Starting With Real Madrid

When someone becomes popular, it often attracts both admiration and trouble.  

For Gao Shen, who is at the peak of his popularity right now, even a small issue can bring in a wave of people trying to ride his coattails.  

It can't be helped; he is the hot topic these days. The third round of the Coppa Italia is being broadcast live on national TV, and even mainstream European media are paying attention. How can it not be a big deal?  

Paolo Cannavaro's yellow card suspension was originally an error on the Italian Football Association's part. The suspension should have been announced immediately after the second round, but it was delayed until the day before the match against Juventus.  

Before the Calciopoli scandal broke out, people would have definitely suspected that the Football Association was collaborating with Juventus to set up Naples.  

Now, while conspiracy theories are less prevalent, the facts are still against Napoli.  

Napoli officially filed an application, requesting that due to the late notice which caught the team off guard, they be allowed to have Paolo Cannavaro participate in the cup match against Juventus and postpone the suspension until the next game.  

But Juventus wasn't having it.  

Sporting director Alessio Secco made it clear in an interview with Turin Sport that this would be unfair to Juventus.  

"How do we know when their next game will be?" Secco said, pleased with himself.  

Many Italian media outlets also argued that if Napoli's proposal were accepted, would that mean all players who are suspended in the future could apply to delay their suspensions? Would an accumulated yellow card suspension even make sense then?  

The Italian Football Association also stepped in to express regret over the situation, mainly due to their administrative mistake. However, they rejected Napoli's request to let Cannavaro participate in the match against Juventus, insisting that the suspension be enforced immediately.  

This was actually quite expected.  

If they had agreed to this, then it would indeed be shady.  

However, from the outside, Napoli from top to bottom positioned themselves as the aggrieved victims of a great injustice.  

In an interview with the media, De Laurentiis publicly lambasted the Italian Football Association for favouring Juventus.

General Manager Marino also stated that the situation was unfair to Napoli.  

"We already had only three days to prepare for the match, and then, the day before the game, they suddenly tell us that our captain, our most important defensive linchpin, cannot play. Who can accept that?"  

Gao Shen also expressed his confusion about the situation at the pre-match press conference.  

"This is no small matter! Everyone knows how important Paolo is to us. He's not just our on-field captain but also the backbone of our defence. It's like they sent off one of my players before the game even started. How can we play like this?"  

Gao Shen angrily stated that he would continue to file complaints on the matter but also firmly believed that his team would not be knocked down.  

"I know a lot of people want to beat us this way, but we won't let them get their way so easily. We'll get stronger, and we'll win promotion right here at St. Paul's!"  

Due to Paolo Cannavaro's suspension, Gao Shen put Domic on the roster.  

This led many to speculate that Gao Shen would likely use a combination of Domic and Bonucci at centre-back. After all, David Luiz was still too young.  

...  

With this controversy heating up, many others also jumped in to get their share of attention.  

Former Real Madrid President Martin has been quite busy recently. In an interview with the media in Madrid, he said he was not surprised by the outcome and even suggested that Gao Shen's handling of the situation showed a lack of professionalism.  

"We all know that it's up to the club to decide whether a player is suspended or not. This is a detail that a head coach should pay attention to. It's the most basic thing. Otherwise, how can he arrange the lineup?"  

"I can't understand why Gao Shen would make such a low-level mistake in such a situation. The only explanation is that he is a very unprofessional head coach who doesn't even understand these basic things."  

Then, Martin repeated his old complaints about how he promoted, reused, and nurtured Gao Shen when he was Real Madrid's president but was ultimately betrayed by him. But the media loves these stories.  

They keep rehashing the same old news, otherwise, where would they get such sensational content?  

Not only Martin, but many Italian media outlets also believe that this error lies with Napoli. After all, they didn't even know their own players had accumulated two yellow cards, which is quite unprofessional.  

As for Cannavaro not receiving both cards while playing for Napoli but also while at Parma?  

Who cares?  

The public is only interested in sensational stories that have already been hyped up. The causes and effects are overlooked.  

Some extreme media outlets even argued that with such unprofessional management, it would be only natural for Napoli to lose to Juventus.  

...  

Perhaps out of confidence, or maybe something else, Alessio Secco personally led the team south to the St. Paul's Stadium in Naples.  

The Juventus sporting director greeted De Laurentiis with a smile on his face when he saw him.  

"I've finally met you, Mr. De Laurentiis. I've heard so much about you, but I'm not interested in old men," Secco said with a sarcastic smile.  

The latter part was a crude reference, taking a jab at De Laurentiis' age and reputation.  

De Laurentiis was seething with anger, especially when he saw Secco's smug face and heard his words. He really had the urge to tear him in half, but this is a civilized society, after all, and gentlemanly conduct is expected.  

"It's not easy to meet you here in Naples, Alessio," De Laurentiis said, holding a cigar as he shook hands with Secco.  

"You know, in our city, you're probably the least popular person. I really admire your courage, leading the team south and taking such a big risk. Who gave you that courage?"  

Secco's smile froze. Seeing De Laurentiis' thumbs-up, he didn't feel flattered but rather mocked.  

It was as if De Laurentiis was asking: Are you sure you want to go back alive?  

Damn it, what is Naples most famous for?  

The mafia!  

What is the most enthusiastic fan base in Naples?  

The mafia!  

Even if you're the general manager of Juventus, when faced with these mafia members, who do they care about?  

If they find you annoying, they might just rough you up!  

Killing and arson are definitely out of the question, but it's not entirely impossible for them to beat you up or strip you naked and make you walk the streets.  

Bad judgment! Bad judgment!  

I shouldn't have taken the risk.  

"Don't worry, Alessio. We Naples fans are still very civilized. In this stadium, I'll keep you all safe and sound," De Laurentiis said arrogantly, smoking his cigar.  

Hearing this, Secco wasn't relieved but even more anxious.  

Civilized?  

Are they civilized fans or Naples fans?  

It's fine in this stadium, but what about outside?  

This sounded like a preemptive disclaimer of responsibility!  

"You're joking, Mr. De Laurentiis. I'm just... just doing my job," Secco replied with a stiff smile.  

"Yes, for work. Leave professional things to the professionals," De Laurentiis laughed.  

Secco felt that, no matter how he interpreted it, these words were full of double meanings and threats.  

...  

"We are now live from the St. Paul's Stadium in Naples."  

"The game is about to begin, and as we can see from the cameras, St. Paul's Stadium is packed."  

"This is a knockout match in the third round of the Coppa Italia, a single-elimination game, featuring two remarkable teams: Juventus, the giant club, against the rising star, Napoli."  

"Don't be fooled by the fact that both teams are currently in Serie B; their lineups and strengths are quite strong."  

"For example, Juventus is coached by Deschamps, a Champions League finalist, and their lineup still includes world-class players like Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet, and Buffon. Even after the scandal and relegation, this team is still quite formidable, potentially even top-tier in Serie A."  

"Napoli isn't a pushover either. This team returned to Serie B in just two years after declaring bankruptcy and restructuring in 2004. This summer, they brought in the Chinese coach Gao Shen, who just led Real Madrid to a double crown, and invested a staggering 16 million euros in the transfer market. Clearly, they have ambitions to build a team capable of challenging Serie A giants."  

"Although it's a match between two Serie B teams, the coaches are of Champions League final calibre, making it a match worth watching. Both teams are also full of stars, especially Juventus."  

"The only regret is that Napoli's biggest star and their captain, Paolo Cannavaro, is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. He is currently sitting in the stands."  

"It can be said that both teams have attracted the attention of countless fans since the start of the season, and this match is a key single-game focus for determining the outcome."

...

As the players of the two teams walked into the stadium one after another, everyone got a glimpse of the starting lineups.

Napoli still employs a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The goalkeeper is Handanovic; the defense consists of Vargas, Bonucci, David Luiz, and Jergi Garrick; the midfield features Biglia and Rakitic; and the attacking trio includes Gervinho, Hamsik, and Sanchez, with Pelle as the lone striker.

Juventus' starting lineup is slightly less clear.

The goalkeeper is Buffon; the defense includes Balzaretti, Chiellini, Kovac, and Billindelli.

In midfield, Nedved, Marchionne, Zanetti, Gianni Keda, and Paro are present, with Bojinov as the sole striker.

The key suspense is how Deschamps will line up his midfield.

Gianni Keda, a well-known Serie A player, previously played for Udinese and Lazio, and joined Juventus as a substitute in the summer of 2005. He has been heavily utilized since Juventus' relegation this season.

Paro, who came from Juventus' youth system, was a main midfielder for Siena last season and is known as "Pirlo II" for his technical skills and ability. He has remained with Juventus after their relegation.

Overall, Juventus' squad is of high Serie A quality across the board front, midfield, and defense.

With a Champions League runner-up coach like Deschamps, Juventus' presence in Serie B is formidable!

In contrast, Napoli's standout player, Cannavaro, is merely a key player for Parma.

The only significant advantage Napoli has is their double champion coach, Gao Shen.

Thus, it is widely believed that if Napoli wants to defeat Juventus, it will depend largely on Gao Shen's abilities.