SWR: Chapter 1211/1215

Chapter 1211: Real Madrid Panics After Losing Gao Shen

"A few months ago, I said that as long as Real Madrid's midfield structure remains unchanged, this lineup can at least maintain the bottom line."

Gao Shen and Jose Sanchez stood in the corner of the conference center. Gao Shen still insisted on his original point of view.

"I still say this now. I watched several Real Madrid games this season, and the biggest problem is still in the midfield. If the midfield is not organized, then all efforts will be in vain."

"He who controls the midfield controls the world. This saying still rings true today."

Jose Sanchez looked helpless. This was a sentence that sounded simple but was extremely difficult to execute. In fact, throughout the entire world of football, there are only a handful of head coaches who can truly master it.

"Benítez also tried playing 4-3-3..."

Jose Sanchez was interrupted halfway through by Gao Shen.

"It's not a formation problem. In fact, last season, and even a few years ago, there were many games where Ronaldo and Di Maria played deeper. We even used a 4-1-4-1 formation, but our entire midfield was well organized, and there were no problems in attack or defense."

Real Madrid's CEO was a capable business operator. In fact, he could be said to be the best business operator in European football, but when it came to football itself, he really wasn't as skilled.

Of course, that was normal. No one in this world is omnipotent.

Just like Gao Shen, he still hadn't figured out what financial methods Su Qing and Jiang Lijuan used to transfer so much money from Leeds United every year.

They had explained it, and Su Qing even analyzed it patiently, but Gao Shen still couldn't understand.

Later, he gave up trying to figure it out.

Jose Sanchez's football insight was not even as good as Florentino's.

"Then how do we solve this problem?" Jose Sanchez asked helplessly.

Gao Shen smiled bitterly and shook his head. "It's not easy. To be honest, Rafa never listens to my advice. He even deliberately goes against me. This approach won't work."

Everyone has their own dignity and territory they want to protect.

Coaching Real Madrid is very important to Benítez, but precisely because of that, he won't allow others to interfere in his domain.

Especially when that person is very capable.

That's a big taboo.

Gao Shen was subtly reminding Jose Sanchez of this.

"Taking over Real Madrid's burden at this time is very difficult. It's hard for anyone to handle it well, so you should give him more patience and support. Isn't his current performance still decent?" Gao Shen asked.

Jose Sanchez smiled wryly.

Yes, it was decent, but it depended on who the opponent was.

In the first official match of the new season, Real Madrid lost the European Super Cup. In the past five years, Real Madrid had won that trophy every year. Now that they had lost it, the fans were unhappy.

After three rounds in the league, Real Madrid was ranked third, two points behind Barcelona and level on points with Celta Vigo.

That still looked fine on paper.

But the problem was, you couldn't compare it that way.

Because last season, Real Madrid were double champions, the overlords of both La Liga and the Champions League.

Let's be honest, which Real Madrid fan would be satisfied with this start to the season?

Especially after losing the European Super Cup.

They did win the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla, but even that match had been dangerously close.

"To be honest, Gao, I won't hide it from you, I'm quite worried right now." Jose Sanchez looked a little panicked.

"You know, when you were coaching, I always felt confident, but now I don't. Even though we just lost a Super Cup, looking at the way the game went, I really feel nervous, like..."

Jose Sanchez paused, searching for the right words. "Like those years when we were constantly knocked out in the round of 16, just like Manchester United in recent years."

"Not really." Gao Shen smiled, trying to reassure him.

With Real Madrid's current squad, it would be quite disastrous to be eliminated in the round of 16.

"No, no, Gao, I'm not as optimistic as you. Our office is in Valdebebas, so we see things up close."

After the renovation of the Bernabéu Stadium began, the club's offices were moved to the new building in Valdebebas.

"In the seventh round, we'll face Atletico Madrid at home, and in the tenth round, Barcelona away. These two games are crucial, but I really have no confidence now."

Gao Shen looked at Jose Sanchez seriously.

Benítez was promoted by Real Madrid's CEO, and logically, he should be the one who supports him the most. But now he looked flustered and lacking in confidence.

That was very concerning.

Outsiders couldn't possibly know what was going on inside Real Madrid, especially within the locker room.

But as the club's CEO, Jose Sanchez clearly knew more than most.

All that could be said was that the internal situation at Real Madrid was worse than it appeared from the outside.

In fact, locker room management had always been Benítez's biggest weakness.

Over the years, regardless of the team he coached, his relationship with big-name players had always been problematic.

After winning six consecutive Champions League titles, Real Madrid now had top stars in every position.

That was a major challenge.

But Gao Shen really didn't know what to say.

Just as he was about to offer some advice to Jose Sanchez and tell him to have more faith in Benítez, the award ceremony and group stage draw began.

…

The first event was the Chairman's Special Award.

This award had a special meaning. Ferguson and UEFA President Ceferin jointly presented it to Beckham.

The audience gave thunderous applause, and the atmosphere at this season's award and draw ceremony reached its peak.

Especially when Beckham and Ferguson exchanged a polite hug, the crowd erupted again.

Master and apprentice, mentor and protégé, their relationship had always been complicated.

After that, the Champions League group stage draw began, interspersed with the presentation of awards.

In addition to the most prestigious Best Player award, UEFA also presented positional awards.

According to UEFA regulations, the eight seeded teams in this season's Champions League consisted of the previous season's Champions League winners, Europa League winners, and the champions of the highest-ranked leagues. Therefore, Leeds United qualified as a seeded team and were placed in Group B.

However, this also came with risk, as the second and third pot teams were all strong.

After the seeded teams were drawn, the Best Goalkeeper award was announced. It went to Real Madrid's Courtois, who beat Alisson and Navas.

Alisson had helped Leeds United perform exceptionally in the Champions League knockout stage and reach the final, while Navas had been outstanding for Paris Saint-Germain.

When the second pot was drawn, Leeds United got Barcelona from La Liga.

That was one of the strongest teams in the second tier.

However, it didn't really matter. They were bound to face a tough opponent anyway.

Gao Shen could only joke from his seat that Kaka's hands must not have been washed clean.

After the second pot, the Best Defender award was announced.

All three nominees were from Real Madrid: Ramos, Marcelo, and Varane. In the end, Ramos won.

One key reason Varane was shortlisted ahead of Van Dijk was his strong World Cup performance, where he helped France win the title.

But given Real Madrid's six consecutive Champions League victories, Ramos's win came as no surprise.

Following a short performance, the draw for the third pot began.

This was what Leeds United cared about most.

But now, the third pot teams were all strong as well. In the end, Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven were drawn into the group with Leeds United and Barcelona.

Gao Shen, Fernando Lucas, Borrell, and the others exchanged helpless smiles.

There was really nothing they could do.

It seemed Gao Shen had never drawn a favorable group.

What was worse, the final team drawn into their group was Inter Milan.

Although Inter's overall strength was not what it used to be, wasn't this a bit too much?

It was hard to believe the Nerazzurri had fallen to the fourth pot.

But based on their European results in recent years, that was indeed the case.

Gao Shen was speechless about the result.

Leeds United, Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven, and Inter Milan. This was definitely the group of death.

Of course, the other groups weren't much easier either.

After UEFA's reform of the seeded team allocation, new situations had arisen. Teams from leagues like the Russian Premier League, such as Lokomotiv Moscow, could now qualify as seeded teams due to their league and European performance.

As a result, the second pot was filled with strong teams from the Premier League, La Liga, and other top leagues.

This made the Champions League group stage fiercer than ever, and death groups became common.

What's more, European football was filled with strong contenders. Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Benfica, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Ajax, PSV, and Monaco were all capable sides.

During the draw, the Best Midfielder award went to Modric, which was well deserved.

Cristiano Ronaldo beat Messi to win the Best Forward award.

It was worth noting that Ronaldo did not attend the event tonight, likely because he already knew who would win the European Best Player award.

In the end, Modric won the top honor.

This was widely expected.

Gao Shen had already known that Modric had a very good chance of winning, and Real Madrid had actively promoted him for the award.

The Croatian midfielder was practically guaranteed the trophy.

When UEFA President Ceferin called Gao Shen to invite him to present the award, Gao Shen was certain.

Finally, Gao Shen presented Modric with the European Best Player award, often seen as the indicator for the World Footballer of the Year and the Ballon d'Or.

Modric hugged him excitedly and expressed his respect for Gao Shen in his acceptance speech.

The Croatian said there were two people who inspired him the most in his life. One was his father, who always encouraged him to fight for his dreams and never give up.

"The other is our boss, Gao Shen, who helped me become the best player in the world!"

Then, amid thunderous applause, Modric turned and hugged Gao Shen again, sharing the honor with him.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1212: The Team Most Seriously Harmed by Gao Shen

After the results of the Champions League group stage draw were announced, it immediately sparked heated discussions across European football.

This season, four Premier League clubs qualified for the Champions League, and all four ended up in groups widely described as groups of death.

Leeds United, who were originally considered the most likely to progress smoothly, drew the toughest group of all.

Many British media outlets quickly analyzed the draw and concluded that Leeds United's group featured the most intense competition for qualification.

Leeds United, Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven, and Inter Milan were all strong sides.

Barcelona were the undisputed favorites to advance. The La Liga giants were already one of the strongest teams in Europe, and this summer they strengthened further.

It could be said that Barcelona were Leeds United's toughest opponent in the group stage.

Inter Milan were also performing well, especially in the summer transfer market. They spent heavily to bring in players including Nainggolan, Asamoah, and Lautaro Martínez. Their overall strength was impressive, making them another formidable rival.

As for PSV Eindhoven, they were last season's Eredivisie champions, and that title alone proved that their strength should not be underestimated.

Leeds United had been unlucky with the draw, and since the other three Premier League clubs were placed in the second and third pots, their own draws weren't much better either. This led the British media to describe the results collectively as a "nightmare," particularly for Leeds United.

Although Leeds United had made a strong start in the Premier League with four consecutive wins, they had yet to face any real powerhouse teams such as Manchester City, Manchester United, or the London clubs.

It could be said that so far, Leeds United's true level this season had not yet been tested.

Selling six core players during the summer transfer window had been a huge blow to the club.

Many media outlets expressed pessimism about Leeds United, suggesting that if the team wanted to qualify, they would have to rely on their tactical adaptability and on-the-spot management.

At the draw ceremony, when interviewed by the media, Gao Shen smiled and expressed confidence in Leeds United.

"It's true that we are a very young team, but I believe our young players will surprise everyone in the Champions League, just as they have in the past two seasons."

In the previous two seasons, Leeds United had reached the semi-finals and the final, respectively. They hadn't won the title, but the results were still outstanding.

If Leeds United could achieve a top-four finish in Europe again after selling six core players, that would be nothing short of a miracle.

In that case, other top clubs might as well find a piece of tofu and hit themselves with it.

As a result, media outlets across Europe doubted Gao Shen's claim, believing that Leeds United would be lucky just to advance from the group stage.

After all, while clubs like Barcelona and Inter Milan were aggressively strengthening, Leeds United's overall strength had clearly declined.

The only major positive was that their top star, Mbappé, had been retained.

But could Mbappé alone carry Leeds United?

Gao Shen didn't respond directly in interviews. Instead, he took to Twitter.

"Let's make a bet. Leeds United's goal this season is to win both the Premier League and the Champions League!"

Following his post, Mbappé and several Leeds United players also declared their determination on Twitter.

…

At noon on September 15th, at White Hart Lane in London.

In the fifth round of the Premier League, Leeds United faced Tottenham Hotspur away from home.

This was Leeds United's first encounter with a strong opponent in the new season. Tottenham had performed well in the Premier League last season, playing with tenacity and employing a system built around three defensive midfielders.

Up front, their attack featured Eriksen, Lucas Moura, and Llorente.

On paper, Tottenham's lineup looked stable.

Unexpectedly, just 40 seconds after kick-off, Leeds United launched a quick series of long passes down the right flank.

When Ousmane Dembélé faced Tottenham's left-back Rose, he quickly crossed the ball into the box.

Vardy missed at the near post, but Mbappé followed up at the far post and scored, giving Leeds United the lead!

It took only 40 seconds from kick-off to goal.

Mbappé also scored his seventh goal of the season for Leeds United.

The entire White Hart Lane fell silent.

…

During the international break over the previous two weeks, Gao Shen had been unusually idle.

He found himself with nothing much to do.

The children were at school, and his wife had plenty of her own affairs to handle, so the daily task of picking up and dropping off the kids naturally fell to him.

With house staff taking care of daily chores, he had no real responsibilities, leaving him plenty of empty time.

Unless the children were on vacation, he couldn't travel far.

Life like this was indeed quite dull.

So when the weekend arrived and the Premier League resumed, Gao Shen immediately took his wife and children to London to watch the match.

At White Hart Lane, when he saw Mbappé's goal, he clapped his hands excitedly.

This once again proved that he truly loved football and needed football in his life.

Gao Shen also felt somewhat indebted to Tottenham.

Mainly because his arrival had severely weakened them, causing the North London club to fall short of the heights it had reached in his previous life. No matter how shrewd and calculating Daniel Levy was, Tottenham's chances of qualifying for the Champions League had grown slim with the rise of Leeds United.

There were only four Champions League spots available in the Premier League. The competition among the new Big Six was already fierce, and since Tottenham were not part of that elite group, their qualification hopes were even dimmer.

Adding to that, local stars like Harry Kane and Dele Alli had been poached by Leeds United, leaving Tottenham lacking in strength. Even Gareth Bale had joined Manchester City.

It could be said that in recent years, Tottenham had been the club most seriously harmed by Gao Shen.

To what extent?

Even in Gao Shen's previous life, Tottenham's new stadium should have been almost completed by now. But at present, White Hart Lane was still standing strong in North London.

The new stadium project planned by Daniel Levy remained stuck at the presentation stage, and it was uncertain whether it would ever be built.

Rising material prices had sent the construction budget soaring, but with Tottenham's performance declining sharply, the club simply couldn't afford such an enormous expense.

As a result, Levy had shelved the stadium project indefinitely.

That was why Tottenham's home ground remained White Hart Lane.

Gao Shen felt no guilt about this.

After all, Tottenham were Leeds United's opponents now.

But as he watched Mbappé score, he couldn't help but think about all of this.

…

After Leeds United's early goal, the match gradually settled into a rhythm controlled by the White Roses.

Leeds United continued to build attacks wave after wave against Tottenham.

In the 39th minute of the first half, Leeds United earned a corner. In the ensuing scramble, Eric Dier headed the ball clear, but it didn't travel far. Milinkovic-Savic, positioned near the six-yard box, met it with a header that flew into the top right corner, making it 2-0.

Gao Shen was pleasantly surprised again.

Three consecutive matches with goals from headers—it was starting to feel unreal.

And Mbappé, who had scored seven goals in five games, was now rapidly maturing and looked ready to explode into full form.

In fact, such progress was normal.

For players of Mbappé's age, development usually takes one or two seasons. In a team like Leeds United, where everything is built around him tactically, it's easier to unlock his full potential.

In Gao Shen's previous life, whether with the French national team or Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappé held influence but was never the undisputed focal point. In France, there were Griezmann and Pogba, while at PSG there was Neymar.

Those circumstances naturally affected Mbappé's tactical role.

At Leeds United, however, he had been given significant attacking authority in the final third.

In that sense, he was like Cristiano Ronaldo when Gao Shen managed Real Madrid.

But the gap between Mbappé and his idol Ronaldo was still obvious, particularly in finishing.

For instance, when Vardy dropped deep to press Tottenham midfielder Dembélé, forcing him into a misplaced pass, Ousmane Dembélé quickly intercepted and drove forward. He cut inside near the edge of the box and passed to Mbappé on the left.

Mbappé controlled the ball, turned, and shot.

If Ronaldo had taken that shot, it would have been a certain goal. But Mbappé's left-footed strike lacked power.

From the first touch to the turn, the move had been brilliant, but the finish was too weak.

…

Early in the second half, Leeds United received a touch of fortune.

Robertson, who had been in fine form this season, received a pass from Mbappé on the left and sent in what looked like a cross but turned into a shot that looped into the net.

It was probably meant as a cross that went astray, but it ended up as a goal.

Even Robertson could hardly believe his eyes.

Sometimes, that's just how football works.

Then, in the 56th minute, Mbappé and Robertson combined again on the left. The ball was sent across the box, and Vardy lifted it over the goalkeeper from close range to make it 4-0.

After that, no matter how Leeds United attacked, they couldn't add to their tally.

In the end, Leeds United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-0.

It was a match full of drama.

Elsewhere in the same round, Chelsea beat Cardiff 4-1, Manchester City defeated Fulham 3-0, and Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool all won their respective games.

The Premier League's top clubs had all secured victories.

Among them, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Leeds United each had five straight wins, with Leeds United leading the table on goal difference.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1213: Magic and Black Technology

On the evening of September 18, at the Amazon Stadium in Leeds, England.

In the first round of the Champions League group stage, Leeds United hosted PSV Eindhoven.

Right from kick-off, Leeds United launched a fierce offensive against the Eredivisie champions amid the passionate cheers of their home fans.

The first threat came from Bernardo Silva's chipped pass to the right side of the penalty area. Ousmane Dembélé made a run from deep, met the ball, and volleyed it toward the center before it went out of play.

However, the PSV goalkeeper managed to catch it.

Although the attack didn't result in a goal, it still drew warm applause from the crowd.

Soon, Leeds United organized another attack.

PSV were clearly struggling to cope.

They tightened their defense around the edge and inside the box, giving Leeds United no room to exploit.

Leeds kept interchanging positions, pulling defenders out of shape, and creating openings.

This was a pure battle between attack and defense.

When the game reached the 16th minute, Bernardo Silva dribbled through the middle. Initially heading left, he suddenly turned, changed direction, and surged forward before quickly passing to Vardy, positioned on the right edge of the box.

At the same time, Mbappé and Dembélé both darted forward from either side of the penalty area, while Milinkovic-Savic accelerated from the top of the arc.

PSV's midfielder Rosario failed to close Vardy down immediately, allowing the striker to swing in a right-footed cross toward the space between the penalty spot and the six-yard box. Milinkovic-Savic charged in and met it with a powerful header.

The ball flew straight into the top left corner of the net. 1-0.

The entire Amazon Stadium erupted in celebration.

…

Gao Shen had reserved a VIP box tonight to host several special guests.

In fact, all of them were his former assistants.

Zidane, Caro, Buenaventura, Pintus, and Lopis.

Together with his wife, children, Fernando Lucas, Borrell, and others, they filled the box completely.

Everyone sat in the seats outside the box, watching the match and soaking in the electrifying atmosphere at the stadium.

When Milinkovic-Savic scored, the crowd's roar, combined with the replay on the massive circular screen, sent waves of excitement through everyone.

"This Milinkovic-Savic is really something," Carlo said to Gao Shen with a laugh.

He was tall, quick on his feet, and had excellent timing for late runs into the box. His burst just now had been perfectly executed.

Not an easy thing to pull off.

"That header was powerful," Gao Shen said with satisfaction.

It was already his fourth consecutive match scoring with a header, something Gao Shen himself found remarkable.

From what he knew of Milinkovic-Savic, the Serbian was far more versatile than just heading ability, yet he kept scoring in the same fashion.

What did that mean?

It showed that Leeds United's current playing style perfectly suited his aerial strengths.

Or rather, Leeds United lacked other major aerial threats, relying heavily on Milinkovic-Savic in those situations.

Of course, the Serbian midfielder was a physical powerhouse. His size and strength made him almost like a striker when arriving late in the box, and his threat from deep runs was tremendous.

Just like that earlier move, Vardy dropped deep, stretching the defense, while Milinkovic-Savic surged in behind. It was a signature Leeds United attacking pattern.

"The atmosphere here is amazing. No wonder Florentino couldn't stop talking about the match he attended," Zidane said with a smile.

"I heard that when he met with the Bernabéu renovation team, he told them to study Leeds United's stadium. He said he wanted to add a ring of large screens around the roof, just like yours." Zidane chuckled in admiration.

Leeds United's new stadium was truly magnificent, hailed as the most visually stunning football stadium in the world, and even across sports in general. It had won numerous design awards.

"He's called me about it several times. I told him that while a circular screen around the roof would look nice, it wouldn't have the same impact as our suspended central screen," Gao Shen said.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Indeed.

The massive circular screen at Amazon Stadium hung in the center, clearly visible from every seat and brilliantly lit. If a ring screen were installed at the top edge of the roof, it would be hard for fans in the upper tiers to see it properly. The viewing experience wouldn't compare to a suspended screen.

"Actually, Florentino and his team studied that design. They wanted to install one, but the Bernabéu's renovation structure couldn't support it. The roof simply isn't strong enough," Zidane said with a wry smile.

The circular screen system included not only the display itself but also an advanced audio and broadcast setup. It was a masterpiece of engineering, complex to design, costly to produce, and extremely heavy.

If it wasn't accounted for during the initial design phase, retrofitting such a system later would be impossible.

It could even collapse the roof.

And then there was the issue of height.

If it hung too low, players might hit it during play. That would be an expensive disaster for such high-end technology.

In the end, Real Madrid had to give up on the idea.

…

This evening, Gao Shen used the stadium's best box to host his assistants.

Such luxury suites were usually leased long-term by wealthy individuals to entertain friends and business partners.

Many rich residents of Leeds already owned private boxes at Amazon Stadium, and some even had multiple. Gao Shen had borrowed this one from a friend.

Each box had a private chef and dedicated service staff, with food and beverages far superior to those available in the general stands.

With Leeds United leading 1-0 at halftime, Gao Shen, Zidane, and the others returned to the box to talk.

The conversation soon shifted to Real Madrid.

Just three days earlier, in La Liga's fourth round, Real Madrid had drawn 1-1 away at Athletic Bilbao.

Remaining unbeaten in four matches wasn't a major problem. Gao Shen's final season at Madrid had seen much tougher stretches.

However, Barcelona had won four straight and already led by four points.

The Spanish media began stirring things up again. Some even reported that during Gao Shen's trip to Monaco, Real Madrid CEO Jose Sanchez had a long private conversation with him.

Speculation quickly spread that Gao Shen might be returning to Real Madrid.

Gao Shen paid no attention to it, but his assistants were curious.

After all, they had worked with him for years. Of course, they wanted to continue.

Not just for higher salaries, but because Gao Shen always seemed to be at the forefront of football's evolution.

"Have you read FIFA's technical report on the 2018 World Cup in Russia?" Carlo asked suddenly.

When he looked around, most of them nodded.

The report hadn't been released publicly yet, but top professionals like Gao Shen's team had early access. It wasn't unusual for them, they were even invited as consultants by FIFA on occasion.

"It used Real Madrid as one of its tactical examples," Carlo said proudly.

The others smiled knowingly.

The fact that FIFA's report analyzed club teams as tactical benchmarks spoke volumes.

"To be honest, defensive organization in world football has become increasingly tight in recent years. The report gives an interesting statistic: at the World Cup, the average distance between the front attacker and the deepest defender was 26 meters."

Many might not understand what that meant, so Carlo elaborated.

Gao Shen still remembered that around 2006, when he began coaching, Wenger's Arsenal played some of the most beautiful football in Europe. In Wenger's tactical manual, something Gao Shen had studied in his "Tactical Library," the manager required the three team lines, defense, midfield, and attack, to stay about 10 meters apart.

That meant a total team depth of roughly 30 meters.

This was almost identical to the 26-meter statistic from the 2018 World Cup.

But remember, Arsenal were one of the strongest teams in Europe back then, setting the standard for compact, fluid football.

FIFA's report, however, reflected the average of all 32 national teams at the World Cup.

National teams traditionally lag behind club football tactically, meaning that top European clubs had already surpassed this level long ago.

That was tactical evolution in motion.

So what did that number actually represent?

First, it meant teams were playing with much more compact and layered shapes. The tighter structure limited the opponent's space and made it harder to create gaps, while also improving passing accuracy and overall control.

And yet, even in such compact conditions, teams like Barcelona and Manchester City still maintained exceptional possession rates. That showed just how refined their passing and positioning systems were.

Another finding was that with more compact formations, long-range shooting opportunities had decreased significantly.

The report revealed that the number of shots from outside the box dropped by 32 percent in 2018 compared to 2010, nearly one-third fewer. However, shooting efficiency from distance had risen sharply. On average, it now took only 29 long shots to score once.

In 2014, that number had been 42, and it was even higher in 2010.

The champion French team had astonishing long-range efficiency, just six shots from distance per goal, but only 29 percent of their total attempts came from outside the box, with 71 percent taken inside it.

Croatia's numbers were even more extreme, with 93 percent of their shots coming from inside the box and almost no long-range efforts at all.

All these statistics fit together, revealing a clear trend: across both national teams and clubs, defenses had improved dramatically.

Some might wonder, if defending has become so strong and attacking more difficult, why don't matches look that way?

That's because offensive play has evolved as well, and the key lies in midfield.

Why did Modric win the Ballon d'Or, the UEFA Best Player, and the FIFA World Player of the Year?

Because he mastered the modern midfielder's true magic, controlling and breaking down compact defenses through intelligence, precision, and tempo.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1214: Rhythm Master

The essence of a football match is a game of time and space.

This idea is actually not difficult to understand.

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff once said, "It's like everything in football and life. You need to look, you need to think, you need to move, move to find space, and you need to help others." In the end, it is very simple.

The implication is that once you master time and space, football becomes a simple game.

The spatial concept of football reached its peak during the Sacchi era, which was also the greatness of the Milan dynasty.

Sacchi's football philosophy stemmed from the total football of Michels and Cruyff.

From that foundation, more and more tactical innovations have continued to emerge.

The importance of space was clearly demonstrated in FIFA's technical report on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

As for time, the technical report of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil used Real Madrid as an example.

In 2014, FIFA's technical experts concluded that attacking football was the dominant trend and that the speed of transition between attack and defense was the key to winning matches.

They believed that formations were now more fluid, rotating frequently instead of remaining static, and that mere possession was no longer enough to secure victory.

At that time, Real Madrid was considered the team that best embodied this concept. Gao Shen's name appeared prominently throughout the report, and many of his tactical theories were directly cited by FIFA.

For example, the reasoning behind using a single defensive midfielder.

Gao Shen believed that a single defensive midfielder could form a defensive triangle with the two center-backs and also an organizational triangle with two midfielders. In this way, the defensive midfielder became the crucial link in transitions between attack and defense. He was not only the initiator when transitioning from defense to attack, taking on an important organizational role, but also the barrier when switching from attack to defense, responsible for protecting the central defenders.

FIFA directly quoted Gao Shen's explanation and included it in their technical report.

In addition, FIFA experts also highlighted the full-backs and goalkeepers, identifying them along with the defensive midfielder as the three positions that had undergone the most revolutionary changes in recent World Cups.

For example, before the 2014 Brazil World Cup, it was rare for both full-backs to advance simultaneously. But during that tournament, this became a common sight. When both full-backs pushed forward, it effectively widened the team's attacking width.

Goalkeepers also saw their responsibilities expand. They were now required to act as auxiliary defenders, helping circulate possession under pressure, and to deliver long passes or goal kicks to initiate quick counterattacks.

From the defensive midfielder to the full-backs to the goalkeeper, the evolution of these roles clearly demonstrated the growing dominance of attacking football.

At the end of the technical report, Gao Shen was praised as one of the pioneers of world football's tactical revolution in recent years. Both Leeds United and Real Madrid were described as products of his tactical influence.

While fans and the media didn't deeply analyze this statement, those within professional circles immediately began to speculate.

Take the example of both full-backs advancing simultaneously.

FIFA's report made it clear that the full-back's first duty was still to defend.

So why didn't coaches previously allow both to push forward at once?

The answer was simple: risk control.

If both full-backs advanced, it would leave massive gaps on the flanks. If the opponent counterattacked, the team would be exposed.

Even now, coaches like Mourinho and Benítez still adhere to that traditional mindset, insisting that only one full-back can push forward at a time to avoid being caught out.

So how did Real Madrid under Gao Shen manage it?

Part of the answer lay in the single defensive midfielder. During transitions from attack to defense, the midfielder could drop between the center-backs, allowing them to spread wide and cover the flanks.

That was one solution, though a reactive one.

The proactive solution was to control the midfield.

FIFA's experts believed that when both full-backs advanced, the ability to dominate the midfield became even more important. By controlling the midfield, the team could maintain balance while maximizing the attacking potential of both full-backs.

If the midfield lost control, the result would be disastrous, with the team constantly exposed to counterattacks.

No matter how strong the defenders were, they would eventually be overwhelmed.

This was why Gao Shen often repeated his mantra: whoever controls the midfield controls the world.

Controlling the midfield not only unlocked the full attacking power of the flanks, widened offensive play, and created more scoring chances for forwards, but also allowed the team to dictate the rhythm of the match.

"Rhythm" is an abstract concept, difficult to define, but it can be compared to driving a manual car.

You shift between fast and slow gears.

Gao Shen once heard a saying: rhythm is the art of playing with time.

In football, whether it is transitioning between attack and defense or changing the tempo, it all comes down to creating a time difference.

By varying rhythm, you force defenders and defensive formations to hesitate, to pause for a fraction of a second. That moment of hesitation creates a time gap, a positional advantage that cannot be easily defended.

Gao Shen had previously criticized Leeds United for being too monotonous in tempo and lacking variation. He had even accused Barcelona of always playing at a fixed rhythm. It was not that their ball control was poor, but that they lacked rhythm changes.

Only change brings unpredictability.

Why did Modric win the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year?

Because he mastered the ability to alter rhythm, the magic wand that manipulates time.

Toni Kroos was also a world-class midfielder, stable and consistent, but he lacked Modric's ability to bend time to his will.

Older generation playmakers such as Zidane, Riquelme, and Verón could no longer adapt to modern football. Modric became the ultimate rhythm master of the modern game.

He didn't score many goals, didn't assist often, and his statistics seemed unremarkable, yet he led Croatia to a World Cup final purely through his control of tempo.

But many people still wondered.

Why did Modric possess such magic under Gao Shen, yet lose it during Benítez's time?

The answer lies in the essence of football.

Football is a team game.

There is a saying in football: it's not the player with the ball who decides where the ball goes, but the player without it.

The receiver's movement determines the next pass.

This is why, before Guardiola, neither Bayern Munich nor Manchester City were known for their possession football. But under his guidance, even a group of "physical players" could adapt and thrive in a possession-based system.

The system is the true key to ball control.

If Modric wanted to control tempo and dictate play, he needed his teammates' cooperation and positioning.

However, Benítez's tactics were fundamentally different from Gao Shen's. His system did not support Modric's playing style. As a result, Real Madrid's midfield appeared awkward and disjointed, as if no one could properly control the game.

This was the issue Toni Kroos had referred to earlier when he mentioned struggling to adapt.

Why did Gao Shen insist on keeping Mbappé?

Because Mbappé's pace maximized Leeds United's strength in attacking transitions, a quality that had already been proven during the World Cup and was further refined under Gao Shen's system.

In midfield, Bernardo Silva played the role of an excellent rhythm controller.

…

"I've watched almost all of Real Madrid's games this season, and I've noticed the problems you mentioned. It's true, the players look uncomfortable, like they're not adapting well," Zidane agreed with Gao Shen's assessment of Benítez and Real Madrid's issues.

"Honestly, it's a tough problem to fix, because so many of these habits are deeply ingrained in the team, and even more so in the manager."

That was also why many head coaches eventually stepped away from the frontline. They couldn't keep up with the pace of change.

It was inevitable.

Perhaps one day, even Gao Shen himself might face that same problem.

As for Ferguson, he was never a pioneer.

In the Premier League, the first true revolutionary was Wenger. When he took over Arsenal, he transformed not just tactics and playing style but also training, diet, and even club management.

Ferguson learned a great deal from Wenger, but Manchester United still lagged behind in certain areas of infrastructure and logistics.

For example, few would believe that a top team once chose a hotel with poor soundproofing for a Champions League final, yet that was what Manchester United did.

Even now, while their training facilities are not bad, they no longer rank among the best.

Compared to clubs like Leeds United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham, who all built state-of-the-art training centers in the new century, Manchester United's facilities had fallen behind.

What truly made Ferguson remarkable was his willingness to learn and adapt to changing times.

In this respect, Gao Shen still admired and sought to emulate the old master.

"Real Madrid's problem is difficult to solve. With top full-backs like Carvajal and Marcelo, it makes no sense not to use their attacking power. But for that to work, the midfield must remain stable. Benítez insists on his 4-2-3-1 double defensive midfielder setup, but Real Madrid simply doesn't have the right players for that system," Gao Shen said with a sigh.

"Real Madrid now has a table full of top-quality ingredients, but not every chef can turn them into a Michelin three-star meal."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

That was indeed the reality.

Real Madrid had hired Benítez hoping for change and innovation.

But the problem was, Benítez simply wasn't capable of managing that transformation, and he couldn't even make Real Madrid function properly.

The biggest difference between Gao Shen and Ferguson was that although both were champions, Ferguson's Manchester United squad had serious flaws when he left, while Gao Shen's Real Madrid lineup was exceptionally strong.

"Honestly, Gao, seeing the team we built with so much effort, this group of geniuses, reduced to this state... if it really collapses one day, none of us will be able to accept it," Carlo said with a touch of sadness.

The others nodded, including Zidane.

They had all poured years of effort and emotion into building that team.

But what could they do now?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1215: Another Complete Victory

When Ousmane Dembélé dribbled the ball into the penalty area from the right flank, he changed direction at the byline and pulled the ball back with an inverted pass. However, it was deflected by the back heel of PSV's center-back Schwab inside the six-yard box.

The ball failed to reach Mbappé on the left and instead bounced toward the penalty spot.

Vardy, who had just dropped back to support and was a step late, arrived right in time and struck the ball directly.

The shot flew into the bottom left corner of PSV's goal.

2-0.

The entire Amazon Stadium erupted once again in wild cheers.

Leeds United fans shouted at the top of their lungs, celebrating with unrestrained excitement.

Gao Shen and the assistants around him stood and applauded.

Afterwards, Leeds United continued to attack PSV with relentless pressure, showing no intention of slowing down.

The next real threat came after the 70th minute.

First, Milinkovic-Savic intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly passed it forward to Mbappé to launch a counterattack.

The French winger received the ball near the left edge of the box, facing PSV's tall right-back Dumfries. He feinted several times to cut inside, forcing Dumfries to retreat. Then, suddenly stopping, Mbappé shifted the ball sideways and shot with his right foot.

The ball curled beautifully into the top right corner of PSV's goal.

3-0.

Two minutes later, Bernardo Silva delivered a precise pass to Dembélé. The winger controlled it, turned, shook off two defenders, and dribbled into the right side of the box before bending a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner.

4-0.

The Amazon Stadium went completely wild.

No one expected Leeds United to play such dazzling attacking football in their first Champions League group match of the season.

The newly formed front trio displayed incredible chemistry.

Mbappé, Milinkovic-Savic, Vardy, and Ousmane Dembélé — this new attacking combination was showing terrifying offensive firepower both in the Premier League and in Europe.

…

"Mbappé has improved," Zidane said immediately, spotting the difference in his compatriot's play. Especially the move where he beat Dumfries before scoring with his right foot, the whole sequence was fluid and precise. That could only come from rigorous training.

"It looks like you're turning him into another Ronaldo," Carlo said jokingly with a smile.

Gao Shen shook his head. "He won't be Cristiano Ronaldo. He's different."

The main difference was physical. Mbappé's height made it difficult for him to reach Ronaldo's level of physical dominance, especially in aerial duels.

"In terms of positioning, we define Mbappé as a European-style attacker like Cristiano Ronaldo, combining speed, power, and technique," explained Borrell, Leeds United's technical director.

"Over the years, he's been developed through the club's youth system. He has a solid foundation, great acceleration, and strong physique. He's excellent at power play, but he still needs refinement in his finer technical details."

Zidane nodded in agreement. "He's very good at handling the ball at high speed, but when he slows down, his coordination between technical movements isn't smooth enough. Against a fast and strong full-back, he'll still have problems."

"Yes, that's what we've been working on lately, especially his left foot and finishing," Borrell continued. "His biggest advantage now is his explosiveness. With his height, he actually has great balance for dribbling."

At 1.78 meters tall, Mbappé had an ideal build.

Many people overlooked how much height could affect a player's performance.

Take Rashford, for example. When he first debuted, he was very promising — fast, skillful, with excellent movement frequency. He looked destined for stardom.

But now?

Rashford was still Leeds United's backup striker, valued and nurtured, but his development clearly hadn't matched Mbappé's. Why?

Because he grew taller.

He went from 1.70 meters to 1.85 meters in a short time, and that growth spurt had a huge impact on his game.

When Rashford first joined Leeds United, Borrell had him play as a No. 10 midfielder. That was partly Rashford's own choice, and the staff agreed it would help him improve his decision-making and vision.

But everyone knew that with his pace and physique, he would eventually play as a forward or winger.

Playing in midfield helped develop his spatial awareness and tactical understanding.

Later, when he moved into the attack, he immediately impressed.

However, the rapid growth in height became an unforeseen problem.

No one can control that.

Just as rain will fall and mothers will remarry, young men will grow taller.

With height came a thinner frame and weaker physical duels, but the bigger issue was the shift in center of gravity and reduced movement speed — changes that were permanent.

As a result, technical moves that had once been easy now became harder or even impossible.

Football is made up of countless technical actions, but players' instincts remain based on their previous abilities.

That disconnect disrupted Rashford's game.

Now, Leeds United were retraining him to adapt to his new body.

By contrast, Mbappé's physical development had been steady and consistent, allowing him to progress smoothly year after year.

Sometimes, talent alone is not enough — luck also plays a part.

In his past life, Gao Shen had often regretted seeing talented players fail to fulfill their potential. But now, he understood more clearly that fate also played its part.

Even in Leeds United's academy, there were once-gifted youngsters whose performance dropped sharply after a growth spurt. Unable to adjust, they eventually faded away.

Unlike injuries, there was no way to prevent it.

It was simply bad luck.

…

Leeds United defeated PSV Eindhoven 4-0 at home, while Barcelona drew 1-1 away to Inter Milan.

That result put Leeds United at the top of their group.

However, the second round would see them travel to face Barcelona — a much tougher test.

After the win over PSV, Leeds turned their focus back to the Premier League.

In Round 6, they hosted Southampton at home.

Before Leeds' game, the rest of the round's matches had already been played.

Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-0 at home, Manchester City crushed Cardiff 5-0 away, and Arsenal defeated Everton 2-0.

Meanwhile, Manchester United and Chelsea were both held to 0-0 draws.

That added some pressure on Leeds United to maintain their perfect record.

But from the start, Leeds imposed their rhythm. After a quick counterattack, Vardy carried the ball over the halfway line and passed to Valverde on the right. The Uruguayan sprinted forward and sent a low diagonal cross into the box.

Mbappé battled the defender for the ball but couldn't reach it.

Leeds earned a corner, which was cleared only partially.

Bruno Fernandes, positioned outside the box, sent the ball diagonally back into play to Félix. After controlling it and beating a defender, Félix's shot deflected off a leg.

In the chaos that followed, Vardy reacted fastest and smashed the ball into the net.

1-0.

Southampton tried to fight back but were soon undone by Leeds United's speed.

Vardy dropped deep near the halfway line, turned, and sent the ball right. Valverde surged forward again and crossed diagonally behind the defense. Mbappé sprinted onto it and struck before the goalkeeper could react.

2-0.

Near the end of the first half, Leeds earned another corner.

Bruno Fernandes took it calmly, and Rodri flicked the ball at the near post, sending it curling inside the far post for another goal.

3-0.

In the second half, Leeds continued to dominate.

After conceding three goals, Southampton shifted their focus to defense and had no energy left to attack.

Just before the final whistle, Leeds added another. From the right, Arnold passed to Valverde, who immediately returned it to Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno released Valverde again with a clever one-two. The Uruguayan drove to the edge of the box, skipped past a defender, and sent in a low cross.

Vardy's close-range shot was blocked, and Bruno's follow-up also deflected off a defender. In the ensuing scramble, the goalkeeper was obstructed by his own defenders, and substitute Rashford pounced, slotting the loose ball into the empty net.

4-0.

Another complete victory.

When the final whistle blew, the Amazon Stadium erupted. Leeds United fans sang and danced in celebration as the players joined together to applaud them.

With Chelsea's 0-0 draw away to West Ham, Leeds United became the only Premier League team with six consecutive wins.

More impressively, Leeds United had been playing attacking football in all six matches.

Mbappé had scored eight goals in six games, while Vardy had five in six. Leeds were once again the most attacking side in England, and with only one goal conceded, they also boasted the league's best defense.

Leeds United fans were overjoyed.

No one had expected such dominance after selling six core players in the summer.

It felt like the start of last season all over again.

Leeds United were once more bursting with hunger, energy, and youthful fire.

(To be continued.)