SWR: Chapter 980/981

Chapter 980: Defeat Barcelona

On the evening of January 30th, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

When Gao Shen walked out of the home team tunnel, the 80,000 Real Madrid fans inside the Bernabéu erupted into deafening cheers.

They were shouting his name with wild enthusiasm, letting the whole world feel his status and influence at Real Madrid.

Gao Shen was used to this by now, but he still felt proud. He raised his hand and waved to the Real Madrid fans in the stands.

As the home team's coach, Gao Shen made his way to the visiting team's bench to greet Jordi Roura, Barcelona's assistant coach and acting head coach. The two shook hands and hugged.

Not only that, Gao Shen also stood with Roura on the touchline for a moment, asking with genuine concern about Vilanova's condition.

Just a few days before this match, Barcelona head coach Tito Vilanova's illness had worsened and he was hospitalized again, reportedly needing another surgery.

Although they were rivals, Gao Shen had sent his best wishes immediately. He not only posted a message of support on Twitter, but also called Vilanova personally to check on him, as a matter of courtesy.

Deep down, however, Gao Shen knew Vilanova's situation was grave.

In fact, many people had guessed as much, but no one wanted to say it aloud.

On behalf of Vilanova, Roura expressed his gratitude to Gao Shen.

After a brief chat, Gao Shen returned to the home bench.

The entire exchange was caught by fans, the media, and the live broadcast cameras.

…

"He is completely different from Mourinho," Jose Sanchez remarked from his seat in the presidential box, as the noise of the crowd continued.

Even though this was only Gao Shen's first season back at Real Madrid, his commercial value was already clear. With the club's commercial department actively promoting him, many sponsors had approached seeking partnerships with Gao Shen.

These deals also brought profits to Real Madrid.

More importantly, Gao Shen's public image was excellent.

Although some of his actions sparked debate at times, his personality and manner of dealing with people were far more widely accepted by fans and media around the world, unlike Mourinho, who often came across as combative and polarizing.

Florentino nodded with a satisfied smile. He had always believed that bringing Gao Shen back to Real Madrid would be one of his smartest decisions.

"Although it's a bit…" Florentino paused, clearly hesitant to say it outright, "Vilanova's absence will have a significant impact on Barcelona. We should be more confident, right?"

Valdano and Butragueño both nodded.

To many outsiders, the head coach's job might seem limited to running training, studying opponents, arranging the starting lineup, and shouting instructions during a match. On the surface, it might seem as though the coach is not essential during the actual game.

But this is a major misunderstanding of the role.

Mourinho, for example, was known to deliberately sit in a visible spot in the stands when suspended, so that his players could look up and see him. He would still direct the team through phones and other devices.

It was not just about giving instructions. It was to tell the players, "I'm here."

Some might not understand why this matters. But think about it: in a classroom, students behave differently when the teacher is present compared to when they are not. In an office, employees often work differently when the boss is there.

The same is true in football.

Whether called a manager in England or a coach in continental Europe, the head coach carries the responsibility of a project leader. He is accountable for the results and cannot shirk that responsibility.

The relationship between coach and players is not merely cooperative, it is one of leadership and trust.

Listen to me, work hard for me, and believe that I can lead you to victory.

When this relationship breaks down, as it did in Gao Shen's previous life when Mourinho clashed with the Real Madrid dressing room and banned Casillas, the entire team suffers.

Barcelona's current situation was unusual. The relationship had not broken down, but with the head coach unable to perform his duties and the assistant stepping in, the authority was simply not the same. The players remained disciplined, but it was not the same as following their actual head coach.

That can easily create problems.

Of course, Barcelona's quality meant they could still beat most teams without a head coach.

But Real Madrid was not most teams.

"I heard Gao Shen has been preparing meticulously for this game and even expressed regret that Vilanova wouldn't be on the touchline," Butragueño said with a smile.

Florentino nodded. "Yes. Without Vilanova, even if we win, it will not feel entirely complete."

Those around them smiled knowingly.

As Barcelona's long-time rival, there was nothing Real Madrid wanted more than to beat them.

In recent years, Real Madrid had suffered enough.

…

Both teams sent out their strongest lineups for tonight's match.

Real Madrid lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas.

Defence: Arbeloa, Pepe, Varane, Carvajal.

Midfield: Xabi Alonso sitting deep, with Toni Kroos and Modric in the center.

Forwards: Ronaldo, Benzema, Di María.

Casillas was the first-choice keeper for cup competitions such as the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, while Courtois was used in the league. The two had worked well in rotation.

In defence, Marcelo was in the stands tonight, continuing his recovery training. Gao Shen did not use Marcos Alonso or Nacho, instead starting veteran Arbeloa, a decision aimed at countering Barcelona's style.

Barcelona also played 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper: Valdés.

Defence: Alba, Puyol, Piqué, Alves.

Midfield: Busquets holding, Iniesta and Xavi ahead.

Forwards: Alexis Sánchez, Messi, Agüero.

The three forwards often switched positions between Agüero, Sánchez, and Messi.

Barcelona rarely crossed from the byline, preferring to cut inside. Using Arbeloa at full-back to deal with Agüero and Messi made sense in this context.

The Real Madrid captain's armband was on Pepe's arm. At the coin toss, he gave Barcelona the kickoff.

Messi and Agüero stood in the center circle. When the referee blew the whistle, they immediately played the ball back to Piqué.

Real Madrid's front three pressed forward instantly.

Benzema led the charge, closing down Piqué and Puyol.

Piqué retreated to the top of the penalty area and passed back to Valdés.

Valdés stopped the ball near the six-yard box. Barcelona's familiar build-up shape appeared.

Piqué and Puyol split wide, one in front of the box, one to the side. Busquets dropped deep between them, forming a classic passing diamond in front of their goal.

Benzema did not commit to chasing Piqué or Puyol, instead tracking Busquets. If Real Madrid overcommitted to press the center-backs, Barcelona would bypass them with passes into midfield or beyond, which was dangerous.

After scanning the field, Valdés passed to Piqué, who advanced before Benzema applied light pressure.

Piqué then sent the ball across to Puyol in space.

Puyol drove forward but Real Madrid's defensive shape adjusted quickly.

Benzema dropped back to keep marking Busquets, Ronaldo tracked Alves, Di María followed Alba, and Modric stepped up.

Seeing no opening, Puyol stopped and passed back to Piqué, who now had Xavi dropping deep to receive.

Benzema and Modric, however, stayed focused on Busquets.

It was clear Real Madrid did not care about Barcelona's short passes at the back, nor did they press Xavi deep. Their attention was locked on Busquets, keeping the formation compact.

Xavi turned and advanced. Barcelona pushed forward slowly, Real Madrid dropped in unison.

Suddenly, Agüero dropped deep into the space between Ronaldo, Kroos, and Benzema to receive.

Di María alerted Kroos, who immediately closed in.

Before Agüero could control Xavi's pass, Kroos got tight to him, using his body to shield the ball and poking it away.

Agüero tried to hold him off, but the German's height and reach gave him the advantage. Kroos was no stranger to physical duels, and at the precise moment before Agüero could trap the ball, he stepped in and stabbed it away.

The ball rolled toward Barcelona's defence, but Xavi had already pushed forward. Alves came to collect, yet Ronaldo was quicker, darting in to intercept, pushing the ball past Alves and bursting forward in long strides.

In a flash, Ronaldo was tearing toward the left corner of Barcelona's box.

Piqué moved across to cover, sliding in decisively. Ronaldo reacted faster, slipping the ball into the penalty area in an attempt to beat him one-on-one.

But Piqué's momentum caught Ronaldo's leg, sending the Portuguese winger tumbling inside the box.

The referee's sharp whistle sounded immediately.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 981: This Guy Is Good

Wow!

The entire Bernabéu Stadium erupted instantly.

Penalty!

More and more fans shouted loudly, convinced they had seen Ronaldo brought down inside Barcelona’s penalty area.

At first glance, it did look like a penalty.

But Gao Shen and his staff saw clearly that Piqué’s challenge was just outside the box. This was more of a free kick than a penalty.

The referee’s decision confirmed it. After blowing the whistle, Gómez did not point to the spot, but awarded a free kick. He then walked over to Piqué, called him out, and quickly showed him a yellow card.

"Twenty-nine seconds into the game, Real Madrid have a free kick in a great position up front."

"Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué is booked."

"Yes, the foul was outside the area, but the free kick is still in a very dangerous spot."

"Now it depends on how Real Madrid decide to play this. They could definitely go for a direct shot."

After Benzema helped Ronaldo back to his feet, several Real Madrid players gathered near Barcelona’s box, while the visitors organised their defensive wall.

…

Gao Shen stood on the touchline. Although the whole stadium was booing and protesting the referee’s decision not to give a penalty, he was not surprised.

The decision was spot-on.

"Ronnie should be confident from here," Zidane said.

He had practiced free kicks with Ronaldo and knew how often the Portuguese scored from this range.

Barcelona clearly knew it too, arranging Piqué, Busquets, and other tall players in the wall, even trying to edge forward until the referee made them retreat.

This was before referees carried cans of white spray to mark the line, which would have made it simpler and clearer.

"This position is neither great nor bad. It’s hard to get the ball to dip and still hit the corner. That’s quite difficult," Hierro, who also knew his way around a free kick, analysed.

Gao Shen nodded. In fact, if it had been a little further back, the shot might have been easier to execute.

"If we work a set play here, it might be easier to score," Gao Shen said.

Zidane and Hierro exchanged a glance and nodded.

Normally, from here it would be a direct shot, since it was central but slightly to the left. But precisely because everyone expected a direct attempt, a quick combination might catch Barcelona out, especially with all their tall players in the wall.

Piqué was originally supposed to track Benzema at the back post, but Xavi had called him into the wall.

"I didn’t notice before, but now I think Xavi has the makings of a head coach," Gao Shen laughed.

At the time of his transmigration, Xavi had indeed gone into coaching, though not in La Liga but in Qatar.

Many believed he could become the next Guardiola. Barcelona had a tradition of midfielders becoming coaches, and Xavi looked like the next in line.

Right now, it was clear the Barcelona players were listening to him like he was already their coach on the pitch.

At this moment, the Real Madrid players pulled away, leaving only Ronaldo over the ball.

That was a clear signal they were going for goal.

Everyone knew Ronaldo’s trademark knuckleball.

The players had made their decision on the pitch, and Gao Shen did not interfere, simply watching quietly.

…

With the referee’s whistle, Ronaldo took a quick run-up and struck the free kick with his right foot.

There was a thud as the ball sailed over the wall.

But unexpectedly, it was not aimed at goal. Instead, it dropped toward the back of the six-yard box.

Before anyone could react, Benzema burst into the area. With no marker close to him, he barely had to jump, meeting the ball cleanly with his head.

His header changed the ball’s direction and sent it into the far corner.

“GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!”

"Real Madrid’s free kick combination!"

"1-0!"

"Less than two minutes in, Real Madrid have opened Barcelona’s goal with a brilliant set piece!"

"That free kick from Ronaldo caught everyone by surprise."

"I think fans everywhere, just like us, assumed he would go for goal. It fits his style. But at the decisive moment, he chose to assist instead."

"This is Ronaldo. This is what a superstar does."

"You never know what he will decide."

"Ronaldo’s delivery was perfect, and Benzema’s positioning was spot on. Alves was blocked off behind him, and with the height disadvantage, the Brazilian didn’t even jump. He could only watch Benzema’s header go in."

"That was a sudden and unexpected move from Real Madrid."

Gao Shen raised his arms and cheered from the sideline, pleasantly surprised.

He had not expected Ronaldo to opt for the assist, and the quality of the delivery was outstanding.

"To be honest, Ronaldo has really changed," Hierro praised.

The sudden choice to assist was completely unexpected.

If the Real Madrid bench was caught off guard, then Barcelona were certainly stunned.

But that’s football.

"Yes, he’s playing more for the team now, not just trying to be the hero. It’s probably tied to his performances this season. He’s been scoring plenty," Zidane analysed.

Gao Shen remembered how, when he first took charge, he had pushed Ronaldo hard to change his approach. Now, it seemed to have paid off. Ronaldo had embraced a more team-oriented style, which only made him more dangerous.

Just like this goal: Ronaldo had dropped deep to get the ball before Alves, bursting from behind to win it. If he had stayed too high up, the chance might not have come.

He won the free kick, took it himself, and assisted the goal.

The first two minutes were all about Ronaldo.

"This guy is good!" Gao Shen said with a wide grin.

He was genuinely happy to see Ronaldo’s transformation.

…

Real Madrid’s early goal sent the Bernabéu into a frenzy.

But once play restarted, Barcelona immediately pushed forward.

Real Madrid’s shape remained compact and organised near the halfway line.

After half a season of fine-tuning, their defensive system was both structured and flexible. The players worked tirelessly to close spaces, making it hard for Barcelona to pass through the midfield.

This was a different approach from Gao Shen’s Napoli days.

Back then, in a 4-2-3-1, he would press hard between the 30-metre line and the halfway line. Once opponents entered that zone, Napoli would swarm them aggressively, often sending extra players into traps, especially out wide, where they would form a fan-shaped pressing unit.

That worked well with three or four midfielders on one flank.

But in a 4-3-3, with wingers pushed high and only three midfielders, it was harder to form such small traps.

This time, Gao Shen had Ronaldo and Di María drop deeper, the full-backs push up, and with Modric and Kroos joining in, they could quickly form pressing groups on the wings.

Benzema stopped pressing Piqué and Puyol, instead focusing solely on marking Busquets.

This greatly disrupted Barcelona’s build-up.

Xavi and Iniesta dropped back often to help, but when they tried to push forward, they found themselves blocked.

Gao Shen watched intently from the sideline, studying his team’s defensive shape.

As the match went on, Barcelona dominated possession. Even trailing, they pushed forward aggressively, with Messi, Sánchez, and Agüero dropping deep to help, but without much success.

Tonight, at the Bernabéu, Barcelona’s midfield looked jammed.

In football, nothing happens by accident.

Once Barcelona’s passing lanes were shut down and their possession brought no threat, their weaknesses began to show, especially the flaw Gao Shen had pointed out before the match.

Their counter-pressing.

Many would scoff at the idea. After all, Barcelona’s famed “Dream Team III” was known for their immediate counter-press after losing the ball. How could that be a weakness?

It was not that they had lost the ability entirely, but it had declined.

That was closely linked to their reduced running capacity.

As they grew more focused on possession, and with ageing legs like Xavi and Puyol, their running and intensity in counter-pressing dropped. The desire to press immediately weakened, and it became more obvious.

They had tried to address it by signing players like Seydou Keita or, more recently, Alex Song.

In Gao Shen’s previous life, they even brought in Mascherano to strengthen interceptions, but ended up converting him into a centre-back.

Now, their counter-press was vulnerable. Not every time, but when it failed, it was costly.

Like in the 18th minute, when they tried to play a ball in behind Real Madrid’s defence, only for Varane to head it clear into midfield.

The young centre-back was having an excellent game, frustrating Messi repeatedly, including on this clearance.

Kroos outjumped Xavi to win the second ball, heading it toward the centre.

Xabi Alonso stepped up to collect it, and at that moment, there was not a single Barcelona player within ten metres of the Real Madrid midfield.

This was a clear flaw in their transition. Alonso drove forward, and Xavi failed to close him down quickly, forcing Iniesta to step up instead.

That allowed Di María to cut inside into Iniesta’s space, raising his hand to call for the ball.

At the same time, Carvajal made a decisive overlapping run on the right at full speed.

(To be continued.)