Starting With Real Madrid

The advantage of being a giant team is that you have money and the willfulness to use it.

All of Real Madrid's Champions League away games involve charter flights, with no need for transfers.

After the final training session in the afternoon and dinner at Valdebebas, the team headed to the nearby Capital Airport. Following a flight of over two hours, they arrived in Turin, Italy.

A bus waiting at the airport took the team to their hotel.

Except for a few close Spanish media outlets accompanying the team, not many covered Real Madrid's arrival.

Media has to consider costs and benefits.

As usual, players were paired in double rooms with their fixed partners, and staff had already checked in for the team. After arriving, everyone went straight to their rooms to rest.

Tomorrow night is the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, making tonight's rest particularly important.

Some players have trouble sleeping and need to use medication; there's no other way.

Many people only see the glamorous side of the stars, but few notice the heavy pressure they're under. Every game and every move can be worth millions, even tens of millions, of euros.

What does it mean to play a game worth over 100 million yuan?

Real Madrid plays many such games each year, causing many players to be prone to injury from excessive pressure or have trouble sleeping, so they rely on medication.

Gao Shen has no such troubles.

He has his own room. After arriving, he took a hot shower, changed into pajamas, and went straight to bed.

In fact, he entered the tactical library.

He was still working on Capello and his Juventus.

But not long after entering, his room's doorbell rang.

He exited, jumped out of bed, ran to the door, and saw Zidane and Beckham standing there.

"It's you two, come in." Gao Shen was a little surprised and opened the door to let them in.

The two entered and saw Gao Shen barefoot and in pajamas. Seeing the state of the bed, it was clear he had just gotten up, and they immediately looked envious.

"Ah, youth is good. You can sleep whenever you want," Zidane praised.

Gao Shen smiled, feeling sympathy for Zidane's struggle with insomnia.

"Come, sit down."

Gao Shen welcomed them to the sofa, poured each a glass of water, and sat on the soft mattress, smiling at the two superstars.

They had been together for almost a month and chatted every few days, so they were familiar with each other. But it was the first time the two had visited him together, especially on the eve of the Juventus match.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Gao Shen smiled and spoke first.

Zidane and Beckham exchanged looks, showing a bit of helplessness.

"Actually, we came to ask you for a favor," Beckham said.

Zidane spoke less, so Beckham was relatively more familiar with Gao Shen.

Gao Shen looked at their embarrassed expressions and guessed their purpose, secretly pleased but outwardly calm.

"What do you want to do about Ronnie, Carlos, and the other Brazilian players?" Beckham asked tentatively.

Gao Shen secretly rejoiced. Sure enough, he kept his eyes on Beckham and Zidane, who were also watching him.

This made Gao Shen quite frustrated.

At least it proved that in their eyes, he held some weight.

"Do you think there's something wrong with how we handled it?" Gao Shen asked noncommittally.

"No, we just..." Beckham hesitated, not sure what to say.

The Brazilian group was just a way to differentiate them. In the Real Madrid locker room, there weren't really distinct Brazilian and local groups; they were all Real Madrid players.

Zidane hurriedly continued, "We think the team's schedule is very tight now and we need manpower. Several players have had problems, they've been suspended for a few games internally, and they've been fined. Can't we give them a chance?"

"Yes." Beckham nodded, indicating agreement, "Actually, they are still very strong. And you see, they've worked hard in training and are in good shape."

Since Buenaventura took over, Real Madrid's training level had gradually improved. Gao Shen initially thought the Brazilian group would resist, but surprisingly, they cooperated well.

Probably because they were marginalized and couldn't participate in matches.

After Gao Shen signed the contract, he had to manage them at least until the end of the season.

Given what Gao Shen had done in the past, preferring to play young players over the Brazilian stars, his stance was clear: either comply or keep warming the bench.

Previously, under Real Madrid's superstar strategy with Florentino, who dared to treat Ronaldo and Carlos like this?

And time always favored Gao Shen, especially with a World Cup year approaching.

Missing the World Cup due to lack of playtime at Real Madrid would mean who knows what in the next four years.

The Brazilian group's compromise was expected by Gao Shen; it was just a matter of time.

"Did Ronnie come to you?" Gao Shen asked lightly, not appearing angry.

Zidane and Beckham looked surprised, having been guessed by Gao Shen.

They also privately said Gao Shen didn't seem like a 25-year-old recent graduate.

Even these seasoned veterans felt manipulated at times.

It was as if Gao Shen always guessed correctly.

Zidane and Beckham hesitated, then nodded.

"Ronnie wants to have a good talk with you," Zidane said.

"No problem. Tell Ronnie I'll wait for him in the office after training tomorrow morning." Gao Shen nodded. Zidane and Beckham came to him, and he'd give them this face.

As for what happens next, whether Ronaldo can play again depends on his attitude.

Gao Shen had been waiting.

Ronaldo, Carlos, Baptista, Robinho, Cicinho—none of these players were average.

Real Madrid urgently needed players. If they were willing to comply, they'd be a great help to the team.

Gao Shen had always had one requirement: to make the Brazilian group serve him.

In coaching Real Madrid, Gao Shen's main goal was to achieve good results and lay the foundation for his future career.

He liked Real Madrid and Ronaldo but never felt it was his duty to save them. That was a savior complex that needed curing.

Gao Shen never believed he could completely fix Real Madrid.

His goal was always clear. To achieve good results, he needed to suppress the Brazilian group; when stable, use them if they complied.

Of course, before using the Brazilian group, Gao Shen needed to communicate with Raul and the local players.

This required delicate handling.

Zidane and Beckham didn't expect things to go so smoothly and were happy Gao Shen gave them this face. Seeing Gao Shen in pajamas and the messy bed, another question arose.

"Have you figured out how to play Juventus?" Beckham asked curiously.

This was also a question countless media and fans had.

Gao Shen smiled, "I have a rough idea, but it still needs refining."

Zidane and Beckham looked at each other, wanting to give Gao Shen a thumbs up.

You have such a big heart!

Didn't you think about it and just fall asleep?

"I remember Beckenbauer once said the strongest is always the weakest."

The two superstars looked at each other, confused. Did Beckenbauer say that?

Anyway, they hadn't heard it.

"Juventus' strength lies in their lineup and tactics. Against such a team, fighting openly and directly often doesn't work. Instead, trying to counter their strengths often backfires because this team is too versatile."

After Gao Shen explained, the two superstars nodded.

Capello's Juventus was indeed versatile, able to play offense and defense, making it hard for opponents to find a weakness.

This was the most troublesome aspect.

But...

Zidane quickly understood Gao Shen's point, "You mean their versatility is Juventus' weakness? And their tactics too?"

Gao Shen smiled, praising Zidane's keen insight. No wonder he achieved such amazing success after transitioning to a coach. It's no joke.

Coaching such a person added pressure to the head coach.

A comprehensive approach could be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the opponent. "I have data here showing Juventus this season in 31 Serie A rounds scored 60 goals and conceded 20, ranking first in Serie A."

"At home, 16 games resulted in 29 goals scored and 6 conceded, behind AC Milan and Inter Milan. In 15 away games, they scored 32 goals and conceded 14, leading the away rankings."

Zidane and Beckham pondered what this data implied.

Typically, home results are better than away, but not for Juventus.

Points were similar, but Juventus' away games had better goals and rankings.

Of course, the six goals conceded at home stood out, but what about their offense?

"I understand that in away games, opponents are more proactive, giving Juventus more counter-attack opportunities, leading to more goals conceded and scored. But at home, opponents focus on defending, limiting Juventus' chances," Zidane deduced.

Gao Shen nodded, "Yes, Juventus' versatility is an advantage, but they lack creativity. Especially this season, with Nedved, Camoranesi, and Del Piero not as sharp, Juventus' attack suffers, particularly at home."

"In short, Juventus is missing a Zidane in midfield!" Gao Shen teased.