Starting With Real Madrid

The coaching staff at Napoli had always admired the way Gao Shen interacted with his players.

It was something unique, different from the way most head coaches maintained their authority.

In many clubs, players had a designated space where coaches weren't allowed to enter. These were player-only lounges, designed for relaxation and casual conversations.

It was an unwritten rule, a place where players could unwind, joke around, and even vent their frustrations about the coaching staff. In some cases, it was where plots to get rid of managers were formed.

Most head coaches understood this and stayed away. Even if they knew the players were discussing them inside, they wouldn't intrude.

At best, they might have one or two trusted players inside, keeping them informed.

Gao Shen was familiar with this dynamic, having experienced something similar when he worked in corporate management in his previous life.

Back then, he noticed that managers and employees rarely mixed well. Whenever there was a company outing, senior executives would show up briefly, make a toast, pay the bill, and then leave, claiming they had urgent business elsewhere.

The result? An awkward, tense atmosphere whenever a boss was present.

But at Napoli, things were different.

The first-team squad only had 20 to 30 players, and every one of them had been handpicked by Gao Shen. They trusted him, respected him, and most importantly—liked him.

There was no fear-based hierarchy.

Gao Shen's approach was unlike older managers. He accepted criticism, even when it was blunt.

As long as it was constructive, he listened.

Of course, whether he actually acted on the criticism was another matter.

To his players, he was still a leader, but he maintained a comfortable distance. They weren't friends, but they could speak openly with him about anything.

---

Napoli had a dedicated lounge for the players, a space where coaches usually never entered.

If a coach needed to find someone, they'd call them out.

Gao Shen was the exception.

He never forced his way in, the players invited him.

It had all started after Gao Shen bought gaming consoles, computers, and other entertainment equipment for the lounge.

He even organized an internal FIFA video game league, complete with cash prizes and trophies.

One day, the players decided, Gao Shen should join as a special guest.

Why?

Because he was the best gamer in the squad.

From that moment on, everyone got used to him being around.

It even reached a point where, on multiple occasions, he overheard players venting about team issues and solved the problems on the spot.

For the players, this became a direct line of communication.

But if Gao Shen really wanted to hear his players' true thoughts, he brought them into his office.

His office had been customized for this very purpose.

Some players had complained that the sofa was too stiff and uncomfortable, so Gao Shen consulted the team's psychologist and had it replaced with a softer, more inviting one.

He even rearranged the office layout based on psychological principles creating a relaxed environment for open conversations.

According to the psychologist, Gao Shen had natural talent as a mental coach.

And in a way, that made sense.

He had even studied psychology on his own, a skill that was now paying off.

Whether in his previous life or this one, Gao Shen had always had one great strength, he knew how to talk to people.

He could connect with anyone.

As Zidane once put it, "You have this way of getting people to reveal things they didn't even realize they wanted to say."

And that's exactly what he did now.

Gao Shen needed to know, did his players truly believe they could win the second leg?

For example, he asked:

David Luiz: "If we press high, how will you handle Berbatov, Rooney, and Ronaldo?"

Vargas: "If Ronaldo gets another breakaway, but from farther out, will you be able to keep up?"

Sánchez: "Do you feel more comfortable on the left or the right?"

Di María: "Who's easier to deal with—Evra or O'Shea?"

He even challenged Cavani.

In the first leg, Vidic and Ferdinand had completely shut him down.

So Gao Shen asked: "What went wrong? What adjustments will you make in the second leg?"

One by one, he spoke to every key player.

---

The players, in turn, shared their own insights.

Rakitic felt he had been too deep in the first leg. "I can push forward more, then drop back when needed."

Lichtsteiner noted that he had spent most of the first leg cutting off Rooney's passing lanes. "I don't think he's as dangerous without service."

Thiago Motta offered reassurance, he would always be positioned behind them, covering space.

Biglia admitted he had been uncomfortable pressing high against Carrick. "Maybe I should swap roles with Rakitic and focus on Rooney instead."

Gao Shen considered it.

That was a tactical adjustment worth exploring.

---

Originally, Gao Shen had planned to spend two days gathering player feedback.

But the conversations kept going.

In the end, it took three days to finish.

---

May 3rd – Serie A, Round 34

Napoli traveled to Siena for an away match.

Gao Shen rotated the entire squad.

Even Handanović was rested—veteran Yezo started in goal instead.

The focus was clear—everything was on Old Trafford.

In the past week, Napoli had played against Inter Milan and Manchester United, exhausting their starting lineup.

Now, Gao Shen had ordered his main players to rest and recover.

But because of this rotation, Napoli struggled against Siena on the road.

The Serie A club still fighting to avoid relegation played with extra determination at home. Taking advantage of Napoli's disjointed rhythm, they struck twice in the first half, going 2-0 up.

Napoli responded in the second half, with Pastore assisting Insigne, who scored his first-ever Serie A goal.

But in the end, Napoli still fell short, losing 1-2 to Siena.

Former Napoli striker Calaiò, now playing for Siena, had no goals or assists in the match.

Despite securing a victory against his former club, he felt no joy—only frustration.

In his post-match interview, Calaiò openly supported Napoli, expressing his hope that they could overturn Manchester United in the Champions League semi-finals.

Anyone could see it, he regretted leaving Napoli.

This 1-2 loss was only Napoli's second defeat of the entire season.

And it was at this moment that many realized, Gao Shen's Napoli had barely lost all season.

They had maintained an astonishing level of performance.

---

At the post-match press conference, Gao Shen made one thing clear.

"Napoli is ready."

"The battle at Old Trafford will be the most important game of our season."

"It will also be the toughest match I've faced in my three years with Napoli—not just because it's the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, but because we're up against Ferguson and Manchester United."

"We made mistakes in the first leg. We should have beaten United at home but we didn't. Now, my players and I will give everything to win at Old Trafford."

"We have no way out!"

Gao Shen then quoted Winston Churchill:

"If you want to experience what it feels like to be a hero, then act like a true hero—give everything you have. Then, fear will be replaced by bravery and courage."

---

Meanwhile, in England…

While Napoli was losing to Siena, Manchester United traveled to face Middlesbrough in Premier League Round 35.

Unlike Napoli, United was under even greater pressure in their domestic league.

They were just three points ahead of Liverpool in the title race meaning they couldn't afford to slip up.

Yet Ferguson made a bold decision, fielding an unexpected lineup:

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper: Foster

Defense: Evra, Evans, Vidic, O'Shea

Midfield: Giggs, Scholes, Park Ji-sung

Forwards: Rooney, Berbatov, Macheda

When Gao Shen saw the lineup, his first reaction was:

"Unbelievable!"

Ferguson had started Scholes (34) and Giggs (35) together in central midfield.

Who would have thought?

But it worked, because Ferguson knew his opponents too well.

Middlesbrough sat deep, focusing entirely on defending.

United dominated possession, but struggled to break into the penalty area until the 25th minute, when Vidic assisted Giggs for the opening goal from a corner.

In the second half, United increased the pressure.

In the 51st minute, Rooney slipped a perfect through-ball to Park Ji-sung, who slotted home the second goal.

---

One of the key tactical adjustments was Rooney's role on the left flank and he played it brilliantly.

After securing a 2-0 victory, United maintained their dominance in possession.

At the post-match press conference, Ferguson emphasized the importance of ball control.

"In modern football, if you want to win, you must control the ball."

"If you control possession, you control the game."

This belief was why Ferguson had spent heavily on Berbatov, his ability to hold up play and link attacks was crucial to United's philosophy.

---

Reporters then turned the conversation to the Champions League semifinal second leg.

Asked about Napoli's performance in the first leg, Ferguson smiled.

"The Premier League is at its peak right now."

"At the moment, the only team that can compete with us is Barcelona."

When reminded that Gao Shen had admitted to making mistakes in the first leg, Ferguson laughed.

"That's normal. He's still young."

He then shared a story from his own early years as a manager.

"Once, when I was at St Mirren, I made a substitution just 12 minutes into the game. Right after I made the change, I thought, 'This isn't right.' But there was nothing I could do. That's just how it is when you're young."

Finally, regarding the second leg, Ferguson made a confident declaration:

"Gao Shen is young, he will have many opportunities in the future."

"But this season? This Wednesday?"

"The victory will belong to us!"

***

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