Serie A, Round 13. Meazza Stadium.

  Sinapoli's game was scheduled a day after Inter Min's, Gao Shen decided t Zidane and Lucas with him to watch the Italian Derby between Inter Min and Juventus from the stands.

  Oer, Napoli would also be pying 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 Min fans, a clear sign of how much this rivalry mattered to both teams.

  The tactical setups of the two managers were particurly intriguing.

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

  Oher side, Mourinho's iions were just as revealing.

  Siaking charge of Inter Min, Mourinho had experimented extensively with the 4-3-3 formation, vowing t the most advanced footballing cepts 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 cssic 4-4-2. For this game, though, he opted to revert to Mani'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 Ibrahimovi? 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 end 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 coag Real Madrid, where he'd first benched Ronaldo before ter reiing him into the squad. That decision not only showcased his ability to manage a high-profile pyer but also sent a clear message: the locker room was under trol.

  Mourinho's approach seemed simir.

  Initially, there were rumors of distent within Inter Min, with specution about flicts between Mourinho, Cruz, and Adriano. Yet here they were, each getting their turn in the lineup.

  What made it even more fasating was the return of senior pyers like Stankovi?, Zai, Figo, Vieira, and Crespo to the starting XI or bench. bined with Mourinho's choice t back Mani's 4-3-1-2, the message was clear: internal disputes were bei aside in favor of unity, and the focus was being directed outward.

  Some critics might dismiss it, saying, "The pyers and tactics are the same as before, what differenourinho make?"

  But watg the matfold told a different story. Inter Min pyed with poise and pletely suppressed Juventus.

  Yes, their creativity still had room for improvement, but they geed plenty of ces. Defensively, the bination of Lucio and Samuel at ter-back, Maxwell and Mai on the fnks, and a trio of defensive midfielders—Muntari, Cambiasso, and Zai—made them nearly imperable.

  Juventus, in trast, 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 lo his peak, put in a endable performance, showing he could still meet Inter Min's standards for a ter 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 Ibrahimovi? for a fierce shot he penalty spot.

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

  1–0.

  That score held until the final whistle.

  "This was a plete victory!" Zidane praised as the match cluded.

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

  Statistically, Inter Min dominated every aspect, including steals, where they doubled Juventus' t.

  "They were suffog tonight," Gao Shen remarked, before turning to Lucas. "Pay close attention to Zai. His positioning is what unlocks Mai and Muntari."

  In the previous match, Mourinho had pced Muntari in an unventional attag midfield role, a decision some in the media specuted was inspired by Gao Shen's strategy against A. In that game, Gao Shen had deployed Vidal as an advanced defensive midfielder to ralize Pirlo.

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

  Gao Shen couldn't help but refleuntari's future. At 24, the midfielder had established himself as a core pyer for Inter Mi, his ter dee seemed inexplicable.

  Even so, the spotlight ultimately beloo Mourinho.

  The same pyers, simir tactics—but vastly differes from Mani's tenure.

  That was the Mourinho effect.

  …

  The day after Inter Min'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, ih minute, Diego Lopez equalized fliari. 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 uping csh 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 domestipetition. However, Juande Ramos couldn't afford to treat the remaining two group matches as mere formalities.

  As Gao Shen had once remarked about Mourinho, deade by a coach aren't just about immediate results, they're also about shaping pyer 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—pyed with surprising iy, dominating the opening exges and putting Napoli under signifit pressure.

  But Gao Shen, familiar with his former team, kheir aggressive start wouldn't st.

  After weathering the storm for 20 minutes, Napoli gradually took trol. Ih minute, Di María's pinpoint cross found i, who used his precision and timing to head the ball past Pepe and Ramos, opening the sg.

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

  Juande Ramos quickly adapted, instrug his team to hold their ground and py cautiously. With Pepe and Ramos fog on solidifying the bae and midfielders providing added prote, 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 matded, news arrived from St. Petersburg: Bayern Munich, pying away in freezing ditions, had beeo a 0-0 draw by Zenit.

  Upon hearing the result, Gao Shen ched 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 moals 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 pyers och, the crowd erupted, ting his name in unison.

  Meanwhile, Real Madrid's pyers—especially veterans like Raúl, Ramos, and Casils—stood watg, their expressions heavy with regret.

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