Starting With Real Madrid

Serie A, Round 13. Meazza Stadium.

Since Napoli's game was scheduled a day after Inter Milan's, Gao Shen decided to bring Zidane and Lucas with him to watch the Italian Derby between Inter Milan and Juventus from the stands.

One week later, Napoli would also be playing in this same stadium, so Gao Shen took the opportunity to observe the atmosphere and strategies.

The match drew a crowd of 80,000 Inter Milan fans, a clear sign of how much this rivalry mattered to both teams.

The tactical setups of the two managers were particularly intriguing.

Claudio Ranieri stuck to a stable approach, deploying Juventus in their customary 4-4-2 formation. The only noticeable adjustment was his use of a double defensive midfield pairing—Thiago and Sissoko—indicating a focus on defensive counterattacks for this away fixture.

On the other side, Mourinho's intentions were just as revealing.

Since taking charge of Inter Milan, Mourinho had experimented extensively with the 4-3-3 formation, vowing to bring the most advanced footballing concepts to the team. However, his tactical flexibility saw him shift between 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, and even a brief return to the classic 4-4-2. For this game, though, he opted to revert to Mancini's old 4-3-1-2 setup.

That wasn't the most surprising element. What truly stood out was his decision to start Adriano alongside Ibrahimović up front after Julio Cruz, who scored in the previous match as a substitute, was left on the bench.

Seeing the lineup, Gao Shen couldn't help but commend Mourinho.

"This guy may be arrogant and full of himself, but he really knows what he's doing," Gao Shen said.

Zidane nodded in agreement. "No doubt about it."

It brought back memories of Gao Shen's time coaching Real Madrid, where he'd first benched Ronaldo before later reintegrating him into the squad. That decision not only showcased his ability to manage a high-profile player but also sent a clear message: the locker room was under control.

Mourinho's approach seemed similar.

Initially, there were rumors of discontent within Inter Milan, with speculation about conflicts between Mourinho, Cruz, and Adriano. Yet here they were, each getting their turn in the lineup.

What made it even more fascinating was the return of senior players like Stanković, Zanetti, Figo, Vieira, and Crespo to the starting XI or bench. Combined with Mourinho's choice to bring back Mancini's 4-3-1-2, the message was clear: internal disputes were being set aside in favor of unity, and the focus was being directed outward.

Some critics might dismiss it, saying, "The players and tactics are the same as before, what difference does Mourinho make?"

But watching the match unfold told a different story. Inter Milan played with poise and completely suppressed Juventus.

Yes, their creativity still had room for improvement, but they generated plenty of chances. Defensively, the combination of Lucio and Samuel at center-back, Maxwell and Maicon on the flanks, and a trio of defensive midfielders—Muntari, Cambiasso, and Zanetti—made them nearly impenetrable.

Juventus, in contrast, struggled to create anything. Not only did they fail to score, but they also managed very few attempts on goal throughout the game.

Adriano, though no longer at his peak, put in a commendable performance, showing he could still meet Inter Milan's standards for a center forward. In the 72nd minute, he received a long pass in the box, using his powerful frame to fend off Legrottaglie and Chiellini before setting up Ibrahimović for a fierce shot near the penalty spot.

Though the initial shot was saved by Juventus goalkeeper Manninger, Muntari was quick to react, pouncing on the rebound to score the only goal of the game.

1–0.

That score held until the final whistle.

"This was a complete victory!" Zidane praised as the match concluded.

Juventus had just three shots all game, none on target. In contrast, Inter Milan had 18 attempts, five of which were on target, resulting in their lone goal.

Statistically, Inter Milan dominated every aspect, including steals, where they doubled Juventus' count.

"They were suffocating tonight," Gao Shen remarked, before turning to Lucas. "Pay close attention to Zanetti. His positioning is what unlocks Maicon and Muntari."

In the previous match, Mourinho had placed Muntari in an unconventional attacking midfield role, a decision some in the media speculated was inspired by Gao Shen's strategy against AC Milan. In that game, Gao Shen had deployed Vidal as an advanced defensive midfielder to neutralize Pirlo.

However, this time, Muntari operated more as a deep-lying midfielder but frequently surged forward to support the attack. His performance tonight was outstanding.

Gao Shen couldn't help but reflect on Muntari's future. At 24, the midfielder had established himself as a core player for Inter Milan. Yet, his later decline seemed inexplicable.

Even so, the spotlight ultimately belonged to Mourinho.

The same players, similar tactics—but vastly different results from Mancini's tenure.

That was the Mourinho effect.

…

The day after Inter Milan's 1-0 victory over Juventus, Napoli hosted Cagliari at the San Paolo Stadium.

With a crucial Champions League match against Real Madrid just days away, Gao Shen opted for a heavy rotation of the squad.

Within nine minutes, Hamsik had already put Napoli ahead. However, in the 56th minute, Diego Lopez equalized for Cagliari. It wasn't until the 84th minute, after Parejo delivered a precise through ball, that Callejón broke through to secure a 2-1 victory for Napoli.

Though it was a narrow win, the three points were enough to keep morale high as Napoli shifted their focus to the Champions League.

All eyes were now on the upcoming clash with Juande Ramos' Real Madrid.

…

Real Madrid, fresh off a narrow 1-0 win over Recreativo in La Liga, arrived in Italy with mixed expectations. Officially eliminated from the Champions League group stage, their primary focus had shifted to domestic competition. However, Juande Ramos couldn't afford to treat the remaining two group matches as mere formalities.

As Gao Shen had once remarked about Mourinho, decisions made by a coach aren't just about immediate results, they're also about shaping player psychology and long-term strategy.

For Ramos, these final matches were an opportunity to differentiate his Real Madrid from the team that had faltered earlier in the season.

…

When the game finally kicked off at the San Paolo, Real Madrid—freed from any pressure—played with surprising intensity, dominating the opening exchanges and putting Napoli under significant pressure.

But Gao Shen, familiar with his former team, knew their aggressive start wouldn't last.

After weathering the storm for 20 minutes, Napoli gradually took control. In the 37th minute, Di María's pinpoint cross found Cavani, who used his precision and timing to head the ball past Pepe and Ramos, opening the scoring.

With the lead secured, Napoli shifted to a defensive, counterattacking approach, allowing Real Madrid to press forward.

Juande Ramos quickly adapted, instructing his team to hold their ground and play cautiously. With Pepe and Ramos focusing on solidifying the backline and midfielders providing added protection, Real Madrid proved difficult to break down.

In the end, Napoli held on for a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

…

Not long after Napoli's match ended, news arrived from St. Petersburg: Bayern Munich, playing away in freezing conditions, had been held to a 0-0 draw by Zenit.

Upon hearing the result, Gao Shen clenched his fist in triumph.

"Yes!"

The draw in St. Petersburg meant that Napoli now held a three-point lead in their group. As long as they avoided a loss by three or more goals in their final group-stage match against Bayern, they were assured of finishing first in their group.

The news sent waves of celebration through the San Paolo Stadium. Napoli fans, who had initially doubted their team's ability to survive the group of death, were now witnessing history.

As Gao Shen embraced his players on the pitch, the crowd erupted, chanting his name in unison.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's players—especially veterans like Raúl, Ramos, and Casillas—stood watching, their expressions heavy with regret.

If Gao Shen had stayed at Real Madrid, perhaps it would be them basking in glory tonight.