In the chairman's box at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea owner Abramovich sat among the club's top executives. When Drogba headed the ball into Napoli's he entire box erupted into cheers.

  Even Abramovich stood up, g enthusiastically and shouting, "What a great goal!"

  At that moment, he looked just like any other passionate Chelsea fan iands.

  After regaining his posure and sitting back dowuro the entlemaed o him. The man had ly bed white hair, gold-rimmed gsses, and an air of wisdom. Abramovich ughed and said, "Piette, your analysis ot on. We really scored the first goal!"

  The old man, full of energy despite the wrinkles on his face, let out a hearty ugh. "Hiddink's coag is extremely adaptable, but it's all grounded in his deep uanding of the pyers. He always knows the team's strengths and builds his tactics around them."

  Abramoviodded in agreement, thinking about how Hiddink had emphasized physical fitness with the South Korean national team and how he built tactics around Arshavin for Russia.

  Now, Chelsea's biggest strength was undoubtedly Drogba.

  "He's one of the best head coaches in world football today," the older man said, praising Hiddink.

  Abramoviodded repeatedly, fully vinced.

  The man iet de Visser, a highly respected figure in Dutch football.

  De Visser's coag career was unremarkable, with no standout achievements. His most notable stint was managing Graafschap in the early 1970s, where he coached a young midfielder named Guus Hiddink.

  Since 1993, De Visser had worked behind the ses, serving as the chief scout for PSV Eindhoven.

  During PSV's golden era, De Visser quietly discovered talents like Romario, Ronaldo, and Van Nistelrooy, earning him immense respect.

  In 2005, Abramovich partnered with PSV and brought De Visser to Chelsea as his special advisor. Tasked with helping Chelsea build their youth academy, establish a scoutiwork, and uh talent globally, De Visser's influence became invaluable.

  It was on De Visser's reendation that Abramovich first approached Hiddink, leading to the Dut's stints with the Russian national team and Chelsea. De Visser had also suggested poag sp director Frank Arnesen from Tottenham, a former colleague of his at PSV.

  For years, Abramovich followed De Visser's advice almiously, and the results spoke for themselves.

  Once again, the so-called "Wise Man of Stamford Bridge" had been proven right. He had predicted Chelsea would score first, and they did.

  …

  The game resumed.

  Although Chelsea had taken the lead, they tio push fgressively.

  Napoli, under Gao Shen's dire, steadied themselves. The pyers focused on solidating their defense, showing nency to attack.

  So far, Napoli hadn't managed a single shot on target, which caught De Visser's attention.

  "This young coach from Naples isn't ordinary," De Visser ented. "He's maintaining his posure under pressure. Right now, he's fog on defending and waiting to teratta the sed half."

  "When we're already exhausted?" Abramovich asked.

  De Visser nodded. "With our current style of py, we'll face major physical challenges in the sed half."

  "What we do about it?" Abramovich asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

  De Visser shook his head. "There's no way around it. We 't slow down—if we do, Napoli will terattack. This young coach may only be 28, but he's ruthless and decisive in his tactics, with the kind of posure and experiehat doesn't match his age."

  Abramovich was surprised. He hadn't expected De Visser to hold Gao Shen in such high regard, and it made him view the young coa a new light.

  "Is there no other solution?" Abramovich pressed.

  "I told you during the winter break t in a top-css withen the fnks, but you didn't listen," De Visser replied bluntly. "Now Hiddink has no oo rotate in. The best course of a is to capitalize on our current physical advantage and soals while we ."

  This recisely the strategy Hiddink was employing, an all-out attack to widen the lead.

  But Gao Shen had anticipated this, his team to retreat and withstand Chelsea's pressure.

  De Visser noticed Abramovich's silend added, "Don't worry. Hiddink uands the risks of the sed half, so he'll have prepared for it."

  He smiled, clearly enjoying the tactical battle unfolding och.

  "This is why I love matches like these—when two brilliant coaches go head-to-head. Hiddi ba to score, and he was right. In the sed half, Napoli will bet on their terattaow it's up to Hiddink to respond effectively. He's very capable defensively, so it'll be iing to see how it pys out."

  After a brief pause, he added, "Of course, if we score one moal, the situation will be much better."

  This was undoubtedly Hiddink's mi as well.

  Och, Chelsea tiheir relentless attack, trying to extend their lead.

  …

  Another set-piece opportunity arose iag third for Chelsea.

  Once again, it was on the right fnk for Chelsea and Napoli's left.

  Vargas had fouled Kalou while trying to defend him.

  Lampard stepped up to take the free kick, while Chelsea's aerial threats pushed into Napoli's penalty area.

  The Stamford Bridge crowd roared, energized by Drogba's earlier goal.

  In the penalty area, David Luiz marked Drogba closely.

  Moments ago, he had been outmaneuvered by the Ivorian, partly due to being blocked by other Chelsea pyers. This time, he was determined not to let it happen again.

  Lampard delivered the free kick, but this time, instead of targeting Drogba, he aimed for the near post.

  Napoli's defensive midfielder, Thiago Motta, positioned himself perfectly and cleared the ball with a header. However, the clearance didn't go far, ndihe edge of the penalty area.

  David Luiz quickly assessed the situation, noting Balck's positiohe penalty ard Drogba behind him. Without hesitation, he abandoned Drogba and sprioward Balck.

  The Brazilian defender used his long legs and speed to reach the ball just before Balck. Leaping high, he headed it clear.

  Under normal circumstances, David Luiz might have paused to reassess after nding.

  But tonight, Gao Shen's words rang in his ears: suppress your personality, trol your habits.

  The moment his feet touched the ground, David Luiz turned and ran straight back tba, resuming his mark.

  This was his mission.

  Meanwhile, Chelsea regained possession outside the penalty area and quickly passed the ball to Kalou. The wiurned and pyed a clever through ball.

  By the time David Luiz realized the danger, Drogba had already started his run.

  Reag instinctively, David Luiz sprinted after Drogba with explosive speed.

  Just as Drogba trolled the pass and prepared to shoot, David Luiz slid in with a perfectly timed tackle.

  The ball deflected off Luiz's leg and bounced high into the air.

  Napoli goalkeeper Handanovic charged forward a to cim the ball before Drogba could react.

  A collective groan echoed through the stadium.

  If David Luiz had been a split sed slower, Drogba would have scored again.

  The Brazilian defender grabbed Bonucci's hand and pulled himself up.

  "Stay sharp, everyone! We have to hold the lihe boss is ting on us!" David Luiz shouted.

  Hearing this, Napoli's pyers turo the sidelines.

  There, Gao Shen stood at the edge of the teical area, g and shouting encement.

  "Great work! Keep it up! I believe in you!"

  The Napoli pyers nodded in unison, rallying around their coach's belief in them.

  …

  Sixteen minutes had passed.

  After finishing his shouts of encement, Gao Shen turned and walked back toward the bench.

  Carlo handed him a bottle of water, which he drained in one go.

  "How long do you think Chelsea keep this up?" Gao Shen asked Bueura.

  The fitness coach thought for a moment, recalling Chelsea's match against Aston Vil. "No more than 20 mihey spent a lot of energy in their st game."

  Pintus, another member of the coag staff, agreed. "They won't st more than 20 minutes."

  Of course, that didn't mean Chelsea wouldn't be able to attack after that. But they would o maheir energy carefully, knowing there were still 90 minutes left iie.

  If they exhausted themselves too early, they'd have nothi in the sed half, a fatal mistake.

  Gao Shen nodded. He was fident Hiddink would adjust Chelsea's tempo soon.

  By then, Napoli's defense would have fully settled.

  Gao Shen turned back to the sidelines, tinuing to direct the game.

  He had faith in his team and uood that Drogba's goal had been crucial for Chelsea.

  But Hiddink wouldn't let them py at full iy for the entire first half.

  In some ways, sg only one goal wasn't ideal for Chelsea.

  A one-goal lead might give them a temporary advantage, but it also left them vulnerable.

  Gao Shen had alced his bets on the sed half.