SWR: Chapter 987/988

Chapter 987: Lame Real Madrid

As February approached, the temperature in Madrid began to fluctuate.

The difference between day and night was only about ten degrees, but over the past two or three days, the temperature had dropped sharply, with daytime temperatures falling to around 5 degrees. By the 6th, it had risen again to over ten degrees.

This sudden change in temperature caught the attention of Real Madrid, as professional players' bodies are highly sensitive and more prone to catching colds.

Many people believe players are strong and less likely to get sick, which is generally true. However, once a player falls ill, it often becomes troublesome.

For example, if they have a fever, it can be a persistent high fever that no medicine seems to help.

So, during weather like this, the coaching staff must be extra cautious.

Taking advantage of the slightly warmer weather, even though it was still cool, Gao Shen and the others found some time before the players returned to invite the coaching staff to have a barbecue in his yard.

At night, with the wind blowing and temperatures around 5 degrees Celsius, everyone gathered around the grill, listening to the sizzling of the meat dripping with oil. No one felt cold, and instead, they enjoyed the unique atmosphere.

The barbecued meats were all pre-prepared from Juan's House Barbecue. All they had to do was place them on the grill, and they would be ready in no time. Everyone was relaxed and served themselves freely, adding whatever they liked.

Gao Shen took a piece of wood and occasionally poked at the red-hot charcoal, as if that would make it burn more vigorously.

The others were eating with relish.

This was a favorite in Spain.

Su Qing came out, holding her big belly with one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other.

"This is the wine Sanchez brought from Chile last time. You should try it." She handed it to Zidane, who she was most familiar with.

"Thanks, Su."

Zidane took it and immediately looked for a bottle opener.

Everyone knew that Gao Shen, Sanchez, Vargas, and Vidal had invested in farms and wineries in Chile and Peru, and their business was thriving. Their farms and wineries were now well-known in Chile.

Among them, the wine from their winery had even been praised by connoisseurs like Ferguson, who kept it in his collection.

Gao Shen turned around and smiled at his wife. "It's cold outside, you should go back and rest."

Su Qing nodded. "You all enjoy yourselves. I'm going to rest."

Everyone nodded and bid her goodbye.

"Hey, Gao, when is the due date?" Carlo asked after she left.

"In a few days. The doctor said around the 10th."

Everyone instinctively glanced toward the house. They could all sense Gao Shen's mood.

On one side was his pregnant wife, and on the other, Real Madrid's tight schedule.

It was indeed a tough situation.

"This little guy really knows how to pick his timing," Carlo joked.

"You know it's a boy?" Zidane was surprised.

Carlo pointed at Gao Shen. "He said he wants him to play football in the future."

Gao Shen nodded.

In Europe, this sort of thing can be known in advance, and the regulations aren't strict.

For Gao Shen, it didn't matter if it was a boy or a girl, but since it happened to be a boy, the whole family was delighted.

Now, all four elders in the family were in Madrid, worried about any possible mishaps.

If Su Qing had agreed, Gao Shen would have arranged for her to stay in the hospital earlier, with professional doctors and nurses caring for her, so he could be at ease.

But Su Qing preferred being at home, saying she felt more comfortable there.

Still, Gao Shen told her she would have to go to the hospital in a few days.

Next, he would be busy preparing for matches against Sevilla and Manchester United. Once he got busy, he wouldn't be able to take care of her, and he didn't want to be distracted.

"Boys are good, and football training is good too," Zidane smiled. "Let me be clear, I will be this little guy's godfather. No one can take that from me."

Everyone laughed and said he would have to treat them before it counted.

"We don't really have a so-called godfather, just the concept of a godfather," Gao Shen smiled.

"Then he will be my godson. Same thing. I'll teach him football in the future," Zidane said eagerly.

"No, can you even do it?" Jero said doubtfully.

When it came to children, Zidane was indeed far less impressive than he was on the pitch.

At least, none of his three sons had matched his own glory. At best, they might be professional players, and they were mostly known because of their father's name.

"I'm telling you, when it comes to teaching your own kid, it doesn't work. You can't hit him, you can't scold him, and he's always smiling and playing around. He never takes you seriously." Zidane's tone carried a hint of frustration.

No matter how authoritative he was on the pitch, when it came to his own kids...

It was the same story everywhere.

This reminded Gao Shen of a tradition in many trades in China, where fathers and sons would not work as master and apprentice because they couldn't teach each other effectively.

He wondered what it would be like with his own child in the future.

…

"I just checked the weather forecast. It's going to rain tomorrow. Make sure to turn on the drainage system at the training ground in advance, and the underfloor heating too, to prevent freezing," Gao Shen reminded.

"I've already given instructions, don't worry," Carlo replied.

Gao Shen kept fiddling with the charcoal. "What's going on with Marcelo?"

"Same problem as before. He's gained a lot of weight during recovery after surgery. We need to get him to lose weight quickly before gradually adjusting his condition, so his recovery is slower than expected," Buenaventura said.

Pintus added, "Marcelo's body tends to put on weight easily. During his recovery, we monitored his diet and activity, but he still gained weight."

This was actually quite common. Many players, once sidelined due to injury, see their weight rise sharply when training stops and activity decreases. For someone like Marcelo, it was even trickier.

"How long will it take?"

"Hard to say right now. Our initial estimate is that he won't be able to play in the two legs against Manchester United," Buenaventura said, explaining further, "We're worried that if we rush him back, he might get injured again, which would be worse and could even lead to lingering muscle problems."

This was also a frequent occurrence. Many players with recurring injuries rush back before fully healing, only to pick up new injuries. Some delay treatment repeatedly, turning the issue into a chronic problem that follows them for their entire career.

In better cases, it can be managed with treatment and medication, but some, like Robben, still suffer constant relapses.

Ultimately, it comes down to the club and head coach's decision.

If you treat players like consumables, you use them until they break and then replace them.

For a top club like Real Madrid, European football has no shortage of talent.

Without Marcelo, there was still Alaba and others.

"Let him recover first, keep monitoring, and report to me daily," Gao Shen instructed.

Buenaventura and Pintus both nodded.

They knew Marcelo had been part of Real Madrid's tactical plan from the start, but he had ended up sidelined for months, leaving the team like it was playing with one lame leg.

Whether it was Marcos Alonso, Arbeloa, or Nacho, none had truly excelled at left-back. Marcos Alonso still hadn't found his form and was no better than the others.

Marcelo's importance on the left side was huge, especially for Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was incredibly strong, but he was still just one man. Toni Kroos wasn't the type of player to combine with him on the wing. He could support and pass, but he couldn't create the same attacking synergy.

Right now, only Marcelo could do that.

On the right, Di Maria and Carvajal had formed an excellent partnership, with growing chemistry.

It was a bit like the Messi-Alves pairing at Barcelona, where their combined effect was greater than the sum of their parts.

When Alves left, Messi's influence was reduced and Barcelona's attack suffered.

The same applied to Real Madrid.

Before Marcelo's injury, opponents often focused on shutting down Ronaldo, making Real Madrid's attack less effective. Later, Gao Shen pushed Carvajal forward, creating the right-wing partnership with Di Maria, which helped ease the pressure on Ronaldo's side.

But in the Champions League knockout stage, could Real Madrid keep playing this way?

"When the time comes, Ferguson will definitely focus on both flanks and make adjustments," Zidane predicted.

Carlo agreed. "Looking at the schedule, our biggest advantage is playing at home. It gives us about one more day of rest than Manchester United after the league game."

That single day was not to be underestimated, since Manchester United was in a fierce title race with Manchester City. By the 26th round, when they faced Everton at home, they would have to go all out.

If that happened, Ferguson's team wouldn't have much recovery time.

By the way, after 25 Premier League rounds, Leeds United had slipped to seventh place. Despite beating Reading away and drawing with Aston Villa at home, they then lost to Everton and Tottenham in back-to-back matches.

Two straight defeats saw the White Rose drop in the table, but they were still the most surprising promoted team of the season.

"Ferguson's tactics are very sharp, and Manchester United is a team he has led for many years. Even with that extra day, we still have to be extremely cautious. I think he'll definitely aim for an away goal, so..." Zidane didn't finish, but the meaning was clear. Why not just play defensively at home?

Gao Shen had always been pragmatic in his tactical approach. Playing defensively was normal for him, and it came without any psychological burden.

But he wondered whether Ferguson would think the same way.

When two masters face off, the result often comes down to details, because the difference in strength is small.

Real Madrid might have the advantage in strength, home ground, and schedule, but beating Manchester United at the Bernabéu would not be easy, especially since Ferguson knew Ronaldo and Gao Shen so well.

Gao Shen was trying to figure out Ferguson's approach.

And he believed Ferguson was doing the same at this very moment.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 988: Confident Ferguson

While Gao Shen was barbecuing at home in Madrid and studying how to play against Manchester United, Ferguson was also analyzing Real Madrid at the Carrington training base in Manchester.

In front of the Manchester United manager, on a large tactical board, was the lineup he predicted would be Real Madrid's starting eleven.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas.

Defenders: Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, and Carvajal.

Midfield: Xabi Alonso sitting deep, with Toni Kroos and Modric in central positions.

Forwards: Ronaldo, Benzema, and Di Maria.

If nothing unexpected happened, this should be Real Madrid's starting lineup.

Ferguson and his coaching staff had also compiled and analyzed information from multiple sources.

One key detail was that although Marcelo had returned to training, his fitness was far from meeting match requirements, leading Ferguson to believe Gao Shen would not risk using him.

Ferguson knew Gao Shen well. He was not cold-blooded and would never treat players like disposable tools.

Even so, Real Madrid's lineup was still stronger than Manchester United's.

How to contain Real Madrid's attack would be the key challenge at the Bernabéu.

To contain their attack, you had to first limit Ronaldo.

Everyone knew the Portuguese forward was the most dangerous weapon in Real Madrid's offense.

How should he set up to deal with this?

"Rafael alone can't stop Ronnie. We need at least two players covering that wing," assistant coach Mike Phelan said.

Ferguson gave him a glance, feeling slightly helpless.

Of course he knew that. What he needed to decide was who would be Rafael's partner on that side.

More importantly, would Gao Shen rotate Ronaldo, Benzema, and Di Maria's positions during the match, like he did against Manchester City?

If Real Madrid's front three switched positions, how would Manchester United defend?

These were the crucial points.

If he had the wingers track back to help defend, it would inevitably affect Manchester United's attack.

Against a strong side like Real Madrid, if United failed to apply enough pressure in the attacking third, they would be pinned back and concede goals.

In the end, they would not be leaving the Bernabéu in one piece.

Ferguson understood this better than anyone.

He knew full well that sophisticated tactics needed the right balance.

If wingers weren't used, the only other option was to deploy more defensive midfielders. Carrick alone was not enough, so he would need two.

Cleverley? Phil Jones? Schneiderlin?

Ferguson thought it through, then placed two pieces on the tactical board in the holding midfield positions: No. 16 and No. 28.

Number 16 was Carrick, and number 28 was Schneiderlin.

Carrick was positioned on the left, Schneiderlin on the right.

Clearly, Ferguson's plan was to use Schneiderlin alongside Rafael to contain Ronaldo, especially when he cut inside from the left.

The defense itself would remain largely unchanged.

From left to right: Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, and Rafael.

This was Manchester United's strongest defensive unit.

In their peak years, United's defense had been one of the best in Europe, helping them win the Champions League. While age had taken a toll in recent seasons, it remained solid and was a key factor in their Premier League lead.

Ferguson knew better than anyone how crucial this back line was to winning the title.

But with two defensive midfielders, they would be playing a 4-2-3-1. How should the attack be set up?

He had considered adding more firepower up front, but had never found the right fit.

Unlike Gao Shen's previous life, Berbatov was still at United, but Ferguson felt this type of match did not suit the Bulgarian striker. He could not apply enough pressure on Real Madrid's defense.

United's biggest strengths in this game would be pressing and counterattacks.

Try to play possession against Real Madrid? Ferguson wasn't foolish.

More importantly, if Carrick and Schneiderlin were used as a double pivot, who would be the main playmaker in midfield?

Ferguson placed No. 23, representing Özil, in the attacking midfield role, with Rooney just behind as the natural choice.

On the right, Valencia, currently United's best winger.

On the left, Ferguson chose Welbeck ahead of Nani and Shinji Kagawa.

Mike Phelan and the other assistants watched as Ferguson finalized the player numbers on the board, immediately grasping his thinking.

The right flank would be United's main attacking channel, with Valencia pivotal there, while on the left, Welbeck would be tasked with putting pressure on Carvajal.

Welbeck had height, strength, and a physical advantage, and had been performing well this season. He reminded Ferguson of Ronaldo in his early years, and the manager wanted him to play that role.

Moreover, with Marcelo absent, Real Madrid's right side would certainly be their main attacking route. Once Carvajal pushed forward, Welbeck's side would have more space to exploit.

After thinking it through, Mike Phelan and the others felt Ferguson's plan was the most logical.

Even if Real Madrid's front three swapped positions, United could adjust by having Welbeck drop back to help Evra, while pushing Valencia forward.

Welbeck and Valencia also had clear speed advantages.

In midfield, Schneiderlin was strong in ball recovery and distribution, making him an important part of the tactical plan.

But this was only the ideal setup. How well it would work depended entirely on the players' performances.

Especially the veterans and young defenders.

United's back line was a mix of youth and experience.

Evra and Vidic were both 31, Ferdinand was 33, while Rafael and De Gea were just 21.

This was clearly a potential weakness.

But Ferguson had no choice. Nearing retirement, if he wanted to win one more title, he needed to keep the lineup stable. A major shake-up could easily backfire.

That was why United had not made big moves last summer.

It also meant their overall strength had taken a hit.

Compared to top teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona, and even Premier League rivals Manchester City, United's squad looked modest.

But so what?

Ferguson could still lead a modest squad to a title.

After all, they were currently top of the Premier League.

…

"Boss, is our goal in this game to score?" assistant coach René Meulensteen asked.

The Dutchman, highly valued by Ferguson, was United's technical coach and oversaw training.

If Ferguson wanted goals, training would have to be tailored for it.

"We definitely want to score, but that's not the main goal," Ferguson said, frowning.

René Meulensteen and Mike Phelan exchanged confused looks.

"When you face a team like Gao Shen's, the most dangerous thing is a lack of unity in approach. If the players aren't on the same page, the team's lines can disconnect, and Gao Shen is excellent at exploiting that."

It was true. Gao Shen's tactical adaptability had been widely praised, and he was adept at targeting weaknesses exposed in the game.

"Honestly, this match is not in our favor. We have one less day of rest than Real Madrid and we're away from home. The best approach is to keep our structure, contain their attack, and look for chances to score."

The assistants immediately understood.

Scoring would be a bonus. Leaving without damage was the priority.

Easier said than done.

Real Madrid had the most potent attack in Europe, and Ronaldo was the top scorer so far. The pressure on United would be immense.

Even Ferguson wondered if Schneiderlin and Rafael could really contain Ronaldo.

From what he knew, Ronaldo's style had clearly evolved under Gao Shen's training this season.

If United could shut down Real Madrid's attack away from home, even without scoring, Ferguson would be confident of turning things around at Old Trafford.

He only feared Real Madrid would seize the initiative.

But he would not abandon attacking play for an all-out defensive shell.

Ferguson had never parked the bus in his career. Even against Barcelona and Manchester City, United played without fear.

It was in the club's DNA.

Besides, could they really keep a clean sheet at the Bernabéu by defending deep?

That would be underestimating Gao Shen too much.

"The focus of our next training will be on defensive formations. We must stay compact and organized."

"I suspect that even if Gao Shen doesn't switch his front three at the start, he will definitely rotate them during the game to stretch our defense and midfield. So we need targeted training for that."

This gave René Meulensteen a headache.

"Then what about the Everton match..."

United would face Everton at home before the Real Madrid game, and it was a key fixture in the title race.

"Don't worry, I'm confident about that game. I don't need special training for it. I know exactly how to play against Everton."

That was Ferguson's advantage.

After decades in the Premier League, he knew every team inside out. Even without targeted preparation, he could still set up to win.

Of course, there had been exceptions.

Chelsea under Mourinho from 2004, and Manchester City under Gao Shen from 2009, had caused United serious trouble.

But Everton was not one of those threats.

Moyes did not have Mourinho's or Gao Shen's level.

Ferguson was still confident.

(To be continued.)