SWR: Chapter 746/748

Chapter 746: Give You a Door God for Free

The post-match celebration following a Champions League victory tends to follow a familiar script.

As always, the players ran joyfully around the pitch, celebrating wildly. Eventually, they made their way to the touchline, where they lifted head coach Gao Shen into the air.

The only slightly novel element came during media interviews, when many players openly congratulated Gao Shen on his upcoming marriage.

Everyone knew the wedding was on the horizon.

The award ceremony that followed also went according to tradition.

Manchester City lined up to applaud Barcelona as they stepped onto the stage to receive their runners-up medals. Then, as the last to go up, Manchester City followed, with captain Kompany lifting the Champions League trophy high above his head to the cheers of the entire stadium.

What most people didn't see was that after the ceremony, as the City players took off running with the trophy, Gao Shen remained behind. He chatted with UEFA President Michel Platini, as well as British royals Prince William and Princess Kate, Prime Minister David Cameron, Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero, and other political and football dignitaries who had attended the final.

Prince William and Princess Kate had only been married in April this year. Naturally, Gao Shen hadn't been invited, but both royals expressed that they had been following Manchester City's progress under Gao Shen's leadership, and even praised him personally, thanking him for his contribution to English football.

Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero, a well-known Barcelona fan, still offered high praise for Gao Shen's accomplishment in defeating Barça that night. He even expressed hope that Gao Shen might one day return to Spain to manage again.

He promised to offer full support in that case.

In fact, many fans misunderstand the dynamics of professional football.

Some believe that Barcelona would rather see Real Madrid burn to the ground. But this is a very short-sighted view.

Gao Shen had heard Florentino Pérez say more than once that he hoped Barcelona would continue to succeed.

That may sound odd to some. Aren't they bitter rivals?

But that's emotional thinking.

As the president of Real Madrid, Florentino might want to beat Barcelona. But as a club executive, he hoped Barça would remain strong.

From a business and league perspective, Real Madrid only benefits when Barcelona keeps pace or even improves, or when other teams like Atlético Madrid rise to challenge. That kind of competitive environment makes La Liga more marketable and valuable.

If the rest of La Liga—including Barcelona—underperforms, then Real Madrid's dominance becomes meaningless.

Even the prized El Clásico would lose its appeal.

From that perspective, Prime Minister Zapatero's hope for Gao Shen's return to Spain was likely genuine.

Real Madrid, in its current state, wasn't strong enough to pose a real threat to Barcelona.

They had been thoroughly dismantled this season.

Only when Real Madrid rises and fights Barça toe-to-toe can La Liga thrive and its commercial value grow. That prosperity, in turn, fuels the entire league's development.

One flower alone does not make spring. But when all flowers bloom, the garden flourishes.

Gao Shen kept a low profile and responded politely, "There will definitely be a chance."

…

Next came media interviews.

The Manchester City players became the center of attention in the stadium, with Gao Shen standing out even more.

With three Champions League titles under his belt, he had become the most high-profile figure in world football.

For a 30-year-old, that honor was astonishing.

Gao Shen handled the interviews calmly and professionally.

He had become adept at dealing with the media. With his knowledge and composure, even veteran reporters often found themselves tongue-tied in front of him.

While Manchester City celebrated, Barcelona quietly left the pitch.

Later, Gao Shen led the squad back to the locker room.

There, Mansour and members of the Abu Dhabi royal family visited to personally congratulate the team.

Not only that, he publicly announced that he would fulfill his promise to the players, bonuses would be paid out the next morning.

The locker room erupted in wild cheers.

Winning the Champions League and getting a hefty bonus? That was the peak of any footballer's career.

In contrast, Gao Shen appeared much calmer.

After greeting the players, Mansour took Mubarak and Gao Shen out of the dressing room for a private conversation.

…

"I heard you're not planning to bring in any new players this summer?" Mansour asked with concern.

With the season officially over after the Champions League final, all preparations for next season could begin.

Back in February, Gao Shen had already told Mubarak not to plan for any new signings.

That was when things weren't even as good as they were now.

"Yes. I think the current squad is strong enough. If no one leaves, I don't want to bring in new players and risk disrupting the locker room. Besides, there's really no need for more signings," Gao Shen replied.

Mansour shook his head. "Money isn't the issue. Even after winning the Champions League, we need to keep pushing. We can defend the title, win another treble, maybe even go for a quadruple next season…"

Gao Shen understood Mansour's ambition. That was to be expected of any club owner.

City did have the strength and financial power to pursue such goals, but Mansour was still underestimating the complexities.

"Now that we've won the Champions League, the most important thing is to keep a low profile. The Premier League and UEFA will definitely ramp up their investigations into our financials. Our priority should be getting the books back in line with the red lines set by UEFA and the Premier League."

"Also, in terms of the squad, our setup is ideal. The average age is in its prime, and the depth is strong. Arguably, we have the best squad in Europe. Bringing in more star players now would be unnecessary."

If there were actual weaknesses in the team, Gao Shen would certainly reinforce. But the reality was, there weren't any.

Every position had two strong competitors. Even players like Ireland, once key figures, could hardly get minutes now.

Yaya Touré was eager to play, but Gao Shen just couldn't fit him in.

Bringing in more stars now would only complicate the rotation system.

And what happens when players aren't getting minutes and start clashing with the coach?

A senior squad can only register 25 players, and even with youth players, the ideal number for a team competing on all fronts is around 28 to 30.

Some media outlets had calculated that City only had about 25 players logging significant minutes all season.

As a result, players like Ireland, Adam Lallana, and Trippier barely featured in first-team action and spent most of the season with the reserves. That was already becoming an issue.

Adding more signings now would be inappropriate.

"I agree with Gao," Mubarak added. "Our wage bill is already high. And after a Champions League win, we'll probably need to renegotiate contracts. That's another factor to consider."

Wage control is a critical issue for every club.

Even a club as wealthy as Manchester City would struggle if it lost control.

And what if UEFA really did ban them from the Champions League?

At times like this, discretion was the better part of valor.

Mansour was young, powerful, but not deaf to expert advice. With both Gao Shen and Mubarak in agreement, he realized his own ideas were coming from an outsider's perspective.

"Alright. I'll leave it to you. I trust you completely," Mansour said.

Gao Shen and Mubarak exchanged smiles.

"Oh, by the way, Gao," Mansour added with a grin, "I heard your team didn't make it back to the Premier League this season?"

Gao Shen smiled helplessly. "Not even close."

"That's a pity. If you're interested, take a look at our team or the youth squad. If there's someone you want but we can't use, name your price. He's yours," Mansour said generously.

Clearly, he was overjoyed with the Champions League and treble win.

Manchester City had already let go of some surplus players on free transfers or cut-rate deals. So if they could help Gao Shen out, why not?

"You take care of this," Mansour told Mubarak.

Mubarak nodded quickly, then said, "We've got a goalkeeper on loan in Belgium. What do you think? I remember you liked him before."

Courtois?

Gao Shen was surprised. He had already planned to buy another keeper and was waiting for Lucas to act post-Champions League. Now Courtois was being handed to him on a silver platter?

"There might be a problem. His market value is around 2.5 million euros. That's beyond our budget," Gao Shen said with a smile.

Mubarak glanced at Mansour, thought for a moment, and said, "We didn't pay much for him. Just give us a number. If not, we'll do installments."

Holy hell. This was practically a gift.

"We already have Neuer," Mubarak said to Mansour. "He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Gao recommended him. His value has probably tripled. Courtois won't get much playing time."

"And we've got Lallana and Ireland—players who barely play all season. If you want them, take them. Just think of it as teammates helping each other out. After all, we share a common enemy."

At that last part, Mubarak couldn't help but laugh.

Leeds United's arch-rival was Manchester United. Manchester City's was also United.

As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

For a club like City, they could afford this generosity.

But for Leeds United, even a young talent like Courtois, shining in the Belgian league or players like Lallana and Ireland would be first-team material, possibly even key players.

Frankly, Gao Shen couldn't refuse.

He also understood perfectly well. Mansour and Mubarak wanted to win him over, to keep him at Manchester City.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 747: I Want Both

Manchester City's Champions League triumph and treble win sparked a massive reaction across the globe.

With this Champions League title, Gao Shen became the most prominent active figure in world football and the second manager in Champions League history to win three titles. What made it even more remarkable was that he achieved these three titles with three different clubs.

UEFA dedicated a large feature on its official website, detailing Gao Shen's journey and lavishing praise upon him.

Even FIFA ran a special report, publicly congratulating him.

Major media outlets across Europe and around the world rushed to cover the story. Even in the football-indifferent United States, the news made headlines. As for Gao Shen's home region, Asia and China in particular, it was a tidal wave of attention.

Although he was not a player, achieving such success as a coach was clearly more difficult.

Yet here he was: an Asian coach, with three Champions League titles. The AFC's official website even declared Gao Shen the pride of Asian football.

China reported the news extensively. From state-run publications and television channels down to local media outlets, coverage was everywhere. The reaction across the country was overwhelming. Millions of Chinese people felt a deep sense of pride in Gao Shen's achievements.

…

Neither Gao Shen nor anyone at Manchester City had the time to worry about outside news.

The morning after their title win, everyone woke up to find the bonus in their bank accounts.

This was the extra reward Mansour had promised.

The club also began processing standard salaries and the bonus payments stipulated in their contracts.

Everyone on the team counted their money happily, carried the trophy with pride, and headed north back to Manchester.

Back in Manchester, the whole celebration routine started again.

They boarded an open-top bus and paraded through the streets, holding the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League trophies. The parade drew nearly 300,000 City fans, all chasing behind the bus.

The celebration lasted from noon until the evening, finally culminating at the Etihad Stadium.

There, another grand celebration ceremony was held.

More than 50,000 die-hard City fans packed into the stadium to witness the arrival of the three trophies. Manchester's mayor and other local government officials were in attendance.

Gao Shen followed the planned itinerary the whole time. By the time it was his turn to speak, he was already starving.

He'd only grabbed a quick bite in the morning and was now running on fumes.

Even so, he still made use of his well-known oratory skills.

This was one of Gao Shen's strengths. He knew how to fire up a crowd and make bold, stirring promises. As always, the fans roared with excitement.

At the end of the night, City booked a luxury hotel for a banquet.

That was another whirlwind.

By the time Gao Shen got home, it was already deep into the night. He collapsed into bed and slept until almost noon.

…

"You're finally up."

Su Qing, seated on the living room sofa reading a newspaper and watching the news, heard footsteps and turned toward the stairs.

She quickly stood and asked the housekeeper to bring out the lean meat congee she had prepared.

Gao Shen walked over, glanced at the newspaper and then the news report on the TV. Although the media were still covering the treble, the coverage had clearly begun to die down.

Which was normal.

In the age of information overload, even a war might only dominate headlines for two or three days. Let alone the annual Champions League final.

At most, City's treble and Gao Shen's third Champions League win held some extra weight.

"Don't worry, there are still a lot of reports," Su Qing said, noticing his reaction and pulling him toward the table.

Truthfully, she was just as proud as anyone.

That was why she had spent the last few days consuming every article and broadcast she could find.

Even though she worked in a ministry and was used to reading official papers every day, she rarely paid this much attention to the news.

Gao Shen started eating the congee but couldn't help thinking it would taste better with some preserved egg.

After Su Qing relayed what Mansour and Mubarak had offered him, Gao Shen was a little stunned.

"Ireland won't agree to play for a Championship team. He's got offers from Premier League clubs—Aston Villa, newly promoted QPR, Norwich. So forget him," he said.

Gao Shen didn't want Ireland anyway. Aside from being unaffordable, the main issue was cost-effectiveness.

Leeds United's best option, given their situation, was to develop and sell young players.

At this stage, someone like Ireland was just too expensive.

Instead, players like Courtois, Trippier, Adam Lallana, and Stones fit the bill. Their age was right, and most importantly, their market value was still under one million pounds and could be paid in installments.

"What about Keylor Navas? You mentioned him before," Su Qing asked, frowning.

"I already offered Albacete €300,000 for him, just like you suggested. They accepted. So now… we've got two goalkeepers?" Gao Shen smiled bitterly. He hadn't expected that, but he wasn't too worried.

Only children make choices. Adults want both.

Courtois and Navas—this was a goalkeeper setup usually reserved for clubs like Real Madrid. It was a luxury.

Navas had been playing for Albacete in the Segunda División, but the club had just been relegated to the third tier. Leeds offered €300,000, and they accepted without hesitation.

To be honest, Navas hadn't played many games for them and hadn't yet proven himself.

Courtois, by contrast, was match-ready. Navas would still need time to adapt.

Although Navas looked older than Courtois, he was already part of Costa Rica's national team.

…

Manchester City's unexpected generosity disrupted some of Gao Shen's original plans.

Take right back, for example. Gao Shen originally wanted to loan Carvajal from Real Madrid.

It had to be a loan, not a buy. Carvajal had captained Castilla and proven his worth. He wouldn't come cheap—at least three to four million euros.

Even if Gao Shen used his connections to get a discount, Madrid would likely insist on a buy-back clause at a low price.

What was the point then?

Compared to that, Trippier was a better and more affordable option.

Gao Shen had said he wanted to build a lineup that suited Sarri not just lip service.

Sarri had been his assistant for three years, and Gao Shen understood his tactics and preferences inside out.

As a coach who never played professionally, Sarri rose through the lower leagues by trial and error, eventually creating a tactical identity of his own.

Over the past three years, he had been learning from Gao Shen while molding his own philosophy. He frequently discussed problems in his system with Gao Shen.

Take midfield, for example.

European football had already developed a mature structure for building a midfield. Think of it as a formula.

Manchester United in 1999: Giggs driving forward, Beckham launching long switches, Scholes with late runs and long shots, and Roy Keane covering ground and dictating tempo.

Benítez's Liverpool had Mascherano for interception and circulation, Xabi Alonso for long switches and control, and Gerrard for surging runs and goals.

See the pattern?

Compared to United's golden midfield, Liverpool lacked ball progression, which always hindered their attack.

Barcelona's trio was also classic: Busquets for coverage and link-up, Xavi for orchestration and passing, Iniesta for dribbling and ball progression.

Barcelona didn't need long passes. Their system didn't call for a Beckham or Alonso.

Look at Manchester City now.

Javi Martínez for coverage and organization. David Silva for dribbling and deep passes. Rakitic for long shots and ball distribution. Silva and Rakitic shared the creative role.

You could say this is modern football's midfield template. Different teams just apply different combinations based on personnel.

This was why Gao Shen predicted that Ancelotti's Chelsea would flourish once Joe Cole returned.

Chelsea's midfield also lacked progression. Joe Cole could solve that.

Now take Real Madrid's iconic Champions League midfield:

Casemiro for coverage and link-up. Kroos for long switches and long shots. Modrić for progression and incisive passes. Kroos and Modrić shared orchestration duties.

That trio replicated what United once did with four players.

Of course, this is purely about functional roles—not which group is stronger.

Sarri's ideal midfield was similar: one technical player for control and progression, one all-rounder for box-to-box work, and one deep-lying playmaker for coverage and transitions.

You might ask: If the formula is so well known, why don't all teams use it?

Because formulas are formulas. People are complex.

If Manchester City had a chance to sign Messi right now, Gao Shen would turn it down.

Yes, Messi is better than Robben. But he wouldn't bench Robben for him.

Same with Xavi. He wouldn't replace Rakitic just because Xavi was more famous.

And what about Yaya Touré? So powerful, yet hard to fit into that formula.

Sometimes, building a team is a series of compromises and decisions.

It's never as easy as following a recipe.

If it were, everyone would be a world-class manager.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 748: Future Big Bull

The day after Manchester City's title parade through the city, the club officially announced the end of the season and everyone began their summer vacation.

But Gao Shen didn't slow down. Accompanied by Su Qing, Lucas, Borrell, Sarri, and others, he traveled to Leeds, a little over 60 kilometers away.

The British media truly lived up to their reputation, they were relentless. Some outlets even planted reporters outside Elland Road, just to catch a glimpse and confirm whether Gao Shen would appear.

All to prove that he was now tied to Leeds United.

Truthfully, that much was already obvious to insiders in the football world. Everyone could guess it, but Gao Shen still opted to keep a low profile.

In situations like this, it's better to let people speculate than to be seen taking action.

There are advantages to staying under the radar.

Leeds United was about to undergo a major overhaul. If Gao Shen got too directly involved, especially with public appearances, it would immediately draw attention. Once that happened, all the big clubs would begin circling like sharks, trying to poach his targets. What could he do then?

Instead, being secretive like this worked better.

Take Keylor Navas, for example.

Spanish media had reported that Leeds United was trying to poach the Costa Rican goalkeeper from Albacete. But did it matter?

Some reports even dragged Gao Shen's name into it, suggesting his involvement but who could confirm it?

Would clubs in need of a top keeper really take a gamble on an unproven name like Navas?

But if Gao Shen publicly endorsed him, the entire equation would change.

That's exactly why Gao Shen found his position so tricky.

So, he simply rented a house in Wetherby, a quiet town on the northern edge of Leeds, using it as a temporary base of operations.

The Thorp Arch training ground was undergoing renovation, so the house's location made it convenient for club staff to visit.

The area was surrounded by countryside, making it ideal for working in peace—no reporters cared enough to stake it out.

…

As Gao Shen's acquisition of Leeds United neared completion, work on assembling the club's new management team went into full swing.

On the administrative side, Su Qing took full control, personally overseeing all departments, including finance.

On the operational side, Fernando Lucas served as CEO, responsible for external matters like media, marketing, fan relations, and a wide array of club affairs.

One of Lucas' most critical tasks was building the club's entire competitive operation system.

The biggest difference between modern football and the past is how deeply professionalized it has become.

Many fans still view a club's success through a simplistic lens—digging for some legendary behind-the-scenes figure, as if one "genius" were solely responsible.

It's true that brilliant individuals exist.

But never forget—many good horses exist, but there are few great trainers.

No matter how capable someone is, they need the right platform to shine.

At Leeds United, Gao Shen's goal was clear: operate with cost-efficiency, buy low and sell high, and focus on player development.

That meant if he blindly tried to poach elite talent from top clubs, the chances of success were slim.

Likewise, fans often wonder: why doesn't Florentino Pérez just hire Monchi from Sevilla?

Sure, Monchi is one of the best football directors in Europe. But his specialty, buying low, selling high, identifying undervalued talent—is completely misaligned with Real Madrid's philosophy.

Florentino wants star power.

When those two ideologies clash, success is unlikely.

And even Monchi struggled after leaving Sevilla. His time at Roma wasn't exactly triumphant.

Same with Peter Kenyon, who moved from Manchester United to Chelsea and became CEO. Did it end in success?

This is why modern football emphasizes professional structure over individual stardom.

For a club, building a well-functioning system is far more valuable than relying on one "big name."

That's why Gao Shen chose Fernando Lucas as CEO and Rodolfo Borrell as technical director.

But they couldn't run the show alone.

For data analysis, Gao Shen appointed Victor Horta, a protégé of Lucas from Sevilla, as director of the newly established data center. Horta had done outstanding work in Spain.

Originally, Gao Shen had hoped to bring in Pablo Blanco, Sevilla's head scout—a man he personally knew and who boasted top-tier potential and judgment attributes in Football Manager.

Gao Shen even called him personally.

But Blanco remained loyal to Sevilla, where he had served both as player and staff. Despite Gao Shen's efforts, he declined.

That forced Gao Shen to abandon his hopes of replicating Sevilla's scouting model completely.

But Europe had no shortage of talent.

Gao Shen quickly pivoted.

His new target: Steve Walsh, assistant coach and chief scout at Championship side Hull City.

…

Steve Walsh was born into football.

His parents were Irish, and his uncle, Michael Walsh, had been a player and professional referee. His brother, Mickey Walsh, played for Blackpool, Everton, QPR, and Porto.

But Steve lacked his brother's playing talent.

So, like his uncle, he transitioned behind the scenes early on—becoming a coach.

He started out as a PE teacher in a church school. Through connections from his brother, he met the agent of Everton midfielder Robson, who also had links to Bury FC.

That opened the door for him to start part-time scouting.

For years, he juggled teaching and scouting.

Working directly with youth helped him develop a sharp eye for young talent—crucial for scouting roles. Eventually, he worked with several clubs, including Chelsea.

Back then, Chelsea was a mid-table side. But because Walsh was outstanding, they offered him his first full-time role as a scout.

In 1991, he officially became a full-time scout for Chelsea.

It didn't make headlines but he held that position for over a decade.

His big break came with the signing of Gianfranco Zola. Walsh had been sent to scout the Italian forward, and Zola's success elevated his standing.

After that, he was involved in scouting most of Chelsea's key players—Makelele, Cech, Robben, Drogba, Essien...

Scouting was a busy, thankless job, but rewarding.

It allowed Walsh to build a deep library of knowledge and expertise. In 2006, he moved to Newcastle United, where he advanced to assistant coach and chief scout.

There, he worked under Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce, Kevin Keegan, and Nigel Pearson. From Allardyce—the original "data football" manager in England—Walsh picked up an interest in analytics.

He also experienced Newcastle's chaotic internal politics.

In 2008, he followed Pearson to League One side Leicester City and helped guide the team to Championship promotion.

In 2010, he moved with Pearson again to Hull City.

To the outside world, Steve Walsh seemed unremarkable just another scout offering support, submitting reports, doing what all scouts do.

But his reports always stood out. They were sharper, more precise—better than anyone else's.

And Gao Shen knew that after following Pearson back to Leicester, Walsh would stay on after Pearson's departure and that's when his career would skyrocket.

He would become the man who discovered gems like Kante and Mahrez, transforming Leicester into title contenders and even earned Ferguson's personal recommendation to Manchester United.

…

For Steve Walsh, the call from Leeds United came out of nowhere.

Gao Shen personally phoned and spoke to him for over an hour.

Walsh had once considered trying for a head coach or permanent assistant role. But at 55, he was past that stage. He was still in the game mainly for the paycheck.

Now, Gao Shen offered him something different.

A chance to become Leeds United's head of scouting—responsible for building the entire scouting network.

It was unexpected.

But exciting.

He traveled from Hull to Manchester and had an in-depth conversation with Gao Shen. After hearing Gao Shen's vision for Leeds and his plans for the club's operational structure, Walsh's interest turned into determination.

He accepted the offer on the spot.

This visit to Leeds was Gao Shen's first high-level management meeting at the club.

Aside from Walsh, he also met U18 coach Francisco Javier García Pimienta and reserve team manager Luis Ramis for the first time.

Pimienta was a product of Barcelona's youth academy, recruited by Borrell. Ramis came from Real Madrid's youth system and had been recruited by Lucas. Both had exceptional records in player development.

Gao Shen had spoken with them both over the phone previously.

Now, the first Leeds United management meeting was held in Gao Shen's rented house on the outskirts of Wetherby.

The only issue: many departments were still understaffed.

Lucas was working to recruit a senior press officer. The marketing director role was still open, with several candidates under consideration.

Sarri was preparing to return to Italy in the next few days to assemble his coaching staff. Once that was in place, the picture would be more complete.

(To be continued.)