Starting With Real Madrid

Before the match, Gao Shen had mentally prepared himself.

He had resolved to stay composed, even if Napoli managed to score. Gao Shen treasured his bond with Real Madrid's fans and didn't want to provoke them.

But when Sanchez volleyed the ball into the empty net, Gao Shen couldn't help it. Excitement surged through him, and he nearly sprinted out of the technical area.

Fortunately, he held himself back.

Even so, he couldn't stop himself from applauding his players for their brilliant execution.

The fact that his in-game adjustments had worked perfectly and led to a goal filled him with pride and joy.

For a head coach, the greatest sense of accomplishment comes from seeing your players follow your instructions, execute your strategies, and achieve success on the pitch. It's a feeling beyond words.

"Beautiful!"

When Gao Shen turned around, Carlo had already rushed out and hugged him tightly.

"That was absolutely amazing!" Zidane joined in, celebrating alongside Gao Shen.

Both assistants understood Gao Shen better than anyone else. They knew the precision and planning that had gone into this match. From the outset, Gao Shen's focus had been on stabilizing the defense above all else.

But while ensuring a solid defensive base, Gao Shen had also been methodically adjusting Napoli's tactics, step by step, to target Real Madrid's weaknesses.

The counterattack that led to the first goal perfectly showcased Napoli's strengths while ruthlessly exploiting Real Madrid's vulnerabilities.

Everyone knew that Real Madrid's defense was fragile when they were in attack mode. Heinze, though versatile, lacked the strength to be a dominant center-back. Cannavaro, while a legend, was no longer in his prime.

More importantly, Real Madrid's pressing and defensive coordination were flawed.

Gao Shen's adjustments allowed Napoli to bait Real Madrid into pressing too high, particularly on the flanks.

If Ramos had stayed back instead of pushing forward in the buildup to the first goal, he and Cannavaro might have been able to contain Di Maria. Ramos, with his speed and ability to recover, could have stopped the Argentine. At worst, he could have fouled to prevent the attack.

But with Ramos committed forward, Cannavaro was left exposed and unable to stop Di Maria's run.

Gao Shen embraced each of his assistants, celebrating the goal. Then he stepped back and shouted instructions to his players on the pitch, urging them to stay calm and organized.

"Hold your positions! Stay composed! Don't rush!" he called out.

He reminded Biglia and Rakitic to focus on controlling the ball and pulling the midfield strings rather than charging forward recklessly. Thiago Motta also received specific instructions, nodding in acknowledgment.

Once he had issued his commands, Gao Shen turned back to his assistants with a satisfied smile and shook his head.

"Now that we're ahead, Real Madrid should ease off a little," he said.

Carlo and Zidane both nodded in agreement.

Real Madrid had pressed ferociously in the opening minutes, pushing hard for an early lead. But after conceding and failing to capitalize on their chances, it made sense for them to regroup and stabilize.

Napoli could then use that moment to establish their footing and gradually dictate the game's tempo, bringing it into the rhythm they thrived in.

And once Napoli was in control, Gao Shen wasn't afraid of Real Madrid.

But Gao Shen miscalculated.

…

Whether it was out of frustration or desperation, Schuster didn't slow things down after the goal. Instead, he urged his players to push even harder.

From the sidelines, Schuster shouted at his team to press forward, throwing caution to the wind.

Gao Shen, Zidane, and Carlo exchanged baffled looks.

"Is this guy out of his mind?"

Real Madrid's squad was not made of machines.

Raul was 31 years old, Van Nistelrooy 32, Cannavaro 34, Heinze 30. Four of their starters were past their physical peak. Robben and Van der Vaart weren't known for their stamina, while Marcelo and Gago were still young and inexperienced.

Gao Shen couldn't comprehend Schuster's logic. If Real Madrid couldn't capitalize on Napoli's early nerves and score while the game was level, how did Schuster think they would succeed after falling behind?

Sure enough, less than five minutes later, Real Madrid's backline was exposed again.

This time, Biglia launched a precise long ball to the right flank. Sanchez sprinted at full speed, collected the ball, and attempted to cut inside past Heinze. The Argentine defender, unable to keep up, tripped Sanchez just outside the penalty area.

Napoli earned a free kick in a dangerous position on the right side of the box.

The crowd at the Bernabeu collectively tensed. This was a precarious moment.

Real Madrid's defensive shortcomings were glaring. Heinze stood at 1.79 meters, Cannavaro at 1.75. Ramos, at 1.84 meters, was their tallest defender, while Marcelo and Gago were both under 1.8 meters. Only Diarra, at 1.80 meters, offered some semblance of aerial presence.

Napoli, by contrast, boasted giants. David Luiz and Bonucci both stood at 1.9 meters, Cavani at 1.88, Thiago Motta at 1.87, and Rakitic at 1.84. In terms of both height and physicality, Napoli held a significant advantage.

As Napoli's tall players crowded into Real Madrid's box, the disparity became glaringly obvious.

Even the commentators noted the danger.

"This is a very dangerous position for a free kick," one observed.

Sanchez stepped up to take the kick. With precision, he delivered a cross into the heart of the penalty area.

David Luiz, Bonucci, and Thiago Motta all made decoy runs, drawing the defenders' attention. The real target was Cavani, lurking in the middle of the box.

As the ball sailed in, Cavani surged forward, leaping high above everyone else. He met the ball with a powerful header, sending it into the top-left corner of the goal.

Casillas could do nothing.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"Cavani!!"

"Napoli doubles their lead!!"

"Incredible! Less than five minutes after their first goal, Napoli strikes again!"

"What a phenomenal header from Cavani!"

"And what a perfectly executed free kick from Sanchez. The delivery was spot-on!"

"The replay shows how Napoli's setup completely dismantled Real Madrid's defense. It's almost identical to the play that led to their first goal, yet Real Madrid failed to adapt!"

…

On the sidelines, Gao Shen celebrated passionately once more.

2-0!

But even as he celebrated, a part of him was stunned. He hadn't expected Schuster to persist with such reckless tactics.

Glancing toward the Real Madrid bench, Gao Shen couldn't help but wonder: would Schuster finally change his approach now?

If Schuster didn't adjust, Real Madrid's morale and composure would only crumble further.

The attack wasn't breaking through, and their defense wasn't holding up.

Gao Shen shook his head. He couldn't understand Schuster's thinking.

And neither could Carlo or Zidane.

…

Two goals down, Schuster finally abandoned his delusions and began switching to more pragmatic tactics.

But Real Madrid still refused to retreat entirely.

Robben, in particular, continued probing for openings on the right.

Napoli, however, maintained their defensive superiority. With multiple players marking Robben, he found himself trapped on the left flank, unable to cut inside or deliver a meaningful cross.

This wasn't entirely Robben's fault. Real Madrid's tactical setup left him isolated. Ramos hesitated to push forward, Raul only occasionally drifted wide to support, and Diarra and Gago were too distant to link up effectively.

Time and again, Robben found himself with no viable passing options.

Like in the 38th minute.

Robben fought to retain possession, shielding the ball against Napoli's defenders. But with no teammates nearby to relieve the pressure, he eventually lost the ball. The referee waved play on.

Vargas intercepted and immediately launched a counterattack.

Real Madrid scrambled to recover, but Napoli's transition was lightning-fast.

Before Diarra could close him down, Vargas played a quick one-two with Biglia, surging forward into space.

When Ramos stepped up to challenge Vargas, the Napoli left-back deftly slipped the ball past him into the gap between Ramos and Cannavaro.

Di Maria was already there, sprinting into the box.

Though Ramos gave chase, Di Maria was a step ahead. Reaching the ball, he sent a low cross into the center of the penalty area.

Cavani, like a charging tank, broke through Cannavaro and Heinze's defenses. Rising high, he connected with a thunderous header, smashing the ball into the top-left corner.

Casillas, caught off-guard, couldn't react in time.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"3-0!!"

"What is happening to Real Madrid tonight?"

"My God, how did this happen?!"

"Time and again, their defense collapses, leading to goal after goal!"

"Schuster's side dominated the first 20 minutes, but since then, they've conceded three times!"

"Gao Shen's tactical adjustments are almost magical, they're impossible to predict but incredibly effective on the pitch."

"Tonight, the Bernabeu might witness a massacre!"

"Schuster must find a way to stop Gao Shen and his Napoli, or this could turn into an unforgettable humiliation for Real Madrid!"

***

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