Chapter Summaries

After earning widespread acclaim for his performances in the Bundesliga, Su Dong maintained his training during the International Break and took a short trip to Vienna with Wang Chuqing. Bayern then beat Schalke 04 3–1, with Su Dong scoring twice, before Heynckes rested his key players ahead of their trip to the Bernabéu.

• German media praised Su Dong's performances and credited him with changing the course of Bayern's win over Hamburger SV.
• During the International Break, Su Dong trained under Nuno Cruz's private coaching team, whose examinations showed he was approaching his physical peak.
• Su Dong and Wang Chuqing spent two days in Vienna while Marcelo stayed behind.
• Su Dong scored twice in the first half against Schalke 04, beating Neuer with a volley and then finishing Ribéry's cross.
• Rakitić scored for Schalke 04, but Robben added Bayern's third after the break, and Bayern won 3–1.
• Heynckes substituted Su Dong, Ribéry, Robben, and others after about an hour to preserve their energy for the midweek trip to the Bernabéu.

Barcelona’s poor start and Su Dong’s departure became the focus of fierce media criticism as Real Madrid surged to the top of La Liga. Ahead of the Champions League match at the Bernabéu, Heynckes analyzed Real Madrid’s defensive weaknesses and prepared Bayern to attack them.

• Diario AS and Cruyff criticized Barcelona’s results and management, arguing that forcing Su Dong out had weakened the team.
• Schuster dismissed Barcelona as Real Madrid’s main title rival, and the Catalan media fired back by predicting Su Dong would teach him a harsh lesson.
• Schuster said Real Madrid could beat Bayern and planned to use Metzelder and Cannavaro to contain Su Dong.
• Heynckes showed Bayern that Real Madrid had conceded many shots in its first three league matches and identified its weakened midfield defense as a target.
• Heynckes urged Bayern to press Real Madrid high and counterattack quickly, leaving the team eager for the match at the Bernabéu.

Bayern Munich attacked Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, and Su Dong scored twice in the first half to give Bayern a 2–0 lead. Real Madrid kept pressing forward after falling behind, leaving its defensive weaknesses exposed as the chapter ended.

• Su Dong tested Casillas with an early long-range shot, and Pepe later headed clear Real Madrid’s most dangerous attack.
• Marcelo and Ribéry combined down the left, and Su Dong finished Marcelo’s cross in the sixteenth minute to put Bayern ahead.
• Real Madrid launched a series of attacks, but Bayern’s defense held firm and Kahn gathered Raul’s shot.
• Robben cut inside past Heinze and bypassed Gago, then set up Su Dong to score Bayern’s second goal.
• Schuster continued to send Real Madrid forward after the restart, despite Bayern’s two-goal lead.

Bayern defeated Real Madrid 3–1 away, with Su Dong scoring twice and Lahm adding a spectacular goal, while Robben suffered an ankle injury. As Bayern prepared to face Karlsruhe, the team promised to keep fighting for the title until Robben returned.

• Lahm scored Bayern’s third goal in the fifty-second minute after a counterattack against Real Madrid.
• Robben asked to be substituted with an injury, and Heynckes brought on Podolski as Bayern changed formation.
• Van Nistelrooy scored for Real Madrid, but Bayern held on to win 3–1, and Su Dong was named Best Player of the match.
• Raul congratulated Su Dong, who told him Real Madrid’s defensive problems could hinder its Champions League ambitions.
• Wolfahrt diagnosed ligament damage in Robben’s left ankle, and Su Dong and the Bayern players promised to keep fighting for the title while he recovered.
• Bayern announced that Robben would be out for about a month, then traveled to face newly promoted Karlsruhe amid concerns about replacing him on the right wing.

Bayern beat Karlsruhe 4–1 despite Robben’s injury, then struggled against Cottbus until Su Dong came off the bench and combined with Toni Kroos to spark a 4–0 victory. Kroos made his Bayern debut with three assists, while Su Dong began imagining that he could help develop another superstar.

• Su Dong scored early against Karlsruhe, then helped Klose score after his shot was saved, giving Bayern a 2–0 lead.
• Marcelo crossed for Su Dong to volley Bayern’s third, and Podolski scored late after Klose’s assist as Bayern won 4–1.
• Bayern failed to score against Cottbus in the first hour, so Heynckes brought on Su Dong and gave Toni Kroos his first Bayern appearance.
• Su Dong’s shot produced Klose’s opening goal, and Kroos then chipped a pass for Su Dong to volley in Bayern’s second.
• Su Dong and Kroos combined to set up two more Klose goals, giving Kroos a hat trick of assists as Bayern won 4–0.

After Bayern’s 6–0 win over Cottbus, the German media praised Su Dong’s impact and Toni Kroos’s spectacular debut, while Su Dong urged people to give the young midfielder room to grow. The chapter ended with Kroos spending more time with Su Dong as Marcelo and Pepe continued to drop by Su Dong’s home for free meals.

• Bayern beat Cottbus 6–0, and German media and players credited Su Dong’s introduction with transforming the match and easing the pressure on Klose.
• Toni Kroos assisted Su Dong once and Klose twice on his Bundesliga debut, drawing praise from Heynckes, Beckenbauer, and Hoeness.
• Kroos said Su Dong had encouraged him before the match and deliberately drawn defenders away during his assists.
• Su Dong told reporters that Kroos needed time and a relaxed environment to develop, then encouraged him to keep working toward becoming one of the world’s best midfielders.
• Kroos began spending more time around Su Dong, while Marcelo and Pepe kept visiting Su Dong’s home as the Grünwald free-meal duo.

Bayern defeated Leverkusen and Olympiacos as Su Dong scored and assisted, extending the club’s winning run despite a growing injury crisis. The chapter left Bayern atop their Champions League group, with Su Dong the only fit centre-forward after Klose and Podolski joined the injured list.

• Su Dong scored once and assisted Klose as Bayern beat Leverkusen two-nil, setting a Bundesliga record with eight straight wins.
• Gerd Müller praised Su Dong’s scoring record and consistency, and Su Dong met him for lunch to thank him.
• Klose’s knee injury and Podolski’s flu added to Bayern’s absences, leaving Su Dong as the only available centre-forward.
• Bayern beat Olympiacos two-nil as Su Dong scored from a tight angle and assisted Ribéry after Toni Kroos’s introduction.
• Bayern moved to the top of their Champions League group with two wins, while Real Madrid drew with Lazio.

Marco pressed Ahlen coach Christian Wuck for a chance to play against Bayern and secured a substitute role. He revealed that he wanted to face Bayern because he was a fan of Su Dong.

• Ahlen's players celebrated drawing Bayern, while Marco left to ask Christian Wuck for more playing time.
• Marco argued that he was eighteen, had been improving his strength, and deserved a chance to play against Bayern.
• Wuck explained that Lars Toborg and Oliver Gorden also wanted to play and that Ahlen planned to focus on defense.
• Marco offered to play in different positions or come on as a substitute, and Wuck agreed to put him on the bench.
• Wuck asked why Dortmund fan Marco was eager to face Bayern, and Marco said he was a fan of Su Dong.

Bayern beat Nuremberg 5–0 and came from behind to defeat Bochum 3–1, extending their Bundesliga winning streak to ten games. Su Dong scored twice, assisted several goals, and ended the chapter as Bayern’s indispensable forward amid injuries and questions about the team’s reliance on him.

• Bayern dominated Nuremberg as Su Dong scored and assisted Toni Kroos’s first Bundesliga goal, helping secure a 5–0 win and a ninth straight victory.
• Toni Kroos credited Su Dong’s reminder and heel pass for creating his goal-scoring chance.
• Rensing’s underhit pass let Grote score early for Bochum, but Su Dong equalized before halftime with a solo goal.
• Su Dong assisted Ribéry five minutes into the second half, and Ribéry later helped Schweinsteiger score as Bayern won 3–1.
• Su Dong reached twenty Bundesliga goals and seven assists after ten rounds, while Hoeness called him Bayern’s most indispensable player.

Bayern beat Lazio and Dortmund, with Su Dong scoring in both matches, before traveling to face third-tier Rot-Weiss Ahlen in the German Cup. Welcomed by an unexpectedly enthusiastic crowd, Su Dong listened as Heynckes explained how a giant’s visit could support a lower-league club, then reflected on the value of the football pyramid.

• Su Dong scored twice against Lazio, and Ribéry added a rebound goal after Su Dong’s free kick was saved as Bayern won 3–0.
• Real Madrid beat Olympiacos 4–2, leaving Bayern atop the group and underscoring Lazio’s struggles after Calciopoli.
• Bayern arrived late to Dortmund after their team bus got stuck in traffic, but Su Dong scored the rebound from Van Bommel’s saved shot to secure a 1–0 win.
• Klose and Robben returned to full-team training, though neither traveled with Bayern for the German Cup match against Rot-Weiss Ahlen.
• Su Dong traveled with Bayern to Ahlen, where local fans warmly welcomed the team and packed the small stadium’s surroundings.
• Heynckes told Su Dong that Bayern’s visit could give a lower-league club a rare chance to attract fans and grow, leaving Su Dong thoughtful.

Bayern overwhelmed Rot-Weiss Ahlen 6–0 in the cup, where Su Dong met young striker Marco Reus and encouraged him to build up his physique. Reflecting on the role of lower-league clubs in developing discarded prospects, Su Dong wondered whether Reus would reach the Bundesliga in a few years.

• Su Dong learned that Rot-Weiss Ahlen’s fans valued Bayern’s visit and the chance to face a powerhouse more than the result.
• Marco Reus came on as a substitute, impressed Su Dong with his speed and footwork, and failed to score against Bayern.
• After the 6–0 win, Marco Reus asked Su Dong to exchange jerseys, and Su Dong encouraged him to train harder and pursue professional football.
• Heynckes explained that Dortmund had discarded Reus for being too skinny and described how lower-league clubs gave overlooked youth players another chance.
• Su Dong considered how clubs like Rot-Weiss Ahlen formed the foundation of European football and wondered if Reus would reach the Bundesliga.

Su Dong learned from Heynckes why Bayern valued its local roots, then scored in a Bundesliga win and a Champions League draw before Bayern lost its first league match. During the international break, FIFA and France Football left him off their award shortlists, prompting debate over whether the Bundesliga could support a Ballon d'Or winner.

• On the trip back from Allen, Heynckes explained to Su Dong how Bayern's identity and strength depended on its Munich and German supporters, and Su Dong reflected on his own loyalty to China.
• Su Dong scored after fourteen seconds as Bayern beat Frankfurt 1–0 at home.
• Su Dong scored and set up Pepe's equalizer as Bayern drew 2–2 away to Lazio in the Champions League.
• Bayern lost 1–2 away to Stuttgart after Demi's mistakes and Lucio's red card, ending their league winning streak after twelve rounds.
• During the international break, FIFA named Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi as World Footballer of the Year finalists, while French media reported that Su Dong also missed the Ballon d'Or top three.
• German media and Bayern fans attacked claims that Su Dong would need to leave the Bundesliga to win either award.

Su Dong scored a stunning direct free kick to give Bayern a 2–1 win over Wolfsburg, then told reporters he would prove the Bundesliga could produce a World Footballer of the Year and Ballon d'Or winner. He left the press conference promising to keep playing in Germany and pursue both honors with Bayern.

• In the eighty-third minute, Su Dong won a free kick after Ricardo Costa fouled him, then insisted on taking it despite having missed his previous attempt.
• Su Dong curled the free kick over the wall and into the upper-left corner, putting Bayern ahead as Jentzsch watched helplessly.
• Bayern beat Wolfsburg 2–1, and Su Dong credited years of practice and learning from free-kick specialists for his goal.
• At the press conference, Su Dong accepted that he had missed the awards' top three, praised Rony, Kaka, and Messi, and said he expected to have finished in the top five.
• Su Dong declared he would stay in the Bundesliga for now and become the league's first World Footballer of the Year winner by helping Bayern achieve major results.

Su Dong trained relentlessly ahead of Bayern’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid, driven by anger over missing the top three in the major individual awards. He left the first half with a hat trick and Bayern leading 4–0, making his challenge to the Ballon d’Or and World Footballer of the Year contenders unmistakable.

• Su Dong continued intensive training as Ribéry and Robben admired his dominance and the morale his public defense of the Bundesliga had inspired.
• Pepe told the Bayern players that Su Dong was furious about his award snub and predicted they would soon see him transform into a “Super Saiyan.”
• Su Dong scored after just thirty-eight seconds against Real Madrid, controlling Lahm’s cross and finishing past Casillas.
• Su Dong doubled Bayern’s lead in the thirteenth minute with a powerful shot into the top-right corner after dribbling past Ramos and Metzelder.
• Su Dong assisted Robben for Bayern’s third goal, then scored again from Robben’s cross to complete his hat trick and put Bayern 4–0 ahead.
• Su Dong celebrated by declaring through his gestures that he would take down the recognized Ballon d’Or powerhouses and bring the major individual awards to the Bundesliga and Bayern.

Su Dong responded to his controversial fourth-place Ballon d’Or finish by leading Bayern to a 3–0 victory over Bielefeld after his hat trick and two assists against Real Madrid. Rony and Messi publicly praised Su Dong, while the chapter ended with Bayern’s strong form reinforcing their ambitions to challenge for the Champions League.

• Su Dong dominated Real Madrid with a hat trick and two assists as Bayern won 5–1, drawing praise from German and European media.
• France Football Magazine announced that Cristiano Ronaldo had won the 2007 Ballon d’Or, with Su Dong finishing fourth behind Messi.
• Su Dong said he had known the result in advance and remained calm as Bayern traveled to Bielefeld.
• Ribéry scored from Su Dong’s assist, and Su Dong scored twice as Bayern beat Bielefeld 3–0.
• Rony and Messi praised Su Dong and said they believed he deserved a higher placing in the Ballon d’Or voting.
• The media celebrated Su Dong’s influence and Bayern’s improved strength, while Su Dong maintained that winning the Champions League was necessary to achieve his goals.

Bayern closed the first half of the season with narrow Bundesliga wins and a Champions League loss that did not affect its group-winning qualification. During the Winter Break, the club reported record growth driven by Su Dong, while Su Dong and Wang Chuqing arrived in Zurich for FIFA’s awards ceremony.

• Su Dong scored Bayern’s winning goal against Duisburg, and Bayern later lost to Olympiacos after resting key players despite finishing first in its Champions League group.
• Bayern suspended Kahn for leaving a Christmas dinner under a false excuse to visit his lover Verena, and Su Dong learned that Kahn had used the same excuse before.
• Su Dong scored the only goal in Bayern’s 1–0 away win over Berlin Hertha, after which the team began its Winter Break.
• Hopfner announced that Bayern had made a profit for the fifteenth consecutive year and credited Su Dong with driving strong revenue and jersey sales.
• Breitner said Bayern would build its sporting and globalization strategies around Su Dong, while Su Dong and Wang Chuqing traveled to Zurich for FIFA’s awards ceremony.

Su Dong reunited with his friends in Zurich before the FIFA awards ceremony, where Messi warned him about Barcelona’s worsening atmosphere and promised to keep fighting in his honor. Su Dong arrived at the ceremony with Pepe and Jose Semedo, drawing the crowd’s attention and spotting Rosell and Bartomeu.

• Su Dong met Rony, Pepe, Toni Kroos, Messi, and Sergio Agüero at the hotel, and Messi showed how close he was to Su Dong.
• Messi told Su Dong that Barcelona’s dressing-room atmosphere had worsened, several players were unhappy, and the management continued to favor Bojan over him.
• Messi vowed to keep competing and to remind everyone of Su Dong’s contributions to him, Xiao Bai, and Barcelona.
• Su Dong toured Zurich with Wang Chuqing, then she helped him dress for the awards ceremony and promised to accompany him when he won an award next time.
• Su Dong went to the Zurich Opera House with Pepe and Jose Semedo, where reporters and fans greeted him and he saw Rosell and Bartomeu.

At the World Footballer of the Year ceremony, Su Dong mocked Barcelona’s Rosell and Bartomeu and discussed Bayern’s plans with Beckenbauer. Cristiano Ronaldo won the award, and Su Dong ended the night by challenging Ronaldo and Messi to defend their place at the top in 2008.

• Su Dong rebuffed Rosell and Bartomeu, taunted Barcelona over its standings and last season’s Champions League exit, and said he hoped to face the club in the knockout rounds.
• Su Dong told Beckenbauer that he had wished Barcelona luck getting past the round of sixteen, and they discussed Bayern’s strategy and Sagnol’s request to leave for Juventus.
• Beckenbauer said Bayern had persuaded Sagnol to stay, while he and Su Dong discussed the growing importance of powerful wingers and center forwards.
• Cristiano Ronaldo won World Footballer of the Year, and he thanked Su Dong for supporting him, especially in the summer of 2006.
• Su Dong praised Ronaldo and Messi, then declared that he would give everything in 2008 to challenge them for the top spot.

After Cristiano Ronaldo won his second Footballer of the Year award, Su Dong returned to China during his winter break and formally introduced Wang Chuqing to both families. Su Dong and Wang Chuqing then flew back to Munich as Bayern's winter training approached.

• Cristiano Ronaldo won the award, while Su Dong reaffirmed his intention to challenge for the top honors in 2008 and Rony and Messi commented on their rivalries with him.
• UEFA drew Bayern Munich against Arsenal in the Champions League Round of Sixteen, and Heynckes and Wenger reacted to the matchup.
• Su Dong flew to Shanghai, where Wang Chuqing visited her parents with him and the couple agreed to meet Su Dong's parents.
• Su Dong brought Wang Chuqing to his hometown, where Yang Xiuyu and Su Wenji welcomed her warmly and teased Su Dong while he did housework.
• Su Dong's parents met Wang Chuqing's parents in Shanghai and discussed buying property before Su Dong and Wang Chuqing returned to Munich for Bayern's winter training.

Bayern completed an intense winter training camp in Marbella and Dubai, then resumed the season with a 4–1 win over Rostock. Su Dong scored twice and ended the chapter by targeting Arsenal in the Champions League knockout stage.

• Heynckes praised Bayern's first-half progress, demanded greater control in midfield, and declared the rebuilding complete as winter training began.
• Heynckes had Su Dong play goalkeeper during training and urged Bayern's players to shoot at him, while the team’s renewed spirit impressed Su Dong.
• Bayern won all three Dubai friendlies; Sagnol chose to stay, and Podolski agreed to remain at Bayern after struggling for fitness and playing time.
• Bayern defeated Wuppertal 5–1 in the German Cup, with Klose scoring twice and Podolski adding a goal.
• Bayern beat Rostock 4–1 in their first Bundesliga match after the winter break, with Su Dong scoring twice and Ribéry and Robben scoring once each.
• Su Dong praised Bayern's performance after the match and set his sights on Arsenal in the Champions League knockout stage.