to test you physically," Klopp said as Mateo prepared to enter the match. "Their number 8 has been assigned to mark you exclusively. Use your movement, use your strength, and remember you're not the same player who arrived here months ago."
His first touch came under immediate pressure, with his designated marker arriving just as the ball reached his feet.
But instead of being dispossessed as might have happened in his early training sessions, Mateo used his improved core strength to shield the ball, absorbing the contact while maintaining his balance and control. The simple act of holding possession under pressure drew appreciative murmurs from the crowd and knowing nods from his teammates.
For the first ten minutes after his introduction, the match became a fascinating tactical battle between Mateo's movement and intelligence and his marker's physicality and positioning.
The Chinese player was clearly skilled and experienced, using his body effectively to limit Mateo's space and options. But what became apparent was that months of System training had prepared Mateo for exactly this kind of challenge.
The breakthrough came in the 71st minute, and it showcased the complete transformation in his physical capabilities.
The opportunity began when Dortmund lost possession in the attacking third, with the ball breaking to a Chinese midfielder who immediately looked to start a counter-attack.
In his early training sessions, Mateo might have jogged back toward his defensive position, leaving the immediate pressing to more physical players. But now, his improved work rate and stamina allowed him to sprint back and apply immediate pressure.
His tackle was perfectly timed, strong enough to win the ball cleanly, but controlled enough to avoid a foul. More importantly, instead of simply clearing the danger, he immediately transitioned from defense to attack.
The System had trained him for exactly these moments, when physical conditioning allowed him to be involved in both phases of play within the same sequence.