SWR: Chapter 1033/1035

Chapter 1033: We Need a New Stadium

Gao Shen sat in the yard of his villa, staring at the dark night sky in a daze.

The fifteenth had passed a few days ago, but the moon still looked round tonight.

He had been thinking about Leeds United's transfer situation.

In the past two or three months, he had been busy with Real Madrid and hadn't had time to pay attention to Leeds. Now that problems were surfacing, he felt unprepared and needed to sort things out carefully.

Whenever he handled things, Gao Shen always prepared for two scenarios.

This habit extended to Leeds United's management as well.

If Leeds sold a player, it meant they already had a suitable replacement lined up or a successor identified.

For example, Icardi was the team's top scorer. But if he left, Leeds had Harry Kane and the "veteran" Vardy.

Speaking of which, Vardy was now getting more and more minutes. He had already scored two goals in the Premier League and two more in the cups.

He had become the team's third striker behind Icardi and Kane.

For a 26-year-old, this was quite a story.

But Vardy continued to work hard and improve.

If Jorginho left, Leeds had Brozovic ready. Under Gao Shen's instructions, he had been transitioning into a defensive playmaker and performing well.

Fabinho was another option, though he had mainly played right-back for years. It would take time for him to adapt as a defensive midfielder, but Gao Shen was convinced that was his best position.

If Pogba left, there was Kondogbia.

And to be safe, Leeds had already signed Rabiot from Manchester City as extra insurance.

Gao Shen had also spoken with Pochettino.

Over the past six months, the Argentine had watched countless Leeds matches and scouting reports. He believed Coutinho's best position wasn't as a left attacking midfielder but as a left central midfielder, or even an attacking midfielder.

Shifting him inside, he felt, would boost the team's attacking power on both flanks.

Especially since Kurzawa might leave. Although Leeds had Bertrand and Mendy on the left, and the technical team were scouting more full-backs, moving Coutinho inside made sense.

This was the conclusion he reached after observing Real Madrid under Gao Shen.

Pochettino believed Leeds should keep attacking from the wings, while reinforcing control in midfield.

Gao Shen found the idea intriguing, maybe even capable of producing surprises.

As for defense, if Koulibaly did leave, Leeds still had Marquinhos, Stones, and Maguire.

They had also previously signed De Vrij and Van Dijk from the Eredivisie, though both remained on loan at their original clubs.

At present, central defense wasn't a concern.

This reflected Leeds' entire transfer policy.

For example, in goal, the current number one was Navas. The Costa Rican had been excellent. But the club was already planning ahead.

Last summer, they signed Ederson on a free from Ribeirão in Portugal's second division. After signing, he was loaned out for match experience.

They also signed Alisson Becker from Internacional.

The 20-year-old Brazilian would arrive this summer under the special talent clause, since he played for Brazil's youth national team.

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Ederson would continue on loan in Portugal's top flight.

With Navas, Ederson, and Alisson, Gao Shen believed Leeds' goalkeeping department was secure for years.

It could be said Gao Shen was working hard to build Leeds United into a system that could withstand the coming storm.

But now, as that storm approached, he felt uneasy.

He had poured so much effort into this project.

…

"What's wrong?"

Su Qing walked out, sat beside him, and looked at him softly.

Her husband hadn't entered the house since returning. He had made a phone call, then sat quietly at the door, lost in thought. She was worried.

"Nothing," Gao Shen smiled lightly. "Where's the child?"

"He's asleep. My mother and your mom are watching him."

Gao Shen nodded.

Since their son was born, his mother and mother-in-law had practically lived in Madrid. Even his father and father-in-law visited once or twice a month just to see the baby.

The whole family adored him.

So much so that Gao Shen sometimes worried he might be spoiled.

That was why Gao Shen had already decided: when the boy was old enough, he would send him to Real Madrid's youth academy to play football.

Su Qing, as Leeds' chairwoman, knew plenty about the club.

After giving birth, she resumed working remotely, handling club affairs again. Her life felt more complete.

"Sometimes, when I talk to them, I get a strange feeling," Su Qing said gently.

"What do you mean?" Gao Shen was surprised.

"It's like you always give us a sense of urgency, as if we're racing against time."

Gao Shen was stunned.

"Like last year's transfers. We didn't need to make such drastic moves, but you decided to sell. None of us said anything, but deep down, we suspected you were doing it to prepare for a training base."

Gao Shen said nothing, which was tacit agreement.

"This season, we've achieved a historic breakthrough, both in the league and commercially. Our revenue has surpassed £100 million, which is incredible."

Over half of that came from Premier League broadcast revenue. Based on Leeds' performance and TV appearances, they expected at least £50–55 million.

Add commercial deals and ticket sales, and total revenue exceeded £100 million.

By this measure, Leeds could rank among the top 30 clubs in Europe.

Yet their wage bill remained among the lowest.

"Next season, the new Premier League TV deal begins. That will push revenue even higher. Our offices in North America and Asia are expanding too. Plus, AXA's naming rights for the training ground and kit sponsorship bring in £15 million per year."

"We can be sure revenue will keep growing."

When Su Qing finished, she looked at Gao Shen with doubt.

"We don't understand. We spent two or three years building this team. Why do you still give us the feeling you're worried, like time is running out?"

Gao Shen understood her point. He guessed Fernando Lucas, Borrell, and the others felt the same.

If he wasn't a transmigrator, he'd probably feel that way too.

But as one, he knew Leeds' current state was nowhere near enough.

If they wanted to grow stronger, they needed a new stadium.

Elland Road, no matter how much it was repaired, could never match his ambitions.

But building a new stadium required money.

Meanwhile, player wages and transfer fees were about to explode. If not tightly controlled, Leeds would collapse.

Gao Shen didn't have the resources of oil-rich owners. He couldn't throw money endlessly.

Unless he sold all his assets, which would still be a bottomless pit.

That was why he had to make Leeds financially self-sufficient.

A new stadium, the squad, the management system—all required his foresight to make initial gains. But his advantage as a transmigrator would only last until 2021.

Everything had to be completed before then.

The stadium especially. If not finished by then, with Brexit and rising material costs, it would end up like Tottenham's project, which doubled in cost.

Gao Shen couldn't reveal the truth, but he told Su Qing with certainty that European football was heading for a surge in wages and transfers.

Many already suspected this.

Especially in the Premier League.

Every time broadcast revenues spiked, salaries and transfers soared as well.

And for the stadium, he was clear. Leeds had to build a new one. Only then would they have a foundation.

Elland Road alone couldn't sustain them.

"In recent years, foreign capital has poured into football. From Manchester City to PSG, now Monaco. Soon there will be Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, even the United States. All will invest."

"If we don't strengthen now, they'll carve us up like a piece of meat. Leeds will be reduced to a feeder club, maybe even fighting relegation."

Maybe his words weren't visible yet, but Su Qing believed him.

Because in all the years they'd been together, from property to investments, Gao Shen had never been wrong.

She trusted him almost blindly.

"We need to raise funds, endure a few more tough years, and build a new stadium," Gao Shen said firmly.

"Are you sure Pochettino can handle it?" Su Qing asked cautiously.

Gao Shen nodded. "On the competitive side, with me here and him as coach, survival won't be an issue."

After this season, he was even more confident.

"I understand." Su Qing nodded. "I'll meet with Fernando and Rodolfo tomorrow."

"Don't worry. I'll fully support you. The others will too. You decide the path, and we'll follow."

Gao Shen felt his heart stir.

From her eyes and expression, he sensed complete trust.

Even admiration.

It filled him with satisfaction and gave him greater drive.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1034: Reborn

On the evening of May 4th, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

In the 34th round of La Liga, Real Madrid hosted Valladolid.

Gao Shen rotated his squad for this match. Nacho and Pepe started together at center-back, while Kaka, Verratti, and Higuaín were all given places in the starting lineup. It was clearly a reshuffle of the usual first eleven.

After eliminating Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid learned their opponent in the Champions League final. Bayern Munich had drawn 1-1 with Manchester City at home, going through with a 2-1 aggregate victory, setting up a clash with Real Madrid at Wembley.

Gao Shen's focus now was on preparing for the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals.

But there was one exception: Cristiano Ronaldo, who continued his battle with Messi for the La Liga Golden Boot.

From the start, Real Madrid pressed aggressively and constantly created shooting chances.

In the 26th minute, Verratti played the ball wide to the right, where Di María dribbled past two defenders before scoring from a tight angle.

1-0!

In the 32nd minute, Real Madrid countered quickly. Di María crossed from the right, and Ronaldo headed in from close range.

2-0!

Just three minutes later, Valladolid attacked from the flank. Nacho and Pepe misjudged the cross and failed to clear, allowing Óscar González to score from close range.

2-1!

But only a minute later, Real Madrid struck back. Higuaín pounced inside the box to finish from close range.

3-1!

Before halftime, Ronaldo scored again, this time with a direct free kick from 20 meters out.

4-1!

In the second half, Real Madrid piled on.

First, Kaka scored in the 49th minute. Then Di María switched to the left, drove into the box and sent in a cross. A Valladolid defender handled the ball, earning a yellow card and conceding a penalty. Higuaín converted.

6-1!

In the 70th minute, Verratti delivered a corner and Ronaldo rose highest, powering in a header to complete his hat-trick and make it 7-1.

Real Madrid pressed until the end but could not add more goals.

The match finished 7-1, with Ronaldo claiming another hat-trick.

…

After Matchday 34, the Spanish Football Association announced its decision.

The 2012/13 Copa del Rey final would be held at the Vicente Calderón.

Originally, the FA had planned for the final to be staged at the Bernabéu. Florentino and Valdano even called Gao Shen separately to seek his opinion.

Gao Shen remembered clearly that in his previous life, the final that season was at the Bernabéu. It turned into a storm of red and yellow cards, with Atlético beating Real Madrid 2-1 after extra time.

With that memory, Gao Shen advised the club to give up the home advantage and play at the Calderón instead.

For Real Madrid, it made little difference. They were familiar with the Calderón, and with the split ticket allocation, they would have half the stadium filled with their own fans. They could even request the home dressing room. It was not a bad trade.

So Real Madrid conceded the venue, and the final was scheduled for May 17th at the Calderón.

To make room for the final, La Liga brought forward the 36th round between Real Madrid and Atlético to the midweek between Matchday 34 and 35.

…

On May 8th, at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid hosted Málaga in the 36th round of La Liga.

Gao Shen rotated heavily again. Out of respect, he gave playing time to players set to leave, like Albiol.

Only 2 minutes in, Real Madrid won a corner, and Albiol headed in from close range to open the scoring.

This once again showed Real Madrid's depth. The reason some players could not establish themselves here was not simply ability but also circumstance and luck.

Albiol, for example, remained highly valued in the transfer market.

The key moment came in the 22nd minute. Modric played a through ball, sending Ronaldo clear on goal. Málaga's last defender, Sergio Sánchez, hauled him down with a tactical foul and was shown a straight red. Ronaldo converted the penalty himself.

2-0!

Just 4 minutes later, Ronaldo unleashed a long shot from outside the box, blasting it in for 3-0!

In the 33rd minute, Real Madrid countered quickly. Ronaldo slipped a diagonal ball through, Benzema burst past his marker and finished from just outside the six-yard box.

4-0!

Six minutes later, Marcelo crossed from the left, and Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a header.

5-0!

Before halftime, Ronaldo unselfishly squared to Benzema, who scored again.

6-0!

Down a man, Málaga were being shredded apart.

At halftime, Gao Shen took Ronaldo off to protect him.

But Jesé, who came on, carried the torch.

In the 64th minute, Benzema set up Modric, who fired in from the edge of the area.

7-0!

Then, in the 73rd minute, Demichelis tripped Jesé near the edge of the box, earning his second yellow. Málaga were reduced to nine men.

Kroos stepped up and curled the free kick into the net.

8-0!

The Bernabéu faithful were stunned. Even Gao Shen on the sideline was taken aback.

Who could have imagined this?

Real Madrid kept pushing, and in stoppage time, Lucas Vázquez broke down the right and cut the ball back. Morata failed to connect, but Jesé followed up to score.

9-0!

…

In back-to-back league games, Real Madrid had demolished their opponents 7-1 and 9-0.

Ronaldo had scored hat-tricks in both.

By contrast, Barcelona's 4-2 win over Betis and 2-1 victory over Valladolid seemed far less convincing.

Gao Shen seized the chance to play psychological games ahead of the decisive weekend fixtures.

In Matchday 35, Atlético Madrid would host Barcelona.

If any team could derail Barcelona late in the season, it was Atlético.

After the Málaga game, Gao Shen declared in his press conference that Real Madrid were prepared to win all three remaining league matches, but he doubted Barcelona would do the same.

"Simeone and his team are very tough opponents. I have every reason to believe they will deliver a fatal blow to Barcelona at home!"

He even went out of his way to praise Simeone, calling him the most underrated coach in Europe and claiming Atlético were strong enough to reach the Champions League quarterfinals or even the semi-finals.

Many thought Gao Shen was exaggerating.

Simeone brushed it off in public, saying he didn't care about such talk, even if it came from Gao Shen.

But the situation was delicate. After all, Atlético would soon face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

In his own interview, Simeone said the Copa final was Atlético's biggest priority.

"This is a championship match."

He reminded everyone that while Atlético had won the Europa League last season, their last domestic title came in 1996, 17 years earlier, when Radomir Antić led them to a league and cup double.

Interestingly, Simeone had been part of that squad.

Now, he said, he hoped to lead Atlético to another domestic trophy after 17 years.

This raised concerns.

Looking at the table, Atlético sat comfortably in third, 11 points ahead of Real Sociedad in fourth.

With Sociedad battling Valencia and Málaga for the last Champions League place, Atlético had nothing to worry about.

They were nearly 30 points behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, so catching up was impossible. But with more than a 10-point cushion over those below, their position was secure.

In that case, what incentive did Atlético have to fight Barcelona tooth and nail?

Some feared they might ease up and hand Barça the title.

But Simeone strongly denied that.

"We know exactly who we are. We never think we are weaker than Real Madrid or Barcelona. So when we play them, we give everything, always."

Still, he reiterated, "Next week's Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid is our most important game, and we will prepare accordingly."

That ambiguity gave everyone headaches.

Real Madrid could only shrug.

Gao Shen instead vented his frustration on Ramos.

The vice-captain was baffled. He had been training well, performing solidly, and making no mistakes. Why was the coach always singling him out?

Finally, Xabi Alonso took him aside and made it clear.

The team's predicament all stemmed from his red card.

"Boss, you're merciful. If it were me…" Xabi cracked his knuckles ominously.

Ramos froze. His complaints evaporated instantly.

He wasn't the type to be clueless. Seeing the whole squad fighting tooth and nail for the league, he felt guilt and regret.

He took responsibility.

The next day, before training, he stood before the team and apologized.

"From now on, if I act recklessly or make mistakes again, you can slap me in the face, and I won't fight back!"

Gao Shen patted him on the shoulder.

It felt like a blessing in disguise.

If chasing the league title could spark Ramos's complete transformation, it would be worth it.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1035: Atlético Madrid, We Score for Real Madrid

In the 35th round of La Liga, Real Madrid played one day earlier than Atlético Madrid.

But Real Madrid were away.

Gao Shen made rotations to save energy for the upcoming Copa del Rey final, but they still managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Espanyol thanks to Higuaín's goal.

After returning from Barcelona, the squad immediately began preparations for the Copa final.

The following night, Gao Shen arrived at the Vicente Calderón with Carlo, Zidane, and Hierro.

They were not only there to see how the title race unfolded, but also to scout Atlético Madrid and get familiar with the Calderón ahead of the final.

…

Although Atlético no longer had much to play for in the league, the Calderón was still packed.

54,000 fans filled every seat.

Thanks to contacts, Gao Shen and his staff watched from a box.

There were surprises in both starting lineups, but no real suspense.

Barcelona named their strongest side, with Messi partnered by Sánchez, Agüero, and Xavi. Iniesta and Busquets were in midfield.

The back line was unchanged: Alba, Puyol, Piqué, and Alves, with Valdés in goal.

It was clear Vilanova valued this game highly. Barcelona only had the league left to fight for.

Atlético made changes.

On paper, Simeone set them up in a 4-3-3:

Goalkeeper: Asenjo.
Defenders: Insúa, Miranda, Godín, Juanfran.
Midfielders: Koke, Gabi, Thiago.
Forwards: Turan, Falcao, Adrián.

But when the game kicked off, Gao Shen quickly noticed it was still a 4-4-2. Adrián partnered Falcao up front, Turan played left midfield, Koke right, with Gabi and Thiago sitting deep.

In other words, Simeone had left out Diego Costa and Mario Suárez, as well as Raúl García, who had featured heavily this season.

"He's holding something back," Gao Shen shook his head.

Carlo and the others nodded.

You couldn't really blame Simeone. Atlético had nothing at stake in this match. The Copa del Rey final was a genuine final, their only realistic chance at a trophy.

Anyone else in his shoes would make the same call.

…

From the opening whistle, Atlético pressed aggressively.

At home, they applied their trademark high press, pressing and harrying across the pitch.

Barcelona, as usual, relied on possession and control, trying to dictate tempo and gradually work their way forward.

But Atlético didn't give them time. They attacked fiercely right from the start.

Gao Shen approved of Simeone's approach.

"Barcelona's opening rhythm is always slow. They want to use quick passing to overwhelm you later. If you strike them early, there's a chance." He felt reassured watching.

If Atlético played like this, Real Madrid would also have a chance in the final.

But Gao Shen soon noticed something else.

"Have you seen Atlético's tactics tonight?" he asked.

Zidane was first to respond, frowning. "They're forcing Barcelona to the wings."

"Exactly. Look at how they defend the flanks."

Barcelona's 4-3-3 created three-man combinations on the wings. On the left, Alba, Sánchez, and Iniesta combined repeatedly.

Atlético's solution was to overload the flank. Juanfran, Thiago, Koke, and Adrián all shifted across, forming four-vs-three on the wing.

On the touchline, space was tight. Passing lanes were limited.

With these traps, Barcelona struggled to move the ball. Messi had to drop deeper and drift wide to help. That left the middle exposed.

It wasn't just a one-off. When the play switched to the right, Atlético did the same. Four players shifted across, cutting passing options and waiting for mistakes.

They didn't rush into tackles. They closed lanes, forcing Barcelona into errors.

"Barcelona don't look sharp tonight," Carlo observed.

If Barça were in top form, their rapid passing might have overwhelmed Atlético. But their rhythm was off, their touches loose. It could have been fatigue after a long season.

Either way, they weren't solving Atlético's system.

In the 11th minute, Alba pushed forward with the ball. Koke tucked inside, combining with Godín and Juanfran to cut his options.

Alba tried to find Messi, but the ball never reached him.

"He knew they wouldn't go wide," Gao Shen said firmly.

This was clearly Simeone's targeted tactic. He had planned every detail to stifle Barcelona.

"But we attack differently," Carlo reminded.

Real Madrid's wingers cut inside, while the full-backs overlapped wide. Atlético wouldn't be able to defend them in the same way.

"Still, the wings are the problem," Hierro admitted.

If even Barcelona were losing the ball constantly, the pressure on Madrid's wide players would be intense.

"But if we can switch play quickly and reach the weak side, we'll have chances," Zidane pointed out.

"Easier said than done. Barcelona haven't managed it yet," Carlo cautioned.

"But their performance isn't sharp enough," Zidane insisted.

Gao Shen listened. They were all right.

They couldn't underestimate Atlético.

Real Madrid weren't as precise in tight passing as Barcelona, so Simeone's tactics would apply to them too. He was clearly preparing for the final.

"Pull the center-backs wider, have them stay deeper and offer themselves for the return pass," Gao Shen suggested.

The others' eyes lit up.

"That could work. It prevents quick counters and gives us another reliable outlet," Zidane said.

"But we'll need practice, especially with two strikers pressing," Carlo reminded.

Gao Shen nodded. Carlo was always cautious, but that was useful.

"Then let's schedule two sessions for targeted drills," Gao Shen decided.

Real Madrid had an advantage: they played a day earlier than Atlético. That gave them one more day to prepare.

Atlético would have no such luxury.

If Gao Shen didn't exploit that, he'd be failing as coach.

"And remember, they'll try to funnel us wide. If we can escape that pressure, we'll win," Gao Shen said confidently.

The staff nodded.

It was good they came in person. On TV, the camera angles would never reveal these details.

…

In the 21st minute, Atlético's plan paid off. They intercepted high, broke quickly, and Gabi slipped a pass into the box.

Falcao finished clinically.

The Calderón erupted.

Gao Shen and his staff couldn't help but cheer too.

Was this an Atlético goal?

No, this was for Real Madrid.

1-0!

Atlético were leading Barcelona.

"Hold on! Hold on! Hold on!" Gao Shen shouted, urging Simeone on.

Carlo, Zidane, and Hierro were all tense.

For the first time in their lives, they were cheering for Atlético.

Atlético held strong until halftime, leading 1-0.

After the restart, little changed.

Vilanova wasn't a master of in-game adjustments, and Barcelona stuck to their rhythm. Atlético's compact defense kept them out.

But around the 60th minute, Simeone started substituting.

Turan came off, then even Falcao within five minutes.

Gao Shen grew anxious.

He wanted to run down to the touchline and tell Simeone: Brother, forget the Copa del Rey. Just beat Barcelona!

Take the cup, I'll hand it to you myself.

But of course, he couldn't.

If such a deal ever came out, Gao Shen would be finished.

Besides, Simeone wasn't foolish. He wouldn't agree.

Even if he did beat Barcelona, and then Real Madrid didn't keep their end of the bargain, what then? Who would Simeone hold responsible?

It was a deal doomed from the start.

(To be continued.)