"Well…" Su Hang addressed the group. "Considering my age, I'm still the junior here wherever I go. So if anyone needs anything, just let me know—I'll report it to the head coach and fight for it right away."
"Everyone standing here is among the best players in Spain. On the pitch, during matches, there's nothing special I need to do. I believe that as long as we follow Mr. Aragonés' tactical plan, we'll achieve the result we want at this World Cup."
"However, when it comes to discipline, I might have to play the bad guy."
"During our trip to Germany, I'll be in charge of maintaining team order. If I end up offending anyone over this, I'll throw a banquet after the World Cup to make up for it. But during the tournament, I hope no one makes my job harder than it has to be."
Aragonés then announced the disciplinary regulations for Spain's World Cup squad.
One rule made quite a few players uncomfortable—strict adherence to the schedule, and absolutely no sharing rooms with members of the opposite sex.
It was the famous "No-Sex Rule" of football!
Years later, in 2010, England's national team would enforce a similar ban in hopes of improving their performance, even installing cameras in players' rooms, sparking heated debate.
The training camp was then dismissed. Aragonés gave the players half a day to pack their things and prepare to leave for Germany.
Before long, news from the camp spread quickly.
The biggest headline was that Su Hang had been named captain of the Spanish national team.
São Paulo Night Post: "Spain's Golden Boy Raúl steps down—Su Hang becomes the new captain of Spain!"
La Corneta: "While Real Madrid's academy product Su Hang captains Spain, we're still debating whether Barcelona's crown prince Messi should even start for Argentina! Our problem isn't players—it's the system!"
Pyramid News: "Three consecutive dual captains for Spain and Real Madrid—what makes Su Hang worthy of standing beside Hierro and Raúl?"
Sports Illustrated: "Siu! Real Madrid's rising star soars to superstardom, wearing two captain's armbands as he takes the helm of the Invincible Fleet!"
"Su Hang Shines! Not even twenty and already Spain's youngest-ever captain—an inspiration for the new generation!"
Asahi Shimbun: "Who is he? He's Su Hang! The youngest top-tier footballer in history—the Empire's fierce tiger!"
Sky Sports: "After the Galácticos, Su Hang leads the Invincible Fleet on a new voyage! Manchester United's pursuit grows harder—Calderón won't risk losing Spain's leader!"
Bild: "Bayern's chase for Su Hang may end in failure! Real Madrid will never let the captain of Spain slip away!"
Sport: "Unfair! How can young Su Hang break tradition again to become captain? Real Madrid has monopolized Spain's captaincy for too long—dictatorial and absolute!"
Marca: "If Catalonia stops stirring up trouble, we'll let you have the Spain captaincy."
The position of Spain's captain was suddenly at the center of public debate.
Before Su Hang even reached home, he was surrounded by reporters and had no choice but to give an interview.
"Su Hang," one reporter asked, "according to national team tradition, you weren't eligible to be captain. Why were you chosen?"
Su Hang replied calmly, "That depends on how you define a captain. If you see the captain as a person of power, then sure, there are requirements. But if we see the captain as someone who serves the team, then maybe people simply saw my ability to serve."
"Your personal sports team provided free assistance to the national team," another reporter asked. "Was that why you were chosen as captain?"
"Whether or not I'm captain, my team will always provide free support," Su Hang said. "I heard from Mr. Aragonés that Puyol's endorsement played a decisive role in my selection. That completely changed my view of the Barcelona players."
"For the sake of our results, I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with them during the World Cup, doing everything I can for the team's success."
"What about your jersey number?" another reporter asked. "Will you be taking number 9?"
That question was sharp.
The number 9 jersey traditionally belongs to the main striker—the one expected to start.
In other words, whoever wears number 9 is seen as the team's first-choice forward.
If Su Hang claimed that jersey, his words about serving others would lose credibility.
Su Hang smiled lightly. "Number 9 is a number many forwards love, but I'm not attached to it."
"Really?" the reporter pressed. "Then who's getting number 9? You're not pretending to pass it around just to take it in the end, are you?"
"I already requested number 23 from Mr. Aragonés back during training camp," Su Hang answered. "That will be my jersey during the World Cup."
"But that's a substitute number!"
"That's exactly the point," Su Hang said. "Every player selected for the national team is outstanding. We all share the same goal—to help Spain go further in this tournament."
"I don't believe any player is above another. Everyone's contribution deserves to be remembered."
"If people think number 23 is the worst jersey, then I'll wear it. That way, no one else has to feel like they got the worst."
"I hope—and I truly believe—that every player on this team can be the best, capable of changing the game when it matters most."
That interview dominated headlines that night.
Inside the Spanish camp, many players with substitute numbers were genuinely moved by Su Hang's words—especially Torres, who had just learned from Aragonés that he'd been given the number 9 jersey because Su Hang hadn't contested for it.
Players like Villa, Ibáñez, Alonso, Ramos, Iniesta, Senna, and Reina—those without the main numbers—were inspired as well.
Of course, not everyone agreed with Su Hang's approach.
Prodigies like Fàbregas and Joaquín still fought for the best numbers to prove themselves.
That wasn't wrong either.
There are many paths—and any path that leads forward is a good one.
The only mistake is turning back halfway.
...
In June, Spain's national team landed in Leipzig, Germany.
They had two warm-up matches scheduled. In the second, Su Hang came on as a substitute in the 70th minute but failed to score.
It looked like Su Hang, much like his jersey number, really was a substitute.
People were puzzled.
As more became clear, everyone realized that Su Hang's appointment as captain was strongly backed by Aragonés.
Yet in matches, Aragonés seemed to be sidelining him.
Aragonés—what a strategist.
Publicly, he lifted Su Hang to the highest pedestal… yet in practice, he'd quietly put him on the shelf.