Starting With Real Madrid

The Santiago Bernabéu had changed quite a bit since Gao Shen had last been here.

The locker rooms had been upgraded, boasting more complete and modern facilities. Even the visiting team's locker room had seen improvements, so Gao Shen could only imagine how much better the home team's accommodations must now be.

The player tunnel had also undergone modifications, now separated by a divider to ensure that the two teams wouldn't cross paths as they entered the pitch.

As Gao Shen walked down the tunnel, the atmosphere began to stir. Along the way, stadium staff members nodded at him excitedly, with some even stopping to greet him. Gao Shen responded to them politely, smiling and waving in acknowledgment.

He hadn't expected that the staff at the Bernabéu would still remember him.

He could faintly hear one employee boasting, "I spoke to Gao Shen once before!"

Today, Gao Shen wasn't just a coach, he was a living legend in this stadium and throughout this city.

Emerging from the tunnel, he felt a rush of clarity and emotion as he took in the view.

The stadium, packed with 70,000 to 80,000 fans, roared with a flood of noise that seemed to shake the very air.

Standing at the entrance of the tunnel, Gao Shen silently scanned the stands. He looked forward, then to his left and right, where a sea of fans filled every corner.

For a moment, he was deeply moved.

For Gao Shen, Real Madrid truly was special.

Before his time-traveling experience, he had been a fan of the club. Afterward, it became the first team he coached, and under the most improbable circumstances, he led them to a miraculous double: La Liga and the Champions League.

How could it not be special?

The weight of that realization made him pause.

"Gao!"

A thunderous voice broke his thoughts.

Gao Shen turned his head but couldn't make out who was calling him from the stands above the tunnel. He took a few steps back to get a better view.

"Do you remember me? Welcome home!" shouted a fan leaning over the guardrail, waving frantically at him.

Gao Shen couldn't place him—after all, he had met countless fans during his time at Real Madrid.

But at that moment, recognition didn't matter. He smiled and waved back.

"Of course! Thank you!"

As if his acknowledgment had ignited a spark, more and more fans noticed him. Soon, chants of "Gao Shen!" erupted from all directions, echoing through the stadium.

The sound was deafening, as though the entire Bernabéu was united in celebrating his return.

Even the players warming up on the pitch stopped what they were doing to look toward the sidelines.

The Real Madrid players, particularly those who hadn't experienced the 2006 season, were visibly stunned. They had heard stories of Gao Shen's legendary tenure, but this was something else entirely.

Napoli's players were equally shocked. They had known Gao Shen was respected, but they never expected their coach to receive such a rapturous welcome at the Bernabéu.

Wasn't this supposed to be enemy territory?

Gao Shen himself was both surprised and thrilled.

He first bowed deeply to the fans above the tunnel, then turned to bow toward the stands in all directions, expressing his gratitude.

The crowd responded with even louder cheers, the energy in the stadium reaching new heights.

At that moment, Real Madrid's captain, Raul, jogged over to Gao Shen and embraced him warmly.

The crowd exploded with applause, chanting both their names in unison. For a brief moment, it felt like 2006 all over again.

Although only two years had passed, it felt like a lifetime for the fans.

"I'm sorry, Gao. I tried my best," Raul said after the hug, his voice filled with regret.

When Gao Shen left Real Madrid, he had entrusted Raul with the responsibility of looking after the younger players. It was a role Raul had taken to heart, but circumstances had worked against him.

Capello, who succeeded Gao Shen, had been too eager to erase his predecessor's legacy, prioritizing his own team over nurturing young talent. Schuster, who followed Capello, had continued the trend, focusing solely on immediate results.

As a result, many of the young players Gao Shen had high hopes for—Parejo, De La Red, and others were sidelined. Parejo had left for Serie A, while the responsibilities in midfield were handed to newcomers like Sneijder and Van der Vaart.

De La Red lost his place to Mohamed Diarra. Ramos was forced into an unfamiliar position on the wing. Felipe Luis? Gone.

Raul hadn't been able to stop any of it, not when he himself was barely holding onto his role in the team.

Of the original Galácticos, only Raul and Casillas remained.

"I know," Gao Shen said, patting Raul on the shoulder in understanding.

Casillas, Guti, Ramos, De La Red, and Arbeloa soon joined them, each taking turns embracing Gao Shen. Though no words were exchanged, the emotions were palpable.

---

Tonight's match at the Bernabéu wasn't just a Champions League group-stage opener, it was a spectacle.

The game had attracted a sellout crowd of 70,000 to 80,000 fans, along with hundreds of media reporters from around the world.

From the moment Gao Shen appeared, the cameras in the media section were trained on him.

"Gao Shen is ridiculously popular at Real Madrid," a Reuters journalist named Tony remarked, breaking the silence in the press box.

Heads turned toward him.

"After Gao Shen left, Real Madrid's subsequent coaches didn't exactly inspire confidence," Tony explained. "Capello and Schuster both won titles, sure, but those victories had more to do with Barcelona underperforming than Real Madrid playing exceptionally well."

"When Gao Shen was here, Real Madrid fans didn't appreciate him as much. But after he left and built a thrilling, attacking team at Napoli, fans immediately regretted his departure," another journalist chimed in.

"Exactly. The better Gao Shen performs, the more Real Madrid fans regret losing him. It's human nature, you only realize the value of something once it's gone. Of course, if Gao Shen ever comes back and doesn't meet expectations, they'll turn on him just as quickly."

The reporters laughed, nodding in agreement.

"For now, though, Gao Shen isn't just popular at Real Madrid. He's one of the most admired coaches in the world, rivaling names like Ferguson and Ancelotti," one journalist said.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," another replied. "Whether Gao Shen belongs in that tier depends on how he performs in the Champions League."

"True. If Napoli does well this season, his reputation will skyrocket."

The debate in the press box grew increasingly animated as they discussed Gao Shen's legacy, even before the match had begun.

---

Schuster walked out of the tunnel just as Raul and the other Real Madrid players were returning to the pitch after greeting Gao Shen.

His expression darkened.

The timing felt deliberate, as though Raul and the others had left to avoid interacting with him.

But it was the fans' reaction that truly stung.

When Schuster emerged, the crowd's cheers for Gao Shen only grew louder, almost as if mocking him. The message was clear: Schuster was not who they wanted.

At the Bernabéu, a coach lived and died by the fans' approval. And tonight, Schuster was painfully aware of where he stood.

The German coach clenched his jaw.

He was still fuming over what had happened in Nyon, where Gao Shen had humiliated him in front of Europe's coaching elite. Now, at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid's own fans seemed to be siding with Gao Shen.

It was an unbearable slight.

I'll expose you, Schuster thought bitterly. I'll show the world that you're nothing but a fraud, all hype and no substance.

With that, he stormed to the home team's dugout without so much as acknowledging Gao Shen.

---

Zidane, watching from the visiting team's bench, couldn't help but chuckle.

"It seems like you've really offended him," he said, amused.

"I have that effect on people," Gao Shen replied nonchalantly, glancing at Schuster's dour expression.

"I'm surprised you're playing this cautiously. Are you really planning to defend tonight?" Zidane asked.

Gao Shen shook his head.

"We'll see how the game unfolds. I want to see what Schuster has planned and how he sets up his team. Then, we'll make adjustments."

Napoli's starting lineup for the match was balanced, capable of both attacking and defending. Technically and tactically, Gao Shen believed his side wasn't inferior to Real Madrid.

He wanted to ensure Napoli emerged from this match unscathed. A draw at the Bernabéu would be an excellent result.

Of course, if an opportunity presented itself to win, Gao Shen wouldn't hesitate to take it.

"It doesn't matter if Schuster's giving me the cold shoulder now," Gao Shen said with a smirk. "The real test will come during the game. If he gets his tactics wrong…"

Gao Shen paused, his tone growing sharp.

"Even Jesus' coming won't be able to save him."

If Schuster wanted to show off, then he'd better be prepared to pay the price