Chapter 196 Premier League Debut Begins! Fight The Hammers!

When news of Su Luo's €155 million transfer to Chelsea broke, the loudest reactions came not from Chelsea fans, but from the English media.

Last season, Su Luo led Union Berlin to double victories over both Arsenal and Manchester City, making his mark across Britain. Everyone remembered the Chinese player who scored goals with ease. However, the proud English were reluctant to admit that Premier League teams were weaker than their Bundesliga counterparts. Instead, they chalked up Arsenal's and Manchester City's losses to being out of form. After all, how else could Leicester City have won the championship?

In the upcoming season, major clubs were bolstering their squads, shuffling coaches, and strategizing with renewed vigor. A repeat of last season's surprises seemed unlikely. For instance, Manchester City had brought in Guardiola, rejuvenating their lineup and making them one of the favorites for the title. In addition to Manchester City, Klopp's Liverpool, Tottenham led by Harry Kane, and Mourinho's Manchester United were all strong contenders.

Although Chelsea spent nearly €300 million, doubts lingered about their purchases. Lukaku, dubbed the "Prince of Flat-track Bullies," had an impressive first season at Everton with 15 goals and 8 assists in 38 games. But his performance stagnated over the next two seasons. He was effective in favorable situations but struggled under pressure. Chelsea fans still longed for a player who could fill Drogba's shoes.

Kante and Rudiger were solid signings, capable of revitalizing Chelsea's defense and restoring the Blues' once-feared reputation. But the biggest question mark was Su Luo. He was a player who thrived on controlling the ball and creating opportunities. In the slower pace of the Bundesliga, he had ample time to read the game. However, the Premier League's faster tempo and more intense physical play raised concerns. Could Su Luo's slender frame withstand the brutal challenges of Premier League defenders?

Last season, Su Luo had been injured against Atletico Madrid's high-intensity defense, which only added to the skepticism. Manchester City star Aguero commented in an interview:

"Su is a very talented player, but he might need a season or two to adapt to the Premier League. The pace here is faster than in other leagues. If you're not ready, you might struggle."

Liverpool legend and Sky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher wrote an article in the Daily Mail titled "Chelsea's Costly Mistake with Su Luo":

"It's not that Su Luo isn't good. He's one of the most talented players I've ever seen, but I always believed La Liga would suit his style best. The Premier League might stifle his genius."

"Abramovich may have made a foolish mistake. Chelsea thrives on quick transitions through midfield and utilizing their wingers to open up play. They should have kept Diego Costa rather than bringing in Su Luo and Lukaku."

"Su Luo could slow Chelsea down, stripping them of their sharpest weapon."

The Manchester Evening News also criticized the signing:

"Su Luo's arrival cost Chelsea too much. They could have signed Kane or kept Salah and Costa. Abramovich is still making signings based on personal whims rather than team fit, as he did with Shevchenko, Torres, and Mutu."

The comparison to Shevchenko was particularly biting. The Ballon d'Or winner and Milan's top scorer had struggled to adapt to the Premier League, scoring just 9 goals in three seasons for Chelsea. Age and injuries aside, many believed the Premier League's pace had overwhelmed him. Now, the media was questioning Abramovich's judgment once again, as if history were repeating itself.

With the onslaught of criticism, Chelsea was prepared to respond, and Conte asked Su Luo if he wanted to address the media.

"Do you want to hold a press conference to respond to the criticism?" Conte asked.

"No need," Su Luo replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Without results, any response is meaningless. The only answer is goals and victories."

After more than half a month of physical training, Su Luo finally joined the team for tactical sessions. From what he saw in training matches, he felt confident about his prospects.

As pre-season training wrapped up, Chelsea played several warm-up matches. Due to the high costs of their signings, the club didn't travel abroad, instead arranging matches against English Championship and League One teams in London. They secured a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, a narrow 1-0 victory over Luton, and a 1-1 draw with recently relegated Newcastle.

Su Luo scored three goals but didn't dominate as expected. The media, still skeptical, continued to criticize him. As the most expensive signing of the summer, Su Luo had become the primary target for criticism across the UK and Europe. Every flaw was magnified.

Even the Times weighed in, stating in their sports section:

"Based on the warm-up matches, Su Luo clearly needs time to adapt to the Premier League. His tempo with the ball is out of sync with his Chelsea teammates. The long-distance runs he's known for may be hard to replicate here."

Despite the renewed wave of doubt, Chelsea chose to remain silent. They knew that the real answers would come on the pitch.

As July came to an end, with less than a month before the new Premier League season kicked off, Chelsea had completed five warm-up matches with three wins and two draws—an average performance at best.

Fortunately, Rudiger finally joined the team, providing much-needed reinforcement to the defense. Initially, Chelsea had four central defenders: Zouma, Terry, David Luiz, and Gary Cahill. However, Zouma was injured at the end of last season and would need over two months to recover. Gary Cahill's form had significantly declined, and he was prone to making basic errors. Without Rudiger, the 36-year-old Terry might have been forced to shoulder the burden at the start of the new season.

As the Premier League opener approached, Chelsea's Champions League qualifying opponent was confirmed: Steaua Bucharest. With the Premier League season starting on August 16 and the Champions League qualifier on August 17, Chelsea planned to use a second-string lineup for the latter, reserving their main squad for the Premier League's first game. The outcome of this first match would set the tone for the entire season, so it couldn't be taken lightly.

Three days before Chelsea's Premier League opener, the season officially began with Hull City facing defending champions Leicester City. Leicester, weakened by the departure of midfielder Kante, lost 1-2 away to Hull City, marking a rough start to their title defense. This result seemed to signal a return to the Premier League's traditional power dynamics.

Manchester United beat Bournemouth 3-1, Manchester City secured a 2-1 home victory against Sunderland, and Arsenal and Liverpool engaged in a thrilling goal-fest, with Arsenal ultimately losing 3-4. Tottenham also emerged victorious, beating Everton 1-0 away. Among the traditional top six, most teams had already demonstrated their strength, leaving all eyes on Chelsea. If they failed to win their first game, they would become the laughingstock of England.

As the clock ticked down, Chelsea's matchday finally arrived. Su Luo boarded the Chelsea team bus to Stamford Bridge as usual. However, he felt a bit out of place in his blue training suit, being more accustomed to wearing red.

Their first-round opponent was another London team, West Ham United. At the pre-match press conference, Chelsea's new coach Antonio Conte couldn't resist addressing the skepticism surrounding Su Luo.

"I don't understand how people can say Su Luo can't adapt to the Premier League before he's even played a match," Conte remarked. "Shouldn't we wait to see his actual performance before making judgments? I have full confidence that Chelsea will beat West Ham at home in this Premier League debut. Soon, everyone will see just how strong Su Luo really is."

Of course, Conte's comments didn't attract much attention from the media. Talking big before a match was easy—anyone could do it. West Ham's coach, Bilic, a rock guitarist in his spare time, embodied the spirit of rock and roll. Facing the renowned Conte, Bilic was dismissive.

"I'm eager to see how strong Su Luo really is," Bilic retorted. "It would be embarrassing for him if he was defeated by our Hammers. This season, we're not just looking to avoid relegation; we're aiming for European qualification. Chelsea is just our stepping stone!"

With the coaches of both teams trading barbs, the anticipation for the game only grew.

This summer was especially tough for Chinese fans. They had watched Ronaldo in the Euros and Messi in the Copa America, but they hadn't seen Su Luo in action for over two months. Finally, the wait was over.

Since the 2015/16 season, CCTV had resumed broadcasting Premier League matches. However, games were often delayed due to unexpected events like snooker and curling, leading many fans to lose faith in CCTV's coverage. Although CCTV heavily promoted Su Luo's move to the Premier League, many younger fans preferred to watch online. LeTV, which had secured the new media broadcasting rights for the Premier League, also signed Jian Jun, a top commentator, to cover the matches. Even before the season started, LeTV Sports had registered over 10 million new users, with sales of Premier League Chelsea fan packs increasing by more than 300% year-on-year. This was a testament to Su Luo's influence among Chinese fans.

Finally, the day everyone had been waiting for arrived. Countless fans set their alarms for the middle of the night, waking up at 2:30 AM to be ready for the game's 3:00 AM kickoff. Soon, the cameras zoomed in on Su Luo, the biggest star of the match, who would be scrutinized closely by all sides.

"Alright, welcome to the first round of the 2016-2017 English Premier League!" the commentator announced. "Before Chelsea's game, the other traditional powerhouses have all won their matches."

"Su Luo, who joined Chelsea this summer for a record fee of €155 million, is about to make his Premier League debut! With the arrival of Conte as manager, it's clear that Chelsea has only one goal this season: to win the title!"

As the players from both sides entered the field, the stage was set for Su Luo's Premier League debut.

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