SWR: Chapter 1216/1220

Chapter 1216: Don't Let Me Down, Boys

Leeds United's youth storm is blowing again across European football.

After six rounds of the Premier League, everyone was surprised to find that Leeds United still firmly held the top spot, 2 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. This may not seem like much, but it is very significant.

Leeds United had scored 5 more goals than Manchester City and conceded 2 fewer. Their performances in the new season have shocked countless people.

Before the season, many fans firmly believed that Leeds United would suffer a Waterloo. Now they were surprised to realize their mistake. It turns out Leeds United are truly strong.

Not only is the core strength still there and much of last season's squad intact, but more importantly, the bench is deep enough.

Players like Vardy and Milinkovic-Savic have filled the vacancies left by Harry Kane and Dele Alli, and Kimmich and Rodri have basically taken over Fabinho's role.

After Kante and Van Dijk, who were considered the most indispensable, left the team, everyone speculated that Leeds United's defense would be greatly affected. Unexpectedly, Pochettino adjusted the team's tactics and had Leeds United play with more control.

The center-back pairing of De Ligt and Ruben Dias, with Militao rotating, ensured defensive stability.

It was precisely because Leeds United had such a strong lineup that they could lead after six rounds.

However, doubts remained.

For example, Watford were ranked fifth in the Premier League, but the team obviously did not have that level.

The reason was simple, they had basically not faced any strong teams.

Many British media believed Leeds United were in a similar situation.

Pochettino's team had not truly faced a heavyweight opponent. The only one that could barely be considered a challenge was Tottenham Hotspur.

Leeds United's real test would be in the seventh round, when they traveled south to London to visit Stamford Bridge and face Chelsea.

This would be the real test.

Before heading south to London, Leeds United first faced Macclesfield Town, a lower-league team, in the third round of the League Cup at the Amazon Stadium.

Leeds United fielded a lineup full of substitutes and young players and beat Macclesfield 8-0 at home.

Rashford, Grealish, Sancho, Kalvin Phillips and others all started, with Sancho scoring twice and performing very well.

In the second half, academy forward Haaland and Brazilian youngster Vinicius came on as substitutes.

Haaland scored a goal.

After this emphatic cup win, Leeds United traveled to London.

Gao Shen went with the team.

…

On the evening of September 29 at Stamford Bridge, London.

This was destined to be a brutal round in the league.

Before Leeds United headed south, Watford, the most eye-catching dark horse at the start of the season, lost 0-4 away to Arsenal and dropped directly to ninth.

It seemed this dark horse was not up to standard.

Pochettino's team faced Sarri's Chelsea, and the match began at a high tempo with end-to-end play.

Leeds United missed a great chance within five minutes.

Mbappé had a very good shooting opportunity in front of goal, but he failed to find the angle and sent the ball straight into the arms of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa, missing a golden chance.

Then Mbappé received a pass from Arnold, dribbled past center-back Rudiger and shot, but still failed to score.

Leeds United started aggressively as always, which left Chelsea embarrassed for a while, and it even looked like a goal was within reach.

But at the critical moment, Leeds United's defense showed a flaw.

In the 22nd minute, a long pass from Koulibaly allowed Willian, timing his run to beat the offside line, to break directly into the Leeds United penalty area. Facing Alisson, he squared the ball to the unmarked Mané, and the former Leeds winger scored easily.

This goal disrupted Leeds United's rhythm.

This group of young players lost control a little.

Just three minutes later, Brozovic played a through ball. Mané again beat the offside trap, broke into the left side of the box, and scored, making it 2-0.

It was Mané's eighth goal in eight league games this season, tying him with Mbappé in the scoring charts.

In the 32nd minute, Leeds United had a chance to pull one back.

On a counterattack, Vardy threaded a pass through. Mbappé shook off his marker and rounded Kepa, but his shot that followed was too casual. Thinking it was an empty net, he did not strike with enough power, and Koulibaly rushed back to clear the ball off the line.

In the second half, Leeds United continued to create chances.

The best came in the 70th minute, when Pochettino replaced Dembélé, who had been mediocre, with Valverde. When the Uruguayan met Robertson's cross from the left, he was completely unmarked, but his shot went wide.

Before the end, young substitute Félix had another decent chance, but his long-range curler struck the crossbar and he was just inches away.

In the end, Leeds United lost 0-2 away to Chelsea.

…

Gao Shen sat in the stands at Stamford Bridge. He witnessed Leeds United's defeat and felt speechless.

Judging from the flow of the match, Leeds United played better, with 53 percent possession, 6 percent more than Chelsea.

Remember, this was Sarri's Chelsea.

In shots, Leeds United had 16 to Chelsea's 7.

However, Leeds United collected two yellow cards, while Chelsea had none.

The data reflected the story of the game, which was that Leeds United had the advantage but could not score.

The reasons were clear on the pitch.

This was why people say that competition is ultimately about results.

For example, Mbappé failed to convert two very good chances early on. That showed the young Frenchman's shortcomings in finishing.

Conceding two goals in quick succession and losing control for a few minutes showed that Leeds United's players were too young and lacked emotional control. This should be seen as a necessary test for a young team.

In Gao Shen's view, the real issue was reflected in the 32nd minute. Mbappé's build-up was excellent, but the final shot was too casual, with little power and slow pace, allowing Koulibaly to catch up and clear.

This was definitely a reflection of many Leeds United players' mentality.

Consecutive wins this season had made the youngsters proud, even arrogant.

They seemed to forget they were facing Chelsea.

Thinking of this, Gao Shen sighed.

Losing this key match was not necessarily a bad thing for Leeds United. The key was how Pochettino adjusted next.

Especially considering that three days later the team would visit Camp Nou to face Barcelona.

If they failed again, things would get dangerous.

At this moment, Pochettino needed to regroup quickly.

…

"Over the past period, we have been driving on the right highway. The players have been very focused on the pitch, and the progress of each player has been obvious. The team achieved very good results."

"But at Stamford Bridge we lost that focus. Our concentration disappeared and the performance was very disappointing."

"Today, Sarri's Chelsea played a wonderful game in their own way. They deserved this victory. Congratulations to Chelsea. Congratulations to Sarri."

After the match, Gao Shen updated his Twitter, which quickly caused a strong reaction.

The media generally welcomed his tweets, and most fans agreed. Some, however, felt that after the team lost and gave up the league lead, his message was adding insult to injury.

In response, Gao Shen immediately posted a second tweet.

It was simple, just one sentence.

"The league lead is not given by others, it must be won by ourselves."

This statement was once again recognized by almost all fans.

After all, what you take yourself is more convincing than what you are given.

Leeds United took the title from Manchester City last season.

What was more, Leeds United's performance at Stamford Bridge was indeed poor, especially Mbappé, who missed so many chances in a row. That was not the display expected from the team's core player.

Young?

Yes, he was indeed very young, only 19.

But on the football pitch, age is the last thing to discuss.

If you perform well, it is good. If you perform badly, it is bad. Will your opponents show mercy because you are young?

Since you want to be the best player in the team, you must bear the responsibility and pressure that comes with it.

You cannot enjoy the privileges without fulfilling the obligations. There is no such thing.

Gao Shen went south with the team but did not return with them. The media and fans interpreted this as him being very dissatisfied with the performance at Stamford Bridge.

This was also the pressure he deliberately wanted to leave for the team.

Not just for the players, but for Pochettino as well.

Flowers that bloom in a greenhouse are fragile. They must endure wind and rain.

After arriving in Cheshire and returning home, Gao Shen posted a third tweet.

"As far as today's game is concerned, we lacked energy and concentration, and we failed to trouble the opponent."

"So now we have no right to complain, nor to feel guilty or ashamed."

"We were once the strongest team in the Premier League, but tonight we lost to a team stronger than us. I hope the Leeds United players show a strong attitude and accept this defeat."

"On October 3, I will go to Camp Nou in person."

"Don't let me down, boys."

That night, many Leeds United players who used Twitter, including Mbappé, also posted.

Clearly, they were all hurting from the defeat at Stamford Bridge and reflecting on themselves.

But everyone also understood that Gao Shen hoped they could perform better, or even their best, at Camp Nou.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1217: Premier League First

Losing 0-2 to Chelsea away and giving up the top spot was a big blow to Leeds United.

The British media once again began to criticize Leeds United's young team.

In particular, Mbappé, the core player this season, was heavily criticized.

In such a high-level clash, missing so many scoring opportunities was unacceptable.

It could be said that, to some extent, Mbappé should indeed bear responsibility for the defeat.

But within Leeds United, both head coach Pochettino and technical director Borrell came out to back Mbappé.

Gao Shen's tweets also caused a huge stir. He posted three in a row, and his criticism of Leeds United surprised the media and fans. But it was also clear that Gao Shen's words were meaningful and hit the nail on the head.

Leeds United lost due to a lack of concentration, and they should reflect on that.

His third tweet expressed his expectations for Leeds United's players, which also received their support and response.

The defeat on the pitch did not affect Leeds United's gains off it.

The day after the Chelsea match, Leeds United held a brief signing ceremony at the Amazon Stadium.

Leeds United officially signed a ten-year shirt sponsorship deal with Nike, starting from the 2019/20 season.

This was mainly because Leeds United's kit deal with Adidas ends in the summer of 2019.

It is said that the business world is like a battlefield.

In recent years, competition among Premier League clubs has become increasingly intense.

There are not many sponsors capable of competing for the top teams' resources. Nike, Adidas, and Puma are the main players.

Leeds United have achieved brilliant results over the past few years, steadily improving from fifth to third in the league, and then winning the title last season.

Even though the White Rose have kept selling players, their performance has not suffered.

This season, by the end of negotiations, Leeds United were still leading the pack.

In the summer of 2018, Arsenal, who had worked with Puma for many years, decided to switch to Adidas for a simple reason: Adidas paid more.

A six-year deal worth a total of 300 million pounds, 50 million per year, immediately made Arsenal second in the Premier League, behind only Manchester United and level with Chelsea.

Manchester United's kit deal is 75 million pounds per year, and Nike's deal with Chelsea is also 50 million per year.

It is worth noting that Manchester United's kit contract includes a clause that if they fail to qualify for the Champions League for two consecutive seasons, the sponsorship fee is automatically reduced by 30 percent. Therefore, their heavy spending in recent years was a response to missing out on the Champions League in 2015/16 and 2016/17.

After Adidas poached Arsenal, Puma lost its last sponsored Premier League club, so the German brand immediately shifted focus to two teams: Leeds United and Manchester City.

Both had kit contracts expiring in 2019.

Leeds United's sponsor was Adidas, and Manchester City's was Nike. Puma had in-depth contact with both clubs and a clear sense of their asking prices.

After consideration, Puma chose the more mature and stable Manchester City, offering an annual fee of up to 65 million pounds, surpassing Arsenal and Chelsea to become second in the Premier League for shirt sponsorship.

This put Nike in a passive position.

Puma's move for Manchester City happened in March, when Leeds United had not yet reached the Champions League final or won the league title, and Nike's only sponsored Premier League clubs were Chelsea and Tottenham.

Tottenham's ranking had consistently been upper mid-table, making it hard for them to break into the Big Six.

After losing Puma, Leeds United did not rush to contact their next partner.

Especially after reaching the Champions League final and winning the Premier League and FA Cup, the club's commercial team stayed patient, negotiating a renewal with Adidas while keeping in touch with Nike.

After Leeds United sold several stars this summer, both major sponsors hesitated, especially after selling Harry Kane, a local international with considerable influence, which caused more concern.

But Mbappé's rise made it hard for either brand to walk away, particularly since Leeds United own half of Mbappé's image rights.

Fernando Lucas's commercial operations office in London handled the negotiations, tying Mbappé's personal sponsorship to the club's kit sponsorship.

After the start of the new season, Leeds United's six straight wins convinced both Adidas and Nike of the White Rose's strength, especially Nike.

Neither Chelsea nor Tottenham were playing in the Champions League. If they continued to struggle, Nike would have no strong Premier League clubs.

In this situation, the American brand was more urgent than Adidas.

Therefore, Leeds United successfully signed a ten-year contract with Nike at 30 million pounds per year, making Leeds United fifth in the Premier League behind the two Manchester clubs, Arsenal, and Chelsea.

Many might wonder, if they held the negotiating advantage, why was the annual fee still so low?

The answer is that Leeds United do not sell any shirts or accessories through Nike.

In other words, Nike is only putting its name on Leeds United, developing categories the club does not handle, and being authorized to use the Leeds United trademark worldwide, nothing more.

Since partnering with high street brand River Island and US e-commerce giant Fanatics, Leeds United's sales have steadily increased. The club's annual share of revenues from kits, apparel, and accessories now exceeds 60 million pounds and is still growing rapidly each year.

You should know that Leeds United's previous deal with Adidas was only 10 million pounds per year, a price renegotiated when they extended early in 2015. It was only 3.5 million pounds when signed in 2012.

Leeds United's commercial revenue has tripled this season and is bound to reach a new high.

Including sales revenue, Leeds United are undoubtedly number one in the Premier League.

At the same time, another deal was signed. French star Mbappé agreed a ten-year personal sponsorship with Nike worth 15 million pounds per year.

The contract runs from 2019 to 2028, but Mbappé will wear Nike boots this season, with Nike paying an additional few million in sponsorship.

This is also commercial income that Leeds United's team secured for Mbappé.

According to the agreement, Leeds United own half of Mbappé's image rights and can take a share of his sponsorships.

In addition, Leeds United are actively creating commercial opportunities for Mbappé, which was promised when the club decided to keep him. Many brands are currently in talks.

Besides Nike, Leeds United also signed a sleeve sponsorship this season with Expedia, the world's largest online travel company, worth 10 million pounds, comparable to Manchester United and Arsenal.

What Expedia values is not only Leeds United's influence in the Premier League but also their strong online presence.

After years of development, Leeds United are now the hottest European club on the internet, with social media followers far exceeding those of top clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United.

…

Logically speaking, Gao Shen did not need to attend such a signing ceremony.

But his wife Su Qing was there. After he dropped his son at kindergarten and had nothing else to do, he came to the Amazon Stadium, taking the opportunity to check on the progress of the stadium's second phase.

The ceremony itself was brief. Many media reporters were present. Mbappé and his mother Fainsa also attended to sign his Nike deal on the spot.

Gao Shen arrived but did not appear publicly.

Mbappé became the focus, as many reporters asked about the Chelsea match.

Obviously, he had become the scapegoat.

The team lost to Chelsea and Mbappé faced a flood of criticism, which left him dejected. The reporters stirred things up, hoping he would lose his temper.

Fortunately, Leeds United's press officer was experienced and helped him defuse the awkward situation.

Gao Shen watched the French star turn and leave alone. He understood and followed.

On non-match days, the Amazon Stadium welcomes many visitors, from Leeds and Yorkshire, from across the UK, and even from all over Europe and beyond.

Ticket revenue from tours is negligible for Leeds United, but they still provide full services.

When Mbappé left the hall, he walked alone into the stands and came across a group of visiting fans. They surrounded him and asked for autographs.

Despite his bad mood, Mbappé agreed.

After signing, he said he wanted to be alone.

Gao Shen stood at a distance, watching silently.

He had to admit that Mbappé was very good at controlling his emotions and remained calm, which is rare.

But he was only 19, still a kid.

His mother was a handball player and his father a football coach, but neither had experienced what Mbappé was going through now. They did not truly know the pressure he faced.

Often, his mother, who is also his agent, struggled with the business side, and his father, as a coach, could not guide him on the pitch.

Gao Shen still remembered what Ronaldo once told him.

From Lisbon to Manchester United, the people around him grew from none to many, then gradually fewer again.

"Sometimes, when friends come to see me, I cannot help but wonder, is he trying to get something from me?"

Ronaldo knew that mindset was unhealthy, but he had been burned by people around him. He could not help thinking that way, and over time, the number of people he trusted dwindled.

There were even things he did not dare tell anyone.

Because he was not sure whether his words would be sold to a newspaper the next day.

This is a characteristic of European media. They are always willing to pay high prices for such stories.

Trouble comes from nothing, and trouble also comes from too much, or from losing what you had.

Having no one to talk to is even harder.

Gao Shen walked slowly up to the top tier of the stands.

When Mbappé saw Gao Shen, he was a little surprised and wanted to stand up, but Gao Shen waved for him to sit.

Gao Shen was satisfied with Mbappé's respect for him.

In fact, Leeds United players, or rather professional players worldwide, respect him greatly.

Because he has trained many top stars, won many titles, and enjoys very high prestige.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1218: A Thousand Tons of Dreams

"Do you know what our fans call this ceiling above their heads?" Gao Shen looked up at the stadium roof and asked in wonder.

"I don't know," Mbappé shook his head.

"They call it the suspended roof."

The stands and the pitch are covered with a membrane structure for lighting, but the area around it, along with the commercial street and shopping center extending to the east, is built with a combination of special steel plates and membrane structures, linked together.

The special steel plates have irregular hollow circular holes cut out, which emit different colors of light every night.

Combined with the building's lighting effects, it looks from a distance as if the entire ceiling is floating in the air. It is beautiful.

Mbappé followed Gao Shen's words and kept studying the ceiling.

They were sitting on the top tier of the stands, right beneath the junction of the membrane and steel plates. They could see a lot of steel framing, which looked extremely complex.

"Do you know how big this circular screen in front of us is?"

"Well, the display area is said to be nearly 7,000 square meters," Mbappé said.

Leeds United players are very proud of it.

"How much does it weigh?" Gao Shen asked again.

Mbappé shook his head. "A hundred tons?"

Gao Shen laughed. "Multiply by ten."

"One thousand tons?" Mbappé almost jumped up in shock.

A thousand tons.

The 19-year-old's eyes widened. He stared at the circular screen that looked so close and could hardly believe it actually weighed a thousand tons. It was outrageous.

"How does our roof hold it up?" Mbappé asked the question anyone hearing that number would ask.

Gao Shen smiled knowingly. "That is the strength of the designers."

In truth, he could not explain it clearly if asked. It was very complicated.

Mbappé looked around the stadium. From the entire roof to the stands, there were no supporting columns blocking the view. This gave fans the best sightlines and made the stadium look its best.

But he still could not figure out how a circular screen weighing a thousand tons was suspended in the middle.

"My stadium's designer, Norman Foster, is a friend," Gao Shen said. "He told me the roof and stands are separate. To support the entire roof and the 1,000-ton circular screen, they designed a very complex truss system. They ran repeated precise calculations, brought in numerous experts, and optimized the structure more than a dozen times."

The detailed explanation helped Mbappé better understand the complexity of the stadium and why it had won so many awards.

"But he also told me that what truly supports it all are the massive pillars outside, and everything those pillars anchor."

"This is a great project, sir," Mbappé said with genuine admiration.

Gao Shen smiled. "The beautiful floating ceiling the fans see exists because it is deeply rooted in the ground. This is a stadium, and as a player, the same principle applies."

Mbappé was not slow. He immediately understood why Gao Shen was telling him this.

The young Frenchman took a deep breath. "Sir, you have trained so many outstanding players. What do they have in common? Or rather, what should I do to be like them?"

"There are no standard answers in life, and it is the same for players. Other people's advice is only for reference, including mine, your parents', and the people you admire most."

"You do not need to copy others or force yourself to be like them. You should write the answer you believe is right."

Gao Shen's words sounded like a dose of motivational speech, but they worked for Mbappé at that moment.

Moreover, the logic was sound.

"But I think I wrote the wrong answer."

"Then keep revising it until it is correct, and think about why you got it wrong," Gao Shen said.

"The media and fans said I was a little overconfident."

"That is normal," Gao Shen smiled. "A study shows that when people say they are 70 percent sure, they are actually only about 50 percent correct. And when they say they are 100 percent sure, they are only 75 percent correct."

Gao Shen looked at Mbappé. "We tend to overestimate our abilities and knowledge and underestimate the risk of being wrong. This is human nature. Overconfidence easily breeds a sense of superiority, making us feel like we can control the world."

Some people call this chuunibyo.

But it is undeniably common.

"Ever heard of Ken Olsen?"

Mbappé shook his head. He did not read much.

"In 1986, he was on the cover of Fortune and hailed as the most successful entrepreneur in American history. The company he founded with 70,000 dollars, DEC, was later acquired by Compaq for 9.6 billion dollars."

Mbappé looked surprised.

"This was the same man who once said that not everyone wanted a computer in their home. That one line ruined his reputation. His achievements were forgotten, and he became a symbol of stubbornness and short-sightedness."

Mbappé was a little confused about the point of the story.

"In my view, young people should be ambitious and full of confidence, because only then can they break rules and conventions. Clinging to old rules is lifeless, and that is not what the young should be. The courage to break through and dare to try is the spirit of youth."

Mbappé nodded repeatedly. He agreed.

But Gao Shen immediately shifted the focus.

"But arrogance and confidence must be built on solid ground. You must first have the strength and talent to have the capital for confidence."

With that, Gao Shen pointed to the roof and the circular screen.

"Just like the huge circular screen and the transparent membrane roof, the reason they are so beautiful and breathtaking is because they are supported by massive pillars outside."

"It is like building a house. The higher you want to build, the more patient you must be. The stronger you want it to be, the more you must lay a solid foundation from the start. Otherwise, the building collapses halfway."

Mbappé began to grasp the deeper meaning.

"You asked me about the common traits of the players I have trained."

Gao Shen smiled. "They are all very confident and never doubt themselves. Some may even seem proud and arrogant, but they are down-to-earth in how they live and work."

"Your idol is Cristiano Ronaldo?" Gao Shen asked.

Mbappé nodded. "Yes."

"Ferguson told me that even if Ronaldo was not the first in Europe, he was definitely among the first to hire a personal trainer. He trained with his personal trainer every day and during every holiday. He never slacked off. He also hired a professional support team early on, including a chef, nutritionist, and fitness coach."

"Let me tell you another story about Ronaldo."

Gao Shen paused, glanced at Mbappé, saw his interest, and continued.

"When I coached Real Madrid, he was the star, but he always got along very well with his teammates. Every holiday, he would personally prepare valuable gifts for all his teammates, the coaches, and the staff at the training base."

"You may have seen this in the news, but do you know why?"

Mbappé blurted out, "To maintain a good relationship with his teammates."

"Go deeper," Gao Shen said.

Mbappé thought for a moment and fell silent.

"Because he knew very well that he was like this huge circular screen that amazes media and fans around the world, but what supports him are the truss systems above and the massive pillars outside."

"If those supports are lost, the screen collapses and shatters. Then it is nothing."

Mbappé understood the meaning.

No matter how big a star you are, you must be part of the whole. Without the support of your teammates, you are no longer the top star.

If he wants to succeed, he must improve himself steadily, just like his idol did, one step at a time, without relying on luck.

Everyone is different, but no one succeeds easily.

By the same logic, he needs to further consolidate his foundation in football technique. The stronger the base, the higher the ceiling, the stronger the ability, and the more qualified and confident he will be.

"I understand, sir. Thank you," Mbappé stood and said respectfully.

Gao Shen waved and smiled. "You have amazing talent. As long as you are willing to work hard, stay focused, and refine your skills, I believe you will achieve great success."

"Just like your idol, Cristiano Ronaldo."

Mbappé was deeply encouraged and nodded firmly.

Gao Shen watched him leave, feeling amused. He wondered if he was just serving up motivational talk and making promises to a youngster.

As for Mbappé, Gao Shen had to say that his ceiling was that of Cristiano Ronaldo. It would come down to how high he could push his peak and how long he could sustain it.

This is actually the upper limit for European players.

It is no coincidence that two generations of football kings, Pelé and Maradona, came from South America.

The main reason is that South American players have more creativity and imagination. They have an extraordinary talent for combining man and ball.

This is the gift that South American superstars like Messi and Ronaldinho possess.

Ronaldo, Mbappé, and others are typical European players, with technique, strength, and speed, but they lack the South Americans' unparalleled talent for man-ball fusion.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1219: Attacking Barcelona

"Mbappé has changed completely since he came back. Lucas and Borrell told me you must have given him some chicken soup."

On the way back to Cheshire from Leeds, Su Qing sat in the passenger seat, smiling at Gao Shen.

Gao Shen looked helpless, as if wrongly accused, and briefly explained the situation.

In fact, it was not a big issue. He did not want to interfere with Pochettino's coaching. He only wanted to give Mbappé some advice.

At the moment, he is Leeds United's most valuable and competitive player.

"The club has already responded and is actively contacting the media to protect Mbappé," Su Qing said, understanding Gao Shen's thoughts.

Gao Shen nodded. This was very necessary.

Allowing a core player to be attacked without restraint by the media is definitely not what a responsible club should do.

For example, Barcelona let the Catalan media attack Ronaldinho, and in Gao Shen's previous life, they even allowed and guided attacks on Messi. That was chilling.

Every club needs to protect its players and let them play with peace of mind.

This is not just empty talk.

"The team is leaving for Barcelona tomorrow. Are you not planning to talk to Pochettino?" Su Qing asked.

"Talk about what?" Gao Shen replied.

Su Qing thought for a moment, then hesitated.

"Pochettino is proud. He is very capable and, more importantly, he understands Barcelona."

Gao Shen showed a hint of surprise.

"Do you know which match made Pochettino famous?"

Su Qing shook her head. That was too long ago.

"If I remember correctly, it was February 21, 2009, not long after he took over Espanyol. He took them to Camp Nou to face league leaders Barcelona."

"At that time, Guardiola's Barcelona were truly invincible. They had gone 22 league matches unbeaten, losing only once in the first round and drawing three in total. By February, they were 10 points ahead of Real Madrid."

"He won?" Su Qing guessed.

"That was the match that put him on the map."

Gao Shen smiled. "On the football pitch, everything is based on strength. Even if you want to score a goal or win a title, you must have a certain level of strength. Otherwise, you are not even qualified."

"To beat Guardiola's invincible Barcelona at Camp Nou, Pochettino not only showed his ability, he also knew Barcelona very well."

Su Qing understood what Gao Shen meant.

In that case, there was no need to say anything to Pochettino.

Sometimes, too many opinions from outsiders only make a coach indecisive.

Before a decisive battle, you must remain calm.

Gao Shen believed Pochettino could lead the team out of Camp Nou unscathed.

…

Gao Shen did not know that when he left the Amazon Stadium and set off back to Cheshire, Pochettino was standing on the balcony outside his office at the AXA Center, just north of the stadium, looking out at the training ground.

At this moment, a name from his address book was displayed clearly on his P20 Pro screen.

Gao Shen.

Pochettino had already picked up his phone many times, looked at the name, and wanted to tap it several times.

Tomorrow the team would fly to Barcelona, Spain. The match against Barcelona would be a crucial group-stage battle. Before that, Pochettino actually wanted to discuss it with Gao Shen.

Because Gao Shen had said he would protect Leeds United.

And everyone knew he was known as Barcelona's nemesis. He had never lost to them.

If not for the loss to Chelsea, Pochettino would not have had this idea. But now he was worried.

Leeds United could not lose again at Camp Nou.

Should he call?

Pochettino hesitated.

After standing on the balcony for a long time, staring at the flat training ground, Pochettino picked up his phone again, thought for a moment, and turned off the screen.

"The courage and strength others give you are not your own and cannot last. Only your own courage and strength can benefit you for life."

"I believe in you, my friend. When you hesitate, believe in yourself, just as I believe in you."

"Mauricio, you are still a little conservative at heart. Relax a bit. We are a strong team now."

Those were Gao Shen's words to him before the season, and they had left a deep impression.

Thinking back now, the words were still vivid.

Gradually, the hesitation in Pochettino's eyes disappeared and turned into determination.

The Argentine turned sharply, walked through his office, and entered the conference room a few doors down.

His assistants, the first-team coaching staff, the medical team, psychologists, and other support staff were all present, discussing the team's current situation.

But before a big match, the head coach had to set the tone.

That tone would determine Leeds United's approach and lineup.

Pochettino had delayed because he was hesitating and weighing options.

Now, as he strode into the room, silence fell.

"Doctor, can Vardy play the full 90 minutes?" Pochettino asked seriously.

The head of the medical team immediately stood and shook his head. "We cannot guarantee it."

Pochettino's face fell.

Vardy was Leeds United's second-top scorer this season, behind only Mbappé, and his role in stretching the defense for Mbappé was crucial.

Losing Vardy was a huge blow to the attack.

Worse still, there was no obvious replacement. Haaland was only 18, Rashford's form had not fully returned and his last goal looked more like luck, and Vinicius was still very young.

They had considered using Mbappé as a center forward, but the results were poor and Pochettino was reluctant.

The French winger was best on the left, and moving him to center forward was extremely risky.

Under everyone's gaze, Pochettino took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and said resolutely, "Then we take a big gamble."

The room was stunned.

Everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"We are going to attack Barcelona at Camp Nou."

The first reaction was simple. Madness.

It was crazy.

…

Losing to Chelsea was a heavy blow to Leeds United.

After surrendering top spot, Europe expressed concern about this young team.

More importantly, the next match was a crucial group-stage game away at Camp Nou.

Everyone knew that although all four teams in Group B had a chance, the most likely outcome was Barcelona topping the group.

But if Leeds United wanted to qualify, they could not afford a bad performance against Barcelona.

Right now, time and place were not on Leeds United's side, but public sentiment was…

Just before departure, British media broke the news that Leeds United captain Vardy was injured and could miss the match at Camp Nou.

The reaction was huge.

Everyone was shocked.

At first, some thought it was a smokescreen, but further reports showed Vardy was indeed injured and had not even trained. In that case, even if he played, how effective could he be?

The Spanish media, especially in Catalonia, were delighted.

With Vardy out, Leeds United looked like a team of kids.

How much threat could a group of twenty-year-olds pose at Camp Nou?

Especially up front.

Last season at least they had big names like Harry Kane, but now?

The striker was a 19-year-old Mbappé.

When have you seen a 19-year-old become the team's core?

Judging by his poor performance against Chelsea, was he capable of such a burden?

Sport speculated that Leeds United's most likely front line would be Mbappé, Rashford, and Dembélé.

Coincidentally, they were 19, 20, and 21 years old, with an average age of 20.

The youngest players in Barcelona's first team were older than Dembélé.

Did Leeds United really want to rely on a group of kids in Europe?

In fact, at the pre-departure press conference, when Pochettino announced the squad, Vardy was included, but the coach said he might not be able to play.

"The final decision will depend on his condition on match day."

The Catalan media took this as a sign of desperation.

It also proved Vardy's importance to Leeds United.

Even if it meant wasting a spot, they would still bring Vardy to Camp Nou and give him a chance.

Leeds United had suffered a heavy defeat three days earlier and lost top spot. Now, they were losing their top striker before a crucial match, which made the situation even worse.

The Catalan media were broadly optimistic.

Barcelona's La Liga form was not great. After four straight wins to start, they then went three without a win, with two draws and one loss, and two of those draws were at home.

But they had also beaten Huesca 8-2 at home.

More importantly, despite the dip, Barcelona still led the league, because Real Madrid were even worse.

This made the Catalan media and fans optimistic about the upcoming Champions League match.

If they beat Leeds United at home, the group would be as good as decided.

…

Gao Shen did not travel with the team. He arrived in Barcelona on match day with Fernando Lucas, Borrell, and others, and learned from Borrell what had happened inside Leeds United.

After hearing Pochettino's decision, Gao Shen slapped his thigh on the spot.

"That's it."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1220: That's Barcelona

"That's it?"

On the flight from Manchester to Barcelona, Lucas and Borrell were both baffled when they heard Gao Shen's words.

This is Barcelona. Is that really okay?

Do you really think everyone is you?

Gao Shen saw through their thoughts and smiled. "Do you really think Barcelona are still the Barcelona of the past?"

Today's Barcelona are not what they used to be.

The head coach is Valverde, and the defensive line is declining. It is propped up by the veteran Piqué. Umtiti and Lenglet have not managed to shoulder the main responsibilities. The goalkeeper position is an even bigger weakness, currently held by the Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen.

Speaking of which, this could be considered the result of Gao Shen's unintended influence.

When Gao Shen was at Manchester City, he signed Neuer from Schalke 04, which pushed Bayern into a goalkeeping crisis. Later, Bayern and Barcelona competed for the young Ter Stegen.

It goes without saying, how could Barcelona possibly beat Bayern?

After Ter Stegen moved to Bayern, Barcelona kept changing their goalkeeper. They once chased Navas and Ederson from Leeds United, but one went to Paris Saint-Germain and the other to Manchester City.

So now, Manchester City have two top goalkeepers.

The same is true in midfield.

After Xavi and Iniesta left, Barcelona's midfield fell into a successor crisis.

Previously, Neymar strongly recommended Leeds United midfielder Coutinho, but the deal backfired and caused heavy losses.

Soon after, Neymar left for Paris Saint-Germain by triggering his buyout clause, leaving Barcelona with a huge transfer fee.

Barcelona quickly signed Felipe Anderson from Leeds United for a massive fee, but were fleeced by Leeds United again.

There was no helping it. Leeds United were full of talent.

Precisely because of this, Barcelona's feelings toward Leeds United were complicated.

In Gao Shen's previous life, after Xavi and Iniesta, Barcelona relied on Rakitic to support the midfield, but he is now at Manchester City and has been there for nearly ten years.

In recruiting central midfielders, Barcelona suffered heavy setbacks, including signing Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez for a sky-high price after the 2014 World Cup, only to see him fail to meet expectations.

This summer, Barcelona signed young Brazilian midfielder Arthur from Grêmio for 35 million euros and placed high hopes on him, but the current main man is Arturo Vidal, brought in from Bayern.

Yes, he was Gao Shen's right-hand man at Napoli.

"Although Barcelona are no longer Barcelona, Coutinho and Vidal are well-known names in European football and have considerable strength," Borrell reminded.

They were very familiar with Coutinho and Vidal, and naturally knew their quality.

"Of course, but the problem is that these two have never integrated into Barcelona. Their presence affects Barcelona's passing and possession system."

Gao Shen paused. "So in this situation, we cannot be conservative against Barcelona."

Lucas and Borrell exchanged looks, at a loss.

When it comes to dealing with Barcelona, Gao Shen is second to none. Who in the world dares to claim first place?

He has never lost to Barcelona.

"Pochettino's strategy is right. I don't rate Barcelona's defense. It is paper-thin."

Lucas and Borrell could only smile bitterly.

"But Vardy is injured and probably cannot play," Lucas said, worried.

"It is fine. It is good if Vardy can play. If he cannot, we will adjust."

Gao Shen glanced at Lucas and Borrell. "There is no such thing as a static tactic."

"Then tell me," Lucas leaned in.

"A more aggressive approach. Three fast forwards up front, emphasizing counterattacks, and use Rashford, Milinkovic-Savic, Haaland, or even Grealish centrally instead of Vardy. I think that is fine."

Lucas and Borrell were about to argue, but Gao Shen added a point that left them speechless.

"We will not target the center-backs. We will target Busquets."

"As I said, Barcelona's passing and possession are no longer what they were. The players cannot keep up. Busquets is crucial in midfield. If we can cut him off, Messi and Felipe Anderson will have to drop deeper, away from the danger zone. Our defensive pressure will be greatly reduced."

"If we want to be even more aggressive, I recommend Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes in midfield, with Kimmich deeper. That trio is weaker defensively, but they will be brilliant in transition."

Lucas and Borrell looked at each other, both with dark lines on their faces.

It was obvious that since stepping back from coaching, Gao Shen had fully let go.

With that combination, would Leeds United still have any midfield protection?

"Do not look at it like that. Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Kimmich can defend. And against Barcelona, shape is the key. The bigger danger is Messi. I am afraid Kimmich cannot stop him one-on-one, and the team does not have time to drill it."

Kimmich's strengths and weaknesses are obvious. His passing is pinpoint.

But defensively he has issues. He is not strong in duels and not quick enough, which makes his one-on-one defending relatively weak.

That is also why Rodri can compete with him.

The Spanish midfielder is strong in both attack and defense and can rotate with Kimmich.

"Milinkovic-Savic looks big and strong, but he runs and defends very well. If he plays up front, he will be lethal, especially against Barcelona."

"If that is the case, the combination of Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes is good, with Rodri deeper. If you want more stability, bring on Kalvin Phillips. His running and coverage provide strong pressure in the middle and final third."

Kalvin Phillips is one of the first players Gao Shen developed after taking over Leeds United's academy. He has trained for years under Borrell's system. He has excellent technique and passing, and he is an outstanding defensive player with range and tackling. His profile is somewhat like Kanté.

Phillips' advantage is playing forward immediately after winning the ball to start attacks.

Lucas and Borrell stared at each other, bewildered.

It had to be said, after hearing Gao Shen's analysis, they suddenly realized how strong Leeds United were.

Under Gao Shen's hand, this group could really play.

More importantly, Gao Shen had not even thought hard. He just said it off the cuff.

As Gao Shen's former assistants, they had to admit he had truly reached the tactical summit, a master at the highest level.

"Then why did you not tell Pochettino?" Borrell asked, intrigued.

If he had, Pochettino might not be struggling.

"How could that be the same? My ideas might inspire him, but they are mine, not his. And this is only a concept. In the match, how to execute and adjust is still up to Pochettino, which may only make him feel lost."

Coaching has never been easy.

It is not as simple as moving magnets on a board, naming a starting eleven, and shouting slogans on the touchline.

It is a 90-minute all-out battle.

…

After arriving in Barcelona, the Leeds United squad went straight to the team hotel.

Gao Shen, Lucas, and Borrell met Pochettino and the players and offered encouragement.

From start to finish, Gao Shen did not mention tactics to Pochettino. He only emphasized that he trusted him and told him not to feel burdened.

After lunch, Lucas and Borrell also received invitations from Barcelona.

This was normal. The home team usually hosts the visitors.

Gao Shen did not go. He did not want to show up too early, worried Camp Nou would riot if he appeared.

Come on, that would not be fun.

In Barcelona and at Camp Nou, Gao Shen is the one who needs protection.

Originally, Gao Shen had invited Zidane to watch with him, but the Frenchman refused, saying he was afraid Camp Nou's fans would come after him.

Gao Shen could only be speechless.

So far this season's La Liga can only be described in six words: a battle of two weak sides.

After seven rounds, Barcelona, with four wins, two draws, and one loss, were actually top.

This result is not exactly terrible, but it is underwhelming, and unfair to the massive investments of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Especially Real Madrid.

In the sixth round last Wednesday, they suffered a 0-3 defeat away to Sevilla, then lost the city derby at home to Atlético. Benítez's team looked embarrassed.

Zidane told Gao Shen on the phone that Real Madrid's technical staff's assessment of the team was not optimistic.

What could Gao Shen say?

As Carlo and the others said, it is impossible not to feel sad seeing the team you built fall to this state.

But Gao Shen's mind was now on Leeds United.

After dinner at the hotel, Gao Shen put on a disguise and went to Camp Nou.

On the way, he took a call from Lucas and agreed on a meeting place.

He entered through the VIP channel and went to the presidential stand's executive area.

This is where Barcelona hosts VIPs, and Lucas and Borrell were seated there.

To Gao Shen's surprise, he saw UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and UEFA Football Director Zvonimir Boban in the lounge.

As soon as they saw Gao Shen, they came over to greet him.

Gao Shen frowned. He really did not want to meet them right now.

Because this matter was very tricky.

(To be continued.)