SWR: Chapter 1172/1174

Chapter 1172: Penalty Shootout

There are actually several factors to consider when choosing hotels for teams participating in the Champions League final.

Take Real Madrid this time.

All first-team players, whether they make the matchday squad or not, will travel together to Lisbon. The players' families will also come along to cheer them on.

There will also be club staff, specially invited club legends and celebrities, as well as a number of special guests.

Add all of that together and you get a huge traveling party, which means the hotel must be large enough to accommodate them.

Of course, if there is no other option, the club can split people across different hotels, but that is more troublesome.

Especially for Gao Shen.

Based on his years of experience in Champions League finals and in-depth talks with the club's psychologists, giving players some private time with family and friends on the eve of the match helps them perform better.

Simply put, they will play with more hunger.

If everyone is split across different hotels, that plan is much harder to execute.

In that case, the best they could do would be to arrange a bus to shuttle players' families to visit, which would create additional hassle.

So from the start, Real Madrid placed great importance on the hotel's scale.

Ronaldo, who lived in Lisbon for years, recommended several hotels, but they were all rejected for being too small and not meeting the club's standards. The club was very picky. José Sánchez and Valdano even went to Lisbon in person to scout options and negotiate.

Yes, Real Madrid staying at a hotel for the Champions League final is also a form of cooperation.

In the end, the team chose the Tivoli Hotel on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon.

It is one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels in the city. Aside from another nearby Four Seasons, the hotels in central Lisbon are mostly either too small or lacking in quality and service.

After several rounds of selection, and with the hotel offering a strong cooperation package, Real Madrid set out their requirements and decided to book the entire property.

For the three days around the Champions League final, the hotel would serve only Real Madrid.

The hotel has three restaurants offering different cuisines. Real Madrid would bring their own chef, ingredients, and various supplies, and take over one of the restaurants to provide three meals a day for the players.

…

Lisbon is only about 500 kilometers from Madrid, but Real Madrid still took an Emirates charter flight.

They trained in the morning, had lunch and a short rest at Valdebebas, then flew to Lisbon in the afternoon.

Upon arrival, the team bus drove straight onto the tarmac.

Even so, many fans had gathered at the airport to welcome them.

Portugal and Spain are close, and both Real Madrid and Atletico fans were already in town.

As the team bus left the airport, the crowd outside descended into chaos.

Fans shouted the names of Real Madrid's players and Gao Shen, urging them to give their all in the final.

The enthusiastic supporters clapped and pounded on the side of the bus and the windows, which moved Gao Shen and the players inside.

They are Real Madrid's staunchest believers.

Even more fans were waiting at the hotel.

Fortunately, there were no Atletico fans at the scene. Otherwise, a confrontation might have broken out before the match, which would have been disastrous.

After checking in, the players, used to away routines, received their room assignments, dropped off their luggage, took a short rest, and then headed to the Estádio da Luz for the familiarization session.

Real Madrid's bus driver had arrived in Lisbon earlier and knew the city's traffic routes well.

Before departure, he briefed Gao Shen on the specifics.

The hotel is about six kilometers north of the stadium, bypassing Eduardo VII Park. But there are many traffic lights in central Lisbon, more than a dozen in total, which delays the trip and makes it about 20 minutes.

It was a bit frustrating.

Real Madrid had considered staying in the suburbs but could not find a suitable hotel.

Not only Real Madrid, Atletico were also based in the city center, close to Real Madrid's hotel.

Why?

Because most of Lisbon's hotels are concentrated around Avenida da Liberdade.

In that sense, the arrangements were equally fair for both finalists.

Security measures at the Estádio da Luz were already in place. When Real Madrid's bus arrived, many fans were shouting outside, but it was hard to get close. The team went straight into the dressing room smoothly.

Real Madrid's familiarization session was scheduled before Atletico's. After training, Gao Shen also had to attend the pre-match press conference, which is standard practice for a Champions League final.

Everything was routine, and Gao Shen knew it well.

This was his sixth Champions League final.

Just like in the past, there was nothing new about the session. The only interesting detail was that Gao Shen specifically arranged set-piece drills and penalty practice.

This was not a last-minute decision, but a deliberate plan.

Many fans from both teams were present, as were media reporters and even Atletico scouts. Gao Shen wanted them to see what Real Madrid were working on.

In modern football, set pieces have become a crucial source of goals. No team can ignore them.

Real Madrid are good at them.

For instance, Ramos once scored a hat-trick and netted twice against Bayern. His reputation as a sword-wielding defender is well known.

Pepe is also a threat on set pieces, another sword-wielding defender with strong scoring ability.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema can both score from set plays.

For free kicks, Real Madrid currently have masters like Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, and Toni Kroos.

When it comes to set-piece attacks, Real Madrid have plenty of options.

This is one of the most daunting aspects of Gao Shen's Real Madrid.

They are so complete that it is almost impossible to find a weakness.

But Gao Shen still emphasized penalty practice.

He clearly wanted to send a signal that Real Madrid were mentally prepared for extra time or even a penalty shootout against Atletico.

The key question is, will Simeone dare?

Given Atletico's situation, if Real Madrid implement their tactics properly and force Atletico to expend enough energy, by extra time the Colchoneros' fitness could become a problem. Real Madrid might even beat them in extra time.

And if it goes to penalties?

Real Madrid are not weak there either.

Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and a strong penalty saver. He also has an extensive data analysis team behind him that has thoroughly studied the penalty records of every Atletico player across their careers.

So what is there for Real Madrid to fear?

On the other hand, Asenjo made a big splash when he first emerged, but he no longer has the sharpness he once had. He has even become a weakness for Atletico. Otherwise, why would the Colchoneros spend big to bring in Oblak?

So Gao Shen was very confident that Simeone would not want to settle things in a penalty shootout.

This was psychological warfare too.

Gao Shen learned from Ferguson and likes to play openly and directly, targeting the opponent's heart.

…

After the players finished their session and returned to the dressing room, Gao Shen went to the press conference.

It is worth mentioning that the route to the press room passes through the Champions League trophy display. This is common, and many reporters linger there to take photos.

Gao Shen could not remember who told him that no one should touch the trophy before the final.

Before the match, neither coach nor players are to touch it.

It feels like a curse.

Interestingly, although Gao Shen is not superstitious, he has always enforced this rule strictly.

When he passed the display, he simply stood and looked at it closely, then moved on.

The reporters' questions were much the same as usual, nothing new.

One point Gao Shen emphasized was that this was his sixth Champions League final, and he had won the previous five.

"I believe this time will be no exception."

He said it with confidence.

This too was part of his psychological game, built on a record that clearly favored him.

Moreover, Real Madrid's core players had already experienced a Champions League final. They had the experience.

By contrast, although Atletico had won the Europa League, most of their players were playing in a Champions League final for the first time.

Gao Shen offered high praise to his opponents, calling Atletico one of the strongest teams in Europe.

The referee for the final was Björn Kuipers of the Netherlands. Gao Shen was not very familiar with him, but he knew Kuipers tended to allow a more physical game. His assistant referees were also Dutch.

Many believed this would benefit Real Madrid because Dutch football emphasizes fluidity and attacking play.

Gao Shen disagreed, subtly suggesting that such officiating could encourage Atletico to adopt a more aggressive defensive approach.

"Everyone knows our opponents are very good at understanding a referee's limits," he said.

Atletico's physicality is known worldwide, and everyone understands it.

Gao Shen expressed hope that the referee would enforce the rules strictly.

"This is not just a Champions League final, it is also a city derby. We all know the special nature of a derby, especially on a Champions League stage. No one wants to lose. Everyone will give everything."

He believed that the referee needed to maintain firm control, otherwise the match could spiral out of control, which would be very bad.

"I hope this will be a classic, exciting, and smooth Champions League final."

This was also Gao Shen sending a psychological hint to the referee.

Do not be too lenient, or tempers will flare and no one will be able to stop it.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1173: The Starting Point of Soaring High

"Pochettino's Leeds United really surprised me."

In the evening, Real Madrid had free time, and Gao Shen's parents and in-laws had also come to Lisbon.

He and Su Qing left their child in the care of the elders. The couple sat down at the hotel's open-air café, each ordered a coffee, and chatted.

The elders would be delighted to give them more private space, so they could prepare for a second child.

Yes, they had been urging them to hurry up and have another.

Gao Shen had stubbornly resisted, because his income was too high and having more children than permitted would result in a heavy fine in his country.

But his father quickly dismissed that objection, since the country already allowed couples with one son or one daughter to have a second child.

Gao Shen really wanted to tell them he would relax completely in the future, but he did not dare say that now.

He and Su Qing did not think too much about it.

Having a little good fortune is already enough. Any more can be distracting.

Besides, they were both fully focused on their careers. Where would they find the time?

Gao Shen was genuinely surprised by Leeds United's achievements this season. He did not expect Pochettino to elevate the team to this level. He had originally expected a top-ten finish.

For a long time, Leeds United's performances made Gao Shen feel that simply staying in the top ten would be good enough.

Who would have thought they would go on a five-match winning streak at the end.

But in reality, that was not everything.

There is a huge gap between fifth and fourth in the league.

"Pochettino has also come to Lisbon. He said he wanted to observe and learn on the spot," Su Qing said with a smile.

Her husband Gao Shen had always brought her pride and glory, but it also motivated her, reminding her to keep improving so she would not fall too far behind.

She had always believed that a woman who relies only on her husband will find it difficult to be truly happy.

Gao Shen also reflected on why he had underestimated them.

In fact, this was not the first time he had underestimated Leeds United. He had done so repeatedly.

The reason was simple. Gao Shen felt that the competitiveness created by this group of young players gathering together was something he had not anticipated.

Needless to say, in the attack, Harry Kane, Felipe Anderson, Salah, Sterling, Mané, Vardy and others are all future stars, which proves they are essentially young players with outstanding talent.

In midfield, Rabiot, Kanté, Brozović, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Coutinho, Fabinho and others form the core, all of whom are future midfield standouts.

When so many talented young players come together, the fighting power they generate is immeasurable.

Especially when the team operates in a sound and stable tactical environment and the players are developing rapidly, the competitiveness that emerges is astonishing.

And there is Pochettino, who is clearly better now than in Gao Shen's previous life.

In his previous life, Pochettino achieved some success at Espanyol, but when he later coached Southampton, he was still exploring and refining his tactical identity and direction.

In this life, he had been influenced by Gao Shen's tactics several years earlier, often discussing tactical issues with him, and he determined his own direction much earlier.

Especially later, after being dismissed by Espanyol, Pochettino moved directly to Madrid and studied with Gao Shen every day. At the same time, he carefully learned about and familiarized himself with Leeds United in preparation for taking over.

Not only that, Pochettino often discussed problems with famous coaches such as Gao Shen and Zidane. He would also seek out Carlo, Buenaventura, and Pintus to resolve issues, continuously improving his coaching plans and methods.

From a hindsight perspective, Pochettino's success at Leeds United does not seem surprising. Failure would have been the odd outcome.

But because of this, Leeds United's development has far exceeded Gao Shen's expectations.

This is certainly not a bad thing, but even rapid progress requires some adaptation.

"How are the preparations for the new stadium?" Gao Shen asked with concern.

"We are making the final preparations before construction. The project team has given a timetable. It is very complex, and the initial estimate is a construction period of 36 months, or three years."

This involves many advanced technologies, such as the most sophisticated Wi-Fi network and an intelligent management system. That will require great effort, because at that time everything from stadium entry security to merchandise sales can be handled through a mobile app.

Fans will even be able to place orders from their seats, and staff will deliver directly to them.

As for the stands, to maximize the viewing experience, the seats in the new stadium will be larger, with more legroom and greater comfort. That is particularly important for the spatial planning of the stands.

The most troublesome part is the roof.

The stadium will be semi-open, with the roof separated from the stands. In the design, Norman Foster must fully consider ventilation and the conditions when the stadium is full, providing the best all-weather comfort for the team and fans.

The retractable roof over the pitch will use a single-layer ETFE film with excellent light transmission to ensure the turf receives sufficient sunlight and air, maintaining optimal growth conditions.

But there is a problem. Gao Shen has partnered with a leading domestic company to develop a huge circular screen, expected to weigh several hundred, even over a thousand tons. How can it be supported and suspended?

According to Norman Foster, the complexity of this stadium is unimaginable from both an architectural and design perspective. Given the constraints of a football ground, it will be the most challenging project he has ever undertaken.

In that case, three years is not difficult to understand.

This is basically consistent with the estimates previously made by Gao Shen and Norman Foster.

Especially considering Tottenham's new stadium took more than four years to build and was less challenging than Leeds United's, completing this one within three years would already be very fast.

After Norman Foster's recalculation, the stadium's capacity is expected to be around 65,000.

That is already a very luxurious stadium.

According to the club's current projections, Lucas is very confident about attendance, because every Leeds United home match is sold out, and even some cup matches are at full capacity.

Next, Leeds United will increase publicity in Leeds and surrounding areas to attract more fans to follow the club.

Not only that, once construction begins, the club will start attracting investment for the new stadium, including a dining area capable of serving 40,000 people at once, a retail zone for beverages and snacks, and corporate boxes.

Currently, several local catering and retail companies, including PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and KFC, are exploring partnerships with Leeds United to lease exclusive sales areas.

As for the stadium naming rights, talks are ongoing primarily with Amazon. Progress is smooth, and both parties are waiting to finalize some terms. It is expected that the contract can be signed.

…

Thinking of this, Gao Shen felt relieved.

It is now 2014, and the new stadium is set to be completed within three years, in 2017, just in time before a sharp rise in raw material prices. As for the commercial facilities around the stadium, they can be built faster and with lower investment.

The total project investment is £1 billion, most of which will go to the new stadium.

By then, Leeds United's value will be far beyond what it is now.

The White Rose will become one of the most valuable sports clubs in the world.

In terms of transfers, many Leeds United players are attracting attention from outside.

The most eye-catching are, of course, Navas, who won the Premier League Golden Glove, and local top scorer Harry Kane.

The latter's breakout this season did not surprise Gao Shen, because he has been making obvious progress, improving every season. It is only natural that he is exploding now.

But Harry Kane has already renewed his contract with Leeds United, so he is highly likely to stay.

In addition, left-back Bertrand has been targeted by Rodgers at Liverpool. As early as the winter break, Rodgers wanted to sign the Leeds left-back, but Leeds United rejected it.

Now, Liverpool have done well and qualified for the Champions League. The American owners have decided to increase investment. Rodgers hopes to sign Bertrand this summer to strengthen the left flank.

Leeds United have no objection, because the team still has two left-backs, Benjamin Mendy and Robertson, who can fully fill the vacancy.

Among them, Robertson is already at Leeds, while Benjamin Mendy is currently on loan in Ligue 1 and performed well this past season.

Besides, does building a new stadium not require money?

Another player worth mentioning is Kanté.

Highly valued by the club's hierarchy, Kanté has become a key player for Leeds United. He has lived up to expectations and performed very well this season, especially with interceptions and ball recoveries in midfield.

He is not tall, but his bite in midfield is fierce.

More importantly, whether due to Leeds United's influence and training or his own development, his passing has become very good.

Kanté played in every Premier League match this season and is considered one of the league's best-performing midfielders. Right after the winter break, Leeds United had already renewed his contract.

Vardy and Martial have also begun to emerge this season. Among them, Martial has been a focal point under Borrell and Pochettino. His profile is very similar to Henry's.

Leeds United are now teeming with talent. Gao Shen has reason to believe that as long as Pochettino maintains his current level, Leeds United will surely become a rising force in the Premier League in the coming years.

They even have a chance to break into the top four.

That will be the starting point of Leeds United's soaring rise.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1174: The Historical Heritage of the Champion

All teams participating in the Champions League final have strict schedules and controls on the day of the match.

In fact, these controls may be implemented one or two days in advance.

The reason is simple, to avoid accidents.

During Gao Shen's years of coaching, he has heard more than once of a key player suddenly suffering an accident before a big match, including but not limited to a sudden high fever or gastrointestinal issues.

The human body is incredible, especially under high pressure. Sudden incidents are more likely to occur.

Therefore, control is particularly important.

Real Madrid even control the players' meal ingredients, chefs, and drinking water. Everything is brought from the club. Some fresh ingredients were airlifted from Madrid early this morning.

These may seem like minor details, but if not handled properly, they can affect the players' performance.

For example, Ferguson once said that on the eve of Manchester United's Champions League final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the hotel's poor soundproofing caused the players to sleep badly.

Perhaps that could be seen as an excuse after losing a final, but it still has an impact.

In any battle, logistics are everything.

…

Whether it is Gao Shen, the coaching staff, Real Madrid, or the players, they are all familiar with the Champions League final. Everyone clearly knows what to do. Most of them are very experienced.

There are also established routines for when to eat, what to eat, and how much to eat.

After a rest, the team held a meeting.

This was the final preparation meeting before the match, focusing on the key details for tonight's final.

While the players rested, Gao Shen and the coaching staff also held a smaller meeting.

Carlos Vargas had already compiled and analyzed the latest public information that morning, including what Atletico said and trained yesterday. He collected everything and placed it in front of the staff.

Simeone places great importance on set pieces, but he did not arrange any set-piece drills in yesterday's familiarization session on the pitch. He only revealed at the pre-match press conference that set pieces are a key tool Atletico use to repeatedly defeat strong opponents.

"Note this and remind them later," Gao Shen told his assistants.

Carlo and the others immediately took notes. They would all speak later, reminding the players from their respective perspectives to pay attention to Atletico's set pieces. For example, the goalkeeping coach Lopis would remind Courtois and Casillas about set-piece precautions, including wall setup and Atletico's free-kick habits.

"Carlos, I asked you to prepare a compilation of Atletico's set pieces from the past two or three seasons. Is it done?" Gao Shen turned to analyst Carlos Vargas.

"It was completed before we left yesterday and has been distributed to every player. I believe everyone has read it."

"Well done," Gao Shen praised.

This is the advantage of working with a familiar partner. You only need to say a word and he already knows what you want and will do it in advance.

Atletico's core weapon is still their extraordinary fighting spirit and superb tactical execution, but Simeone is also very pragmatic.

Gao Shen said at the pre-match press conference that the outcome of this game was 50-50, with Real Madrid and Atletico each having half a chance.

But Simeone denied that, saying Real Madrid are a very complete team and still the best team in the world.

"They have won La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and they are defending Champions League winners. We must approach this final with humility."

Simeone also said that Gao Shen has found a great balance, which makes Real Madrid highly competitive.

"Like all other managers, I struggle to find balance, but Gao Shen has achieved it. His football is varied. He can control the game with possession, but also by controlling space and striking on the counter."

"You never know how he will play, so we can only try to contain their football and seize every chance to threaten them."

When Gao Shen saw this, he thought for a moment.

Simeone's mindset is correct, but that is not necessarily good for Real Madrid.

On the contrary, if Atletico were more arrogant and aggressive, they would be easier for Real Madrid to handle.

"There are still several key points, such as transition play and flank protection..."

…

After the small staff meeting, they immediately held a larger meeting with the players.

After the meeting, Gao Shen would also speak to players individually. It might be one-on-one, or with three to five players together. The format depended on the content he needed to discuss.

In the team meeting, Gao Shen emphasized the importance of defending set pieces.

If he remembered correctly, the goal Real Madrid conceded in the previous life's Champions League final came from a set piece.

Real Madrid had repeatedly trained and focused on this over the past period.

The second point was Atletico's rough style.

Gao Shen told the players clearly that they must be mentally prepared for a fierce battle. It would be the toughest match of Real Madrid's season, perhaps of the past few years, because the opponent is Atletico Madrid.

Björn Kuipers' officiating style is relatively lenient. Even with subtle psychological hints, he will still be lenient. That will further increase the scope of Atletico's physical challenges. Real Madrid's players must be prepared, especially when it comes to controlling their temper.

Of course, controlling your temper does not mean submitting to everything. If necessary, they must fight back and even put pressure on the referee, so he understands that if he keeps encouraging Atletico's negative behavior, the situation will get out of control.

By then, the referee will have to make a decision.

All of this requires the players to remain calm and rational.

This is also one of Real Madrid's advantages. Ramos and Pepe are much calmer now.

Source change app

Gao Shen also stressed many other details, but he placed particular emphasis on the efficiency of the transition from attack to defense.

In the planned scenario, when Atletico push up, Real Madrid will push up as well, hitting them with long passes and long switches. To do that, Real Madrid's shape will have to stretch, creating as many one-on-one situations as possible.

One-on-one, that is also Real Madrid's advantage.

But that inevitably brings a problem. An open game benefits Real Madrid's attack and helps neutralize Atletico's pressing and pressure, but if the ball is lost, Real Madrid's defensive shape will be loose.

At that moment, everyone needs to complete the transition immediately. Counter-pressing and defensive positioning must happen simultaneously, and everyone must maintain absolute focus and execution.

Otherwise, if any link fails, Atletico's sharp counterattack will punish them instantly.

Gao Shen attached great importance to this and repeatedly emphasized that everyone must pay attention.

"This will be the key to our victory tonight."

…

Gao Shen spent the entire morning in intense meetings and conversations.

He spoke thoroughly with all the starters and substitutes for tonight, received their feedback, and understood their specific physical and psychological conditions.

At lunchtime, Florentino, accompanied by board members, José Sánchez, and Valdano, came to the players' dining area to meet them.

Also with them were Real Madrid legends, including Raúl, Guti, Gento, Amancio, Solari, Morientes, and Camacho, all among the greatest figures in the club's history.

Gento, a key player in Real Madrid's first six European Cups, shared his mentality about winning the Champions League six times, including how to maintain hunger.

Raúl, Guti, and others were very familiar to the current squad and had even been teammates with many of them, so as soon as they arrived, they began chatting with the players.

Raúl has not yet retired. He plans to leave the Middle East for Major League Soccer in the United States. This will be the last stop of his career, and his purpose is clear, to earn money.

Raúl also revealed some news to Gao Shen. He had spoken to Florentino and would return to work at Real Madrid after retiring. He is currently studying for coaching qualifications and is considering becoming a coach.

"Please guide me when the time comes," Raúl said with a smile.

Gao Shen readily agreed.

Hierro will be leaving at the end of this season.

The legendary captain has been with the team for two years and has now accumulated enough experience. He plans to take a position at the Spanish FA, which Florentino and Real Madrid fully support.

In the Real Madrid cheering group, there were two slightly awkward figures, one being the legendary captain Camacho.

Yes, the former Spain head coach who also managed Real Madrid. Both of his stints ended in failure, and one even set the record for the shortest tenure in the club's history.

The other was Mijatović.

This former executive served as Real Madrid's number two under Calderón. After Calderón, he completely faded from view, but thanks to the Champions League he won with Real Madrid as a player, he remains among the club's legends.

This is normal, because Florentino did not pursue responsibility against Calderón and Mijatović later on.

Whether among the legends, in front of the players, or even in front of Marcelo, Pepe, and others he helped bring in, Mijatović was marginalized and largely ignored.

Gao Shen and Real Madrid arranged this visit with a simple purpose, to have this group of Champions League legends inspire the current players and make a point through facts.

Real Madrid has never forgotten the heroes who fought for the club.

Solari, Morientes, and others had their issues during their time at Real Madrid. Morientes even became the so-called Real Madrid killer later, but he is still a club legend.

And if, tonight at Lisbon's Estádio da Luz, Real Madrid successfully defend their Champions League title, then everyone present will become part of Real Madrid's history, just like the visiting legends.

In the future, they will all have the opportunity to work for and serve Real Madrid.

This is a special kind of historical heritage of champions within modern professional football.

(To be continued.)