Starting With Real Madrid

Diego Bortolucci, now forty, has always been self-aware.

In the world of professional football, he was never one of those rare talents with extraordinary skills. Even though he started out at the prestigious Atalanta youth academy, his career was rather unremarkable. Still, he managed to play until the age of 38.

After retiring, he transitioned into coaching. For two seasons, he assisted the renowned coach Guidolin at Palermo, learning a great deal in the process. After Guidolin was dismissed, he continued under Guidolin's successor, Baldini.

By 2005, Bortolucci found himself coaching Treviso's second team, taking the typical route of earning his coaching badges and hoping for a chance to lead a Serie B team, perhaps even a Serie A club someday.

Yes, back then, his goals were that simple.

But fate had other plans.

Treviso's first-team coach, Rossi, was sacked after just 12 games due to poor results. The club brought in the experienced Alberto Cavasin to try and rescue the team, with the goal of avoiding relegation from Serie A.

Everyone thought Cavasin would stabilize the ship and steer Treviso to safety.

But after just 15 matches, it became clear that Cavasin couldn't turn things around. He became Treviso's second head coach to be dismissed in a single season.

Although it was only February, Treviso was virtually guaranteed relegation.

Cavasin's results were even worse than Rossi's. While Rossi had managed to secure six points in 11 matches, Cavasin only managed eight points in 15 games, completely losing the faith of the club's management and their hopes of staying in Serie A.

At this point, everyone knew that Treviso's relegation was inevitable.

In desperation, the management turned to Bortolucci, the head coach of the second team. They didn't expect much from him but hoped that he could focus on developing young players and preparing the team for a potential return to Serie A next season.

Bortolucci couldn't believe his luck. The opportunity he'd been waiting for had suddenly landed in his lap. Fortunately, he had always been prepared for such an opportunity, or else it might have overwhelmed him. In the few months he spent as Treviso's caretaker coach, his results were no better than his predecessors. However, he did manage to promote young talents like Acquafresca, which earned him some praise.

That summer, Treviso set their sights on bouncing back to Serie A. The management placed their trust in Bortolucci, hoping he would stay on and continue nurturing young talent.

Bortolucci himself was full of ambition.

He knew that this was a rare opportunity one that many dream of but few are given. If he could guide Treviso back to Serie A, it would make his name in Italian football. It could be his stepping stone to becoming a permanent fixture in Serie A, or at least the Italian professional leagues.

Forty years old and already managing a Serie A team, even if they were relegated, was still something to be proud of.

Bortolucci couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

But what he didn't expect was that at the Head Coaches' Summit in Rome, he would come face to face with two much more prominent figures: Gao Shen and Deschamps.

Both men were coaching in Serie B, but they had already reached the pinnacle of European football, having managed at the Champions League level. Gao Shen, in particular, had won the La Liga and Champions League double.

Bortolucci respected Deschamps. After all, Deschamps had been a successful player before becoming a coach.

But Gao Shen? He was just 25 years old far too young.

And it wasn't just that. Gao Shen had taken over Real Madrid in late February, during a crisis where the club had sacked two coaches, and even technical director Sacchi and president Florentino had resigned. The situation at Madrid had been even more dire than Treviso's.

Yet, despite those challenges, Gao Shen had led Real Madrid to an incredible comeback, winning both La Liga and the Champions League.

And now, this "world-renowned coach" with two prestigious titles to his name had suddenly decided to take charge of Napoli, a newly promoted Serie B team. He had even boldly claimed that he would build Napoli into a powerhouse capable of competing in Serie A within three years.

To outsiders, Gao Shen's ambition seemed reckless.

But to Bortolucci, it was nothing short of arrogance.

What did Gao Shen know about Serie A? About Italian football?

At the Head Coaches' Summit, the legendary Arrigo Sacchi criticized the conservative nature of Italian football in his speech. He argued that many Italian coaches were stuck in their ways, still clinging to the traditional 4-4-2 system. Even when they did try something new, it was often just as cautious like the 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-1-2.

Sacchi urged Italian coaches to learn from more modern, advanced tactics.

Bortolucci thought Sacchi was mad.

Learn from a 25-year-old rookie?

How had Gao Shen won his titles? Wasn't it thanks to Real Madrid's star-studded squad?

Besides, what was wrong with the 4-4-2 system?

Bortolucci himself preferred the 4-4-2 formation, using two strikers up front. What was wrong with that?

In Rome, as Sacchi praised Gao Shen's tactical approach from the podium, Bortolucci made up his mind: in the first round of Serie B, he would prove a point not just for himself, but for Italian football and its proud tactical traditions.

Why had Deschamps failed? Because he had focused only on defense and didn't counterattack.

Why hadn't he counterattacked? Because he was using a single striker, and Bojinov wasn't up to the task!

If he had fielded two strikers Trezeguet and Zalayeta, or even Del Piero the outcome might have been completely different.

As a result, for the first match of the Serie B season against Napoli, Bortolucci stuck to his guns. He deployed his usual 4-4-2 system with two strikers.

He was determined to expose Gao Shen's "emperor's new clothes" for everyone to see.

…

…

On September 9th, at 3:00 PM, the whistle blew for the start of the Serie B opener between Napoli and Treviso.

Napoli faced some difficulties due to the two-week international break, which had disrupted their preparations.

The goalkeeper was still Handanović, who, interestingly, had been on loan at Treviso the previous season.

On the backline, with Vargas away on international duty, Gao Shen fielded Savini as a full-back, with Bonucci and David Luiz in central defense, and Grava, a more attack-minded player, on the right.

The double-pivot in midfield remained unchanged, with Biglia and Rakitic partnered up. In front of them, Pezzini, Hamsik, and Gervinho supported Pellè, who was playing as the central striker.

Several South American players, including Sánchez, Di María, and Cavani who had been involved in national team duties were rested, giving them time to recover.

Privately, Gao Shen had told his players: "No need to use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken."

...

The first 30 minutes of the match were a tactical stalemate.

Treviso's defense was solid, especially with their disciplined 4-4-2 formation. The lines were compact and well-organized, showcasing the tactical prowess of Italian coaches when it came to defense.

During this time, Gao Shen had learned a lot from observing his opponents and predecessors.

But the main issue was that Napoli's offensive play wasn't clicking. Gervinho, who usually played on the left with Vargas, was now on the right, partnered with Grava, which caused some miscommunication.

Even so, Treviso didn't pose much of a threat.

As the game progressed, Bortolucci realized something important. It wasn't that Deschamps' team couldn't counterattack; it was that Napoli's relentless high press didn't allow them to.

In the past, Treviso had time to organize after winning the ball. But now, Napoli counterpressed immediately upon losing possession, maintaining a fast-paced, high-tempo game.

Had it not been for some sloppy passing from Napoli, Treviso wouldn't have been able to handle the pressure at all.

In the 30th minute, Napoli finally broke the deadlock.

Gervinho, now on the right, forced his way past a defender, darted to the byline, and whipped in a cross.

Pellè, perfectly positioned in the middle, met the ball first and slotted it into the net, giving Napoli a 1-0 lead.

...

After the goal, Napoli's confidence soared, and they continued to pile the pressure on Treviso.

Bortolucci began to panic. Things weren't going as he had expected.

Just as he was preparing to adjust his tactics during halftime, Napoli struck again in the 43rd minute. Pezzini, after breaking through on the left, switched the play to the right.

Grava, making a surprise run into the box, latched onto a pass from Hamsik and fired it into the back of the net.

Napoli 2, Treviso 0.

In the space of just 10 minutes, Napoli had scored two goals, firmly taking control of the game before halftime.

Treviso, realizing they were outmatched, shifted to a more defensive approach in the second half.

Bortolucci brought on a defensive midfielder, Baùmsson, to reinforce the backline and switched to a three back tactics.

But this couldn't stop Napoli.

In the 56th minute, with a long pass from Bonucci from the back, Pelle seized the first touch, headed the ball to Hamsik, and then made a swift run forward.

Hamsik, understanding the move, played a through ball after controlling it.

Pelle timed his run perfectly to stay onside. After controlling the ball, he had a clear shot and easily scored, making it 3-0!

The entire Sãn Paolo stadium went wild!

Napoli fans celebrated in advance with singing and dancing.

But on the pitch, Napoli's attack continued.

In the 76th minute, from a corner kick, David Luiz outjumped several defenders and scored a close-range header, increasing Napoli's lead to 4-0!

The Brazilian center-back ran to the sidelines to celebrate, then ran to the coach's bench to high-five and hug the head coach, thanking him for the trust and for starting him today.

"David, I think you should grow your hair long, just like that shaggy style. It would look great and be even more explosive when you head the ball," Gao Shen suggested with a smile.

He was looking forward to David Luiz transforming into a Super Saiyan.

Unexpectedly, David Luiz was genuinely moved by the suggestion.

"Boss, that's a great idea. I'll start growing my hair out today." After saying this, he gave Gao Shen a fist pump, as if to say: Just wait and see.

David Luiz had a serious expression.

David Luiz with long hair might be more striking, but his current short hair made him look quite gentle.

In the 89th minute, Dara Bona, who came on as a substitute, scored Napoli's fifth goal.

It was a surprise, even to Dara Bona himself.

He made a casual swipe with his foot and the ball went in.

Did he actually score?

Gao Shen could only shake his head with a wry smile. It was just one of those smooth plays, no matter how you look at it.