"If we really want to bring about change, I think it should start with a technical reform of football officiating—so that frustrating, controversial matches become rarer."
"I'm not criticizing the referees from this match—referees are human, and humans make mistakes. But we now have enough advanced technology to help them."
Interestingly, on this point, Professor Wenger and Su Hang shared the same view.
While other Arsenal players were still fuming about the referee's unfair calls and Real Madrid's 'undeserved' victory, Wenger took a broader stance: "What's done is done. We can't change it."
"But what we can do is make sure things like this don't happen again. That's the only reason I agreed to this interview."
"Real Madrid are incredibly strong. I believe they'll go on to win the Champions League this year!"
"Figo's performance was phenomenal. What he did on the pitch today—only peak Ronaldo, peak Zidane, peak Rivaldo, peak himself, peak Henry, or peak Ronaldinho could pull that off."
"Beckham, as always, was lethal. One trademark Beckham curl alone is worth the ticket price for fans and the club—but he's always been much more than just that signature shot."
"As for Su Hang… he's an outstanding young player. What he brings to the pitch goes far beyond what's expected of a striker."
"He tracks back and contributes defensively, links up with Figo to organize attacks, and keeps the team flowing smoothly."
"On top of that, he's directly involved in both goals and assists."
"He still has plenty of room to grow. From a professional standpoint, he's not yet among the very best. But from a fan's point of view, right now—he's already a superstar."
"Most players require professional evaluation; otherwise, it's easy to be misled by stats or a single standout game and overrate them."
"But Su Hang is different. He's a player you have to view as a fan—because professionalism doesn't apply to him."
"There have been similar players before. Manchester United's 'Little Ronaldo,' Cristiano Ronaldo, is one of them."
"Though not highly rated early on, he's now doing more and more for United and scaring opponents with every match."
"But Su Hang takes it even further."
"He might not be as polished, but he's even deadlier than Cristiano!"
"And finally… he's an exceptional team leader, both on and off the pitch."
"This has completely changed how I see young players. They can absolutely carry a team. If the time is right, I might entrust even more responsibility to them in the future—including the captain's armband!"
Wenger's interview didn't just make headlines—it triggered a wave of reflection across the football world.
From a professional perspective, it exposed flaws in the current refereeing system to UEFA, European referee associations, and all major leagues, sparking a wide-ranging debate.
Just last year, in a Premier League match between Tottenham and Manchester United, both the referee and linesman failed to see a goal that clearly crossed the line. Tottenham's last-minute goal was disallowed, triggering discussions about goal-line technology.
Combined with previous 'ghost goal' incidents, FIFA began testing Adidas's goal-line system and considering its potential implementation in real matches.
But progress was slow—too many stakeholders were involved.
And why so many stakeholders? Well… those who know, know.
After Wenger and Su Hang spoke up, momentum around goal-line technology accelerated significantly.
From a club perspective, Wenger managed not to turn Arsenal and Real Madrid into enemies—a wise move that benefited both sides, especially Arsenal.
It left the door open for future cooperation.
Given Real Madrid's financial strength and Arsenal's urgent need to repay loans, having straightforward buyers like Real Madrid around was certainly no disadvantage.
From a fan's perspective, Wenger's praise for Real Madrid's players helped them accept the loss instead of fixating on that single bad call.
Dwelling on it would only have led to irrational frustration.
Wenger also gained goodwill from the players he praised. And who knows—maybe one day, if there's a chance, Su Hang…
Su Hang: Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Wenger: Why not give Arsenal a chance? It's a chance for you too, Su.
Su Hang: I'm used to being a captain—and you're used to selling yours. We're destined not to work together.
Wenger: Uh…
...
Compared to Barcelona's narrow 1–0 aggregate win over AC Milan,
the second leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid had everything—drama, controversy, and excitement.
So, although both Real Madrid and Barcelona reached the Champions League final,
the media coverage couldn't have been more different.
Nine out of ten outlets focused on Real Madrid.
Barcelona: Damn it! Only one outlet covered us?
The other one's reporting on Arsenal!
Barcelona: What the hell!
Tuttosport: "AC Milan fall narrowly to Barcelona—Serie A misses out on the Champions League final this year!"
Gazzetta dello Sport: "6–1! Real Madrid's epic demolition of Arsenal—are the Galácticos too strong, or are the Premier League Gunners too weak?"
Sky Sports: "Controversial officiating defined the match! Real Madrid are strong, but the gap with Arsenal isn't nearly as wide as the score suggests!"
BBC: "Strong calls to revoke the referee's license! Arsenal missed their best chance at a Champions League title in years!"
AS: "Veterans to the rescue—one man equals two! Real Madrid will be even stronger in the final with Zidane returning!"
Kicker: "The huge scoreline reflects the true gulf between the teams. Even without the controversial call, Arsenal would have been eliminated by Real Madrid!"
Bild: "Su Hang has proven his strength. If Bayern Munich want to bolster their attack, Su Hang is an option they can't ignore!"
Marca: "Real Madrid captain on track to claim this season's Champions League Golden Boot! With eleven goals, he leads Shevchenko's nine, Ronaldinho's seven, and Eto'o's six by a wide margin."
France Football: "The Spanish-Chinese striker could be Zidane's biggest asset in winning another Champions League! The key question—can he tie Van Nistelrooy's record of twelve goals in a single campaign?"
Manchester Evening News: "Real Madrid's new Ronaldo closing in on Van Nistelrooy with explosive form. Who still doubts Queiroz's faith in Su Hang?"
Record: "El Clásico in the Champions League final! If Barcelona win, Ronaldinho could retain both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year titles!"