Gao Shen had formed his ideas and tactical framework for defending against Bara early on.

  This was why, when reag the Champions League semi-finals, his biggest headache was Maer United. Ferguson's tactics were highly uable, Gao Shen had no idea what the legendary manager was thinking or what he might do .

  Guardio's Bara, however, was different. This team pyed in a highly structured and predictable manner.

  In other words, as long as Napoli could adapt to Bara's rhythm and style of py, they would already be halfway to success.

  Athletic Bilbao had provided a clear example of failure, but Napoli could do better.

  Take their approach to pressing, for instance.

  Bilbao's strategy was to establish a solid pressing zohe halfway line, allowing Bara to maintain possession in their own half but preventing them from advang into dangerous areas with ease.

  Napoli po follow a simir strategy.

  Since advang to the final, they had been practig oouch passing drills and shadow training daily, desigo improve ball circution under pressure and enhaeam pressing. The former ensured Napoli could transition smoothly after winning possession, redug turo Bara. The tter focused on maintaining high-iy pressing as a unit.

  What should happen if the press he halfway line was broken?

  The team would quickly retreat into position and reaheir deferucture.

  To test this, Gao Shen had anized several intra-squad matches, assessing Napoli's ability to transition into their defensive shape at speed. The results were promising, leaving both him and the coag staff satisfied.

  This approach meant Napoli would not press aggressively in Bara's defehird, especially heir penalty area. Instead, they would trate their efforts oablishing a strong pressing lihe halfway mark, preventing Bara frressing through midfield.

  One of the biggest challehletic Bilbao faced was their physical endurance.

  For Napoli, this would not be an issue.

  Over the past three years, Gao Shen had perfected a rotational pressing system.

  It funed much like a rey race.

  For example, i would initiate the press, then drop into a wider position, allowing one of the wio step up. The responsibility kept rotating.

  In fact, in the ing years, more and more teams would adopt this kind of rotational pressing strategy.

  Gao Shen still vividly remembered the Champions League semi-final from that year, when Bayern faced Bara. Schweinsteiger, pying as a defensive midfielder, frequently pushed high to press, f Gomez and others to drop bad recover.

  That was the essence of a well-drilled pressing system.

  Napoli had the tireless i leading the line and the equally relentless Rakiti midfield.

  When it came to exeg this kind of strategy, Gao Shen was fident among all the top teams in Europe, no one could do it better than Napoli.

  Rakitic's role would be to push higher, applying pressure on Xavi, Ia, and even Busquets.

  Biglia, positioned closer to Thiago Motta, had the task of keeping an eye on Messi while also providing defensive cover for the fnks and trag Ia's off-the-ball runs another crucial detail.

  Eto'o and Henry were both world-css finishers, capable of makiating runs down the fnks. bined with the near-unstoppable Messi, Napoli had to trate their defensive resources in these areas.

  …

  After deep analysis, the tactical blueprint was now clear and fully developed.

  Over the past few days, Napoli's training had been structured entirely around these principles.

  "I'll say this again everyone oside expects this match to be an offensive spectacle because both Bara and Napoli are attack-mieams. But I'll tell yht now, this is a defetle!"

  Gao Shen's stance was firm.

  "We will not be servative, we're not a team that sits back but our priority in this game is to execute our deferategy fwlessly. If we shut down Bara's passing game and attag build-up, then given their defensive vulnerabilities, I guarantee we'll have plenty of attag ces."

  "Oher hand, if we fail to defend well, Bara's possession py will overwhelm us like a releide breaking through wave after wave until we colpse."

  This was not a matter of choice.

  Put simply, Napoli could not pete with Bara in terms of ball possession.

  Looking at world football, no team could go head-to-head with Bara in pure ball trol.

  Possession was ingrained in Bara's identity.

  Not just now even during their darkest years ie 90s and early 2000s, they were still a team built around possession.

  That was why Gao Shen's tactical approach emphasized pressing iag third, intense pressure he halfway line, and pact defensive positioning in their own half.

  Additionally, Gao Shen stressed one crucial factor disrupting Bara's rhythm.

  "People say Guardio's tactics are simir to ours."

  "When they lose the ball, they press aggressively. When they regain possession, they slow the game doass patiently."

  "When we dominate possessioehe same approach. It has worked for us every time. But in the Champions League, we've deliberately pyed more directly, redug our relian patient build-up."

  "Bara's high-pressing style leaves space behind them when they push forward as a unit, that's an area we exploit. Their fast, intricate passing game is their greatest strength, but physically, they struggle in direct frontations a-piece defense which is gest advantage."

  Gao Shen advised that in the final days before the match, the team should dedicate additional time to set-piece drills, particurly attag er-kick routines.

  Guardio's Bara had a limited squad, a fixed style, and a predictable rhythm. If they were forced to adapt mid-game, they had no Pn B.

  Of course, football wasn't alredictable.

  Pyers like Messi and Ia could produents of brilliahat ged everything.

  But those moments were rare.

  …

  After a two-hour tactical meeting, Gao Shen had the club's restaurant prepare a te-night meal for the staff before sending everyone home.

  As usual, Gao She with Zidane and Lucas, though their destinations were different.

  Lucas had always lived alone in a rented apartment and ged girlfriends more often than anyone else.

  Zidane had also moved into a hotel startierday.

  His family and friends from Madrid and France had arrived in Naples.

  With Rome so close, they wao take the opportunity to explore.

  As one of Italy's major cities, Naples had plenty of attras to visit.

  For example, the Castel dell'Ovo, located not far from Gao Shen's home, and Mount Vesuvius, which stood across the bay, watg over the city day and night.

  After his family arrived, Zidaurally moved out of Gao Shen's home to stay at the hotel with them.

  Sarri, meanwhile, had also gone back to stay at his own pce.

  "By the way, Gao, when will your 'Mourinho' finally meet the real Zidane?"

  On the drive back to the Bay Area, Lucas suddenly asked with a ugh.

  Zidane's expression darkehe moment he heard that.

  That damned Gao Shen! He had promised to delete that character, but in the end...

  This would be a lifelong embarrassment for him!

  "I just checked the message they sehey've already taken off from Dubai. I've arranged for the club's driver to pick them up. By the time I wake up, they should be here," Gao Shen said, uo hide his anticipation.

  He hadn't seen his family in half a year.

  Su Qing and the others had flown from Beijing to Dubai and then from Dubai to Rome. The erip had been arranged by Emirates Airlines, a perk of Gao Shen being their global ambassador.

  e to think of it, this was the first time anyone had met Gao Shen's family.

  Even during his time at Real Madrid, when he reached the Champions League final, his family had tended.

  This was the first time.

  "Are you nervous?" Zidane suddenly asked.

  Gao Shen sat in the passenger seat, closed his eyes, and smiled. "I was nervous against Maer United, but I'm not nervous about the Champions League final."

  "Why?" Zidane was curious.

  Gao Shen shook his head. "I don't know… Maybe because I know Pep better."

  He truly was familiar with Guardio.

  He could eve many of Guardio's thoughts and tactical pns. It wasn't just because of his knowledge from his previous life, but also because of their iions and mutual uanding over the years. Most importantly, the two shared a certain tacit e and professional respect.

  Of course, Guardio also knew Gao Shen well.

  The key to this final would be who could restraiher more effectively.

  "By the way, Zidane, have you made a decision?" Gao Shen asked with .

  Florentino Pérez had officially announced his didacy for the Real Madrid presidency, and so far, he was the only one in the race. If no challengers emerged, he would return to the position without test.

  With his eback, Valdano was set to return, while José ángel Sánchez and Butrague?o would remain.

  Pérez had also extended an invitation to Zidane, hoping he would join as the president's special advisor.

  The Spanish media saw this as a clear indication—if Zidane, currently serving as Gao Shen's assistant, went back to Real Madrid, wouldn't that be ying the groundwork fao Shen's owurn iure?

  But Gao Shen knew better.

  Returning to Real Madrid this summer?

  That was impossible.

  In fact, even he himself had no idea when he would go back.

  And he wasn't in a hurry.

  As the saying goes: You 't eat hot tofu in a rush.

  "I haven't decided yet," Zidane shook his head.

  Pérez's invitation was hard to refuse, and the soon-to-be Real Madrid president had made it clear that he needed Zidane's help.

  Gao Shen nodded. He had expected this.

  "No matter what, I'll support your decision," Gao Shen said with a chuckle.

  Zidane nodded but remained silent.

  His return to Real Madrid was only a matter of time.

  His family was there. His past career and his future path were all there.

  There was no reason not to go back.

  What Zidaruly wahough, was fao Shen to return with him.

  But some things weren't up to him to decide.

  Not even Gao Shen or Pérez could decide that.