SWR: Chapter 1226/1230

Chapter 1226: Leeds United Really Played Crazy Tonight

It could have been poor form, low morale, tactical issues, or mentality. In short, Barcelona were out of sorts throughout the entire match.

One moment that summed up Barcelona's mental state came in the 85th minute.

Barcelona's attack broke down and Leeds United recovered possession.

When De Ligt received the ball in his own half, he saw Milinkovic-Savic pushing forward and launched a long pass.

Milinkovic-Savic, with his back to goal, used his body to hold off Piqué and flicked a header behind him.

The touch from Milinkovic-Savic sent the ball into the space behind Barcelona's defense.

Mbappé broke in diagonally at top speed like a cheetah hunting its prey.

At that moment, Busquets had already dropped into the gap left by Piqué to cover, and Roberto was tight to Mbappé. But for some reason, when Busquets swung to clear, he made a fatal error.

He misjudged the bounce and completely missed his clearance.

It was unbelievable.

As Mbappé surged through with Roberto in tow, he was just as surprised. He immediately stabbed the ball toward the penalty spot and accelerated to get on the end of it.

Lenglet reacted quickly. Just as Mbappé caught up and was about to shoot, Lenglet stretched a toe and poked the ball away, sending it toward the left side of the box.

But Mbappé, Roberto, and Lenglet had all collided by then.

Milinkovic-Savic arrived before Piqué, controlled the ball with his foot near the left corner of the area, noticed Cillessen rushing out, and calmly aimed for the far corner.

The ball skimmed under Cillessen and headed toward the right side of the goal.

Just as it was about to cross the line, Alba slid across the face of goal and hacked it away.

The ball cannoned off Alba's leg and looped up, but not far, dropping on the right side of the six-yard box.

João Félix, the Portuguese teenager who had replaced Dembélé less than ten minutes earlier, happened to be free in that unguarded pocket. He cushioned with his chest, then swung his right foot and shot immediately.

At that moment, two Barcelona players were inside the goal, two more stood on the goal line, and including Cillessen there were five bodies in and around the line.

But after Milinkovic-Savic's effort, they had all lost their balance and could not react.

Félix's strike flew straight into the right side of Barcelona's net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"The fourth goal!"

"Still for Leeds United!"

"My God, Leeds United really played crazy at Camp Nou tonight!"

"Barcelona's performance has been unbelievable. They don't look like La Liga leaders at all, more like a relegation side."

"Leeds United have gone wild with their attacking football at Camp Nou."

"The fourth goal is from João Félix, the talented Portuguese forward, only 18 years old."

"Pochettino probably didn't expect this. He brought Félix on at 3-0 just to let him feel the rhythm and atmosphere. For young players, playing at Camp Nou is rare."

"But unexpectedly, he picked up a loose ball and broke Barcelona's net."

"Truly surprising. I bet even Leeds United didn't see that coming."

"From the slow-motion replay, you can see Barcelona's defensive problems clearly. Busquets made a basic defensive error."

"Barcelona's players fought hard, but Leeds United's attacks were simply overwhelming."

"4-0!"

"Gao Shen's team have once again created painful memories for Barcelona, even though Gao Shen isn't the coach this time."

…

Sitting in the Camp Nou stands, Gao Shen was stunned for a moment when he saw João Félix score. He could not help but stand and applaud the team's performance.

"Wow! Beautifully done!"

Around him, Lucas, Borrell, and the others also rose and cheered. Only UEFA President Ceferin and Football Director Boban stayed composed. After all, this was Camp Nou, and their positions were sensitive.

When Gao Shen sat back down, Ceferin and Boban leaned over to congratulate him.

"Your team's performances this season are still remarkable," Boban said with a smile.

Leeds United's rise in the Champions League began in 2016-17, when their young side reached the semifinals, equaling the club's best European record. Many thought that was Leeds United's ceiling.

Especially after that summer, when Leeds United sold a number of players, including Felipe Anderson, now at Barcelona.

Manchester City even signed three key men, Mahrez, Cancelo, and Benjamin Mendy.

At the time, almost everyone thought Leeds United's fairy tale had ended.

Unexpectedly, in 2017-18, Leeds went even further, winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final, stunning everyone.

This summer, Leeds United sold core players again, yet their level did not drop.

Especially with this 4-0 away win at Barcelona, the aggression and attacking intent, the energy and sharpness on the pitch, made this team unforgettable.

"The most important thing is youth development," Gao Shen said with a faint smile.

Ceferin and Boban both nodded.

Leeds United's academy is well respected across Europe.

Every year, UEFA runs the UEFA Youth League in parallel with the Champions League group stage. Leeds United have won multiple titles in that competition.

While youth results do not tell the whole story, they prove that Leeds United's academy is excellent.

It is also why Leeds United have consistently produced new stars in recent years.

For example, Mbappé and João Félix, who just scored.

Of course, it has also brought controversy. Leeds United often sign prospects from elsewhere.

They recruit from France, Portugal, and even across the UK.

On one hand, excellent youth development, on the other, aggressive recruiting. Together they have created the debate around Leeds United today.

"I heard from Sir Alex Ferguson that you bought Leeds United to prove you could run a successful, financially healthy club without relying on money. Is that true?" Ceferin asked with a smile.

Gao Shen laughed quietly to himself.

He had indeed said that, but was it really possible?

Leeds United succeeded because he knew he was a transmigrator. With his connections in European football, he was able to sign players from everywhere and build a strong Leeds United and academy in just a few years.

If it were anyone else, it would be hard to replicate.

But he could not say that out loud.

Gao Shen only smiled and nodded. "Transfer fees and wages have been soaring in recent years, putting huge pressure on clubs. Weekly salaries of four or five hundred thousand pounds are now common. It is outrageous."

Ceferin frowned and agreed.

"I've spoken with many clubs at the European Club Association. Everyone wants UEFA to step in and curb the trend, but honestly, it is difficult."

He paused, then continued, "People say I support sovereign wealth funds like those behind Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Even funds from Saudi Arabia or Egypt are interested in entering. They think this will disrupt the landscape."

Gao Shen was a bit surprised that Ceferin brought it up himself.

"It's true, but I disagree. Will they really stay out? A lot has changed since the Americans entered and began making arrests. Football is no longer as independent as before. We need to consider more factors when making decisions."

"We all feel salaries and fees are getting out of hand, but is there a solution? Do you think our financial audit teams are better than those at Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, or Manchester United?"

"Impossible," Ceferin shook his head firmly. "You are smart, Gao. We could increase investment massively, but the cost would be astronomical. Even if we did, there is no guarantee audits would find anything. The staffing and outsourcing alone would be huge expenses, and they would have to be deducted from Champions League revenue."

"More importantly, they will not listen to us. We are not law enforcement. Clubs can register companies in the Cayman Islands or anywhere. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, even Leeds United, are global companies registered in Europe. We simply cannot regulate you effectively."

In short, UEFA can only check the financials submitted by clubs. They cannot fully monitor the true state of club finances.

Listed clubs like Manchester United are a bit more transparent, but for entities like Real Madrid and Leeds United, oversight is limited.

Without full financial oversight, there is no way to truly control wages and transfer spending.

Because there are always ways to pay those costs.

Not even the United States can fully regulate companies like Apple or Google.

The EU has been talking about fining Apple and Google as well.

In essence, global enterprises cannot be regulated perfectly, in any country or any industry.

Ceferin's point was that if regulation fails, introduce competition to curb excess through market forces.

From a broader perspective, Gao Shen felt Ceferin also wanted to apply pressure on the elite clubs, but the one thing he had not considered was limiting UEFA's own power.

Or perhaps he had considered it, but did not want to touch it.

Human nature.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1227: Battle for the Top

Leeds United beat Barcelona 4-0 at Camp Nou.

This result once again sparked heated discussions among media and fans worldwide.

Even the most optimistic Leeds United fans could not have imagined a four-goal win at Camp Nou. It was unbelievable.

The Catalan media had been full of confidence and arrogance before the match. Afterward, they were devastated.

They immediately began pointing fingers, trying to assign blame for each goal and mistake. Head coach Valverde was not spared and faced immense public pressure.

In contrast, Busquets' error that led to the fourth goal was ignored by many outlets.

The Catalan press has always been relatively "objective and calm" when judging their own.

The British media, on the other hand, were full of praise for Leeds United.

In last season's Champions League, Leeds United beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. Gao Shen was still at Real Madrid then. That win made Leeds United famous, but also brought Gao Shen overwhelming criticism.

Now, Leeds United have reproduced last season's brilliance, only this time the opponent was Barcelona instead of Real Madrid.

After defeating PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona in the first two group matches, Leeds United's path in the group has become much clearer. The British media generally believe Leeds United have continued last season's excellent form and stand a good chance of going far in the Champions League.

Of course, the key lies in the next two matches against Inter Milan. As long as they can top the group, their knockout draw will be much more favorable.

But challenges remain.

…

While media and fans around the world were praising Leeds United, and the club's supporters were celebrating the team's triumphant return, Pochettino and the squad went straight back to the AXA Center upon arriving in Leeds.

Three days after facing Barcelona, Leeds United would play Manchester City, the Premier League leaders and their biggest title rivals.

This was the final fixture in Leeds United's recent brutal run.

Since the international break in September, Leeds had faced Tottenham Hotspur, Eindhoven, Southampton, Chelsea, Barcelona, and now Manchester City. In just over half a month, they had encountered one tough opponent after another.

This schedule was a massive test for Leeds United.

The 0-2 defeat away to Chelsea was a heavy blow.

Fortunately, Pochettino's team emerged from that shadow with the 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League.

But the upcoming top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City was crucial.

Anyone familiar with European leagues knows that if you want to win the title, head-to-head clashes with rivals are unavoidable hurdles.

Matches between Leeds United, Manchester City, and Chelsea are not just about three points or morale.

They can reshape the entire title race.

For example, after losing away to Chelsea, Leeds surrendered top spot.

If they lost to Manchester City at the Amazon Stadium, the points gap would widen from one to four.

On the other hand, a win over Manchester City would flip the situation from trailing by one to leading by two.

This completely transformative swing is the value of these heavyweight encounters.

But how easy is it to beat Manchester City again in such a punishing run?

More importantly, this would test Leeds United's rotation mechanism.

With back-to-back matches, especially Chelsea and Barcelona in succession, the squad's energy had been heavily taxed. Rotation was necessary.

If rotation is handled well, the team benefits. If not, it can lead to major setbacks.

For example, full-backs Robertson and Arnold, outstanding over the past two seasons, had spent enormous energy and had to be rested.

But could Ashraf, Cucurella, and Reece James fill the gaps?

Alphonso Davies was only 17. According to Leeds United's plan, he would not feature in cup matches until he turned 18 to gain first-team experience. For now, he only trained with the senior squad.

Pochettino was clearly aware of the hidden risk.

Rotation was necessary.

That was the problem.

…

Since leaving Barcelona and later Bayern Munich to coach Manchester City, Guardiola himself had changed a lot.

Although he did not live in Cheshire, he had visited Gao Shen there whenever time allowed this season.

From a few conversations, Gao Shen sensed the transformation.

For instance, Guardiola said he now better understood Gao Shen's pragmatism.

When the whole world expects you to insist on possession, it becomes dangerous.

Last season, Manchester City suffered heavily at Leeds United's hands. That was proof.

So now, Guardiola sometimes became more pragmatic, even shelving his obsession with possession.

In the eighth round of the Premier League, away to Leeds United, Guardiola clearly went pragmatic, even conservative.

Perhaps he was also stung by Barcelona's crushing defeat.

At the Amazon Stadium, Guardiola rotated his starting lineup.

Goalkeeper: Ederson.

Defense: Benjamin Mendy, David Luiz, Stones, Cancelo.

Midfield: Fernandinho sitting deep, David Silva and Rakitic central.

Forwards: Sterling, Harry Kane, and Mahrez.

This was a very Leeds United-style lineup. In some ways, almost a replica, with seven of the starting eleven former Leeds players.

It was quite something.

Many say Leeds United are the arsenal for the Premier League's elite, producing stars for them.

Hazard, Suárez, and Gareth Bale all started and played full matches in midweek Champions League games, so Guardiola's rotation here was thorough.

But because of the large-scale rotation, Guardiola set up with a defense-first strategy at the Amazon Stadium.

Pochettino also rotated heavily.

Goalkeeper: Alisson.

Defense: Cucurella, Rúben Dias, Militão, and Ashraf.

Midfield: Kimmich holding, with Bernardo Silva and Valverde ahead.

Forwards: Mbappé, Rashford, and Sancho.

Aside from Alisson, Rúben Dias, and Mbappé, Pochettino rotated eight players, a rotation comparable to Guardiola's.

There was no other choice.

With the current congested schedule, expecting players to start every match is unrealistic.

Pochettino even wanted to rest Mbappé, but the Frenchman asked to play.

In hindsight, that was unwise.

Mbappé looked sluggish on the pitch.

It is normal for young players to fluctuate. After his stunning display against Barcelona, his energy had been greatly depleted, and Manchester City played defensively at the Amazon Stadium.

Could you imagine Leeds United having 58 percent possession to Manchester City's 42?

That was the reality of this key match.

Guardiola's plan was clear, using Mahrez against Cucurella and Sterling against Ashraf.

In the match, Ashraf was very active, while Cucurella struggled against Mahrez's dribbling.

Mahrez became Manchester City's most dangerous and eye-catching player.

It was 0-0 at halftime.

Leeds United had four shots to Manchester City's two.

The data showed a drab game for both sides with low attacking efficiency.

Not long into the second half, Guardiola made the first change, replacing Sterling with the German youngster Sané.

Ashraf was Leeds United's most potent outlet. The youngster kept breaking through and was very active down the right, so Guardiola wanted Sané to pin him back.

Source change app

Pochettino replaced Mbappé with Grealish, mainly because Mbappé's display was poor and he was tightly marked by Cancelo.

However, the targeted substitutions had little effect, and the match remained dull.

For both sides, a 0-0 draw was more acceptable than a defeat.

After all, a goalless draw meant the league positions remained unchanged.

…

Inside the Amazon Stadium, Leeds United fans roared their support.

Gao Shen, accompanied by his wife and children, Lucas, and Borrell, sat in the directors' box.

The match was dull and not exciting. Even the tactical content was limited. Both managers had laid their cards on the table, resulting in a calm game with little suspense.

If there was a flaw, it was Cucurella's poor performance, which allowed Mahrez to threaten repeatedly, especially after the 70th minute when Mahrez cut through twice and almost scored.

Alisson's display was outstanding, denying Mahrez.

Ashraf was also excellent, frequently providing width, though still short of perfection.

Sancho did not perform well in this attacking setup.

Guardiola had anticipated this, so he made his change and seemed unwilling to adjust further.

Guardiola has always been willful with his substitutions and usage.

"Is Vardy not ready?" Gao Shen asked curiously.

From the second half onward, Vardy had been warming up frequently, but he still had not come on.

Many fans were chanting Vardy's name, hoping the local striker could strengthen the attack.

"I guess he's not fully fit," Borrell suggested.

Gao Shen frowned. "Or Pochettino is saving him to unleash for the last twenty minutes or so."

"Our right-side attack looks active but lacks real threat. It is all down to Ashraf. Sancho cannot get the better of Benjamin Mendy," Lucas analyzed.

Gao Shen nodded. These were all former Leeds players, so they knew each other well.

"That depends on whether Pochettino dares to take a gamble," Gao Shen said with a smile.

"At Camp Nou, he took a risk and won. Will he dare to place a big bet again this time?"

It might be better to call it taking a risk rather than gambling.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1228: Cunning Vardy

To be honest, Manchester City's tactics tonight were surprising.

No one expected Guardiola to set up so defensively, which was extremely rare in the past.

To some extent, Leeds United can be proud of forcing Guardiola's team into this approach.

But for Leeds United now, and for Pochettino, that was not enough.

They wanted more.

The battle at Camp Nou seemed to open a window for Pochettino, allowing him to see a wider world.

In other words, he had always hidden by the window, peeking out, but never dared to stick his head out.

Because he lacked confidence and did not know whether taking that step would be right or wrong.

People are like this.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is easier said than done.

In particular, it is very difficult to suppress your own tendencies, take measures you have never taken before, and summon the courage and determination you did not previously have.

But with Gao Shen's encouragement and the result at Camp Nou, Pochettino had a good start.

As a first-team head coach, challenges are everywhere.

Now, at the Amazon Stadium, he once again stood at a crossroads.

This time he hesitated for less time. Especially after hearing the Leeds United fans in the stands, he had already made his decision.

Soon, Vardy was standing next to Pochettino.

All 67,000 fans in the Amazon Stadium erupted in cheers.

This veteran may not be Leeds United's biggest star, but he is definitely the most popular among Leeds fans, especially after he received several offers from other Premier League clubs and resolutely chose to stay.

He said he was only willing to play for Leeds United, and that if one day he was no longer good enough for the team, he would retire and become a youth coach at Leeds United.

Those words won over the Leeds United faithful.

More importantly, he never made a fuss about his salary.

Previously, an agent tried to stir up a pay rise by pressuring the club through a private media interview. Vardy fired the agent the next day.

Of course, Leeds United have never treated their hero unfairly.

Although they could not give him the highest salary in the team or the Premier League, the club kept improving his contract, and he has always been an important figure in the squad.

The reason Leeds United dared to let Harry Kane go this season was because Vardy was still here.

Different types, equally threatening.

…

Amid the cheers, Vardy replaced Sancho.

After the change, Leeds United's shape shifted.

They moved from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2.

Rashford and Vardy formed a front two. The midfield was Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Kimmich, and Valverde. Pochettino clearly wanted to strengthen the wing play.

Manchester City had packed the middle.

There was also a hidden adjustment involving Bernardo Silva.

Switching from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 brought Bernardo Silva closer to Grealish on the left. With Cucurella behind them, Leeds United created an attacking triangle on that side.

Rashford often drifted to that channel too, which meant four Leeds players operating on the left.

Replacing Sancho with Vardy and pushing Valverde to the right to support Ashraf looked like a move to strengthen the right and threaten Manchester City's left, but in reality it also strengthened the left.

Especially with Bernardo Silva.

Left-footed and complete in his skill set, he can combine with a right winger when playing on the right. His weaker right foot becomes an advantage on the left, where he can link with teammates naturally.

Grealish is right-footed and better at cutting inside from the left.

Grealish on the left, coming inside on his right, and Bernardo Silva, a left footer operating in midfield, formed a very interesting attacking partnership for Leeds United.

The players clearly understood the tweaks.

Especially Vardy, who had just come on and followed Pochettino's instructions.

…

Manchester City's left-side defending held up well.

Valverde and Ashraf took turns attacking that flank, but neither was as effective as before.

Manchester City had adjusted to Leeds United's substitutions.

Vardy tried to drift over and wait for a pass from the right, but Valverde could not beat his man and was forced back. Ashraf returned the ball to Kimmich.

The German midfielder controlled it and feinted right, as he has played right-back himself.

That immediately drew Manchester City's left side across.

But Kimmich suddenly switched play to the advancing Cucurella on the left.

Vardy and the rest of Leeds United were ready.

Shaping to one side and then switching quickly to the other is a familiar pattern for creative midfielders.

Leeds United's midfield often uses this pattern to catch opponents off guard.

When Cucurella received on the left, he saw Bernardo Silva dropping into space to receive.

Grealish stayed wide on the left touchline, and Rashford also pulled to the left corner of the box.

Cucurella found Bernardo Silva, and Rakitic closed him down, but the Portuguese quickly played it into Grealish, shook off Rakitic, and surged forward.

Grealish took the ball on his right foot, shifted sideways, and drew Rakitic's attention.

If Rakitic followed Bernardo Silva's run, Grealish would have the lane to cut inside.

Rakitic held his ground, so Grealish slipped a right-footed pass forward.

It fell perfectly to Bernardo Silva.

He drove toward the left side of the area, attracted his Portugal teammate Cancelo, shaped to cut inside, and combined with Rashford to pull Cancelo deeper. Then he suddenly burst to the outside.

By the time Cancelo reacted, Bernardo Silva was already at the byline. It was too late to stop him.

It all happened in an instant.

In the middle, Vardy was hunting for a gap.

As Rashford moved to the left corner of the box, City center-back Stones followed, and Vardy shifted too.

He kept himself between Stones and David Luiz.

Since he was young, Vardy has known he does not possess extraordinary gifts. He is fast, but beyond that, there is little.

After joining Leeds United and receiving top coaching, he understood even more clearly that he needed an edge.

Gao Shen once told him that to establish himself in the Premier League, he must find his own advantage.

An advantage that leaves opponents helpless.

Vardy searched for it, worked tirelessly in training, and ran harder than anyone. Pressing is his strength. He is clever and has honed his finishing relentlessly.

Pace, long runs, and clean finishing are the basis of Vardy's game.

As he played more, he realized that was not enough.

He needed to be smarter, more cunning, like a fox.

Following Stones to the left, he deliberately left space and glanced back repeatedly to check the positions of David Luiz and Fernandinho, the nearest defenders.

He kept himself in a live zone.

He had no idea what Bernardo Silva and Rashford would do next, but he left gaps, which gave him room.

When Bernardo Silva did not combine with Rashford and instead burst outside, Vardy knew what was on. He raised his hand for the pass.

That gesture told Bernardo Silva he was ready.

David Luiz stepped toward Vardy.

Rashford was sharp too. Seeing that Bernardo Silva did not play the one-two, he burst forward and dragged Stones toward the left of the six-yard box.

Cancelo chased Bernardo Silva, and Stones had to be wary of the pass into Rashford.

But the Portuguese is left-footed, and after seeing Vardy's signal, he whipped in the cross.

The delivery was precise, dropping right on the six-yard line, too awkward for the keeper to come for. It fell behind Stones and ahead of Vardy, which meant David Luiz, positioned between Vardy and the goal, could not react in time.

Vardy is only 1.79 meters, but he is springy. As the cross came in, he accelerated and leaped before David Luiz could engage.

Although David Luiz had the advantage in height and strength, he was passive in this situation.

The ball came from the left, Vardy had timed his movement superbly, and City's defenders were briefly confused about their marking responsibilities, with Stones in front facing away from Vardy and David Luiz behind.

From close range, Vardy met it in front of the six-yard box and nodded it toward the left corner.

As the cross arrived, Ederson had shuffled along his line to the right, but Vardy's header went left. The keeper could not shift his weight in time and failed to save.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"In the 84th minute, Vardy scores!"

"Leeds United's substitute striker heads home at a crucial moment!"

"What a brilliant move, and Vardy took his chance calmly!"

The Amazon Stadium exploded.

Leeds United fans roared at the top of their lungs, celebrating Vardy's goal.

1-0.

Leeds United finally broke the deadlock.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1229: The Price of Losing Him

Leeds United finally defeated Manchester City 1-0 with Vardy's header.

It was also Vardy's sixth Premier League goal of the season.

Scoring 6 goals in 8 games is an eye-catching record.

If not for Mbappé's 8 in 8, and Mané shining as the new focal point at Chelsea, Vardy would surely be considered the best-performing striker in the Premier League.

By contrast, Harry Kane, who joined Manchester City, is still adapting.

Although both Manchester City and Leeds United favor high pressing, it will take time for Kane to fit into Guardiola's possession system. A seamless transition is impossible.

Liverpool's Salah is also less efficient in front of goal than Vardy at the moment.

It is interesting to note that among the Premier League's big six this season, the star players in many teams are former Leeds men.

Liverpool's Salah, Manchester United's Martial and Alli, Chelsea's Mané, Manchester City's Harry Kane and Mahrez, and Arsenal's Icardi all came from Leeds United.

This has shocked many British media and fans.

Looking at world football history, which club has achieved such a feat in just a few years?

This has led to almost mythical reverence for Leeds United's youth development and talent production.

Many seemingly ordinary managers at Leeds United suddenly became department heads after moving to other clubs.

But the facts also show that those who left Leeds United have failed to recreate a second Leeds elsewhere.

The reason is simple. Leeds United's greatest pride is the entire platform.

It includes the largest database in world football, a player tracking and analysis system iterated over years, a global scouting network, and the carefully built academy.

Most importantly, the club operates with professional and efficient management from top to bottom.

Poachers paid big money for staff, only to discover that these individuals possessed only a small portion of the know-how. Without Leeds United's vast platform and resources, they lost the shine they had at Leeds and blended back into the crowd.

Gradually, competitors realized that such poaching was useless against Leeds United.

They even tried to imitate Leeds by building their own player databases, but with little success.

Data can be purchased and collected, but without the supporting chain, those cold numbers are largely useless.

In the end, they poached people and spent money, but saw minimal returns. Some persisted, but most gave up.

As for truly core staff such as Paco Cerullo and Juan Villa from the methodology department, Victor Horta, director of the big data center, and Steve Walsh, head of scouting, although they all hold key posts, Leeds offer high salaries and a great platform, and they all understand that without it, they would lose their halo.

So it is basically impossible to poach from the outside.

On the other hand, youth coaches have been leaving constantly, which has also led to the loss of some academy players.

But with Gao Shen's attention, most of Leeds United's talented youngsters have been retained.

This has led to Leeds United's favorable situation today.

After beating Manchester City, Leeds United climbed to the top and became the new Premier League leaders.

Many media and fans criticized the match between Leeds United and Manchester City, saying both teams were too conservative and it did not look like a Premier League top clash.

But as Pochettino said at the post-match press conference, the most important thing in such matches is to get three points.

"Do not forget, we are the only team to have had more possession than Manchester City so far this season."

Pochettino was quite proud of that.

…

Just as Leeds United moved top, the international break arrived, and more good news came from France.

In recent years, European football's awards have become increasingly segmented.

After the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year merged, UEFA launched the UEFA Best Player award, so that after the Ballon d'Or and FIFA split again, there were effectively three major awards in parallel.

For young players, Tuttosport's Golden Boy has always drawn the most attention.

But now, Tuttosport has found a contender.

In addition to the Ballon d'Or, France Football launched a new individual award, the Kopa Trophy.

Named after France's first Ballon d'Or winner, Raymond Kopa, it recognizes the best player under 21 in a calendar year. The jury is made up of 33 Ballon d'Or winners.

This year, Messi and Ronaldo are both on the panel.

Among the inaugural ten-man shortlist, besides the heavy favorite Mbappé, there are Leeds United's full-back Arnold and midfielder Valverde, Roma's Dutch winger Justin Kluivert, AC Milan's talented goalkeeper Donnarumma, Lyon's Aouar, and Dortmund's American winger Pulisic.

These are among the best-performing youngsters in Europe.

There is no doubt that Mbappé of Leeds United is the overwhelming favorite, with virtually no suspense.

What really drew attention was that Leeds United had three players on the ten-man shortlist for the first Kopa Trophy, an undeniably impressive result.

Apart from Leeds, with three nominees and the top favorite in Mbappé, most other clubs have only one player shortlisted. This also reflects Leeds United's level in youth development.

Although this first Kopa Trophy is considered a foregone conclusion, the ceremony is still scheduled for December 3.

…

As October began, there were two weeks of international fixtures, but Real Madrid continued to struggle.

The reason is simple. In the eighth round of La Liga, Real Madrid lost 0-1 away to Alavés.

Both Marca and AS unanimously described it as a disgrace.

Although Alavés have had a strong start and sit sixth, Real Madrid were last season's La Liga and Champions League double winners. Even if they are not as strong now, they should not be in this state.

Especially away from home, Real Madrid struggled to breach Alavés' goal for the entire match.

Three straight league defeats and four in all competitions is a first for Real Madrid in the past 30 years.

No one can understand what has gone wrong this season.

Worse still, Di María was injured in the Alavés match.

He became Real Madrid's sixth injured player this season.

Isco, Marcelo, Carvajal, Benzema, Pogba, and now Di María.

There are also players such as Modrić, Benzema, Varane, and Casemiro whose current form is not satisfactory and slow to adjust, which baffles everyone.

Is the team's chance creation too poor?

Actually, no.

AS listed the data. In the past four games, Real Madrid had 84 shots and did not score once.

That is definitely a problem.

Real Madrid's former technical director Valdano addressed the situation in an interview on Spain's Midnight Radio.

First, Valdano said sacking Benítez now would be a sign of failure, proving all pre-season planning had failed. This option requires caution.

He also believes both Real Madrid players and the Bernabéu faithful miss Gao Shen.

"I have said Real Madrid's most serious problem now is the players' lack of confidence. If you watch their matches, in many cases the players simply do not dare to attempt what they did before. They are afraid of making mistakes."

Valdano believes this is related to Benítez's tactics and the team's poor results. Real Madrid have fallen to seventh in La Liga, their lowest position in years.

"More importantly, Real Madrid have lost the greatest manager in their history. It is as if their soul has been drained away."

"In matches, I have seen more than once that when the team encounters difficulties, the players look instinctively toward the bench. We all know what they saw on that bench over the years."

"But now, they see nothing, which leaves them without confidence or courage."

"This is a fatal mindset. You can see the players worrying about winning and losing on the pitch. This mentality makes them more fragile and more susceptible to injury."

Valdano believes this is a pain all top teams must endure, and it requires the club, players, and fans to overcome it together.

How long it will take, no one knows.

"In fact, even now, Manchester United have not emerged from Ferguson's shadow. It has been five years."

Valdano believes Gao Shen's influence on Real Madrid is even deeper than Ferguson's at Manchester United because his achievements are greater. That means it will be an even more difficult and painful process for Real Madrid to leave Gao Shen's shadow.

"I said this last season when the boos rang out at the Bernabéu. He was burdened with many faults that were not his. Only when Real Madrid fans lost him would they realize how important he was."

"Now, I feel this is the price."

When Gao Shen was coaching, Real Madrid were renowned for having few injuries. Now that he is gone, a wave of injuries has struck.

Last season, when the team struggled, Gao Shen still led them to classic wins again and again, and the players had absolute faith in him. Now, Benítez cannot do that.

So far this season, Real Madrid players have publicly expressed their longing for Gao Shen more than once.

This growing longing has gradually overwhelmed Real Madrid, turning last season's double winners into a toothless tiger, easily bullied and even slaughtered.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1230: Real Madrid Is Sick

At noon on October 20, at the Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

Two weeks of international fixtures passed in a flash.

After four consecutive defeats, Real Madrid finally had a chance to breathe. Benítez and his team faced Levante, a mid-to-lower table La Liga side. It was a rare opportunity to turn things around.

After the bombardment from the Spanish media and Real Madrid fans over the past two weeks, Benítez was exhausted mentally and physically. This time, he broke with his usual 4-2-3-1 and switched to a 4-3-3, which Real Madrid were more accustomed to.

Left-back Marcelo also returned from injury. Benzema and Di María both recovered during the international break, but having featured for their national teams, they started on the bench.

Fans at the Bernabéu were eager for a home comeback.

Unexpectedly, just six minutes in, a long pass from Levante's back line cut through Real Madrid's high defensive line.

Varane made a fatal error in his interception and failed to recover in time. Morales, arriving from deep, beat the offside trap and rounded Courtois to score. It was 1-0.

The Bernabéu grew anxious.

Worse still, not long after, Varane handled in the box and conceded a penalty.

Levante converted calmly to make it 2-0.

The Bernabéu erupted.

Real Madrid fans lost patience.

As the game went on, Real Madrid launched wave after wave of attacks, but could not find the net. Even after Di María and Benzema came on in the second half, nothing changed.

It seemed all of Real Madrid's attackers had forgotten how to score.

In the end, Benzema's cutback allowed Marcelo to pull one back.

But Real Madrid still lost 1-2 at home to Levante.

It was their fourth straight league defeat, and fifth straight in all competitions.

…

The match caused an uproar across Spanish football.

In Real Madrid's history, there had rarely been a collapse like this. It was a humiliation.

After losing away to Alavés in the previous round, Alavés had jumped above them. Losing to Levante now dropped them to 8th, behind Levante.

No one expected last season's La Liga and Champions League double winners to perform so poorly.

Varane, who helped France win the World Cup this summer, was voted the worst player on the pitch.

Even AS, close to Real Madrid, wrote that with Varane in such form, the upcoming clásico was a worry.

AS editor-in-chief Alfredo argued that Benítez should reconsider his center-back pairing.

Whether it was Varane, Van Dijk, or Ramos, all had been inconsistent this season, especially Van Dijk, a 150 million euro signing who increasingly looked like a joke.

Marca revealed that after the Bernabéu defeat, president Florentino visited the dressing room with the executives, met with captains Ramos and Marcelo, then spoke with Benítez for 15 minutes.

"According to reliable sources, Florentino made it clear during the conversation that Real Madrid have no intention of changing coaches for the time being, but Benítez must show a transformation in the clásico."

Cadena SER reported more details, saying Florentino had spoken to both players and staff, urging them to help the team out of the slump as soon as possible.

Especially in the clásico.

After Florentino's meeting, captain Ramos publicly backed Benítez.

Ramos said Benítez is an excellent tactician and that the problems are multifaceted. It would be wrong to pin everything on him, and the players must take responsibility too.

Vice-captain Marcelo also supported Benítez, saying the team's poor finishing prevented them from scoring more.

Despite the captains' support, calls for Benítez's dismissal remained loud.

Marca reported that if Real Madrid failed to beat Barcelona in the clásico, the board would seriously consider his position.

Current Spain coach Lopetegui would be the successor, since he had openly expressed interest in taking over, even angering the Spanish Football Federation.

AS revealed that in addition to Lopetegui, Guti and Solari, coach of Castilla, were strong candidates.

Especially Solari.

"Many board members hope Solari can replicate Gao Shen's 2006 success by stepping up from the reserves and producing stunning results."

El País wrote that the league position had hit a new low under Benítez, seriously disrupting Florentino and the board's plans.

"Before this disaster, they seriously underestimated how important Gao Shen was to this Real Madrid team and his role in last season's double."

"This is an old Real Madrid tradition."

El País argued that throughout Real Madrid's history, the coach has often been treated as disposable. From the five straight European Cups to the Quinta del Buitre era, coaches changed frequently.

Although Gao Shen was an exception, the 2017 dispute and what followed showed the club never fully grasped his importance.

Now Real Madrid were paying the price.

"Even in the Levante match, more and more fans at the Bernabéu were chanting Gao Shen's name."

…

Three days after Levante, Real Madrid hosted Viktoria Plzeň at the Bernabéu.

Thanks to goals from Benzema and Marcelo, Real Madrid scraped a 2-1 win.

It seemed like a possible turning point.

They went to Camp Nou believing in a rebound, full of ambition before kickoff. But when the match began, Coutinho broke them down inside ten minutes.

The rest turned into a Barcelona showcase.

Although Marcelo scored to offer brief hope, Messi's brace plus goals from Agüero, Felipe Anderson, and Vidal killed the game.

Barcelona crushed Real Madrid 6-1 at home.

At the final whistle, Camp Nou was like Christmas come early, with fans celebrating wildly.

It had been many years since they last enjoyed such a big win over Real Madrid.

The last time was under Mourinho, when Barcelona won 5-0.

Now it was 6-1.

Many Barcelona fans even shouted taunts.

"Real Madrid, where is your Gao Shen?"

"Without Gao Shen, you are nothing!"

"6-1! See? 6-1!"

Real Madrid's players hung their heads, utterly crushed.

Who could have imagined they would fall so low?

Their most threatening player was left-back Marcelo.

Beyond Marcelo, Real Madrid could barely create anything.

In fact, had Barcelona taken every chance and had the luck, Real Madrid could have conceded double figures.

Real Madrid are sick.

Very, very sick.

Worse still, Marcelo was injured.

The Brazilian left-back, who had scored in three straight matches, expended too much energy and could not finish, powerless to prevent the rout.

The collapse was like a landslide.

Barcelona center-back Piqué told reporters afterward that it was a memorable match because Barcelona had beaten Real Madrid again, showing that the balance of power in La Liga had shifted.

"The Real Madrid era is over. They look like a bunch of old, frail men, and we are full of youthful energy," Piqué said with a smile. If they had not relaxed at times, "we could have made the score even bigger."

Piqué said Barcelona were back to their best and were confident of winning La Liga.

As for Real Madrid, their bitter rivals.

"They should be fighting for Champions League qualification."

…

Piqué's comments caused fury among Real Madrid fans.

When had Real Madrid ever suffered such humiliation from their opponents?

But the 6-1 loss was an undeniable fact. No fan could refute it.

In the end, they turned their anger on the players, the board, and the coaching staff.

Someone had to take responsibility for such a catastrophic defeat.

After the Camp Nou disaster, many Real Madrid fans gathered outside the Bernabéu to protest, with many calling for Gao Shen's return.

The next morning, thousands protested at the gates of Valdebebas, demanding answers for the team's dreadful season.

Countless fans called for the club to invite Gao Shen back immediately.

He was currently on vacation and could take over midseason.

"Only he can save Real Madrid!"

All Real Madrid players arriving for training at Valdebebas were met with heavy boos, except for a few like Marcelo who were treated more kindly.

It showed the depth of the fans' anger.

After the morning session, José Sánchez arrived from the headquarters and spoke privately with Benítez.

At noon, Real Madrid held a press conference at the headquarters to announce the early termination of Benítez's contract.

Benítez, in tears, admitted mistakes, and said he would resign, refusing severance to show his feelings for Real Madrid.

"From the beginning, I should have known this was not an ordinary team. I thought I could manage this team and this group of players, but I was wrong, completely wrong."

Asked about his successor, Benítez was reluctant to comment at first, but after repeated questions, he revealed his view.

"Other than Gao Shen, I cannot think of anyone who can lead this team."

No one knew that as Benítez said this, Florentino, in his office upstairs, dialed Gao Shen's number.

(To be continued.)