The arrival of Su Qing and her parents did not disrupt Gao Shen's schedule.

  That afternooook them back to his home in the Bay Area.

  He had already asked the housekeeping staff to and prepare the house, so all they o do was move in with their luggage.

  His parents had heard that Gao Shen lived in a rge house in Naples, but they never quite believed it. Seeing it with their own eyes now, especially with the stunning sea view and Mount Vesuvius looming majestically across the bay they were thhly impressed.

  The only regret was knowing that after this summer, Gao Shen would be leaving this pce.

  After settling his family in, Gao Sheuro Castel Volturno.

  Su Qing and the others stayed at home to rest, recover from the long journey, and adjust to the time differeheir sightseeing tour of Naples would start the following day.

  Everything had already been arrahe club's driver would take them around the city, and on match day, they would join the families and friends of Napoli's pyers and staff on a bus to the Stadio Olimpi Rome.

  Although Su Qing and Gao Shen were openly affeate when alone, and both families had essentially accepted their retionship, she still chose to sleep in a separate room to avoid suspi.

  That said, she picked the rht o Gao Shen's on the same floor.

  The parents on both sides, havihrough this stage of life themselves, uood what was going on. They simply turned a blind eye and gave the reunited couple the freedom they deserved after months apart.

  That night, Gao Shen skipped his usual overtime at the training base and came home early for dinner with his family. Afterward, the parents excused themselves, g they were too tired and o rest.

  Leaving only Gao Shen and Su Qing alone in the living room.

  Without saying a word, they exged knowing gnces auro their rooms.

  Not long after, Gao Shen, freshly showered and dressed, snuto Su Qing's room.

  The m, he arrived at work in Castel Volturno feeling more energized than ever.

  …

  For the hree days, Gao Shen followed a simple routiraining at Castel Volturno, then going straight home.

  With the Champions League final looming, everyone knew better than to disturb him with trivial matters. He was grateful for the pead focused entirely on preparing the team.

  Meanwhile, Su Qing and the parents toured Naples with the club's driver.

  Their first stop was the San Paolo Stadium, where they visited the broatue of Gao Shen. While there, they met club president De Laurentiis and general manager Marino, who ihem to lunch.

  The rest of their itinerary had also been fully pnned in advance.

  Naples was buzzing with excitement as the Champions League final approached.

  As the city's only Serie A team, Napoli was more than just a football club, they were a source of pride for the entire unity. Walking through the streets, Su Qing and the others saions League-themed decorations everywhere.

  Tourists from other parts of Italy, as well as iional fans, were everywhere. The city had bee a melting pot of excitement, all tered around the uping match.

  The iional media were also paying close attention to this final.

  Historically, there had only been six Champions League finals in which both peting teams were league champions.

  That included the 1993 final when Marseille won Ligue 1 but was ter disbanded due to corruption, whiplicated the statistics even further.

  The rarity stemmed from the Champions League's knockout format.

  Before the tour's reform, only league winners and defending champions could participate. Back then, European teams relied heavily on homegrown talent and had thinner squads, which made peting on multiple fronts a massive challenge.

  In fact, before the Champions League evolved into its current format, only four finals had featured league champions from both sides.

  Post-reform, the Bosman ruling revolutionized football by enabling free pyer movement across Europe. Clubs with deep pockets began signing star pyers from abroad, but the uable nature of the knockout stages still made it difficult for league wio meet in the final.

  The st time this happened was in 1999, when Maer United faced Bayern Munich.

  United famously woreble that year with a dramatieback at Camp Nou. Bayern, meanwhile, had reached the German Cup final that season but pyed the Champions League final before the domestic cup. After losing to Uhey also lost the German Cup to Werder Bremen oies, ending the season with only the league title.

  This year, Napoli and Bara had both won their domestic leagues and cups. Now, they were chasing the elusive treble, a first in their respective histories.

  The significe of the moment wasn't lost on UEFA.

  In their official promotional video for the final, UEFA proudly decred:

  "For the first time in Champions League history!"

  L'équipe also published an ih preview.

  They emphasized that this match was more than just a battle between two teams, it was a tactical duel between two brilliant young coaches.

  The media dubbed it the "master and apprentice showdown," highlighting the retionship between Gao Shen and Guardio.

  They revisited how Guardio had oudied under Gao Shen in Italy, and how Gao Shen ter reended him to Bara's board when the club was searg for a new manager.

  Back then, many had assumed Gao Shen was simply helping a friend.

  But with the be of hindsight, people began to view it differently.

  Now that Guardio had led Bara to a domestic double and reached the Champions League final in his debut season, the sensus was that Gao Shen had seen his potential all along.

  How else could one expin their parallel success both having won their leagues and domestic cups in the same year, and now meeting in the Champions League final?

  L'équipe cluded that, in terms of tactics, philosophy, and personality, Gao Shen and Guardio were the two standout managers of the new geion.

  Gao Shen already had a Champions League trophy, two Serie A titles, and a La Liga title to his name. He was undoubtedly a top-tier coa Europe.

  Now, with the treble on the lihe world was watg.

  Who would e out on top, the master or the apprentice?

  ---

  Former Real Madrid coad current Spanish national team manager Vite del Bosque wrote a n for Marca, his thoughts on the uping Champions League final. He admitted that, naturally, he hoped Bara would win.

  "But beating Gao Shen won't be easy," Bosque warned.

  As the Spanish national team coach, he was well-acquainted with Bara's pyers and khe squad was filled with top-tier European stars. But this time, they were fag an oppo like no other.

  "I know Gao Shen from his time coag Real Madrid. I know his character and his tactical style. I'm sure Guardio knows it too. But I'll say this, don't let Napoli score first. If that happens, it will be a disaster!"

  Bosque predicted that the match would be anything but b, as her side was known for servative football.

  "In my opinion, Gao Shen has already reached a master-level standard in terms of in-game adjustments. Whether it's adjusting the team's attack, defeempo, or morale, he ha all with remarkable precision."

  "This is not good news fuardio. From many of Bara's matches this season, I've noticed his retive ck of experiend adaptability as a coach."

  "Yes, Gao Shen is only 28, but he already led Real Madrid to a domestic double and guided Napoli to two secutive league titles. Now he's on the verge of delivering Italy's first-ever treble. That says everything about his ability."

  Bosque cluded by urging Guardio to prepare mentally for a tough, tactical battle.

  …

  On the day Bara departed for Rome, Guardio held a press fere Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and announced his final squad.

  The eeam, regardless of whether they were named ichday squad or not, would travel to Rome.

  Guardio spoke with calm determination, saying that both he and his pyers were mentally prepared for the challenge.

  "We won't ge our style of py for the final or for our oppo. oal is to show the world just how great we are."

  When asked about Gao Shen, Guardio spoke with genuine respect.

  "He's one of the coaches I admire most. But this time, we're oppos."

  Earlier iour, Gao Shen had faced Ferguson's Maer United and, under pressure, had adopted a more servative approa the first leg, a decision that drew criticism from fans and media alike. He ter admitted it was a mistake.

  Would Guardio make a simir error when fag Gao Shen?

  Guardio smiled at the suggestion.

  "Of course, I feel pressure when fag Gao Shen. I've learned a lot from him. He knows me well, just as I know him. That naturally brings pressure. But pressure doesn't mean fear."

  He aowledged that many of his pyers would be experieng their first Champions League final as starters.

  "But when it es to experienapoli has evehan we do and they're younger overall," he added.

  While Guardio remained respectful, Bara's pyers showed far less restraint.

  Captain Carles Puyol, who had pyed in the 2006 Champions League final when Bara lost to Real Madrid under Gao Shen, hadn't fotten that bitter defeat.

  "This time, I'm going to lead the team to revenge," Puyol decred.

  "I 't wait for the match!"

  Meanwhile, Messi exuded his usual quiet fidence.

  "I made a bet with my teammates: if we lose, I'll stop cutting my hair a grow out until we win the Champions League."

  "But I know that's basically impossible," Messi added with a self-assured smile.