October 27th.
A fierce internal conflict erupted within Real Madrid.
The cause was Luxemburgo's refusal to adjust the lineup despite the team's losses.
He continued training primarily with players from the South American clique—Baptista, Robinho, Cicinho, Diogo, and others.
This sparked Su Hang's dissatisfaction.
Of course, Su Hang was still training with the first team.
But he believed several reserve players deserved promotion to the starting squad.
Luxemburgo exploded in rage:
"You have no right to question my decisions! I am the head coach of this team! I am!"
Su Hang shot back:
"Yes, your decisions. That's why the team went from six straight wins to two straight defeats! And Ronaldo got injured again!"
"My team already warned you before the last match—not to rush Ronaldo back. His injury wasn't fully healed."
"But you didn't listen."
"You've harmed Ronaldo, and you've harmed Real Madrid."
"I don't care what your reasoning was. Figo must return to the starting lineup. Even if you drop me instead, that's fine."
"This may sound offensive to others, but aside from Zidane, Figo is the only player on this team capable of organizing and initiating attacks up front!"
Luxemburgo's voice trembled with fury:
"Yes! You know! You know better than me! So why aren't you the assistant coach? The club should pay you double!"
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
Su Hang pointed to the captain's armband on his sleeve.
"I'm nobody special. But I am the captain of Real Madrid! And I have every right to make suggestions for the team's development."
"Since we're on this topic, let me ask you—what exactly is your basis for deciding the starting lineup?"
"Why are Diogo, Cicinho, Robinho, and Baptista starting?"
"The first team they led played evenly against the reserves led by Figo, Raúl, Guti, and Helguera. So why are all of them benched except Raúl?"
"And even Raúl often gets subbed off mid-game by you."
"Do you think you're playing some kind of management simulation?"
"Real Madrid is the most demanding club in the world. No one here gets the luxury of growing slowly. Perform and you play. Fail and you leave. That is Real Madrid today!"
Luxemburgo snarled:
"So it's up to you? If you say yes, it's yes? If you say no, it's no? You're a damn tyrant!"
Su Hang snapped back:
And you? What are you? A tool? A blob of clay?
The two traded curses. If not for the Brazilian players restraining Luxemburgo, he would have charged at Su Hang.
Then Su Hang would be kneeling on the turf, begging him not to die!
This clash made headlines across major media outlets.
The impact was disastrous.
That very night, Luxemburgo published a lengthy open letter accusing Su Hang of tyrannical behavior within the team:
"Don't be fooled by his recent captaincy—he's already started abusing his privileges. He has his own entourage, and his demands are even more extravagant than Ronaldo's!"
"He never respects the team's training schedule. His diet, rest, and testing—none of it follows the club's requirements!"
"He lacks basic respect for teammates. He forms cliques within the squad. He discriminates against Black players and South Americans!"
"He constantly ignores tactics. He thinks the pitch belongs solely to him. He believes Real Madrid's victories are all his doing!"
The post went on and on, every point an accusation against Su Hang.
Such a player, it claimed, was vile, ugly, and absolutely unforgivable.
But almost at the same time, Su Hang also released a lengthy statement.
It wasn't an attack on Luxemburgo.
Instead, it was a paper proposing reforms to Real Madrid's training and evaluation systems.
He outlined the training models used by Europe's major clubs and explained how starting lineups should be determined.
He pointed out that Real Madrid currently suffered from severe favoritism in lineup selections.
Su Hang denied the readiness of players like Robinho, Cicinho, and Diogo.
At the same time, he praised Baptista's ability and his attitude in training and matches.
But he emphasized that only scientific evaluation standards could guarantee Real Madrid's performance, maximize their chances of winning, and pursue further honors.
Finally, Su Hang proposed what he saw as a more reasonable plan for selecting the starting eleven:
"The current Real Madrid squad is actually well-balanced. We have many superstars—some of the best in the world—still standing at the pinnacle of the sport."
"But their age is undeniable. At this stage, we should not abandon them. Only a fool would discard these stars who are still core players for their national teams."
"Their level of play is not in question. But they need sufficient rest."
"Younger players need extensive training to unlock their potential and build chemistry. But scheduling heavy training loads during non-match periods for that purpose is unfair to thirty-year-old superstars."
"It's pointless attrition."
"Therefore, Real Madrid's training should emphasize possession-based drills that build chemistry. For example, rondos or small-sided passing games."
"Not full-contact scrimmages or high-intensity sessions that carry a high risk of injury."
If Luxemburgo's article made people despise Su Hang,
then Su Hang's paper showed a captain doing everything he could to improve the team.
The difference in perspective between the two was worlds apart.
After reading Su Hang's article, Luxemburgo must have wished he could delete his own.
How sinister!
This Su Hang was utterly devious!
He provoked me, then turned around and published this!
The more Luxemburgo smeared him, the more it revealed his own pettiness and Su Hang's magnanimity.
By this point, whether Su Hang was a "ball hog" no longer mattered.
He had already secured the moral high ground.
He had crafted the image of a saint, concerned only with the team's interests.
It was an invincible aura.
Sure enough, the very next day, Su Hang's proposal for Real Madrid spread across the media.
AS: "Su Hang's suggestion is grounded in Real Madrid's actual situation and highly feasible. The Galácticos and stars like Zidane are two sides of the same coin. Without these stars, Real Madrid ceases to be the Galácticos!"
Sport: "We must admit Su Hang's proposal hits the nail on the head. It's the best way to keep the Galácticos afloat. Otherwise, Real Madrid will face years of turmoil, just as Barcelona once did."
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
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