Kapitel 145: Chapter 145 Messi And Ronaldo Panicked! Why Are Chinese People So Dumb?
The Bernabéu had just witnessed Real Madrid's victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
In this battle for the top spot in the group, Real Madrid's extensive Champions League experience saw them through, leaving Paris and their star, Mbappe, in despair. The 17-year-old French genius could never have imagined that six years later, he would witness Benzema's hat-trick in the same stadium, reversing and eliminating Paris.
At this time, Real Madrid was in full swing. Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale were both at their peaks, with Benzema supporting them. Despite Real Madrid's victory, Ronaldo, shirtless and visibly displeased, had not scored this time. He had only four goals in this Champions League campaign, while the Huaxia player had scored nine goals in three games—a staggering feat!
Ronaldo, frustrated by his missed opportunities, grew even more desperate when a reporter in the tunnel posed a piercing question.
"In another game, Su Luo scored four consecutive hat-tricks, bringing his Champions League total to 12 goals. Do you still hope to surpass him?"
Ronaldo's face darkened. "Of course! I must surpass him!" he snapped before walking away, leaving a stubborn silhouette behind.
Meanwhile, at Camp Nou on the other side of the Iberian Peninsula, Barcelona easily defeated Belarusian side BATE 3-0. Messi, resting in the stands, didn't even make the bench. Neymar and Suarez played steadily, with Neymar scoring twice and assisting once, reaching his 65th goal for Barcelona, while Suarez scored his ninth goal in the last eight games.
In theory, their performances were world-class. But compared to Su Luo, who had scored four consecutive Champions League hat-tricks and 12 goals, Neymar and Suarez's performances seemed lackluster.
Messi, listening to another game through headphones, froze when he heard news of Su Luo's hat-trick.
"Leo, what's wrong?" his girlfriend Antonella asked, noticing his change in demeanor.
"Nothing," Messi replied, shaking his head. He didn't want to discuss it further, and Antonella quickly understood. Messi's reaction likely had something to do with Ronaldo or Su Luo—most likely the latter. Messi had been following Bundesliga news lately, consciously or not, paying attention to Su Luo's performances.
He already saw Su Luo as his biggest rival. Thankfully, Messi had won the Champions League this year, which meant the Ballon d'Or would likely be his. Otherwise, he might have trouble sleeping.
"Relax, you're still number three in the world," Antonella comforted.
"Yeah, I hope so," Messi said, though he wasn't sure how long he could maintain his status. Next year, the Golden Ball might go to someone else. Still, having another competitor in world football wasn't so bad.
Ronaldo, that competitive guy, must be feeling the pressure too, Messi thought, finding some humor in the situation.
The next day, European football was shaken again. Four consecutive hat-tricks and 12 goals before the Champions League group stage ended! Su Luo's performance was so incredible that many fans suspected it was fake news. How was it possible? Could Juventus really not stop Su Luo?
Real Madrid and Barcelona fans immediately checked the game highlights. Then, everyone fell silent. Juventus hadn't gone easy; they were simply overwhelmed by Su Luo. They lasted only 45 minutes before being caught off guard by Su Luo's strategic retreat to midfield.
The European media buzzed about Su Luo's midfield transformation. "Bild," "The Sun," "Munich Evening News," "Turin Sports News," and many others believed Su Luo could become a world-class midfielder.
"His coverage is vast, his vision is sharp, his passing is superb, and he has an excellent attacking sense... Su Luo's midfield performance rivals Modric's! Their playing styles are remarkably similar," one article noted.
"Neuhaus could consider transforming Su Luo, turning the Bundesliga Golden Boot winner into a midfielder, which might completely liberate him," suggested another.
"In fact, he was originally a talented midfielder. Union Berlin only moved him forward because they lacked a striker," a pundit remarked.
The Madrid media even interviewed Modric. "Luka, in the match between Berlin and Juventus yesterday, Su Luo's style of retreating and playing in midfield resembled yours. What do you think?"
Having analyzed the game overnight, Modric was impressed by Su Luo's performance. "His running positions and passing choices are indeed similar to mine. We have a strange tacit understanding in many situations. If he plays in the midfield, he can definitely be ranked among the top five in the world."
The modest and low-key Modric had given Su Luo a very high evaluation.
Modric's greatest admiration for Su Luo lies in his tenacious fighting spirit. One of Modric's favorite games was Su Luo's 5-4 away victory against Bayern last season. It was thrilling and utterly captivating.
"I hope we can meet in the knockout rounds. I'd love to play against him," Modric mused, sensing a potential clash.
While pundits debated whether Su Luo should transition to midfield, respected outlets like "442" and "Kicker" argued that Su Luo's midfield role should be temporary. His greatest threat remained upfront.
"Su Luo's finishing ability is unparalleled. Most of his goals in the latter half of last season and this season came from inside the penalty area," they noted.
"People were impressed with his unassuming yet crucial long-range strikes. Su Luo is a true goal-scoring machine!"
"Union Berlin could benefit from pairing Su Luo with a strike partner who can diversify their scoring options without hesitation."
The entire European football world was abuzz with discussions about Su Luo's position, but Juventus, the other protagonist in the game, seemed disinterested. Even the Italian media overlooked them. The dignified UEFA Champions League runner-up had faded into the background as new stars emerged.
Bayern, Manchester City, Leverkusen, and Sevilla all sang praises.
Neuhaus and the Berlin United coaching staff pondered their next move. They hadn't planned to move Su Luo to midfield; his threat in the penalty area was undeniable, evident in how Juventus struggled despite their defensive tactics.
But how should they choose Su Luo's strike partner?
The upcoming Champions League knockout rounds would be even tougher. They needed to finalize their choice during the winter break to progress further.
The ideal candidate would excel in heading and dribbling, possess sharp shooting skills, and be diligent in defense—a perfect support for Su Luo, akin to Real Madrid's Benzema.
However, acquiring a Champions League-quality striker would cost at least 20 million, an astronomical sum for Union Berlin.
After much deliberation, Neuhaus decided to trust Oriental metaphysics once more. The results had been astonishing so far—players like Kimmich, Rudiger, Pavard, Ake, and Pickford had become key players in the team's success against giants like Juventus and Manchester City.
Apart from Sane, every player was a gem unearthed through Su Luo's metaphysical insights.
Back in Berlin the next day, Su Luo was resting at home, preparing to do yoga with Josephine when Neuhaus unexpectedly called.
"Coach, what's up?" Su Luo asked.
"Su, I need your help in selecting some names for our striker search," Neuhaus replied.
"Huh?"
Su Luo was surprised. Was the coaching staff still relying on metaphysics for this?
His immediate thought was England striker Harry Kane, but he knew a striker of his caliber would be financially out of reach for Union Berlin.
For a moment, Su Luo struggled to think of a suitable candidate. Names like Firmino, Vardy, Lukaku, Nunes, Cavani, and Haaland flashed through his mind, but financial constraints made them impractical.
Then, a memory struck him—a player currently in the amateur leagues but destined to become Wolfsburg's star striker, trusted by ten Hag and nearly eliminating Argentina in the World Cup.
"Weghorst should be relatively affordable now, right? Introducing a future star striker like him could be a great bargain," Su Luo suggested.
"Weghorst, Wout Weghorst."
"Huh? Who's that?" Neuhaus asked, unfamiliar with the name.
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Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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