Starting With Real Madrid

In the first leg, the match ended in a 1-1 draw away from home. Now, in the second leg, with the home advantage, the team knows the opponent will come out aggressively looking to score. So, how should they respond?

Ferguson's answer was simple: attack!

From the moment the whistle blew, Manchester United launched forward without hesitation.

Using the energy of the home crowd, the advantage of familiar turf, and various favorable conditions, they aimed to seize control of the game right from the start. By doing so, they could disrupt their opponent's strategy and push to extend their advantage as much as possible.

As soon as the match kicked off, Manchester United ramped up the tempo.

How fast?

In just six seconds, Cristiano Ronaldo had already sprinted toward Napoli's goal, forcing Handanović to clear the ball forward as all his passing options were blocked by United's pressing.

His clearance was met in midfield, where Vidic won the aerial duel and headed it back, keeping the ball in Napoli's half. From there, the battle began.

Soon, Manchester United registered the first shot of the match.

How much time had passed?

Fifty-seven seconds!

The shot didn't pose a real threat, but that didn't matter—United kept pressing, refusing to sit back.

At just a minute and a half into the match, Gao Shen had already sensed Manchester United's intent and strategy.

He quickly weighed his options.

Should they go toe-to-toe and fight United head-on? Or should they stabilize their defense first?

Less than two minutes later, Gao Shen stepped to the sideline and gestured to his players: fall back and hold the line!

Thiago Motta, Biglia, Bonucci, David Luiz, and even Handanović all saw the signal. Napoli immediately dropped deeper, consolidating their defensive shape.

Gao Shen had made the call, abandoning the idea of an open fight with Manchester United from the start and instead opting to prioritize defensive stability.

At the same time, he gave Bonucci a specific reminder.

From the opening minutes, it was clear that Evra, Anderson, and Rooney were pressing aggressively, especially Ronaldo and Rooney, who were frequently targeting Bonucci's side.

Everyone knew that Bonucci was Napoli's weak point in one-on-one duels, so Manchester United intended to exploit that.

Ronaldo deliberately pulled David Luiz wide to the right, creating space for Rooney to isolate Bonucci in the center.

Fortunately, Thiago Motta read the play well, stepping in to help at key moments, while Lichtsteiner's interceptions were also well-timed.

In the third minute, Manchester United executed a tight passing sequence down the left flank.

Evra and Rooney drew the defenders' attention before Anderson suddenly received the ball and made a darting run. But Biglia tracked back quickly and executed a well-timed tackle, breaking up the attack and preventing any real danger.

From the sidelines, Gao Shen clapped enthusiastically, praising his players' efforts.

"They handled that well," Zidane remarked with a smile.

"We learned a lot from those 45 minutes against Inter Milan," Gao Shen responded, also smiling.

In that match, Napoli's defense had been tested heavily by Inter's dual-striker system and relentless attacks.

Though Mourinho's defensive strategies weren't always the best, Inter's attacking firepower was formidable.

Napoli had managed to withstand the pressure, but the game also exposed some weaknesses. The coaching staff addressed those issues after the match, and tonight, their adjustments were proving effective against Manchester United's offensive onslaught.

"To be honest, Ferguson is a cunning strategist," Zidane admitted sincerely. "He knew we needed to score, that we would come out attacking, so he made the first move to disrupt our rhythm."

Ferguson's tactical decisions were as sharp and decisive as ever.

"But tonight, our response has been just as quick," Carlo added with a smile.

As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Gao Shen, a look of admiration in his eyes.

Manchester United had come out strong, but Napoli had adapted just as decisively.

This was proof, Gao Shen had stepped out of Ferguson's shadow.

Zidane nodded, understanding Carlo's meaning.

He could relate to Gao Shen's experience on a personal level.

After all, the whole world knew Zidane's idol was the Uruguayan football legend, Enzo Francescoli. Zidane had even named his eldest son Enzo, a tribute to his admiration.

But fate had played its hand.

When Francescoli was dominating Ligue 1, Zidane was still a young player striving to break through. He used to drive two hours from Cannes to Marseille just to watch his idol play, studying his every move from the stands. Afterward, he would replay Francescoli's matches on tape, analyzing and imitating his style.

To a great extent, Francescoli had shaped Zidane's footballing philosophy.

But by the time Zidane made his professional debut, Francescoli had already moved to Italy.

Then, when Zidane transferred to Juventus in 1996, Francescoli had already returned to Argentina two years prior.

Yet fate had another twist in store. Before Zidane joined Juventus, the club had won the Champions League, while River Plate, Francescoli's team, had won the Copa Libertadores. By sheer coincidence, the two sides faced off in the Toyota Cup.

Zidane vividly remembered that moment.

Before the match, when he finally met his idol in person, he was so overwhelmed with excitement that he found himself shaking. His performance in the game wasn't his best, despite assisting Del Piero's winning goal in the 81st minute, he still wasn't satisfied.

After the match, he got Francescoli's jersey, an autograph, and a photo together—a treasured memory.

"Honestly, I understand exactly how Gao Shen feels and why he's changed," Zidane reflected.

Over time, as he found success and became an idol to many, Zidane gradually let go of his own idol worship. By then, however, he was already at the tail end of his career.

Carlo glanced at Zidane, not expecting him to be caught up in such memories at this moment.

Manchester United continued their relentless attacks, but none were proving effective.

The Red Devils dominated possession, constantly pressing forward, with most of the game being played in Napoli's half or near the halfway line.

This high-intensity pressing gave United a clear advantage, but as a Serie A team, Napoli was well-drilled in defensive play.

"This guy pulled back just in time!" Ferguson couldn't help but praise.

"Since moving to Italy, his defensive organization has improved significantly. There's more structure, more adaptability, it's impressive."

United had tried multiple times to exploit Bonucci, but they couldn't find success.

Ronaldo initially positioned himself on the right, but after seeing his teammates struggle to break through Bonucci's side, he began drifting more toward the left, hoping to create an opening there. However, Napoli's defensive adjustments were just as swift.

Despite United's aggressive play, their attacks lacked a real threat.

Ferguson watched as Ronaldo took a long-range shot from outside the box, only for it to sail wide. He shook his head and sighed.

Nearly ten minutes had passed. Manchester United had taken seven shots—five from Ronaldo alone—and not a single one had hit the target.

Ferguson's relaxed demeanor gradually faded.

He could afford to stay calm for now after all, there was no immediate pressure.

But who could remain relaxed forever under mounting frustration?

After attacking for ten straight minutes, what next? Could United really sustain this pace?

Gao Shen had just returned the pressure back onto Ferguson.

Looking at the current situation, United's aggressive start hadn't achieved its objective. At the very least, they hadn't scored, and their attacks lacked the sharpness needed to trouble Napoli.

And the key reason?

Gao Shen had reacted swiftly, pulling his team back into a solid defensive shape at the perfect moment.

Now, the dilemma was Ferguson's.

If Napoli remained composed and Manchester United decided to withdraw, then, as expected from an Italian side, Napoli would start pushing forward in response. How would United deal with that?

But if United didn't retreat, they would leave themselves exposed at the back. A single counterattack could be disastrous.

Tonight, Manchester United's midfield setup resembled an equilateral triangle, with Anderson positioned ahead of Carrick and Fletcher. Effectively, their shape leaned toward a 4-2-3-1, with Anderson pushing forward to limit Thiago Motta.

However, after Napoli dropped deep, Thiago Motta also shifted back, forcing Anderson to advance further. This made United's midfield more top-heavy, causing Carrick and Fletcher to cover even more ground.

Napoli, on the surface, seemed passive and non-threatening. But in reality, they were biding their time, waiting for the right opportunity.

With Sanchez, Cavani, and Di Maria all in the attack, any well-executed counter could turn the tide in an instant. If they managed to break through and exploit United's defensive gaps, it would be a dangerous situation for Ferguson's side.

Ferguson had considered an alternative approach. If things got out of hand, he could set up his team like Hiddink's Chelsea, three defensive midfielders stationed just ahead of the backline, absorbing pressure and playing on the counterattack.

But that would be far too conservative.

And, more importantly, it wouldn't look good, this was Old Trafford, after all.

After weighing his options, Ferguson made his decision.

Without hesitation, he stepped to the sideline and signaled to his players: slow down the attack. They had been pressing too aggressively and needed to maintain their shape, ensuring proper positioning across the pitch.

"Manchester United is pulling back!" Zidane exhaled, feeling a sense of relief.

When Ferguson's United went all out, they were genuinely terrifying.

But thanks to Gao Shen's timely adjustments, Napoli had stabilized.

They had been on the back foot, unable to register a single shot so far, but their defensive discipline was holding firm.

Carlo nodded in agreement. When he saw Gao Shen walking back from the touchline, he immediately reached behind him, grabbed a water bottle, and handed it over.

Gao Shen only ever stepped back from the sidelines when he was thirsty. Otherwise, he remained there constantly, issuing instructions.

Everyone at Napoli was used to his style.

Some players even joked that if they didn't see Gao Shen on the sideline during a match, they would feel uneasy, like something was missing.

"What's the next move?" Zidane asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

With United now retreating, it was time for Napoli to push forward.

But Gao Shen shook his head.

"No rush. Stay patient. First, control the midfield, then we make our move."

Zidane and Carlo immediately understood.

"Did you notice Ronaldo tonight?" Gao Shen asked as he twisted open the bottle cap and took a long drink.

"When players are tense, they get thirsty," he remarked casually.

Zidane chuckled. "It's simple, he hasn't been getting the ball."

But as soon as he said it, he grasped what Gao Shen was implying.

And suddenly, he understood exactly why Gao Shen wanted to remain patient.

The truth was, Ronaldo wasn't naturally suited to playing as a center-forward. His most effective role was as a goal-scorer, a finisher. It suited his personality and the way his game had evolved. He thrived when attacking from wide areas, not when acting as a traditional striker.

But Ferguson had little choice.

If he played Berbatov as the central striker and moved Ronaldo back to the left, Evra would be left overwhelmed on that flank.

If Ronaldo shifted to the right instead, Wes Brown had managed before, but now O'Shea was struggling.

No matter which side Ronaldo played on, United's midfield would have to take on a heavier defensive burden, which would disrupt the overall balance of the team.

So, Ferguson pushed Ronaldo into the center.

But the results weren't ideal.

Was there a way to fix this?

There was.

United had signed Hargreaves precisely to bolster their defensive midfield.

But…

"Just wait a little longer," Gao Shen said with a confident smile.

"Our time is coming soon."

With that, he put down the empty water bottle, turned, and strode back toward the sideline.

***

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