"But I'm sorry, I'll always stand by my opinion. Su Hang isn't an outstanding player, nor is he the team-oriented player everyone believes him to be."
"His individual ability isn't remarkable. The only reason he's achieved what he has is because his superstar teammates have taken the pressure off him."
"He's a glory-stealer. That's why the moment defenders lock onto him, he produces nothing."
"Against Barcelona, the threats from players like Ronaldo were so great that Barça had no choice but to focus entirely on them. That's the only reason Su Hang managed to poach goals."
"Take his last goal, for example. He should've passed to Ronaldo long before. Ronaldo could have finished it easily, but Su Hang almost ruined it."
"Especially after he went past Van Bronckhorst—passing to Ronaldo was a zero-risk scoring option. Shooting himself carried the risk of being saved."
"A truly unselfish player would have passed. But he chose to shoot."
"I know, scoring can't be a crime. But… Su Hang has already started showing his true colors. His mask won't last. You'll see. He'll only grow bolder—draining this team dry!"
Luxemburgo had long accepted that his stint at Real Madrid was bound to end in failure.
No matter the results, history would mark this as the downfall of his coaching career.
So he had no reason to spare Su Hang's pride.
There were things Luxemburgo saw more clearly than outsiders.
When he still had hope, he avoided tearing things apart.
But now that hope was gone, he was ready to flip the table.
It would be a fight to the death between him and Su Hang.
Either Luxemburgo fell—or Su Hang survived.
Su Hang: Done deal.
A head coach's words about his own players carry weight.
Very quickly, countless journalists sought Su Hang out, eager to hear his defense.
Su Hang responded by repeating his conversation with Puyol:
"Of course I knew passing to Ronaldo was the safer choice."
"But that doesn't mean it guaranteed a goal."
"I knew Puyol was behind me. I believed he had a real chance of cutting off my pass."
"And once the ball leaves my feet, what happens next is out of my control."
"If Puyol had intercepted my pass, both Ronaldo and I would share the blame."
"If Puyol hadn't intercepted it, does that mean Ronaldo would have scored 100% of the time?"
"I don't think so."
"Even with an open net, even for the best striker in the world, every shot can go in—or not. That's reality."
"And in that moment, we had one final chance to finish off Barcelona."
"Most people only think about the glory if we scored—that we'd be heroes for Real Madrid. But what if we missed? How much criticism would the shooter face? How much ridicule?"
"The Camp Nou would erupt in jeers. The entire world would condemn the one who failed."
"Don't tell me that's impossible. Look at me now. I scored that goal, yet so many still doubt me, mock me, hate me."
"If that's the reaction to scoring, I don't even dare imagine what missing would've meant."
"I know Ronaldo became the best striker in the world by enduring countless moments like this—waves of praise and doubt alike."
"His heart is already like stone."
"But… as Real Madrid's captain, as this team's leader, I will never allow any of my teammates to be left exposed!"
"As long as I'm here, as long as I can, I'll take the blows for them."
"If there's controversy, I'll take it!"
"If there's risk, I'll take it!"
"If there's a choice that demands responsibility, I'll make it!"
"If there are bad consequences, I'll bear them!"
"In short, what my teammates dare to do, they'll do. What they don't dare to do—I still will!"
"Act first, explain later—captain's privilege. That's how it is."
"In short, I'm no saint, no great man. I'm just an ordinary player. But the armband on my shoulder—the title of Real Madrid's 20th captain—means I must act this way."
"If one day, Real Madrid wins a penalty, a free kick, a single chance—if scoring means we win everything, but missing means we plunge into hell…"
"Then even if I'm not the designated taker, that penalty must be mine."
"If we win everything, it belongs to all Real Madrid players."
"If we fall into hell, that's because I failed as captain."
"This… this is what the armband tells me—the duty of the Real Madrid captain!"
...
The media were stunned.
Everyone who saw the interview froze.
Without exception, they felt something hit them straight in the heart.
Responsibility.
Duty.
It was this that gave the title of "Real Madrid captain" such profound meaning.
Captains before hadn't been held to such a standard.
But now everyone understood—this would be the measure from here on out.
You might not enjoy every honor.
But you would bear every consequence.
All across European football, Su Hang's words spread like wildfire.
Gazzetta dello Sport: "Su Hang's interpretation of the captaincy is breathtaking! He doesn't wear just a captain's armband—he wears a hero's badge! He evokes DC's Superman and Marvel's Captain America!"
Tuttosport: "Su Hang must be an idealist, and Real Madrid has the world's most idealistic fans! He was destined to become Real Madrid captain!"
Sky Sports: "Su Hang possesses the responsibility and conviction rarely seen in football today! His spirit—'I must step up, I will succeed, I dare to act'—is what transforms a strong team into champions!"
Kicker: "Compared to Su Hang's nobility, Luxemburgo looks petty, not like a true manager. His understanding of Su Hang is shallow and one-sided. Beyond prejudice, we can't think of another explanation."
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard: "Su Hang's conviction has inspired me. He's shown me a clearer direction as captain."
Chelsea captain John Terry: "Su and I are the same kind of person. We've faced each other—his conviction is like steel. He's the most responsible player I've ever seen."
Arsenal captain Thierry Henry: "When Vieira left, the captain's armband fell on my arm. I was still learning how to lead, but Su Hang's words gave me new perspective. I don't know if he'll become a great player, but I believe he will become a great captain."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser