SWR: Chapter 856/860

Chapter 856: Premier League, I Miss You So Much!

"It's a long way from the B team to the Premier League!"

This was the sentiment expressed by FA Chairman Bernstein when he announced the launch of the youth development reform and introduced the England Elite Player Development Plan, spearheaded by him, within the English Football League.

This wasn't just talk.

Subsequently, the controversial youth training reform plan was passed by a majority vote and officially launched in 2012.

This elite player development program is roughly divided into three stages: Foundation Phase (U9 to U11), Youth Development Phase (U12 to U16), and Professional Development Phase (U17 to U23). Up to 6,000 matches are scheduled annually to meet competitive needs across all age groups.

Youth academies are to be rated every two years.

The higher a club's youth development rating, the more financial support it receives, the better the players it can sign, and the higher the required standards. For example, a Category 1 academy must have at least 18 full-time staff and an annual operating budget of £2.5 million.

Each year, the Premier League hires professionals to audit club academies and allocates subsidies based on the audit results.

Everyone knows the Premier League is rich. This youth development reform was driven by the Premier League, and the funding essentially comes from them.

Some may wonder, why is the Premier League supporting this plan?

The reason is simple. They too are struggling with a lack of local talent.

The skyrocketing valuation of English players is no secret. If nothing is done, domestic player prices will continue to inflate uncontrollably.

As the top flight in English football and the leader of the pyramid, the Premier League has both the responsibility and obligation to act.

One immediate benefit of the reform was the abolition of the so-called "90-minute travel rule" for academy recruitment.

Previously, English youth players had to live within a 90-minute drive of their academy. This severely limited talent pools, especially for clubs in rural or less populated areas.

In short, where there were boundaries before, now there are none. If a player is willing to come, the club can sign him.

However, to protect smaller clubs, the plan also introduced youth transfer rules, establishing compensation for players under 18. For instance, from ages 9 to 11, the fixed compensation is £3,000 per year, while for ages 12 to 16, it ranges from £12,500 to £40,000 per year.

Additionally, youth league rankings were abolished to prevent short-termism. Strict requirements were introduced to ensure that academy players must play at least 50 percent of available match time annually. These reforms aim to promote equality across academies and restrict big clubs from poaching young players at will.

But everything ultimately points in one direction—the Premier League.

The entire structure favors Premier League clubs. It's easy to predict that in the coming years, the flow of young talent will continue to concentrate in Premier League and financially powerful clubs.

So, not long after the program was launched, three clubs including Hereford United announced plans to scale down their youth setups.

This was seen as a silent protest against the plan's Premier League bias.

But the broader direction remained unchanged.

Think about it carefully and it becomes clear. After all, the funding comes from the Premier League.

…

Since Gao Shen took over at Leeds United, he had been restructuring and upgrading the club's youth academy.

Moreover, although Gao Shen wasn't officially listed as a director of the England Elite Player Development Plan, he was deeply familiar with its content. So Leeds United's academy followed the highest standards of implementation.

In fact, Premier League clubs are not heavily regulated in terms of youth academies. Even if a club disbands its academy, as long as the first team meets registration requirements, there's no real penalty. At worst, there may be some public criticism.

But Gao Shen had always been committed to investing.

After a year, Leeds United had developed a basic, complete academy system. This summer, the club would begin accepting young talents from the surrounding areas, as well as those identified by Leeds United's scouting network, and invite them to trials at Thorp Arch.

After multiple rounds of evaluation, the best kids from across the region would enter the age-group teams and officially become part of Leeds United. At the same time, the club had started poaching promising players from lower-league academies.

They were also closely monitoring the youth setups of top clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea, hoping to uncover hidden gems.

And on Leeds United's first trial day this summer, one player stood out above all others.

Erling Haaland.

Yes, that Erling Haaland. The same player whom Gao Shen had encountered during a honeymoon trip to Norway with his wife. The son of former Leeds United star Alfie Haaland had chosen to join the Leeds United academy.

When Gao Shen received the news, he was ecstatic.

"He really decided to come?"

Su Qing smiled and nodded. "I've stayed in contact with them throughout. After the team won the title and secured promotion to the Premier League, I called again and explained our academy restructuring."

"Old Haaland was very interested and naturally wanted his son to receive the best, most professional youth development. Unfortunately, his siblings were reluctant to let their kids travel so far, so only Erling is coming."

Gao Shen didn't care about the others. As long as Erling Haaland was coming, that was enough.

One player is worth it all.

"So what's your plan for him when he arrives?" Gao Shen asked.

Su Qing, Lucas, and Borrell exchanged looks, then Su Qing spoke.

"We plan to treat him like everyone else. No special treatment. Although he's the son of Alfie Haaland, he'll be just like any other player. However, we're considering offering Haaland and his wife jobs at the club. They're still thinking about it."

Haaland Sr. was a well-known former Premier League player. His wife was also an athlete. People like them would have no trouble finding roles at Leeds United, especially with the current youth academy overhaul and severe staff shortages.

Gao Shen exhaled deeply, brows raised with joy, but at the same time, he felt the growing pressure on his shoulders.

Leeds United currently employed nearly 300 full-time staff.

Yes, 300 people.

Once the academy expansion was complete, that number would certainly exceed 300, possibly even 350.

There was no other way.

Just the first-team coaching staff had 25 members. Besides the head coach and assistant coaches, there were rehabilitation therapists, masseurs, doctors, match analysts, performance analysts, fitness instructors, and more.

The commercial department had nine staff. The China office had five, bringing the total to fourteen.

The marketing, media, and PR departments had eleven.

Then there were the finance department, stadium maintenance, training ground operations…

The ticketing office alone had eleven staff, with six ticket agents…

All of these roles were being paid by Leeds United.

Not to mention matchday operations, where just the reception team included fourteen people. On game days, at least 100 to 200 temporary workers were hired for security, ticket checking, ball boys, and so on.

This was already a full-fledged enterprise.

Gao Shen knew very well that the club was entering a new phase.

He had to help Leeds United establish itself firmly in the Premier League.

That thought filled Gao Shen with both pressure and fighting spirit.

…

"If we sell Schneiderlin and Paulinho, we'll be short in midfield. Jorginho and Brozović can both serve as deep-lying playmakers. Pogba and Kondogbia can play as box-to-box midfielders. But Allan alone won't be enough," Gao Shen got straight to the point.

Once you decide to sell players, you need to have everything in place.

Now that they had made it to the Premier League, Gao Shen couldn't afford to let the team slide back down.

"I'll have the data center compile a list once I get back," Borrell responded.

Gao Shen actually already had a preferred target in mind, but he still agreed with Borrell's approach.

Often, experience is valuable. Giving the team room to work was a good thing.

"As for the front line, if Adam Lallana really leaves, then bring in Coutinho from Inter Milan," Gao Shen added.

Lucas and Borrell exchanged glances, hesitated, and looked to Su Qing.

Su Qing gave a small nod. "We've done some initial research. He's valued at around €10 million. Isn't that a bit risky?"

Since Gao Shen had taken over at Leeds United, he had always followed a frugal policy—small investment, big return.

For example, last summer, Paulinho and Schneiderlin were Leeds United's top targets. Both were signed for just £1.5 million each. Now, Manchester United's first bid for Schneiderlin was £15 million, a tenfold return.

But now Gao Shen wanted to spend €10 million on a young player. Wasn't that a bit much?

Did that align with Leeds United's strategy?

"Every transfer carries some risk. But for a talent like Coutinho, the risk is minimal. He's already proven his ability and potential at Espanyol. What we need to do is unlock even more from him."

Gao Shen smiled. "Of course, we want to do big things with small investments. But sometimes, you have to spend when it's necessary. We can't expect to grab every bargain in the world, especially in the Premier League."

In truth, if not for their close ties, Adam Lallana wouldn't have joined Leeds United in the first place.

It's unrealistic to think a Premier League club can build everything on €1–2 million transfers. That's immature and lacks ambition.

Spending over €10 million per signing might seem excessive. Leeds United couldn't afford to do it regularly, but a player like Coutinho was exactly the kind of talent they needed. If they didn't act now, would they wait until January?

More importantly, Coutinho and Pogba were the keys to the left-sided attack-and-defense structure that Gao Shen had designed for Leeds United.

€10 million?

This one will sell for €100 million in the future!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 857: The Finals Are Back Home, How About You?

Finaledahoam!

This Bavarian phrase, meaning "Finals go home," has become a popular slogan in Germany.

As the countdown to the Champions League final begins, tension among fans is rising rapidly, and the atmosphere across the city is heating up.

With the advantage of playing at home, Munich is decorated predominantly in red and white. Manchester City's sky blue is nowhere to be seen.

In the words of Bayern Munich's head of marketing, Jung, "We want Saturday to be a red-and-white festival."

Starting Wednesday, over 2,000 huge posters of Bayern stars were placed in every subway station and public square, so fans could see their heroes everywhere on the streets of Munich.

Jung also revealed that more than 200 million people around the world will watch Saturday's final, making it the biggest sporting event globally, even surpassing the Super Bowl in influence.

The Munich Tourism Bureau released estimates predicting that up to 140,000 tourists will arrive in the city before and after the final, with more than 40,000 staying overnight. This would bring massive economic benefits to Munich's hotels, inns, and bars.

Since Champions League final tickets were sold out early, the city government provided giant screens near the stadium and in key public locations. Even tickets for these fan zones were quickly snapped up. It's estimated that over 100,000 fans will gather outside to watch the game.

Given the scale of the event, the Munich police deployed 2,000 officers to monitor fans with histories of violence and banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in glass bottles—because, quite simply, glass can become a weapon.

Germany and England are historic rivals.

Whether it's at the national team level or in club football, the upcoming showdown between Manchester City and Bayern Munich has only intensified that rivalry.

According to the ticket allocation, between 25,000 and 30,000 British fans are expected to travel to Munich. German authorities are currently screening incoming British supporters and working closely with British police to block over 80 known football hooligans from entering the country.

On matchday, Munich's rail system will add 20 extra trains and 160 additional staff.

The entire city is mobilizing to meet the demands of the Champions League final.

Of course, the German side is already planning the victory celebrations.

After all, if Bayern wins the title at home, the party will be monumental.

…

In this atmosphere, Manchester City arrived in Munich on Friday at noon.

From the airport to the city center, you could see red and white flags and decorations hanging from buildings on both sides of the road—the colors of Bayern.

Massive posters of Bayern players were displayed at nearly every intersection.

The advertisements on the city's digital billboards had all been switched to Champions League final promotions featuring Bayern.

Many sponsors even had Bayern players shoot specific ads to hype up the final.

Bayern fans were everywhere.

Bayern clearly knows how to do business, and they move fast.

After reaching the final, they quickly released a series of themed merchandise—such as final edition supporter T-shirts priced at eight euros, along with flags, scarves, and handkerchiefs.

The prices weren't high, but sales were phenomenal, triggering a frenzy at fan shops.

Behind this success is Bayern's complete control over the production, distribution, and logistics of its merchandise—a feat that doesn't happen overnight.

Keep in mind, it had only been about 20 days since the second leg of the Champions League semifinals.

Not only that, Bayern also activated 22 of their sponsors, launching a comprehensive promotional campaign not only in Germany, but across Europe and the world.

Gao Shen sat on Manchester City's team bus, looking out at the scenery and reflecting on everything. He couldn't help but admire the might of a traditional powerhouse like Bayern Munich.

If you want to talk about "heritage," this is it.

Everyone knows Bundesliga tickets are the cheapest in Europe, yet Bayern still ranks among the top in global revenue. In fact, they compete toe-to-toe with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United.

They don't earn as much from ticket sales or broadcast rights, but make up for it with their commercial operations.

In this regard, Bayern may be the best in the world.

Some say that it's thanks to Germany's strong economy—and that's true to some extent. But having resources means nothing without the ability to fully leverage them.

Take this final, for example. In all aspects, Manchester City is far behind Bayern.

This disparity shows up everywhere.

Even in terms of final revenue.

From a fan's perspective, all that matters is who wins.

But from a commercial standpoint, the title is just a bonus. What truly matters is the exposure and tangible commercial value the final brings.

In that sense, the trophy is just the cherry on top.

Gao Shen was certain: even if Manchester City won the final, they would still trail far behind Bayern in terms of commercial revenue.

That's a real gap.

It's not something Mansour can fix just by throwing money at it.

Manchester City's commercial operations are still heavily reliant on the Abu Dhabi consortium. Unlike Bayern, they cannot mobilize global sponsors on short notice to promote the team worldwide.

In this area, Manchester City still has a long road ahead.

Even if they continue leaning on the consortium, it'll be difficult to change course.

After all, when someone can make easy money lying down, why bother working hard for it?

That's just human nature.

…

The schedule on the day before the final followed the usual routine.

After checking into the hotel, the players had lunch and a short rest. Then Gao Shen held a brief team meeting.

He didn't say much—mostly just reminded the players to relax and not overthink things. They even discussed what to eat for lunch on matchday.

In the afternoon, under UEFA's schedule, the team traveled to the Allianz Arena for a pre-match familiarization session.

This was standard procedure.

Since the final would be held at the Allianz Arena, and with so many media and staff present, Manchester City couldn't carry out any tactical sessions there.

It was just about getting a feel for the pitch.

Like practicing the range for crosses from the wings.

Every pitch differs in dimensions, so players must adjust their strength and angles accordingly.

Gao Shen also arranged penalty shootout training.

He even simulated Bayern's penalty takers to give Neuer realistic practice.

One interesting moment was when some fans in the stands held up a banner directed at Neuer.

"The finals are back home. How about you?"

Gao Shen saw it too, and noticed that Neuer's expression was… complicated.

Manchester City had paid him handsomely and showered him with honors. But City is still an English team.

Jerome Boateng, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. Probably because no one had asked him to come home.

He was doing very well at Manchester City.

Their advanced tactical approach demanded a lot from center-backs.

David Luiz and Kompany were the main pairing, but Boateng was closing the gap and improving rapidly.

In a recent national team interview, Boateng even publicly thanked Gao Shen for forcing him to break his bad habits and holding him to strict standards.

Changing bad habits is tough—but the rewards are worth it.

After a quick scan of the pitch and the atmosphere, Gao Shen decided he should talk to Neuer that evening.

Before the final, the last thing they needed was for their starting goalkeeper to be emotionally distracted.

He trusted Neuer could handle it. But a little advice wouldn't hurt.

…

After training, Gao Shen handed the players over to Carlo and Brian Kidd. Then, accompanied by UEFA officials, he headed to the Allianz Arena's media center for the pre-match press conference.

This too was routine for Champions League finals.

This would be Gao Shen's fourth time in a Champions League final, and he knew the drill inside out.

The biggest difference this year was that the final was being held at Bayern's home stadium.

Bayern's offices aren't in the Allianz Arena, but this was still their turf. Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, and other top figures were all present.

Especially for the press conference, they would appear alongside UEFA officials.

As Gao Shen entered the press area, he was greeted warmly by everyone.

At just 31 years old, with three Champions League titles already, he was arguably the most sought-after manager in world football.

No top club could rule out working with him in the future, so everyone was especially courteous.

Even Platini and Blatter treated him with respect.

Success commands respect.

From what Gao Shen remembered, Bayern had finished third in the Bundesliga this season.

And things had actually gotten worse.

They had fallen behind Jürgen Klopp's Dortmund early in the league and lost the German Cup too.

Only the Champions League final remained.

In contrast, Manchester City had pushed forward on all four fronts—Champions League, Premier League, League Cup, and FA Cup—and were now just one title away from completing the set.

Clearly, Bayern's multi-front strategy had failed.

Beckenbauer understood why.

The team simply lacked the overall strength.

And by "overall strength," that meant more than just talent.

It's like what happened in the past with Real Madrid.

Many asked: how did they win three straight Champions League titles?

Magic?

Nonsense.

The real reason? Squad depth.

When your bench includes the likes of James Rodríguez, Isco, Kovačić, Asensio, and Morata—when you can field a completely different world-class lineup at will—that is true strength.

The most brutal approach?

Let the opponent exhaust themselves. Then bring on fresh legs from the bench to finish them off.

Who says my bench isn't better than your starting eleven?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 858: Your Majesty, You Really Think Too Much!

Beckenbauer and the others all understood football well.

Bayern's overall squad was still relatively thin. The starting lineup was solid, but the bench lacked sufficient depth.

Without a killer like Robben in the attack and Jerome Boateng at the back, Bayern was clearly affected.

Mario Gomez was excellent, but still a notch below Mandzukic.

Then there was the defensive midfield position. In Gao Shen's previous life, Javi Martínez's move to Bayern was a critical turning point.

After securing Robben and Ribéry, Bayern reached the Champions League final but lost to Inter Milan. The following season, they finished third, and then came the treble. Bayern gradually consolidated their overall strength year after year.

That eventually led to the Sammer era when Guardiola took over as head coach.

As for why Guardiola didn't win the Champions League, that's a different discussion. But at the very least, during those years, Bayern's overall quality was among the best in Europe.

It was a process of accumulating strength before achieving explosive results.

All the reasons cited by the outside media—such as blaming Heynckes for refusing to rotate players or choking at key moments—were really just outcomes.

It's not that managers don't make mistakes, but all achievements are built on foundational strength.

…

There were several key positions in Bayern that urgently needed reinforcement.

Namely, the central axis.

Defensive midfielder, centre-back, and goalkeeper.

Their defensive midfield was decent compared to ordinary teams. But if they aimed to compete for the Champions League, players like Luiz Gustavo and Tymoshchuk lacked the necessary top-level quality.

Then there were center-back Daniel Van Buyten and goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt.

So, when speaking with Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, and UEFA officials, Gao Shen made this comment.

"It's not easy for Heynckes to bring this Bayern team to the final!"

Beckenbauer and Rummenigge fell silent in thought, then nodded.

Who could deny it?

It wasn't that Bayern lacked quality, but their depth was insufficient. That put an enormous burden on the head coach's tactical abilities.

Beckenbauer even joked with Gao Shen, "Everyone says you've got an eye for talent. How about recommending a solid defensive midfielder for us?"

Everyone chuckled.

This was the man about to face them in the final. Asking him for a player recommendation now?

Was that even remotely believable?

But of course, everyone knew it was just a joke.

Even if Gao Shen gave a name, Bayern would never act on it without rigorous evaluation.

Naturally, Gao Shen politely declined. "Come on, I'm just messing around."

But Rummenigge, already in a lighthearted mood, chimed in. "Just treat it as a joke anyway."

Everyone nodded.

There were countless clubs that would kill for a personal recommendation from Gao Shen. Why not at least ask?

"So I can just say whatever I want?" Gao Shen grinned.

Beckenbauer and the others nodded in agreement.

"Morgan Schneiderlin," Gao Shen said, shrugging with a smile.

Everyone was stunned for a moment. Some couldn't even recall the name, then laughter broke out.

Well played.

"If you're actually interested, you'd better move fast. Manchester United has already made a move," Gao Shen added.

Even Beckenbauer and Rummenigge laughed.

No one took his words seriously.

Or did they?

Maybe it was a subtle bit of self-deprecation. Or something deeper.

Just then, the press conference was about to begin. Gao Shen excused himself and headed out with UEFA officials.

Outside the press room, screams and cheers from reporters could already be heard.

Gao Shen's popularity was off the charts.

How amazing would it be if he coached Bayern one day?

…

"What's on your mind, Franz?" Rummenigge asked, noticing Beckenbauer's expression.

Beckenbauer furrowed his brows behind his gold-rimmed glasses, clearly deep in thought.

"I suddenly started thinking about the guy Gao Shen just mentioned."

"Morgan Schneiderlin?"

"Yeah."

"Come on, it was just a joke. Everyone in the industry knows he plays for Leeds United, and Gao Shen's wife owns the club. He's just hyping up his own player."

After all, Gao Shen clearly didn't want to suggest anyone to Bayern.

But Beckenbauer waved it off. "No, that's not it."

"What is it then?"

"I'm saying, your analysis might be off. I've read Schneiderlin's match reports. His strengths are defense and passing."

"Right. His ball recoveries per game rank at the top in the Championship, and he's among the leaders in the Premier League too."

"What if he were partnered with Schweinsteiger?"

"Isn't that Gustavo's job?"

Beckenbauer didn't answer further. He wasn't suggesting Bayern chase Schneiderlin. He just felt there might have been more to Gao Shen's comment.

Or… maybe he was just overthinking it?

…

If Gao Shen, now sitting in the press conference hall, knew that one offhand remark had triggered so much pondering from football royalty, he would've been proud.

When did I become such a deep thinker?

In truth, when he mentioned Schneiderlin, he was just trying to brush them off.

Who doesn't know how to deflect?

Like right now, sitting in front of a crowd of journalists, Gao Shen was once again going through the motions.

Their questions were clever and varied, but to Gao Shen, they were old news. He had heard them a thousand times.

Week in and week out, sometimes even daily, he was asked the same things. He'd long since mastered the art of dodging, answering in a way that sounded meaningful but said nothing at all.

For example, a reporter asked, "What do you think of Heynckes' Bayern team?"

Gao Shen replied without hesitation, "This is the strongest Bayern Munich side in the past ten years!"

Everyone nodded happily.

Right? That sounds about right.

Someone else asked, "What is Manchester City most wary of from Bayern in this final?"

"Ribéry," Gao Shen replied instantly.

In his head, he silently added two more words: yeah, right.

But what else could he say? The media and fans loved hearing Ribéry's name.

Sometimes it was really annoying.

If you didn't give them an answer, they'd just keep asking until they got what they wanted.

That was even worse. Better to throw them a bone early and move on.

Some might ask, why not just tell the truth?

Because no one wants to hear it. There's no hook, no narrative to hype.

Like now, if Gao Shen told the truth and said Bayern's biggest threat was their off-the-ball movement and midfield pressing, he'd have to go into a long, technical explanation.

Dry. Boring. The media would tune out. The fans wouldn't care. Who would even report it?

So it's better to give them a flashy name and let them run with it.

Most people wouldn't believe it, but Gao Shen genuinely thought this Bayern side—without Robben—was stronger than the 2012 version that faced Chelsea.

Compared to the treble-winning team of 2013, the only real gaps were in goal and midfield pressing.

But who would believe that?

That's the strange thing about football.

People are easily blinded by what they see.

Take José Fonte, for example.

Why is he the constant while his partners keep changing?

Because everyone focused on how good his partners looked beside him. Their brilliance overshadowed Fonte's presence, making people overlook the Portuguese veteran and the vital work he did behind the scenes.

But whether you're a head coach, a club executive, or running a company, the key is to recognize the core—what really matters—and zero in on it.

…

After the press conference, Gao Shen didn't meet with Beckenbauer or the others, nor did he cross paths with Heynckes. His press conference was scheduled later.

Gao Shen returned straight from the Allianz Arena to the team hotel.

By then, analyst Carlos Vargas had already compiled training data from the Allianz Arena session.

The coaching staff immediately held a meeting to finalize tomorrow's tactical approach.

Football is constantly evolving.

Take the current Manchester City squad.

Against Barcelona, the Catalans are the controlling team, and City must act as the disruptor. Unless they've lost their minds, trying to out-possess Barcelona would be suicide.

But against Bayern, Manchester City becomes the team in control, while Bayern must take on the disruptor's role.

That same Bayern side, though, plays the controller role in the Bundesliga against teams like Dortmund.

The players are the same, but the roles shift depending on the opponent.

Both sides had reached the final, and at this point, neither team's tactics were a mystery.

Even their playing styles had become predictable.

The difference lay in the details.

Formational tweaks. Player positioning. Individual responsibilities. Small shifts that could alter the entire match.

And yet, those were often overlooked.

Based on all pre-match analysis, Manchester City could more or less predict Bayern's starting eleven.

Goalkeeper: Butt.

Defense: Contento, Badstuber, Tymoshchuk, and Lahm.

Midfield: Schweinsteiger and Gustavo sitting deep, with Ribéry, Toni Kroos, and Thomas Müller ahead.

Up top: Gomez.

Barring any surprises, this should be Heynckes' starting lineup.

A classic 4-2-3-1.

Thomas Müller, playing on the right, could offer the off-ball movement and support Robben lacked in his previous life, unlocking Lahm's overlapping runs and improving Bayern's counter-pressing after losing possession.

These details mattered in high-level contests.

Of course, when facing weaker sides, Müller could never replace Robben's impact.

Which also explained why Bayern fell short in the Bundesliga and German Cup this season.

But in the Champions League, that very structure gave Bayern their edge.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 859: The Trapped "Eukaryote"

Everyone says the league relies on offense, and the cup relies on defense.

That's not entirely true, but it does reflect the fact that league and cup competitions are two completely different beasts.

In my previous life, some people used to ask: why do Guardiola's teams always perform so well in the league but often get eliminated in cup competitions?

The answer is actually quite simple. The challenges presented by the league and the cup are completely different.

The league is more of a test of a team's overall strength. It spans a long period of time, and players are bound to get injured or experience fluctuations in form, so someone must always be ready to step up.

Cup competitions are different. The outcome is often decided over two legs, or even just one match. It's a direct test of the manager's tactical deployment and the team's weaknesses.

It's just like the bucket theory: the shortest plank determines how much water the bucket can hold.

Teams like Barcelona under Guardiola can be extremely strong overall, but they may have some fatal weaknesses.

In the league, these flaws don't have a major impact. But in high-intensity cup games, especially against equally strong opponents with well-prepared tactics, these flaws can become decisive. The team might even get completely taken apart if the opponent exploits those weaknesses to the fullest.

Guardiola's teams, including the Barcelona team after his departure, had a serious issue: their defense.

It was really, really rough.

Gao Shen didn't notice this before. But after spending three years in Italy, when he looked back at Barcelona, he realized how weak their defense actually was.

However, their defensive shortcomings were masked by their exceptional midfield control and firepower in the final third. Coupled with relentless high pressing, these things concealed Barcelona's defensive issues.

Now, as the pressing and mobility of the midfield and front line declined, those problems were immediately exposed.

If it were a cup match and Gao Shen led Manchester City against Barcelona, he was confident he could win 10 out of 11 times.

But whether he could win the league title was another matter entirely, because the league and cup competitions test different aspects of a team.

So, how do you beat Barcelona?

Compress the space near the halfway line, organize a compact defense, and focus on counterattacks.

When Real Madrid was being assembled in 2009, their target was clear—beat Barcelona.

Knowing that Barcelona's defense was poor, the plan was to focus precisely on that weakness.

Shrink the midfield and defensive lines to disrupt their build-up and penetration. Then, the moment possession is won, launch fast counterattacks.

Isn't that exactly what Xabi Alonso's long passes and the speed of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Di Maria were built for?

But here's where it gets interesting.

Under Pellegrini, the team actually did quite well. Although they were often on the back foot against Barcelona, they could still grind out some results.

From Gao Shen's point of view, if they had just sacrificed one of Ronaldo, Kaka, Di Maria, or the striker, reinforced the midfield defense, and continued with that playstyle, they could've beaten Barcelona consistently.

But what no one expected was the arrival of the German number 10 in 2010.

What's the main trait of a number 10 from Germany?

Deadly passing.

Where does he play?

Well, obviously in the number 10 role.

And where is that on the pitch?

In an advanced central attacking position.

So, what are Ronaldo and Di Maria's strengths?

Speed. The whole world knows that.

And what does speed require?

Space. Without space, what's the point of sprinting forward?

If your attacking midfielder is so far forward, then by the time he delivers the ball and Ronaldo or Di Maria picks it up, how much space is left for them to use?

See the problem?

From a tactical standpoint, once the attack starts from the number 10 position, Ronaldo and Di Maria don't have much room to work with.

So, playing a number 10 conflicts with Ronaldo and Di Maria's strengths.

What did Ancelotti do when he took over?

He brought in Modric.

He brought Modric into the lineup and pushed the team's build-up play further back from the number 10 area.

Now, Xabi Alonso and Modric were in charge of initiating attacks.

That gave Ronaldo and Di Maria the space they needed to sprint down the flanks.

More importantly, these two midfielders complemented each other perfectly.

That's how Real Madrid won La Décima, their 10th Champions League title.

…

To a certain extent, the problem Bayern faced was quite similar to Real Madrid's.

In his previous life, Heynckes had two explosive wingers, Ribery and Robben. He needed a center forward, Schweinsteiger was a lock in midfield, and a holding midfielder was also essential, leaving just one spot open.

Toni Kroos or Thomas Müller?

This question dragged on for years.

From Van Gaal to Heynckes, fans and media alike—both in Germany and abroad—debated who among the two rising stars should start.

They even tried Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos together as double pivots, but it didn't work out.

After Heynckes took over, he strongly supported Toni Kroos—his protégé from Leverkusen—and played him as a number 10 in the 4-2-3-1 setup.

But Bayern quickly ran into the same issue Real Madrid did. The attack started too high up the pitch, which didn't suit Ribery and Robben. Plus, both of them liked cutting inside from the wings, and Toni Kroos' presence limited their space.

Thomas Müller didn't have that problem. He focused more on movement and support.

So, during the 2011/12 season, Bayern often dominated matches but couldn't score, even while controlling the game.

After Schweinsteiger got injured, Toni Kroos moved deeper to take on more responsibility, and things improved.

Then came the 2012/13 season, and things changed again.

First, Robben got injured, so Müller shifted wide and clicked with Lahm, bringing the best out of Bayern's captain on the right flank. Then, Schweinsteiger got injured.

In the Round of 16 against Arsenal, Bayern won 3-1 away in the first leg. Back at home, Schweinsteiger was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, so Heynckes used Martinez and Gustavo as the double pivots, with Kroos as the playmaker.

What happened?

They lost 2-0 at home and nearly got knocked out.

But here's the twist—Kroos got injured early in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Juventus. Robben came on as a substitute.

Bayern adjusted, with Schweinsteiger and Martinez as the double pivots and Müller playing the number 10 role.

And the result?

They beat Juventus 2-0 in both legs. In the semis, they destroyed Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate. In the final, they beat Dortmund 2-1.

Why?

Because without Toni Kroos, Bayern's build-up play shifted back to the double pivot.

That gave Ribery and Robben the space they needed to be dangerous.

Gao Shen believed that Bayern's management understood this very clearly. They knew that as long as Heynckes remained in charge and the team's tactical system stayed the same, the conflict between Kroos, Schweinsteiger, and Müller would persist.

But these three players were the future of the German national team.

So, what did they do?

They chose Guardiola.

Who would've thought? Right after Toni Kroos got injured, Heynckes' Bayern took off.

Mind you, Guardiola had already signed with Bayern in January. Six months later, Heynckes' team won the treble.

…

Gao Shen always felt that Toni Kroos was a strategic player, like Xabi Alonso or Modric. Real Madrid's iconic midfield trio would go on to become a classic combination remembered for years to come.

But in Bayern's system, Kroos was surplus to requirements.

He had too much in common with Schweinsteiger, which led to positional overlap. But he couldn't replace Schweinsteiger—he wasn't as good defensively, and he didn't have the same status in the team.

That's why Bayern's top brass eventually sold him.

Some people asked, why did Guardiola like using Toni Kroos?

Simple—because in Guardiola's system, Kroos didn't play as a number 10.

From Kroos, you can clearly see how a small shift in a player's position or role can create massive tactical differences.

In this Bayern team, he was like a dragon trapped in shallow water—restricted and unable to stretch out.

But even so, Bayern continued using Kroos as a number 10, with Schweinsteiger and Gustavo behind him.

With Robben absent, the conflict between Müller and Kroos disappeared. When Müller moved to the wing, his partnership with Lahm worked wonders, helping the Bayern captain deliver his best performances on the right.

But without Robben, Bayern also lost a key weapon for counterattacks.

So, heading into this match—Manchester City vs Bayern—Gao Shen's tactical approach was already clear.

Take inspiration from Klopp's Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final: transition quickly between attack and defense, press high in midfield and the final third, and have defenders step up aggressively.

The key targets: Toni Kroos and Schweinsteiger.

…

After finishing his meeting with the coaching staff, Gao Shen called Neuer in for a private chat.

He could clearly see Neuer's internal conflict.

After reaching the Champions League final and returning to Germany, it was a triumphant homecoming. But like all Germans, Neuer had a deep emotional connection to Bayern.

Germany's national team had always drawn its main goalkeepers from Bayern Munich, but Neuer was an exception.

Once upon a time, he too dreamed of becoming a Bayern and Germany legend like Kahn.

Gao Shen said he understood how the player felt.

"I also believe you'll handle your emotions well—because right now, you're a Manchester City player."

He even joked that if Neuer really wanted to go back to Bayern someday, he had to win the Champions League final first.

"Do you think they'll respect you if you go back as a loser?"

Those words really struck a chord with Neuer.

The German keeper nodded with a smile, clearly agreeing with Gao Shen.

Whether he returned or not, that was something for the future.

But even if he wanted to go back, he had to win this title first—return as a champion.

That would be a proper homecoming.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 860: Danger!!

The fourth match… the Champions League final!

As the players of both teams were led out of the tunnel by Portuguese referee Pedro Proença, the assistant referees had already taken their positions on the pitch. Gao Shen stood alone at the top of the tunnel stairs, looking out toward the "hole" in the distance.

Out there was a brand-new world.

People bustled back and forth around him, but no one came up to disturb Gao Shen.

The decisive battle was about to begin. No one knew what he might be thinking about at this moment.

In truth, Gao Shen was simply feeling emotional.

From Real Madrid to Napoli, and now to Manchester City. Time had flown by.

For the past few years, he had barely taken a break. Day after day, constantly busy.

The days had been full and productive, but now, looking back, he suddenly had a realization.

Time flies.

He was starting to feel sentimental.

Was he getting old?

…

"Hey, Gao, welcome to the Allianz Arena!"

As Gao Shen walked out of the tunnel, the deafening roar of the crowd engulfed him. He was greeted by Heynckes' hearty laugh and a familiar pat on the shoulder from the German coach.

The two had known each other for quite some time and got along well. Heynckes always seemed a bit overly familiar, but he had a charm to him.

He often said that he liked talking to young people the most.

To be honest, the first time Gao Shen heard that, it gave him goosebumps.

Fine, you win!

"Come on, we're the home team tonight, okay?" Gao Shen pointed at Heynckes and joked.

The German coach didn't mind at all. "What's yours, what's ours? Tonight, everything belongs to everyone."

Damn. That actually made a lot of sense.

"Hey, you seem to be in a great mood. Aren't you nervous?" Gao Shen asked curiously.

"Nervous? Of course I'm nervous. But what's the point?" Heynckes responded with a smile.

He had been smiling the entire time, clearly in high spirits.

"Let me guess. Did Bayern offer you a contract extension?" Gao Shen asked, testing the waters.

Heynckes chuckled. "Do I look like that kind of guy?"

Look at your face. It's probably true.

"Don't try to be friendly with me. I'm not letting you off tonight," Gao Shen warned.

"Then you'd better watch out too. I'm no pushover," Heynckes replied meaningfully.

Gao Shen was clearly caught off guard for a moment. The old man sounded really confident.

Something's up.

…

Bayern's starting lineup was exactly what Gao Shen had expected.

The only change was at left-back. Contento replaced young Alaba, who was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.

Bayern's management had previously suggested that UEFA implement a rule to wipe yellow cards before the Champions League final, a proposal that Gao Shen had fully supported.

Although Manchester City had fielded all their key players in this match, it was mostly precautionary.

This is the advantage of having squad depth.

Gao Shen could rotate and adjust players when matches were under control to avoid suspensions.

Of course, players could also tactically earn a yellow card early.

But Mourinho's way of doing it was too blatant. It openly challenged UEFA's rules and lacked any subtlety—something a true master would never do.

We are gentlemen. So we do things the gentleman's way.

"Keep a close eye on Bayern's early movements," Gao Shen reminded Carlos Vargas as he headed to the bench.

"Understood," the chief analyst replied and immediately went to pass along the instruction.

Meanwhile, in the stands of the Allianz Arena, Manchester City's analysis team was still hard at work.

"Any problems?" Carlo came over, his voice filled with concern.

He had always been cautious. A good trait in an assistant—he could spot flaws, plug gaps, and remain grounded in critical moments. But he wasn't head coach material.

A head coach is the spine of the team. They cannot be timid.

Gao Shen even suspected that Heynckes' cheerful demeanor was all for show—designed to let Bayern's players see that their head coach could still laugh and chat confidently even when facing Gao Shen.

See that?

Total theater.

…

There was no suspense in Manchester City's starting lineup tonight either.

Goalkeeper: Neuer.

Defense: Felipe, David Luiz, Kompany, and Lichtsteiner.

Midfield: Javi Martinez sat deep, with David Silva and Rakitic positioned further forward.

Attack: Gareth Bale, Suarez, and Robben.

Manchester City kicked off the match.

After Suarez and Gareth Bale tapped the ball to start, they quickly played it back, sending it to the backline.

Bayern's forwards pressed immediately. David Luiz, under pressure, didn't hesitate. Before Gomez could close him down, he launched a long pass upfield toward Suarez.

But Van Buyten anticipated it and headed the ball away.

Manchester City collected the second ball, but Bayern pressed hard near the halfway line and successfully intercepted it, swinging it left to Ribery.

The French winger carried the ball forward, crossed the halfway line, and fed it diagonally to Toni Kroos.

Javi Martinez closed in quickly, used his body to block Kroos, and clipped the ball away.

Rakitic immediately passed back to Lichtsteiner, who gave it to Kompany, and then on to David Luiz...

Manchester City passed the ball continuously and calmly moved it out of danger.

Bayern continued pressing high.

Even after City stretched their shape, their sharp one-touch passing and off-the-ball movement prevented Bayern's press from having its intended effect. Still, the German side kept applying pressure in midfield and the final third.

…

Gao Shen stood on the touchline, watching quietly.

He had made an adjustment to his wing setup for this match.

Gareth Bale was positioned deeper on the left, mainly because of Lahm's overlapping runs.

Thomas Müller's off-the-ball movement was exceptional. Felipe would need to expend a lot of energy on him, and if Lahm joined in, the overload could be dangerous.

This was one of Bayern's signature weapons this season, and Lahm had been outstanding.

So Gao Shen dropped Gareth Bale deeper. That allowed him to exploit his pace while also supporting Felipe and containing Lahm.

On the right, Robben stayed high, while Rakitic sat deeper.

Toni Kroos was a contradictory player who still hadn't found his ideal position. But when he played best at Leverkusen, it was as a left-sided attacking midfielder.

In that role, he orchestrated the entire front-third attack for Leverkusen.

Heynckes, who coached Leverkusen at the time, had tailored that position for him.

But at Bayern, Kroos couldn't play that role—Ribery already occupied that space.

And Bayern's 4-2-3-1 didn't include a designated left attacking midfielder.

Still, Kroos frequently drifted into that area to link up with Ribery, so Gao Shen had Rakitic drop deeper on that side for defensive cover.

With Rakitic backing him, Lichtsteiner could push forward more confidently when needed.

Gao Shen's key target tonight was Contento.

…

After kickoff, Manchester City didn't adopt a slow, methodical possession approach. Instead, they pushed the tempo right away.

Transitions between attack and defense were rapid. Possession switched hands repeatedly.

But overall, Manchester City's defensive structure and midfield pressing were stronger.

Their defensive block focused on the halfway line.

Every time Bayern advanced beyond midfield, they were immediately swarmed by City's pressing trap.

Bayern couldn't find an effective build-up route and resorted to long balls aimed at Gomez, hoping to use his physicality to create chances.

In the 6th minute, Bayern attacked down the right. Lahm and Thomas Müller failed to link up and were forced to retreat. Tymoshchuk lofted a long ball to Gomez.

Javi Martinez used his strength to win the aerial duel, heading the ball back into midfield.

David Silva received it just inside his own half, chesting the ball down near the center circle.

Gustavo immediately charged from behind, applying physical pressure, trying to win the ball. He leaned in fully, knocking David Silva over from behind.

Silva, slight and not particularly strong, relied on his footwork. Even while falling, he kept the ball close, then quickly got back up, played it right, and sent a pass downfield to Robben on the wing.

Just as referee Proença was about to blow the whistle, he saw Manchester City had launched a counterattack and held off.

The principle of advantage in play.

Manchester City's counter was rapid.

The moment Robben took control, the midfield and front line began to sprint in unison.

"That's Manchester City's classic counterattack!"

"A direct transition, full commitment. Just look at that attacking move."

"Robben is driving forward, drawing in the defense, hinting at a cut inside."

"David Silva overlaps. They look like they're going to combine."

"But suddenly, the ball is switched wide!"

"Bayern's right flank is exposed."

"Lichtsteiner surges forward. Contento moves to cover…"

City's right-back stepped up, brought the ball under control, and glanced toward the box.

Robben was on the right side of the penalty area, but two defenders had closed him down.

Suarez had just entered the box, but both center-backs were positioned ahead of him.

Gareth Bale was at a similar depth, slightly left of Suarez, with only Lahm marking him.

Schweinsteiger was lurking outside the box, watching David Silva.

Gustavo, after fouling David Silva, had lost balance and was trailing the play.

The whole picture was crystal clear.

Lichtsteiner didn't wait for Contento to close down. He took a stance and whipped in a 45-degree cross with his right foot.

The ball arced high across the penalty area, sailing past everyone, and dropped near the far post.

"Danger!!"

Everyone realized it—Heynckes, the Bayern bench, the players.

Who was marking?

Lahm stood only 1.7 meters tall.

But facing him was Gareth Bale—lightning fast, 1.85 meters tall, and physically dominant!

As expected, just as Lichtsteiner's cross left his foot, Bale exploded forward, brushed Lahm aside, and surged toward the far post. He rose high, connected perfectly with the ball, and powered a header into the far corner.

As soon as the diagonal cross came in, goalkeeper Butt sensed the danger and raced across from the right side of the goal to cover the left.

But Gareth Bale's header redirected the ball into the opposite corner.

Butt tried desperately to adjust and dive, stretching as far as he could.

But there was no stopping it.

(To be continued.)