SWR: Chapter 718/719

Chapter 718: Advanced Miracle

After the game at the Allianz Arena ended, Bayern's top management was the first to sound the alarm.

In a post-match interview with the media, club chairman Rummenigge criticized the team for being too immature.

"This defeat is like a steel needle piercing my heart! Our performance in the first half was childish, like an immature child. This is not the kind of performance Bayern should have."

Rummenigge also said helplessly, "Now, we must focus on doing well in the league. The title race is still uncertain."

The implication was actually an admission that advancing to the Champions League semifinals was no longer realistic—unless Bayern could produce a miracle in Manchester.

Another Bayern figurehead, Hoeness, also expressed his regret after the game: "We made too many mistakes that shouldn't have happened. Some mistakes are easier said than avoided, but we made them. I don't know why."

Hoeness believed that the team's preparations had been solid, but they kept making mistakes throughout the match. It was fatal and gave their opponents more chances.

"I don't know what will happen next, or whether the situation can be salvaged. But we have to admit this has been a disappointing season, and now we need to ensure we qualify for next season's Champions League."

Currently, Bayern is in fourth place in the Bundesliga, one spot away from missing out on Champions League qualification.

And it's not just the club's executives voicing their frustrations.

Schweinsteiger also stepped forward and openly criticized the team in a media interview: "Our tactics were poor, and we failed to capitalize on some counterattacking chances. But more importantly, our backline was disorganized."

Schweinsteiger believed the team performed well in the second half, but the first half was disastrous.

"It was an unbelievable first half. I still can't believe we conceded four goals in just thirty minutes. This is absolutely not how a Champions League quarter-finalist should play."

However, Schweinsteiger also revealed that he thought Van Gaal's preparations had actually been quite good.

"The head coach analyzed the opponent's tactics for us, but we failed to carry them out. The responsibility lies with us."

"What I want to say is that every player has a responsibility to defend. You can't just focus on attacking. Everyone has to contribute on defense, because we are one team."

In the end, just like Rummenigge and Hoeness, Schweinsteiger expressed confidence that Bayern would secure Champions League qualification for next season, stating that this would be the team's next major goal.

…

Aside from the club executives and Schweini, other Bayern players also stepped forward to share their views.

Summing up most of the analysis and opinions, it's not hard to conclude that Van Gaal's tactics were overly aggressive.

Kicker magazine wrote in its post-match commentary: "Suárez's brace and Robben's brilliance pushed Bayern into the abyss of despair."

"It's not that we can't accept defeat or refuse to acknowledge the gap. But it's hard to accept losing like this—in this manner and under these circumstances."

Kicker believes that Manchester City is undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in European football right now, but Bayern's 1-4 home defeat is painful and regrettable no matter how one looks at it.

Bild also reacted immediately after the match, expressing shock at Bayern's defeat.

"It's all over!"

"For Bayern, after the league and the German Cup, their third front has also collapsed."

"Gao Shen and his Manchester City team demonstrated superior strength and composure in this crucial match, while Bayern played like volatile teenagers. This is not the performance of a mature team."

Bild believes that Manchester City showed real strength and dominance.

"They played a fantastic match at the Allianz Arena and proved to everyone that they are the strongest contenders for this season's Champions League title."

Many German media outlets were in mourning.

The main reason lies in the deep-rooted football rivalry between England and Germany.

Originally, they had hoped Bayern Munich would show the German team's trademark resilience when facing Manchester City. But in the end, Van Gaal's side conceded four goals within the first 30 minutes of the match—a crushing defeat by any measure.

Some German media even suggested that Van Gaal should resign.

"He is becoming the most unwelcome man at the Allianz Arena!"

…

While the German media was filled with sorrow, the British media was full of praise.

The British press lauded Manchester City for their 4-1 away victory over Bayern Munich.

The Times used the headline "A Profound Miracle!" on its front page.

In its report, The Times analyzed how in this crucial game, Gao Shen and his Manchester City side won over the most discerning fans with a magnificent attacking performance, allowing the world to witness their strength and quality.

"This game will not only go down as a classic in this year's Champions League, but that half-hour of dominance may even become one of the most iconic periods in Champions League history. Manchester City delivered a stunning offensive display at the Allianz Arena."

Sky Sports echoed The Times, calling Manchester City's 4-1 away win over Bayern Munich a monumental achievement.

"Many people have always said that Gao Shen is good at managing knockout matches, though plenty have doubted that claim."

"But at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich's home ground, Manchester City proved their strength to the world with a stunning 4-1 victory. Gao Shen also justified his status as a world-class coach by defeating Van Gaal."

"He is the best coach in the world!"

Sky Sports believes that Manchester City is now the most beautiful storyline in this season's Champions League. They could also be the ultimate dark horse to lift the trophy. After knocking out Bayern Munich and reaching the semi-finals, who can stop them?

The Guardian used the headline "Great Gao Shen! Great Match!" on its front page, claiming that Manchester City's triumph in Germany held extraordinary significance for English football.

It wasn't just about reaching the Champions League semi-finals with a convincing performance, but also about winning a symbolic battle in the football rivalry between England and Germany.

The Guardian stated that Gao Shen outwitted Van Gaal in tactical deployment, dealing a heavy blow to the renowned Dutch coach.

"Before the match, many German media advised Bayern to adopt a more conservative strategy. But it's clear Van Gaal didn't listen, and Gao Shen's Manchester City hit them hard."

"This was a heartbreaking match for Bayern and German football. But for England, it was a glorious victory!"

However, The Guardian was more cautious, warning that even if Manchester City reached the semi-finals, they weren't guaranteed to make the final or win the title.

At the very least, Barcelona—led by Gao Shen's former protégé Guardiola—would be the toughest opponent they'd face on the road to the final.

…

In fact, it wasn't just the British media praising Manchester City. Even French publication L'Équipe published an article saying: "With Gao Shen at the helm, Manchester City soars into the semi-finals!"

The French media stated that Manchester City completely suppressed Bayern during the match. Whether in terms of lineup or in-game command, Gao Shen was not inferior to the experienced Van Gaal—he was even better.

"Stubborn Van Gaal paid the ultimate price for his arrogance!"

L'Équipe believes Bayern's defense has been problematic for some time. The team has performed poorly all season, with defense being the biggest weakness. But when facing a ferocious Manchester City, Van Gaal still prioritized attack over defense. This made the game thrilling, but the result was disastrous.

"Van Gaal proved himself in terms of philosophy, but the result will cost him his job!"

In other words, Bayern's attacking strategy and possession were decent, but after this disastrous defeat, Van Gaal would likely take full responsibility and resign.

Gazzetta dello Sport also harshly criticized Van Gaal, accusing him of blindly clinging to pride and ego, when the more responsible choice would've been pragmatism.

"He wasn't acting as a team leader—he sacrificed the efforts of everyone at Bayern for his own vanity."

Gazzetta believes Manchester City's attacking power is evident to all. Gao Shen has invested two years into this squad, and now Manchester City is already one of the strongest teams in Europe.

"In fact, the only team that can rival them is probably Barcelona."

The Italian media believes Gao Shen has once again proven his coaching quality in the Premier League. He has built another competitive team and shown everyone what Manchester City's future could look like.

"Even if they don't win the Champions League this season, this young team is destined to become the most influential and competitive force in European football over the next few years."

Gazzetta dello Sport believes that Gao Shen's high-level coaching, combined with the financial might of the Middle Eastern consortium backing Manchester City, forms a terrifying new power in European football—one that will leave their competitors in despair.

The Italian media even called on UEFA to impose financial restrictions.

"Otherwise, it won't be long before the Premier League becomes Manchester City's playground, and the Champions League becomes Gao Shen's personal trophy."

Yet the Italian media also hold mixed feelings about Gao Shen.

So far this season, Napoli is the only Serie A club to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and is striving to gain European coefficient points for Italy.

But with the Bundesliga's strong resurgence, Serie A will likely lose a Champions League spot next season, which would be a devastating blow to the league.

Gazzetta dello Sport also acknowledged that Napoli's quarter-final run this season—Serie A's last shred of dignity—was made possible by the foundation left behind by Gao Shen.

But the performances of other Serie A teams have been poor, making it hard to reverse the league's decline.

Perhaps in the near future, Serie A will officially become the fourth-ranked league in European football.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 719: The Rich Man Has Arrived

After beating Bayern 4-1 away from home, Manchester City returned to Premier League action with an away trip to face Liverpool.

After ninety minutes of intense battle, the two sides ended the match in a 1-1 draw.

Gao Shen made extensive rotations, ensuring Manchester City had a fresh enough squad for the trip. They held the advantage for much of the match, but couldn't break through Liverpool's goal again. The home side secured a draw thanks to a goal from Gerrard.

Interestingly, both Gao Shen and Benítez expressed dissatisfaction with the result after the match.

Liverpool had more chances, while Manchester City had the advantage, yet neither side was satisfied.

But everyone knew that the draw wouldn't affect Manchester City's title race at all.

…

Midweek saw the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Before the decisive match, Bayern Munich finally ran out of patience and announced the early dismissal of head coach Van Gaal.

After losing again in the league over the weekend, Bayern's discontent reached its limit. The board could no longer keep their promise of letting him finish the season and decided to send him packing early.

Assistant coach Jonker stepped in as caretaker and will lead the team until the end of the season.

Upon taking over, Jonker immediately promoted veteran goalkeeper Butt. At the same time, he reinforced the team's defense in the match against Manchester City, deploying a system with three defensive midfielders in an attempt to pull off a miracle away from home.

But as everyone knows, miracles are miracles precisely because they can't be planned.

Manchester City ended up winning 1-0 at home against Bayern Munich thanks to a goal from Robben.

The entire match was under City's control. Bayern sat deep with a tight defense and played very passively throughout.

This was also the biggest difference between Jonker and Van Gaal.

If Van Gaal had remained in charge, the game would likely have turned into another all-out attacking clash. But Jonker opted for a conservative approach.

In the end, Manchester City eliminated Bayern with a 5-1 aggregate score and successfully advanced to the semi-finals.

In the other three quarter-finals, Manchester United eliminated Chelsea after a 1-0 away win and a 2-1 home victory, securing a 3-1 aggregate win to set up a semi-final clash with Manchester City.

This marks the first time a Manchester derby will be played in the Champions League.

Furthermore, two Premier League teams have reached the semi-finals this season, ensuring that at least one Premier League club will reach the final.

This was great news for the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Napoli narrowly defeated Schalke 04 with a 3-2 aggregate score to advance to the semi-finals.

Barcelona eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk with a dominant 6-1 aggregate, setting up a rematch with Napoli—echoing the Champions League final from two years ago.

This season's Champions League semi-finals are packed with excitement.

Manchester City will face Manchester United in the Manchester derby.

Barcelona will take on Napoli in a repeat clash.

No matter who reaches the final, it will undoubtedly capture global attention.

The first leg of the semi-finals is scheduled for April 26.

…

After the Champions League came the FA Cup semi-finals.

Manchester City fielded a full-strength lineup and took the match seriously, facing Bolton away.

Van Persie and Sturridge both scored twice, helping City crush Bolton 5-0 and advance to the final.

On the other side, Manchester United defeated Stoke City 1-0 and also advanced to the final.

Suddenly, the entire city of Manchester was buzzing.

The two sides had already met twice in the league, were set to face each other in the Champions League semi-finals, and now would meet once again in the FA Cup final.

When interviewed by the media, Gao Shen smiled and said he was particularly pleased.

"Not everyone gets the chance to beat Manchester United five times in a season."

Ferguson fired back through the media, stating that cup competitions and league matches are entirely different.

"I don't like this noisy guy at all. We'll shut him up in the remaining three matches!"

But interestingly, in the following 33rd round of the Premier League, Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw away at Newcastle.

Meanwhile, Gao Shen's side secured a narrow 1-0 win at home against Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur thanks to a decisive goal from Suárez.

Gao Shen was elated.

"I have no doubt that Manchester United is already in decline. They won't even be able to secure the last two cup titles this season!"

Ferguson criticized the referee's poor control of the match and also hit back at Gao Shen's remarks, saying that Manchester United had simply taken a nap, while Manchester City's narrow home win only proved that they're no longer that good.

However, just three days later, in the 34th round of the league, Manchester United managed a tight 1-0 home win over Everton.

Manchester City also won 1-0 away against Blackburn.

It was clear both teams were conserving energy and building momentum for their upcoming Champions League semi-final.

By contrast, Liverpool and Chelsea—who had no pressure from other competitions—each won by five-goal margins and thoroughly enjoyed their attacking displays.

Unlucky Arsenal lost 2-1 away at Bolton.

This result shocked the British media, as the Gunners had recently lost 5-0 to Manchester City.

Everyone couldn't help but sigh—Arsenal was in real trouble.

…

While the world eagerly anticipated the upcoming Manchester derby in the Champions League semi-finals, big news broke out of Paris.

Paris Saint-Germain officially announced a massive change: the Qatari consortium had completed its takeover of the club!

The news instantly ignited heated discussion across European football and beyond.

Just six months ago, the Qatari consortium had contacted Manchester United but were scared off by the Glazer family's sky-high asking price.

There had also been earlier rumors of the Qatari group planning to acquire Leeds United, but surprisingly, it turned out to be Paris Saint-Germain.

The rich man has arrived!

Now things were about to get interesting!

The football world was abuzz with speculation about Qatar's ambitions behind the PSG acquisition.

Even Su Qing, Lucas, and others came to Gao Shen to discuss whether this would impact their ongoing efforts to acquire Leeds United. But the answer they received was that it would have no effect.

After all, Leeds United currently has very little presence. If it weren't for previous media speculation linking them to the Qatari consortium, nobody would have paid attention to the White Rose.

They've simply fallen too far.

Gao Shen wasn't surprised at all. He had known about this for some time.

"You don't seem surprised," Su Qing looked at Gao Shen curiously.

The secrecy surrounding the deal had been very tight, so everyone else was caught off guard.

"It's normal. Qatar is preparing its bid for the 2022 World Cup, so they need football projects to build momentum. Not only that, I can even say for certain, they'll be waving chequebooks across Europe, buying up star players and building PSG into a powerhouse as quickly as possible."

This would also bring another side effect, market inflation.

Transfer fees and player wages would soar.

There wasn't much time left for Gao Shen to develop.

"What you said kind of makes sense… but also kind of doesn't," Lucas scratched his head with a wry smile.

Gao Shen gave him a look that said, "I knew you guys would gossip about this," then added, "UEFA president Platini is French. He's very close to Blatter. Qatar's bidding for the World Cup..."

Though he only briefly mentioned it, everyone immediately understood.

Ah, a behind-the-scenes deal!

Gao Shen thought to himself, If I told them this behind-the-scenes deal would lead to both Blatter and Platini stepping down in the future, I wonder what kind of expressions they'd make?

You have to understand, FIFA and UEFA right now are like emperors of world football.

Who would've thought the future would be so brutal and direct?

"Be prepared. With this wave of foreign capital pouring in, player valuations and wages will skyrocket in the coming years," Gao Shen warned firmly.

Su Qing certainly believed him, and even Lucas, Borel, and the others trusted his judgment without hesitation.

Gao Shen's bold predictions had never been wrong before.

"In fact, instead of worrying about the Qatari consortium far away in Paris, I think the recent acquisition of Queens Park Rangers by Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes might impact us more," Gao Shen reminded them.

That deal had been announced just a few days earlier.

Although the Championship season hadn't yet ended, Queens Park Rangers had already sealed the title and secured Premier League promotion. At this key moment, Tony Fernandes announced he had acquired the newly promoted Premier League club for £100 million.

The deal was relatively low-profile. QPR didn't even announce it on their official website until it was finalized. Fernandes is not only the owner of Malaysia's AirAsia but also owns the F1 team Lotus.

Reports say Tony Fernandes is now searching for a well-known Premier League coach and plans to significantly increase investment in the squad to ensure survival in the Premier League.

There are also reports that Fernandes is a lifelong West Ham United fan. He had previously tried to acquire the club but failed. After West Ham were relegated, he immediately bought QPR without hesitation.

This made some Rangers fans uncomfortable, given the poor relationship between the two clubs.

Football fans are always emotional.

Tony Fernandes has pledged to spend big this summer to strengthen the squad, but the top priority remains finding the right manager.

It's obvious that Neil Warnock, who guided QPR to promotion, is no longer in their plans. With new funds in hand, QPR now has the means to pursue someone better.

Potential candidates include local names like Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce, or Hodgson.

Paris may be far, but London is close.

Gao Shen believed this transfer was more likely to affect his Leeds United plans.

The biggest disagreement remained over the stadium and training ground deal. The other party had lowered the price from £20 million to £17 million, but that was still above Su Qing's ideal figure. She had visited Leeds several times to negotiate but hadn't reached an agreement yet. Now her patience was being tested.

Still, since they had signed an exclusivity agreement, Gao Shen and Su Qing could afford to wait a bit longer.

If push came to shove, they'd just go ahead and buy it. It wouldn't be a loss anyway.

At the same time, Gao Shen was still waiting for news from London.

(To be continued.)