SWR: Chapter 850/853

Chapter 850: It’s Great to Be Young!
April 21, the 35th round of the Premier League.

Due to their involvement in the FA Cup, Manchester City's match for the 34th round had been postponed.

But that no longer mattered to them.

In an away game against Wolves, thanks to goals from Van Persie and Hazard, they secured a 2-0 win.

…

April 24, the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.

Manchester City traveled to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg, City approached the match with composure. In the 17th minute, David Silva assisted Gareth Bale, who scored to give City the lead.

Manchester United equalized in the 53rd minute of the second half through a goal by Sneijder.

But just before the final whistle, Suarez latched onto a cross from Lichtsteiner and fired a stunning volley into the net, restoring City's lead.

In the end, Manchester City defeated Manchester United 2-1 away, and with a 4-1 aggregate score, they successfully eliminated their rivals and advanced to the Champions League final once again.

This match sent shockwaves throughout Manchester.

Everyone could feel the strength of Manchester City. Winning the Champions League and completing a treble last season was already extraordinary, and this season they had shown even greater dominance.

From the Community Shield before the season, to the European Super Cup, the Club World Cup in December, the League Cup at the end of February, and clinching the Premier League title in April…

Manchester City had demonstrated their overall strength all season long, leaving their rivals feeling helpless.

Now, with another FA Cup final and Champions League final ahead, Gao Shen was closer than ever to a quadruple.

Especially after stepping over the corpse of city rivals Manchester United in the semi-finals to reach the Champions League final—it sent a shock through all of Manchester. City fans flooded the streets in celebration.

That night, Manchester was in complete uproar.

At the post-match press conference, Ferguson also offered his congratulations to Gao Shen.

"He is an incredible manager and the most successful one in the league today. This is his fourth time reaching the Champions League final. I look forward to seeing him win a fourth title and make history."

"He deserves that honor."

Ferguson said that seeing Gao Shen again made him feel just how old he had become and how much his energy had declined.

"I know I've mentioned retirement many times over the years, and each time I was reluctant to leave. But now, I think the time has come. I'm considering retirement after next season."

His words stunned everyone in the room.

At 70 years old, he was just over a year away from surpassing the record for the oldest manager, held by the late legend Bobby Robson.

Faced with surprised reporters, Ferguson explained that modern football placed increasing demands on managers, and the trend was toward younger coaches. He believed this was a good thing.

"Young people have more ideas, they are more open to new things, more creative, and better at embracing high technology. This is great for football."

Ferguson specifically praised Gao Shen.

"I'm going to have a drink with him later. Everyone knows he doesn't drink, but I think tonight he might, because this could be the last time I buy him a drink at Old Trafford."

"Gao Shen gives me a very strange feeling. He doesn't seem like someone from our era. He has a very unique foresight, and that's what sets him apart."

"He's always ahead of the curve in football, and I know he's constantly exploring and thinking, which is a great trait."

"I see the future of professional football in him. He's only 31. If he coaches until my age, he still has 40 years to go."

At that moment, Ferguson couldn't help but laugh.

The entire press room burst into laughter with him.

But everyone could sense that behind the laughter was a hint of sadness and helplessness.

Shakespeare once wrote in Hamlet: Death is the fairest thing in human society.

Then, time must be the most ruthless.

No matter who you are, no matter what you've contributed to the world, you cannot escape the erosion of time.

But there's also the saying that time drives human progress.

Because life is finite, people strive to leave their legacy, to pass on their name and achievements through relentless effort.

Still, that's just a literary sentiment.

In reality, at this moment, for someone like Ferguson, perhaps he simply felt envy.

It's great to be young!

…

After Manchester City's back-to-back victories over Manchester United, the Manchester derby was set for the weekend.

But the match held little significance.

The title had already been decided.

Meanwhile, in Italy…

In a match held one day after City's, Bayern Munich beat AC Milan 2-1 at home but lost 1-2 away. The aggregate score was 3-3.

The game went into extra time, but neither team could score again, forcing a penalty shootout.

In the end, Bayern Munich triumphed through sheer mental resilience. Veteran goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt stood tall, saving three consecutive penalties from AC Milan.

The nearly 38-year-old goalkeeper delivered a composed and reliable performance in this crucial match.

But despite reaching the final, there was still concern within Bayern.

First, Butt was set to retire at the end of the season, a decision made long ago.

Bayern had previously tried to bring in Neuer as his successor, but Manchester City flatly rejected the offer.

Now, the question of who would replace Butt remained unanswered.

The most popular candidate was Ter Stegen, who had performed well at Borussia Mönchengladbach this season. However, reports also suggested that Bayern admired Courtois, the Leeds United goalkeeper currently playing in the Championship.

Uli Hoeness even publicly praised Courtois, saying, "He has the potential to become a world-class goalkeeper. He should come to Bayern, because we have the best team and the best training environment for goalkeepers in the world."

Alongside expressing interest in Courtois, Hoeness also took a swipe at one of his own players—midfielder Toni Kroos.

Though he didn't name him directly, it was clear the criticism was aimed at Kroos for refusing to take a penalty during the shootout.

"Some players who should've stepped up backed away. That's a shame!"

Kroos explained his decision, saying he lacked confidence due to having missed a penalty in the past.

"It's always easier said than done. If anyone thinks they can score with their eyes closed, they can take it. I couldn't."

"When I don't feel confident, I choose to let someone else take the chance. Forcing myself would be irresponsible—to myself, my teammates, and the team."

It was obvious Kroos was upset by Hoeness' remarks.

The team had already reached the final. There was no need to drag things out. But the moment Hoeness made his comments, it exploded in the media.

Kroos was understandably uncomfortable.

But what could he do?

For a player from East Germany, integrating into a West German-dominated team like Bayern was never easy.

At least at Bayern, Toni Kroos never felt like he truly belonged.

Compared to Thomas Müller and Schweinsteiger, he didn't feel as valued.

Especially now, with reports circulating that Bayern wanted to sign Dortmund's midfield prodigy Götze.

If Götze arrived, would there still be a place for Kroos?

…

Manchester Derby, April 30, evening.

In the 36th round of the Premier League, Manchester City hosted Manchester United.

With Ferguson still freezing out Lass Diarra, United fielded Carrick, Sneijder, and Park Ji-sung in midfield, leaving them at a clear disadvantage away from home.

In the 36th minute, City seized a brilliant opportunity.

Van Persie headed the ball down to Lichtsteiner, who quickly laid it off. Sturridge broke into the box and fired home, opening the scoring for Manchester City.

Afterwards, no matter how much City pressed, United held firm defensively.

And since the match no longer carried much weight, neither side went all out.

In the end, Manchester City edged Manchester United 1-0 at home.

Sturridge's goal was the only one of the game.

…

Three days later, the rescheduled 34th round of the Premier League was played.

Manchester City visited Norwich away.

As Gao Shen had previously mentioned, based on current data, Norwich had the healthiest wage-to-revenue ratio in the Premier League this season, at just 49 percent. They were a true model for Premier League clubs.

In contrast, Queens Park Rangers, also newly promoted, had reached a shocking 100 percent.

It's also worth noting that Swansea's wage ratio wasn't particularly high either.

These two clubs were examples Leeds United could learn from.

They had one thing in common: strong promotion of young talent, and use of practical players in their early to mid-20s who weren't too famous.

These types of players were affordable in terms of transfer fees and wages. And with a solid tactical system and the right recruitment, they could still deliver good performances.

Gao Shen admired Norwich off the pitch. But on it, Manchester City showed no mercy.

Suarez scored a hat-trick, Bale added a brace, and Robben and Rakitic each found the net. Manchester City crushed Norwich 7-0 away.

This cost-effective model certainly worked, but it came with limited strength.

Facing a juggernaut like Manchester City, Norwich stood no chance.

Gao Shen didn't plan to make Leeds United like Norwich or Swansea.

His goal was to do better than them.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 851: We Are Chelsea Who Never Give Up!

May 5, Wembley Stadium, London.

FA Cup Final: Manchester City vs Chelsea.

Since Di Matteo took charge, Chelsea returned to their roots tactically, adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Goalkeeper: Cech.

Defense: Ashley Cole, Ivanović, Terry, and Bosingwa.

Midfield: Mikel and Lampard formed a double pivot, with Kalou, Mata, and Ramires ahead.

Striker: Drogba.

Judging by their setup at the start of the match, Chelsea stuck with their familiar approach—compact defense and quick counterattacks. This has always been their strong suit since the Mourinho era.

The players were clearly more comfortable operating within this tactical framework.

In actual gameplay, although Chelsea appeared to be in a 4-2-3-1, in practice, Kalou and Ramires dropped deep on both flanks, aligning themselves more with Lampard and Mikel. It resembled a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Mata played just behind Drogba as a classic second striker or central playmaker.

This setup was clearly meant to counter Manchester City's wing attacks.

Whether it was Bale and Filipe on the left, or Robben and Lichtsteiner on the right, City possessed some of the most feared wide combinations in European football. If Chelsea couldn't contain them on the flanks, it would be nearly impossible to keep a clean sheet.

Di Matteo's tactics followed Chelsea's usual principles, with a hint of a reset to the old style.

That's also why Chelsea's performances had improved significantly in recent weeks.

…

Gao Shen stuck with his usual 4-3-3 setup.

Goalkeeper: Neuer.

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

Midfield: Javi Martínez as the holding midfielder, with David Silva and Rakitic playing centrally.

Attack: Bale on the left, Suarez in the center, Robben on the right.

Manchester City's strengths lay in their wide play and strong midfield control.

So from the first whistle, Gao Shen instructed the team to dominate possession, pin Chelsea back, and break down their rigid defense from the flanks.

Chelsea didn't back down. From the start, they fought fiercely.

The Blues knew that if they allowed City to gain momentum early, the game could quickly slip out of their hands.

So while Di Matteo appeared cautious, he was actually matching City's intensity blow for blow.

City controlled the ball and used width to stretch Chelsea's defensive structure.

Just five minutes in, City created a great opportunity on the left.

Gareth Bale used his left foot to swing a diagonal ball into the middle of the box. Suarez broke away from Terry and met it with a header at close range, but it lacked power and failed to threaten Cech.

After that, City continued pressing, probing Chelsea's lines.

Although the Blues were under constant pressure, they didn't allow any clear-cut scoring chances.

Chelsea themselves, however, hadn't yet found their footing and had not registered a single shot.

The match entered a deadlock, with both teams locked in a battle of wills.

…

Gao Shen stood silently on the touchline, watching the game unfold.

Time ticked by.

Manchester City maintained control but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Every time the ball reached Chelsea's half, their progression was blocked, making it difficult to turn possession into real chances.

City's players kept shifting the ball around, hoping to open gaps in Chelsea's back line, but the Blues had already withstood tests from many strong teams. No matter how much City probed, the defense stayed disciplined.

By the 40th minute, Manchester City had taken 15 shots, but only three were on target. Chelsea, by contrast, had just one shot and none on target. The disparity in dominance was obvious.

Still, Gao Shen wasn't letting his guard down.

City's players remained patient, constantly seeking openings.

Gao Shen made a key tactical tweak in the first half after spotting a flaw in Chelsea's midfield and back line.

Lampard was never known for his defensive discipline. On the contrary, he was an attacking midfielder who surged forward at the first opportunity.

So Gao Shen instructed his players to ease off pressing Lampard.

This way, whenever Chelsea won the ball, Lampard would instinctively push forward to exploit any gaps.

David Silva would then quickly move into that space, exploit it, and draw defenders before distributing to either flank.

This adjustment left Chelsea's defense scrambling.

Whether Silva chose to drive into the attack himself or shift it wide, he posed major problems for Chelsea's back line. However, thanks to standout performances from Terry, Ivanović, and Cech, City had yet to score.

But Gao Shen had a strong feeling that if City kept up the pressure, the breakthrough would come.

He stood in the technical area, gesturing for calm and urging his players to stay composed and continue pushing.

Realistically, Chelsea had only managed one shot, and it wasn't on target. As long as City stayed on course, their dominance would eventually lead to goals.

It was only a matter of time.

Gao Shen remained composed. Di Matteo, on the other hand, was visibly nervous.

Coach Fo kept pacing to the sideline, shouting instructions—sometimes asking for shape, other times urging players to commit more on counters.

Clearly, Di Matteo knew the current path would lead to slow death.

But when you're the weaker side, what else can you do?

For now, the score had to be protected.

Just as the clock hit 43 minutes, Chelsea won the ball in midfield.

…

"Chelsea with a chance to break—look at this! Lampard's making the run."

"He receives the ball, plays it to Juan Mata, he beats Javi Martínez and looks to thread it through…"

"David Luiz slides in for the challenge, Kompany clears!"

"Chelsea almost pulled it off. Both City center-backs did a fantastic job."

"Now it's Manchester City on the counterattack!"

"Quick transition!"

"Filipe picks up the ball on the left and plays it down the line to Gareth Bale."

"The Welshman accelerates down the wing. Let's see how he handles this."

"Plays it to David Silva."

"Quick one-two, and Bale's overlapping!"

"Beautiful play! Bale drives outside the box and tries to cut inside, but it's blocked by Bosingwa…"

"Suarez is in the middle!"

"He takes it back to goal, turns, makes a move… superb!"

"Turns and shoots with his right foot!"

"Danger!"

"It's in!"

"Manchester City score!"

"Suarez!"

"Just before halftime, Suarez controlled the ball in the box, turned sharply, and smashed it home with his right foot, breaking Chelsea's resistance and scoring City's first!"

"1-0!"

"That was Manchester City's 16th shot of the first half!"

"City's attack is clearly sharper than Chelsea's, but to be fair, the Blues' defense has been solid tonight."

"City have had 16 shots to Chelsea's one, but the score is still only 1-0. City lead, but it's not over."

"Di Matteo is furious on the sideline!"

"He has every reason to be upset. That goal came out of nowhere."

"Just moments ago, Chelsea countered and pushed into City's area. But then City regained the ball and launched an instant counterattack."

"Watch closely—David Silva again. He's done this more than once."

"Lampard often leaves gaps in midfield when he pushes forward."

"But what can Chelsea do? They're stuck."

"If they commit more players to the attack, they're vulnerable to counters."

"But if they don't commit, their counterattacks carry no threat."

…

To press or not to press?

That was the dilemma.

Di Matteo knew it too.

The situation in the first half was clear. The problems Chelsea faced against Manchester City's offensive system were obvious. If Di Matteo couldn't see that, he had no business being on the touchline.

But he had his reasons for the current approach.

If Lampard kept surging forward like this, he'd eventually lose the ball in a dangerous spot in the second half.

Thinking of this, Di Matteo made immediate adjustments.

"Long balls!"

"We'll go long in the second half. Let Didier dominate the middle."

Di Matteo gave the instruction decisively as he reorganized the midfield setup.

"Didier," Coach Fo looked at Drogba, "In the second half, use your strengths. Dominate the two City center-backs and give yourself, the wide players, and midfield runners more space and time."

Drogba nodded. He understood perfectly.

In short, he was now the tactical fulcrum.

If Chelsea could hit more long balls, there'd be less need for Lampard to push up recklessly.

If Drogba could win those aerial duels and hold up the ball, players like Mata could capitalize on second balls and support from deep. Chelsea might still have a chance.

"Listen up, everyone. We all know who we're facing—this is the strongest team in the Premier League and probably in Europe. No doubt about it!"

"We're down 0-1, and there's no way back if we don't fight."

"The only thing we can do now is to go forward bravely and chase victory!"

"They say Manchester City are the rulers of the Premier League, the kings of Europe. They dream of winning a quadruple. But I say we have the power to stop them!"

"I need every one of you to step up and give your best. Don't forget, we are Chelsea—we never give up!"

Di Matteo's words lit a fire under the players, especially Drogba, Lampard, and Terry.

These were warriors, veterans who had endured the ups and downs of recent years. No one understood the club's spirit better than they did.

And no one should think defeating Chelsea would ever be easy!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 852: We Are in Big Trouble!

Inside Wembley Stadium, packed with 90,000 fans, in one corner of the crowd, two white-haired old men dressed in plain sportswear sat quietly among the sea of Chelsea blue.

They blended into the rolling crowd.

The surrounding Chelsea fans were so focused on the tense action that no one noticed anything unusual about the two elderly spectators. All eyes were fixed on the pitch.

At the start of the second half, Chelsea made a decisive tactical shift, opting for long balls.

Drogba became the focal point up front. As soon as Chelsea won possession, they would immediately send long passes to him. The Ivorian veteran would then link up play and organize the attack. This approach forced Manchester City into a passive state.

Kompany and David Luiz were both world-class central defenders, but even at his age, Drogba still posed a major challenge in direct physical battles.

Today's Drogba was more refined than ever. No longer simply the rampaging African Elephant who terrorized European football with brute strength, he had become a tactical anchor, capable of dictating attacking moves through intelligent play.

But Gao Shen reacted quickly.

He instructed Kompany, David Luiz, and Javi Martínez to converge around Drogba's zone.

It would be ideal to win the first ball, but even if they didn't, they had to control the second ball.

Soon, Chelsea's limitations were exposed.

Kalou and Ramires were too far from Drogba, and Juan Mata lacked the physicality to consistently compete for second balls.

As a result, Chelsea's attacking push was again stifled by Manchester City.

Once balance was restored, City resumed control through possession and overall quality, pressing Chelsea back again.

…

"Notice anything interesting?"

One of the two old fans was Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes.

He sat with a furrowed brow, watching the tactical chess match unfold.

"You mean Gareth Bale's side?" Assistant Peter Hermann quickly caught on.

The two had worked together since their days at Leverkusen. When Heynckes returned to manage Bayern, Hermann followed immediately. Their cooperation was seamless, built on sharp insights and mutual trust.

"Exactly," Heynckes nodded.

In today's football, inverted wingers were the trend. Their ability to cut inside and shoot gave them great impact.

With Bale's pace, strength, fitness, and growing goal-scoring ability, deploying him on his weaker side should, in theory, cause massive problems for defenders.

"But Gao Shen didn't do that. Not just because Robben is on the left—he's clearly trying something else with Bale."

Heynckes' comment left Hermann puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"Bale started his career as a left-back, didn't he?"

Hermann nodded, still unsure. "Yes, from Southampton's academy. He was average at Spurs for a while, then after Gao Shen brought him to City, he exploded and became one of Europe's top wingers."

"Right," Heynckes confirmed.

Hermann smiled wryly. "So… what's the point?"

"Have you noticed how Bale often drops deep instead of playing high up the pitch? When he pushes forward, it usually signals City are about to step up their attack. But more often than not, he's tracking back and supporting defensively."

"You mean, he's covering the entire left flank alone?" Hermann finally caught on.

There had been players like that before—Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Dani Alves, Maicon—they all carried a flank by themselves.

"I don't think Bale is playing that traditional single-wing role. Something feels different."

Heynckes had coached Roberto Carlos during his Champions League-winning season with Real Madrid, so he knew that feeling well. But with Bale, something was off.

Especially since he had Filipe behind him.

Still, he couldn't pinpoint exactly what felt off—until the next sequence unfolded.

…

Manchester City earned a goal kick.

Neuer played it short quickly.

Drogba applied light pressure on Kompany, but the Belgian calmly passed to David Luiz.

Luiz brought the ball forward and played a low pass to David Silva near the halfway line. The Spaniard took a touch, turned, and shifted the ball left to Gareth Bale.

At that moment, Bale had dropped to the halfway line to receive. He wasn't positioned high up.

Seeing no opening, Bale laid the ball off and allowed the midfield to reset.

The ball rotated across the midfield and defense until it came to Kompany again.

But this time, City had pushed up across the pitch. Chelsea were retreating rapidly.

Kompany advanced and passed to Lichtsteiner just as he crossed the halfway line.

Kalou pressed City's right back, but Lichtsteiner calmly laid the ball off to Rakitic on the right.

The Croatian took a couple of steps forward, then sent the ball to Robben, who had dropped deep near the touchline.

Robben had his back to the line as he received it. The moment he played it back to Rakitic, he immediately turned and sprinted.

Rakitic understood instantly.

The Dutchman's run had pulled Ashley Cole out of position, opening a channel between him and Ivanović.

Rakitic played a perfectly weighted through ball.

Robben raced into the space behind Chelsea's defense, collected the pass, and cut into the left side of the penalty area.

Ivanović chased, Terry closed in—both anticipating Robben to use his lethal left foot.

But Robben surprised them by using his right.

He struck the ball low.

Cech was helpless as it ricocheted off the right post and bounced to the left side of the box.

Gareth Bale had followed the play, sprinting from outside the box. Everyone assumed Robben would finish it himself. But as the ball rebounded, Bale accelerated, reached it ahead of everyone, and fired home from the left side of the six-yard box.

The ball flew into Chelsea's net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"Gareth Bale!"

"Manchester City score again!"

"In the 76th minute, Manchester City find the net for the second time!"

"2-0!"

"Goal scored by Gareth Bale!"

"Manchester City's attacking firepower remains devastating, especially on the break."

"Precise passing, great awareness, and lightning-quick execution."

"Gareth Bale's late run was timed to perfection."

"This is Manchester City football!"

…

While City players and fans celebrated wildly, Heynckes sat frozen.

Suddenly, everything clicked.

Now he understood what made Bale feel so different.

It was because Gao Shen never used him as just a one-man wing. Bale played an all-around role.

"All-around?" Hermann was stunned.

"Isn't that the same as covering the wing alone?"

"No. When we talk about a one-man flank, we're usually talking about a full-back who overlaps endlessly. But no matter where he is—defense, midfield, attack—he plays one role: full-back."

"But Gareth Bale? He's different."

"It's hard to even define what he is. He can be a full-back, a winger, or even a wide forward. He can arrive in the box like a striker. He can hold up the ball with his back to goal."

Heynckes fell silent. How do you even define a player like Bale?

What separates him from a traditional wingback is that his role changes based on the team's needs and the game situation.

That's what makes defending against him so difficult.

How do you mark someone who constantly shifts positions and responsibilities?

There's no fixed reference point.

In contrast, Robben is easier to define. He's a winger. Even if he drops deep, he's still a winger.

"We're in big trouble," Heynckes muttered, shaking his head.

Robben's dribbling and cutting in from the right were already a defensive nightmare.

Now, with Bale on the left playing this unpredictable, multi-functional role?

That posed an even bigger problem.

Manchester United, Inter Milan, Real Madrid—all had been tormented by Bale from that same side.

At Bayern, it would be Philipp Lahm holding down the right. Heynckes trusted him. But in a one-on-one situation, Bale's pace and physicality gave him a real edge.

What was even more dangerous was Bale's ability to show up in different areas of the pitch with explosive power and decisive timing.

That was the truly terrifying part.

"How did Gao Shen build such a team?" Heynckes said with a bitter smile.

It was truly revolutionary.

It was impossible to grasp where Gao Shen's ideas came from or how he constructed them.

And how had he managed to bring all these players together?

No other club could afford a squad this deep and this strong—except Manchester City.

Even if some of these players had been signed while still developing, the meticulous training and tactical shaping behind their growth couldn't be ignored.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 853: Gao Shen's Successor

Manchester City eventually beat Chelsea 2-0 at Wembley Stadium, with goals from Suárez and Gareth Bale.

This victory secured Manchester City's third championship trophy of the season.

Only one Champions League title remains for them to complete the quadruple that Gao Shen set out to achieve.

That match would take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 19.

After winning the FA Cup in London, Manchester City returned triumphantly to Manchester, with loyal fans following closely behind. The highway was filled with vehicles flying the Manchester City flag.

It was a declaration.

A declaration to the entire English football world.

Let everyone know, Manchester City is the undisputed champion.

Upon returning to Manchester, the team headed straight to the Carrington training base, accompanied by Mubarak and Gary Cook, to deliver the FA Cup trophy to the club's Hall of Fame.

Before Gao Shen took over as manager, Manchester City's Hall of Fame was rather empty. But in just three years, it had begun to feel a bit cramped.

Especially the prominent spaces reserved for the Premier League and Champions League titles — they were already full.

"When we expand the stadium, we might need to expand the Hall of Fame too," Mubarak joked with a smile.

Gao Shen and the others all nodded in agreement.

Manchester City's future looked bright. Mansour had not eased off in the slightest due to the success of the past three years. He would continue to invest, especially in the training base opposite the Etihad Stadium and the renovation and expansion of the new stadium.

As Ferguson once said, commercial and broadcasting income may fluctuate with team performance, but matchday revenue is a very stable and predictable source of income.

If necessary, it can even be used to secure bank loans.

Not only that, local fans also care deeply about the owner's investment in infrastructure.

Investors are smart, and fans aren't stupid either.

Infrastructure investment is long-term and doesn't yield immediate results, but it reflects the owner's long-term commitment to operating the club.

Many fans judge whether an investor is good or bad using a simple standard: Are you willing to build a training base and a new stadium for the team?

Roman Abramovich was accepted by Chelsea largely because of his plan to build the Cobham training ground.

Before that?

Everyone knew Chelsea had players like Marcelo Bielsa and Verón training on a worn-out pitch in a warehouse district. It was ridiculed by fans around the world.

That also reflected the poor infrastructure of English clubs.

Manchester City's stadium expansion had already been put on the agenda, and the construction of the training base had begun. It was expected to cost over £100 million, half of which would be used to build a home stadium for the youth team.

…

"Guardiola turned us down."

After wrapping up official business, Mubarak invited Gao Shen to his office.

After receiving Gao Shen's call, Mubarak knew he had gotten the green light, so he immediately contacted Guardiola's agent through Gary Cook and Marwood. He even flew to Barcelona personally to have a secret meeting with Guardiola.

But unfortunately, the result wasn't ideal.

Gao Shen wasn't surprised. At the moment, taking over his position was just as difficult as succeeding Ferguson.

Guardiola wasn't in any rush to find a new club, so why would he want to take over now?

He could spend that time coaching another team, win a few trophies, and when Manchester City started to decline, he could come in and take over. Wouldn't that be better?

Without Gao Shen, could Manchester City maintain its current form?

The squad was strong, but without Gao Shen, who could truly control it?

Even if Gao Shen came in mid-season, he might not be able to regain full control immediately.

Gao Shen's biggest advantage was that all these players were discovered or developed by him, or brought back to their peak through his guidance. They all respected him.

Could anyone else do the same?

This was Manchester City's biggest hidden danger.

Sometimes, having too many stars isn't necessarily a good thing.

The club's management was well aware of this, which is why they were being extra cautious in their search for a new manager.

For example, the incoming coach's style had to be similar. After all, Gao Shen's attacking football philosophy had been instilled at the club for three seasons. If they brought in someone like Mourinho, it could be problematic.

Also, the new manager needed to maintain good relationships with the big-name stars in the dressing room.

And most importantly, he had to be someone capable of winning titles.

Truth be told, it was rare to find someone in European football who could satisfy all three conditions.

Many people believed Manchester City was good enough for Gao Shen, but they overlooked how important Gao Shen was to Manchester City.

Perhaps not as influential as Ferguson was to Manchester United, but these three short years under Gao Shen would undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on Manchester City, the Premier League, and even the Champions League.

The club considered several options. Ancelotti, for example, but he was currently managing Paris Saint-Germain.

Then there was Pellegrini at Malaga. But he hadn't won a title with Real Madrid, and there were concerns about his relationships with star players, such as his issues with Riquelme at Villarreal.

Some even suggested Leeds United's head coach, Sarri, for good reasons.

Sarri had been an assistant at Manchester City for two years. He had a good relationship with the players and was very familiar with the club. He had also been Gao Shen's deputy for three years. No one was more suitable to take over than Sarri. More importantly, Sarri had achieved excellent results with Leeds United, and his tactical knowledge was clear.

Under these circumstances, it seemed acceptable for Sarri to succeed Gao Shen.

But Sarri's biggest issue was his somewhat stubborn personality and lack of status.

That shouldn't be underestimated.

The same words sound different coming from different people. The same actions produce different results depending on who does them.

To borrow a joke from Gao Shen's previous life: a billionaire and a beggar wearing the same pair of ripped shoes — people would assume the billionaire is making a fashion statement, while the beggar just picked them out of the trash.

That's the difference.

The most vivid example was Chelsea's former coach, Villas-Boas.

His plan was sound, his direction was right, his tactics were logical. But he made mistakes in execution. If a more authoritative coach had implemented the same plan, someone who could control the dressing room, the problems wouldn't have escalated the way they did.

This is why top clubs always go for famous managers.

No one else can command authority.

As he was about to leave, Gao Shen didn't intend to offer any suggestions about who should be his successor. That would be unfair. But he did offer many professional recommendations on youth development.

Including how to set up a scouting and recruitment mechanism.

To be honest, he was still worried. Judging by Manchester City's current state, they no longer seemed willing to continue scouting and developing young players.

That's not to say they didn't care about youth development. On the contrary, they still did. But now, they only wanted the best.

Gao Shen had taken advantage of that by signing Adam Lallana and Courtois. He even asked if Manchester City wanted to buy them back.

But Mubarak waved his hand and declined without hesitation.

"We have plenty of talent in those two positions. Besides, Marwood told me they've made great progress at Leeds United. Your training and match experience have been crucial."

"Anyway, they've already been transferred to Leeds, and we don't really have a spot for them at the moment."

Manchester City already had a better goalkeeper in Neuer. Why bring back Courtois?

Just to have him sit on the bench?

That would only cause tension in the dressing room.

Goalkeepers are different from other positions. Neuer plays nearly every match.

Courtois wouldn't want to come back just to be a backup.

Gao Shen had already anticipated this, which was why he dared to bring it up.

"I still hope we, Manchester City, can have more cooperation with Leeds United, especially in terms of talent development," Mubarak said.

Gao Shen understood what he meant.

Leeds United was clearly taking the youth development route. Manchester City's unspoken meaning was that if Leeds ever wanted to sell players in the future, they should prioritize Manchester City. Money wasn't an issue.

They had money to burn. Worst case, they could just dig up two more barrels of oil.

"Don't worry, there will definitely be opportunities. Manchester City's youth academy is great too. We can definitely collaborate more in the future," Gao Shen replied with a smile.

Gao Shen could almost predict that after his departure, problems would arise in Manchester City's youth system.

Not because the youth training itself was poor, but because the players wouldn't get chances to break through.

This wasn't just Manchester City's issue — it was a common problem among top clubs.

Barcelona was a rare exception.

Many only remember players like Busquets and Messi, but forget that even Xavi was nearly sold. Iniesta struggled in the first team and almost went to Real Madrid. Fabregas and Piqué had to leave.

As for Messi, he was a once-in-a-generation talent who would've succeeded anywhere.

In other words, Barcelona's gathering of so many academy players in one team was a rare fluke.

Mature and wealthy teams should rely on transfers to stay competitive, supported by a few local and academy players to create a stable, cohesive squad.

If Barcelona had to do that, Manchester City would rely even more on transfers.

That was inevitable.

As for the gems hidden in Manchester City's youth academy…

Well, Gao Shen had already instructed Leeds United's scouting department to keep a close eye on them.

If any cracks appeared, he'd swoop in immediately.

Whether Manchester City wanted to buy those players back later would be their decision.

(To be continued.)