Starting With Real Madrid

After landing in Geneva, Gao Shen, Ancelotti, Spalletti, and Mourinho stepped out of the airport to find a private car waiting for them. The vehicle took them around the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva before heading north.

All four Serie A managers had received invitations to the summit.

Unlike the seasoned veterans among them, Gao Shen was a rookie in the Champions League. The entire journey felt fresh and exciting to him. Everything he saw seemed new, and the idea of visiting UEFA's headquarters filled him with anticipation. In his mind, it was bound to be an impressive and grand place.

However, after recalling his past experience visiting the Italian Football Association's headquarters, Gao Shen tempered his expectations. The reality of those places often didn't live up to their lofty reputations. He had heard similar complaints about the English and Spanish Football Association headquarters, which were said to be far less grand than one might imagine.

"José, later you must introduce me to Ferguson," Gao Shen suddenly said, turning to Mourinho, who was sitting in the back seat.

Mourinho glanced at him, clearly unimpressed. In exchange for this introduction, Gao Shen had promised Mourinho two bottles of fine wine. Perhaps it was the recent victory that softened Mourinho's stance, but the shameless Portuguese finally admitted that Gao Shen's wine was indeed good, though he still complained about its price.

"Relax," Mourinho said with a disdainful look. "With my friendship with Ferguson, it'll be no problem."

But Gao Shen wasn't convinced. Looking at Mourinho's expression, something felt off. Did he truly have a good relationship with Ferguson? Somehow, it didn't seem reliable. But then again, Gao Shen thought, it didn't matter too much, he hadn't actually purchased the wine yet.

Ancelotti, always cheerful, chuckled at their banter, while Spalletti found it equally amusing.

It was rare to see someone openly express their admiration for Ferguson as Gao Shen had. Though Ferguson undoubtedly had his share of admirers due to his legendary career, most kept a respectful distance. But Gao Shen, being only 28, was unapologetically candid.

"What's so funny?" Gao Shen asked, unbothered. "Is it embarrassing to be a fan of Ferguson? I grew up watching his games."

He was particularly nostalgic about Manchester United's famous treble-winning season in 1999. Gao Shen vividly remembered their miraculous comeback in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. That was the stuff of legends.

"Besides Ferguson, who else do you like?" Ancelotti asked, smiling.

"I like you too," Gao Shen replied earnestly.

"Really?" Ancelotti's smile grew wider.

"Of course! The 2005 Champions League final was unforgettable. A true classic!"

Ancelotti's face immediately darkened. That year, his AC Milan team had lost to Liverpool in one of the most dramatic comebacks in football history. It was a wound that had never fully healed.

Spalletti and Mourinho were both struggling to hold back their laughter.

Though Ancelotti avenged that loss in 2007, some scars simply never fade.

"Gao Shen," Ancelotti warned, his tone playful but firm, "if you ever bring that up again, we're done."

Gao Shen laughed. "You're going to break up with me? Who'll play cards with you tonight if I'm not around?"

At that, Ancelotti deflated.

For all his accomplishments and refined demeanor, Ancelotti had a surprisingly simple weakness: he loved playing cards. And not just occasionally, he was borderline obsessive. If you searched his pockets right now, you'd likely find a deck of cards ready to go.

In Milan, he'd already worked hard to rope Mourinho and Spalletti into playing cards with him that night. If Gao Shen bailed, he'd have to resort to asking Ferguson, "Sir Alex, do you play cards?"

The mere thought was laughable.

Amidst the jokes and banter, the group finally arrived in Nyon.

Technically, UEFA's headquarters wasn't in the city center but in the southern suburbs. To the west of the road lay a football stadium, while to the east stood UEFA's headquarters, nestled on the scenic shores of Lake Geneva.

Stepping out of the car, Gao Shen wasn't particularly impressed by the building, though he wasn't disappointed either. It was a modest three-story structure with a white exterior, clean and modern, but nothing extravagant.

Still, compared to the Italian Football Association's outdated facilities, this was a clear upgrade.

As they arrived, UEFA staff came out to greet them. Despite being closest geographically, they were the last to arrive. Fortunately, it was nearly lunchtime, so the timing was convenient.

Just as Gao Shen was about to head inside, he noticed two familiar figures standing on the grass not far from the entrance, deep in conversation. One was Pep Guardiola, and the other was none other than Sir Alex Ferguson—the man Gao Shen had been eager to meet.

Seeing his idol, Gao Shen's face lit up.

"Guess I just saved two bottles of wine!" he exclaimed, hurrying over.

Mourinho froze for a moment, confused by Gao Shen's cryptic remark. Then, following his gaze, Mourinho spotted Ferguson and Guardiola. Realization dawned, and frustration immediately followed.

"Damn it! This sneaky kid…" Mourinho muttered. He looked exactly like a realtor whose client had just gone behind his back to close a deal. Furious and helpless, he stomped inside, muttering under his breath, "Save the wine? I'll get it myself tonight!"

Meanwhile, Ancelotti and Spalletti exchanged amused glances and shook their heads. These two were impossible.

Gao Shen, for all his inexperience, had a knack for conversation. Approaching Ferguson, he joined the discussion politely, expressing his long-standing admiration. He made it clear he wasn't just a professional peer but a true fan of Ferguson's legacy.

Initially, Gao Shen had thought getting Ferguson's autograph or a photo would be a challenge. To his surprise, Ferguson welcomed him warmly—perhaps even more enthusiastically than he'd anticipated.

"You know," Ferguson said, smiling, "I was just talking about you with Pep. Over the past few weeks, I've watched a lot of your Napoli matches. Your team isn't just strong tactically; the players reflect a disciplined and creative approach that speaks volumes about their coach."

Hearing this, Gao Shen felt a little light-headed. Was Ferguson being sincere, or was this just flattery? Either way, it didn't matter, it was a compliment from Ferguson, and that alone was enough to make him feel proud.

Wasting no time, Gao Shen took out his phone, snapping photos and even exchanging contact details with Ferguson. It was a whirlwind of a moment: selfies, autographs, and shared numbers all in one go.

In truth, what Gao Shen admired most about Ferguson wasn't just his tactical mind but his character and influence. Reading books about Ferguson could teach you his methods, but meeting him in person was something else entirely.

As they chatted, Gao Shen learned that Ferguson and Guardiola had been discussing him moments before. Guardiola, now managing Barcelona, was navigating a rocky start to the season, having lost his first La Liga match to Numancia.

When Gao Shen asked about it, Guardiola brushed it off, saying, "It's nothing I can't handle."

Still, Gao Shen could sense a slight shift in Guardiola's demeanor. Managing a top club seemed to have matured him, making him more self-assured.

"By the way," Guardiola asked, "have you prepared your proposal for tomorrow?"

"Proposal?" Gao Shen blinked, confused.

Guardiola chuckled knowingly. "At these UEFA Elite Coaches Summits, there's a tradition. On the second day, everyone is asked to share some suggestions, big or small. It's a standard part of the event."

"Sometimes, UEFA uses the summit to float ideas for new reforms or rule changes. They value input from coaches," he added.

Realization dawned on Gao Shen. So this wasn't just a networking event, it also served a practical purpose.

"Is there a specific scope for the proposals?" Gao Shen asked.

Guardiola hesitated, then looked at Ferguson, who had attended countless such summits.

"There's no hard limit," Ferguson said. "Anything related to football is fair game. Some people even take the chance to criticize UEFA openly, though that's a risky move."

Ferguson's amused tone made Gao Shen wonder: had Ferguson himself ever been one of those critics? It certainly seemed possible.

Still, Ferguson reassured him. "Don't overthink it. Most of the obvious suggestions have already been raised over the years. Just come up with something reasonable. It's more about participating than anything else."

Gao Shen mulled this over and quickly settled on an idea. It didn't need to be groundbreaking, just enough to show he was engaged.

"What are you planning to propose?" Guardiola asked, curious.

Gao Shen smirked. "That's a secret."

Ferguson, intrigued but stonewalled, raised an eyebrow. His expression was so amusing that Gao Shen couldn't resist snapping a photo.

"If I ever write an autobiography," Gao Shen thought, "this picture will definitely make it in. Who would believe Sir Alex Ferguson could look so curious?"

***

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