SWR: Chapter 1168/1171

Chapter 1168: You Beat Him Badly

On the evening of April 29th, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

In the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals, Real Madrid were set to face Bayern Munich away from home.

As soon as the Portuguese referee Pedro blew the whistle to start the match, the Bayern fans inside the Allianz Arena erupted into wild cheers for their players on the pitch.

Guardiola stood in front of the home team's technical area with a serious expression, his eyes fixed on the field.

He had made some adjustments in response to the problems that occurred during the first leg at the Bernabéu.

Lahm returned to his familiar right-back position, while Schweinsteiger and Khedira partnered in midfield.

Real Madrid, however, made no changes.

Gao Shen continued with his strongest lineup. The midfield trio of Toni Kroos, Xabi Alonso, and Modric remained intact, reflecting Real Madrid's confidence going into the match.

After kickoff, Bayern played with great intensity, taking the initiative to attack. Real Madrid, on the other hand, stuck to their defensive approach. They didn't press forward recklessly but instead waited for counterattacking opportunities.

This was exactly what Guardiola had expected.

In terms of ball possession, Bayern quickly seized control and began to suppress Real Madrid. Yet, Guardiola kept calling out to Lahm, urging caution.

Bayern were attacking from left to right, which meant Lahm was playing on the same side as Guardiola.

The Spanish coach noticed Ronaldo constantly drifting near Lahm's position, looking for openings.

Guardiola reminded Lahm and Khedira to stay alert and watch Ronaldo closely.

In one-on-one situations, it was still difficult for Lahm to contain Ronaldo, so he needed defensive support.

After several minutes of probing and adjustments, neither side could break the deadlock.

Bayern began to grow impatient.

The 0-3 deficit from the first leg hung over them like a curse. They needed an early goal.

Under normal circumstances, Guardiola would never allow his team to lose composure.

But tonight, even he couldn't control their anxiety.

If they didn't score soon, time would run out.

Against a team like Real Madrid, who could easily score three goals, there was no room for hesitation.

Failing to score early would only make things more difficult as the match went on.

But attacking too aggressively came with another danger: Real Madrid's deadly counterattacks.

Having coached for many years, Guardiola understood there was no such thing as perfection in football. Every decision had its risks.

At this point, however, he had no other choice.

So he stood on the sideline, watching his players press higher and higher up the pitch.

Real Madrid's defense was solid and compact, making it hard for Bayern's passing game to penetrate. That forced the home side, desperate for goals, to commit more players forward.

As Bayern pushed up, their midfield and defense lines also advanced dangerously high.

Then, in the eighth minute, Toni Kroos intercepted Khedira's pass and laid the ball back to Xabi Alonso. The Spanish midfielder immediately played a long pass over the top, perfectly dropping it behind Bayern's defense.

Benzema reacted fastest, bursting forward. Dante was slow to respond, and although Vidal chased hard, the French striker used his strength to shield the ball.

Guardiola instinctively tensed up and shouted, "Press!"

The ball bounced once near the top of the box, slowing slightly in the air.

It was a classic Xabi Alonso long pass, timed to perfection.

Benzema, sprinting at full speed, blocked Vidal with his body, then controlled the ball with his right foot and entered the Bayern penalty area.

Bayern goalkeeper Tom Starke stood frozen near the goal line.

He hesitated.

Everything happened too quickly, and he failed to make the right decision in time.

Only when Benzema reached the right side of the penalty spot and caught up with the ball did Starke finally rush forward.

But it was already too late.

With Vidal behind him, Benzema swung his right foot and fired. The ball flew over the goalkeeper's head and into the Bayern net.

1-0!

Guardiola grabbed his head with both hands, furious. He wanted to run over and ask his goalkeeper why he hadn't charged out sooner when the defense was breached.

Normally calm and composed, the Spanish coach couldn't hold back his frustration and cursed under his breath.

Once that goal went in, the tie was as good as over.

Guardiola trudged back to the bench and sat down, completely dejected.

The aggregate score was now 4-0. Real Madrid had an away goal, which meant Bayern would need to score five times.

That was impossible.

…

Conceding that goal was like opening a bleeding wound. The scent of failure drove Bayern to madness.

This was their home ground.

Before the match, they had sworn to make a comeback here at the Allianz Arena.

But now, they hadn't even managed a single shot, and Real Madrid had already scored.

What was happening?

You can lose a game, that's football. But not like this.

Bayern began attacking with reckless abandon. Captain Lahm kept shouting, urging his teammates to push forward and fight back.

The home team was full of aggression, but their chaotic, desperate pressing led to disaster.

Before Bayern could even get a proper shot on target, Real Madrid struck again, and this time it was even more unbelievable.

In the 15th minute, still haunted by his earlier hesitation, goalkeeper Starke decided to take no chances. When Real Madrid played another long pass, he charged out of the box decisively.

But once outside the penalty area, a goalkeeper cannot use his hands. Starke went for a header, but it barely cleared the ball.

It fell straight to Ronaldo on the left flank.

The Portuguese star stopped it, glanced at the goal, and sent a lob soaring over everyone.

There was no suspense about the outcome. The ball always travels faster than the man chasing it.

Starke sprinted back frantically, but he couldn't catch up.

2-0!

The entire Allianz Arena fell silent.

Everyone knew Bayern might lose, but no one expected it to unfold like this.

Moments later, Real Madrid struck again. From a corner kick, Ronaldo and Pepe drew the attention of Dante and Khedira at the near and central positions, allowing Ramos to head in from the far post.

3-0!

Five minutes later, Di Maria swung in a diagonal cross from the right flank. Pepe headed the ball back across goal, and Ramos met it with another header from close range.

4-0!

Starke stood rooted to the spot, utterly stunned.

The two early goals had shattered his composure completely.

In the 37th minute, Di Maria dropped deep, intercepted Schweinsteiger's pass, and launched a counterattack. He passed to Modric, who quickly released Benzema sprinting forward.

Under pressure from Dante, Benzema stopped sharply and laid the ball off to the onrushing Di Maria.

The Argentine burst through the middle, entered the penalty area, and squared the ball to the left.

Ronaldo broke free from Lahm with blistering speed, sprinted into the box, and calmly slotted home his second goal of the night.

5-0!

…

Gao Shen stood by the away team's technical area.

He could clearly feel it, the moment Ronaldo scored, the entire Allianz Arena fell deathly silent.

The 68,000 spectators seemed to stop breathing.

Gao Shen remained calm. He had anticipated this outcome long before.

After the first goal, the match was effectively decided.

The only remaining question was how many goals Real Madrid would score, and whether Bayern would manage one at all.

The answer was clear. Real Madrid had scored five.

In the first leg at the Bernabéu, they had scored three in the first half. Now, in the second leg at the Allianz Arena, they had scored five before halftime.

Bayern Munich had only managed two shots, fewer than the number of goals Real Madrid had scored.

That was the problem.

Bayern were far too anxious tonight.

The first goal was the turning point, the decisive blow.

In a sense, the game ended after just ten minutes.

"You really beat him badly this time," Zidane said with a wry smile, glancing at the home bench where Guardiola sat motionless.

Gao Shen followed his gaze and smiled faintly.

Once the match begins, many things are beyond a coach's control.

For example, Gao Shen couldn't possibly tell his players to stop attacking after scoring one goal.

That was impossible.

The strength gap between Real Madrid and Bayern wasn't as wide as the score suggested.

Holding back only works if the stronger team can maintain total control.

Gao Shen recalled one of the most memorable matches in football history, when an underdog held the mighty Brazil to a draw.

Did Brazil take it easy that day? Of course they did.

But once they realized things were slipping away, it was already too late.

Football is unpredictable. Once momentum shifts, control disappears.

By the same logic, if Real Madrid eased off now, they might lose their focus and allow Bayern to launch a comeback.

The difference in quality between these two teams wasn't as big as the scoreboard showed.

Even if they played again, Gao Shen would still need to work hard to find a winning strategy.

Real Madrid might not beat Bayern so easily next time.

In matches like this, between Real Madrid and Bayern, Gao Shen and Guardiola, both sides must give their all. There's no room for carelessness.

As for the current situation, no one expected it, but it made perfect sense.

Bayern were too impatient, exposing flaws in their defense and goalkeeper.

Real Madrid stayed composed, countered decisively, and capitalized on every chance.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1169: Long Live Gao Shen

Lost!

That was Gao Shen's evaluation of Guardiola's Bayern when he was interviewed by reporters at the post-match press conference. He believed both Bayern and their fans should give Guardiola more time and trust.

"The score doesn't reflect the true strength of the two teams. Bayern are one of the strongest clubs in world football today."

Why did they lose?

Gao Shen thought it was a perfectly normal result.

This was Guardiola's first time coaching a team other than Barcelona. Many of his tactical concepts and philosophies were built upon the Barcelona system. To succeed at Bayern, he not only needed to reshape the team but also adjust himself.

"Winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup, reaching the Champions League semi-finals, I don't think this is a failed season."

Clearly, Gao Shen was defending Guardiola.

Real Madrid's 5-0 away victory sealed an aggregate 8-0 win, sending them comfortably into the final.

It was hailed as one of the most dominant Champions League semi-finals in recent years.

Before the tie, countless fans had high hopes for Guardiola, but his Bayern side failed to threaten Real Madrid in either leg, at the Bernabéu or the Allianz Arena, and didn't even score a goal.

Gao Shen believed this criticism of Guardiola was unfair.

"I've been coaching Real Madrid for two years now, and we've become a very mature team. Guardiola, on the other hand, has just begun transforming Bayern, and he needs more time."

Everyone knew Guardiola once worked as Gao Shen's assistant, and the two shared a close relationship. Many people even claimed Guardiola's football philosophy was similar to Gao Shen's, but Gao Shen had always denied that.

At the Allianz Arena, he once again rejected the notion that their football was alike.

"Yes, I used to use a high-pressing strategy like his. We both emphasized counter-pressing. We shared many similarities before, but now, we're quite different," Gao Shen said.

"It's even fundamentally different."

He believed that the core of Guardiola's philosophy was ball control. Guardiola emphasized possession above all else, and all his tactical ideas revolved around maintaining it.

That's why, when his teams at Bayern or Barcelona lost the ball, they immediately launched counter-pressing. They simply couldn't tolerate being without the ball for long.

But once they regained possession, their tempo slowed down because they focused on control.

In that sense, Barcelona's attacks often advanced slowly.

Gao Shen's teams, however, were different in depth and structure.

Whether it was Real Madrid, Manchester City, or Leeds United, all of them carried his tactical imprint.

These teams did not press as high as Barcelona or Bayern. Instead, when they lost possession, the midfield and defense would immediately drop back, reorganize, and leave ample space in front for counterattacks.

Even when counter-pressing, the purpose was not necessarily to win the ball immediately, but to delay and disrupt the opponent's transition.

The most distinct difference was that Barcelona players liked close, tight pressing and one-touch combinations in small areas, while Gao Shen emphasized physical and positional pressure.

Barcelona's system relied heavily on creating local numerical superiority in small spaces, which required players with extraordinary technical ability.

That, Gao Shen pointed out, was Bayern's biggest problem right now.

Their players, especially those in midfield and attack, could not fully meet the demands of Guardiola's tactics.

Still, Gao Shen believed Guardiola's ideas were highly advanced, but succeeding at Bayern would not be easy.

"The integration of different countries, different cultures, and different football styles is a huge challenge," he said.

As for his own players, Gao Shen once again offered high praise.

In addition to Ronaldo and Ramos, who both scored twice, he also singled out Toni Kroos.

"He was a key player in our victories in both legs."

Speaking to the German media, Gao Shen called Toni Kroos a world-class midfielder.

"More importantly, he still has tremendous potential, and he will only get better."

There's a saying that fits well here: if you don't return home in glory, it's like wearing fine clothes in the dark.

Gao Shen believed Kroos was also eager to prove himself in front of the German fans and media.

So he didn't hesitate to praise him, satisfying the midfielder's pride and ambition.

…

Real Madrid's 5-0 win over Bayern was a disaster for the German media.

After the match, every major German outlet blasted the result, using sensational headlines to describe the defeat. Some even harshly criticized Guardiola, claiming his Bayern side didn't deserve to reach the semi-finals.

"This is the most humiliating defeat in Bayern's Champions League knockout history!"

Losing 0-3 away and 0-5 at home, with no goals scored over two legs, many questioned whether such a team still had hope.

Bild mocked Bayern chairman Rummenigge, who had claimed the Allianz Arena would become hell for Real Madrid.

"In the end, it was Bayern that sank into hell. Gao Shen was absolutely right. Since he left, victorious, the Allianz Arena truly became a hell!"

Kicker magazine wrote that Bayern's players simply couldn't match Real Madrid in terms of intensity, pace, or rhythm.

"It looked like they could do nothing but pass the ball."

Le Monde commented that Bayern never looked capable of changing the match.

"Bayern Munich could only count how many times they entered Real Madrid's box. This was one of the darkest nights in the club's history."

While German media were mourning, Spanish outlets were celebrating.

El País published a headline that read, "Long Live Gao Shen!", expressing their joy and admiration for Real Madrid's dominant victory.

Alfredo, editor-in-chief of AS, wrote an emotional column, celebrating Real Madrid's second consecutive trip to the Champions League final and expressing his gratitude to Gao Shen.

"Thank you to this great Real Madrid! Thank you to the great Gao Shen!"

He wrote that in the two years since Gao Shen took charge, Real Madrid had returned to stability and glory.

"He has brought back the pride and honor that belong to Real Madrid fans around the world."

"He has made the world look up to the Bernabéu once again."

…

In the other semi-final, Simeone's Atletico Madrid defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at home after drawing 1-1 in Paris.

Interestingly, Ancelotti's team had dominated possession in both legs, yet failed to break down Atletico's defense. They were caught on the counter in the first leg and completely shut out in the second.

Even Ibrahimovic and Cavani, two world-class forwards, couldn't find a way past Atletico's defense.

In the end, Simeone's side advanced 2-1 on aggregate, setting up an all-Madrid final in Lisbon.

The all-Spanish final thrilled fans across the country.

The last time two La Liga clubs met in the Champions League final was in the 1999/2000 season, when Real Madrid faced Valencia under Héctor Cúper.

Back then, Real Madrid won 3-0 without any suspense.

This upcoming city derby reignited massive anticipation throughout Spain.

Based on league and cup performances, Real Madrid had the advantage. However, Simeone's Atletico were known for their incredible resilience and defensive strength.

According to Atletico fan and SER Radio host De la Morena, Real Madrid's defensive counterattack tactics that worked against Barcelona and Bayern would be ineffective against Atletico.

"Atletico are the masters of defending and countering. They can even defend more resolutely than Real Madrid."

"This final will be the ultimate test of Real Madrid's attack."

Many experts agreed that predicting the outcome of the final was impossible.

Gao Shen's tactical approach against Barcelona and Bayern would not apply against Atletico Madrid.

"We are all waiting to see what tactics Gao Shen will come up with when Real Madrid are forced to play the role of Barcelona and Bayern."

That became the biggest question heading into the final and the key factor that would decide everything.

If Real Madrid failed to break through Atletico's defense, they could miss the chance to win a historic treble, just like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Bayern in previous years.

Fortunately, there was still time.

The Champions League final would take place on May 24th, giving Gao Shen nearly a month to prepare.

Real Madrid had enough time, and so did Atletico.

Who would win in the end would depend on their preparations.

…

The day after the Bayern match, Real Madrid quietly returned to their Valdebebas training base in Madrid for recovery training.

As usual, the team opened training to fans and media for half a day.

Thanks to their stunning performance, more than a thousand fans showed up, creating a lively atmosphere.

Reporters interviewed Gao Shen and several players, and everyone expressed strong confidence ahead of the Champions League final.

Gao Shen even addressed the fans directly, calling on them to travel to Lisbon to support the team.

"When the time comes, we will bring the treble trophies back to the Bernabéu together!"

His words were met with thunderous applause and cheers.

The players were just as fired up.

It wasn't only about the generous bonuses from the club, but also the chance to make history.

Although Manchester City had previously defended their Champions League title, Real Madrid were now aiming to become the first La Liga club to win both the treble and the Grand Slam, which would cement their place in history.

Ronaldo, in particular, was already envisioning surpassing Messi and retaining the Ballon d'Or.

The Real Madrid squad was full of confidence and hunger heading into the final.

Of course, the same could be said for Atletico.

For the Colchoneros, reaching a Champions League final was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. For many players, it might be their only chance, and they would fight with everything they had.

But Gao Shen was determined to win this Champions League title.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1170: Stunning Report Card

After the Champions League semi-finals, Gao Shen began preparing wholeheartedly for the Champions League final.

As the active manager who has led his team to the most Champions League finals, Gao Shen knew better than anyone that a final is a completely different contest from any other match, even from the knockout rounds.

It would be tougher, more intense, and far more unpredictable.

Especially between two familiar rivals like Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, who knew each other inside out. Before the final, both sides had already set aside the league and domestic cups, focusing entirely on one single objective. That would make this match even harder.

Gao Shen could already imagine Simeone meticulously working on his tactical plans, plotting a surprise for the final.

Of course, Gao Shen was doing the same.

As the stronger side, Real Madrid had to find a way to contain Atletico's tactics and break through their defense.

It was anything but easy.

So, after the semi-finals, Real Madrid's training sessions were fully focused on preparations for the Champions League final.

Fortunately, the remaining three league matches were relatively manageable.

…

In La Liga's 36th round, Real Madrid hosted Valencia at the Bernabéu.

Thanks to goals from Ronaldo and Džeko, Real Madrid defeated the Bats 2-0 at home.

Valencia tried to exploit Real Madrid's fatigue and packed schedule to snatch a win at the Bernabéu, but Gao Shen made decisive rotations and employed a more pragmatic strategy. In the end, Real Madrid secured the victory with two goals.

After the match, Gao Shen granted the team two full days off.

Since the winter break, Real Madrid's schedule had been packed, leaving players with almost no time to rest.

One match after another, facing increasingly stronger opponents, every player—whether starter or substitute—had been on edge, unwilling to relax even slightly.

Both Gao Shen and the coaching staff, along with the team's psychologists, felt this constant tension was unsustainable and harmful to performance. So Gao Shen decided to let the players recharge with a short break.

However, he also repeatedly emphasized that their focus and intensity must remain high leading up to the Champions League final.

A week later, in the 37th round, Gao Shen sent his main lineup to face Celta Vigo away.

With goals from Ronaldo and Di Maria, Real Madrid secured another 2-0 win.

The team performed steadily, maintaining rhythm and composure throughout the match. Gao Shen was satisfied with both the performance and the players' condition.

After the Celta Vigo match, Gao Shen gave the team another day off.

The final league round would be played at the Bernabéu against Espanyol. It was not only the last La Liga match of the season but also the home match where Real Madrid would officially lift the league trophy.

In the following week, the Bernabéu was decorated and prepared for the title ceremony.

However, Gao Shen had already informed the club that there would be no celebration after lifting the trophy. The real celebration would come only after the Champions League final.

This decision reflected both Gao Shen's and the team's determination.

They were fully focused on defending the Champions League title in Lisbon, winning the trophy, and celebrating Spain's first-ever treble together.

This would mark the dawn of a new Real Madrid dynasty.

…

Around the same time, the Premier League season came to an end.

Leeds United suffered a crushing 2-4 defeat to Manchester City in Round 33, marking Pochettino's biggest loss since taking over the club.

The media and fans began to worry whether Leeds would collapse in the final stretch.

But to everyone's surprise, Leeds responded brilliantly, winning their final five league games in a row.

They beat Cardiff at home and Aston Villa away, both 1-0 victories.

Then they defeated Everton 2-0 at home, Swansea 1-0 away, and finished the season with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Elland Road.

Five straight wins at the end of the season stunned everyone.

No one expected that after being beaten by Manchester City, this young Leeds side would go on such an incredible run.

With this five-match winning streak, Leeds United overtook both Tottenham and Manchester United, finishing level on 72 points with Everton but securing fifth place thanks to a superior goal difference.

It was a shocking achievement that caught the attention of the entire football world.

Few believed Leeds could perform better after selling so many key players. Yet not only did their results improve, their performances showed clear progress.

Their defense, led by José Fonte, De Vrij, and John Stones, had become solid and mature, with their understanding improving dramatically.

Keylor Navas kept 19 clean sheets, the highest in the Premier League, earning him the Golden Glove award.

In attack, after Icardi's move to Arsenal, local striker Harry Kane stepped up.

The 20-year-old homegrown forward exploded onto the scene, becoming Leeds United's top scorer with 23 league goals, surpassing Gareth Bale in the scoring charts and finishing second only to Suárez, winning the Premier League Silver Boot.

Across all competitions, including the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League, Kane scored 35 goals, 7 of them in the Europa League.

In Europe, Leeds advanced from the group stage before eliminating Dynamo Kyiv, AZ Alkmaar, and Basel to reach the semi-finals.

Unfortunately, they lost 0-2 away to Sevilla in the first leg. Despite a 3-1 victory at home, they were eliminated on away goals.

In the FA Cup, Leeds reached the final after defeating several top teams, drawing 3-3 with Arsenal before losing on penalties and finishing runners-up.

Fifth in the Premier League, FA Cup runners-up, and Europa League semi-finalists—Leeds United's performance was remarkable.

In Pochettino's first season managing in the Premier League, he led the club to an extraordinary campaign that once again drew Europe's attention to Leeds United.

The White Rose not only proved their sharp eye for recruiting players but also for selecting managers.

Even more impressive, Leeds United's new training base was completed and set to officially open in the summer.

Gao Shen, busy preparing for the Champions League final, couldn't attend the opening ceremony, much to his regret. But Su Qing represented him, traveling to Leeds and bringing back detailed updates.

Everyone at the club, including Lucas and Borrell, was thrilled with the new facility.

Officially named the AXA Center, the training base received worldwide praise. It was not only one of the most advanced but also one of the most comprehensive facilities in football.

This summer, Leeds United, in cooperation with UEFA and FIFA, would host the first-ever Sports Technology Innovation Seminar at the AXA Center, making it a focal point of European football.

During the opening ceremony, Su Qing also announced on behalf of Leeds United that preparations for the new stadium were complete and construction would begin soon.

Designer Norman Foster declared with pride, "I promise it will be the most fantastic stadium in the world."

These major developments made Leeds United the center of global attention once again.

With their players performing brilliantly and the club expanding rapidly, Leeds became one of the most discussed teams in world football.

As the transfer window approached, many clubs began eyeing Leeds United's top players.

But Gao Shen instructed Lucas and Borrell that all transfers involving players participating in the World Cup should be postponed until after the tournament, especially regarding Navas and De Vrij, who were expected to be in high demand.

Harry Kane also attracted interest from Premier League giants, but Leeds had no intention of selling. They renewed his contract before the season ended.

Other key players, including Salah and Felipe Anderson, also extended their contracts.

Leeds United decided to maintain stability, build depth, and continue strengthening over the next two to three years.

…

While Leeds captured the football world's attention, La Liga concluded its final round a week later.

Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 4-0 at home, securing one last victory to end the league season on a high.

After the match, a grand trophy ceremony was held at the Bernabéu, with over 80,000 fans in attendance.

Captain Iker Casillas lifted the La Liga trophy on behalf of the team, marking Real Madrid's long-awaited return to league glory.

Vice-captain Ramos held the Copa del Rey aloft, proudly displaying it to the jubilant supporters.

On the podium, club president Florentino Pérez addressed the crowd, praising the team's achievements and urging them to stay focused on the upcoming Champions League final, aiming to complete an unprecedented treble.

Casillas and Ramos both took turns speaking, vowing that the team would bring home the Champions League title from Lisbon and calling on fans to travel and support them.

Throughout the celebration, Gao Shen remained low-key, but the players dragged him onto the podium. Standing before the roaring crowd of more than 80,000 fans, he couldn't hide his excitement.

"A week from now," Gao Shen said, "we'll be celebrating the 12th Champions League title in club history and the first treble in Spanish football history!"

His words ignited thunderous cheers from every corner of the Bernabéu.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1171: The Eight-Character Mantra for Dealing with Atletico Madrid

After completing the final round of La Liga and lifting the league trophy, Gao Shen gave his players another day off.

But neither he nor his coaching staff took any rest.

In recent weeks, the Real Madrid staff had been working relentlessly, busier than ever.

Carlos Vargas was responsible for compiling and analyzing statistical data for both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Buenaventura and Pintus focused on player conditioning and recovery. Carlo was in charge of designing and fine-tuning the training plans.

As the team's head coach, Gao Shen concentrated on the most important task: figuring out how to defeat Atletico Madrid.

That was his entire focus.

During this period, all sorts of rumors circulated, including claims that Simeone was highly superstitious.

But none of that distracted Gao Shen.

Every day, he thought about one thing: how to beat Atletico Madrid.

This was a match where no one could be completely confident of victory.

The uncertainty stemmed from one reason—Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid knew each other too well.

That familiarity made defeating the opponent a huge tactical challenge for any coach.

It wasn't just Gao Shen. Simeone was certainly facing the same problem.

This was, after all, the Champions League final.

The match with the highest technical and tactical standard in world football, even higher than a World Cup final.

…

After three weeks of adjustments, Real Madrid's players had recovered well.

They were now ready to begin their final push toward the Champions League final.

Everyone knew their role, every staff member had done their preparation, but the tactical direction would ultimately come from Gao Shen.

Over the past few days, multiple meetings had been held. Gao Shen had gathered the coaching team's reports and opinions, gaining a complete understanding of the situation. Now, he needed to deliver a concrete plan.

One of Gao Shen's habits was to dissect everything down to its core.

He asked all his coaches to write down what they believed were the strengths and weaknesses of both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Then, he compiled all the information together and cross-analyzed it.

Finally, after stripping away all the layers, he came to one conclusion.

"Our last and most important advantage is our physical strength!"

That was Real Madrid's final trump card. When every tactical option had been countered, fitness remained their one clear advantage.

Why?

Because Real Madrid possessed superior technical skill and individual quality. If Atletico wanted to compete on equal terms, they would have to expend far more energy to make up for that gap.

Gao Shen emphasized that the goal was not to engage in tight defense. Rather, no matter how Real Madrid played or lined up, they needed to continually drain Atletico's energy.

As the match progressed, that advantage would only grow stronger.

But there was one key condition—Atletico must not be allowed to score first.

"Atletico's strongest tactical features come down to three things," Gao Shen explained. "First, their full-pitch pressing, which is their defining trait. Second, their localized cutting. They use player movement to create numerical superiority in specific zones, cutting off passing lanes and breaking their opponent's structure."

"For example, against Barcelona, they used this to perfection. They completely cut off Barcelona's passing rhythm, forcing them to play long balls. It showed how uncomfortable Barcelona were in that match."

"Ground passing doesn't work against Atletico. The risk of losing the ball is too high, and once they win possession, they immediately unleash their third weapon—a lightning-fast counterattack."

"With Diego Costa as their striker, Atletico launch direct and ruthless transitions."

These three tactical principles had made Simeone's team nearly unbeatable in La Liga and Europe that season, earning them a league runner-up finish and a place in the Champions League final.

But this style came with one glaring weakness—it required enormous physical effort.

Atletico's players had to run continuously, pressing and covering space, which made fatigue a real problem as matches wore on.

That brought Gao Shen back to his earlier point: Real Madrid's biggest advantage was physical fitness.

"Atletico are masters of full-pitch pressing," Gao Shen continued. "According to Carlos's data, the area where they most frequently win possession is between the halfway line and 30 meters from their goal."

Gao Shen chuckled. "That happens to overlap with our own favorite area."

Real Madrid's preferred pressing zone was also in that region.

Gao Shen liked to "retract the fist before striking," meaning he preferred to draw the opponent in before launching forward. This approach maximized the speed and attacking power of players like Ronaldo, Benzema, and Di Maria, while also making full use of the long-passing ability of Kroos, Xabi Alonso, Modric, Ramos, and Pepe.

Real Madrid's style had proven effective time and again. Even when facing Barcelona or Bayern, they often appeared to play defensively or conservatively, but in truth, that was the best way to unleash their devastating counterattack.

"Atletico will definitely set up their defense to counter our usual tactics," Gao Shen said. "They'll look to cut off the connection between our front three and midfield, breaking our rhythm and isolating our forwards."

"Their midfield and defense are extremely disciplined and compact. They'll use this to disrupt our buildup, preventing the front three from receiving the ball. Without service, they can't pose a threat."

"So what should we do?"

The room fell silent. Everyone began thinking carefully.

It wasn't a matter of if Atletico would do it—they absolutely would. The question was how effective they would be, and for how long.

Gao Shen needed a strategy to counter Atletico's localized pressing and cutting.

But even elite teams like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain had failed to solve that problem.

So what could Real Madrid do differently?

"Modric should drive forward, with Di Maria, Benzema, and even Ronaldo rotating deeper to support. We must stretch the width as much as possible, while Marcelo and Carvajal push up aggressively," Zidane suggested.

The idea was sound, but Gao Shen shook his head.

"Simeone won't give our full-backs freedom. He'll definitely assign players to suppress Marcelo and Carvajal. I can guarantee that."

If he didn't, his team would have already been eliminated before reaching this stage.

Real Madrid's full-backs were among their most dangerous attacking outlets. Simeone would not ignore them.

Zidane nodded, then added, "Then we should use long passes. We have Kroos's precision."

Gao Shen smiled and gave Zidane a thumbs-up.

"Exactly. We have accurate long-ball distributors—Kroos, Xabi Alonso, and Ramos—all capable of sweeping cross-field passes, diagonal balls, and long deliveries over the top."

After this discussion, everyone suddenly realized that Real Madrid actually had more offensive weapons and tactical flexibility than Atletico Madrid.

Atletico's greatest strength was defense and counterattack, while Real Madrid's arsenal was far more diverse.

"Remember the plan I discussed earlier with Xabi Alonso, Modric, and Kroos?" Gao Shen asked.

Carlo immediately understood. "You mean, 'If the enemy advances, I advance; if the enemy retreats, I control'?"

Gao Shen nodded, smiling.

"Yes. That's the Eight-Character Mantra I've used against Atletico before. It wasn't perfect back then, but the principle was correct. When the enemy advances, we advance—attacking the space behind them. When they retreat, we control the ball—using our passing dominance to wear them down."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

It was a simple yet brilliant concept.

In theory, this strategy was lethal against Atletico Madrid. Whether they advanced or retreated, Real Madrid would have the upper hand.

"I think we should make some refinements," Gao Shen continued. "When Atletico press high, we can use long passes to switch play quickly to their weak side or behind their defense. Even if it doesn't lead directly to a chance, it will force them to drop back."

"When Atletico retreat, we control possession and stretch their defensive shape, making them chase the ball and drain their energy. That's where our advantage lies."

"I understand," Zidane and the others nodded.

Gao Shen had used a similar approach before, but this version was more complete, more precise.

"We can also use Isco and Pogba as surprise weapons. Both are excellent at carrying the ball forward. They can ensure the link between midfield and attack stays intact and help us transition smoothly."

In this way, Atletico's strongest tactics could be neutralized—or even rendered useless—against Real Madrid.

And when everyone thought about it carefully, they realized why Real Madrid could execute such a plan: their exceptional squad depth and variety of player profiles allowed Gao Shen to construct highly flexible tactical systems.

After Gao Shen's explanation, the coaching staff clearly understood the direction of their preparation.

Having worked with Gao Shen for years, they quickly divided tasks, planned targeted tactical drills, and began implementing detailed training schedules for the final.

Once the tactical framework was established, Gao Shen's role shifted to supervision—overseeing execution and making real-time adjustments.

Soon, the Real Madrid coaching team was working at full intensity once again.

(To be continued.)