Football: What Happened To Going To The Nightclub? I Have To Score

"Sue! Hurry, come on!"

"What's going on?"

It was the day of the Champions League final, a sunny morning in Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

At the Hilton, the largest five-star hotel in the city, Su Luo had just woken up and was about to grab something to eat after freshening up. But before he could sit down, two of his younger teammates, Mount and Chick, called him over.

On the large-screen TV in the cafeteria, a live interview was playing. The camera zoomed in on a bald head—it wasn't Guardiola, but Real Madrid's current coach, the legendary football icon Zinedine Zidane.

Facing the camera, Zidane smiled with confidence.

"Our preparations have been excellent. Now that we're in the final, we must win the championship."

He continued, "If we hadn't been eliminated last season, we would have taken the title. This time, we're just reclaiming what we lost. The players are performing better than last season, and I think we have an even bigger chance this year."

The reporter asked, "What about Su Luo? What do you think of him?"

Zidane paused for a moment, then answered, "Su Luo? He's undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. He's made some seemingly impossible things happen. But in the end, he's just one player. Football is a team sport."

Zidane looked directly into the camera, almost as if addressing Su Luo himself. "No matter how strong a player is, they can't win against a team alone."

With that, Zidane's interview ended, and he walked off.

Chelsea's players, who were watching, couldn't help but feel a bit irritated.

"What does Zidane mean by that?" Mount muttered.

"Does he think we're just a one-man team? What about Ajar, Kante, Lukaku, Willian, and Courtois? We've got plenty of world-class players," Chick added, frustration creeping into his voice.

The team felt disrespected. It wasn't just Su Luo on the field—Chelsea was a collective force, as much a team as Real Madrid.

Conte, Chelsea's coach, had also been watching. He noticed that Zidane's words were affecting his players. Calmly, he stepped in and reminded them, "When the time comes, go out there and show the world that all of you are the best players, and you fully deserve to be on that final stage."

"Yeah! F*** Real Madrid!" one player shouted.

"Let's show them what we're made of!" another chimed in.

Zidane's attempt to rattle them had been neutralized by Conte, and it even boosted their morale. But there was one player who remained unusually quiet amidst the team's excitement—Eden Ajar. He stared at his plate, lost in thought.

Zidane's words had struck a chord with Ajar. Before Su Luo's arrival, Ajar had been the centerpiece of Chelsea's tactics, the team's undisputed star. But now, Su Luo was the one in the spotlight. Whenever Chelsea was mentioned, Su Luo's name was the first to come up. Ajar no longer even had the chance to be compared with him.

It was hard not to feel sidelined. Some people would have used that as motivation to train harder, to compete and prove themselves. But Ajar wasn't that type. He wasn't the kind to push himself to the limit. Zidane's casual comment had shaken something inside him.

Should I move to another team? he wondered.

For a while now, Ajar had dreamed of playing for Real Madrid. He'd always wanted to wear their iconic white jersey. With Cristiano Ronaldo holding down the left wing and Gareth Bale often sidelined with injuries, there was room for him at Real Madrid. If he transferred, he could easily secure a starting position, even if it meant playing on the right.

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He didn't want to keep living in Su Luo's shadow. The easiest way out was to leave.

Maybe this Champions League final could be my chance to impress Real Madrid, he thought. If Florentino notices me, maybe I'll be wearing that white jersey come summer.

Motivated by this new possibility, Ajar suddenly felt a surge of energy.

"Eden, you okay?" Su Luo asked, noticing Ajar's distraction. He was concerned about his teammate's focus for the game.

Ajar quickly snapped out of it and smiled, though there was a hint of something more behind it. "Yeah, I'm ready, Captain," he replied with a forced enthusiasm.

Su Luo sensed something was off but didn't push the issue. He just hoped Ajar would be fully present for the final.

"By the way," Su Luo asked, "did you guys really call me over just to watch that Zidane interview?"

Mount grinned. "No, no. The TV station also interviewed Taylor Swift a moment ago..."

Everyone on the Chelsea team knew about Su Luo's connections with big-name celebrities.

"Ah, so that's it," Su Luo said, shaking his head with a smirk.

Taylor Swift and Josephine had already arrived in Cardiff to watch the match live. And they weren't the only ones. Erica and Ma Fanshu had also come, and both had sent Su Luo messages.

Ma Fanshu had come with the CCTV crew to cover the event. It was the first time a Chinese player had started in a Champions League final, and CCTV was giving it top-level treatment, surpassing even their coverage of previous World Cup finals.

As for Erica, she'd rushed over straight from training. She had heard that a few of Su Luo's other "admirers" were already in Cardiff and didn't want to fall behind. Despite the complicated dynamics, everyone was focused on one thing: the Champions League final.

Each of them had encouraged Su Luo in their own way, wishing him luck for the big game.

And it wasn't just them. Many of Su Luo's friends had come to witness the final in person. Among them were fellow football stars Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne.

"Su, you've got to beat Real Madrid. We're cheering for you!" Grealish said.

De Bruyne added with a grin, "I'm just here to observe. Next year, we'll be the ones facing off in the final!"

"First, get out of the group stage next season," Su Luo joked.

Even some old friends from his time at Union Berlin had come to Cardiff. Anya had sent him a message.

"My dad didn't want me to text you, worried it would affect your focus, but I had to wish you luck! Everyone in Berlin is rooting for you!" she wrote.

Su Luo was touched by her message. He replied, "With your support, I'm even more confident. Tell Uncle Hans and everyone that one day, Union Berlin will stand on this stage too."

Meanwhile, back in Cardiff, Uncle Hans and a group of Berlin supporters were wandering the city, preparing to head to the Millennium Stadium later that evening. They had spent a hefty amount to secure tickets from scalpers, but for this final, featuring a clash between Su Luo and Ronaldo, it was worth it.

The stage was set for the ultimate battle between two of the world's greatest players, and the anticipation was electric.

At that moment, noticing his daughter constantly checking her phone, Uncle Hans couldn't help but say, "Anya, stop looking at your phone while walking. Enjoy the scenery around you."

Anya smiled brightly, unable to hide her excitement. "He's coming back! He'll be back soon!"

"Who?" Uncle Hans, Bud, and the others were surprised, then quickly caught on, their faces lighting up with joy.

"Really?"

"Su's really coming back?"

"He's a true soldier of East Berlin!" Bud exclaimed.

"Yes!" Anya beamed. "He said he'll bring us to the Champions League final stage in the future!"

Meanwhile, the Chelsea players didn't eat much—just enough to keep their energy levels stable. There were only six hours left until the Champions League final kickoff.

Later, in the hotel's conference room, the team gathered for their final tactical meeting before heading to the stadium, warming up, and getting ready for the game to begin.

As the match drew closer, the tension among the Chelsea players became palpable. Even the usually composed veterans like Kante, Rudiger, David Luiz, Courtois, and Lukaku couldn't escape the excitement. Their hands trembled slightly as nerves set in.

For many of them, it was their first time participating in such a high-stakes match—a true test of mental fortitude.

A real superstar isn't just judged by talent, but by how well they perform under immense pressure. Even Su Luo could feel his heart rate rising slightly.

As the team boarded the bus and began the drive through the streets of Wales, Su Luo still couldn't believe it—he was about to play in the Champions League final.

"I might never get the chance to play in a World Cup, but this... this is my World Cup final," he thought to himself.

Behind Su Luo, the Cardiff Millennium Stadium loomed large. Fans from all over the world had arrived in droves, filling the streets and the square outside the stadium. It had been packed with people two hours ago, and the crowd had only grown since.

"Today is one of the biggest celebrations for football fans," the reporters announced. "And today, we will witness a historic moment—Su Luo, a Chinese player, starting in the Champions League final! We've just received confirmation: he will be in the starting lineup."

Field reporter Ma Fanshu, who had eagerly volunteered to cover the event, was giving a live update from the scene in Cardiff. Her report, transmitted via satellite, was being broadcast to millions of fans across China, where it was already night.

Though it was still afternoon in Wales, the entire nation of China was wide awake. Tonight, no one would be sleeping—whether they were regular football fans or not. The streets were buzzing with excitement. Night markets, food stalls, and bar streets were packed with people.

Even businesses that usually had slow nights were full of patrons, all gathered in front of large screens or TVs set up for the occasion, ready to watch the final together.

At 10 p.m., the fan bars were already overflowing. And by midnight, two hours before kickoff, the excitement was in full swing. Fans were chatting animatedly, drinking, and making their predictions.

"I think Chelsea's got this," one fan said confidently. "Su Luo's a beast! He'll tear them apart."

"Maybe, but Real Madrid is really strong this season," another fan countered. "At this stage, it's all about how well the coaches and players have prepared for the match."

"I agree. Chelsea has a chance, but it won't be easy. Real Madrid has way more experience in Champions League finals."

"Exactly! If Chelsea gets too emotional or someone gets injured, it could be game over."

"Hey, don't jinx it!" someone laughed.

Fans continued to speculate, but Chinese supporters were overwhelmingly optimistic about Chelsea's chances of lifting the trophy.

Back in Cardiff, Ma Fanshu continued her live coverage, now speaking with local fans to get their predictions. For Chelsea, Wales felt like a second home—after all, it was part of Great Britain.

English fans, red-faced from excitement and alcohol, shouted into the camera.

"3-0! Chelsea's gonna win!" one yelled.

"We've got Su Luo! He'll score two more! 5-0!" another fan shouted, brimming with confidence.

But not everyone shared their optimism. Some fans were more cautious.

"It won't be that easy," one predicted. "I think Chelsea will win, but it'll be a close one—maybe by just one goal."

On the other side, Real Madrid fans, dressed in white, were equally enthusiastic.

After all, Real Madrid had won eight consecutive matches in the Champions League this season, and their confidence was sky-high.

"We have Ronaldo!" a Madrid fan boasted. "He's at the peak of his career! No way we're losing this one."

"Yeah, Madrid's gonna win 3-0!" another added.

Both sets of fans were brimming with confidence, and soon, chants and songs filled the air as the two sides tried to out-sing each other. The Champions League final hadn't even started, but the atmosphere had already reached its peak.

With the noise level growing too intense, Ma Fanshu wrapped up her segment. "That's all from the scene for now. Back to the studio."

"Thanks, Fanshu," said host Duan Xuan, smiling as he appeared on screen in the studio hall.

"We've just received word that both teams have arrived at the stadium. Stay tuned as we continue our coverage of Su Luo's first Champions League final!"

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