So when the veteran coach Aragones voiced his support, Simon was actually a little unhappy.
Simon: So after you and Su Hang lay down and won the World Cup, you don't feel like working hard anymore, huh?
Aragones: I'll be seventy next year. Wanting to take it easy for a bit isn't too much, is it?
Simon: Don't say that. The retirement age keeps getting pushed back—you can still push yourself a little more.
Aragones: Then why are you, so young, already lying back and collecting trophies?
Simon: Because I don't have the ability!
Aragones: …
...
With Simon's appointment, the chaos inside Real Madrid gradually eased.
After all, this was a championship-winning coach.
More importantly, Simon was extremely firm in his personnel decisions. No matter how much you complained, it was useless—if he said you weren't playing, you weren't playing.
It was rumored that Real Madrid had promised Simon that no matter how the team performed for the rest of the season, he would not be sacked.
To put it bluntly, bringing Simon back was about using his reputation and past achievements to shut up the fans.
As for results, everyone understood the reality.
For Real Madrid, this season was already over.
No matter who took charge, the outcome would be the same.
April 21st, La Liga Round 31.
The new head coach Simon fielded a standard lineup and decisively removed young players such as Modrić, Higuaín, and Marcelo from the matchday squad.
Modrić was even sent to the reserve team for individual training.
Under this clear-cut system of rewards and punishments, team morale improved somewhat.
Real Madrid scraped out a hard-fought 2–1 win over fourth-placed Valencia.
They successfully prevented Valencia from upsetting the established order.
April 24th, the first leg of the Champions League semifinals kicked off.
Liverpool defeated AC Milan 2–1 at home, putting one foot into the Champions League final.
April 25th, the second semifinal took place.
Real Madrid flew to Manchester to challenge Manchester United.
Facing a powerful United side, Simon kept a low profile and said cautiously, "This will be a very difficult match for us. We won't think too much about the result, because the outlook isn't optimistic."
"All we hope is to give everything we have."
Manchester United manager Ferguson was equally polite in response: "Simon is being too modest. Although this Real Madrid side has suffered major setbacks, there are clear signs of improvement since Simon arrived."
"We will absolutely not underestimate the influence of a treble-winning coach."
"No one understands the strength of a treble-winning coach better than I do."
Indeed, before Simon, the previous treble-winning coach was none other than Ferguson himself.
As the Real Madrid players arrived, Manchester United fans reacted especially strongly to the match.
Because Beckham was "back."
Although his departure back then wasn't pleasant, many years had passed, and Cristiano Ronaldo had long since taken up the mantle at United.
Red Devils fans had gradually come to terms with Beckham's exit. Now, instead, they felt nostalgic for those golden years and gave Beckham a warm reception.
The Manchester Evening News even stated that if Beckham wanted to return to Manchester United after this season to wind down his career—playing for a year or two before retiring at Old Trafford—the club would welcome him.
Whether it was manager Ferguson or the fans, everyone supported Beckham returning home.
This news made the MLS extremely nervous.
Ninety minutes later, Old Trafford erupted in celebration.
3–2!
Manchester United defeated Real Madrid at home.
It was far from an easy win.
But precisely because of that, the celebration was so intense.
In this match, Zinedine Zidane grew more cunning with age, rising to head in a cross from Beckham.
Although the "Seven-Speed" duo no longer included Su Hang, the connection between Zidane and Beckham was still electric.
But soon after, Cristiano Ronaldo blasted in a world-class strike to equalize.
In the second half, Zidane earned a free kick at the edge of the penalty arc. Beckham's trademark banana free kick reappeared at Old Trafford, bending straight into the net.
However, Beckham's successor, Cristiano Ronaldo, struck again just five minutes later to level the score, completing his brace.
In the final moments of the match, Ronaldo leapt high and powered home a header, completing his hat-trick and delivering the decisive blow to Real Madrid.
At that moment, the protagonist of the new era after the twilight of the gods had clearly emerged.
Ronaldo completed his battle of succession, defeating Zidane and Beckham—two kings of the old era—almost single-handedly.
The next day, all of England went crazy.
Sky Sports: "Ronaldo's hat-trick conquers Real Madrid! Premier League teams meet in the Champions League final! The Premier League is becoming the world's number one league!"
BBC: "A new generation rises! Su Hang has just fallen, but another dazzling superstar has already arrived! His name is Cristiano Ronaldo!"
Manchester Evening News: "Although his goal tally still lags far behind Su Hang, Ronaldo's crucial goals are not much fewer! He is the player most likely to become the world's best forward after Su Hang!"
Echo: "Compared to the Catalan media's wild hype, Ronaldo is clearly Su Hang's true rival! It's just a pity… Su Hang fell too quickly!"
The Times: "Manchester United don't need to sign Su Hang, because they've always had their own 'Su Hang'!"
London Metropolitan: "Cristiano Ronaldo: 'I have a good relationship with Su Hang, and I don't want to be compared with him at this stage. He's going through the hardest period of his life, and I hope everyone gives him more encouragement.'"
The Premier League was on the rise!
...
April 29th, La Liga Round 32.
Real Madrid defeated sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao 1–0.
No one could have imagined that under such circumstances, Real Madrid would keep overcoming strong opponents and producing impressive results.
Simon's ability as a manager was widely acknowledged.
However, after the match, some media outlets claimed Simon was simply messing around and only strong at home.
The reason was that Simon had not rested his starters ahead of the Champions League match two days later.
This was seen as a clear signal that he was giving up on Europe and focusing on domestic competition.
After the match, reporters cornered Simon with sharp questions.
Reporter: "With the Champions League coming up, why didn't Real Madrid rotate the squad?"
Simon: "If we had rotated, do you think we could have beaten Manchester United?"
Reporter: "No."
Simon: "That's one of the reasons we didn't rotate. We're focusing on the match right in front of us."
Reporter: "But you didn't even dare to try! Instead, you dominate domestically—this behavior is really disgraceful!"
Simon: "Is reaching the Champions League semifinals disgraceful? That tone of yours—are you from Mundo Deportivo?"
Reporter: "No. I'm from Sport."
Simon: "Oh! What's the difference? Here, I'll even help you come up with a headline: 'Real Madrid humiliated in the Champions League semifinals, while Barcelona shine as perennial Round-of-16 kings!'"
Reporter: "Show some respect! By the way, there were reports that Su Hang would retire in early May. What's the situation now? Why hasn't there been any official confirmation?"
Simon: "I suggest Catalan media read fewer unserious papers like The Sun. Su Hang will not hold a retirement ceremony—at least not right now."
Reporter: "What's wrong? Is Su Hang unable to accept reality? Does he still cling to illusions about playing?"
Simon rolled up his sleeves. "No—I'm worried you won't be able to accept reality."
Before the Sport reporter could continue his mockery, Simon swung a punch.
"Insult me all you want, but insult Su Hang and you're asking for trouble… I'll beat you to death…"
He wasn't Capello!