The ndscape of European football is being increasingly chaotic.

  In the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Napoli, participating in the petition for the first time sis reform, shocked the world by crushing Wenger's Arsenal 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium. The prehensive defeat left fans and media alike stunned.

  Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Maer United ceded a goal in just four minutes. However, they turhe game around with a goal and an assist from Rooney, only to cede ae goal.

  The matded in a 2-2 draw with Porto, a result that was equally surprising.

  People started w whether this season might echo the chaos of the 2004 Champions League, when Porto, led by Mourinho, wole amid several upsets.

  The day after the first two quarter-final matches, the other two games followed.

  Bara dominated Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Camp Nou, seg a decisive victuardio's side firmly reinforced their position as the favorites to win the Champions League this season.

  Oher hand, Benítez's Liverpool drew 1-1 with Vilrreal away from home, leaving them in a favorable position to advance.

  In summary, the top half of the draw was chaotid uable, while the bottom half proceeded retively smoothly.

  Although many still believed Maer United would eventually advance, Porto's two away goals gave them a legitimate ce for an upset at home.

  After the first leg of the quarter-finals, Napoli's odds of winning the tour increased signifitly, pg them as the third favorite behind Bara and Maer United.

  Of course, o teams remained.

  ---

  The uainty wasn't limited to the Champions League, it exteo Serie A as well.

  With Napoli peting on three fronts, their league performance had bee insistent. A onfortable seven-point lead in Serie A had dwio just three points.

  The stronger Napoli performed in the Champions League, the more ed fans and media became about their domestic campaign.

  Although Gao Shen's carefully pnned rotation system was w well, no one could guarahat Napoli wouldn't slip up again.

  A single loss or draw could shrink their lead even further, allowing Inter Min to catch up. The mounting pressure would pose an enormous challenge for Napoli.

  Aware of these s, Gao Shen prioritized unication with his pyers. He even brought in a psychologist to be statio Castel Volturno, tasked with addressing pyers' emotions aal states.

  To the outside world, Gao Sheedly emphasized that the team could hahe challenge of peting on three fronts without issue.

  ---

  Oernoon of April 11th, the 31st round of Serie A saoli hosting Del Neri's Atanta at the S?o Paulo Stadium.

  Del Neri stuck to his signature 4-3-1-2 formation, employing three defensive midfielders and prioritizing defense above all else.

  With the sed leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Arsenal looming, Gao Shen rotated heavily, fielding nine substitute pyers. The team was virtually unreizable from its usual starting lineup.

  The match turned into a grueling battle.

  Atanta's deferucture was incredibly solid. Del Neri packed his defeh four defenders and three defensive midfielders, f a deep block around their penalty area. Napoli struggled to find a breakthrough.

  Essentially, Del Neri's strategy was simple: fortify his defensive line, gesture provocatively toward Napoli, and challehem to attack.

  Napoli id siege to Atanta's defensive wall but failed to score.

  Starting ih minute, Gao Shen made substitutions and tried different offerategies, but none proved effective.

  It wasn't until the 84th mihat Napoli finally broke the deadlock. Atanta's defense cleared the ball out for a throw-iheir half.

  Macho quickly stepped forward to take the throw-in, ung the ball down the right fnk.

  Valencia spri full speed, beating Atanta's left-back Bellini to the ball. Cutting into the right side of the penalty area, he sent a low cross toward the goal.

  Both i and Pelle, who had e on as substitutes, charged into the box. i reached the ball first and slotted it into the from cle.

  Atanta's pyers protested vehemently, g the throw-in was illegal. Their frustration culminated in midfielder Doni receiving a yellow card.

  However, the referee dismissed their protests, and Napoli held on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory.

  What delighted Napoli fans even more was the result of a current match at the Meazza Stadium. Inter Min had taken an early 2-0 lead against Palermo with goals from Balotelli and Ibrahimovi?. However, the game turned on its head in the sed half.

  In the 73rd and 75th minutes, Inter ceded two goals in quick succession. The matded in a 2-2 draw, breaking Mourinho's ret winning streak.

  With Inter dropping points and Napoli earning three critical points, the gap at the top of the table widened back to five points.

  Gao Shen, Zidane, Carlo, and the rest of the coag staff could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

  The league roving uable. Every team in Serie A posed a threat, and even the smallest pse in focus could have disastrous sequences.

  Napoli's narrow escape against Atanta and Inter's stumble against Palermo were stark remihat the league's momentum was built game by game.

  But it was clear that fighting on three fronts was taking its toll on Napoli's pyers.

  ---

  That evening, after the match against Atanta, Gao Shen drove to the Hilton Hotel he Bay Area.

  Situated on the north side of Civic Park, close to the iic Castel dell'Ovo, the Hilton was less than three kilometers from both Gao Shen's home and the San Paolo Stadium.

  Upon arrival, hotel staff greeted him warmly and guided him through a private entrao a luxurious private dining room.

  Inside, Gao Shen was weled by Liu Wenda, the man who had tacted him earlier.

  "Hellao. It's a pleasure to meet you," Liu said with a polite smile.

  "Hello, Mr. Liu," Gao Shen replied, shaking his hand.

  They ehe private room, which featured dedicated chefs and staff to ehe utmost privad security for the guests.

  Liu Wenda, the president of Emirates Airlines in a, had reached out to Gao Shen prior to this meeting.

  However, Liu wasn't the maionight. Two others were present, and one of them took Gao Shen by surprise.

  The first was Richard Jobery, President of Emirates Airlines for Asia and Oia.

  The sed guest left Gao Shen momentarily stunned: it was Mubarak, the new chairman of Maer City.

  Although Gao Shen had never met Mubarak before, he had heard of him. He hadn't expected to meet him here.

  On refle, though, it wasirely surprising.

  While Emirates Airlines was based in Dubai, Maer City's owner hailed from Abu Dhabi. Although the two emirates were teically part of the same try, each had its own distinterests and rivalries.

  Regardless, Gao Shen decided not to dwell oangled web of Middle Eastern es.

  ---

  After everyone exged greetings, they took their seats.

  Since Liu Wenda had been the oo initiate tact, he took the lead in hosting the meeting.

  Gao Shen was unfazed by the formalities. In his previous life, he had attended tless simir gatherings and was well-versed in navigating such occasions.

  Earlier, Gao Shen had given his guests tickets to Napoli's match against Atanta. He asked how they ehe game and whether they po stay in Naples for the sed leg against Arsenal.

  Unfortunately, both Jobery and Mubarak politely deed, g busy schedules.

  The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss potential colborations.

  Emirates Airlines had long been active in sports sponsorship, famously lending its o Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and supp major events like the World Cup.

  "We'd like to invite you to bee lobal ambassador," Liu ined, "and the UAE Tourism Board would also like to colborate with you as a tourism promotion ambassador."

  The offer caught Gao Shen off guard.

  "Why me?" he asked with a smile.

  This question had bee sed nature to him. Whenever an opportunity fell into his p, his instinct was to ask: why me?

  "There are many reasons," Liu began, clearly prepared for the question.

  Emirates Airliered the Asian Market. Sihen, the airline has experienced sistent double-digit growth every year. The potential for tinued expansion is immense, and the pany's headquarters pces great emphasis on the region as a key market frowth.

  He went on to expin that with outbound tourism expected to skyrocket in the ing years, destinations like Dubai and Abu Dhabi were poised to bee increasingly popur.

  "Moreover, your influence reaches far beyond local borders. You have a substantial following in a, Europe, the Americas, and even the Uates. With tens of millions of fans online, we believe a partnership with you would hold tremendous value."

  What Liu said resonated with what Gao Shen already uood.

  The anticipated tourism surge in Dubai was undeniable, and Emirates Airlines was clearly positioning itself to take full advantage of it.

  As Liu cluded, Gao Shen began to seriously sider the proposal.

  ***

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