Starting With Real Madrid

"I seriously suspect Schuster is a fool."

At the Pinetina training base in Milan's northern suburbs, Mourinho and his coaching staff were watching the live broadcast of the match.

Inter Milan's game was scheduled for the following day, giving Mourinho time to analyze Napoli's performance against Real Madrid.

As a rival, Mourinho had been secretly hoping for Real Madrid to crush Napoli. A defeat like that would surely damage Napoli's morale and lead to mistakes in the league, benefiting Inter.

But to Mourinho's disbelief, Real Madrid's head coach was botching it so spectacularly that he found it infuriating.

"With the current squad Real Madrid has, pressing Napoli high up the pitch is practically handing them the game on a silver platter. Does Schuster really not know his own team's limitations?"

Watching the game unfold, Mourinho felt like he was going to explode. He wanted nothing more than to take over Real Madrid's bench himself and fix the mess.

"Not to mention, Naples has been making constant adjustments throughout the match. They've made several clear tactical changes already, but Schuster hasn't even realized it! Even after conceding goals, he hasn't figured it out..."

By the time Mourinho finished ranting, he was utterly speechless.

How could Real Madrid, a club of this stature, appoint such a mediocre head coach?

Apart from a bad temper and a sharp tongue, what else did Schuster bring to the table?

"I have to admit, Gao Shen's tactical planning and in-game management are becoming more and more refined," Villas-Boas said with a tone of genuine admiration.

Gao Shen was younger than Villas-Boas, but his ability to read and influence matches was impressively mature.

The adjustments Napoli made during the game were all targeted and deliberate, exploiting Real Madrid's weaknesses.

The result? Real Madrid's attack grew weaker with every passing minute, while Napoli's counters became increasingly lethal. These weren't the product of individual brilliance, they were the result of Gao Shen's tactical tweaks.

Take Robben's containment, for example.

Initially, Vargas had been tasked with defending Robben one-on-one, but that wasn't working. Gao Shen adjusted by instructing Biglia to drop back and support Vargas, which stabilized the defense but left it rigid.

So, Gao Shen made another change: David Luiz started drifting wide to help Vargas contain Robben, while Thiago Motta dropped deeper to cover Luiz's vacated position in the center. Meanwhile, Biglia and Rakitic anchored the midfield to provide additional defensive support.

These changes not only neutralized Robben but also laid the foundation for Napoli's second and third goals.

Without these adjustments, those counterattacks would never have materialized.

But Schuster didn't catch on.

The difference between the two coaches couldn't have been more obvious.

"Actually, there's another issue," Villas-Boas added. "Napoli's tactical system is like a dimensionality-reducing strike against Real Madrid."

He explained, "Real Madrid's tactics are like an assembly of individual parts. Each player performs their role independently, and while there's some cooperation, the overall system lacks cohesion.

"Napoli, on the other hand, is like an interlocking chain. Their tactics are tightly connected, with every player working as part of a unified system. It's seamless.

"When Real Madrid spreads out to cover more ground, the gaps between their players grow wider. Napoli exploits those gaps, driving wedges into the weak points and disrupting the entire system."

For example, Real Madrid's attack often relied on individual efforts. Even when they passed the ball, it rarely led to meaningful combinations. This made their offense look powerful but ultimately ineffective.

Napoli, by contrast, relied on small-group teamwork to progress the ball. Like when Vargas advanced and Biglia supported him, they created quick, coordinated plays that overwhelmed Real Madrid's defense.

The result was clear: Real Madrid couldn't break down Napoli's defense, but Napoli consistently tore through Real Madrid's.

This dynamic became even more pronounced after the 20th minute.

"You're absolutely right," Mourinho said, nodding in agreement. "Schuster's arrogance has blinded him. He hasn't studied the tactical evolution of European football over the past two years, especially since Gao Shen's rise."

"If this were the era before Gao Shen's influence, or if Schuster were facing any other team, his tactics might have been fine. But against Gao Shen? He's digging his own grave."

Mourinho leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the screen. "Just wait. Naples still has a few issues they need to resolve, but once Gao Shen addresses those at halftime, Real Madrid will suffer even more. And Schuster? He's finished!"

Mourinho's assistants—Villas-Boas, Faria, and Baresi exchanged glances. They were surprised by how much Mourinho's opinion of Gao Shen had evolved.

Previously, whenever Gao Shen's name came up, Mourinho would curse him without restraint.

But now? Mourinho seemed to genuinely admire him.

"Could the rumors be true?" Villas-Boas whispered to Faria.

"What rumors?" Faria asked.

"You know, about Mourinho seeing Gao Shen as a potential son-in-law."

Mourinho's daughter, Tita, was only eleven years old, but the joke still made Faria chuckle. Encouraged by Villas-Boas, he decided to test the waters.

"Jose," Faria began with a sly smile, "I can't help but notice that you seem to really appreciate Gao Shen."

Mourinho glanced at him, puzzled. "When someone does well, you give them credit. What's so strange about that?"

Faria exchanged looks with the others before pressing further. "I heard you might be considering... you know... introducing Gao Shen to Tita."

Mourinho froze for a moment, then erupted. "Who said that?! Tita's only eleven! What kind of nonsense is this?!"

Faria awkwardly backed off, while Villas-Boas and Baresi tried to stifle their laughter.

But the rumor persisted in their minds. After all, where there's smoke, there's fire.

"Massimo!" Mourinho swore, already blaming Ancelotti for the gossip. "When I see him, I'll make sure he regrets spreading this nonsense!"

---

The first half ended with Napoli leading 3-0.

As the players walked off the pitch, the Bernabeu fell eerily silent. The home fans, stunned by the scoreline, didn't even muster the energy to jeer or cheer. Their disappointment was palpable.

"This match has stripped away all the glittering illusions about Real Madrid," the commentator remarked grimly.

Gao Shen returned to the locker room ahead of his players to prepare for halftime.

Once the team regrouped, the masseurs and fitness staff got to work helping the players recover, while Gao Shen held a quick tactical meeting to address the first half's issues.

He began by acknowledging the team's slow start but quickly shifted focus to their adjustments after the 20-minute mark. Despite their dominance, there were still areas for improvement.

"First, we're not playing fast enough," Gao Shen said firmly.

"I've said this many times: our transitions need to be faster. Quick passing, quick movement, only then can we catch Real Madrid off-guard and exploit their weaknesses."

"To play fast, we need to be ready. That means constant movement and creating space. Everyone has to run and be available for the ball. When we do that, our passing options increase, and the game flows much more smoothly."

"Second, we need to control the midfield better. Gago and Diarra aren't putting much pressure on Biglia or Rakitic, so we should take advantage of that. Hold onto the ball, dictate the tempo, and make them chase us. We have the players to dominate possession."

Gao Shen pointed out that Real Madrid's lineup wasn't built to control the game. With players like Gago, Diarra, and Van der Vaart, they lacked the structure to compete with Napoli's midfield.

"If they won't press, we'll keep the ball. If they press, we'll find the gaps. Their defense is shaky, we'll create chances, no question about it."

Gao Shen then praised Cavani for his tireless work, particularly his ability to drop deep defensively and spring forward for counterattacks.

Lastly, he emphasized the importance of defense.

"Cut off their connections. Separate their players so they can't build any momentum. Use our numbers to overwhelm them in local areas. If we defend like this, Real Madrid won't pose much of a threat."

By targeting Robben early, Napoli had effectively neutralized Real Madrid's most dangerous weapon. With Robben isolated, Real Madrid's attack lacked any real bite.

"After the second half starts, we stick to our game plan. Stay calm, control the tempo, and wear them down. We're up 3-0, we have time. If they push, hit them hard on the counter."

Gao Shen looked around the room, his voice steady but determined.

"Tonight, at the Bernabeu, I want a big win!"

***

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