Chapter Summaries

Su Dong thanked and rewarded his staff before leaving for a Christmas holiday in the Canary Islands with friends. Meanwhile, Real Madrid appointed Sacchi as technical director and chose Luxemburgo as manager, with the club pursuing Robinho as a young rival to Su Dong.

• Su Dong hosted a meal for his staff, thanked them for their work, and gave them generous red envelopes before the holiday.
• Su Dong declined Cristiano Ronaldo’s invitation to Manchester and traveled to the Canary Islands with Messi, Iniesta, Pepe, and David Silva, planning to relax and try diving.
• Barcelona’s players and coach took different holiday trips, while injured Giuly, Gerard, and Motta had to keep reporting to the club; Su Dong considered Marcos Senna a potential starter if he joined.
• Real Madrid appointed Sacchi as technical director, with Butragueño becoming vice president, and Sacchi selected Luxemburgo as the club’s new manager.
• Real Madrid pursued Brazilian prodigy Robinho through Luxemburgo and agent Figel, hoping Robinho would challenge Su Dong and lead the club’s younger generation.

After returning to Barcelona, Su Dong met Marcos Senna, the midfielder he had recommended to the club, and welcomed him to the squad. Senna impressed the coaches and players in an afternoon scrimmage, leaving Barcelona hopeful they had found the defensive midfielder they needed.

• Su Dong arrived at Sports City and was surprised when Marcos Senna thanked him for recommending him to Barcelona.
• Su Dong apologized for not recognizing Senna in his off-field clothes, then explained that Senna's tenacity in the Valencia derby had convinced him he could strengthen Barcelona's midfield.
• Senna told Su Dong he admired Barcelona's style and wanted to focus on football, and he asked to train with Su Dong's personal team to strengthen his muscles and knees.
• Su Dong brought Senna to the dressing room, where Senna kept a modest distance from both the local and Brazilian player groups and concentrated on training.
• During Rijkaard's afternoon scrimmage, Senna's defending impressed Ten Cate, Ronaldinho, Deco, and Xavi, and Rijkaard credited Su Dong's sharp judgment for finding him.

Barcelona faced Villarreal at El Madrigal, where Marcos Senna made his debut and repeatedly disrupted Riquelme’s attacks. After Senna won the ball early in the second half, Xavi sent Su Dong through, and Su Dong launched a long-range shot at Reina’s exposed goal.

• Barcelona started Marcos Senna in midfield against his former team, Villarreal, as several regular players were injured.
• Su Dong teased Senna about his prescription-free glasses, easing the newcomer’s nerves before kickoff.
• Villarreal pressed forward, but Senna repeatedly marked Riquelme, blocked his shot, and stopped attacks involving Forlán.
• In the forty-eighth minute, Senna dispossessed Riquelme and passed to Xavi, who sent a through ball toward Su Dong.
• Su Dong ran past Pena, noticed Reina far off his line, and struck a powerful shot from beyond halfway.

Su Dong scored a spectacular 51-meter goal to give Barcelona a 1–0 away victory over Villarreal. Marcos Senna impressed in midfield, while the chapter ended with praise for both Barcelona players and Pellegrini defending Reina.

• Marcos Senna won the ball and passed to Xavi, who sent it forward for Su Dong to chase.
• Su Dong struck from 51 meters, beating Reina and giving Barcelona the lead in the 48th minute.
• Villarreal pressed for an equalizer, but Marcos Senna continued to disrupt their midfield and Riquelme was substituted in the 79th minute.
• Barcelona held on to win 1–0, with post-match coverage praising Su Dong’s goal and Marcos Senna’s performance.
• Rijkaard praised Su Dong and Marcos Senna, while Pellegrini regretted losing Senna and defended Reina.

Su Dong scored decisive goals as Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad, Racing Santander, Seville, and Atlético Madrid, while rumors about Ronaldinho leaving and conflict among Barcelona's executives intensified. Marcos Senna established himself as Barcelona's holding midfielder, and Su Dong's reputation as a talent scout grew as the chapter ended with Messi causing a stir in Colombia.

• Su Dong struck the crossbar twice before scoring Barcelona's late winner against Real Sociedad with a header.
• The Sun reported that Ronaldinho might leave for Chelsea, but after Barcelona beat Racing Santander 4–0, Ronaldinho said he wanted to stay and praised Su Dong as a teammate.
• Rosell acknowledged disagreements with Laporta, escalating Barcelona's management conflict.
• Su Dong and Ronaldinho combined to lead Barcelona to a 4–0 away victory over Seville, celebrating together and undermining rumors of a rift.
• Su Dong scored Barcelona's only goal against Atlético Madrid, while Ronaldinho missed a penalty, and Marcos Senna earned praise after Barcelona recorded five straight clean sheets.
• Messi caused an earthquake in Colombia.

Messi came off the bench to lead Argentina to a 2–1 comeback win over Brazil, then credited Su Dong as his role model. Su Dong followed with a goal and two assists in Barcelona’s 4–1 win over Zaragoza as the Champions League knockout stage approached.

• Ferraro asked Messi what Su Dong would do while Argentina trailed Brazil, and Messi said he would try to turn the match around before entering as a substitute.
• Messi drew a dangerous free kick, and Zabaleta scored from the resulting scramble to equalize for Argentina.
• Messi scored Argentina’s second goal after a quick counterattack, securing a 2–1 victory over Brazil.
• In an interview, Messi thanked Su Dong for helping him at Barcelona and said he hoped to reach the Zurich Opera House podium; Su Dong praised his talent and urged him to build up his physical strength.
• Su Dong recorded two assists and a goal in Barcelona’s 4–1 away win over Zaragoza, which ended the team’s clean-sheet streak.

Bayern Munich crushed Dortmund 5–0, and Magath used the match to assess his veterans before hosting Barcelona in the Champions League. Barcelona beat Real Mallorca 2–0, but Su Dong missed two chances, and Rijkaard remained wary of Bayern’s attack and Barcelona’s fragile defense.

• Bayern Munich raced to a 4–0 halftime lead over Dortmund, with Makay scoring twice and Salihamidžić and Pizarro adding goals.
• Makay completed his hat trick early in the second half as Bayern won 5–0, while Magath praised the team’s form and weighed his options for the Barcelona match.
• Magath said Bayern would attack Barcelona at home, and Makay declared that he knew how to score against them and trusted Lucio to contain Su Dong.
• Barcelona defeated Real Mallorca 2–0 through Deco’s brace, while Su Dong assisted a goal but missed two strong chances.
• German media questioned Su Dong’s form, while Rijkaard backed him but expressed concern about Barcelona’s defense ahead of the trip to the Olympic Stadium.

Barcelona fell three goals behind Bayern Munich in a disastrous first half, then followed Su Dong’s advice to raise the pace after the break. Su Dong created and finished a chance that Kahn saved, but he reached the rebound first and struck toward the empty net.

• Pizarro scored twice and Makay added a goal as Bayern Munich took a three-nil lead within twenty minutes.
• Rijkaard and Ten Cate discussed Barcelona’s defensive errors and ineffective possession during halftime.
• Su Dong urged Barcelona to accelerate their play, press after losing the ball, and seek an away goal.
• Barcelona increased the tempo after halftime, and Su Dong held off Lucio before laying the ball off to Deco.
• Ronaldinho sent Su Dong through on goal, and Kahn saved his shot before Su Dong beat Lucio to the rebound and kicked toward the empty net.

Su Dong’s goal sparked Barcelona’s comeback against Bayern Munich, and he helped create Ronaldinho’s goal to make it 2–3. Barcelona ended the chapter with renewed hope, while Rijkaard urged the team to stay cautious away from home.

• Su Dong scored from close range in the forty-sixth minute after Kahn parried his first shot, cutting Bayern Munich’s lead to 3–1.
• Magath recognized Barcelona’s tactical shift toward long passes and pushed Bayern’s defensive line farther forward to keep Su Dong away from the penalty area.
• Xavi chipped the ball behind Bayern’s defense, and Su Dong beat Lucio to the right side of the box before crossing low for Ronaldinho to score and make it 2–3.
• Magath watched Lucio struggle to stop Su Dong, while Rijkaard and Ten Cate praised Su Dong’s decisive role in Barcelona’s two goals.
• Rijkaard celebrated Barcelona’s comeback but rejected Ten Cate’s suggestion to let the players attack more freely because they were playing away.

Barcelona struggled with its fragile defense and ineffective attack as it prepared for the Champions League second leg against Bayern Munich. After a series of domestic matches, Rijkaard and Ten Cate asked Su Dong whether he could hold Lucio down.

• Puyol accepted responsibility for Barcelona's defensive failure in the first leg, and the players discussed how injuries and an unbalanced midfield had contributed to their problems.
• Su Dong proposed a proactive pressing approach for the second leg, while Deco warned that Bayern Munich's defense and counterattacks made it riskier than against Real Madrid.
• Rijkaard considered testing Su Dong's pressing tactic, but Barcelona rotated heavily and drew against Numancia and Espanyol before Su Dong scored the winner against Osasuna.
• German media outlined tactics for stopping Barcelona, including disrupting its midfield and freezing Su Dong's performance.
• Rijkaard and Ten Cate kept Su Dong after recovery training and asked whether he was confident he could hold Lucio down.

Su Dong’s coaching team explained how Lucio’s strength threatened him and advised him to use balance, flexibility, and positioning instead of meeting Lucio head-on. Su Dong acquired Zidane’s “Unmoving as a Mountain” ability card to prepare for the next match, then woke from a bizarre dream involving Lucio, Mourinho, Drogba, and Ibrahimovic.

• Su Dong told Nuno Cruz, Vito Scala, and Messi that Rijkaard had asked whether he could overpower Lucio, and he said he believed he could.
• Cruz and Scala explained that Lucio was one of the strongest defenders in football and warned Su Dong against challenging him through sheer physical force.
• Cruz advised Su Dong to study Zidane’s balance, flexibility, and ability to shield the ball under pressure in tight spaces.
• Su Dong entered the system’s shop and exchanged a coupon for Zidane’s “Unmoving as a Mountain” Star Ability Card.
• Su Dong dreamed that he crushed Lucio beneath a mountain and watched him later defeat Drogba and Ibrahimovic alongside Mourinho.
• Su Dong woke confused by the dream, then laughed at himself while washing his face.

Barcelona faced Bayern Munich at Camp Nou, where Su Dong scored in the fourth minute after beating Lucio and Kahn. His goal put Barcelona ahead 1–0 and levelled the aggregate score at 3–3, with Barcelona leading on away goals.

• Before kickoff, Su Dong teased Lucio with a strange story about a dream, leaving Lucio confused and wary.
• Bayern pressed Barcelona in midfield from the opening whistle and built attacks through the wings.
• Xavi switched play to Van Bronckhorst, whose long pass sent Su Dong behind Bayern’s defense.
• Su Dong held off Lucio, beat Kahn, and scored Barcelona’s opening goal in the fourth minute.
• Su Dong told Lucio he had been the mountain in his dream, while Bayern’s players realized Barcelona had taken the tie lead on away goals.

Barcelona defeated Bayern Munich 4–1 at Camp Nou, overturning the tie to win 6–4 on aggregate and advance in the Champions League. Su Dong scored and assisted while dominating aerial duels, and UEFA named him Best Player of the match.

• Su Dong won a long ball against Lucio and headed it into Ronaldinho’s path, but Kovac blocked the shot and Kahn saved it.
• Su Dong feinted past Bayern’s defenders and passed across to Iniesta, whose cross let Ronaldinho score Barcelona’s second goal.
• Su Dong laid the ball off to Iniesta and headed Belletti’s cross back toward the penalty spot, where Deco scored to make it 3–0.
• At halftime Bayern brought on Scholl, and in the fifty-ninth minute Ronaldinho scored from Iniesta’s pass to extend Barcelona’s lead.
• Schweinsteiger scored for Bayern in the seventieth minute, but Barcelona won 4–1 on the night and 6–4 on aggregate; Su Dong was named Best Player of the match.

Su Dong’s dominant aerial performance helped Barcelona eliminate Bayern Munich, but the quarterfinal draw matched them with Mourinho’s Chelsea. The chapter ended with both sides expressing confidence ahead of their clash.

• Mundo Deportivo and Diario AS praised Su Dong for scoring and assisting against Bayern Munich while excelling as a tactical center forward.
• Cruyff warned that Barcelona’s fragile defense remained their biggest obstacle in the Champions League.
• Magath and Ballack admitted that Su Dong’s aerial dominance had overwhelmed Bayern Munich.
• UEFA drew Barcelona against Chelsea in the quarterfinals, prompting Spanish media to lament the difficult matchup.
• Mourinho backed Chelsea to exploit Barcelona’s defensive weaknesses, while Rijkaard said Barcelona could beat any opponent.
• Drogba welcomed the chance to challenge Su Dong again and hoped to defeat him.

Barcelona won two league matches through Su Dong’s goals, then drew 3–3 with Real Betis despite his hat trick. With defensive injuries and errors undermining confidence before the Champions League quarterfinal against Chelsea, Barcelona traveled to London amid widespread predictions of defeat.

• Su Dong scored and Ronaldinho assisted Giuly as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2–0, then Su Dong scored the winner in a 1–0 victory over Deportivo La Coruña.
• Puyol and Marcos became unavailable for Barcelona’s match against Real Betis, forcing Rijkaard to field Navarro and Oleguer in central defense.
• Real Betis went 2–0 ahead, but Su Dong scored twice to level the match before completing a hat trick in the second half; Joaquín equalized, and the teams drew 3–3.
• Barcelona’s shaky defending drew fierce criticism from Cruyff, the Spanish press, and British media ahead of the Chelsea match.
• Rijkaard named his squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge as bookmakers and Spanish media judged Barcelona’s chances of advancing to be poor.

Barcelona fell three goals behind Chelsea early at Stamford Bridge, but Su Dong scored from a corner to revive his team’s hopes. The chapter ended with Barcelona preparing to attack again.

• Mourinho declared that Chelsea wanted opponents to fear their football ahead of the match.
• Chelsea pressed Barcelona relentlessly, and Guðjohnsen, Lampard, and Duff scored to make it 3–0 within nineteen minutes.
• Puyol angrily challenged Barcelona’s players after their defensive collapse.
• Su Dong forced Čech into a save with a powerful shot, then scored from Xavi’s corner to cut Chelsea’s lead to 3–1.
• Su Dong urged Barcelona to stay focused and attack as the players gathered for the restart.

Barcelona came back from a three-goal deficit against Chelsea as Su Dong and Ronaldinho led a devastating attacking surge. Su Dong’s brace made it 3–3 before halftime, leaving the match level and Barcelona buoyed by their comeback.

• Ronaldinho finished a one-two with Su Dong to score Barcelona’s second goal and cut Chelsea’s lead to 3–2.
• Mourinho switched Terry and Carvalho so Terry could mark Su Dong, while lamenting that he had failed to sign Su Dong.
• Ronaldinho chipped a pass behind Chelsea’s defense, and Su Dong controlled it with his right foot before volleying with his left to make it 3–3 in the forty-third minute.
• Barcelona’s players celebrated around Su Dong, and Rijkaard praised him before clutching his chest from the excitement.

Chelsea and Barcelona drew 3–3 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge after Barcelona erased Chelsea’s three-goal lead, and Mourinho spent the second half protecting the score. Su Dong left dissatisfied with Barcelona’s fragile defense despite the favorable away result.

• Abramovich watched Barcelona score three consecutive goals and worried that Chelsea might lose its lead, while Peter Kenyon explained Carvalho’s difficulties against Su Dong.
• Abramovich asked how much it would cost to sign Su Dong, and Kenyon estimated that Barcelona would demand at least two hundred million euros.
• Mourinho replaced Ferreira with Glen Johnson at halftime, while Rijkaard brought on Silvinho for Van Bronckhorst.
• Mourinho added Huth and later Tiago as Chelsea tightened its defense, and Chelsea held Barcelona to a 3–3 draw.
• Barcelona’s players welcomed the away draw, but Su Dong worried that the team’s defense had been too weak against recent opponents.

Chelsea took the lead at Camp Nou through a Belletti own goal after Duff’s counterattack, leaving Barcelona needing to overcome a disciplined defense. As Barcelona pressed in the second half, Mourinho suspected Su Dong was conserving himself and waiting for Chelsea to tire, and Rijkaard brought on Iniesta for Giuly.

• Lampard launched a counterattack with a long pass, Duff crossed into the area, and Belletti sliced the clearance into Barcelona’s net to make it 0–1 and 3–4 on aggregate.
• Rijkaard recognized that Barcelona’s high defensive line and failure to press after losing possession had enabled Chelsea’s goal, but he and Ten Cate had no clear solution.
• Barcelona continued to dominate possession after halftime while Chelsea retreated into a compact defense and Mourinho demanded strict execution from his players.
• Mourinho told Boas that fatigue and Su Dong were Chelsea’s main threats, and he believed Su Dong was waiting for Chelsea to tire and lose focus.
• Rijkaard replaced Giuly with Iniesta.

Su Dong and Iniesta combined in tight space to score Barcelona’s equalizer against Chelsea, putting Barcelona temporarily ahead on away goals in the Champions League tie. With twenty minutes left, Rijkaard celebrated the goal and vowed to manage the semifinal more cautiously if Barcelona advanced.

• Iniesta came on for Giuly, and Su Dong asked him to stay close so they could combine quickly against Chelsea’s tight marking.
• Chelsea continued to defend deep, but Ronaldinho eventually passed to Su Dong at the top of the penalty arc.
• Su Dong laid the ball off to Iniesta, then ran right and held off Carvalho as Iniesta returned the pass.
• Su Dong struck a powerful shot in the 69th minute to make it 1–1 and level the aggregate score at 4–4, putting Barcelona ahead on away goals.
• Su Dong celebrated with his teammates as the Camp Nou crowd chanted his name.
• Rijkaard celebrated the equalizer and said he would manage more cautiously if Barcelona reached the semifinals.