Chapter 243 Chelsea's Remnants, Su Luo Is The Hope Of The Whole Village!

Bad news struck again on the international match day—Lukaku was injured. He suffered a left thigh adductor strain during Belgium's European qualifier against Greece, the toughest opponent in their group.

Before the match, Belgium, ranked third in the world, had been in fine form, with Lukaku and De Bruyne leading the charge. They had won every game by more than three goals. But against Greece, things took a turn for the worse when Lukaku went down.

Throughout the first half, Greece double-marked Lukaku, making every move a physical battle. Despite the pressure, Lukaku managed to score, converting a pass from De Bruyne to put Belgium up 1-0. However, at the 65-minute mark, Lukaku collapsed without any contact and had to be stretchered off the field.

Conte, watching from home, was furious. Already dealing with a roster full of injuries, this was the last thing Chelsea needed.

Belgium eventually drew 1-1 with Greece, ending their winning streak. Lukaku remained in Belgium for treatment, with reports suggesting he would be out for at least four weeks.

In an interview, De Bruyne expressed the difficulty of the match: "It was a tough game. We're closely matched with Greece and Bosnia, so we can't afford to take anything lightly."

De Bruyne was struggling too, with almost all of Belgium's forwards injured. The only one left standing was Batshuayi, who, despite his hard work, wasn't enough to carry the team. De Bruyne even joked that if Su Luo were in Belgium, he'd be confident in winning the World Cup.

Then, an English reporter asked the tough question: "With Lukaku and Hazard both injured and the Premier League clash against Chelsea looming, are you confident?"

De Bruyne nodded, "This is a good opportunity for us. Su Luo is a formidable player, but we have a full squad and plenty of reasons to believe we can beat them."

Indeed, if Manchester City couldn't beat an injury-plagued Chelsea, their title hopes might as well be over.

After the international break, the Premier League resumed. Chelsea faced Crystal Palace at home, and Conte couldn't help but sigh as he looked around the injury-depleted locker room.

What choice did he have? He had to press on. The squad was down to just three forwards: Su Luo, Pedro, and new recruit Lu Gua, with both Hazard and Lukaku sidelined.

Chelsea's striking options were already thin. Solanke had left for Liverpool on a free transfer, knowing that Su Luo's arrival would limit his opportunities. And after a scandal involving racial discrimination, the club had also let go of promising young striker Niedy.

With so many players out, Conte had to field a makeshift front three of Su Luo, Pedro, and Mount against Crystal Palace. The game was a struggle, with Crystal Palace dominating the midfield in the absence of Kante. But Su Luo, playing as a false nine, frequently dropped deep to help out, creating space and opportunities for his teammates.

In the 35th minute, Su Luo switched positions with Moses on the right wing, dribbled down the flank, and sent in a low, fast cross. Pedro darted into the box and slid in to score, putting Chelsea ahead 1-0.

In the second half, Su Luo again drew multiple defenders as he cut in from the middle, creating space for Pedro and Mount. At the crucial moment, Su Luo defied expectations and sent a perfectly timed pass to the advancing Loftus-Cheek, who slotted it into the net with a low shot. Chelsea was up 2-0.

In the final 10 minutes, Chelsea won a corner. Amid the chaos in the box, Su Luo, mimicking Inzaghi's sneaky runs, appeared out of nowhere and headed the ball into the net. The Crystal Palace goalkeeper had no chance. Chelsea sealed the game with a 3-0 victory.

"Unbelievable!" exclaimed Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler. "Su Luo's goal-scoring streak continues! That's his 56th Premier League goal, just shy of an unprecedented 60!"

"And his assists? Now at 29! Over 30 goal contributions in total!"

"My God, this player has helped Chelsea create 92 goals so far. A 100-goal season is within reach!"

"He's a phenomenon in the Premier League, playing like he's 10 years ahead of his time!"

With the win over Crystal Palace, Chelsea maintained their 5-point lead over Manchester City. With 85 points already, they are within striking distance of the elusive 100-point mark in the Premier League.

Now, all eyes are on Manchester City. Can they stop Chelsea's relentless march to the title?

Just five days later at Stamford Bridge, the Premier League's Battle of the Titans was about to unfold. The two top contenders for the championship were set for a direct clash, a game that could either end the suspense of the title race or keep it alive.

If Manchester City could beat Chelsea, they would close the gap to just two points, leaving the door open for a potential overtake.

Manchester City's star striker, Aguero, spoke confidently in an interview: "I believe we have a real shot at winning the title. Remember the 93:20 miracle? We can do it again."

His words fired up Manchester City fans, and the legendary "93:20" moment was once again the talk of the Premier League.

In the 2011-2012 season, the Premier League title race came down to the final day. Manchester City and Manchester United were level on 86 points, with City leading only by goal difference. On that dramatic day, Manchester City faced Crystal Palace, while Manchester United took on Sunderland.

United took an early 1-0 lead, leaving City in a precarious position. Zabaleta initially put City ahead, but Crystal Palace struck back with two quick goals, leaving City trailing. United fans at Old Trafford were already celebrating, believing the title was theirs.

As the game entered stoppage time, City still trailed 1-2, and even their most optimistic supporters began to lose hope. But then, in the dying moments, Dzeko equalized, giving City a glimmer of hope. With United's game over, the title hung in the balance.

With just seconds remaining, Balotelli, under intense pressure, managed to pass the ball to Aguero, who took it forward, sidestepped a defender, and fired it into the net. The Etihad Stadium erupted as Aguero's goal secured the title for Manchester City at the 93:20 mark—a moment that would be etched in football history forever.

Now, years later, Chelsea stood in Manchester City's way. But this time, City's ranks were depleted, with Aguero leading a team missing several key players.

For Aguero, this match was more than just another league game—it was one of the most important of his career. At nearly 30, he knew his time at the top was running out. A recent medical check-up had revealed troubling news: "You need to avoid strenuous physical activity, or you could be putting your life at risk."

At just 29, the idea of retiring so soon was devastating for Aguero. He watched as players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi continued to dominate well into their 30s. But despite his determination, Aguero knew he might have to retire around 30 due to his health.

He was desperate to win a few more Premier League titles before stepping away from the game. This match against Chelsea could be his last shot at glory.

As the players lined up in the tunnel, the tension was palpable. Chelsea and Manchester City players stared ahead, the weight of the match pressing down on them. Grealish and De Bruyne wanted to exchange a few words with Su Luo, but the intensity of the moment kept them silent.

Su Luo, Chelsea's biggest star, stood at the end of the line, taking deep breaths. This match was crucial for both him and his team. He had faced several opponents since joining Chelsea, but none as formidable as Manchester City.

Despite his impressive performances, Su Luo knew that Manchester City was different. They had recently won ten consecutive league matches, defeating the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Su Luo's usual brilliance might not be enough against such a high-caliber opponent.

If Chelsea had their full squad—Ajar, Kante, Lukaku, and others—80% of Su Luo's effort might have sufficed. But now, the entire team and fanbase were relying on him. The eyes of millions of fans worldwide were fixed on him, and he wasn't sure if he could handle the pressure.

As the players walked out onto the pitch, Su Luo's uncertainty began to fade. He looked up and saw the massive tifo in the stands, featuring his image and the Chinese flag behind him, fluttering proudly.

The sight filled him with renewed determination.

"Okay, I'm ready," he thought, clenching his fists. The battle was about to begin, and Su Luo was prepared to give everything he had.

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