Starting With Real Madrid

Amid warm applause, Gao Shen stepped into the auditorium.

The stairs leading to the stage were surprisingly steep, and the crowd was overwhelming.

Not only were the seats packed, but even the aisles on both sides and the spaces between the rows were filled with people. It was a full house.

The first thing Gao Shen said upon stepping onto the stage was, "Can the friends in the back row see me?"

This lighthearted remark triggered laughter throughout the room, with people shouting back that they could see and hear him clearly.

At that moment, Gao Shen felt like he was hosting a concert.

Before his time travel, Gao Shen had conducted training sessions for new employees and subordinates during his corporate job. But those sessions only involved a few dozen participants. Speaking in front of an audience of at least 300 people? This was an entirely different experience.

For those who knew Gao Shen, however, they were aware of his true talent, coaching might be his primary skill, but his ability to speak and captivate an audience was unmatched. Some even joked that his words could revive the dead.

If his motivational talks in locker rooms were impressive, this was them amplified tenfold, aimed at a much larger crowd.

Gao Shen had prepared meticulously for this moment.

Before his time travel, he had been an avid follower of tech events and product launches. He frequently watched press conferences from companies like Apple and Huawei, and he admired the charisma and showmanship of their speakers.

One notable figure he liked to watch was a certain maverick entrepreneur who famously declared during one event, "I'm not targeting anyone, but everyone else here is mediocre." That man, Gao Shen thought, was a public speaker who just happened to run a business.

Gao Shen also enjoyed shows like Tucao Conference, and Talk Show Conference. Combine that with his years of workplace experience, and he had developed a knack for speaking in a way that was both engaging and persuasive.

Just like his opening line moments ago, Gao Shen had the ability to energize an audience instantly.

With the atmosphere warmed up, Gao Shen smoothly transitioned into the main theme of his speech, following the rhythm he had carefully planned.

---

The theme of Gao Shen's speech was bold and ambitious: Ten Years.

His goal was to use 2008 as the midpoint and look back ten years to the 1998 World Cup in France, while projecting forward another ten years to 2018.

He wanted to analyze the technical and tactical evolution of global football, especially European football over these two decades.

It was a monumental topic, vast in scope, and incredibly complex.

When the audience first heard the theme, they were stunned, including Ulivieri, who had invited Gao Shen to speak.

No one at the event would have dared claim they could comprehensively summarize football's tactical evolution over the past decade, let alone extrapolate what would happen in the next ten years.

The rapid pace of tactical innovation in European football meant that many struggled to predict trends even five years ahead, let alone ten.

But Gao Shen was undeterred.

This was his first major speech, and he wanted to leave an indelible impression. He needed a theme that would surprise and captivate everyone.

As he delved into the topic, Gao Shen began presenting his observations, analysis, and conclusions.

The audience was increasingly astonished.

Veteran figures like Lippi and Ulivieri, initially skeptical of Gao Shen's ability to tackle such a grand topic, quickly found themselves captivated. As Gao Shen confidently and methodically detailed the tactical shifts of the past ten years, they were left in awe.

Sure, there were minor flaws and areas that could be refined. But overall, Gao Shen's analysis was nothing short of extraordinary.

By the halfway point, even Lippi and others were questioning themselves:

"How many matches has he studied?"

"How many tactical philosophies has he dissected?"

How else could someone produce such a systematic and comprehensive summary of an entire decade of football tactics?

Adding to the intrigue, Gao Shen shared anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories that were entirely new to the audience, further solidifying his credibility.

When he shifted to the next ten years, Gao Shen predicted an era defined by passing, movement, and pressing. He foresaw a period of relentless emphasis on offensive and defensive transitions and technological innovation in football.

Using various trends and signals, Gao Shen articulated his vision, delivering his thoughts in a humorous yet insightful manner.

For instance, he mentioned that Pep Guardiola's Barcelona would soon elevate possession-based football to an unprecedented level. However, as this style reached its zenith, defensive strategies would also evolve, leading to the extreme implementation of high-press systems.

Because football, Gao Shen argued, is always cyclical.

"Balance and counterbalance are eternal themes in football," he said.

"When the central corridor becomes overcrowded, teams shift their focus to the wings. And when the wings dominate, attention swings back to the center."

Gao Shen even predicted the eventual resurgence of the No. 10 role in football tactics.

"But when the No. 10 returns, it won't be the same as before. It will take on a new role, function, and mission, adapting to the demands of modern football."

---

The sheer depth of Gao Shen's speech was daunting for most, but for him, it was an opportunity to showcase his unique strengths.

Summarizing the past decade and forecasting the next was no small feat. But with access to countless resources and a mind trained to process them, Gao Shen made it seem effortless.

He played to his strengths, using his extensive knowledge to mask any gaps in his experience.

By the time he finished, the room erupted into a standing ovation.

Gao Shen felt deeply satisfied with his performance. He had managed to maintain control over the pacing and tone, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. Their applause was all the validation he needed.

---

The Q&A session that followed was just as lively.

The first question came from Antonio Conte, now the head coach of Bari, who was using a 4-2-4 formation.

This setup was essentially a variation of the 4-4-2, with the wingers pushed higher up, creating a front four. However, Bari's results so far were underwhelming: three wins and four draws in seven Serie B matches. The team's attack seemed to lack bite.

Conte explained his struggles, mentioning that while Bari had plenty of attacking players, their finishing left much to be desired.

Gao Shen smiled and shook his head. "I'm not familiar with Bari's situation, so I can't offer specific solutions. But perhaps try approaching the issue from a different perspective. Instead of focusing on who can score, think about building a tactical framework that maximizes your players' potential."

He shared an example from his time at Real Madrid, where he focused on tactics rather than individuals to solve their goal-scoring problem.

"In the end, when the tactics clicked, the team performed better, and the goals came naturally."

In other words, it was about fostering team cohesion and creating opportunities through collective effort.

---

The next question came from Klopp, who expressed frustration over his team's inability to sustain high-pressure tactics for an entire match.

Gao Shen laughed. "That's a universal problem. Even Rafa Benítez joked that if he had eleven robots, he'd be unstoppable."

The room burst into laughter.

"In reality, though, we're exploring innovations in fitness training at Napoli. While it looks promising, it's still early. I'll share more when we have concrete results. In the meantime, player rotation and advanced equipment might help manage energy levels more effectively."

Gao Shen noted that even during Dortmund's later successes, Klopp's team could only maintain peak intensity for about 60 minutes, a limitation that would eventually take its toll.

Balance, Gao Shen stressed, was key.

---

Sarri, now coaching Perugia in Serie C, asked if he could visit Napoli for a study tour.

Gao Shen readily agreed, offering Sarri his contact information.

Napoli, he assured, would always welcome someone as passionate as Sarri.

---

When asked about Napoli's recent draw with Genoa, Gao Shen grinned. "I knew someone would bring this up."

The crowd burst into laughter again.

"It was just a rotation game, and we ran into some problems, nothing major. I have complete faith in my players. We'll prove soon enough that what we've lost, we'll take back with our own hands!"

The room erupted in applause, filled with admiration for Gao Shen's unwavering confidence.

***

Bonus for 300 PS, thank you for your support :)