SWR: Chapter 912/913

Chapter 912: This Is the Football That Real Madrid Wants

In both his past life and this one, Gao Shen always felt that Di María was an underrated star.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was born at the wrong time.

Many fans remember Di María as a winger.

Indeed, his first impression on the global stage was as a traditional wide player.

Some described him as a typical Latin American forward—quick, skillful, and an excellent dribbler.

But European football had entered the era of big center-forwards. For South American forwards like Saviola, survival in Europe became increasingly difficult unless they adapted or developed slowly.

So Di María naturally shifted out to the wing.

Whether this shift was the right move is debatable, but one thing is clear—Di María has always been underestimated.

A winger?

His speed, technique, and dribbling are indeed very dangerous out wide. His most unique trait is the distinctive rhythm in his dribbling, a flair commonly seen in South American players.

Luis Suárez, for example, shows this in a different way.

But is that all there is to Di María?

In Gao Shen's previous life, during the Ancelotti era, Di María played as the left central midfielder in a 4-3-3. The Argentine excelled in the role, offering both attacking and defensive contributions, and even earned MVP honors in the Champions League final.

Playing as a left midfielder showcased the tireless stamina hidden in his lean frame, along with his true two-way ability. His defensive work was not just perfunctory—he genuinely defended with commitment.

And yet, that still doesn't capture the full picture.

After coaching Di María for three years, Gao Shen had watched the Argentine improve continuously. Ever since arriving at Real Madrid, his development had never stalled, even though some of his traits remained consistent.

One of them was his ability to carry the ball forward under high pressure.

This was especially apparent in the Champions League final in Gao Shen's past life. Under Atlético Madrid's relentless pressing, Di María was one of the few players on the team who could reliably dribble forward and relieve pressure.

That alone would be impressive. But even more valuable was his creativity and passing vision after breaking the press—qualities rooted in his South American style. This made him exceptionally dangerous.

How many players have such a complete skill set?

Modrić comes to mind.

But the Croatian is different. He doesn't have Di María's speed. Whether in short bursts or long sprints, he's clearly slower. And surprisingly, Modrić's defensive work is inferior to Di María's.

Yes, Di María excels on both ends and willingly contributes defensively. Even in attack, his tracking and pressing are commendable. But that doesn't mean he can match Modrić in defensive awareness or positioning in central midfield.

There's still a clear difference—in particular, passing consistency.

How to explain it?

Di María is a South American-style player—clever and instinctive, but not always consistent.

Modrić, as a European player, is less flamboyant but much more reliable.

This is even more pronounced with Toni Kroos, another midfielder at Real Madrid.

Among the three, Kroos always maintains a pass completion rate above 90%, the highest on the team. Modrić hovers around 86–87%, while Di María is closer to 80%.

This reflects their different styles and roles.

Di María's wide-ranging qualities allow him to fulfill many tactical functions.

Being an inverted winger is just part of the picture. He can drop deeper and perform numerous other tasks.

Gao Shen once experimented by switching Di María's position with Arbeloa's. The idea was to use the full-back to pull defenders wide, then have Di María attack from behind, leveraging his short-distance explosiveness.

But Arbeloa's overlapping attacking play wasn't strong enough. Since Carvajal couldn't yet displace him, Gao Shen took a different approach.

He began coordinating Di María and Modrić to operate together across the right midfield, right channel, and right wing.

Just like in the 24th minute.

…

Benzema suddenly dropped into the right half-space just outside the 30-meter area to receive the ball.

Di María drifted centrally, completing a positional swap with Benzema.

The French striker received the ball with his back to goal, closely marked, and was forced to take two steps back. Just then, Modrić surged diagonally past him from midfield, making a run into the right side of the penalty area, crossing paths with Benzema.

This brief movement confused the defense and gave Benzema the space to turn. He immediately drove forward and passed to Di María, who had moved into the open central space.

After releasing the ball, Benzema made a run from the top right corner of the box toward the penalty spot, pulling defenders with him. They feared Di María might send a direct through ball to him, creating a shooting chance.

But that opened up the right edge of the penalty area for Modrić.

Di María feinted a pass to Benzema but then lifted a delicate lob over the defense.

The ball floated past the defenders and dropped right into Modrić's path.

The Croatian entered the penalty area from the right corner, controlled the ball with his chest, took one step past Getafe's left-back Casado, and before the keeper could close him down, slid a low pass across the face of goal.

Benzema had sprinted into position at the edge of the six-yard box and tapped it into the net with ease.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"

"4-0!!!"

"Real Madrid have scored four goals in under 30 minutes!"

"My God! The Galácticos are absolutely erupting!"

"Anyone who questioned Real Madrid's attack before the match should be regretting it now!"

"Look at Gao Shen's team. Each goal was brilliant, especially this one, a perfect example of seamless interplay. It showcased not just technical precision, but an elite understanding of positioning and vision!"

"This is the football Real Madrid wants! Football as art!"

…

Real Madrid fans all across the stadium were roaring.

Gao Shen couldn't help but raise both arms and cheer loudly for the incredible sequence his players had just produced.

"That goal was magnificent!" Zidane exclaimed repeatedly.

"No kidding. Goosebumps! Just as I imagined it, they executed it flawlessly."

"We had only three players in that attack, and they had at least five defenders. They were completely fooled."

"What's even better is how calm and composed everyone looked. It was elegant."

"This is the football we want from Real Madrid!"

The assistant coaches behind him were full of praise, marveling at the display on the pitch.

Gao Shen was equally thrilled, though he had already envisioned this move when designing the attacking structure.

Of course, the exact execution depended on the players' creativity in the moment. Di María's lob and Modrić's low cross were their own improvisations.

On the left, there was the Marcelo–Ronaldo pairing. On the right, now it was Di María and Modrić, with Carvajal soon to follow. Gao Shen wanted both flanks to become Real Madrid's greatest threats.

…

With a four-goal lead, Real Madrid began to ease up.

That was expected.

The team had spent a lot of energy in recent matches. With the outcome all but settled, there was no reason to keep pushing at full throttle.

Even while slowing the tempo, Real Madrid still created chances. But the players became a bit too relaxed and began missing opportunities.

Di María continued to generate threat after threat.

It was clear the 24-year-old Argentine was entering his prime. Gao Shen had even higher expectations for him than in his previous life. This time, he had no intention of letting Di María leave for Manchester United at the peak of his career.

Besides, looking at European football today, could Real Madrid even find a better winger to buy?

Still, the team's relaxed attitude led to mistakes.

Early in the second half, Arbeloa played a careless back pass, giving the opposition a one-on-one opportunity. Fortunately, Courtois reacted quickly and made the save, preventing a goal.

Gao Shen immediately shouted Arbeloa's name from the sideline, telling him to stay sharp, especially when passing under pressure.

Benzema then scored again with a solo run, seemingly completing his hat trick.

But the referee called it back for offside just as he ran to celebrate.

The French striker was furious, complaining continuously and nearly earning a yellow card.

Gao Shen quickly substituted him for Higuaín.

Another player eager to score was Cristiano Ronaldo.

Soon after Higuaín came on, in the 73rd minute, he received a through ball from Modrić, broke the offside line, and charged into the right side of the penalty area. Instead of shooting, he unselfishly squared the ball across the goal for Ronaldo, who tapped it into the empty net.

5-0!

A brace for Ronaldo!

Gao Shen stood on the sideline, laughing, then instructed Jesé to get ready to come on.

In this round, Barcelona had beaten Granada 2-0 at home, but Messi didn't score. He remained on six league goals.

With these two goals, Ronaldo had now scored eight in the first five La Liga matches, once again pulling ahead in the scoring race.

As head coach, Gao Shen was excited about the goalscoring rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi. The more they scored, the more efficient Real Madrid would be at earning points.

Humans are naturally lazy. Only competition drives progress.

Superstars like Ronaldo and Messi push each other forward. That, perhaps, is the key to their decade-long dominance.

Gao Shen wondered, once the two giants aged, would Haaland and Mbappé live up to expectations and become the next era's top stars?

But he was keeping a close watch on Haaland. No matter what Mbappé did, he was determined to train Haaland.

That would be a valuable asset for Leeds United in the future!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 913: Great Genius

Real Madrid's 5-0 away win over Rayo Vallecano sparked a major reaction across Spain.

AS immediately published a post-match commentary, calling it the most exciting performance Real Madrid had delivered this season and the most sensational victory so far.

In the article, Real Madrid's trusted media outlet emphasized that this match fully showcased the transformation Gao Shen had brought to the team, especially in midfield.

"He who controls the midfield controls the world. This is the philosophy Gao Shen has always upheld."

"This Real Madrid side plays with a tactical identity completely different from that of Pellegrini and Mourinho."

More possession, more accurate passing, more off-the-ball movement, more proactive defending, more imaginative interplay...

Against Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid displayed all the attributes of a top team with championship aspirations. Even the most critical fans would find it hard to complain about the team's performance.

"At most, someone could argue that the team wasn't efficient enough in front of goal. Otherwise, both Ronaldo and Benzema could have scored hat tricks, and Real Madrid could easily have bagged eight goals."

Still, AS maintained that the 5-0 scoreline was convincing enough.

Especially since, after going 4-0 up early, Gao Shen's team played in a very relaxed manner for an extended period. There was no aggressive push, more like a team cruising and preserving energy.

Alfredo, the editor-in-chief of AS, also posted on Twitter after the game, praising Real Madrid and noting that this victory significantly reduced the pressure Gao Shen had been under recently.

"It gave the world a clear look at the hard work Gao Shen has put into this Real Madrid squad, and the returns he's now starting to see."

Alfredo reiterated that he had always believed Gao Shen was the manager most suited to Real Madrid's identity, and this match proved it.

"I believe even the most demanding Real Madrid fans wouldn't deny how thrilling this performance was."

"Glamorous, artistic Real Madrid is back!"

He pointed out that the three consecutive away games following the September international break had put Gao Shen and the team under immense pressure—especially the draw against Sevilla and the narrow 1-0 loss away to Dortmund. Real Madrid had endured three consecutive away fixtures.

"Gao Shen is truly profound!"

"The temperament of a world-class coach was on full display against Rayo Vallecano. Even under pressure, he ensured that Real Madrid stuck to their football and launched a dazzling attacking display."

Alfredo believed that this match marked Real Madrid's formal charge toward Barcelona, who currently lead the table.

But even more crucially, after this fixture, Real Madrid would finally enjoy a rare and valuable week of rest.

"Since returning from the international break, Gao Shen and Real Madrid have had virtually no time to rest or recover, which has been detrimental. Many issues within the team weren't addressed in time."

"Now, Gao Shen has a week to work on his own terms. This will be an important breathing space for Real Madrid."

However, Alfredo also issued a reminder to Gao Shen and the team: after this one-week break, a tough run of fixtures awaits.

First, Real Madrid would face their traditional nemesis, Deportivo La Coruña, at home. They have historically caused problems for Los Blancos, particularly during the centenary celebrations in 2002.

Next comes the Champions League home match against Porto.

After losing 0-1 away to Dortmund in the opening round, and with the outcome of the match against Manchester City still unpredictable, this home match against Porto is a must-win. Losing is simply not an option.

And after Deportivo, Real Madrid travel to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona away.

These three matches are critical and must be approached with utmost focus.

"I believe Gao Shen and his staff already have a complete plan in place. I trust he can lead Real Madrid out of this rough patch and rise to meet this series of massive challenges!"

…

In addition to praising Gao Shen and the team, AS and Marca both gave prominent coverage to Gao Shen's praise of Di María during his post-match press conference.

Di María was undoubtedly the most dangerous player on the pitch and was named Man of the Match.

He was fouled five times—more than any other player in the team.

Beyond that, the Argentine has been Real Madrid's most threatening creator and a key attacking weapon so far this season.

Gao Shen praised Di María after the game, stating that the Argentine was hitting his best form.

Both AS and Marca agreed that Di María had reached the peak of his career under Gao Shen. More importantly, his tactical role under Gao Shen was completely different from how he was used by Pellegrini and Mourinho.

"In the match against Rayo Vallecano, his area of activity wasn't limited to the right half-space. He frequently showed up on the left as well. Benzema's first goal, for instance, was a product of his link-up with Ronaldo on the left."

Real Madrid's official mouthpiece stated that Di María's evolution has made the team even more dangerous.

His combinations with Modrić and Benzema in this match were especially eye-catching.

"That was arguably the best goal Real Madrid have scored this season."

With Di María finding his rhythm, Benzema and Higuaín have also seen their goal tallies rise. Ronaldo now has 8 goals in his first 5 league appearances.

"This is the most explosive start to a season in the Portuguese star's career, even surpassing Messi's numbers from last season."

Messi scored 50 goals in La Liga last season, but in the first five rounds, he had only scored 5.

Granted, the first round was postponed due to a strike, so strictly speaking, Messi scored 5 in 4 games.

Still, this season, Messi has scored 6 goals in five matches, while Ronaldo has netted 8. No matter how you look at it, the Portuguese currently has the edge.

Because of this, when Ronaldo was interviewed after the match, he publicly expressed his support for head coach Gao Shen.

He told reporters that Gao Shen is one of the best managers in the world, and he felt honored to play for a team coached by him. "It's a great feeling," he said.

Ronaldo also spoke about some of the changes he's made and the new responsibilities Gao Shen has given him. He's no longer just a goal scorer, but also a key playmaker and even a contributor on defense.

"I understand what the coach expects from me. He wants me to not only score, but to take on more important responsibilities."

"I believe I can do it!"

Both AS and Marca have also noticed Ronaldo's increasing versatility this season.

For example, Di María's assist for Benzema's goal came from a direct pass from Ronaldo.

But now a new question arises—how can Real Madrid further unlock the potential synergy between Ronaldo and Marcelo?

Gao Shen addressed this in the post-match press conference.

"It's not really a question."

"When you have two great players, you don't need to draw up anything special. Just give them the ball and let them do their thing. That's enough."

What high praise!

Ronaldo was all smiles after hearing this and expressed gratitude to his coach.

As for his goals for the new season, he hoped to help the team win trophies and score as many goals as possible.

It's obvious that Messi's 50-goal season is still motivating him.

…

Compared with the overwhelming praise from AS, Marca, and other neutral outlets, the Catalan press questioned the value of Real Madrid's victory, focusing on Rayo Vallecano's actual strength.

Although currently ranked sixth in the league, Rayo Vallecano's position doesn't reflect their true level.

More notably, Mundo Deportivo argued that the main reason for Rayo's heavy defeat was the inexperience of their head coach, Paco Jesús, particularly in squad management and tactical deployment.

Jesús had spent most of his coaching career at lower levels. He gained attention after keeping Las Palmas in the Segunda División for two consecutive seasons. Last year, he led Córdoba to sixth place and into the promotion play-offs, earning a bit of fame.

In their first two league matches, his team had solid results, beating Granada 1-0 at home and winning 2-1 away at Real Betis. But then they drew 0-0 with Sevilla and lost 3-4 away to Atlético Madrid. Rayo's squad depth was already being questioned.

Against Real Madrid this round, their defense fell apart.

Diario Sport even claimed provocatively that if it had been Barcelona instead of Real Madrid, they would have scored in double digits.

One interesting trend in La Liga this season is that the fixtures for Real Madrid and Barcelona often occur back to back.

For instance, Real Madrid played Valencia in the first round, and Barcelona played them in the third.

In this round, Barcelona faced Granada at home, then they'll travel to Sevilla in the next. The seventh round will be the first Clásico of the season, followed by an away game against Deportivo in round eight, and an away trip to Rayo in round nine.

This scheduling makes comparisons between the two giants very clear.

When Barcelona beat Valencia 1-0, Madrid-based media mocked them for not scoring more. After all, Real Madrid had won their match more convincingly.

But the tables quickly turned when Barcelona beat Getafe 4-1 away, and the Catalan media took their chance to criticize Real Madrid for only managing a draw against the same opponent.

This tit-for-tat between the media of both clubs keeps the rivalry intense, and fans absolutely love it.

Especially with the season's first Clásico fast approaching in round seven.

In contrast, Gao Shen and Real Madrid have remained low-key.

Aside from the post-match press conference and interviews, the team held an open training session at Valdebebas the day after the match for the media and fans. Then, the training ground was closed again.

Gao Shen plans to use this rare week of rest to fully prepare for the upcoming showdown with Barcelona.

(To be continued.)