SWR: Chapter 904/906

Chapter 904: Well Done, Ronaldo

Having been drawn into the "Group of Death" for three consecutive seasons and now facing Manchester City and Dortmund one after another, the whole world lamented Real Madrid's terrible draw luck. At the same time, conspiracy theories began swirling — was UEFA really trying to get rid of Gao Shen?

With four Champions League titles to his name, Gao Shen is the most successful coach in world football today.

Throughout his coaching career, Gao Shen has been placed in the Group of Death for four straight Champions League seasons.

Once with Napoli, twice with Manchester City, and now it's Real Madrid's turn.

But in his column, AS editor-in-chief Alfredo pointed out that Real Madrid's unfortunate draw was practically inevitable and irreversible the moment they dropped into Pot 3.

In the past two seasons, one could argue it was just bad luck. But now, after dropping into Pot 3, what more is there to say?

This isn't Gao Shen's first run-in with bad draws.

Back when he coached Napoli, he faced a Serie A team early in the Coppa Italia. At Manchester City, he was thrown into the Group of Death two years in a row in the Champions League, but both times he advanced as group winner.

Even with Napoli, he performed admirably in the Group of Death.

But this season is different.

Italian legend Arrigo Sacchi wrote in his column that the challenge facing Gao Shen this season is far more difficult — because he doesn't have time.

Sacchi broke down today's top-level coaches into two main types. The first adapts tactics based on individual players, such as Ancelotti or Heynckes. The second imposes a complete tactical system of their own, like Guardiola.

Gao Shen is one of the rare few who combines both approaches.

But at Real Madrid, it's clear that he's aiming to build a complete tactical framework — and that takes time.

"In Naples, he first spent a year in Serie B shaping the team, then a year in Serie A, and finally had an excellent run in the Champions League in the third year."

"At Manchester City, Gao Shen also spent a season grinding in the Premier League before shining in Europe."

"But at Real Madrid, he simply doesn't have that luxury."

Sacchi believes that Real Madrid's decline in recent years has left Gao Shen with almost no time to patiently polish his squad and system. He must deliver results quickly and lead the club out of its slump as soon as possible.

That's a massive challenge for any head coach, even Gao Shen.

"It took Pellegrini a year and Mourinho two years, and neither succeeded. To expect Gao Shen to do it in one year is really asking too much."

Even so, Sacchi still believes Real Madrid's situation is urgent. After being drawn into the Group of Death, Gao Shen has effectively been pushed into a corner with no room to retreat.

"Many speculate this could be Gao Shen's first Waterloo, but I don't think so."

"Gao Shen is incredibly resilient. The more pressure he faces, the more determined he becomes."

"To support the team, Gao Shen once said that Real Madrid would become a team with tremendous endurance."

"Let's wait and see!"

…

On September 2nd, in the third round of La Liga, Real Madrid hosted Granada at the Bernabéu.

This match had special significance — Marcelo was back.

After taking part in the London Olympics, Marcelo returned to the team and had been training with Buenaventura and Pintus, focusing on his fitness. Because of this, he hadn't played in any matches yet.

Marcos Alonso had started the last two matches and delivered average performances. No major issues, but nothing particularly outstanding either. That's already decent for a young player.

But now, Marcelo was back.

Marcelo and Ronaldo — this was the left flank that Gao Shen had carefully constructed for Real Madrid, and it was finally coming together.

Unfortunately, this would be their only match together before the international break, when the squad would be temporarily disbanded for national team duty.

Another noteworthy change was that Gao Shen replaced Higuaín in the starting lineup with Benzema.

In other words, the trident of Benzema, Ronaldo, and Di María was finally reunited.

Benzema had scored in two consecutive appearances off the bench, including a crucial equalizer in the last match. Gao Shen had every reason to start him again.

The midfield remained the trio of Toni Kroos, Modrić, and Xabi Alonso.

On the right, Arbeloa and Carvajal were still waiting for their chances on the bench.

In goal was Courtois.

In the last away match against Getafe, Casillas made some uncharacteristic errors and conceded twice. It was only logical for Courtois to keep his place.

Gao Shen had been closely monitoring the atmosphere in the dressing room, particularly the players' moods.

At present, everything was running smoothly.

…

After kickoff, Real Madrid took the initiative to attack Granada.

Granada had clearly learned from past experiences. Playing at the Bernabéu, they deployed a 4-2-3-1 defensive setup, looking to disrupt Real Madrid's rhythm early and then settle into a solid defensive counterattack.

Gao Shen has always found this type of approach frustrating.

If the team were in a more mature phase, with strong chemistry and a solid grasp of the tactical system, this kind of pressing would actually fall into Gao Shen's trap. He enjoys playing against high-pressing teams.

But Real Madrid was still in a very early stage, lacking coordination and understanding. As a result, they were thrown into disarray early on.

It took nearly ten minutes before they began to find stability.

In the 16th minute, Real Madrid created their first real threat of the game.

Ramos sent a straight pass from the backline down the left flank.

Benzema drifted to the left to receive the ball and laid it off to Ronaldo, who was cutting inside. The Portuguese passed it again to Toni Kroos, who shielded the ball with his back before flicking it with the outside of his right foot toward the right edge of the penalty area.

Di María controlled the ball, shook off Siqueira with a quick cut inside, and delivered a reverse pass with his left foot.

Modrić timed his run perfectly and arrived at the right side of the penalty spot. He met Di María's pass with a low shot using his right foot — goal!

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!"

The entire Bernabéu exploded.

On the sidelines, Gao Shen couldn't help but applaud and cheer for the Real Madrid players.

This was exactly what he had envisioned.

No matter how compact your defense is, I'll keep shifting, dragging, and opening up space. Then, I'll make that one sudden killer pass to break through your line.

"Did you see that? At that moment, Benzema, Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, and Modrić were all near the penalty area. As long as Di María made the pass, we had multiple options to receive it."

"Arbeloa was still hesitant tracking back. If he'd been more decisive, Di María's cut inside might not have worked. He would've passed to the right instead, and Arbeloa would've crossed from the byline. That would've been another clear chance."

Gao Shen analyzed the play for Zidane, Hierro, and the others on the touchline.

The critical moment in that entire sequence was when Benzema received the ball, which transitioned play from Real Madrid's own half to Granada's penalty area in one move.

…

With the opening goal, Real Madrid gradually settled into their rhythm.

They continued to follow Gao Shen's tactical ideas, and at one point even strung together a series of horizontal passes inside the box.

Unfortunately, when Benzema received a cross from Ronaldo, he was caught off guard and miscontrolled the ball, wasting a great chance.

But this couldn't really be blamed on Benzema. After all, Ronaldo rarely passes in the box if he has a chance to shoot.

No one expected him to lay it off, especially inside the penalty area. That in itself was a surprise.

But in the 26th minute, another sweeping attacking move came together.

Di María and Modrić combined on the right side, drawing defenders before shifting the ball back to Xabi Alonso, then over to Toni Kroos, who switched it to the left. Marcelo surged forward with the ball, beat his man, and played a sharp pass into the left side of the penalty area.

Ronaldo accelerated past his marker and burst into the box. From a tight angle near the byline, he fired a low shot with his weaker left foot.

The ball slipped between the goalkeeper's legs!

Just that small window, that tight angle, that split-second opportunity…

He nailed it!

With his left foot, no less!

After scoring, Ronaldo sprinted to the touchline, celebrating wildly.

Gao Shen applauded enthusiastically from the sidelines, cheering the Portuguese star for his brilliant finish.

"Well done, Cristiano!"

Ronaldo heard the praise from the coach, especially when he saw Gao Shen giving him a thumbs-up. He grinned ear to ear and high-fived every teammate who came to congratulate him.

"That's already Cristiano Ronaldo's fourth goal of the season!"

"Four goals in three matches!"

…

With the two-goal cushion, Real Madrid kept growing in confidence.

Especially down the left flank with Marcelo and Ronaldo — their chemistry was coming alive.

Just six minutes after Ronaldo's goal, Marcelo delivered another beautiful through ball from the left. Benzema dropped deep, used his body to hold off the defender, received Marcelo's pass, and shot with his left foot.

Unfortunately, it hit the side netting.

The angle was just too narrow!

Ronaldo had scored from nearly the same spot moments earlier, but Benzema fell just short.

This highlighted the difference in individual ability.

In terms of shooting technique and overall quality, there was still a significant gap between Benzema and Ronaldo.

In today's world football, Ronaldo is definitely the only superstar capable of challenging Messi!

Before the end of the first half, Real Madrid had completely encircled Granada. Di María cut inside from the right and took a left-footed shot, but it was blocked by a central defender. Toni Kroos collected the ball and passed it to Marcelo.

The Brazilian, full of confidence and flair, drove into the box on the left. Facing the defender one-on-one, he beat his man and played a cross to the far post from the byline.

Benzema, who had just missed a chance, didn't let this one slip. He met Marcelo's cross with a clean volley and buried the ball into Granada's net.

3-0!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 905: Hat Trick

"After the start of the second half, Granada pressed very aggressively."

"Real Madrid is finding it a bit difficult to move the ball around now."

"Look at this, Toni Kroos passes to the left and Ronaldo drops back to receive it."

"Nyom is tightly marking him from behind."

"Ronaldo signals that he was kicked, but the referee doesn't blow the whistle."

"A quick counterattack by Granada. The ball is pushed to the right and played to Ortiz."

"Ramos is defending on the wing. Ortiz cuts inside, and Xabi Alonso comes over to double-team..."

"Great defending!"

"Two Real Madrid players work together to win the ball back."

"Xabi Alonso plays it forward straight to Modrić."

"Modrić turns and evades pressure, then switches it right to Di María."

"Real Madrid's counterattack is on!"

"Look at this now, three Real Madrid players are in position."

"Benzema is dropping to meet Di María at the top..."

"But Di María doesn't pass to Benzema. He slips it behind him..."

"There's an opportunity!"

"Ronaldo makes a diagonal run into the right side of the box!"

"One-on-one!"

"It's in!"

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!"

"Ronaldo scores again!"

"Oh my God, that's his fifth league goal of the season."

"4-0!"

"Real Madrid are playing explosive, attacking football at home!"

"You can clearly see that Gao Shen's team is improving fast. The positioning and coordination between Real Madrid's players are really impressive."

"Take that last sequence. Xabi Alonso dropped into the center-back position to block the middle and double up with Ramos. Modrić turned under pressure to break free, all in one smooth motion."

"Then Di María charged forward from behind. Benzema dropped deep and dragged the defender with him, creating space for Ronaldo to break through. The Portuguese's pace was fully unleashed."

"4-0!"

"And it's only the 52nd minute. We can absolutely expect more goals from Real Madrid tonight!"

…

The entire Santiago Bernabéu erupted in wild cheers.

When Ronaldo ran to the sideline to celebrate his goal, he was met with deafening roars from the Madrid fans.

This scene didn't escape the attention of Florentino Pérez and the others in the presidential box.

"At halftime, I was in the royal box, and the King said, 'Sexy Real Madrid is back!'"

After Florentino said this, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Who could disagree?

This wasn't just the sentiment of King Juan Carlos, but one shared by many people, especially the majority of Real Madrid fans.

When it came to scoring goals, Mourinho's Real Madrid was never lacking. They had won many matches by huge margins. But to say Mourinho's Madrid played beautiful football? That would be a stretch.

Gao Shen's team is still far from fully polished, but the style of play is already highly entertaining.

There are plenty of lightning-quick counterattacks following turnovers. This remains one of the most dangerous attacking methods in European football today.

But the biggest difference is the fluid passing, sharp movement, and creativity on display — it's simply captivating.

They really are a joy to watch!

More importantly, the entire Real Madrid squad has been putting in excellent performances on the pitch.

Just moments ago, Ronaldo was actively tracking back to support in midfield.

Scenes like this have become common across Real Madrid's first three league matches this season.

Tonight, the attack is even more open and aggressive than before.

This is partly due to Granada's tactical setup, but also down to Real Madrid's own execution.

"It's still a bit early to say too much," Valdano said calmly and rationally.

As a close friend of Gao Shen, he knew that what they were seeing now was only the beginning.

The real challenges were still to come — La Liga and the Champions League.

Real Madrid is improving and their football is more appealing, but the team is still not fully cohesive.

They will face tough tests against stronger opponents in both La Liga and the Champions League.

Especially with the Group of Death.

The intensity of every group-stage match in this group is essentially at the level of a Champions League quarterfinal or even a semifinal.

Porto and Dortmund are both very capable teams. And then there's Manchester City.

The Blue Moon is operating at a level worthy of a Champions League final.

While most teams use the group stage to find their rhythm, Real Madrid is thrown into full-blown battles from the first whistle.

Just imagine the amount of pressure these matches will bring.

"I still think Gao Shen's slogan about winning the title was a bit over the top," Valdano said with a sigh.

Butragueño chuckled, "Jorge, you forgot what Gao said. He said you're getting old. This is an era for adventurers. The world is as big as your heart."

It was clearly a joke.

Not just Florentino, even Valdano laughed along.

…

With his second goal, Ronaldo now had five league goals, surpassing Messi on the top scorer chart.

Barcelona had edged Valencia 1-0 at home this round, with Messi failing to score.

Thanks to his braces in the first two matches, Messi stood at four goals, while Ronaldo had already reached five — and had scored in all three league matches so far.

It was getting interesting.

But the Portuguese wasn't satisfied. He kept looking for more chances to score.

In the 61st minute, Xabi Alonso delivered another pinpoint long diagonal pass into the final third.

Di María controlled it near the right touchline but was quickly closed down by two defenders.

Seeing Arbeloa didn't push forward in time, the Argentine decided to go it alone. He darted between the two defenders before they could close him down properly. After entering the penalty area, he suddenly pulled the ball back.

Modrić arrived from deep, stopping just outside the box, then curled a cross to the far post.

Ronaldo surged in at full speed, leaping high and powering a header from close range.

Granada goalkeeper Toño got a hand to it, but the ball still bounced into the net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"Hat trick!!"

The Portuguese forward roared in celebration and sprinted toward the sideline.

The entire Bernabéu chanted his name in unison.

Hat trick!

"This is the first hat trick in La Liga this season!"

"And it belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo!"

"Real Madrid have been brilliant tonight. 5-0!"

"Ronaldo now has six goals in just three league games. Real Madrid are showing an incredible attacking threat."

"It's clear that after the initial adjustment period, the team is settling in and playing better and better."

…

Gao Shen immediately made a substitution, bringing on young talent Jesé in place of Ronaldo.

The superstar, having just completed a hat trick, walked off to a standing ovation from the Bernabéu.

Ronaldo beamed with joy, clapping non-stop to thank the fans for their support. Before leaving the pitch, he gave Jesé a pat of encouragement.

He also turned to applaud the crowd once more.

Gao Shen had been standing in front of the technical area. As Ronaldo approached, he extended his hand with a smile.

"Great job, Ronnie!"

"Thanks, Boss!"

Ronaldo shook hands and then leaned in for a polite hug.

Although he had only played three games so far, he was genuinely moved.

High-intensity training was painful. Preseason had been grueling. But once the official matches began, playing felt effortless.

In other words, he was getting more chances than ever.

The only part he didn't enjoy was having to actively join counter-pressing and track back to help on defense.

But nothing's perfect. You can't have it all.

At this stage of his career, Ronaldo knew full well that his many chances came thanks to Real Madrid's aggressive counter-pressing system. If he wanted to keep getting those chances, he had to help maintain that system.

"Get some rest. I won't risk letting you get hurt," Gao Shen said with a smile.

Ronaldo had an old thigh injury, and everyone knew it.

The Portuguese understood and headed to the bench, shaking hands and hugging his teammates before throwing on a long-sleeved training top and watching the rest of the match intently.

Soon after, Benzema was replaced by Higuaín.

Benzema's tactical contribution was obvious. His role in Real Madrid's attacking setup was crucial.

But after all, Granada wasn't a top-tier opponent. Whether this system would work against stronger sides remained to be seen.

That said, continuing Real Madrid's recent tradition of scoring after substitutions, Higuaín also got on the scoresheet.

The promising Jesé made an imaginative run. He initially moved sideways, throwing off Nyom's marking, then suddenly stopped and changed direction, accelerating forward at full speed.

Toni Kroos lofted a perfectly weighted pass into his path. The young Spaniard controlled it with his chest in the box, brought it down, and then squared the ball across the face of goal.

Higuaín arrived late and smashed it straight into the back of the net.

6-0!

It was such a stunning goal that even Gao Shen couldn't help but celebrate on the sidelines.

Jesé's talent was clearly overflowing.

What stood out even more was his composure and confidence. Some might see him as arrogant.

But don't forget, football is like a battlefield. Only the bold are unafraid of the spotlight.

If you step on the pitch too cautious or scared, then what's the point of playing?

Jesé's self-belief is exactly what a future star needs.

Of course, confidence without discipline is useless.

That's why he still needs guidance.

"Antonio."

Gao Shen turned to the bench and spoke to Pintus. "This kid's something special. Make sure to take good care of him. Don't let him get injured. And keep close tabs with the data team."

Both Pintus and Vargas nodded in agreement.

Everyone knew what a talented homegrown player like Jesé meant.

Even for a club like Real Madrid, he was a priceless asset.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 906: Stunning Dark Horse

Real Madrid's 6-0 victory over Granada was met with thunderous applause from the home fans.

After three rounds of La Liga, Real Madrid had two wins and one draw, remaining unbeaten. Their performances were unanimously praised by the Spanish media.

Whether it was AS, Marca, or a variety of neutral outlets, all were impressed by the powerful attacking football displayed by Real Madrid under Gao Shen. Most agreed that Los Blancos deserved to be considered the top favorites for the La Liga title this season.

However, many outlets also pointed out that Real Madrid currently looked a bit like a "home bully."

Both of their wins came at the Bernabéu, while their away performance against Getafe was clearly lacking.

While Real Madrid sat on seven points after three matches, Barcelona had won all three and led the table by two points.

According to the Catalan media, Barcelona had taken the early initiative.

After the Granada match, Gao Shen stoked the fires of psychological warfare by declaring, "We'll take those two points back at Camp Nou!"

That was unmistakably a declaration of war against Barcelona.

As the Spanish football world buzzed with anticipation, La Liga entered a break for two weeks of international matches.

As usual, UEFA held its annual elite coaches' summit in Nyon, Switzerland during the international break. But Gao Shen didn't attend. It wasn't due to any dissatisfaction with UEFA, but simply because he missed his wife.

Since leaving the UK and arriving in Madrid in early July, Gao Shen hadn't seen Su Qing in two months.

Although he knew that both his mother and mother-in-law were taking great care of her back in Cheshire, he still felt uneasy.

Now that there was a rare break, he certainly wasn't going to choose an elite coaching summit over reuniting with his wife.

So once the national team players were released, Real Madrid entered a break as well.

Even those not called up for international duty…

Well, in truth, almost every player in Real Madrid's first team had national team responsibilities.

Even Courtois had been called up by Belgium.

Jesé, Morata, and others were also selected for Spain's youth national teams.

By the way, the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup would be held in Turkey, and several Real Madrid players were participating.

The only relatively free players were the likes of Granero and Kaká. Still, the coaching staff granted them two days off.

…

It was already midnight when Gao Shen finished his work at Valdebebas.

He stayed overnight at a hotel in Madrid, then took the earliest flight the next morning, flying directly from Madrid to Manchester.

After a two-and-a-half-hour flight, he landed in Manchester shortly before 10 a.m. local time.

Although Gao Shen had firmly insisted that Su Qing shouldn't pick him up at the airport, she still came.

Not only did she come, she also brought along his mother, Zhang Wenying, and his mother-in-law, Lin Xiuhui.

They didn't want Su Qing driving alone while pregnant.

After two months apart, Su Qing looked just the same. The only noticeable change was that her shoulder-length hair had been cut short to ear level. She looked neater, and her temperament had subtly shifted.

"You've lost weight."

As soon as Su Qing saw Gao Shen, she noticed he looked thinner.

"How could that be? I eat well, drink well, and sleep well in Madrid. How would I lose weight?" Gao Shen laughed. "But you haven't gained any weight either, so why do you keep saying you're fat?"

Su Qing sighed and tossed him the car keys, gesturing for him to drive. She walked over to the passenger seat.

She was more than three months pregnant, but her belly wasn't showing yet — not visibly at least.

Gao Shen felt she was just overly self-conscious about her body. In reality, she hadn't changed much.

A little rounder maybe — and that was a good thing.

However, during the short drive back, he got an earful from his mother and mother-in-law.

The issue? Su Qing wasn't "cooperating."

For example, pregnant women were supposed to eat more nourishing food.

The two mothers made a detailed plan and immediately had the best bird's nests, ginseng, and other health supplements shipped in from China. They spared no expense.

And the result?

Su Qing insisted, "That's not scientific!"

That set both mothers off. "What science? We've had children before. You think you know more than we do?"

There were also opinions about postpartum confinement and a whole set of traditional practices.

Apparently, they had already prepared a mountain of supplies for the baby, enough to fill an entire room.

It made sense. The two women were retired, had money, and plenty of free time. They had to find something to occupy themselves.

Most amusing of all, they always bought everything in pairs.

Why?

Because no one knew whether the baby would be a boy or girl.

So of course, they had to be prepared for both.

Wasteful?

Absolutely not.

Even if they had a second child, the items would still come in handy.

Just from the short ride from the airport to Cheshire, Gao Shen completely understood the "despair" Su Qing had been expressing.

"Do you feel my pain now? Save me, my hero — get me out of this abyss!" her eyes seemed to plead.

Sorry, madam. This is a battle I cannot win!

…

In fact, Gao Shen and Su Qing both understood.

Both mothers were fairly traditional Chinese women. Though educated, they had spent most of their lives in smaller cities and had only recently moved to more developed areas. Many of their values were still very conservative.

Most obviously, they both instinctively saw the man as the head of the household.

So in the car, they kept asking Gao Shen for his opinion.

He didn't claim to be an expert, but he believed in trusting professionals.

"Leeds United has professional nutritionists — some of them are university professors. They're highly qualified. It's best to follow their professional advice." Gao Shen started by echoing the elders and gently "criticized" Su Qing, then shifted sides to support his wife.

Both mothers nodded in agreement.

"You hear that? Gao Shen knows what he's talking about, but you're always so stubborn," Su Qing's mother, Lin Xiuhui, teased.

Su Qing nearly burst into tears.

Was this her biological mother?

Hadn't she just said earlier that it was better to rely on traditional wisdom? What happened to that?

How could foreigners understand Chinese bodies?

Now she's switching sides?

But of course, these were just happy complaints.

Overall, both mothers were taking excellent care of Su Qing. Seeing that, Gao Shen felt much more at ease.

Su Qing didn't want to be separated from Gao Shen again, so during the drive she asked about their house in Madrid.

The house had already been found. Gao Shen had visited it personally and thought it was a great fit. It was near Zidane's home, spacious, and designed in a style both he and Su Qing liked. It just needed some renovations and the garden needed work.

All of that had already been contracted out to professional companies, including post-renovation cleaning.

After all, with a pregnant woman and a child living there, Gao Shen placed great importance on health and environmental safety.

It would take a bit more time, but it was worth it.

…

The Premier League had just kicked off with three rounds played, but one dark horse had already emerged.

That was Leeds United.

Their explosive form surprised not only the fans, but even Gao Shen and the club's executives.

Just how crazy was it?

According to the initial plan by Gao Shen, Lucas, Borrell, Sarri, and the others, Leeds United's main attacking focus this season was supposed to be on the left flank — the side of Coutinho, Pogba, and Kurzawa.

The midfield trio consisted of Pogba, Allan, and Jorginho.

Sarri had been carefully developing this setup, and it had begun to show promise.

Leeds faced a brutal schedule to start the season: hosting Liverpool, away to Tottenham, then back home against Everton. All three opponents were among the top Premier League sides.

Many pundits predicted a rough start for Leeds, with some even forecasting an early slide into the relegation zone.

But who would've guessed…

In the first round, Leeds hosted Liverpool.

It was a spectacular match.

Sarri's side was evenly matched with Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool in the first half. Then, in the 43rd minute, Pogba assisted Coutinho to open the scoring.

Shortly after, Liverpool center-back Agger fouled Icardi in the box and was shown a straight red card. Icardi converted the penalty himself to make it 2-0.

Leeds then launched wave after wave of attacks. Just four minutes later, Icardi assisted Salah to make it 3-0.

In the end, Leeds United beat Liverpool 3-0 at Elland Road.

If the first match was a stunning upset, the second showed the team's resilience.

At White Hart Lane, Leeds fought tooth and nail with Tottenham. They fell behind in the 74th minute when Hector opened the scoring for Spurs, but late in the match, Pogba equalized with a powerful strike from deep.

A week later, back at Elland Road, Leeds hosted David Moyes' Everton.

The game remained goalless for over an hour. In the 65th minute, Salah, who came off the bench, broke through on the right and assisted Icardi for the opener.

Then, in the 82nd minute, Koulibaly headed home from a corner after Kondogbia won the initial header.

2-0, Leeds beat Everton.

Before the September international break, three Premier League rounds had been played. Leeds United recorded two wins and one draw, earning seven points. With a +5 goal difference, they stood third in the table.

Each of the three games was a tough test, but they came through all of them with points.

Chelsea led the table, Swansea were second, and Leeds sat third.

Just below them were Manchester City and Manchester United.

In other words, the White Rose had leapfrogged both Manchester giants in the standings.

No one expected Leeds United to stay in the top three all season — their overall strength had limits. But after just three matches, to sit third in the Premier League as a newly promoted side, especially after facing Liverpool, Tottenham, and Everton… it was an incredible achievement.

Another newly promoted team, West Ham United, was in seventh place. Reading, however, was already sinking toward the relegation zone.

But Leeds United's stunning start had already caught the attention of the entire Premier League — and even European football.

(To be continued.)