SWR: Chapter 902/903

Chapter 902: Big Victory
"Real Madrid is launching a frontcourt counterattack on the spot."

"Gago from Valencia failed to control the ball and lost possession."

"Xabi Alonso quickly passed the ball forward to Modric."

"The Croatian midfielder got rid of Gago, pushed forward, and played a through ball."

"Benzema received it, turned, and he's onside..."

"Real Madrid has a chance!"

"The ball's in!"

"Goalllllllllllllll!"

"In the 76th minute, Real Madrid scores again. It's 4-0!"

"This goal came from Modric's assist to Benzema."

"A lightning-fast counterattack. From interception to goal, only three players were involved. It was quick and precise. Valencia's defense didn't even have time to react."

"I have to say, Real Madrid's attack has looked very sharp since the substitutions."

"4-0! Real Madrid claims a huge victory at home in the opening round of the new season!"

"This was Gao Shen's debut match after returning to both La Liga and Real Madrid."

"It wasn't perfect, and some problems were exposed, but it was already exciting enough."

"A 4-0 result, especially against a strong opponent like Valencia, is enough to prove that Real Madrid under Gao Shen is definitely one of the top contenders for the La Liga title this season."

"It's also worth noting that several Real Madrid players made their debut in tonight's match."

"Toni Kroos and Modric both provided assists in their first game. Di Maria contributed two assists. Ronaldo scored twice, while Benzema and Higuaín each netted one."

"Judging from the outcome, Real Madrid's overall performance was quite satisfactory."

…

After taking a 4-0 lead, Gao Shen made the final two substitutions.

Whether he was satisfied or not was hard to say.

Because to say otherwise would seem hypocritical.

Looking at the result, he was certainly satisfied. Scoring four goals in the league opener—if that doesn't please you, how many managers would be ready to come at you with knives? Especially Valencia's head coach, Pellegrino.

But in terms of the match process, Gao Shen could only say the win reflected the players' individual qualities and the benefit of playing them in suitable roles.

His tactical ideas had yet to be fully implemented, especially in terms of organization and offensive structure.

Throughout the match, Valencia only had five shots, with just one on target. Not much of a threat.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, had 28 shots, 11 on target. Good numbers, but still not enough.

More importantly, Real Madrid exposed several issues during the game.

"This level of intensity will be very dangerous in the Champions League," Gao Shen said with a frown.

His three assistant coaches—Carlo, Hierro, and Zidane—all nodded in agreement.

Real Madrid would be playing in the group of death in the Champions League this season.

So it wasn't so much that Real Madrid played exceptionally well, but that Valencia underperformed.

In the first round of the season, many teams still hadn't found their rhythm.

Looking at how Real Madrid played, they would surely struggle in the Champions League if nothing changed.

Even away games in La Liga could pose problems.

Over the past month of training, Gao Shen had been working on team cohesion and adjustments, but with limited time, he could only continue integrating the team during matches.

"We need to carefully review the issues from this match. The next training sessions will continue to focus on building chemistry and understanding among the players," Gao Shen instructed Carlo.

The Champions League group stage kicks off in mid-September. With two weeks of international break before that, there isn't much time left for preparation.

"Also, start Higuaín in the next match," Gao Shen reminded.

Carlo, Hierro, and Zidane were all a bit surprised.

Everyone could see that the team's offense improved after Benzema came on. He looked more effective than Higuaín. So why start Higuaín again?

But they quickly understood his reasoning.

In the Real Madrid dressing room, maintaining balance was crucial.

It wouldn't be appropriate to sideline Higuaín after just one match.

Besides, Benzema only played well as a substitute, while Higuaín also scored. His efforts and performances during the preseason shouldn't be dismissed so easily. Otherwise, what would the other players think?

It would demoralize Higuaín, which would not be beneficial for the team.

Competition means competing, and the desire to compete comes from believing you still have a chance.

If a coach clearly picks players based on personal preference, how can the squad remain motivated?

…

With the conclusion of the first round of La Liga, football fever erupted across Spain.

Contrary to expectations, this season's opening round was unusually exciting, not the dull affair it often is.

Real Betis beat Athletic Bilbao 5-3 away, thanks to Molina's brace.

Real Madrid dismantled Valencia 4-0 at home, with Ronaldo bagging two goals.

Barcelona hosted Real Sociedad and won 5-1, led by Messi's double.

After the first round, Barcelona topped the table with a goal difference advantage, followed closely by Real Madrid.

This start greatly excited the fans and media.

From the very first matchweek, La Liga's two giants were already displaying strong momentum in the title race.

Top European bookmakers released updated odds for the La Liga title.

Real Madrid under Gao Shen led the pack at 1.8, followed by Barcelona at 2.0. Third place? Malaga, at 51.

In other words, most believe La Liga this season is once again a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The rest have little to no chance.

Valencia, who finished third last season, were crushed 4-0 by Real Madrid in the opener, and their title odds dropped, falling to fourth.

Malaga, Valencia, and Atlético Madrid all had double-digit odds, while the rest were in the hundreds or even thousands.

This reflects the current state of La Liga—it's still the era of the two giants.

…

One week later, in the second round of La Liga, Real Madrid traveled to the Pérez Alfonso Stadium to face Getafe away.

The match opened with Toni Kroos hitting the crossbar with a long-range strike in the sixth minute.

After that, Real Madrid took control of the game. But it wasn't until the 27th minute that Di Maria provided an assist, and Higuaín successfully beat the offside trap and scored again.

Interestingly, the goal was almost identical to the one against Valencia in the first round.

Real Madrid attacked down the left. Toni Kroos switched the ball with a cross-field pass to the right.

This time, it was Arbeloa who controlled the ball on the flank with his chest and passed to Di Maria. Di Maria then delivered a looping ball behind the defense. Higuaín broke the offside trap and finished calmly.

But in the 33rd minute, Getafe won a corner kick.

Their striker Miku blocked Casillas' view in front of goal. When the cross came in, Casillas rushed out but failed to make contact.

Fortunately, the opposing header missed wide, but the defensive issue was evident.

Casillas had noticed that Courtois received praise for aggressively coming out on a set piece in the last match. Feeling the pressure, Casillas tried to replicate that but failed.

The most surprising development was that Real Madrid conceded two goals in the second half—both from set pieces.

First, a free kick from the right was crossed into the box. The defense lost their marker, and defender Barrera headed the ball into the bottom left corner. Casillas was helpless.

Twenty minutes later, another free kick situation. This time, the situation was different. Getafe's player Krenga clearly handled the ball, but the referee didn't call it. Amid the chaos, he assisted teammate Barrada, who scored.

Casillas and Pepe were furious and protested to the referee. Both received yellow cards.

The match remained tense from there.

Even after Gao Shen brought on Benzema in the 70th minute, the offense didn't improve significantly.

It wasn't until stoppage time that Modric made a central run and played a sudden pass to Benzema.

The French striker drifted to the left side of the box to receive the pass, then cut to the flank, creating space for Ronaldo. He then squared the ball back into the area.

Ronaldo burst into the box at full speed and slotted it into the far corner to level the score for Real Madrid.

2-2. Real Madrid drew away to Getafe.

On the same matchday, Barcelona came from behind to beat Osasuna 2-1, thanks to two goals from Messi.

…

After two rounds, Real Madrid dropped to fourth in the standings.

Barcelona, Valladolid, and Rayo Vallecano all won back-to-back matches and had six points.

Barcelona remained top of La Liga.

At the very start of the league, Real Madrid was already two points behind. But Gao Shen wasn't concerned.

"We're different from Barcelona. We just went through a major reorganization this summer, and the team is still in the running-in and adjustment phase. The opponent, on the other hand, is already mature and stable."

Gao Shen believed Real Madrid had not yet fully gelled and needed time.

"We've only played two matches. It's far too early to make any conclusions."

Barcelona's coach Vilanova didn't see it the same way.

The former assistant to Guardiola was pleased that his team had taken a two-point lead early on. He believed that gaining control of the league from the very beginning was especially important.

Gao Shen didn't deny this but maintained his view.

"A long season is like a marathon. Taking the early lead doesn't mean much. What matters is who's still standing at the finish line."

"We're going to be a team with endurance, so I hope the ones in front can hold on a bit longer."

Gao Shen wasn't very optimistic about the upcoming Champions League draw.

Platini had invited him to Monaco, but he declined because of his busy schedule.

La Liga's third round was scheduled for September 1, and flying back and forth would be a hassle.

Still, Gao Shen said that Real Madrid was mentally prepared.

"I know everyone is expecting us to be drawn into the group of death. That's a high-probability scenario. We're ready to face a brutal schedule!" Gao Shen said with a smile.

When asked which opponent he least wanted to be drawn against, Gao Shen replied without hesitation.

"I don't really have one. I think it's the other teams who don't want to be drawn with us." He grinned confidently.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 903 I Have No Other Options, So I'll Just Fight Till I Die

Gao Shen did not attend the UEFA award ceremony at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Cristiano Ronaldo didn't go either, as he wasn't among the top three finalists.

The top three this year were Messi and Iniesta from Barcelona, and David Silva from Manchester City.

This result genuinely surprised Gao Shen, especially David Silva's inclusion.

But thinking about it, it wasn't that unexpected. David Silva had performed exceptionally well in the European Championship.

Iniesta and David Silva not only shined at their clubs but also helped Spain win a historic European Championship. Their contributions were obvious to all.

What made Gao Shen feel the most unfair was Messi's inclusion.

It wasn't that Messi lacked ability, but Manchester City's overall performance last season was outstanding. Based on that, players like Robben, Suárez, Van Persie, and even Gareth Bale deserved to be shortlisted.

Yet in the end, it was Messi who was selected.

It wasn't hard to see that UEFA or the mainstream European media still had certain biases against Manchester City.

They favored traditional giants.

But in the end, the winner was David Silva.

A seven-time champion, defending Champions League winner, European Championship winner — that combination of honors made David Silva the rightful winner of this award.

Even though Gao Shen was watching on television, he could still feel David Silva's excitement.

When Silva accepted the award on stage, he thanked everyone, including Messi and Iniesta, and said he wanted to share the honor with both the Spanish national team and his Manchester City teammates.

"Without them, I wouldn't have had the chance to win this big prize!"

The Spaniard also emotionally mentioned Gao Shen.

He said it was Gao Shen who trained him from a young midfielder into the player he is today. "He is the most important mentor in my life. If I hadn't met him, I definitely wouldn't have this opportunity."

"I know he didn't come today, but he must be watching the live broadcast. I want to take this chance to say a few words to him."

"Boss, thank you so much for everything you've done for me over the years. Thank you for always encouraging and guiding me. I won this award today, and I want to tell you, I'll continue to work hard. Thank you, Boss!"

With tears in his eyes, David Silva raised the trophy high and bowed deeply.

The scene erupted in thunderous applause.

Not just for David Silva, but also for Gao Shen, who wasn't even there.

Sitting in front of the television, Gao Shen watched the moment with deep emotion. Listening to the applause from the venue, he was filled with complex feelings.

Before he knew it, he was no longer alone.

He now had a family, friends, partners, colleagues, and a group of people who respected and cared for him.

"If I remember correctly, he should be the first player you've coached to win a continental award, right?" Zidane asked suddenly.

Gao Shen nodded. "The first."

When he previously coached Real Madrid, Zidane had a good chance, but he lost to Cannavaro.

Later at Napoli, although results were excellent, none of the players received major accolades.

While coaching Manchester City, Suárez finished second last year but ultimately lost out to Messi. There was nothing he could do.

Just like this year — Messi still made it into the top three.

After all, playing for a traditional powerhouse has its advantages.

Gao Shen thought of many players, including Suárez and Gareth Bale, but he never expected David Silva would be the first to win a continental honor.

In a way, he had to thank Del Bosque and the Spanish national team.

"Don't worry. We'll see more scenes like that in the future," Hierro encouraged with a smile.

Zidane nodded in agreement.

With Real Madrid's influence, as long as the team performs well, there will be little suspense when it comes to Ronaldo winning major individual honors.

That's a different story.

At Real Madrid, Ronaldo is the clear superstar. As long as both the team and he perform, the club will back him completely in the pursuit of individual awards.

Sometimes that even ends up in the contract terms.

David Silva winning the European Player of the Year made Gao Shen genuinely happy for him, even though he missed out on the European Coach of the Year award. That might have had something to do with him skipping the Monaco ceremony.

But who really knows?

Del Bosque won the award thanks to Spain's historic European Championship victory, and Gao Shen had no complaints about that.

He even tweeted a message of congratulations to Del Bosque after the awards.

David Silva's win also prompted Gao Shen to send out three consecutive tweets.

But the mood changed during the Champions League draw.

…

As the media joked, thanks to Gao Shen, Real Madrid had the honor of landing in the third pot of the Champions League group stage.

With a coefficient of 61.420, even though they were the strongest team in Pot 3, they were still in Pot 3.

This was likely the first time in history that Real Madrid had fallen to the third tier in the Champions League.

Also in Pot 3 with Real Madrid were teams like Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lille — all strong sides.

Manchester City, originally a Pot 3 team, had risen to Pot 2 after defending their Champions League title last season.

Even the Pot 4 teams weren't weak. Celtic, Dortmund, Malaga, and Montpellier were all strong competitors.

Not to mention Pots 1 and 2.

In short, Real Madrid was destined for the group of death.

The only question was, just how deadly?

Many people speculated that if Manchester City — now in Pot 2 — were drawn into their group, it would be a storyline too good to resist.

And UEFA loved drawing former clubs against each other.

The one silver lining? Drawing Manchester City would help Real Madrid avoid other Premier League teams in Pot 1.

After the awards, the draw officially began that evening.

UEFA General Secretary Infantino and Competition Director Marchetti presided over the draw. Former Real Madrid star Steve McManaman served as ambassador of the host city, while Manchester United legend Denis Law conducted the first draw.

There was little drama in Pot 1, with each seeded team placed into different groups.

But things got more interesting in Pot 2.

World Player of the Year George Weah drew Manchester City into Porto's group, Juventus into Manchester United's, and Schalke 04 into Arsenal's. No matter how you looked at it, the draw looked dangerous.

Commentators noted that all of these groups could potentially include Real Madrid.

Then came the highly anticipated Pot 3. Dutch legend Ruud Gullit stepped up to draw.

The iconic Dutch star, once famous for his dreadlocks, now sported neat short hair. And like his current look, his draw style was quick and direct.

He skipped the small talk and started drawing immediately.

The first name: Lille. Then Paris Saint-Germain…

Ball after ball, Gullit continued to draw. Meanwhile, the groups containing Porto and Manchester City remained suspiciously vacant, as if waiting for something.

Until Gullit opened a ball and pulled out the name: Real Madrid.

At that moment, the entire room erupted in shock.

No surprises — Real Madrid landed in Group D, the group of death.

Actually, the super group of death.

…

"I knew it. UEFA has a twisted sense of humor," Carlo said bitterly.

Drawing Manchester City was truly a nightmare.

Everyone knew that Manchester City was the strongest team in European football today, possibly even stronger than Barcelona.

What made the Blue Moon terrifying was not just their starters but their incredible squad depth and near-perfect lineup.

Goalkeeper: Neuer.

Defenders: Filipe Luís, David Luiz, Kompany, and Lichtsteiner.

Midfield: Javi Martínez anchoring the midfield, with David Silva and Rakitic supporting the attack.

Forwards: Gareth Bale, Suárez, and Robben.

Just look at that. How stacked and complete is this team?

Gao Shen spent three years carefully building this team. It could be called the strongest in world football.

Even though they failed to bring in Guardiola as head coach, was Pellegrini weak?

He had reached the Champions League semifinals and was a solid tactician.

Carlo's complaint made perfect sense. UEFA really loved this kind of drama.

Facing your old club in the group stage? It happened almost every season.

What made it worse was that Real Madrid didn't draw Pot 4 teams like Malaga, Montpellier, or Celtic. No, they got Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund.

When that happened, Gao Shen was completely dumbfounded.

He even wondered if UEFA was deliberately trying to sabotage him.

To draw Dortmund again? Seriously?

Champions of the Premier League, Portuguese league, Bundesliga, and La Liga runners-up — UEFA truly outdid themselves with this draw.

As soon as the draw results were confirmed, the group stage fixtures were also released.

Real Madrid's opening match would be away at Dortmund. Their clashes with Manchester City would come in the third and fourth rounds. Before facing Barcelona, they'd host Porto at home.

"Looking at the strength of the teams, we absolutely have to win both games against Dortmund and Porto. We can't afford to drop points in any of those four games. Only then can we stay in contention," Gao Shen analyzed.

But beating either of those sides would be no easy task.

Dortmund was a team that would go on to reach the Champions League final this season, and Porto was no pushover either. Not to mention the ever-dangerous Manchester City watching from the shadows.

Real Madrid now faced a situation where there were wolves in front and tigers behind.

The most critical issue was that Real Madrid's current squad and tactical setup weren't yet fully adjusted. The team was not in peak condition.

Forget facing Manchester City — even going up against Klopp's Dortmund was worrying.

Everyone knew the Yellow Wall was hard to break. When they went crazy, anything could happen.

"I have no other choice, so I'll just fight to the death!" Gao Shen said with a wry smile, but he quickly lightened up.

He was even a little excited.

He liked this kind of high-pressure challenge.

(To be continued.)