February 21st, the 25th round of Serie A.

  Napoli hosted Genoa at home.

  The game was scheduled for the afternoon, and Gao Shen made signifit rotations in the lineup, openly signaling his iion to serve energy for the uping Champions League match.

  After all, wasn't Napoli's five-point lead in the league precisely to allow them to perform better in the Champions League?

  The match was tightly tested for 70 minutes, until the 71st minute. Parejo, who had been subbed on only ten minutes earlier, delivered a brilliant pass. Callejon, reading his iion perfectly, made a run behind the defense and scored for Napoli.

  It was the only goal of the match.

  Iher two games on the same day, Inter Mied Bologna 2-1 away, while Roma narrowly beat Siena 1-0 at home.

  The Serie A title race remained unged.

  …

  Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Engnd.

  Ih round of the Premier League, Aston Vil hosted Chelsea in an earlier kickoff at 12:45 PM.

  Because Gao Shen and the coag staff were busy preparing for the Genoa match, they didn't have the time to watch Chelsea's game live. Instead, they sent Zidane, Lucas, and Bueura to Vil Park to analyze the match firsthand.

  It was a tough battle.

  Chelsea had a dismal record at Vil Park, with six draws and four losses in their st ten visits, and no wins.

  But from the start, Chelsea pyed aggressively, taking the initiative. Aston Vil, however, weren't intimidated and matched Chelsea blow for blow.

  This open style of py led to Chelsea's breakthrough ih minute. Lampard collected the ball in midfield, evaded two defenders, and delivered a pinpoint through ball. Anelka made a diagonal run into the right side of the penalty area and finished with a deft lob, sg the game's only goal.

  It was the Fren's 21st goal of the season, with 15 of those ing in the Premier League.

  Drogba also had an outstanding game, showg his ability with a remarkable shot in the penalty area that forced a brilliant save from Aston Vil's goalkeeper, Friedel.

  In the end, Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory, their first win at Vil Park in a decade and their first away win in five games. The result also ended Aston Vil's impressive 13-matbeaten streak.

  …

  Zidane, Lucas, and Bueura returo Naples from Birmingham after the match.

  While the team rested after the Genoa game, the coag staff vened for a meeting at Castel Volturno.

  Zidane, Lucas, and Bueura all offered high praise for Chelsea's performance.

  Chelsea's starting lineup for the match was as follows:

  Goalkeeper: Cech.

  Defense: Ferreira, Terry, Alex, and Bosingwa.

  Midfield: Mikel as the holding midfielder, with Bald Lampard ahead of him.

  Forwards: Anelka, Drogba, and Kalou.

  "Ferreira pyed as the left-back because Ashley Cole was suspended, but he didn't perform well in that positiohink Ashley Cole will return to the lineup for the Champions League," Lucas expined.

  "Another point worth noting is that Mikel's performance was subpar not just offensively but also defensively. Oher hand, Deco, who repced Kalou ih minute, pyed quite well. Chelsea switched to a 4-4-2 formation after that substitution."

  "Also, Essien, who you've been monit closely, wasn't even on the bench," Lucas added.

  The room turo Gao Shen for his rea.

  He rested his on his left hand, scratg his jaw, which had grown stubbly after days of intense work.

  "It's clear that Hiddink started adjusting the lineup from the 55th minute onward," Gao Shen ented.

  After a moment of thought, the staff nodded in agreement.

  A coach of Hiddink's caliber wasn't afraid to make bold ges, even while leading by just one goal.

  "Fernando, py the clip of Anelka's goal again," Gao Shen requested.

  Lucas plied immediately. As the footage pyed, he provided further text. "Apart from this goal, Anelka's overall performance wasn't remarkable. On the trary, Drogba had a golden opportunity in the sed half that was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper."

  Gao Shen paused the video at a specifient.

  "Look here. Drogba pulls Aston Vil's ter-back toward the left side of the penalty area. Lampard makes a forward run through the middle, and Kalou is also in an advanced position. Meanwhile, Anelka starts wide on the left but cuts diagonally into the right side of the penalty area, creating a three-way crossing run."

  "Lampard's pass exploits this movement. This kind of overpping tactical coordination is on in a Dutch-style 4-3-3 formation. It's incredibly flexible and puts defenders in a very difficult position."

  "To follow or not to follow—that's the dilemma," Gao Shen said, tapping the s.

  He tinued analyzing. "When Chelsea switched to a 4-4-2 formation, their midfield sisted of Mikel, Balck, Lampard, and Deco—essentially four creative pymakers. This gave their attack more fluidity. However, Aston Vil's manager, Martin O'Neill, responded by bringing on Carew, Heskey, Agbonhor, and Ashley Young, increasing their attag threat."

  Despite the pressure, Chelsea still created a clear the 83rd minute. Drogba's powerful shot was only denied by the goalkeeper's heroics.

  "Do you think Hiddink is trying to create fusion?" Carlo specuted.

  It ossibility. Hiddink might have deliberately made adjustments to keep Napoli guessing.

  His substitution ih minute could have been an attempt tao Shen into sed-guessing Chelsea's strategy.

  He seemed to be sending a message: "Guess what I'll use—4-4-2 or 4-3-3?"

  "No," Gao Shen tered firmly.

  The staff exged puzzled gnces, waiting for his expnation.

  "If Hiddink had more time, I might sider that possibility. But right now, he doesn't. He's w against the clock, trying to maximize every matd training session."

  "From this game, it's clear that Hiddink is fog on improving Chelsea's attack by pying Drogba and Anelka together. As Fernando mentioned earlier, Drogba often drifts to the left while Anelka starts on the left but frequently cuts inside or moves to the right."

  "We've seen all season that Anelka's wide py hasn't been effective. Scori tried it repeatedly, and it failed. But now, Hiddink has found a way fba and Anelka to coexist."

  Gao Shen paused, then added, "In the post-match press ference, Hiddink addressed this directly."

  He gestured to Lucas, who quickly found the relevant quote in his notes.

  Hiddink had said, "Anelka and Drogba py together, provided they fulfill their defensive responsibilities."

  "To py good attag football, everyone must first uand their defeies."

  "I have pyers like Anelka and Drogba, and when they it to defending as a team, you py the football you want."

  After hearing this, Gao Shen leaned back, his thoughts clearer than ever.

  Hiddink's approach had bee transparent.

  He was shifting Chelsea back to a 4-3-3 system, but he wasn't rigidly stig to it. Depending ouation, he might switch to a 4-4-2. The specifics would depend on how Hiddihe game.

  Based on current evidehough, the most likely setup was a 4-3-3 formation.

  In this system, the front three would be Anelka, Drogba, and Kalou.

  Mikel would anchor the midfield, with Lampard and Bal front of him.

  Deco's inclusion would raise questions about defeability, but his creativity made him an option Hiddink might sider.

  The defense was straightforward, with Ashley Cole likely repg Ferreira at left-back.

  "Hiddink has limited time. He won't overhaul the team but will make adjustments to refine Scori's work. Small tweaks, like the positional interges between Anelka, Drogba, and Kalou, are already evident," Gao Shen analyzed.

  He tinued, "Have you noticed how Chelsea's passing and movement have also ged? Their overall shape is tighter and more cohesive pared to Scori's era. Look at Lampard's assist, he dropped deep to collect the ball, threw off the defenders, and delivered a decisive through ball."

  Zidane nodded in agreement. "Yes, their positioning is much better. Each pyer seems to have immediate passing options nearby. It's a noticeable improvement."

  "However, this es at a cost," Gao Shen pointed out. "Their high-iy py is draining, and by the sed half, their activity level dropped signifitly. The midfield trio of Mikel, Lampard, and Balck isn't strong enough to cover both fnks, especially with the full-backs pushed up."

  "And that," Gao Shen decred, "is our opportunity."

  For years, he had studied Hiddink's methods, trying to find weaknesses. Now, he finally had crity.

  He knew how Hiddink's Chelsea would py.

  And if you know your oppo, you also know how to beat them.

  Napoli's physical fitness was a signifit advantage. Premier League teams didn't have a winter break, putting Chelsea's stamina at a disadvantage. Additionally, Chelsea had several older pyers, which was another weakness.

  The full-backs were also a . Ashley Cole had been insistent this season, and Bosingwa had simir issues. Ferreira, who pyed left-back against Aston Vil, received the lowest rating of the match—a failing grade of five.

  "If nothing ued happens, the winner between us and Chelsea will be decided in the sed half," Gao Shen cluded fidently.

  ***

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