"The match has clearly entered a less pleasant phase!"
In the 76th minute of the second half, Real Madrid was still leading Schalke 04 by 3:0.
There's not much to say about the match itself; Real Madrid almost continuously maintained possession, controlled the tempo, and suppressed Schalke 04.
So far, Schalke 04 has produced very few threatening attacks. After losing Huntelaar, their efficiency in front of goal has significantly decreased.
Szalai is, after all, not Huntelaar, and his performance hasn't been as brilliant.
Especially under the close marking of Real Madrid's stars, he was simply unable to perform effectively in football, and his space for ball control and shooting was limited.
In contrast, Real Madrid played steadily until Ancelotti made a substitution in the 80th minute.
He substituted Suker and Benzema to prepare for future matches.
This match had no more suspense. Schalke 04's fighting spirit was severely weakened, and they could barely launch any effective counterattacks.
Clap!
Suker high-fived Pato and then walked off the field.
He took the towel handed to him by Ancelotti, casually draped it over his head, and wiped off some sweat.
"Boss, give me some more time in the Champions League," Suker said, looking at Ancelotti. "I'm not asking for goals in the League anymore, but I should at least aim for the Champions League Golden Boot, right?"
Ancelotti nodded; "I substituted you to prepare for the upcoming matches. Don't worry, after the group stage ends, you won't be able to stop playing even if you want to!"
Only then did Suker nod and return to the bench to sit down.
Benzema handed him a bottle of energy drink, and the two leisurely began to watch the match.
The match had lost its suspense. Although Suker and Benzema were off the field, Bale and Pato were still in the attacking line.
It must be said that Bale's recent form has indeed been excellent, and his desire to score is extremely strong.
Perhaps due to being eliminated in the European qualifiers, Bale now seemed very eager to score goals.
Bale is a Wales player, and Wales was drawn in the same group as Croatia and Belgium.
However, based on Wales' overall performance in this European qualifier, even with Bale's extraordinary outburst, it would be very difficult to carry the team into the World Cup.
Even if it were Suker, it would still be a difficult task.
It can be said that current Wales is holding Bale back.
But there's no way around it; this is the sadness of some football stars.
They perform exceptionally well in the League, but always miss major competitions like the World Cup.
It's very difficult for a country that hasn't developed a sufficiently competitive League to nurture young talent, and then occasionally a star emerges, hoping to leverage that star's effectiveness to contend for World Cup spots.
In the last century, when tactical development was not yet complete, there might have been a chance. But now, an extreme tactical approach can directly nullify a so-called star. With a little effort from other positions, the match is won.
Suker drank a cup of energy drink and turned his head, saying, "When do we play Barcelona?"
Since the beginning of the season, after the European Super Cup match against Barcelona, Barcelona has been recovering its combat strength at an alarming speed.
Messi's transformation has been very successful, and he has adapted quickly.
Although Suarez has not yet arrived, Neymar, after adapting to La Liga's match rhythm and team tactics, has gradually showcased his talent. His extremely agile dribbling ability has become Barcelona's vertical breakthrough point.
At the same time, with Messi roaming and linking up, the overall offensive has become even stronger.
"I haven't checked the schedule either," Benzema said, then turned to Ramos and asked, "Captain?"
Ramos: "Before Christmas!"
Suker grinned; "Before Christmas again? This isn't giving the fans a chance to enjoy the holidays."
Every time El Clásico takes place, it is scheduled around Christmas.
In the matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Barcelona has lost so much that they cannot afford to lose anymore. Although they always clamor for revenge, they always end in dismal failure.
Many people say that in recent seasons, Barcelona has developed 'Real Madrid-phobia'.
After all, they haven't won a single match; at most, they've drawn.
Since 2009, when Suker transferred to Real Madrid, this has lasted for four full years and is heading towards the fifth.
During this period, Barcelona hasn't even touched the Champions League, let alone the League Championship.
At most, they've won the Copa del Rey.
But the value of this championship is not high; how could it satisfy Barcelona?
For this, Barcelona has also been constantly looking for problems, hoping to regain their combat power.
Real Madrid itself once fell into the plight of being 'Champions League Round of 16 exits' until Suker's arrival turned everything around.
Barcelona also has the determination to break free from its current predicament and let the team regain its fighting spirit.
But this is not an easy task; at the very least, they need to find new paths within their existing tactical system.
Especially with Xavi gradually aging, the original system can no longer keep up with this squad, and matches naturally don't go as smoothly.
Currently, La Liga is still dominated by Real Madrid.
However, a threat still exists!
But saying it's Barcelona is a bit far-fetched; it's more from another team in Madrid, Atletico Madrid.
Simeone's team, employing a tactical system different from the Spanish style, is wreaking havoc across the entire La Liga.
Anyone who has played against Atletico Madrid understands the intensity of those matches, the confrontations, and the physical demands.
The pace is incredibly fast!
Suker also recalled that match; although Atletico Madrid lost, they still created quite a few threats.
Moreover, Atletico Madrid will gradually move to the next stage.
Currently, their system is centered around Diego Costa, but before long, another great French striker, Griezmann, will emerge.
These guys are all big trouble!
"And so, the entire match concludes. Schalke 04 loses 0:3 to Real Madrid away from home!"
"Although they made some adjustments, they were still unable to shake Real Madrid's defense and score any goals!"
"Real Madrid has won this match, completing a perfect sweep in the first round of the Champions League!"
"In the next match, Real Madrid will travel to the Ruhr area in Germany to challenge Schalke 04 at their home. We hope Schalke 04 uses this time to adjust well."
The German commentator shook his head and sighed.
There was nothing to be done; this problem had been considered before the match. Although there was still some hope, the chances were simply too slim.
Schalke 04 still lost the match, and it was almost a complete defeat!
Even returning to their home, their chances of beating Real Madrid are not very high.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, successfully won the match and were generally very happy.
The players all walked onto the field, raised their hands to applaud, and thanked the fans for their support.
After completing these procedures, they returned to the locker room one by one.
Suker did not accept any interviews. Although the reporters were eager to stop Suker for a chat, Suker had no intention of being interviewed.
In the locker room, after a resounding victory, the players were in high spirits.
Some players even couldn't help but sing while showering.
For example, Bale!
Bale hummed a song, truly overjoyed.
During this period, whether in the League or the Champions League, his performance has been quite outstanding.
"You, my friend, now have a chance to compete for the Champions League Golden Boot."
Varane, who was nearby, said.
Bale paused, then laughed; "It's just the beginning. Besides, Suker will only truly explode in the second half of the season."
Varane turned to look at Bale; "Do you really have no ambition? Believe me, your current form is also very good. Why be a supporting actor for someone else? Isn't it better to be the protagonist yourself? Besides, whether Suker scores or you score, isn't it all the same? Isn't winning enough?"
With that, Varane shrugged; "You don't really want to be someone's sidekick for your entire career, do you?"
This sentence clearly made Bale a bit stunned, and something stirred within him.
The conversation had no follow-up, but Bale's expression was visibly conflicted.
However, the teammates didn't pay too much attention.
That evening, major European newspapers reported on the match, as well as Bale's excellent recent performance.
They even linked Real Madrid's recent achievements to Bale.
"Wales Star Explodes, Real Madrid's Right Wing's Super Offensive Power!"
"Gareth Bale: From the British Isles to Spain, he is gradually heading towards the pinnacle of glory!"
"His talent is enough to make him the most dazzling player, even within the star-studded Real Madrid."
These newspapers mainly promoted Gareth Bale, while some also released news.
"Gareth Bale should get more tactical resources, Suker's form has clearly declined, and his goal-scoring efficiency has plummeted!"
"Real Madrid urgently needs to find the next efficient striker!"
These reports spread like wildfire across Europe.
Regarding Suker's decrease in goals, many fans also debated.
Of course, most of these were fans who didn't pay attention to the games.
Their judgment was based more on the number of goals than on match performance.
For this, Spain's Marca still strongly supported Suker.
"Match performance cannot be fully explained by the number of goals; key dribbles, passes, and pulling actions in a match are all crucial aspects of performance.
You see Suker's declining goal statistics, but you don't see the reduced playing time caused by Suker's constant rotation!"
"You see Suker strolling on the left wing, but you don't see the space he creates and the attention he draws for it."
"Not to mention these, Suker's explosive performance at critical moments is enough to help Real Madrid. Real Madrid should firmly stick to a tactical approach centered on Suker; this is the path they should take."
Marca, as the mouthpiece of Real Madrid, their meaning is likely the meaning of the Real Madrid management.
However, some media outlets still wouldn't let it go.
They discussed issues like Suker giving up tactical resources and Gareth Bale deserving a promotion, and public opinion gradually escalated.
At first, there were no problems, but as public opinion became more extreme, it turned into phrasing like Suker giving way and Gareth Bale taking over.
In response, Gareth Bale's side also immediately went into crisis management.
"Suker is a very excellent player, and he is also a trustworthy teammate. I think the current situation is very good!"
The meaning of this sentence is simply to state his position.
After all, the momentum of this matter is huge, and everyone has to consider whether someone is deliberately stirring up this public opinion.
When Gareth Bale said these words, it was an explanation, but it was meant for Suker to hear.
Of course, Gareth Bale couldn't think at this level; it was mostly the work of his agent behind him.
Even if he really wanted to challenge Suker, now was not the time!
With Suker's current status, anyone who challenges him will fail, and might even be unable to stay at Real Madrid.
Both Gareth Bale and his agent understood this. This time, the media was stirring up trouble, and they couldn't fall for it.
Not only that, Gareth Bale rushed to Suker's house; he didn't want any accidents to happen.
Although he also had ambitions, it wasn't for now!
He clearly knew that challenging Suker now would be like throwing an egg at a rock.
Suker's prestige at Real Madrid, the management's attitude towards Suker, and the fans' expectations of him—all of these combined would crush Gareth Bale several times over. If he stubbornly went against him, he might ultimately be purged.
Knock knock!
Gareth Bale nervously knocked on the door of Suker's villa.
A bodyguard came to open the door, and Gareth Bale walked straight in.
Walking into the yard, he saw Suker and Sukic playing football in the yard.
Suker was wearing sports shorts, shirtless, and barefoot, playing keepie-uppie with Sukic.
As the two kept the ball up, the dog nearby chased back and forth.
"Suker!"
Gareth Bale called out.
Suker turned his head to look at Gareth Bale, then kicked the ball away. The dog immediately barked and happily rushed towards the ball.
Sukic also looked at Suker, who waved his hand, and Sukic ran off to play with the dog.
"Juice?"
Suker looked at Gareth Bale and asked.
Gareth Bale: "I'm not thirsty, I want to talk about something."
Suker grinned: "I know, it's written all over your face, 'I want to talk to you'."
Gareth Bale touched his face: "Is it?"
Suker: "Even when chatting, you need to drink something, right? I'll make you an iced coffee."
Gareth Bale no longer refused and said thank you.
The two sat on lounge chairs by the pool. Suker placed two iced coffees on the table, occasionally taking a sip.
Gareth Bale was trying to find the right words; he was clumsy with words and didn't know what to say.
Suker looked at him struggling and couldn't help but laugh: "Didn't you already make a public statement? Why are you still looking for me?"
Gareth Bale looked up: "You saw it?"
Suker: "I didn't notice, but the club management told me."
Gareth Bale's cold sweat immediately poured down.
Suker didn't notice, but the club management was paying attention instead.
This meant that the management was very concerned about this matter. If it wasn't handled well, or if he really acted foolishly and tried to challenge Suker, he might really be in trouble.
"I don't have any other thoughts, I just want to say—"
As Gareth Bale started to speak, Suker waved his hand to interrupt.
"League golden boot award, Champions League Golden Boot, Ballon d'Or, don't you want to compete for these individual honors?"
Suker looked directly at Gareth Bale.
Gareth Bale pursed his lips. He wanted to say 'no', but the word wouldn't come out.
As a professional player, he not only pursued team honors but also individual honors.
"You've already come to Real Madrid, don't you have any thoughts about these?"
"I… I…"
Gareth Bale was struggling, his whole face turning red, truly resembling a monkey's face at this moment.
Hahahahahahaha~~~~!!
Suker couldn't help but burst out laughing, waving his hand and saying, "Forget it! Forget it! I understand."
Suker couldn't help but shake his head and laugh: "You really can't say a single lie, can you?"
Gareth Bale was silent again.
"However…" Suker shrugged, "If you said 'no', I really wouldn't believe it. From Tottenham to Real Madrid, now gradually making a name for yourself, putting in excellent performances, and continuously scoring goals, if you really said you didn't want it, I couldn't possibly believe it."
"People like us, from our youth training days, have been instilled with a strong desire to win and lose, plus the unique 'selfishness' of a forward, your bowing down is only temporary." At this point, Suker grinned: "I once played second fiddle to Shevchenko too; there was no other way, I just waited for an opportunity to stand out, and you are the same! You are also just waiting for an opportunity!"
Gareth Bale still couldn't utter the word 'no'.
Suker was right.
Not having ambition was false.
Not wanting individual honors was even more false!
If he didn't want any of these, he wouldn't have come to Real Madrid.
At this point, Suker changed his tone:
"If you want to compete for the golden boot award, then go for it. If you want to compete for the Ballon d'Or, you can too. There's no problem with that."
Suker said seriously, "Gareth Bale, you can do whatever you want. That's your freedom, and it's all based on fair competition. We are teammates, but we also have a competitive relationship. I don't think that's a bad thing."
"If you are confident in scoring, then shoot. It's okay to make mistakes, but you must ensure the victory of the game. That's the foundation!"
"I won't force you to make any compromises. Everything I have now I fought for, and it wasn't easy. But precisely because I came through that, I won't hinder you!"
"I'm right here. You can challenge me. Everything I have, you can take, as long as you have the ability."
"Top scorer, Ballon d'Or, golden boot award—they are all there. If you don't compete, others will."
Suker stood up and patted Gareth Bale's shoulder: "Cast aside those worries, do what you want to do. Don't worry too much about me. If one day you truly succeed, you'll find that it's not a particularly pleasant thing."
Gareth Bale looked up blankly: "Why?"
He thought everything Suker possessed was so enviable, why wouldn't it be pleasant?
In response, Suker shook his head and said, "You can imagine, with so many players in Europe and even the world, everyone is staring at you. They can't wait to drag you down and stomp you to pieces!"
"There is only one throne, but the challengers are endless!"
"Fans will stare at you; they will place the greatest expectations on your shoulders. Whenever you encounter difficulties, they will stare at you, their eyes seemingly speaking, 'Goal! Goal! Goal!' Everything I have also comes with corresponding responsibilities! This heavy burden is enough to crush many people!"
"If you are ready, you can try!" Suker said seriously, "But never bow your head!"