"Real Madrid 2:0 CSKA Moscow!"

"Champions League Match in Extreme Weather! Suker Scores Again!"

"Casillas Injured! Real Madrid's Goal in Jeopardy?"

"Bale Has a Cold! Misses the Match!"

"Real Madrid Nearly Fell in Moscow!"

After the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, various reports about Real Madrid emerged endlessly.

Especially the problems Real Madrid encountered in this match under extreme weather conditions.

Some people felt regret, while others were ecstatic.

Especially those players who cared about the Champions League, they wished Real Madrid would suffer more injuries, preferably being directly carried off by CSKA Moscow.

Although this probability was very low, they also didn't want to encounter Real Madrid.

Real Madrid immediately returned to Spain after the first leg in Europe. Moscow was too cold; they didn't want to stay there for another moment.

Returning from the extremely cold region to Spain, feeling the above-zero temperatures, their whole bodies felt warm and comfortable.

In the yard, Suker, Srna, and Kaka lay on lounge chairs, basking in the sun.

Since experiencing Moscow's winter, they cherished this mild winter even more.

Kaka wore sunglasses, lying on the lounge chair, with the cool breeze blowing through his hair.

"This is so nice~~~"

Srna also said with a contented expression, "It's really good, except…"

Srna turned to Suker, who had an oxygen mask over his mouth, and grinned, "Can't you just do one thing, either rest or train?"

Suker turned his head and mumbled, "I have my own way of resting!"

Kaka turned his head, "Don't mind him; you can't persuade him anyway!"

Srna grinned, "Don't you find him annoying like this?"

Suker, "Did I hit a nerve? I'm so hardworking!"

"Get lost!"

Srna said irritably.

However, Suker always doing this indeed put a lot of pressure on them.

For professional players, self-discipline is indeed very important.

They knew this better than anyone; active training could extend their professional careers, and they understood this principle.

But the problem was, understanding was one thing, how many people could persist.

Especially like Suker, who would occasionally go crazy and suddenly do a Spartan-style extra training session, making them all a bit nervous.

"However, you two @￥%%%##"

Srna said irritably, "Take off your mask and speak properly."

Suker also felt a bit breathless, so he took off his mask, slowly took a breath, and then said, "Don't you two have a plan?"

"What plan?"

Srna and Kaka asked.

Suker pointed at the two, "You two are the same age, right? You're already 30 today."

Suker sighed, "What I'm about to say might not sound good, but I still want to tell you that if you don't focus on training and use better physical fitness to prolong the decline in your form, things will get very bad."

Upon hearing this, Srna and Kaka both fell silent.

For any professional player, 30 is a hurdle they don't want to face.

Because it means many problems will arise after this age.

Form declining, or even a cliff-like decline.

After injury, recovery ability worsens, and overall performance significantly drops.

Even everything they currently possess might gradually move away from them.

For professional players, this is a hurdle they must face.

"Unknowingly, I've already turned 30!" Kaka suddenly sighed.

Suker looked at Kaka, "Do you have any plans?"

Kaka turned his head and smiled, "Yes! To play in one more World Cup!"

"And then?" Suker asked.

Kaka shrugged, "Then just let nature take its course! The decline in form is irreversible, and I'm already prepared for it. I'll keep playing for as long as I can, so now I actually enjoy the matches very much. Every extra match I play is a blessing from the Lord!"

Suker scratched his head and turned to Srna:

"What about you? Just want to play one World Cup? Don't want to play in 2018?"

Upon hearing this, Srna turned his head, "Are you crazy? It's impossible no matter how you think about it. In 2018, I'll be 36, and my form will be long gone!"

"What I'm thinking now is to try my best to maintain my form until the 2014 World Cup. As long as I can stay at my peak during this Brazil World Cup, I'll be satisfied!"

"So my plan is to maintain my form until 2014. After that, facing the irreversible decline in form, my attitude is similar to Kaka's. I'll play as many extra matches as I can, and I won't force it!"

Suker complained, "Aren't you two too Zen?"

Srna smiled, "Say what you want, but for me, football is no longer my everything. I still have a family, I still have a life!"

He scratched his head and said:

"This time, I still haven't brought Mia and them over. They prefer living in Zagreb, so I didn't force it. But since my child was born, the number of times I see her each year is very short!"

"Mia is raising her alone; she works very hard! As a father, I also want to participate in my child's growth."

"If my form declines, I might return to Dinamo Zagreb, or maybe even sooner!"

"For me, there's also an unfulfilled ambition now, and that's the World Cup!"

"In fact, it's not just me; Mario, Rakitić, Pranjic, Vukojević, they are all the same!"

"In the 2010 World Cup, we encountered many things, whether it was injustice or injuries, but I really couldn't help you. In fact, we always believed you should have a World Cup. We are unwilling to accept that you couldn't win the World Cup because of your teammates' shortcomings, which is also why we are still fighting now!"

As he spoke, Srna smiled, "Perhaps you'll be very surprised. We are also professional players, why would we have such thoughts, but Suker… you are far more important in our hearts than you imagine!"

"In fact, since Dinamo Zagreb, every time we moved forward, it was because of you. We wanted to keep up with your pace, which is why we trained desperately and improved ourselves. Unknowingly, we arrived here!"

"To be honest, sometimes I'm even surprised that I'm playing for Real Madrid. If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't be here."

"However…" Srna sighed and waved his hand, "I can't keep up anymore. I'm 30. What more do you want from me? I really can't keep up. Even if you drag me, I can't keep up!"

"In the 2014 World Cup, I will do my best to help you. As I said before, I don't want to hear that you couldn't win the World Cup because your teammates weren't good enough. So, that's my bottom line!"

"As for after that, if my form declines, then don't mind me anymore. I really can't keep up. I should enjoy life and return to my family. Kovacic, Brozović, these youngsters are left for you to lead; they will continue to help you!"

Suker looked at Srna, and after a long time, he said, "Don't you have a plan?"

Srna smiled, "If this counts as a plan, then yes!"

"However, are you willing? If you leave Real Madrid one day, it means you've left the top stage!" Suker asked.

Srna waved his hand, "I'm willing! My form has declined, what more do you want from me? Besides, playing with you, the pressure you exert is even more than opponents!"

Suker pointed at himself in surprise, "Me? I put pressure on you?"

Kaka nodded, "Of course. You don't say it out loud, but your actions indeed put a lot of pressure on us, just like just now, we were resting, and you were training!"

Suker rolled his eyes, "Forget it! Forget it! Anyway, I'll play by myself when the time comes. Without you guys, I can't play anymore?"

Kaka smiled, "I'm not worried about that. Even if it's not us, Real Madrid will find others to help you."

Suker, "Don't get injured. It's best… to play for as many more years as possible."

Kaka and Srna left.

Suker, however, was in a daze in his room.

Ever since entering professional League, Suker had always been surrounded by a group of people.

This was true for both the National Team and the club.

But unknowingly, he had also reached the age of 26.

Time flowed even faster than Suker imagined!

And Srna, Kaka, Pranjic, Dujmović, Vukojević, and others were a few years older than him; their form issues would come sooner.

Even within the next two years, problems might arise.

The oldest among them, Dujmović and Pranjic, were already 31.

In fact, in the original timeline, these guys had already retired from the National Team by the 2018 World Cup, with only Modrić, Mandžukić, and Rakitić holding on.

Now, there was an additional one.

Suker had considered the issues of declining form and teammates gradually leaving, but he always thought it would be a long time before that happened.

Therefore, his mindset was relatively stable, and it wasn't until today's conversation that he understood that whether it was Srna or anyone else, they had all made their plans.

What Suker thought would take a few more years had now quietly begun!

"The 2014 World Cup!" Suker's eyes grew colder.

In the original timeline, Croatia's performance in the 2018 World Cup absolutely shocked the world.

Suker also placed great expectations on the 2018 World Cup.

However, Croatia would indeed be very strong in the 2018 World Cup.

But are they weak now?

If everything developed according to the original timeline, then what was his own value?

Srna, Dujmović, Pranjic, these guys truly trusted him unconditionally; they wanted to win a World Cup for him.

Why wouldn't Suker want the same?

Wasn't the meaning of his existence to break everything!

Just as he did in the club, he had to do the same thing in the National Team.

Therefore, he couldn't treat the 2018 World Cup as just an expectation!

He couldn't think that if he missed this one, there would be a next.

That way, he would never win the championship!

The next day, Suker arrived at the locker room.

"Why are you here?"

Suker said, looking at Casillas.

After he got injured, why didn't he rest at home and instead came here!

Casillas smiled and said, "I can't stay put, and it's just a wrist injury, it's not like I can't walk. I came here to feel the atmosphere!"

"You don't think the locker room can't function without you, do you?" Suker said with a smile, putting down his bag and preparing to change.

Casillas leaned in and whispered, "Actually, I'm guarding against Mourinho. If I'm absent from the locker room for a long time, who knows what he might do. I have to keep an eye on him."

Suker rolled his eyes.

Mourinho wouldn't stop causing trouble just because he was being watched!

However, what Casillas said was also true; with him in the locker room, Mourinho would at least feel uncomfortable.

Indeed, when Mourinho arrived at the locker room and saw Casillas, his entire face instantly dropped.

"Hahahahaha!! Did you see his expression? It was hilarious!"

After lunch, Suker, Casillas, and Ramos sat together chatting on the field.

Casillas laughed heartily; whenever he thought of Mourinho's expression, he felt relieved.

"He probably didn't expect you to show up in the locker room."

"He hates me, but I hate him too!"

"Just maintain this balance; it's just this season!"

"I didn't intend to disrupt the balance, just to annoy him!"

Suker chatted with Casillas, while Ramos listened the entire time.

He knew about the internal conflicts in the locker room, but he wasn't too clear about them, so listening to their conversation, he understood that Suker and Casillas were on the same side.

Thinking of this, Ramos asked, "Since you two hate him so much, why don't you get rid of him?"

Hearing this, Suker and Casillas both turned their heads.

Suker shrugged.

Casillas sighed, "We want to, but we can't! He's the man who give us the sextuple. Unless there's a special reason, we can't get rid of him."

Ramos, "But this stalemate isn't a solution either; things will only get worse!"

Casillas looked at Suker, "What do you think?"

Suker spread his hands, "What can I think! Just let nature take its course!"

Suker knew very well that the decision-making power was not with them at all.

Florentino was the key!

Only after the old man made a decision would the outcome appear.

However, Mourinho had already stepped on a landmine, so now it was just a matter of waiting for things to slowly ferment.

At the right time, Florentino would make his move.

However, Suker also admired Mourinho's methods.

After entering the locker rooms of top clubs, he gradually established himself using a series of methods and achievements, even forcing Suker and Casillas to band together.

If he hadn't stepped on Florentino's landmine, this struggle would have been truly difficult to predict.

"By the way, where do you usually go to have fun?" Suker asked.

"Fun?"

Casillas said in surprise, "I'm truly surprised to hear that word from your mouth!"

Ramos also tilted his head and asked, "What's wrong? Suddenly thinking about having fun!"

Suker: "It's not exactly 'fun,' just relaxing. Sometimes, I feel like I push myself too hard, and I really should relax appropriately. So, do you have any recommendations?"

Casillas and Ramos both recommended places like bars and nightclubs.

But Suker wasn't very keen on them.

"Perhaps you could go to a bullring." Casillas grinned; he knew Suker had a strange Hobbies.

"Don't you like watching bull hoof trimming?"

Suker: "..."

"Suker!!!!!!!!!!"

"Hat-trick!! Just 20 minutes into the match, Suker has already scored three goals!"

"Real Madrid leads Racing Santander 3-0 away!"

"In the 24th round of La Liga, Suker is on fire!"

The Sardinero Stadium was now completely silent.

Three goals!

Two world-class shots, and one powerful solo run from the central axis, breaking through their defense three times in a row.

Facing such goals, their defense had no solution whatsoever.

Even the fans couldn't blame their own defense.

And for the older fans, it was as if they saw the 'alien' who played for Barcelona in the early 20th century, who was omnipotent.

That monster who couldn't be stopped!

"Wow~~~ This guy's form is incredibly hot!"

Srna couldn't help but exclaim.

Even as teammates, watching Suker's performance gave them goosebumps.

Those two world-class shots were one thing.

But the final solo charge through the defense, single-handedly dismantling Racing Santander's defense, this almost perfectly embodied individualism.

Ramos, however, scratched his head in frustration.

"Damn it! Just thinking about having to play against you guys in the European Cup gives me a headache!" Ramos pointed at Suker, "How do you even limit that guy!"

Currently, they were teammates, but when they returned to their respective National Teams, Suker would be Spain's most vigilant concern.

Although they were the 2010 World Cup champions, they knew very well how tightly contested that match against Croatia was.

And now, compared to that period, Suker had grown even more terrifyingly.

Mourinho on the sidelines was already used to it.

"Suker's form is starting to heat up!"

Faria said with a smile.

Mourinho: "His form has never dropped!"

Faria sighed, "40 goals in 24 rounds! What a monster!"

"Indeed!"

Even Mourinho shook his head and sighed.

"As long as Suker maintains his form from this season, we have a chance to challenge for the Champions League and retain the title!"

Faria: "Bayern Munich and Barcelona won't be easy to deal with!"

Mourinho said confidently, "Bayern's current squad isn't complete enough, or rather, the overall team hasn't solidified yet; they lack some key elements. Their current strength is just an illusion; when they face us, or rather, when they face Suker, their defense will have problems."

"As for Barcelona..." Mourinho's mouth curved into a smile, "I've never lost to Barcelona!"

In his words, one could not help but hear confidence.

Whether during his Inter Milan tenure or at Real Madrid, he had never lost to Barcelona!

Moreover, over the past few seasons, Barcelona had almost been traumatized by Real Madrid.

They were suppressed in both the League and the Champions League.

Real Madrid was eliminated from the Copa del Rey, so they couldn't continue the suppression; otherwise, Barcelona would have ended this season with zero titles again!

Mourinho was determined to win the Champions League this season.

He wanted to use this as a prerequisite to gradually infiltrate the technical department, and before the end of next season, he wanted to control transfer power.

Sextuple + consecutive Champions League titles!

These were the foundations for him to dare to launch a challenge!