At his age, changing one's mindset is nearly impossible.
The highlight of the match came in the 72nd minute.
Su Hang won a penalty inside the box and confidently converted it himself.
That sealed Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over visiting Getafe, securing three crucial points.
With this goal, Su Hang's tally rose to eleven—breaking his own single-season scoring record!
From here on, every match would be about pushing his limits further.
December 5th, Champions League Group Stage, Matchday 6.
Real Madrid faced Olympiacos.
The two sides had met before, with Rivaldo proving he still had plenty left in the tank.
But that time, Real Madrid's trio—Zidane, Figo, and Su Hang—overwhelmed their opponents and claimed victory.
This time, however, there was no suspense.
Luxemburgo finished fourth in the group, eliminated.
Olympiacos placed third, earning a spot in the UEFA Cup.
Lyon and Real Madrid advanced to the Round of 16.
Real Madrid sat second in the group.
But if Lyon lost and Madrid won, they could snatch first place at the last moment.
And finishing first or second makes a world of difference—
group winners avoid facing other group winners.
So Real Madrid entered the Olympiacos match determined to win.
But for Luxemburgo, this was his final gamble.
In his starting lineup, he left out both Zidane, just back from injury, and Figo, who had already returned some time ago.
Su Hang, Raúl
Robinho, Baptista, Beckham
García
Roberto Carlos, Woodgate, Sergio Ramos, Cicinho
Casillas
=
The lineup was heavy with Latin American influence.
Luxemburgo clearly wanted to pull off a grand comeback with his own men.
If Madrid won and Lyon slipped, they would top the group—
and Luxemburgo believed that would earn him at least another half-season.
But Rivaldo, his fellow Brazilian, handed him a harsh lesson.
2-1!
Rivaldo delivered the decisive assist, helping Olympiacos snatch victory.
Elsewhere, Lyon stumbled to a surprise draw against Rosenborg.
But Madrid squandered their chance and remained second.
Their Champions League knockout journey would now be anything but easy.
After the match, fans and media alike tore into Luxemburgo's decisions.
Bild: "Luxemburgo's mentality has collapsed. To prove himself, he benched two world-class players—Ballon d'Or third and fifth place finishers!"
Kicker: "Robinho's performance was disastrous, while Zidane on the left remains Madrid's attacking engine! The young dribbler still needs time to grow; he's not ready to carry such responsibility."
Tuttosport: "Baptista played decently, but he can't create chances like Figo. Most of the time he just jumped like a second striker to meet Beckham's crosses!"
AS: "Real Madrid needs its glittering superstars on the pitch! They are the true strength of this club!"
Marca: "To prove Su Hang wrong, Luxemburgo threw away Madrid's chance to climb to the top. Too selfish! He no longer deserves the job!"
Clara's Column didn't hold back:
"Perhaps after watching Su shine under the spotlight at the Ballon d'Or, Luxemburgo craved that same glory."
"But not everyone has the power to defy fate!"
"Su became captain not because his ideas were crazy, but because he turned the impossible into reality."
"Luxemburgo imitated Su Hang's all-or-nothing gamble but lacked his ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!"
And so, Real Madrid delivered a dismissal letter.
Luxemburgo was gone—
the Brazilian coach left in disgrace.
The South American clique within Madrid took a heavy blow.
When Roberto Carlos heard the news, he seemed to age ten years in an instant.
He knew then that his dream of leadership was over.
Real Madrid would never be his.
Meanwhile, while many praised the decision, speculation turned to the next head coach.
"Clearly, Real Madrid needs a proven manager with major success."
"Yes, someone with results in the big five leagues, especially Serie A or the Champions League."
"Only a true maestro can unify Madrid's superstars."
"Coaches like Queiroz, with potential but no established record, don't fit."
"And success outside mainstream European football—like Luxemburgo's—means little. The gap is just too wide."
Names were floated:
Italy boss Lippi.
Juventus' Capello.
AC Milan's Ancelotti.
Even the unemployed Ranieri.
But all were complicated—
after all, it was mid-season.
What puzzled the public even more was that Real Madrid's management didn't seem eager to pursue any of them.
But Su Hang understood.
Florentino was already overwhelmed—he had no time for such details.
And besides... under his agreement with Florentino,
after Luxemburgo, the coach would be chosen by Su Hang—
so long as he could back it up with results.
Soon, Real Madrid made it official.
Real Madrid: "Simon returns as head coach. He previously served as interim manager, guiding the team on a winning run.
We trust Simon's ability and believe he can take the team further this season."
!!!
Simon!
Of all people, Simon!
Not interim—official head coach!
A full contract from Real Madrid!
When Simon got the news, he hugged Su Hang and cried endlessly.
Su God never lied to me!
This day has finally come!
An unknown nobody, now commander of the Galácticos.
What more could I ask for!
But outside opinions were grim.
"If Queiroz and Luxemburgo couldn't handle it, Simon won't stand a chance."
"Compared to them, Simon hasn't won anything at all."
"The Galácticos still lack a true commander. It looks like they've already written off this season."
"People praise his brief interim run, but that was only short-term success. It was more about the players' form than Simon's coaching."
"Simon has no ability to adapt once opponents target him."