SWR: Chapter 889/890

Chapter 889: Finally Gave In

Just when Ronaldo was struggling and had called his agent and team together to discuss what to do next, Gao Shen extended a ladder to him at just the right time.

After attending the press conference, Gao Shen posted a message on Twitter, announcing to fans and followers that he would be coaching Real Madrid for the next three years:

"Looking forward to a great partnership!"

Among those tagged in the tweet was Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid players tagged in Gao Shen's tweet all expressed their excitement to play under him.

Casillas, Ramos, Di María, Benzema...

Not only the new players, but even previous Real Madrid players responded quickly.

While in a meeting, Ronaldo stared blankly at the screen of his phone.

"From what I can gather based on current public sentiment, it's clear the media will focus on the player exchange Gao Shen mentioned. It's a hot topic. More importantly, Jorge is indeed in Manchester and has had contact with Manchester City. He's made quite a few comments before, so..."

"The key now is to ease the tension as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we'll end up even more passive, and many things will be hard to handle."

Now, it's an undeniable fact that Gao Shen controls the Real Madrid dressing room.

If Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid, fine. But if he wants to stay and continue playing under Gao Shen, the current standoff must end, and fast.

However, the biggest issue now is that if Ronaldo backs down just like that, it would clearly look like he's conceding to Gao Shen, which would be a loss of face.

The team focused on this point during the discussion.

Cristiano Ronaldo had never considered leaving Real Madrid.

What he always wanted was to maintain his core tactical role at the club, but now it seemed Gao Shen was unlikely to grant him that—and had even threatened to trade him for Gareth Bale.

Either give in or leave.

Ronaldo gathered the team to discuss it, and most of them leaned toward staying at Real Madrid. The key issue was how to preserve his dignity.

As the group debated, Ronaldo suddenly slammed his phone onto the table.

"Look at this."

Three or four people gathered around. When they saw Gao Shen's tweet, they immediately understood the situation.

This was the ladder Gao Shen had extended to Ronaldo.

"Replying doesn't just mean giving in—it also shows goodwill."

"Right, the situation is very clear now. We need to have a good talk with Gao Shen."

Ronaldo nodded. That was his true intention as well.

The question was, how?

Everyone began discussing how to respond, going over every word carefully.

Half an hour later, Ronaldo finally tweeted:

"I'm back in Madrid and ready for training! Looking forward to our upcoming meeting!"

As with every player's reply, Gao Shen followed up with a response. This time was no different.

He replied with a smiley face: "Call me anytime."

Ronaldo let out a long sigh of relief.

The matter was finally settled.

But the next meeting would be critical.

He had to be fully prepared.

…

After replying to Ronaldo's tweet, Gao Shen smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting uncontrollably.

He knew very well—this was Ronaldo's way of giving in.

It was possible to force the Portuguese star to admit defeat, but there was no need to.

As the head coach, Gao Shen needed to focus on the bigger picture, not fuss over small matters.

Besides, players at top clubs are all big-name stars. Who doesn't have their own little thoughts?

If you really want to be picky, then Gao Shen might as well step down as coach.

After turning off his phone, Gao Shen looked up at Courtois, who was sitting across from him.

The two were actually quite familiar with each other. Courtois had previously joined Manchester City and later moved to Leeds United.

When he went to Leeds, it was Gao Shen who personally persuaded him.

A year later, he moved to Real Madrid.

Although Gao Shen wasn't involved in the transfer, Courtois knew clearly that if he wanted to join Real Madrid, he couldn't avoid Gao Shen.

So, as soon as his vacation ended and he arrived in Madrid, he contacted Gao Shen and came straight to his home.

"Thibaut, I hope you're mentally prepared. The competition next season will be fierce."

Gao Shen set aside the Ronaldo issue for now and spoke seriously to Courtois.

"I'm sure you've seen Casillas' outstanding performance in the Euros. In the new season, you'll be competing with him. I hope you can give it your all and show your best form."

"I understand, boss. Even if I have to be a substitute temporarily, I can accept that. But I will never give up. I believe in my strength," Courtois responded confidently.

Gao Shen had always believed that a top goalkeeper should have this kind of self-confidence and mental strength.

That was true for Neuer, and also for Courtois.

"Of course I know you, Thibaut. I know your potential and your ability. I believe you can become a world-class goalkeeper, even the best in the world. But you must remember, this is Real Madrid. Here, you not only have to convince me, but everyone else as well."

"This time, you're up against Casillas. You have to win over the Real Madrid fans."

Courtois could feel Gao Shen's trust and encouragement. He nodded firmly.

"Don't worry, boss. I won't let you down."

"You've never let me down, Thibaut," Gao Shen said with a smile. "I'll have a proper conversation with Casillas and try to get you more playing time and match opportunities. But I hope you'll give your best from the pre-season training camp. Cherish and seize every opportunity to play."

"Only that way can I confidently convince others. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I do." Courtois nodded.

"A lot of people are saying you came here to be Casillas' backup. But let me be clear, Thibaut. I want you to show the determination and fighting spirit to become Real Madrid's number one. I want to see you perform like Real Madrid's first-choice goalkeeper this season. Do you understand me?"

Courtois felt the weight behind Gao Shen's words and got excited.

He had originally thought Gao Shen would ask him to be patient, but instead, Gao Shen told him to directly compete for the starting spot.

That was the starting spot at Real Madrid!

"I understand, boss!" Courtois assured in a loud voice.

"Do well. I believe in you!" Gao Shen encouraged him.

…

After sending Courtois off, Gao Shen took a short break. Soon after, Zidane drove over to pick him up from the hotel.

The two headed to Real Madrid's Valdebebas training base.

This was Gao Shen's first return to Valdebebas in six years.

To be honest, there had been some changes, mainly with the youth team facilities.

The security captain at the gate was still the same. He grinned widely when he greeted Gao Shen.

Zidane gave him a brief tour of the training complex.

Madrid was different from the UK. It rarely snowed in winter, so there was no need to build indoor training grounds like in England. However, the Valdebebas pitch had underfloor heating and an advanced drainage system.

If it ever did snow, turning on the underfloor heating ensured there would be no problems.

Before Gao Shen even arrived in Madrid, Carlo and others had already gone to Valdebebas to prepare.

Valdebebas had now been taken over by a high-level support team. From the training staff to the data analysis team, all were top-tier professionals. The club had also reorganized and hired several new analysts and coaches over the summer.

This time, Gao Shen's visit to Valdebebas was primarily to inspect how preparations were going.

According to the club's previous plan, the team would gather in Madrid for pre-season training, spending about half a month on physical preparation before heading to the United States at the end of July to play in the International Champions Cup.

This tournament was important for Real Madrid's efforts to grow their presence in the U.S. market, and the club was taking it very seriously.

As per Gao Shen's request, Real Madrid had scheduled a total of six warm-up matches during the summer training camp. The main goal was to help the team gel. Four of those matches would be played in the U.S., but the schedule was extremely tight.

The team would be flying long distances almost constantly.

So, Gao Shen's real window to implement his tactical and technical ideas would be the training camp in Madrid.

There was no way around this.

Gao Shen felt that during a rebuilding phase, the team shouldn't go to North America for training, but the club had signed the agreement last year. If they didn't go, the penalty fee would be substantial.

The opponents in the North American tour were all strong and the games had value, but the schedule was too demanding. Most of the time would be spent flying from one city to another.

That's why Gao Shen and his team placed great importance on the training period in Madrid, and Real Madrid fully supported it.

For example, Valdebebas now had a comprehensive surveillance system. Originally, there were only two cameras. Now, the entire first-team training area was covered. This allowed video analysts to watch player movements and errors from multiple angles.

Upgrading like this cost real money.

The team's logistical support had also been heavily emphasized.

Especially with the trip to the United States coming up, logistics had to be flawless.

"Florentino, Butragueño, and José Ángel Sánchez will travel with the team to the U.S. to personally oversee things," Zidane said.

Gao Shen nodded.

He then went to the training building and chatted with Carlo and the others to check if there were any issues that needed his attention, as the players were about to report back.

The physical examinations wouldn't be done at Valdebebas but at a nearby private hospital that partners with Real Madrid, where the players would undergo a comprehensive and detailed check-up.

This had been requested by Buenaventura and Pintus.

Only by getting accurate physical data could they confidently proceed with tailored training.

After the inspection, Gao Shen gathered everyone and went into the center of Madrid for dinner.

It was his first meal with the coaching staff since taking office.

They ate until midnight before everyone went home satisfied.

The next morning, Gao Shen received a call from Ronaldo.

He was back in Madrid.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 890: Please Save Me

Ronaldo arrived at the hotel where Gao Shen was staying, feeling nervous.

Like Ramos, he drove himself, entered the parking lot through the private entrance to the hotel's presidential suite, then took a private elevator up to the floor where Gao Shen was staying.

He wore sunglasses the entire time, as a slight disguise.

This wasn't just to avoid the paparazzi, but also to conceal his inner anxiety.

He even wondered, if he met Gao Shen and Gao Shen acted arrogantly, how should he respond?

If he got angry, would he just walk away and quit on the spot?

He and his team had gone over many contingency plans and made thorough preparations. But the moment he saw Gao Shen open the door, he realized all the preparations were meaningless.

Because Gao Shen was not only smiling but also warmly greeted him with a big hug and invited him in. He personally brewed him tea brought from his hometown and even talked with him about various tea-making techniques.

This was completely different from their previous standoff.

Ronaldo even began to wonder—was the tough and commanding image he had seen on TV and heard about from rumors all fake?

After so many years in football, Ronaldo was no longer the rookie he once was. He could easily tell sincerity from pretense.

Gao Shen's smile was genuine. His attitude was friendly.

But why did it change so quickly?

So quickly that Ronaldo was a bit confused, like he had walked onto the wrong set?

In fact, this was because he never understood Gao Shen's intentions from the beginning. Had he grasped the purpose behind Gao Shen's initial hardline stance, he would now understand the drastic change in attitude after he gave in.

In other words, Gao Shen never intended to sell him from the start.

After all, he was the only player in the world who could truly rival Messi.

…

Gao Shen had also prepared thoroughly for this meeting, including reviewing many of Ronaldo's past matches and even some of his recent games from the European Championship. Gao Shen and his team had spent considerable time gaining a deep understanding of the player.

Cristiano reported on his recent condition. Although he had just finished the Euros, he hadn't really rested and was still training every day.

This matched Gao Shen's impression of Ronaldo.

The waves were rough, but he never missed a single training session.

That was the main reason Ronaldo had been able to maintain his form for so many years.

Gao Shen had some plans and ideas for the new season.

First, from a tactical perspective, Gao Shen pointed out some of Real Madrid's issues, particularly with the No. 10 playmaker role.

He believed that while this system allowed Ronaldo to score many goals, it also caused the team to lack tactical depth and flexibility in matches against top sides, especially in terms of midfield control.

This was one of the main reasons why Real Madrid had been uncompetitive in the Champions League in recent seasons or struggled in league matches against strong opponents like Barcelona.

Second, in terms of tactical detail, Gao Shen wanted to strengthen the offensive play down the left flank.

He told Ronaldo very clearly that he wasn't the type of coach to ignore a player's individual ability. On the contrary, no matter which team he managed, including the first Galácticos team he coached at the beginning of his career, he always placed great importance on the players' personal abilities.

But the prerequisite was that those personal abilities must serve the team's tactical system, not exist outside of it.

Gao Shen was direct with the Portuguese: in many games last season, he had shown a strong tendency toward individualism.

"Of course, that doesn't mean players must follow the coach's orders blindly."

"You're free to express your views, and when I draw up tactical plans, I'll respect your playing habits and your strengths. I'll build the team's tactics around your advantages. That's the key to victory."

"And your individual ability is one of our greatest strengths!"

Cristiano finally understood the meaning behind Gao Shen's earlier tough stance.

What Gao Shen said wasn't new—many coaches build their systems around key players.

The difference was that Real Madrid's players had always been superstars who enjoyed privileges.

Now, Gao Shen wanted to revoke some of those privileges.

However, he also promised to continue building the team's tactical system around the left wing, where Ronaldo played.

Gao Shen explained that the main reason he sold Coentrão was that he smoked, and he didn't like players with such habits.

Ronaldo said he had advised him about it many times.

In the new season, Marcelo would become Ronaldo's most important partner on the left.

"Whether it's attacking or defending, I hope the two of you can develop good chemistry and support each other."

On the opposite flank, Gao Shen would look to create another attacking channel to reduce the defensive pressure on the left, maximize midfield control, use quick passing and movement to stretch the opposition's defensive line, and create more scoring chances.

After hearing all this, Ronaldo realized that attacking football was in Gao Shen's blood.

This aligned perfectly with his own preferences.

After all, he was an attacking player.

But attacking alone wasn't enough. So after offering enough sweet talk, Gao Shen also laid out his demands—defense, especially pressing and counter-pressing in midfield and the final third.

As the team's main attacker, Gao Shen wouldn't expect Ronaldo to press like Cavani, but he still needed to contribute on defense.

This was about the overall quality of the team's defensive structure.

"I believe you understand. Whether it's in the Champions League or La Liga, good results are impossible without a strong defense."

"Barcelona always loses to me in the Champions League because I know very well that their defense is a mess. We at Real Madrid cannot make the same mistake. We must do our defensive work well."

"A strong defense, a powerful offense, all linked through a midfield with excellent control. That's my vision."

"And I promise you, as long as you follow my system, your goal tally and overall performance will not drop. At the same time, we can compete for more titles, especially the Champions League!"

This was Gao Shen's first target for the new season.

To be honest, in some ways, winning the Champions League was easier for Real Madrid than winning La Liga.

Because Barcelona's system was so stable in league play.

Apart from Real Madrid, only Atlético Madrid could pose a real threat to them in La Liga.

In this context, if Real Madrid wanted to win silverware this season, the Champions League was more realistic than La Liga.

Of course, that was Gao Shen's personal view. When the season truly began, he wouldn't take any competition lightly.

…

If Ronaldo had been nervous and uneasy before walking through the door, then after more than an hour of heart-to-heart conversation, he had to admit he was completely won over by Gao Shen's detailed plans and ambitious vision.

This was a development blueprint that accounted for both the present and the future.

Previously, he thought Gao Shen sold Coentrão and others merely to assert his authority or eliminate dissidents. But now, it was clear his thinking had been too narrow.

Gao Shen came in with a complete, mature plan.

Every move he made had meaning. He never acted on impulse.

That depth and detail excited Ronaldo.

After the conversation, the Portuguese star solemnly promised to fully cooperate with the coaching staff's instructions. That included defensive duties on the pitch, which he would do his best to fulfill.

Gao Shen was very pleased with his attitude.

"Believe me, Cristiano. I'll help you win your second, third, even fourth FIFA Ballon d'Or in the shortest time possible!"

Previously, Ronaldo had won a FIFA World Player of the Year and a Ballon d'Or. But now that the two awards were merged, Gao Shen referred to it as his second FIFA Ballon d'Or.

That was also the Portuguese star's goal!

…

After seeing Ronaldo off, Gao Shen closed the door and collapsed onto the sofa.

From the time he arrived in the south until now, he had been working at full intensity every day.

It seemed like he was always in his hotel room, but in reality, he was constantly dealing with different players and various situations, while also managing Valdebebas remotely.

But the effort had paid off.

For now, he had stabilized the Real Madrid dressing room.

Sounds easy, doesn't it?

Talk, flatter, promise some things, hype them up, and it's done.

If only it were that simple.

Gao Shen dared to say this—even if another world-class coach copied his method 100 percent, they still wouldn't achieve the results he had.

Because he was Gao Shen!

All the Real Madrid players believed he could succeed at the club.

So, they followed him.

But the more trust they had in him, the greater the pressure on his shoulders. Because he knew once that trust was broken, the consequences would be severe. Even his past achievements would be called into question.

The more trust they gave, the more cautious he had to be. He could not let them down.

This was a mutual obligation. It was also the responsibility of being the team's head coach.

So now, even though Gao Shen let out a breath of relief, it was far from time to relax.

He picked up his phone and called his wife in Cheshire.

At this moment, he just wanted to hear her voice.

After just a few sentences, Su Qing already guessed how he was doing. She didn't ask further and simply chatted with him about family matters, complaining about her current "miserable" situation.

For example, both her mother and mother-in-law treated her like a broodmare. They said it was for the baby, but they wouldn't let her do anything.

When she turned on her computer, they said it emitted radiation. When she checked Twitter on her phone, they said it strained her eyes. When she watched dramas, they said they were too violent and bloody...

"Hubby, please, save me!"

Su Qing's "misery" made Gao Shen burst out laughing.

This really proved the saying: someone's happiness is always built on someone else's suffering.

You were the one who couldn't decide whether to come to Madrid with me.

Hmph, you deserve it!

(To be continued.)