Napoli defeated Chelsea 4-1 at home and 6-2 on aggregate, successfully advang to the quarterfinals!

  This news quickly created a stir across European football.

  Everyone was surprised by the result, yet at the same time, it seemed entirely reasonable.

  Why?

  After Napoli reversed Chelsea 2-1 in the first leg away, their ces of advang were already very high. In the sed leg, Napoli held the initiative, while Chelsea, forced to attack away from home, were pced in aremely passive position.

  This is the reality of the Champions League knockout stages: losing the first leg often triggers a rea of setbacks in the sed.

  But few anticipated a scoreline as emphatic as 4-1.

  That is a signifit margin.

  Since Mourinho and even during Ranieri's tenure Chelsea had been synonymous with stability. Under Mourinho, the team became renowned for its ironcd defense and tenacity, making them a nightmare for nearly all of Europe.

  Even during Rijkaard's peak years with Bara's Dream Team II, Chelsea rarely suffered major defeats.

  Defense was always Chelsea's foundation.

  Hiddink, too, was a coach famous for his defensive a. Under his guidance, Chelsea had shown steady improvement.

  If you ighe scoreline and simply analyzed the games, it was evident that Chelsea were on the rise under Hiddink.

  Yet, this same team was defeated 2-1 at home by Napoli in the first leg and then suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss in the sed leg. To be thhly reversed in both matches, it was more than a ce. It poio deeper problems.

  The Times quoted Hiddink's post-match remarks from the press ferehe Dutch coach gratuted Gao Shen and Napoli, stating they performed better and fully deserved their victory.

  "These two games have taught my team and me an invaluable lesson. I feel that not just Chelsea, but the whole of Europe has uimated Napoli's strength and progress. This is a very strong team, fully capable of reag the semifinals and maybe even challenging for the title."

  Hiddink admitted that while being knocked out of the Champions League was disappointing, it might not be entirely bad.

  "These two matches exposed many of our weaknesses. Of course, losing is regrettable, but at the same time, it allows us to identify our shortings. This will be crucial for our long-term development. In that se's irely a bad thing."

  Indeed, Chelsea's lineup issues and outdated team-building philosophy were id bare iwo games.

  During the first half of the sed leg, Chelsea were almost pletely outpyed by Napoli. They struggled to mount any terattacks, and everademark defensive solidity was visibly fragile.

  Hiddink openly admitted that Gao Shen had introduced an advaactical cept to Napoli.

  "I hope he tio develop along this path."

  Though he lost, Hiddink dispyed the grad humility of a seasoned coach, his sincere blessings to Gao Shen.

  The British media also agreed that Napoli's performance was worthy of their victory.

  Napoli earheir qualification by defeating Chelsea.

  However, the same media couldn't resist pointing out Serie A's dee, which was being increasingly apparent.

  …

  Elsewhere in the Champions League, Inter Min's campaign also ended in disappoi. After losing 2-0 to Maer U Old Trafford in the first leg, they failed to score at home iurn leg, resulting in a 0-0 draw.

  The Nerazzurri were eliminated with a 2-0 aggregate loss.

  Mourinho was livid, openly critig his pyers' ckluster performance.

  Internally, however, questions were being raised about Mourinho's tactical approad lineup choices. Giverength of Inter Min's squad, mahey shouldn't have been eliminated in the Round of 16.

  But the fact remaihey had fallen to Maer United.

  Meanwhile, Roma also suffered heartbreak. After losing 1-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates in the first leg, they returo their home ground and equalized through Juan in the ninth minute, assisted by Totti.

  Despite numerous ces, her side mao scain iion or extra time. The match went to penalties, where Roma's left-back Too missed the decisive seventh spot-kick, resulting in their elimination.

  Among Serie A's four representatives in the Champions League, only three advao the knockout rounds. Now, with Inter Min and Roma both eliminated, Napoli stood alone as Serie A's st hope in the petition.

  By trast, all four of the Premier League's representatives had reached the knockout stages, and aside from Chelsea, Liverpool, Maer United, and Arsenal all advao the quarterfinals. This underscored the Premier League's dominance.

  Following the Round of 16, the Italian media heaped praise on Napoli, using every possible adjective to end the team. They also piheir hopes on Napoli to restore some dignity to Serie A.

  I years, Premier League teams had sistently gotteter of their Serie A terparts. Even during Mani's te Inter Min, the Nerazzurri had a dismal recainst Liverpool.

  And now, even with Mourinho in charge, Inter's fortunes hadn't improved.

  What could be done?

  Napoli's strength gave the Italian media and fans a glimmer of hope.

  In Serie A, Napoli was seen as a rival by all other teams. But in the Champions League, Napoli became the sole representative of Italian football. Even the media in Turin, Min, and Rome expressed their support, as did fans of other teams.

  This newfound solidarity made Napoli feel like they were carrying the banner of Italian football.

  As for the allocation of Champions League quarterfinal spots, the Premier League cimed three pces, La Liga took two, and Serie A, the Bundesliga, and the Puese league each secured ohis distribution reflected the current bance of power among Europe's top leagues.

  The Premier League firmly held the title of the world's stro league, with its traditional "big four" tinuing to dominate.

  La Liga was still spearheaded by its two powerhouses, though this season saw Real Madrid fail tress beyond the group stage, Atlétiadrid exit in the Round of 16, and Vilrreal reach the quarterfinals.

  Serie A, the Bundesliga, and the Puese league were clearly a step behind, struggling to pete with the Premier League and La Liga.

  …

  In Beijing.

  When Su Qing woke up in the m, she felt refreshed and energized.

  She pulled open her bedroom curtains, letting sunlight flood the room. Outside, it was a rare clear day, bright and cheerful.

  For a moment, she couldn't help but smile.

  Last night, Gao Shen's Napoli had won again.

  Whenever Gao Shen won, Su Qi a sense of joy and pride.

  She ate a simple breakfast, some bread and a bottle of milk, while replying to Gao Shen's texts.

  Every day, he would send her updates about his life, whether it was his activities, where he was going, or what was on his mind. Su Qing had developed a habit of cheg her phone frequently, worried she might miss one of his messages.

  "I'm off to work now," she typed before sending the message. She knew Gao Shen was likely still asleep and wouldn't reply immediately.

  After finishing her breakfast, Su Qing grabbed her bike and headed to work.

  On the way, she stopped at a and and bought three neers: the official party neer, the city daily, and most importantly, the sports paper.

  As she had expected, even the official party neer had reported on st night's Champions League match. Although the headline was tucked into a er of the front page, the sports se taiensive ce of Gao Shen and Napoli.

  I years, Su Qing had noticed Gao Shen's name frequently appearing in the official party neer.

  The same was true for national television.

  She could evehat the m news had covered the match highlights.

  Gao Shen, as a ese coach succeeding on the global stage, had bee a source of national pride.

  A well-known football entator once remarked, "Coag in Europe's top leagues is a huimes harder than pying football."

  Many fans and journalists who had visited Europe echoed this se, aowledging Gao Shen as a rising star in the world of football coag.

  Today's party neer had even reprinted an analysis from the Italian media, praising Gao Shen's success with Napoli and speg about his future.

  "The step fao Shen will likely be to join a major club. The top didates are Real Madrid and Bayern Munich," the report said.

  "But acc to inside sources, A is expected to ge coaches this summer, and Gao Shen is their first choice. Chelsea has also begun their search for a new manager, and Gao Shen is on their shortlist."

  "He is the hottest young coa Eurht now!"

  Smiling, Su Qing paid for the neers and tinued her ride to work.

  When she arrived, she overheard her colleagues discussing the matd the m news reports.

  Those w in gover ministries were often the most well-informed, and Gao Shen's growiation had not gone unnoticed.

  With his rapid rise, it seemed iable that Gao Shen would bee a symbol of ese success abroad, following in the footsteps of Yao Ming and Liu Xiang.

  "Twe years old, single, wealthy, and already a famous coach. Does he have a girlfriend?" a female colleague asked, her tone filled with curiosity.

  "I'm sure he does," another replied. "Didn't you see the reports? All those European celebrities are chasing after him. He's even one of the most-followed personalities on Twitter. Who wouldn't want to be with him and bee famous?"

  "That's true. Guys like him—young, rich, and famous are the most sought-after."

  "What a pity! I should have studied journalism and bee a reporter. Maybe then I'd have had the eet him up close. Who knows, maybe he'd like someone like me…"

  "Are you kidding? Why would he like you?"

  "What's wrong with me dreaming? Is that illegal?"

  "You're right. My dear, Gao Shen hasn't said anything, so why are you so anxious? It's fine, Xiao Wang, I officially give you my blessing. You're free to go after ao Shen!"

  "Thank you, Sister Zhao! I'll treat you to afternoon tea for your support."

  Su Qing silently watched from the side, stunned by the versation.

  Are these people really ministry officials?

  Why are they ag like crazed fans chasing after a celebrity?

  And what was that about "ao Shen"?

  Hmph!