SWR: Chapter 1100/1103

Chapter 1100: Stadium Elf

Atletico Madrid played a long ball, trying to launch a quick counterattack.

After the ball was sent forward, Pepe got in front of Diego Costa and headed it back into midfield.

Pogba tracked back, controlled the ball near the halfway line, turned, and drove forward along the left channel.

Atletico's two midfielders, Koke and Thiago, closed in at the same time, attempting to trap Pogba.

The Frenchman skillfully carried the ball, then suddenly stopped, shielded Raul Garcia and Koke with his body while dribbling with his right foot, and flicked a clever pass behind him.

At that moment, Pogba's strong physique gave him an advantage in the battle with Atletico's midfielders.

Isco dropped back from the front, with Gabi right behind him.

Pogba's pass rolled precisely into Isco's path. The Spanish midfielder had his back to goal, with Thiago closing in. He controlled the ball with his heel, nudging it behind him, then spun to get rid of Thiago.

The stadium erupted again.

No one could clearly see what had just happened. All they saw was Isco, with his back to goal, cushioning the ball behind him before turning and continuing forward.

Gabi caught up, ready to stop him, but Isco skipped past with a nimble dribble.

On the touchline, Gao Shen grew animated.

Isco carried the ball toward the right side of the penalty area. He shifted right to draw Miranda's attention, then suddenly stopped, cut back toward the edge of the box, evading Miranda and carving out a shooting angle.

Godin reacted quickly, sprinting over to cover Miranda's position and block Isco's shot. But the Spaniard, with his low center of gravity, stopped sharply again, leaving Godin off balance, and slipped a through pass.

The ball whizzed past Godin and landed perfectly at the feet of Benzema, unmarked near the left side of the penalty spot.

The French striker hesitated little. Fixing his eyes on goalkeeper Asenjo, he controlled Isco's pass, steadied himself, and struck.

The ball arrowed into the bottom left corner of Atletico's net.

"Goalllllllllllllll!"

"Karim Benzema!"

"Real Madrid finally break through Atletico Madrid's defense!"

"A composed finish from Benzema. 1-0!"

"This goal belongs to the two Real Madrid midfielders, Paul Pogba and Isco, the young players brought on in the second half!"

"It was their brilliance that allowed Real Madrid to escape the chaos and create this golden chance, especially Isco."

The Bernabéu exploded into a sea of celebration.

Real Madrid fans were on their feet, cheering wildly.

The slow-motion replay showed every moment, from Pogba's forward drive to Isco's heel control. It looked like a magic trick.

Especially Isco, weaving through Atletico's tight defense like an elf, constantly shifting speed and direction, toying with the defenders.

And his final decisive pass was perfect. Benzema calmly seized the moment.

1-0.

…

Gao Shen raised his fists and roared with joy.

This kid Isco has a magical feel for the ball, a true genius.

But his flaws are just as obvious.

How should one put it?

He is the kind of player whose strengths and weaknesses stand out clearly. In some ways, he is like the early Iniesta at Barcelona.

Older fans will remember how Iniesta initially struggled to find his place at Barça and almost joined Real Madrid. Back then, his qualities drew both praise and criticism.

On one hand, his technique and ball control were outstanding. On the other hand, he was slight and lacked pace.

That made his early career at Barcelona difficult.

So how did Iniesta eventually grow into a generational maestro?

It was thanks to Barcelona's stable tactical system. Within it, he refined himself, minimized his weaknesses, and maximized his strengths.

Step by step, he blossomed, eventually becoming a master under Guardiola.

In truth, all players follow a similar path. They are nurtured and polished over time.

In Gao Shen's previous life, Isco shone at Malaga because Pellegrini gave him the role of orchestrating the attack, the team's free man.

But such a tactical setup, revolving around Isco, was impossible at Real Madrid.

When he joined Real, he had a dazzling start, but later, for various reasons, he became a fringe player. Only when Zidane took charge did he reclaim a starting role and enjoy his best form.

Yet, soon after, he lost that place again.

Ultimately, it was because he didn't fit Real Madrid.

From the signings of stars like Ronaldo, Kaka, and Gareth Bale, it was clear Real Madrid favored pace, emphasizing speed and efficiency.

When people look back at the BBC era, the counterattack is what stands out most.

There was nothing wrong with this.

In fact, Real Madrid dominated the Champions League with this approach.

But why did it not always work in La Liga?

Because against defensive powerhouses like Atletico, Real Madrid were denied space to sprint. In those moments, Barcelona's intricate passing was more effective.

That explained why Real Madrid's league form was inconsistent, despite their European dominance, and why they often struggled against Atletico and Barcelona.

In a system built on speed and efficiency, Isco's difficulties were inevitable.

Even if it were Iniesta, he would not thrive in such an environment.

Valdano once described Riquelme, the classic playmaker admired by fans, as a "toll booth on the highway."

In other words, once the ball reached his feet, the play slowed down.

The same applied to Isco.

But that did not mean he was useless.

It all depended on how he was deployed.

Gao Shen never relied solely on brute speed. He valued technique, which was why he always admired Isco and continued to cultivate him.

At just 21, Isco had a bright future.

Gao Shen's current approach was rotation, using him at the right moments.

Like tonight, against a tiring Atletico, bringing on Isco to break through with his dribbling.

Atletico, outside their box, were wary of fouling. After all, Real Madrid had Ronaldo, Kroos, Di Maria, and Modric, all free-kick specialists.

In this environment, Isco could fully express himself.

Especially after Pogba came on.

Together with Modric, Pogba and Isco formed a midfield triangle, allowing Real Madrid to seize possession and push Atletico back.

After taking the lead, Gao Shen adjusted tactics again. The team pressed higher, squeezing Atletico in the final third, particularly the zone from the halfway line to their box.

It was clear Gao Shen wanted not just a goal but more.

…

Real Madrid's next attack broke down, and Asenjo collected the ball inside the penalty area.

The Atletico keeper quickly threw it left to Siqueira.

Benzema pressed from the right, Ronaldo shifted centrally, forcing Siqueira to send it back to Asenjo.

Asenjo played it out to Godin, who moved it on to Juanfran.

But Pogba came charging in.

The French midfielder, fresh off the bench, was full of energy and pressing aggressively.

Juanfran passed to Thiago. As soon as the Portuguese midfielder controlled it, he saw Pogba closing fast, so he passed to Gabi.

But as Gabi arrived, Isco had already crept up.

Meanwhile, Benzema and Ronaldo had cut off the passing lanes ahead, leaving Gabi with no easy options. He had come across from the right to the left to receive the ball, but couldn't go backward, and the routes forward and left were blocked. With Isco closing in, he looked to turn and pass.

But just as he stopped the ball, Isco, shorter yet quicker, nipped in and poked it away.

Gabi stumbled but stayed on his feet, though he lost balance.

Isco used his hands lightly on Gabi's back to steady himself, accelerated forward, and regained the ball.

Gabi, ever experienced, threw himself down to the grass, appealing for a foul.

But the referee let play continue.

Isco gathered the ball and drove forward, heading for the left edge of the penalty arc. As Godin stepped up to close, Isco slipped a through pass into the left side of the area.

Ronaldo, sprinting in at full pace, shielded Miranda, and as the ball dropped, struck it first-time with his left foot before Juanfran could intervene.

The ball rocketed into Atletico's net like a cannonball.

"Goallllllllllllll!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo!"

"Real Madrid score again!"

"2-0!"

"Incredible!"

"After Gao Shen's substitutions, Real Madrid have completely transformed and unleashed a thrilling attack."

"Especially the young Isco, pressing aggressively in the final third to create the chance for this counterattack."

"Ronaldo's strike was textbook, absolutely clinical!"

"2-0! Real Madrid's victory is sealed!"

The Bernabéu was in a frenzy.

All the Madrid fans leapt from their seats, screaming Ronaldo's name.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1101: Let's Join Forces to Defeat Barcelona

In a box at the Bernabéu, the game was not over yet, but Real Madrid's victory was already certain.

King Juan Carlos was full of praise for the match that was about to finish, especially for Gao Shen's lineup and in-game management, which he rated extremely highly.

"I take back what I said, Florentino. He didn't play conservatively at all. The tactics, in-game decisions, and substitutions were simply amazing!" Juan Carlos was so excited he almost lost his composure.

"And Isco, my God, he is a genius, a genius like Iniesta!"

In fact, many people outside were now calling Isco the second Iniesta.

In many ways, the two are very similar.

So much so that the Catalan media felt it was a pity for Isco to transfer to Real Madrid. They said he should have gone to Barcelona.

Bayern head coach Guardiola also expressed great interest in Isco. He even believed that Isco had the ability to become a world-class midfielder, but Real Madrid rejected Bayern's approach.

It was like Bayern rejecting Real Madrid's interest in Alaba.

Local players like Isco, with outstanding talent and skill, are favored wherever they go.

"Gao Shen is the head coach best at developing them," Juan Carlos laughed.

"Look at Real Madrid now, it is exactly what you envisioned, Zidane and Pavón."

Florentino nodded repeatedly when he heard this.

Isn't it?

When he chose Zidane and Pavón, his plan was to stack stars in the front line and use mainly local players in midfield and defense. It was a blend of stars and youngsters, but it eventually failed.

Yet that is almost exactly what Real Madrid have today.

Stars and young talents gathered together, each with outstanding ability and potential.

If nothing else, the emergence of Morata, Jesé, Nacho, and Carvajal is enough to inspire confidence, and then there is Isco, Pogba, Illarramendi, and Casemiro.

Even Toni Kroos, already a world-class midfielder, is, strictly speaking, only 23 years old now. There is no problem with him playing for Real Madrid for another ten years.

Sometimes when you think about it, it really is just Zidane and Pavón.

"Gao Shen is undoubtedly the best coach in the world!" Juan Carlos praised him highly.

That was true.

Valdano agreed. "The key to this game lies with the head coach. From the lineup to the in-game management, Gao Shen's approach was almost textbook, especially his match strategy."

"First, wear down Atletico Madrid. When the time is right, send on Isco and Pogba. Atletico had no answer to that," Butragueño also agreed.

Atletico are best at defensive counterattacks, but now Real Madrid were competing with Atletico in terms of attrition and bench depth, and Atletico had no way to deal with that. In fact, Simeone only made two substitutions in the whole game.

Why?

Because he really had no one to bring on.

Gao Shen could change the team's tactical style by introducing Isco and Pogba, but Simeone could not.

Because Atletico do not have that kind of depth.

The Colchoneros are essentially still a mid-tier team. They can barely assemble a strong starting lineup, but their bench depth is not enough at the moment.

Of course, Atletico are also accumulating experience now.

If Atletico perform well this season and earn more Champions League bonuses, they can further strengthen the team and make up for the squad's shortcomings.

"Actually, I think the tactics we used for the first 70 minutes or so were pretty good. It's just that the players aren't used to them yet and missed a few chances. Gao Shen obviously anticipated this, so he had a backup plan."

When Valdano said this, he could not help laughing again.

"I told you before, he's a Virgo!"

Everyone burst out laughing too.

Beating Atletico Madrid 2-0 is definitely a big and happy result for Real Madrid.

It is not just a city derby, more importantly, it is a heavyweight clash.

You know, before this game, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico were all level on points.

Now, Atletico are starting to fall behind.

Barcelona beat Almería 2-0 away with goals from Messi and Vargas.

So, now in La Liga, Real Madrid and Barcelona are neck and neck, with Atletico Madrid in third.

"However, after such a fierce battle, will it affect the next game against Manchester United?"

After Juan Carlos said this, everyone could not help but worry again.

Isn't it?

It is really torturous to have such heavyweight clashes in succession.

Manchester United, even though they have changed coach to Moyes, are still not to be taken lightly.

…

When the final whistle blew, Gao Shen high-fived his assistants one by one, then quickly walked to the visitors' bench and shook hands with Simeone and his staff.

This is the demeanor of the home coach.

"Those two substitutions tonight were really brilliant."

Simeone and Gao Shen stood side by side on the touchline, watching both teams' players on the pitch. Atletico's players were very disappointed, while Real Madrid were celebrating.

The entire Bernabéu was echoing with cheers from Real Madrid fans.

"Honestly, during the earlier battle of attrition, I was puzzled. You don't seem like such a conservative coach."

"You are wrong about that," Gao Shen laughed. He was naturally happy after winning.

"In fact, many times, in order to win, I can be very conservative. Even if you ask me to set up a deep defensive block, I have no problem with it."

Simeone was amused by Gao Shen's words. "Stop joking, you are not that kind of coach."

That left Gao Shen speechless.

"Honestly, after watching a few of Barcelona's games this season, I felt we still had a good chance. We were not afraid of Barcelona and originally wanted to challenge Real Madrid, but in the end…"

Simeone smiled bitterly. "However, the league has just started. I have a strong feeling that this season's La Liga will be a battle between the two of us. It has nothing to do with Barcelona."

"I agree," Gao Shen said. "I am even a little worried whether Martino can make it to the end of the season."

"If you win at Camp Nou in the 10th round, I think he will be sacked during the winter break," Simeone smiled as well.

Gao Shen nodded. "Okay, I will work harder and make sure you do not see him at the Calderón."

As he spoke, Gao Shen extended his hand again.

Simeone shook it, and the more he looked at Gao Shen, the more he liked him.

The first meeting between Atletico and Barcelona would be in the 19th round, at the Calderón.

"Then I wish you good luck. I will also beat Barcelona at home. We will team up to defeat them first, then we will compete slowly."

And just like that, the two reached a secret PY agreement on the Bernabéu touchline.

…

After the match at the Bernabéu ended, Real Madrid fans left the stadium one after another following a round of wild celebrations.

No one noticed that among the crowd, four unfamiliar faces were walking out.

They followed the flow out of the stadium, but did not head to the subway station near the Bernabéu or the bus stops. Instead, they walked north and soon hailed a taxi at the junction north of the stadium.

"Sir, to the airport, thank you," one of them said in English.

The taxi driver suspected nothing and continued driving north.

Before long, they left the city, turned east, and soon arrived at Madrid Capital Airport.

The four of them each bought a hot drink in the waiting area and found seats.

If there had been Premier League fans nearby, they would have recognized one of the four as Manchester United's head coach, David Moyes.

In the sixth round of the Premier League, Manchester United had hosted Leeds United the day before Real Madrid played Atletico, so Moyes and his assistants had time to come to Madrid to watch the match.

The result left Moyes and the others even more anxious.

Gao Shen's squad management and tactical planning in this game, especially the two substitutions and the changes Real Madrid showed afterward, surprised Moyes and his staff and made them quite worried.

Before and after the substitutions, Real Madrid looked like a different team.

More importantly, the team was familiar with this tactical shift and switched very smoothly.

Moyes had four assistant coaches at Manchester United, namely Jamie Lumden, Steve Rod, Phil Neville, and Ryan Giggs. Among them, Ryan Giggs was appointed by Manchester United, and the other three were brought in by Moyes.

To this end, Moyes disbanded all of Ferguson's coaching staff.

Among these four, Jamie Lumden had been with him the longest.

The 65-year-old Scotsman started in the Leeds United youth system. In 2002, he followed Moyes to Everton as an assistant coach and was considered Moyes' right-hand man.

"It is not without positives. Judging from this game, Real Madrid's players are very fatigued. Atletico are not easy to deal with," said Phil Neville.

The former Everton captain is not only a product of Manchester United's academy, but also played for their first team for more than ten years. When Moyes decided to coach Manchester United, he first wanted to bring him onto the staff.

After all, it is more convenient to have someone familiar with the environment when coaching a top club like Manchester United.

"But do not forget, top teams are always known for their fitness," Steve Rod reminded them.

Everyone nodded.

"We have one more day of rest than our opponents, and Real Madrid have just had a tough battle with Atletico. This is a great opportunity for us. I think we should be proactive and catch them off guard," suggested Phil Neville.

"I agree," Steve Rod responded. "At the Bernabéu, not many teams would dare to do this. But the more that is the case, the more likely we are to spring a surprise. If we really play according to plan, I think we are far inferior to Real Madrid."

Everyone nodded again.

They have all been in football for many years. They knew better than anyone how strong Real Madrid are and what Manchester United are right now.

But the current situation forced Moyes to go all out and get a win as soon as possible.

Otherwise, he might not be able to hold on as Manchester United manager until Christmas.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1102: He Is Not Ferguson

On the evening of October 2, at the Bernabéu Stadium.

In the second round of the Champions League group stage, Real Madrid faced Manchester United at home.

This was destined not to be a night to remember.

Only 12 minutes into the game, Manchester United were attacking in the final third. Schneiderlin passed directly to the right side of the box to find Fellaini. The Belgian with the afro used his body to pin Xabi Alonso, controlled the ball, turned, drove into the penalty area, and squared it before Ramos.

Rooney arrived and finished, beating Casillas.

1-0.

After conceding, Real Madrid attacked more aggressively, but Manchester United began to retreat.

In particular, Fellaini, who had started as the attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, was pulled back by Moyes into midfield in a 4-3-3, where he and Schneiderlin protected Carrick.

Manchester United dropped off across the board and adopted a defensive counterattacking strategy.

This put Real Madrid in a somewhat passive position.

They had the advantage but could not score. The attacks looked powerful, but it was difficult to create real chances.

…

Gao Shen stood tall on the touchline, watching calmly and making the occasional tweak, but mostly observing.

Real Madrid controlled the ball with nearly 68 percent possession, which reflected the technical gap between the sides, but Manchester United were resilient and tightly organized defensively.

Moyes's setup tonight was quite interesting.

Goalkeeper: David De Gea.

Defense: Evra, Ferdinand, Vidić, and Smalling.

Midfield: Fellaini, Carrick, and Schneiderlin.

Forwards: Welbeck, Rooney, and Valencia.

At the start, Manchester United did not play 4-3-3, but 4-2-3-1 with a high press.

The key was pushing Fellaini forward to smother Xabi Alonso.

Everyone knew Xabi Alonso had just returned from injury. This was his first game back. Before he could fully find the rhythm, he was pinned down by Fellaini.

The tall, strong Belgian had nimble feet and could hold the ball in advanced areas.

United's goal came from Fellaini using his body to pin Xabi Alonso on the right side of the area, then controlling, turning, and breaking into the box.

It was clear that not only Xabi Alonso, but few could withstand him, unless Casemiro came on as a holding midfielder, or Ramos or Pepe was pushed into midfield.

Fellaini is a very unique player.

In Europe's top leagues, players with such distinct characteristics are highly valued.

Like Fellaini, he can contribute both ways, has solid physical and technical qualities, and is tall and strong. In the front line, he can be an offensive fulcrum who can hold the ball.

If he stays back, he is a diligent ball-winner with the engine to duel.

So the key is how to use him.

Moyes's plan was meticulous. He wanted Fellaini to shuttle.

Ideally, Fellaini would push forward when attacking, and drop when defending.

It sounds wonderful, right?

But if Fellaini could truly do both at a high level, Manchester United would not have signed him for only £27 million.

There are not many midfielders who can genuinely balance attack and defense with reliable output, especially in heavyweight fixtures.

The Belgian's speed and running capacity make it difficult to cover both ends consistently.

Especially against Real Madrid.

Real Madrid are best at rapid transitions, turning defense into attack quickly and efficiently, something Fellaini struggles to keep up with.

So, from the 25th minute, Moyes adjusted and had Fellaini drop into defensive midfield.

At that point, the formation officially switched to 4-3-3.

From then on, the match became a stalemate.

Gao Shen was in no rush. He asked the team to stay patient and keep building attacks.

…

"Do you know the biggest difference between Moyes and Ferguson?"

When Gao Shen came back for a drink, he glanced at Moyes on the visitors' bench and asked casually.

Carlo, Zidane, and the others also turned to look at the away dugout.

In fact, Moyes's current situation was really bad.

After six rounds of the Premier League, Manchester United were 12th, which should be their worst position in recent years.

This summer, United failed in the transfer market, especially with Leeds United center-back Koulibaly. United moved too slowly and Chelsea snapped him up, leaving United still relying on two veterans at center-back.

Because they acted late, Everton raised the price. Fellaini, originally around £20 million, rose to £27 million. This move drew heavy criticism from the media and fans.

But in Gao Shen's view, it was only because people were not used to it.

Manchester United had only just started down the long road of paying premiums.

Still, Fellaini is a good player.

Moyes's team had just suffered back-to-back league defeats at the end of September.

They first lost away to city rivals Manchester City, then lost 1-2 at home to Leeds United, dropping United to 12th.

After stumbling through the first three rounds, Leeds United gradually regained form.

Two weeks after the international break, they drew West Ham at home, then beat Liverpool 1-0 away, and then beat Manchester United 2-1 away, winning both high-profile games.

This pushed Leeds back up the table, and they were now level with Chelsea in sixth.

Pochettino's life was getting easier, but Moyes's was getting tougher.

Probably influenced by this, and seeing that Real Madrid had just had a tough derby with Atletico, Moyes saw a glimmer of hope at the Bernabéu, so he came out to attack.

And indeed, Manchester United scored first.

The primary contributor was Fellaini.

But after taking the lead, especially as Real Madrid gradually adjusted, Moyes showed the biggest difference between him and Ferguson. It did not come from tactics or players, but from the manager's personality.

Content with small gains.

After going ahead, Moyes did not press for another or push to finish the game. Seeing Real Madrid's overwhelming pressure, he dropped Fellaini into defensive midfield to strengthen the block.

Strictly speaking, that is not inherently wrong.

Keeping Fellaini high might not have yielded another goal, and could have exposed defensive holes.

It is a sensible choice from many angles.

"If he were managing Everton, then this adjustment would be appropriate and reasonable, no problem. But he is managing Manchester United now."

"If Ferguson were sitting in United's dugout at this moment, I guarantee he would not do this. He would keep letting Fellaini carry the team. At least in terms of momentum, he would not show weakness and concede the initiative."

Everton are a smaller club and can afford to yield the momentum, but Manchester United cannot.

What the Red Devils pride themselves on most is that momentum and dominance.

Even against Barcelona, Manchester City, or any powerhouse, Manchester United dare to draw the sword.

You can lose the game, but you cannot lose the momentum.

But Moyes chose to yield, which meant he lost the initiative.

More importantly, tactically, Rooney is not a true center forward, and Welbeck's issues were being exposed.

When Fellaini pinned Xabi Alonso, United still had a focal point up front and could secure possession.

But now, with Fellaini withdrawn, Rooney and Welbeck could not hold the ball high up the pitch. Valencia is good at carrying the ball, but not at holding it up.

So this led to a very awkward situation.

United got the ball into the final third, and no one could keep it.

If they cannot hold the ball up front, they cannot attack or advance. Even if United win it back, what can they do?

In addition, the manager signaled tactical retreat, which lost momentum and dented the players' morale.

All in all, this made United more passive on the pitch.

The adjustment barely stabilized things, but Real Madrid's advantage became more obvious.

Of course, Real Madrid's lineup tonight was not without issues.

Gao Shen started Xabi Alonso because Casemiro had been exhausted against Atletico, and against Manchester United, Gao Shen wanted to control the ball and use possession to wear them down.

Unexpectedly, Moyes threw a heavy punch at the start by unleashing Fellaini.

But under heavy pressure, Moyes then moved Fellaini back into defensive midfield, so there was not much suspense to the game.

"Do not rush, take your time," Gao Shen said with a smile.

…

Time ticked by, and still Gao Shen did not change.

Not until almost forty minutes, when there was little time left in the first half, did he make an adjustment.

He signaled Xabi Alonso to drop, and had both full backs push high.

The purpose was to free the flanks.

As long as Real Madrid's wings posed a threat, would Welbeck and Valencia not have to drop?

With only Rooney left up front, what was there to fear?

On United's flanks, Smalling is tall but not agile enough, and Evra is already 32 and not as imperious as before. There were issues on both sides.

After Gao Shen's tweaks, Real Madrid began to put more pressure on United's defense.

Especially in the 44th minute, Real Madrid launched an attack. Toni Kroos tried a back pass, but Vidić headed it away and it fell back into Real Madrid's half.

Ramos charged forward decisively and beat Rooney to the header, sending it into the left channel in the final third.

After bringing it under control, Ronaldo drove forward quickly, straight toward the left side of United's box.

One on one against Smalling, Ronaldo feinted cleverly, but Smalling stood his ground and blocked the inside.

But as Ronaldo stopped and was backing up, Marcelo sprinted up from behind at full speed, with Valencia chasing. As they crossed paths, Ronaldo made an obvious move to impede Valencia while pushing the ball toward the byline.

Valencia slowed, but Marcelo still hit the byline at pace.

Although Smalling reacted quickly, turned, and chased, Marcelo got there first and crossed with his left, sending the ball near the edge of the six-yard box.

Džeko did not take a touch and volleyed straight into the right side of Manchester United's goal.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1103: You're Dead

"This season's Champions League is in jeopardy!"

In the stands at the Bernabéu, Ferguson and his brother Martin Ferguson, holding tickets given by Gao Shen, sat in prime seats in the directors' box, quite close to Manchester United CEO Ed Woodward, but not next to him.

Ferguson's heart sank when, just before halftime, Ronaldo orchestrated an attack on the left, Marcelo cut the ball back from the byline, and Džeko arrived to finish in the middle, leveling for Real Madrid.

Ever since Moyes made his adjustments, he had a bad feeling.

It was obvious.

Ferguson believed that not only he, but many experienced fans could see it.

After Fellaini dropped into defensive midfield, Manchester United were basically unable to organize any effective attacking play in the final third.

The three forwards were isolated, playing on their own. They could not link up or combine.

This was fatal.

The key was that both of United's flanks looked fine, but neither could pose a threat.

Welbeck's recent form was not ideal. Valencia could hit the byline, but it was hard for him to create real danger.

With the current development of European football, simple wing crossing is already a very crude attacking tactic and is basically out of favor.

Because the efficiency is too low.

Just now, Real Madrid also attacked from the wing, but they had already broken United's defensive shape.

Marcelo had rushed to the byline and then pulled it back with a cut-back.

This was no longer a simple cross from the wing.

On the other hand, Moyes still did not understand Manchester United.

"He is still coaching Manchester United the way he coached Everton. That is the biggest problem." Ferguson frowned.

Not only on the tactical level, but also psychologically.

Ferguson's preference for Moyes was not without reason.

When Manchester United were selecting a coach, Ferguson could give important opinions. He believed the best coach for United was Gao Shen, followed by Guardiola, but that was unrealistic, and neither would come to Manchester United.

Moyes is not a traditional British coach with outdated systems. On the contrary, when he built around a playmaker at Everton, he was quite advanced for the Premier League.

Gravesen, Arteta, Fellaini, Pienaar…

These strong midfielders were all Moyes's favorites at Everton.

Ferguson admired him because he saw Moyes's ability to keep up with the times.

But Moyes's shortcomings were also obvious.

He had coached Everton for the past decade.

What kind of team is Everton?

Anyone familiar with the Premier League knows Everton's biggest label: one season brilliant, the next mediocre.

What does that mean?

They perform well and qualify for Europe one season, but immediately decline the next.

Why?

Because Everton simply cannot support two lineups, not even one and a half.

So once the Toffees perform well and enter Europe, they are forced to fight on multiple fronts. Coupled with key players being poached, their league form is immediately affected.

This left Moyes with a serious lack of European experience.

Without that experience, he is naturally unfamiliar with the most advanced tactical concepts and lacks the relevant know-how.

In fact, Moyes's caution is not without reason.

He knew his shortcomings and deficiencies, so after taking the lead, he chose to play safe.

But at Manchester United, that is the problem.

Because Manchester United have never been a conservative team, and Manchester United do not have the pieces to play conservatively now.

"If he had capitalized after scoring and gone for a second, the situation would be completely different."

At this point, Ferguson sighed.

Moyes has coached Everton for so long that his thinking has become entrenched.

This was something Ferguson had not anticipated.

Ferguson expected United to encounter problems this season, and he even gave Moyes plenty of advice and help, especially recently when United's form suffered and Moyes sought him out.

But strangely, many things Ferguson took for granted, Moyes simply could not piece together.

It was the same lineup, the same group of players, and later Moyes even tried a tactical style similar to Ferguson's, but the players' performances were completely different.

There is no going back.

On one hand, the team won the title last season and Ferguson retired. On the other, the squad has many veterans, which led to this sudden decline.

Originally, the board's requirement for Moyes was to finish in the top four.

This is not excessive at all for Manchester United, who excelled last season. Even if Ferguson were coaching, his goal this season would still be to win the title.

Finishing in the top four already gave Moyes enough room to adapt and adjust.

But who would have thought that Moyes would lead the team to 12th in the league.

Of course, the season had just started and it was too early to judge.

But what if the management lost patience?

Losing the Champions League is a very painful blow for Manchester United.

That is tens of millions of pounds in revenue.

What is more, all of United's current sponsors included Champions League performance clauses in their contracts. If United miss out, how will they compensate their sponsors?

The losses are enormous.

"Martin, do you know what the most interesting thing in the world is?" Ferguson suddenly asked.

Martin Ferguson shook his head.

"Everyone thinks the head coach is important, crucial, the soul of the team. But in actual management, he is the least valued. No one even thinks about protecting him. They would rather lose tens of millions than spend more on this position."

This is the tragedy of a head coach.

In this star-centered football world, the head coach is the least important one.

"Do not worry too much. Give him some time. I believe that with his intelligence and talent, he will adapt quickly," Martin Ferguson advised.

Many people do not know that the first person Ferguson strongly recommended to Manchester United's management was Gao Shen.

But at that time, Gao Shen was at his peak at Manchester City, and later linked with Real Madrid, so United's executives did not even consider it.

Later, after Guardiola left Barcelona, Ferguson recommended him to United's management, but the club was in chaos. David Gill was about to go to FIFA and would no longer serve as United's CEO from 2013. He was handing over to Ed Woodward.

Under such circumstances, Guardiola was unwilling to take over United, so Ferguson connected him with Bayern.

But now, Moyes's work is far below expectations.

United's moves will be more drastic than anyone expects.

"No time," Ferguson said helplessly.

This involves tens of millions in revenue. Once there are signs the team will miss next season's Champions League, Manchester United are likely to act as soon as they find the right candidate.

At that point, capital will show no mercy.

…

While Ferguson and his brother discussed the uncertain future of Manchester United and Moyes in the stands, in the home dressing room at the Bernabéu, Gao Shen was analyzing the first half with his players and laying out the second half.

He felt the team had played too conservatively in the first half.

"We should see that Rooney, Welbeck, and Valencia all have strong individual ability, but none of them can combine in the final third. In this case, we should be more proactive with our pressing."

"We need to be more threatening on the wings, pin back United's flanks, and force Welbeck and Valencia to track back."

Gao Shen dragged Manchester United's two wingers back on the tactical board.

One key point he stressed was to attack rather than defend.

"Smalling is tall and strong, but he turns slowly and offers nothing going forward. Facing a full back like that, what are you worried about? He is a human punching bag. Do you even need to think? Just go at him!"

"And Evra is 32. He has been playing multiple games on multiple fronts. Is he still at his best? Does he still have the legs?"

"Ángel!"

Gao Shen pointed straight at Di María. "You only played 70 minutes in the last game, while Evra went the full 90. Do not tell me you cannot match him physically. I will be very disappointed in you!"

Everyone in the dressing room smiled, and Di María quickly stood up, repeatedly assuring he would take care of it.

"We need to put more pressure on United down the flanks, force their wide men to come back, and then there will only be Rooney up front."

"Rooney is easy to deal with."

"What is he best at?"

"Working like a beast."

"Yes, he works very hard. But when a core player's only praised quality is work rate and effort, what does that tell you?"

"It tells you he is not much of a threat, guys."

Gao Shen's words were a bit exaggerated, mainly because the team had not produced the attacking patterns he wanted in the first half.

If these words got out, they would be on the front page tomorrow. Gao Shen would really offend Rooney, and the British media would likely go after him.

Rooney is England's ace right now.

But we have to admit that Rooney really could not hold the ball up or progress play.

When United's attack has to rely on Rooney as the core in the final third, that itself proves the issue.

"I do not care what you think. My requirements for the second half are simple. Push forward and attack from both flanks to pin back United. Also, move the ball more, stretch their shape, and try to create gaps. I want to see more goals."

As he said this, Gao Shen first looked at Ronaldo. Real Madrid's only goal in the first half came from his creation.

Then he turned to Di María.

"Ángel, I want to see you score tonight. If you do not score, you're dead!"

Di María was so startled by Gao Shen's threat that he almost cried.

But everyone else immediately began to gloat.

Everyone knew Di María was Gao Shen's favorite and most trusted player.

"Do not worry, I will help you," Ramos, sitting next to Di María, said reassuringly.

Laughter broke out in the dressing room.

Help me?

You are a center back, man.

(To be continued.)