Because of Gao Shen's remarks before the game, coupled with his tacti the Champions League quarterfinals, Napoli's away match against Arsenal had bee a focal point for fans and professionals worldwide.
Inter Min's coach, José Mourinho, was no exception.
In Min, Mourinho and his coag staff gathered in front of the TV, watg this highly anticipated csh.
The oute of the match surprised them.
Napoli didn't adopt their usual aggressive high-pressing approach, their signature "three-axes" that typically allowed them to seize the initiative early. Instead, they chose a more cautious and stable start.
In trast, Arsenal came out aggressively, looking to attack with iy. But while their opening momentum was strong, their efforts cked real bite and failed to threaten.
What truly caught Mourinho and his staff off guard was the execution of Napoli's first goal. David Luiz's long pass was exceptional, and i's header erfectly pced.
For a moment, Mourinho reflected on i. While the Uruguayan wasn't as cssic a target man as someone like Pelle, that didn't diminish his effectiveness as a ter-forward.
Sanchez's assist for Rakitic showcased the Chilean's keen awareness, while Rakitic's toud finish demonstrated teical brilliance.
The Croatian midfielder had bee increasingly dangerous with his te runs into the box.
Gao Shen seemed to have noticed this trend, as Rakitic had been given more freedom retly. The result? Goals in three secutive Champions League knoatches.
Mourinho couldn't help but pare Gao Shen's use of Rakitic to his own utilization of Frank Lampard during his Chelsea days. The difference, Mourinho thought, was that Rakitic possessed superior teical skills and passing ability.
"Psychological warfare has pyed its part," Mourinho muttered with a mix of exasperation and admiration.
Baresi, Boas, and Faria exged fused gnces.
"Psychological warfare?"
Mourinho looked at them, shook his head, and chuckled bitterly. "Do you really think that kid would make such bold statements for no reason?"
The coag staff paused to sider it. Indeed, it seemed unlikely.
Gao Shen had always e across as mature and posed, well beyond his years. He was methodical and precise, rarely making mistakes. Yet, leading up to this match, he had suddenly turned uncharacteristically high-profile, publicly g he would demonstrate to the world how to beat Arsenal.
"Hmph, his usual 'good boy' image is deceiving. It's fooled everyoetting that he's as ing as they e," Mourinho grumbled, more to himself than anyone else.
"What the hell is this? I've engaged in psychological lenty of times and been beled a madman for it. Yet this guy says even more eous things, and everyohinks he's some i, harmless genius. It's ridiculous!"
He sighed before tinuing, "From g he would show the world how to beat Arsenal, to refereng how he led Real Madrid to victainst them, to mog Wenger and Arsenal's bition, everything he said before the match art of a calcuted psychological warfare strategy."
Mourinho shook his head with a tinge of relut respect. "He doesn't use it often, but when he does, it's devastating."
He then posed a series of questions to his assistants.
"Let me ask you this: Didn't you find him insufferably arrogant? Didn't you feel like Arsenal o teach him a lesson? That he o be brought doeg?"
Baresi and the others nodded in agreement. They did feel that way.
It wasn't just them. Apart from Napoli supporters, ral fans enjoying the spectacle, and those who admired Gao Shen, most people, including those who held grudges against him likely found his pre-match statements annoying.
"Now think about it, if we're feeling this way, how do you think Arsenal's pyers feel?"
The realization dawned on them.
Even as mere observers, Mourinho and his staff had felt a certain eagero see Gao Shen fail. For Arsenal's pyers, the stakes were personal.
"So, you saw what happened. Arsenal's pyers were overly motivated from the start. Wenger's tactics weren't servative, and the Gunners came out pying at a freic pace. Their pressing was relentless, and their full-backs pushed so high they looked like wingers."
Mourinho gestured toward the s. "And look at Song. He's running around like a headless chi in midfield, leaving Fabregas to cover defensively. That's why Fabregas couldn't stop Rakitic's te run just now."
As Mourinho expined, his assistants' uanding of the match deepehey couldn't help but admire the young coa the Napoli bench.
"Is this guy even human?" someotered.
"He's like a monster," anreed.
"Do you think Napoli actually win this match?" Baresi asked, still astonished.
Mourinho curled his lips in disdain. "What's so impressive about beating Arsenal away? Any strong Premier League team with title aspirations has do. It's not a big deal."
The room fell silent.
Mourinho's ent wasn't just a dig at Arsenal; it was also a subtle jab at A and Roma, both of whom had failed to defeat Arsenal.
"Wenger must be losing his cool now," Mourinho added with a smirk. "If he doesn't get his pyers under trol, mark my words, Arsenal will cede again. And soon."
"Soon? How soon?"
"Within ten minutes." Mourinho's fidence was absolute.
---
Arsenal didn't retreat after g the first goal. Instead, they tio py aggressively, pressing forward in search of an equalizer.
Wenger, visibly frustrated by the early setback, was determio turn things around quickly.
However, Napoli's defense was disciplined and well-anized. Despite pying a 4-3-3, they effectively colpsed into a pact shape when defending. Both Biglia and Rakitic dropped back to shield the bae, making it nearly impossible for Arsenal to find spa the ter.
Ih minute, Arsenal unched atack.
The ball was cycled through the midfield before being passed to the right, where Sagna overpped Vargas and delivered a cross into the box.
Benatia erfectly positioo win the aerial duel against Adebayor, heading the ball out of the penalty area to the left.
Di Maria, trag back, intercepted the ball and made a clever move. With a quick touch, he backheeled it into the path of i, who was already sprinting forward.
The Argentine winger's creativity often bordered on the bizarre, but it was undeniably effective.
i surged forward, c ground with long strides. Approag the ter circle, he spotted Sanchez making a run on the left and delivered a precise diagonal pass.
Sanchez, sprinting at full speed, trolled the ball expertly. Sagna was chasing him down, while Toure retreated toward the box. The ball nded perfectly in Sanchez's path, allowing him to maintain his momentum.
At the same time, Di Maria, having just made the backheel pass, was now charging forward down the right fnk.
Clichy, trying to recover, struggled to keep up after being caught out of position.
Sanchez reached the edge of the box and suddenly stopped, cutting the ball back with his right foot. This created spad allowed him to deliver a sharp diagonal pass into the penalty area.
The ball threaded perfectly between Toure and Gals, finding Di Maria on the right. The Argeook oouch with his left foot and fired a shot past the onrushing Almunia.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
"Ih minute, Napoli strikes again!"
"An incredible terattaapoli leads 2-0!"
---
After sg, Di Maria ran toward the er fg, f a heart with his hands as he celebrated.
The Napoli pyers swarmed him, their excitement palpable. Sanchez, who had nistered two assists, was also mobbed by his teammates, receiving well-deserved praise.
"Arsenal has ceded two goals ihan fifteen mihis is a devastating blow for the home side."
The TV broadcast cut to the dugouts.
Wenger was furious, his frustration evident.
In trast, Gao Shen was ecstatic, celebrating wildly as he shouted instrus to his pyers.
"Before the match, many thought Gao Shen's talk of demonstrating how to beat Arsenal was arrogant. Some were even waiting for him to fail spectacurly."
"Instead, in just fifteen minutes, Gao Shen has delivered a mastercss."
***
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