SWR: Chapter 923/925

Chapter 923: This is What a Death Group Should Look Like

Porto's status as one of the eight seeded teams in the Champions League, and Fernando's role as their starting defensive midfielder, is a clear testament to their strength—especially in tense situations on the pitch.

When Fernando saw that Modric wasn't passing the ball but instead turned to dribble, he reacted immediately. He reached out from behind to pull at him, while using his full body to press forward, attempting to steal the ball.

Unexpectedly, Modric reacted quickly. He suddenly stopped, shielded the ball again, and pulled it back.

This finally gave Fernando a chance for close-quarters defense, which was his specialty.

Given Modric's slight build and thin legs, if Fernando caught him, wouldn't he have to surrender?

The Brazilian center-back immediately stepped up to help.

Modric indeed wasn't physically strong, but his ball retention under defensive pressure was top-class. In fact, this was one of his biggest strengths.

Even with Fernando sticking tightly to him, the Croatian midfielder remained calm. Despite being jostled, he kept his balance, controlled the ball steadily, and quickly played it back to Ramos on the back line.

Ramos avoided Jackson Martínez and passed the ball to the unmarked Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish midfielder trapped the ball, glanced upfield, and delivered a direct pass.

In the attacking third, behind the referee, Benzema dropped back and raised his hand to ask for the ball.

But Porto's center-back Otamendi followed closely behind, pressing from the rear.

Xabi Alonso's passes were always perfectly timed. This one landed on Benzema's right side—the side facing away from goal—positioned closer to Ronaldo.

The French striker quickly caught Alonso's intent. He calmly stopped the ball with his right foot, turned swiftly, and inserted himself between Otamendi and the ball. Not only did he shield it well, he also carried it diagonally into the left side of the penalty area.

"Nice stop and turn!"

"A brilliant through pass by Xabi Alonso, and Benzema controlled it beautifully!"

"Let's watch Real Madrid's attack unfold."

As Benzema held off Otamendi and carried the ball left, the game shifted dramatically.

Now, Real Madrid was attacking Porto's defense head-on. Between Benzema and Ronaldo, there was only one defender—right-back Danilo, who had been tracking Ronaldo but had rushed up to close down Benzema the moment he turned.

But Benzema had been waiting for him. He slipped a pass straight behind Danilo, leading the ball into the left side of the box.

Ronaldo made a lightning-quick diagonal run into the area, latched onto Benzema's through ball, and with goalkeeper Helton charging out, calmly slotted the ball into Porto's goal with his left foot.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"

"In the 44th minute, Real Madrid finally break the deadlock against Porto!"

"A crucial strike by Cristiano Ronaldo!"

"1-0!"

"This goal is vital for Real Madrid!"

After Ronaldo found the net, the entire Real Madrid squad rushed over to celebrate with him.

The Bernabéu erupted in a frenzy.

…

Vilanova didn't know why, but looking at Real Madrid on the pitch at that moment, he felt a sense of déjà vu.

Just now, Real Madrid relied on their strength in passing and ball control to continuously stretch Porto's defensive shape—it looked strikingly similar to Barcelona's style.

Many believed Guardiola learned this from Gao Shen, who had implemented it even earlier.

But regardless of who originated it, that kind of football was quintessential Barcelona.

Yet, watching it now being used by Real Madrid didn't feel out of place at all.

"Fernando was too reckless. This was definitely something Gao Shen prepared for in advance," Lula remarked, as if he could see straight through the tactical setup.

Because Barcelona often used this very method—and it worked every time.

In fact, Barcelona was never afraid of opponents who pressed aggressively for the ball. They feared teams who stuck firmly to their positions.

When every player held their line, their defense resembled a solid wall. No matter how you tried to pass, you couldn't break through it. You could only try to chip away at it through brute force.

That kind of breakthrough required players with elite individual ability.

But no matter how strong your individual ability was, it always carried risk.

Take Messi, for example. What's his success rate when trying to dribble past defenders?

Roughly fifty percent.

Past and present—it's always been around fifty-fifty.

That's too risky for a team like Barcelona. So, they avoided it when possible.

Real Madrid's play just now pulled Fernando out of position and passed the ball behind him. That was a classic Barcelona tactic.

"Do you think he's planning to try and win the ball from us?" Vilanova asked, frowning.

Lula shook his head but hesitated to give a definitive answer.

Based on Real Madrid's performances this season, it was clear that Gao Shen emphasized ball possession.

So far, in every match, Real Madrid's possession numbers were high, and their cohesion was improving rapidly. Just like in the last round against Deportivo La Coruña—even though their opponent's defense was poor—Real Madrid's attacking rhythm and passing were smooth. That was an undeniable fact. Otherwise, how could they have scored so many goals?

But does that mean Real Madrid intends to fight Barcelona for ball control?

"It's hard to say. Gao Shen has always been unpredictable in his tactics. Especially in recent matches, Real Madrid's passing, possession, and attacking play have all been outstanding," Lula replied cautiously.

Before becoming Vilanova's assistant, Lula had never even been on the Champions League touchline—let alone faced top-tier coaches like Gao Shen.

Vilanova had sat on the bench in Champions League games, but as an assistant.

There's a world of difference between being an assistant and a head coach.

…

Real Madrid entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.

In the locker room, Gao Shen specifically praised the players' performances—especially Modric.

From that goal alone, Modric was the most crucial piece. He opened up the space that pulled Fernando out of position. If the Brazilian midfielder hadn't stepped forward, Benzema would've been caught in a pincer from both sides when dropping back.

Porto's defense wouldn't have had such a big gap.

But with the opening goal, the second half became much more manageable.

Gao Shen instructed the players to drop back slightly in the second half and allow Porto to press forward again.

"Remember, we're up 1-0. We hold the advantage. Stay patient, don't force it."

And his judgment proved spot-on.

After the restart, Real Madrid played more patiently. Their passing and ball retention shifted further back.

At first, Porto remained composed. But gradually, they began to lose patience.

Especially after the 60th minute, Victor Pereira urged the team to push forward and brought on Christian Atsu for Varela to bolster their attack.

But just three minutes after the substitution, Real Madrid's midfield completed a successful steal.

Toni Kroos dispossessed Gonzalez, drove the ball forward, drew Fernando out to challenge him, then passed it forward. Benzema dropped deep to receive and laid it off to Modric.

The Croatian midfielder surged forward, reaching the edge of Porto's box. Faced with center-back Maicon, he passed the ball right. Higuaín trapped the ball, dribbled into the right side of the penalty area, and rifled a low shot into the net.

2-0!

The Bernabéu exploded once again.

On the touchline, Gao Shen clenched his fists in excitement.

After losing 0-1 away to Dortmund in the first match, Real Madrid's situation had been tough.

But in this match, the team withstood the pressure and executed the coaching staff's tactics to perfection.

Both goals came from nearly identical patterns.

Although Gao Shen wasn't paying close attention to the other match happening simultaneously—Manchester City hosting Dortmund—he guessed that City likely beat Dortmund.

If not, Pellegrini would probably be out of a job.

Which meant the entire Group of Death had descended into chaos.

Real Madrid, Manchester City, Porto, and Dortmund all sat on one win and one loss.

Now this is what a Death Group should look like.

But the real test was only just beginning.

…

After conceding two goals, Porto finally snapped out of their daze.

Victor Pereira and his players realized that their surprise win over Manchester City in the first round was more due to the Blues' poor away form—not their own brilliance.

At the Bernabéu, their tactics and approach had clearly been too arrogant.

Still, Porto weren't willing to accept defeat so easily after going 0-2 down.

In the 73rd minute, Real Madrid seized another opportunity.

A set piece on the right side of the attacking third.

Modric and Higuaín combined, drawing a foul from Porto. Both Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos stood over the free kick.

Either could take it.

Inside the penalty area, Pepe, Ramos, Ronaldo, Benzema, and Higuaín were all ready.

Xabi Alonso feinted, and Toni Kroos stepped up, curling a pinpoint ball toward the near post.

Pepe and Ramos drew defenders' attention. Taking advantage of this, Ronaldo lost his marker, made a diagonal run, leapt into the air, and powered a header into the net.

3-0!

The Portuguese forward was in blistering form, scoring consistently—hat tricks, braces, he had them all.

Whether it was Real Madrid, the media, fans, or opponents, everyone was awestruck by Ronaldo's incredible scoring streak this season.

And they all agreed—he would be a key figure in the upcoming El Clásico this weekend.

Gao Shen promptly substituted Ronaldo and made a series of changes to preserve energy for the match of the century.

Porto took advantage of the reshuffling and, before the final whistle, exploited a defensive lapse by Real Madrid. James Rodríguez fired a long-range effort from outside the box and pulled one back.

The Colombian midfielder scored in back-to-back group stage matches and performed admirably.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 924: What Would You Choose?

Real Madrid defeated Porto 3-1, while Manchester City beat Dortmund 2-0 at home.

Both matches in the Group of Death attracted major attention from the media and fans around the world.

There's no need to elaborate on Real Madrid's performance. Ronaldo's two goals, along with Higuaín's, earned them widespread praise.

Manchester City secured their victory with a first-half goal from Yaya Touré and a second-half strike from Suárez, beating the German "Yellow and Blacks" 2-0. Klopp's team failed to reproduce their strong home form at the Etihad Stadium.

Dortmund are undoubtedly a strong side, but Klopp has never managed to solve the problem of declining performance in the second half due to physical exhaustion from their intense pressing.

Manchester City's second goal came in the 77th minute.

What's interesting is that, across the four matches played so far in the Group of Death, every game has been won by the home team and lost by the away team. Not a single draw.

After two rounds, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Dortmund, and Porto each had one win and one loss.

This has sparked widespread curiosity about the group.

In terms of strength, there's actually not much separating the teams. They all belong in the Champions League knockout stage, and some are even capable of going beyond the quarterfinals. But placed in the same group, they are forced to compete head-to-head. With the situation now so chaotic, it's difficult to predict who will emerge on top.

The crucial stretch lies in the next two rounds of group fixtures.

Real Madrid will face Manchester City at home first, then away. Dortmund will do the same against Porto—first at home, then away.

After Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Porto, the Spanish press were full of praise. But several prominent voices, including Sacchi, AS editor-in-chief Alfredo, and SER radio host De La Morena, all issued warnings for Real Madrid to remain cautious of Manchester City.

This is the first team to successfully defend the Champions League title since the competition's restructuring.

It's no exaggeration to say that Manchester City are currently the strongest team in European football.

At least in terms of squad depth and quality, there's no doubt that Blue Moon are the best.

Judging by the current trend, if Real Madrid want to finish top of the group, they must go all out in both legs against Manchester City. For a Real Madrid team that has just been restructured this summer, that will be a major challenge.

Of course, the same goes for teams like Manchester City, Dortmund, and Porto.

Sacchi stated that given the situation in Group D, it's far too early to talk about qualification.

"For teams with such evenly matched strength, the outcome likely won't be decided until the final round!"

Alfredo also believes Real Madrid will face immense pressure against Manchester City. But if they want to qualify, they must confront City head-on, especially in the home fixture.

Still, whether it was Sacchi, Alfredo, or De La Morena, they all had praise for Gao Shen.

Especially recently, Real Madrid have clearly been on an upward trajectory.

If the previous back-to-back big wins over Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo La Coruña highlighted Real Madrid's attacking power, then this 3-1 win over Porto showed the team's ability to control the game.

The tempo, ball possession, and match rhythm were all firmly under Real Madrid's control. Porto, who had shocked Manchester City at home in the previous round, had no answer at the Bernabéu.

Fernando, the Brazilian midfielder who had played a pivotal role in the last round, became the weak point in this match due to Real Madrid's targeted tactics.

As Alfredo put it, "It took Gao Shen just over a month to begin shaping this Real Madrid."

"Today's Real Madrid not only controls the game but also shows the traits of a great team."

"Whether against Deportivo or Porto, Real Madrid's victories were convincing."

The AS editor-in-chief believes that this Real Madrid side truly has the potential to challenge Barcelona at Camp Nou.

"I'm looking forward to the upcoming Clásico."

…

Compared to the media buzz and anticipation for the "Derby of the Century," the atmosphere inside the Real Madrid camp had become more charged than ever.

Whether it was the emphatic wins over Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo La Coruña, or the victory over Porto, the team's confidence in Gao Shen's tactics had grown stronger.

As the matches went on, the players began to better understand the advanced tactical concepts, and their coordination and chemistry steadily improved.

For instance, the left-sided attack that Gao Shen had been working on was beginning to show results. The partnership between Marcelo and Ronaldo was thriving, with Toni Kroos and Benzema linking up well in front of them, making Real Madrid's left flank highly dangerous.

Their winning streak was built on this very system.

In contrast, the right side was mostly supported by the combination of Di María and Modric. While Arbeloa was solid defensively, his offensive contribution was limited, making the right flank less effective than the left.

But overall, Real Madrid's tactical setup was starting to take shape.

The day after the match against Porto, Gao Shen held a review meeting after recovery training. The focus was on analyzing the team's strengths and weaknesses, as well as addressing some of the mistakes made during the match.

Gao Shen always gave praise when it was deserved, but he also directly pointed out any shortcomings in performance.

The goal they conceded was largely due to a substitution.

After Gao Shen replaced Marcelo with Marcos Alonso, there were some issues on the left flank defensively. Atsu, who had just come on, exploited the gap and assisted James Rodríguez's goal.

Still, Gao Shen offered encouragement to Marcos Alonso.

For young players, encouragement should take priority.

But the issue still had to be addressed.

During discussions with the coaching staff, Gao Shen stressed the importance of creating a training plan for the younger players as soon as possible. The upcoming schedule was tight, and Real Madrid would need help from their young squad members.

Thanks to the work of fitness coaches Buenaventura and Pintus, Real Madrid had so far avoided any major injuries this season, which was extremely good news for Gao Shen and his squad planning.

…

With a match every few days, the team barely had enough time for proper training, let alone rest.

Just one day after the Porto match, the squad's focus had already shifted to the upcoming Clásico.

Before the afternoon training session, Gao Shen called the team's biggest star, Cristiano Ronaldo, to his office.

Before facing Barcelona, Gao Shen needed to unify the thinking of every player in the squad.

And the first player he had to talk to was Ronaldo.

As the team's top star, Gao Shen had always kept a close eye on Ronaldo's situation.

Building tactics around a team's strengths is standard for any head coach.

In fact, in Gao Shen's previous life, Manchester United had signed Di María and Pogba for huge sums, but failed to build the team around them. As a result, both flopped. Not only did they waste those high-priced signings, they also exposed the incompetence of United's leadership.

Since the start of the season, Gao Shen and Ronaldo had spoken several times on various topics. But there had always been a bit of distance between them. They'd never truly opened up to each other.

Gao Shen never forced it. Everyone has their own personality.

He had read biographies and books about Ronaldo and knew that the Portuguese used to struggle with feelings of inferiority. That experience had made him extremely confident now—so confident that it sometimes came across as arrogance. But in truth, it was a defense mechanism.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a deep-rooted sense of self-protection. He didn't open up easily.

Especially for someone at his level, surrounded by people with hidden agendas, how could he lower his guard so easily?

If he were really that naïve, he would've been taken advantage of long ago.

Gao Shen never expected Ronaldo to be as obedient as Di María. All he wanted was cooperation and alignment.

In reality, it was impossible for a player like Ronaldo to follow anyone's orders blindly.

Not even his mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson.

This time, the conversation between Gao Shen and Ronaldo began with a review of his recent performances.

Ronaldo was very pleased with how things were going. He had been scoring consistently, his coordination with teammates was improving, and he felt that his connection with Marcelo had room for even more growth. He also promised to keep cooperating with teammates and even look to pass more.

Gao Shen was pleased with Ronaldo's attitude.

The Portuguese star was clever. He understood what Gao Shen wanted and what would benefit him most.

Many people don't realize that it's actually easier to deal with smart people.

The most troublesome are the ones who think they're smart but aren't.

Since Ronaldo had expressed himself, Gao Shen responded accordingly. He promised to support Ronaldo fully, because helping him meant helping Real Madrid.

At the same time, he encouraged Ronaldo to interact more with teammates, especially during matches.

Off the pitch, Ronaldo was very thoughtful. He often treated teammates to meals or bought them gifts. These small gestures helped build camaraderie and trust.

There was no problem there.

The two chatted for a while, and gradually, Ronaldo realized that Gao Shen's real reason for calling him in wasn't just to talk about these things.

"Boss, is there something you want to say to me?" Ronaldo asked, leaning back and looking at Gao Shen casually.

Gao Shen smiled. Was it that obvious?

But in truth, he didn't plan on hiding it. This was something he had intended to bring up all along.

"I do have a question," Gao Shen said with a smile.

"Go ahead." Ronaldo sensed the seriousness of the moment.

If Gao Shen had gone through all this effort and small talk to lead up to one question, it was bound to be significant.

"You know, we're about to play Barcelona at Camp Nou. What I want to ask is, if—just hypothetically—you could only choose one between a great individual performance and beating Barcelona, which would you choose?"

After asking, Gao Shen fixed his gaze on Ronaldo.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 925: The Weakest Messi

Valdebebas, meeting room.

"The Catalan media always likes to claim that Barcelona is a cosmic team!"

"Honestly, I've never believed in so-called aliens or cosmic teams on a football pitch."

There were still two days until the Clásico, and Gao Shen was meticulously following the plan he and his coaching staff had crafted, progressing step by step with the team's preparations.

At the moment, he was aligning the players' thinking and laying out the tactical framework.

"Franz Beckenbauer once said that on a football pitch, the strongest is also the weakest!"

"You can think about that. It's a very philosophical statement."

"Coming back to Barcelona, we'll find that the strongest point in their lineup is Messi, but their weakest link is also Messi!"

As soon as Gao Shen said this, a wave of surprise swept through the conference room.

Everyone in the football world knows how strong Messi is. So for Gao Shen to call him Barcelona's weakest link was shocking.

Was there any proof?

"Don't rush to disagree. I'd like everyone to think first. Over the years, football tactics have constantly evolved. Various formations have emerged, and the roles of players in different positions have been adjusted again and again. But the importance of the center position has never diminished. Why is that?"

As soon as he finished, Xabi Alonso raised his hand.

"Go ahead, Xabi. You tell us."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"Football is essentially about scoring and preventing goals. The center forward and the center back are the key players occupying the two decisive zones. So, regardless of how their roles change, someone always needs to be in those key areas."

Gao Shen smiled and nodded approvingly. "Well said, Xabi. You'll definitely become an excellent head coach one day."

The room broke into laughter. Everyone knew Gao Shen was showing appreciation while making a light joke.

"Xabi's right. Football is about scoring and preventing goals, and that ties into possession and space."

"There's also a saying in Italian football: no matter how strong you are on the flanks, you must return to the middle to score."

"That's why Italy has always produced great center forwards, but lacks in wingers. At the same time, they're excellent defensively."

"From that, it's easy to understand how crucial the two penalty areas are, which correspond to the center forward and the center back. Of course, the goalkeeper is also key, but he guards the goal itself."

Gao Shen noticed that none of the players looked impatient. They were all listening attentively, which was exactly the effect he wanted. He always tried to break down tactical concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Including moments like Xabi Alonso's interaction just now.

"So, back to our previous point. Why does the strongest player, Messi, also become Barcelona's biggest liability?"

"In modern football, the role of a center forward is no longer just about waiting in the box. The demands are broader—pulling wide, defending, pressing, occupying defenders, and more."

These are concepts that happen around them every day and are easy to grasp.

The importance of the center forward has never diminished.

Even though in recent years we've seen the rise of strikerless tactics, including Barcelona using Messi as a false nine, which seems to negate the need for a traditional center forward, the issues are clear.

Because Messi is not a true center forward.

He can score, assist, and even defend, but he cannot fulfill the other essential roles of a central striker.

For instance, in attacking phases, he cannot pin down central defenders and create space in dangerous zones for his teammates.

Or, when the team is struggling to break through, he doesn't have the ability to win aerial duels, making Barcelona's crosses from wide areas largely ineffective.

In fact, Barcelona has never had a tradition of crossing from the wings.

It's not so much that they think wing crosses are inefficient, but rather that it contradicts their philosophy.

In Gao Shen's past life, whether it was Eto'o or Ibrahimović, they either didn't fit Barcelona's philosophy or clashed with Messi. Especially later on, when Messi's brilliance continued to grow and Guardiola placed him in the false nine role, Barcelona essentially abandoned the use of a traditional number nine.

Luis Suárez was the most suitable partner for Messi. Alongside Neymar, they formed one of the most formidable, complementary attacking trios in football history.

But unfortunately, Barcelona failed to seize that moment.

Take Luis Enrique, who many Barcelona fans remember as the coach of the so-called Dream Team 4.0.

In many ways, Enrique was successful at Barcelona. But despite having the super trident of Neymar, Suárez, and Messi, their performances in the Champions League—aside from the historic five-title season—were dismal.

During Enrique's time, Barcelona won five trophies. But logically, that should've been the moment to innovate the midfield and move away from the Xavi-Iniesta-style possession game. On one hand, those players were aging. On the other, the game had evolved.

In the past, teams didn't know how to cope with Barcelona's possession and control. But now, everyone does.

That's why Gao Shen always says: in the Champions League, you can't live off your past glory.

If you try to win comfortably, you'll end up getting thrashed.

Barcelona during Enrique's era is the perfect example.

Many say he brought out the full potential of the MSN trio. But that's not true.

If Enrique had truly maximized MSN's abilities, why couldn't they replicate the five-title success?

Was MSN not good enough?

The answer is simple. Enrique didn't elevate the trio. He relied on them.

But reliance doesn't equal maximization.

For a trio like Neymar, Messi, and Suárez, the best way to use them is to avoid getting bogged down in positional play.

They all have exceptional individual ability. If you create space, they can dominate 3-on-4, 3-on-5, or even take on an entire backline by themselves.

How do you create that space?

Quick counterattacks before the opponent's defense is set.

See the contradiction?

That's fundamentally at odds with Barcelona's philosophy. They are built on possession. They fear taking risks and aim to control everything first.

But the problem is, by the time you've settled into your rhythm and the opponent's defense is in place, you're forced into positional play.

Enrique's solution was to give the ball to MSN and let them figure it out.

Now look at Real Madrid's four Champions League titles in five years. From Ancelotti to Zidane, the team focused on speeding up transitions between attack and defense.

How did they speed up?

By transforming the midfield.

Tactically, they abandoned the attacking midfielder role in favor of a midfield trio.

In terms of personnel, they moved away from one-dimensional players like Germany's No. 10, Khedira, and Kaká, and instead prioritized versatile players like Di María, Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, and Xabi Alonso.

That was a trend.

Even in Gao Shen's timeline, Real Madrid focused on young midfielders with two-way ability like Valverde, Camavinga, and Tchouaméni.

The advantage of such all-rounders is that whoever gets the ball can launch a counterattack instantly, making them the most likely to strike before the opponent organizes their defense.

Some may ask, isn't Barcelona's midfield comprehensive?

Yes, they were. But that was in the past.

Xavi and Iniesta were once the most complete midfielders in the world, but that relied on their incredible work rate.

Now, they can't run anymore.

Once that physical edge was gone, their natural weaknesses were exposed. So what did they do?

They tried to improve ball control.

You've heard the phrase:

"As long as we don't give up possession, the opponent can't score."

But from the moment Xavi and Iniesta lost their legs, Barcelona's midfield began to collapse.

Especially Busquets.

He was never a physically dominant defensive midfielder. His strengths were anticipation and passing. But his defensive work and pace were always lacking. So once Xavi and Iniesta could no longer protect him, he was exposed.

And once Busquets was exposed, the back line became vulnerable.

Gao Shen had always said Barcelona's defensive system is flawed. Their entire tactical setup is built around possession, not defense.

This is why Barcelona has suffered blowout losses in the Champions League knockout rounds time and again.

As long as the opponent is strong enough to force Barcelona into exposing these issues, they become helpless.

In La Liga, the opposition isn't as tough. Barcelona can rely on their passing and control to maintain results.

But in this situation, Barcelona should have used a center forward to press high, to pin down the defense and provide space and cover for the midfield.

Unfortunately, Messi isn't that type of center forward.

And to accommodate Messi's tactical freedom, players like Eto'o and Ibrahimović were squeezed out. Ibrahimović especially was the perfect type of center forward for Barcelona.

Just imagine, if the Swedish striker had been allowed to anchor the opponent's defense, would Barcelona's midfield have suffered so much pressure?

This is exactly what Gao Shen meant when he said: Barcelona's strongest point is Messi, but he is also their weakest link.

…

Gao Shen didn't share every thought he had with the players. Instead, he reworded his ideas to help deconstruct Barcelona's current tactics and flaws, while also offering some predictions about future trends.

He also specifically mentioned young players like Isco and Verratti, reminding the squad that they needed to become more complete players and not resist the coaching staff's instructions to improve their defensive work and physical conditioning.

All-round ability is the way forward.

Through this analysis, Gao Shen had essentially laid out the plan for how to face Barcelona.

And many of the smarter players in the room had already begun to figure out the plan and the reasoning behind it.

This was exactly the effect Gao Shen wanted.

(To be continued.)