Starting With Real Madrid

"This is what's called a dimensionality-reduction strike!"

In the stands, Sacchi watched as Napoli, like the wind and the clouds, repeatedly broke through Roma's defense.

There is never a lack of talent in European football!

Gao Shen's tactics have been at the forefront of Sacchi's mind. In recent years, Gao Shen has been the most astonishing talent in European football, particularly in his tactical approach.

"Do you know, Zinedine, Italian football has truly lost its way, and what Gao Shen adheres to is the right direction."

Zidane looked at Sacchi and nodded. He had heard Sacchi mention this more than once.

Whether in opinion pieces, public appearances, or even at coaching seminars, Sacchi had repeatedly emphasized this point.

Some media outlets even mocked him, saying he was Gao Shen's biggest cheerleader.

Some even speculated about a conspiracy, claiming there must be some secret deal between him and Gao Shen. Otherwise, why would Sacchi so recklessly promote Gao Shen, even calling him the world's best coach?

It didn't make sense, did it?

"Actually, back when Gao Shen was at Real Madrid, he constantly emphasized one thing in training and matches: to speed up the transition between offense and defense, making it faster and faster." Zidane recalled the second half of last season at Real Madrid.

For him, it was the most unforgettable memory of his life.

"Speed must have a foundation," Sacchi replied.

Everyone knows they need to be fast, but the real question is: why? And is everyone fast enough?

On the football field, speed is relative to the opponent.

If your opponent is as slow as a snail, then even walking makes you faster than them.

Thus, speeding up the transition between offense and defense essentially means being faster than your opponent.

This compresses the time needed for transitioning between offense and defense, minimizing it further and further.

Gao Shen took a path very similar to Sacchi's back in the day: whoever gains possession immediately initiates the counterattack.

This eliminates the "middlemen."

Fewer links in the process mean fewer mistakes and less time wasted.

Of course, it's impossible for one person to handle every attack. That's unrealistic.

Thus, it becomes a test of the head coach's abilities.

"Did you notice? Today, at the San Paolo Stadium, Roma's offense and defense are completely disjointed," Sacchi observed.

Zidane nodded, "There's a huge gap in midfield."

"Yes, and Perrotta was supposed to cover that space."

Zidane suddenly understood. Didn't Gao Shen mention before that if Vidal had marked De Rossi in the first leg, he would've adopted a different strategy? But since Vidal marked Perrotta, this led to today's playing style.

Gao Shen wanted to apply targeted tactics to suppress Roma and create this disjointed offense and defense situation through Napoli's high pressing. Their attack is overwhelming, and Roma's defense becomes passive as they try to cover the entire pitch.

Especially when Napoli wins the ball and transitions from defense to attack, they are far more efficient than Roma.

No wonder each counterattack has created such a time advantage.

"The team that controls the midfield controls the game, and tonight, Gao Shen has won!" Sacchi said, his tone mixed with admiration and discomfort.

Logically, he should feel happy that his prediction was accurate, but deep down, he was unsettled.

Roma, the second-placed team in Serie A this season, despite being weaker than Inter Milan overall, should not have been beaten so embarrassingly.

Yet today, against Napoli, a team that had just come up from Serie B, Roma had almost no strength to fight back.

If this were a Champions League knockout round, how would they even survive?

Sacchi couldn't comprehend or accept that Italian football had declined to this extent.

But it was reality!

Zidane, sitting beside him, found all of this increasingly fascinating.

Watching and analyzing a match from the perspective of a head coach was completely different from viewing it as a player.

Since his retirement, Zidane had felt a sense of loss.

Having played football since childhood, he hadn't known what else he could do or what he wanted to do after retiring.

Spending time at home with his wife and children every day had been almost torturous for him.

On a whim, he came to Naples this time, seeking some excitement and novelty.

But now, sitting in the stands, listening to Sacchi's analysis, and watching Napoli dismantle Roma while observing Gao Shen's calm command on the sidelines, Zidane suddenly had a thought.

Maybe becoming a head coach wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

After the restart, Roma acknowledged the situation.

Spalletti, clearly aware that continuing to attack Napoli like this would eventually see Roma's defense crumble, decisively chose to stabilize and consolidate his defense.

He even seemed to be trying to lure Napoli into attacking.

But Gao Shen wasn't so easily tricked.

As a pragmatic idealist, all of Gao Shen's decisions were based on one thing: securing victory.

Facing Roma in this moment, Gao Shen resolutely chose a more conservative approach.

If you don't attack, neither will I!

If you attack, I'll counter!

What? You're accusing me of abandoning my principles?

Well, if you're so principled and idealistic, then you attack first.

If you attack, I'll counter. Let's stick to our principles together, okay?

Thus, after the 20th minute, the game became deadlocked.

Spalletti could see the problems with Roma's performance. Initially, he thought Perrotta's value was just in his running and positioning, but now he realized it was far more than that, particularly Perrotta's contribution to both offense and defense.

Spalletti wasn't a fool. After some initial confusion, he quickly calmed down and realized what had gone wrong.

Totti, Vučinić, Mancini, and Taddei had been pressing too high, and Pizarro had frequently moved forward, leaving a massive gap in Roma's midfield.

There was pressure up front, but a bigger gap in the back, leaving the entire formation disconnected.

Under these circumstances, Napoli could strike easily.

Previously, when Perrotta was present, his defensive awareness ensured that he could return to support De Rossi and provide enough cover for the defense.

That's what Spalletti and the others had overlooked.

Realizing this, Spalletti couldn't help but recall Gao Shen's bold statement a week ago, saying he would score three goals against Roma at the Stadio San Paolo. Had Gao Shen already foreseen Roma's problems back then?

Spalletti felt a chill at the thought.

Could he really be only twenty-six years old?

How could someone so young have such insight and experience?

...

From the start of the match, Roma never had a good solution.

After a stalemate for a while, especially as the first half neared its end, Spalletti and the Roma players grew anxious.

Heading into the second half down 0-3, Roma would face an even tougher battle.

Thus, in the final minutes of the first half, Roma launched an all-out offensive in an attempt to claw back a goal.

But Spalletti clearly underestimated Gao Shen and his Napoli team.

In fact, they had been waiting for Roma to press forward.

When the Giallorossi pushed up and attempted to press Napoli in their own half, Napoli swiftly launched a punishing counterattack.

David Luiz, the Brazilian center-back with his trademark hedgehog hairstyle, seemed like he was in beast mode today, playing fiercely and bravely.

After a teammate won the ball in the defensive third, Luiz quickly surged forward into the space just outside Roma's penalty area. After receiving a pass from Vargas, he stopped and, rather than driving the ball forward, sent a diagonal pass.

Everyone was stunned.

Is this guy really a central defender?

He was playing like Pirlo, launching precise long balls to initiate counterattacks.

And the accuracy was on point.

David Luiz's pass found the right side of the field, dropping behind Roma's full-back Tonetto.

As the ball landed, Sanchez sprinted onto it and drove the ball into the penalty area.

Tonetto tried to close Sanchez down, successfully forcing him towards the sideline.

But Sanchez was too quick. He raced to the byline and sent in a low cross with his right foot.

In the box, Cavani made a run to the near post, putting Mex under pressure.

However, Cavani's momentum caused him to lose balance slightly, and he went to ground attempting to reach the ball.

Both Doni in goal and Mex behind Cavani failed to make contact with the ball.

Just when it looked like Napoli's attack had failed, a blue blur suddenly appeared, charging in from the left.

The ball was met with a sliding shot, and it flew into the back of Roma's net once more.

In that instant, the entire stadium erupted with thunderous applause.

The counterattack had been so fast!

David Luiz's long pass was so precise!

"Gervinho!"

"Napoli scored again… They've scored again!"

"4-0!!!!!!!"

"My God, Napoli is playing with insane intensity today. Their quick counterattacks are leaving Roma helpless."

"And David Luiz, unbelievable! His long passes are sharp and accurate!"

"This has to be David Luiz's best game since joining Napoli. His defense has been excellent, and his long passes have continuously sparked attacks, leaving a deep impression."

"Gao Shen's eye for young talent is something else. Based on this season's performances, Napoli's players' values will skyrocket. What a steal!"

Almost at the same time, in the stands, De Laurentiis, who had just celebrated the goal, suddenly remembered something important the moment he sat down.

*****

Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.