But now... he had a chance to surprise everyone.
Is Su Hang the "Ball-Saving Queen" or what!
This would give Real Madrid's frontline more variety.
In fact, Robinho was brought in precisely for this purpose.
When top-tier teams clash, breaking through with one-on-one dribbling is nearly impossible.
Relying solely on playmakers to create chances is just as difficult.
Most opportunities are carved out through movement.
A pass that doesn't look dangerous sparks a sprinting duel—whoever wins it gets the chance to create something greater.
Only through these indirect plays can goals be created.
If an elite team concedes from a straightforward chance, it's considered a mistake.
...
"5-1! Real Madrid Claim Another Madrid Derby Victory!"
"The Strongest Captain Belongs to Real Madrid! Su Hang's Hat Trick and Assist Conquer the Calderón!"
"Breaking into La Liga's Top Five! Su Hang Just Three Goals Shy of Last Season's Total!"
"The Soul of a Striker Cannot Be Contained! From Now On, Any Talk of La Liga's Top Strikers Must Include Su Hang!"
"Real Madrid's Top Scorer! Su Hang Leads with Seven Goals and Two Assists, Outpacing Superstars Like Ronaldo, Raúl, and Zidane!"
"Firm in Third, Eyeing First! Real Madrid Make It Five Straight, Keeping Up Their Charge at the La Liga Summit!"
For the moment, Real Madrid were riding high.
Everything was falling into place.
With Ronaldo's return set to strengthen the attack, the Galácticos looked ready to break through the atmosphere!
October 19th, Champions League Group Stage, Matchday 3.
Real Madrid hosted Rosenborg at the Bernabéu.
2-0!
Another win—six in a row across all competitions, momentum surging.
Figo and Raúl both scored.
Zidane provided an assist.
But in the 72nd minute, Zidane limped off injured, casting a shadow over the Bernabéu.
Zidane wasn't like Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was four years younger than Zidane and Figo, just 29 at the time.
In recent years he'd been only 26 or 27.
For him, recovering to normal form after an injury wasn't difficult—he might even return to his peak.
But for older players, injuries usually send their form crashing down.
Don't be fooled by Zidane still being among the world's top midfielders—after this injury, he might only be at Guti's level.
Guti: ???
This also tied into the FIFA virus.
Zidane's double-duty schedule had been exhausting.
As the saying goes, misfortune never comes alone.
Midweek, Clara—the glamorous Marca journalist now hailed as Spain's most beautiful reporter—invited Su Hang to dinner and conducted an exclusive interview.
She focused on the recent internal conflicts at Real Madrid.
During the turmoil, none of this could be discussed.
But now that the dust had settled, it had become part of the club's lore.
And with Clara showing up in her black silk "battle outfit," the interview stretched all night.
The next day in training, Su Hang realized he'd caught a cold.
"I told Clara to pick an Orc, but no, she had to go with a Tauren. We didn't clear a single dungeon all night. Unbelievable..." Su Hang grumbled on the sidelines.
He and Clara had spent the entire night playing World of Warcraft.
They'd agreed to log off after finishing one dungeon and get some rest—but they never managed to complete even one.
He couldn't understand why Clara dressed so extravagantly just to play a game.
Did black stockings come with a magic buff?
Did that pouch on her thigh restore HP and MP?
Did that choker on her neck boost attack speed?
And clearly, Clara was fiercely competitive.
She didn't smile once the whole night.
It had to be because they failed the dungeon!
That had to be it!
Clara, on the other hand, declared she couldn't possibly stay friends with such an idiot.
"I dressed up like this, I told you I'd do anything with you.
And you make me spend the whole night playing World of Warcraft?
You damn single bastard!
You're a disgrace to football players!
Look at other stars, especially the English ones! At your age, even if they weren't as famous as you, they already had membership cards to every nightclub around!
You loser!"
Clara's tirade left Su Hang speechless.
Even a Wednesday night in black silk couldn't land her a rich, handsome guy.
So what should she wear next time?
Christmas outfit?
Nurse uniform?
Secretary look?
Schoolgirl attire?
Maybe a referee's kit—that'd tie right into Su Hang's profession!
...
As they say, troubles never come singly.
After Zidane's injury and Su Hang's cold, Real Madrid suffered another blow.
During training, Figo—drained from two matches in one week—showed clear signs of fatigue and a drop in performance.
After consulting with the medical staff, he and Luxemburgo agreed he would be rested for the next game.
So, on October 23rd, La Liga Round 8, Real Madrid's starting lineup saw major changes.
Several members of the South American clique—Baptista, Cicinho, and Diogo—earned starting spots.
But Real Madrid squandered their chance to climb to first place, falling 1-2 at the Bernabéu to visiting Valencia.
Sergio Ramos scored Madrid's only goal from a corner.
Baptista's lack of playmaking ability was painfully exposed in this match.
October 26th, La Liga Round 9.
Su Hang had recovered from his cold.
Ronaldo and Robinho, both returning from injuries, were also back in the squad.
Given Raúl's recent strong form, Luxemburgo once again put Su Hang and Figo on the bench.
Truthfully, Su Hang's bench role wasn't controversial.
But leaving Figo there after he'd recovered was questionable.
What Real Madrid lacked most was a creative playmaker up front.
And neither Baptista, Robinho, nor Cicinho fit that role.
Luxemburgo's lineup was a gamble.
He wanted to prove once again that the Brazilian clique could deliver victories for Real Madrid.
By doing so, he could reassert control over the squad, suppressing both Su Hang's Spanish-led local clique and the international superstars.
But unfortunately...
Even with Robinho providing an assist for Ronaldo,
Real Madrid still lost 1-3 to Deportivo La Coruña.
And in the 61st minute, Ronaldo—just back from injury—broke down yet again.
After the match, Ronaldo's bewildered, despairing face as he limped off became front-page news everywhere.
The Alien was plagued by constant injuries.
Considering his record since joining Real Madrid, calling him a glass man wasn't unfair.
No one doubted Ronaldo's greatness.
But like a phone that takes hours to charge but dies after five minutes, he was no longer fit to be the main device.
Real Madrid needed a healthy, reliable starter up front.
And that man was without doubt Su Hang, waiting on the bench!