SWR: Chapter 1036/1038

Chapter 1036: Fighting for the Championship

It turned out that Gao Shen's concerns were correct.

After Simeone made continuous substitutions, Atletico Madrid's suffocating pressure on Barcelona weakened.

Gao Shen could not tell whether it was Simeone's instruction after taking the lead or the players' spontaneous behavior, but Atletico's pressing on Barcelona was clearly lighter than before the substitutions.

At the critical moment, Barcelona showed extraordinary determination.

In the 70th minute, Vilanova replaced full-back Alba with forward Villa, stacking four attackers up front. Combined with their iron triangle midfield, Barcelona's attacking power in the final third was immediately strengthened.

Just two minutes after Villa came on, Sanchez linked up with Messi on the right, broke into the box, and fired a shot that beat Asenjo to equalize for Barcelona.

At this point, Real Madrid was still in the lead.

But then Barcelona launched a relentless wave of attacks.

Atletico Madrid had been full of energy for the first hour, but after their momentum faded, Simeone found it impossible to revive it.

In the 90th minute, Sanchez continuously broke through on the right. After beating Insua, he crossed low from the byline to the front of goal, where substitute Villa slotted it home to complete the turnaround.

2-1!

Strangely, the Atletico Madrid fans at the Calderon Stadium did not react too strongly.

On the contrary, in the box, Gao Shen raised his hands with a puzzled look, feeling baffled.

"I now even doubt whether Simeone has some kind of deal with Barcelona?" Gao Shen almost went crazy.

Carlo, Zidane, Hierro and the others were also disappointed.

Damn, just a few minutes left.

Did Atletico Madrid do this on purpose?

"Simeone probably felt that we defended very well in the first hour, so he wanted to conserve some strength to deal with us later," Carlo said with a bitter smile. This was a bit like a three-way game.

Barcelona only have La Liga left, so they can rest easy. Atletico, however, still have the Copa del Rey final.

If they fought Barcelona to the end in this match and exhausted themselves, wouldn't that mean helping Real Madrid win La Liga while weakening themselves for the Cup final?

Simeone is not stupid. He must be weighing his own priorities and wants the best of both worlds.

In fact, the ideal situation would be what Gao Shen mentioned earlier, that he and Simeone reached a deal where Atletico would not contest the Copa del Rey, and in return fight hard against Barcelona to help Real Madrid win the league.

But that was basically unrealistic.

There was no way the two sides could have that level of mutual trust.

"I really feel like cursing right now!" Gao Shen sighed, turned around, and left.

"Damn it, all that praise for Simeone was wasted!"

Carlo, Zidane and Hierro also looked very disappointed and followed him out.

…

Barcelona eventually beat Atletico Madrid 2-1.

Because Real Madrid had played one more match, they were temporarily in the lead, but Barcelona's last three opponents were not strong.

In round 36, they would host Valladolid. In round 37, they would visit Espanyol. In round 38, they would play Malaga at home.

With one game per week, from any perspective, it seemed almost impossible for Barcelona to let the title slip away.

Among these three, Malaga ranked 6th and could pose a slight threat. Valladolid and Espanyol were further down the table but safe from relegation.

If it had been Osasuna, Celta Vigo, Real Mallorca, Deportivo La Coruña or Zaragoza, the five relegation-threatened teams, it might have been different. They would have fought with desperation.

But Valladolid and Espanyol could not be counted on.

This was also the general sentiment in Spanish football. After Barcelona's comeback against Atletico Madrid, the title was practically within their grasp.

Media close to Real Madrid, such as Marca and AS, concluded that Real Madrid's chances of overtaking Barcelona were only theoretical.

Still, Gao Shen accepted a phone interview with AS and made it clear that Real Madrid would fight until the very last moment and never give up early.

Not only that, Gao Shen even found ways to praise Atletico, saying the Colchoneros had caused Barcelona real trouble for more than an hour, which showed Barcelona's situation was not ideal.

"Atletico Madrid proved one thing in this game, Barcelona is not invincible!"

"Barcelona started the game at a slow tempo and were uncomfortable against intense pressing. In addition, their players' form has clearly declined as the season enters its final stretch. These are all worth noting."

Gao Shen insisted that with three rounds left, anything was possible.

"Valladolid, Espanyol and Malaga are not weak teams. On the contrary, they are competitive. I believe they can create problems for Barcelona."

"It's not over yet!"

Although it was obvious Gao Shen was pointing out ways for those three teams to deal with Barcelona, his words also revealed helplessness.

After all, whether Real Madrid could win La Liga now depended entirely on Barcelona's attitude.

As long as Barcelona avoided mistakes, Real Madrid would not win the league.

Alfredo, editor-in-chief of AS, wrote in his column that Gao Shen's first season back at Real Madrid was already astonishing.

Not only were they the strongest runners-up in La Liga history, but they had also reached the Champions League final and the Copa del Rey final.

All of this proved that under Gao Shen, Real Madrid were heading in the right direction.

Alfredo revealed, "Although Gao Shen refuses to blame the players, the truth is that if it weren't for several costly mistakes by Real Madrid players, they would already have the league title."

"But Gao Shen is not Mourinho. He never talks about internal issues publicly."

The AS editor-in-chief suggested that regardless of whether Real Madrid ultimately won La Liga, the Champions League or the Copa del Rey, the club should do everything possible to keep Gao Shen.

"There is no doubt that he is the best coach in world football today, and the most suitable coach for Real Madrid. We must keep him no matter what!"

"Only he can lead Real Madrid to revival and glory!"

Both AS and Marca conducted reader surveys, and nearly 100% of Real Madrid fans supported keeping Gao Shen.

Why nearly 100% instead of 100%?

Another report explained it.

According to a Marca journalist on Twitter, fans of other teams such as Barcelona and Atletico posed as Real Madrid fans and voted for Gao Shen to resign.

It was an organized campaign.

This showed that fans of rival clubs wanted Gao Shen gone as soon as possible.

Although this briefly lowered Gao Shen's approval rating, Real Madrid fans quickly realized what was happening, rallied, and counterattacked with overwhelming numbers.

As a result, Gao Shen's approval rating remained close to 100%.

Not only that, De La Morena of SER Radio revealed that Gao Shen had been voted the most popular coach in Real Madrid history, and a true Real Madrid fan favorite.

Faced with this overwhelming public support, club president Florentino Perez personally appeared in an interview with Real Madrid TV, making it clear the club had never intended to sack Gao Shen.

Not in the past, not now, and not in the future.

"If possible, I would even sign him to a ten-year contract."

"In my mind, he is the best coach in the world, and irreplaceable!"

Florentino said that Real Madrid's performance this season proved Gao Shen's coaching ability.

"He is the best coach in the world, bar none!"

He also promised that Real Madrid would strengthen the squad this summer to improve bench depth and overall competitiveness.

But he stressed that it was too early to talk about transfers now.

At the moment, the most important thing for Gao Shen and Real Madrid was to focus fully on the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League final.

"I, along with all Real Madrid fans, look forward to him leading the team to our 18th Copa del Rey and 11th Champions League titles."

…

While the outside world was in turmoil, preparations at Valdebebas continued in an orderly fashion.

The morning after Barcelona's 2-1 win over Atletico, Gao Shen left a note on the locker room blackboard, inviting the entire first team, including players, coaches and staff, to lunch at a Spanish restaurant in the northwest suburbs of Madrid.

The venue was a villa-style countryside restaurant, popular among the Spanish upper class.

From the architecture to the gardens, from the scenery to the accessibility, everything was excellent, and the menu was extensive.

Whether Spanish food, Brazilian cuisine, or other dishes, everything was available.

In fact, one of the restaurant's signature dishes was Brazilian roda ballo.

This time, Gao Shen paid for the entire team's lunch out of his own pocket.

His only goal was to let everyone relax as much as possible and conserve energy for the upcoming Copa del Rey and Champions League finals.

"I want to say, let's put La Liga aside for now and focus on the two finals!"

"I said it before the season, if I don't win at least one of the two titles, La Liga or the Champions League, I will be fired!"

Gao Shen repeated this promise in front of the players to remind them.

"If you don't want me fired, if you want me to keep inviting you to places like this, then stay focused, give everything, and win these two finals. Put more pressure on Barcelona."

"Come on!"

Gao Shen raised his glass high.

"Fight for the championship! Hala Madrid!"

"Hala Madrid!" everyone responded, raising their glasses and shouting loudly.

The restaurant echoed with Real Madrid's ambition.

Gao Shen might not need to think about La Liga anymore, since it depended on Barcelona's mistakes. But he was determined to win the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

No matter what, he would not let those two trophies slip away.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1037: Simeone's Secret Weapon

On the evening of May 17, at 21:30, at the Calderon Stadium in Madrid.

The Spanish Copa del Rey final. Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid.

The moment the referee blew the whistle to start the match, Gao Shen stood on the touchline with his arms folded across his chest, watching the pitch intently.

Tonight, Real Madrid lined up in their strongest 4-3-3 formation.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas.
Defenders: Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Carvajal.
Midfield: Xabi Alonso sitting deep, with Kroos and Modric in the middle.
Forwards: Ronaldo, Benzema, Di Maria.

Real Madrid's main lineup was complete, unaffected by injuries or suspensions.

The same applied to Atletico Madrid.

Simeone stayed with his 4-4-2 formation.

Goalkeeper: Asenjo.
Defenders: Insua, Miranda, Godin, Juanfran.
Midfielders: Turan, Gabi, Mario Suarez, Koke.
Forwards: Diego Costa, Falcao.

Atletico, who kicked off first, played the ball straight out of the center circle. Turan collected it on the left side of the circle and immediately drove forward.

From the start, Atletico showed aggressive intent.

But before Turan had even two seconds on the ball, he was intercepted by Modric and Di Maria.

The ball was stolen, Turan went to ground, but the referee waved play on.

Real Madrid launched a counterattack quickly, but Atletico dropped back just as fast.

Right from the beginning, there was no probing from either side. No testing. They went straight into a fierce hand-to-hand battle.

The two teams knew each other too well. They knew each other's strengths and weaknesses inside out.

Atletico's strategy was once again full-field pressing, starting the game at a high tempo with relentless intensity.

Real Madrid had prepared for this, but even so, they still found it difficult to fully adapt.

Although they managed to hold the ball, mistakes were frequent.

Gao Shen, however, did not panic on the sidelines. He knew this was normal.

Even a team as adept at possession football as Barcelona would make mistakes against Atletico's extreme pressing if their energy was not at its peak, let alone Real Madrid.

If Gao Shen had been given a week to prepare, he would have been confident of holding firm.

But with little time and only rushed adjustments, all he could do was try to keep control.

Although the match was being played at the Calderon, the fan allocation was half and half. Real Madrid were technically the home side.

In the stands, both sets of supporters were chanting loudly. On the pitch, both sets of players got into the rhythm instantly. The game was played at breakneck pace, filled with tension, and both sides seemed to enjoy the battle.

Under Simeone, Atletico never lacked fighting spirit or hunger. Their pressing was relentless, especially in midfield.

Simeone's Atletico actually showed a very high level of tactical sophistication, something often overlooked.

People remembered the external image: fierce tackles, endless running, gritty determination, and little tricks. But at the core, Atletico's success came from Simeone's tactical system.

It was different from Klopp's Dortmund.

At first glance, both pressed all over the pitch. But Atletico bore a stronger resemblance to Italian football.

The key was in compressing the midfield. By keeping the distance between midfield and defense short, Simeone ensured compactness from front to back, squeezing the opponent's space to pass forward.

This Atletico side had very strong collective quality.

So while Klopp's Dortmund were often called a 60-minute team, Atletico were not.

Because Simeone's team functioned as one whole unit.

Some might ask, what is the difference between Simeone's Atletico and Klopp's Dortmund?

On the surface they looked similar, but in reality they were completely different.

Even at the most fundamental level, the two managers' philosophies were far apart.

Klopp's football started from attack. His pressing aimed to win the ball high, close to goal, for easier attacking opportunities.

Simeone's football was rooted in Italian-style defense and counterattack. Pressing was only a defensive tool. His real weapon was the counterattack.

From this difference alone came many others, including player selection.

Gao Shen knew Simeone well. He had even studied him in the [Tactical Library]. But in matches, tactics alone were not enough. It also depended on player execution.

There was one statistic that reflected how tough Atletico were.

In the first 20 minutes, Atletico completed 5 interceptions and attempted 13 tackles, 8 of which were successful.

All 18 of these defensive actions occurred near the halfway line, averaging one every minute.

This showed just how aggressive and fierce they were.

Gao Shen had repeatedly warned his players before the game, and they knew this was Atletico's trademark. Real Madrid therefore played patiently.

Lose the ball? No problem. Fight back immediately, keep calm, and control possession.

Atletico's attacks looked fierce, but they posed no real threat.

That was Simeone's weakness.

His defense was excellent, but his attack was not.

In the first 20 minutes, Atletico did not register a single shot on goal.

Early on, Diego Costa and Falcao could still hold position up front, but soon Falcao had to drop back frequently to support midfield.

Without him, Atletico could not progress the ball.

But even when he dropped, they still struggled to put together meaningful attacks.

Still, Gao Shen stayed cautious, constantly reminding his players from the sidelines.

Strikers like Falcao and Diego Costa only needed one chance to punish you.

…

After 20 minutes, Atletico's pressing intensity dropped slightly.

But Gao Shen remained alert.

Tactically, Simeone stuck to the same plan he used against Barcelona, forcing Real Madrid's play wide.

Coincidentally, Real Madrid were also strong down the flanks, and their players looked to attack from wide areas.

So both sides clashed repeatedly along the wings near midfield, enjoying the battles.

Gao Shen and his staff had secretly trained twice before this game, working on specific ways to break Atletico's defense.

Up front, Benzema would drop and drift wide to link play.

At the back, Ramos and Pepe would push up to provide support.

When Atletico blocked Real Madrid's flank play, the plan was to increase passing options.

The drills were in place, the routines rehearsed, but in the match they had yet to succeed.

This was not only Real Madrid's problem. Atletico's pressing made it hard to execute.

"They're set up in the middle, keeping compact, forcing us wide. That's why most of their tackles are on the flanks, especially the left," Gao Shen noted, studying the real-time data.

The left was coming under heavier pressure. The right was less active, meaning Real Madrid's right-side attack was not lively enough.

"It's fine, just wait a bit longer," Gao Shen thought.

What was Real Madrid's greatest strength?

What mattered most against Atletico's pressing and defending tonight?

Switching play.

Gao Shen believed his players understood this. He had spoken to each starter at least twice before the game, and to Kroos, Modric, Xabi Alonso, Ramos and Pepe three or four times.

The goal was to make sure the message was clear.

The coach stood on the sidelines. The players were the ones experiencing the pressure on the pitch. They had to apply the plan themselves.

"After 25 minutes, Atletico eased off the press, and our tactics began to show. Especially on the wings. Their control weakened, and they failed to win the ball back twice in a row," Carlos Vargas reported after analyzing the data.

This showed Atletico had realized that if they continued at that pace, their energy would drain.

As Gao Shen returned to the touchline, something suddenly unfolded on the pitch.

Real Madrid attacked down the left. Marcelo and Ronaldo tried a one-two but passed it back. Kroos pulled wide, received the ball behind Marcelo, and launched a long diagonal pass.

The ball flew quickly from the left flank to the right.

Carvajal pushed forward, controlled with his right foot, and surged ahead with the ball. Linking with Di Maria, he forced a breakthrough on the right, but Miranda cleared the cross at the near post.

Corner kick!

By then, 28 minutes had passed.

Atletico still had no shot on goal.

Real Madrid had already won their third corner. If it led to a shot, it would be their seventh attempt.

Kroos delivered quickly. Ramos, Pepe and Ronaldo all attacked the ball. Ronaldo rose highest, but his header flew over.

The Portuguese star clapped his hands hard, clearly dissatisfied with his effort.

His standards for himself were always sky-high.

"It's fine, keep applying pressure, stay patient!" Gao Shen instructed.

The match situation was favorable. As long as Real Madrid's defense held and Atletico could not break out on the counter, there was little danger.

Gao Shen signaled for Di Maria and Carvajal to push harder, to target Insua's side, and to try breaking down Atletico's left flank as they had in the league.

But Simeone was ready.

In the 35th minute, Atletico finally found a counter.

Falcao dropped deep to collect, wriggled free from Xabi Alonso and Modric, and slipped a through pass.

Diego Costa surged from deep, but Ramos stayed tight, using his body to hold him off. Forced wide, Costa struck from the edge of the box with his left foot. Casillas caught it securely.

It was Atletico's first shot.

And a reminder for Gao Shen: beware Atletico's quick counters after turnovers.

Gao Shen immediately called out to Xabi Alonso and Modric, instructing them to foul decisively if necessary.

It was the final after all. What was there to be afraid of?

Sometimes, you had to learn from Atletico.

Playing fair and polite?

What would that get you?

A fair play award?

Could that win the trophy?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1038: World Wave

A few days ago, Xabi Alonso gave an exclusive interview to Spanish National Television.

This was an event arranged for him by the club.

In the interview, much of the focus was actually on Real Madrid, especially Gao Shen.

One of the most popular questions was, what is the difference between Gao Shen and Mourinho?

The media and fans were clearly focused on different things than Xabi Alonso himself.

Ordinary people cared more about questions like: What are the differences between the two famous coaches? Who is stronger? Who is more popular with players?

In short, all the usual gossip.

But Xabi Alonso's response was much more technical.

He spoke at length, but a large portion was edited out by the station, leaving only the so-called "highlights."

Xabi Alonso later explained to Gao Shen that the broadcast had not reflected his full thoughts, nor even his main point.

But Gao Shen did not mind.

In the final version aired, Xabi Alonso was quoted as saying it was more comfortable playing under Gao Shen, while Mourinho's football was more tiring. The edited remarks gave the impression that Mourinho pushed players harder and improved them more.

Because of this, once the program aired, many people thought Xabi Alonso was missing Mourinho.

But what was the reality?

Xabi Alonso generally divided head coaches into two categories: restrictive and free.

He explained that throughout his career, he had experienced both, with Benítez and Del Bosque being the most representative.

Benítez demanded a lot from his players. His tactical ideas were strong but very rigid. He gave players no room for creativity, requiring absolute obedience to his tactical instructions.

"He almost wished the players were robots, programmed and carrying out commands without question."

Del Bosque, on the other hand, was the opposite. He advocated governing by doing nothing. In many cases, he would listen to the players' opinions and allow them to participate in tactical decisions, letting them play however they felt comfortable.

"Sometimes, he would even tell us to control a match the way some other team had done in a previous game."

Xabi Alonso admitted he did not like either extreme. He believed neither approach was ideal.

Benítez's methods were exhausting, going against human instinct, because players were not machines. Del Bosque's approach was too hands-off, to the point where many in football circles questioned whether he was even a proper head coach at all.

When playing for Benítez, Alonso felt forced to obey. When playing for Del Bosque, he often felt lost, unsure of what to do.

Mourinho, he said, leaned more toward Benítez's style, though less extreme. But Mourinho's cautious personality and conservative tactics made him dislike players taking risks.

In comparison, Alonso found playing under Gao Shen the most comfortable.

"He's very balanced, a kind of contradictory balance."

"On the one hand, he encourages players to use their imagination and even take risks. On the other, he insists players strictly follow the team's overall tactical framework."

Tactically, Gao Shen was not like Benítez, who demanded complete execution of his plan without compromise. Gao Shen gave players trust and support, allowing them freedom to make decisions on the pitch.

But before matches, he did thorough preparation, spending huge amounts of time communicating with players to ensure they understood his ideas and could execute them.

"If Del Bosque throws you on the pitch to play as you like, and Benítez draws boxes for you, telling you exactly when to go into each one and what to do, then Mourinho is slightly better, because he at least explains when you should enter each box."

"As for Gao Shen, he has fewer boxes, and each is larger. He won't give you detailed step-by-step instructions, but he will tell you what objectives he wants you to achieve."

Finally, Xabi Alonso said that playing under Gao Shen was the most comfortable because there was both a clear framework and freedom to showcase individual qualities.

That, he felt, was the best summary of the coaches he had worked with.

Unfortunately, the TV station cut it all, leaving only a few controversial lines.

…

When it came to the Copa del Rey final, Xabi Alonso felt the same way.

Gao Shen had done extensive preparation, creating detailed tactical plans and targeted measures, but once the match began, he gave the players considerable freedom.

Yet every Real Madrid player knew exactly what Gao Shen wanted and how to deal with Atletico Madrid.

Faced with Atletico's ferocious pressing, Real Madrid remained patient.

After 30 minutes, Atletico's intensity dropped and Real Madrid gradually took control.

Earlier, Real Madrid's play had been concentrated on the left. But once the situation stabilized, they began to switch focus to the right.

Di Maria and Carvajal started to attack aggressively down Insua's side.

Everyone knew this was a weak point in Atletico's defense.

But since everyone knew, Simeone knew as well.

And Gao Shen knew that Simeone knew. He predicted Simeone would make special arrangements on that flank.

This was exactly what Sun Tzu's Art of War described.

Gao Shen had strongly recommended Xabi Alonso read the book, believing every head coach should study it.

So what should they do?

"Simeone has prepared for us to attack that side, so we'll do as he expects, keep going at their left, and see if they can hold."

"If we can break through, perfect. If not, we'll still drag their defense over there."

"When the moment comes, we'll strike."

It was a higher-level strategy, but execution depended on the players' judgment on the pitch.

Xabi Alonso, Kroos, Modric and others kept patient, battling Atletico while waiting for the right moment.

Until the 42nd minute...

…

Real Madrid launched another attack on the right, but it failed.

After Di Maria's inside run was cut off, he played the ball back.

Xabi Alonso collected it deeper, taking a step to the right as if to continue attacking down that flank.

Atletico's defensive focus remained locked on their left side.

But Alonso was waiting for Marcelo.

As soon as the Brazilian full-back arrived, Alonso struck a long diagonal ball.

It flew across to the left edge of the Atletico penalty area.

Marcelo, hugging the touchline, controlled it with his chest, cushioned with his left foot, and killed it at the edge of the box.

At that moment, Ronaldo arrived in support.

The ball reached him, but instead of driving inside, Ronaldo laid it back into the box.

Marcelo had already made his run, and before Koke could intervene, he squared Ronaldo's pass.

Kroos arrived quickly and struck it first time with his right foot.

The German's effort was met immediately by Godin, who threw himself sideways to block.

The ball cannoned off Godin's thigh, deflected back to the edge of the box, and dropped near the arc.

The chance was not gone.

Modric sprinted forward. As the ball bounced, he controlled it left with his right foot, just out of Gabi's reach, then swung his left boot.

He unleashed a half-height strike, hit with pace and at a wicked angle, heading toward the bottom right corner.

Asenjo reacted quickly, diving across to cover most of the goal.

But Modric's shot was too precise. Asenjo could not stop it.

The ball struck the inside of the right post, rebounded, and rolled over the line into the net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Modric!!!"

"The ball is in!!!"

"Real Madrid score!!!"

"In the 42nd minute of the first half, Real Madrid take the lead and break Atletico Madrid's resistance!"

"A long-range strike from Croatian midfielder Luka Modric!"

"A world wave!!!"

The roar of Real Madrid's fans echoed throughout the Calderon.

Modric, after firing, stood still, eyes fixed on the ball. The moment it crossed the line, he broke into a smile, turning and rushing toward the Real Madrid supporters.

He celebrated wildly beneath their stand, soon joined by his teammates.

On the touchline in front of the home dugout, Gao Shen pumped his fists in delight, then turned to high-five and hug Hierro, Zidane and the rest of his staff.

This goal was vital for Real Madrid.

With it, the initiative was theirs.

But caution remained necessary.

Atletico Madrid were no easy opponent.

Still, holding a one-goal lead gave Gao Shen the confidence to slow the game, to make Simeone waste time chasing.

After all, this was a final. Time was on Real Madrid's side.

"That long pass from Xabi Alonso was brilliant. The timing was perfect," Zidane said admiringly.

And it was.

A pass like that, one second earlier or later, would have failed. Timing was everything.

More importantly, Alonso's pass allowed Marcelo to control smoothly and create the next phase.

That precision was crucial.

A top-class passer had to provide exactly that.

If Alonso's pass had been slightly off, Marcelo could not have set it up so cleanly, and there would have been no shots for Kroos and Modric.

Of course, Ronaldo's link-up, Benzema's movement, and Di Maria's work drawing defenders all played their part.

Football had always been a team game.

(To be continued.)