SWR: Chapter 713/715

Chapter 713: Abuse You to the Point of Breaking
On the afternoon of April 3rd, in the 31st round of the Premier League, Manchester City hosted Sunderland at home.

Facing his team's former coach again, Gao Shen felt little emotion.

He never regarded Mark Hughes as a real rival.

Sunderland was a typical English side, lacking technical and tactical depth but boasting impressive physical fitness and a rugged playing style.

However, Manchester City had plenty of experience in dealing with this kind of opponent.

Despite the fatigue from the international break and the upcoming Champions League match next Wednesday, Gao Shen still rotated heavily. Even so, Manchester City completely controlled the tempo and possession from the start, using their superior technical and tactical qualities to overwhelm Sunderland.

Just seven minutes in, Manchester City broke through Sunderland's defense near the edge of the box. Yaya Toure drove into the penalty area and squared the ball back to Robinho, who struck low from the right side and found the net to open the scoring.

Less than ten minutes later, Manchester City launched another attack. Sturridge received a pass from Hazard, drove in from the left channel, and fired a low shot that struck the inside of the far post before bouncing in.

Two-nil!

In the 18th minute, Leighton Baines whipped in a cross from the left. Unmarked in the box, Van Persie volleyed it home to make it 3-0.

For the next half hour, Manchester City continued to bombard Sunderland's goal.

In the second half, Fernandinho threaded a pass through the middle. Sturridge crossed into the box, Van Persie's initial shot was saved, but Hazard followed up and tapped into the empty net.

Four-nil!

Just four minutes later, Baines delivered another cross from the left. This time, Yaya Toure rose to head it in. Five-nil!

Gao Shen immediately made substitutions, but the onslaught didn't stop.

In the 73rd minute, Yaya Toure intercepted a loose pass in midfield, surged into the box, and slotted home for his second of the night. Six-nil!

In the third minute of stoppage time, Sunderland center-back Turner committed a foul just outside the box. Van Persie stepped up and curled a stunning free kick into the top corner.

Seven-nil!

Manchester City completely demolished Sunderland!

Over the entire match, Sunderland managed only two shots—and neither came close to troubling Neuer's goal.

For nearly the full 90 minutes, they were pinned back and smothered by Manchester City's relentless pressure.

At the post-match press conference, Mark Hughes lost his composure. He launched a tirade, accusing clubs like Manchester City of disrupting the competitive balance and damaging the Premier League's ecosystem.

"I actually agree with some of the points. Teams like Manchester City should be restricted—especially financially," Hughes said.

He claimed Manchester City's rise was unhealthy for the league.

"We were ranked ninth in the Premier League, and we lost 0-7 to a weakened Manchester City lineup..."

Mark Hughes was on the verge of collapse.

He had once aimed to qualify for Europe. After this humiliating defeat, that dream had completely disintegrated.

Gao Shen didn't respond to Hughes' emotional outburst. He thought it was unnecessary.

"I don't see anything wrong with it," Gao Shen said calmly. "Perhaps the bigger problem is that someone spent nearly £200 million, and their team still finished below tenth—below Sunderland."

Then he subtly changed the subject.

"European football is a highly professional field with clear divisions of labor. Everyone has their strengths. But if you fail and see others succeed, complaining about fairness is a bit... pointless, isn't it?"

Gao Shen's response was tactful. He didn't name names.

But the media didn't hold back.

Yes, Manchester City were strong. But Sunderland had barely put up a fight. What else could Mark Hughes say?

As for Hughes criticizing Manchester City for destroying the Premier League's ecosystem...

Please. Why didn't you say that when you were coaching Manchester City?

Now you're playing the moral card? Have some self-awareness.

Bluntly put, wasn't it just that he got thrashed 0-7 by Gao Shen and couldn't handle the humiliation?

The overwhelming majority of the media backed Manchester City and ridiculed Hughes.

Not because they fully supported Manchester City's financial model, but because Hughes came across as petty and undignified.

As the Manchester Evening News put it, "Eighteen other Premier League teams might have grounds to say this—but Mark Hughes is the only one who isn't qualified."

But this emphatic win brought a different kind of trouble for Gao Shen.

Van Persie and Yaya Toure had both been sensational.

Toure himself told reporters that Gao Shen's tactics brought out the best in him, allowing him to showcase skills and performances he never could at Barcelona.

The same went for Van Persie.

But that created a dilemma ahead of the Champions League: who would Gao Shen pick, and who would be benched?

Sacchi, Manchester City's number one fan, wrote in his Times column, "Gao Shen's biggest daily headache is selecting a starting XI—because every single player is too good."

"A problem every manager in the world wishes they had!"

…

After the Premier League clash on the 3rd, the Champions League quarterfinals kicked off on the evening of the 6th.

Manchester City were drawn against Bayern Munich, with the first leg at the Allianz Arena.

On the morning of the 4th, after the team completed recovery training, the coaching staff gave the players time to shower and prepare before holding a tactical meeting to discuss Bayern.

Fernando Lucas and the analysis team had prepared detailed player reports, and Gao Shen received a comprehensive analysis of Bayern Munich—particularly Van Gaal's current situation.

After winning the domestic double last season, Van Gaal's side had dipped dramatically this year.

A major reason was that Bundesliga teams had grown familiar with his tactical approach and identified Bayern's vulnerabilities.

Chief among them: their weakness in defensive ball distribution.

In recent years, European football had seen a growing emphasis on centre-backs with passing ability.

This trend could be traced back to Gao Shen.

Back at Napoli, he used defenders like Bonucci, David Luiz, and Benatia—players known for their ball-playing skills. He even turned Cannavaro Jr. into a capable distributor from the back.

At Manchester City, it was no different.

Luiz, Kompany, Cahill, and Boateng all had solid passing ability. He even occasionally dropped Javi Martinez or Yaya Toure into center-back roles to aid in buildup.

This had become a hallmark of advanced tactics.

Van Gaal, ever the tactician, had clearly taken note.

From a coaching perspective—especially for someone who loved attacking football—the benefits of ball-playing center-backs were obvious. But so were the drawbacks.

Because possession football requires movement and spacing. Every player's positioning is designed to receive and distribute the ball efficiently.

To maintain that, players have to spread out more. That's fine in midfield or the final third.

But in your own half, it creates serious defensive challenges.

Van Gaal had a set of principles to mitigate this. For example, his three midfielders were not allowed to advance beyond the wingers, and full-backs couldn't overlap the wingers either.

The idea was to give wingers room to operate and to maintain defensive stability in case of turnovers.

But in the back line, this was much harder to manage.

Essentially, if you want to keep the ball and stay organized defensively, your back four—especially your center-backs—must be excellent passers, quick, agile, and capable of recovering quickly in transition.

Just like Manchester City. When Neuer gets the ball, the center-backs must immediately fan out into space.

But what if they lose the ball during buildup?

See the issue?

The goalkeeper and two center-backs become absolutely critical.

If they're not sharp, mistakes happen easily.

That was the problem Bayern were facing.

People said Bayern's defense was soft, but that was because when they lost the ball, their defenders couldn't recover quickly.

It wasn't hard to understand. Van Buyten, Badstuber, and Breno were all tall, heavy defenders—not quick, not agile. Under pressure, their passing accuracy was shaky at best.

Van Gaal tried to drop the defensive midfielder—like Gustavo or Tymoshchuk—into the back line.

But the problem persisted.

…

"At the Allianz Arena, our key focus will be pressing," Gao Shen told the players during the meeting, using a tactical PowerPoint presentation to explain his approach.

"I've noticed that when we press Bayern's possession back to their defensive line or even to the goalkeeper, their two center-backs will split wide and the defensive midfielder drops deep."

Gao Shen grinned. "Familiar, right?"

The players laughed.

That's how Manchester City played too.

"But unlike us, Bayern's defenders and keeper aren't as consistent or accurate in distributing the ball. So the key will be Schweinsteiger."

The piglet was the pressure point.

"That's where we'll direct our pressing."

"When their center-backs split wide, it leaves a huge gap in front of the penalty area. The two defenders are far apart, with minimal connection. Schweinsteiger isn't a natural No. 4. He struggles with the fine details under pressure. So we press the ball-carrier, force the pass to Schweinsteiger…"

Everyone in the room nodded.

No need to spell out the rest. The players knew exactly what came next.

Manchester City had used this pressing tactic many times in the past two years. By now, it was muscle memory.

In fact, many players could make real-time adjustments on the pitch using these concepts instinctively.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 714: Paranoid Tyrant

On the evening of April 6th, at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

The players from both teams had finished their pre-match warmups and returned to the dressing rooms.

By this time, the stands at the Allianz Arena were already packed.

Tonight, 66,000 fans had poured into the stadium to support Bayern Munich.

Even though Van Gaal's side had struggled this season, the fans continued to stand behind their team.

The match hadn't even started, but the atmosphere was already electric.

In the diehard fan sections, flags waved furiously and chants rang out through the stadium.

With the Bundesliga title out of reach and their German Cup hopes also dashed, the Champions League was Bayern's only remaining objective. Naturally, the fans hoped the team would continue its run.

Unfortunately, they had drawn the formidable Manchester City.

Everyone knew Gao Shen was a master of cup competitions. And Manchester City were, without question, one of the most dominant teams in Europe this season.

That cast a shadow over the home side's chances.

Up in the presidential box, Bayern's senior executives had solemn looks on their faces. Their usual confidence was gone, replaced by tension and anxiety.

"Van Gaal is too stubborn!" Hoeness muttered, already aware of the starting lineup.

"Still refusing to make changes?" Rummenigge asked.

Hoeness let out a cold laugh. "You're thinking too much. He never compromises."

Stubbornness can be a virtue—if one is right.

But when a person refuses to change even in the face of clear evidence, it becomes a fatal flaw.

Van Gaal was that kind of person. He never backed down.

"Before the game, Lahm spoke with him on behalf of the squad and pointed out the issues with the defensive setup," Hoeness added helplessly. "But Van Gaal still wouldn't budge."

It was a worrying sign.

Everyone in football knew how terrifying Manchester City's attack was.

Even at home, Bayern's shaky defense made this a dangerous fixture. If City scored an away goal—or worse, opened the scoring—Bayern would be under immense pressure.

So whether it was Hoeness, Rummenigge, or the players in the dressing room, the consensus was clear: Bayern needed to prioritize defensive stability.

But Van Gaal had other ideas.

He always believed in outscoring the opponent.

"Do you know how I feel right now?" Hoeness asked with a bitter smile.

"Conflicted," Rummenigge answered.

Hoeness nodded.

Rummenigge was feeling the same way.

Why did they hire Van Gaal?

Because Gao Shen turned them down.

Why did they want Gao Shen?

Because Bayern had realized their system needed to evolve.

After witnessing the tactical revolutions sparked by Klopp at Dortmund and Tuchel at Mainz, Bayern's leadership recognized that football had entered a new era.

They brought in Van Gaal to modernize the team.

And to his credit, Van Gaal had delivered.

Bayern played with more control, more possession, and more attacking flair than before.

But the cost was a fragile defense.

Last season, the problems weren't so apparent. That squad still had Demichelis, a solid ball-playing centre-back who brought balance.

But he had clashed with Van Gaal and forced a move to Malaga during the winter transfer window.

Now Bayern were without him, and the problems had become obvious.

The top brass at Bayern found themselves in a dilemma.

They wanted evolution, and Van Gaal had given them that. But now they wished he hadn't gone so far.

Only Van Gaal wouldn't take a step back.

"You know," Hoeness sighed, "he gives me the feeling of a dictator stuck in the early 1990s."

Back then, football was simpler.

Head coaches gave instructions, players followed them without question. The manager's authority was absolute.

But things were different now.

Since the Bosman ruling, players had gained more freedom, more influence, and stronger personalities. Coaches couldn't just bark orders and expect full compliance.

Modern coaching required communication.

The best managers led through personal charisma and strong communication skills, earning trust and buy-in from their players.

Van Gaal, though, seemed stuck in the past.

That wouldn't be a problem at a smaller club like Alkmaar, where the players were humble and obedient.

But this was Bayern Munich.

"If only we had tried harder to sign Gao Shen before Manchester City did," Hoeness sighed. "Things might have been very different."

"Not might. They absolutely would've been," Rummenigge agreed.

But there were no ifs in football.

…

In the players' tunnel, both teams were lined up and ready to walk out.

Gao Shen exited the visiting dressing room and descended the stairs.

At the end of Bayern's line, he spotted Van Gaal with his staff. Gao Shen smiled and nodded.

The Dutchman acknowledged him with a faint smile.

They weren't close. They hadn't interacted much.

Still, Gao Shen held deep respect for Van Gaal. He had read his books in the tactical library and admired the Dutchman's insight into the game.

In that regard, Gao Shen looked up to him.

Van Gaal was undeniably a great coach.

Just… a bit too rigid.

Gao Shen had noticed that many tactical theorists shared this trait.

Van Gaal, Bielsa, Guardiola…

Though many described Gao Shen as an intellectual coach, he wasn't dogmatic.

In his player relationships, he was more like Ancelotti.

That's also why the two got along so well—they could talk for hours.

Though, as Ancelotti would jokingly say, Gao Shen was far better at "talking football" than he was.

Tonight, Bayern stuck with their usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

Goalkeeper: Kraft.
Defense: Pranjic, Badstuber, Tymoshchuk, Lahm.
Midfield: Gustavo and Schweinsteiger as the double pivot, with Ribery, Müller, and Altintop ahead.
Striker: Gomez.

No surprises there.

This had been Van Gaal's preferred lineup all season, barring injuries.

But he did include both Breno and Van Buyten on the bench.

That suggested he hadn't made changes to the starters, but part of him was still unsure.

Manchester City, by contrast, sent out their full-strength lineup.

Goalkeeper: Neuer.
Defense: Felipe, David Luiz, Kompany, Lichtsteiner.
Midfield: Javi Martinez in the holding role, Silva and Rakitic in midfield.
Attack: Bale, Suarez, and Robben.

Robben had just returned from injury.

Gao Shen wasn't hiding anything. Even away from home, City were coming to score.

Van Gaal surely understood that.

…

Led by the Spanish referee, both teams emerged from the tunnel.

The Allianz Arena erupted.

Bayern fans were always passionate, and the stadium had been designed with a steep seating angle to amplify the atmosphere.

As Gao Shen stepped into the technical area with his staff, Van Gaal approached.

They hadn't spoken earlier, but as per tradition, the home coach came over to greet the visitor.

They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

They had crossed paths before, but anyone familiar with Van Gaal knew he wasn't the easiest to get along with.

That was just his personality.

After the greeting, Gao Shen walked toward the sideline, watching his players settle into formation. He offered a few gestures to key players—nothing verbal.

They had worked together long enough that a single gesture was enough to convey his meaning.

The opening moments would be crucial.

Gao Shen had a hunch: Van Gaal would never sit back. He would go all-in against City, even if it meant conceding an away goal.

Van Gaal was the type to die on his feet rather than live on his knees.

Gao Shen couldn't help but wish he could one day witness a clash between Van Gaal and Capello.

Now that would be a spectacle.

…

The referee blew the whistle. Manchester City kicked off.

Suarez and Bale passed the ball back, and Bayern immediately pressed high.

City moved the ball quickly, trying to push forward. Suarez received it with his back to goal, but before he could turn, Gustavo and Schweinsteiger closed in and won possession.

Turnover!

City responded instantly, pressing high themselves. They forced the ball out of bounds.

Lahm tried to clear, but it deflected off Gareth Bale and rolled out for a throw-in.

Manchester City continued pressing. They weren't sitting back.

That much was clear—Gao Shen had come to win.

"Both managers are renowned tacticians, and both have adopted attacking setups tonight. I think we're in for a thrilling offensive battle. Will Van Gaal come out on top? Or will the younger man prevail?"

Gao Shen couldn't hear the commentary. He was focused on player movement and overall shape.

He closely observed the positioning during their press.

City were systematically trying to force Bayern to play the ball back, to the center-backs or the goalkeeper.

If they could pin Bayern back, the tactical trap Gao Shen had prepared would be sprung.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 715: Fallen into the Trap

Manchester City quickly launched a counterattack after intercepting the ball in their own half.

Robben carried the ball forward down the right flank, with David Silva trailing in the center. After receiving Robben's pass, Bayern midfielder Luiz Gustavo stepped up to press.

Although David Silva managed to get the pass off, he was barged into by Gustavo and fell to the ground. The ball never reached his teammate Suarez.

The referee caught the foul and blew his whistle, awarding Manchester City a free kick.

Though the distance was far, Gareth Bale still came over to take it.

As expected, the shot was easily caught by goalkeeper Kraft.

David Silva saw an opportunity and called on his teammates to press high, but Bayern's keeper booted a long ball forward, aiming for Mario Gomez.

Manchester City's pressing failed before it even began.

David Silva gave a helpless smile and turned to retreat.

From the opening minutes until now, Manchester City had been patiently waiting for an opportunity.

Only six minutes had passed. It was too early to feel anxious.

That's the nature of football. No matter how well-planned a tactic is, it can't be applied at just any time or place.

Even when a team is in possession, it's easy to make mistakes under defensive pressure.

This unpredictability is what makes football so fascinating.

Sometimes, a carefully designed play might fail, while a spontaneous burst of creativity leads to a goal.

Players are used to this kind of thing.

David Silva and his teammates remained patient.

Manchester City quickly organized another attack. Rakitic attempted a long pass behind him, but Suarez was pressured by Bayern's central defender and couldn't reach the ball in time. It rolled out of bounds.

Bayern's goal kick.

…

Gao Shen stood on the sidelines, watching the Manchester City players fall back. Just as he had expected, Bayern's two center-backs positioned themselves at the corners of their own penalty area.

Based on the direction of Manchester City's attack, Badstuber was on the right corner while Tymoshchuk held the left sideline of the box, with a wide gap between them.

Kraft tried to take advantage of the moment. When the ball boy threw the ball in, he passed it to Tymoshchuk to initiate the play, then retreated to the goal line.

Gao Shen immediately shouted loudly.

"Hey, hey, that's against the rules! That's against the rules!"

The referee quickly blew the whistle, signaling Kraft to retake the goal kick.

Tymoshchuk had no choice but to return the ball to Kraft, who was forced to properly place it at the designated spot.

Gao Shen noticed Schweinsteiger running back and immediately called out to Suarez and David Silva, motioning for them to be alert.

Both players picked up on Bayern's intentions, especially noticing Schweinsteiger retreating to the box to receive the ball.

It was clear Bayern didn't want to go long, but instead wanted to build from the back.

This was a hallmark of Van Gaal's style.

Manchester City's defensive line was deep, allowing Bayern's full-backs to push up confidently.

After Schweinsteiger received the ball outside the penalty area, he continued advancing.

Suarez stood near the 30-meter mark. As soon as Schweinsteiger moved forward with the ball, he ran to close him down.

Once the Uruguayan forward moved, David Silva, Gareth Bale, Robben, and others followed.

Suarez positioned himself in front of Schweinsteiger, forcing him to pass. Unsure if he could beat Suarez, Schweinsteiger laid the ball off to Badstuber on the left.

Then he kept running forward.

Suarez turned and saw David Silva closing in, so he ignored Schweinsteiger and pressed Badstuber instead.

From a bird's eye view, it was clear: Badstuber, Tymoshchuk, and Schweinsteiger formed a triangle. Bayern's full-backs were hugging the touchlines and playing high.

Suarez was right in the center of that triangle.

His movement tracked the triangle's shape, and his positioning disrupted Badstuber's options.

Whether Badstuber tried to pass to Schweinsteiger or Tymoshchuk, there was a serious risk of interception.

This hesitation made Badstuber keep dribbling.

In Manchester City's pressing drills, forcing hesitation from the opponent is a key objective.

Suarez glanced behind him, then suddenly burst forward to press Badstuber.

He positioned himself cleverly, cutting off the passing lane to Tymoshchuk. Badstuber, who was moving forward with the ball, couldn't safely play it back, so he passed to the left-back.

Robben was nearby, while Rakitic floated near Gustavo.

Neither option was ideal.

As Suarez accelerated, Schweinsteiger also surged forward, trying to open a lane for Badstuber.

This was part of Van Gaal's mandatory training at Bayern—players must always create passing routes for their teammates during triangular buildup. Schweinsteiger excelled at this.

But just as Badstuber passed the ball, David Silva suddenly accelerated to press him. At the same time, Gareth Bale, who had been bothering Lahm on the left, suddenly closed in as well.

The two Manchester City players pounced together, catching Schweinsteiger completely off guard.

David Silva's pressure disrupted Schweinsteiger's first touch. As he tried to control the ball and then pass to Tymoshchuk, Gareth Bale had already arrived. Using his strength, Bale blocked him from kicking.

Damn it!

Schweinsteiger was shocked!

Bale reached in and poked the ball to Schweinsteiger's right. David Silva picked it up and surged forward. At the same time, Gareth Bale exploded into a sprint, shaking off Schweinsteiger and charging towards the left side of the penalty area, seemingly targeting Tymoshchuk's position.

The sudden shift stunned the entire Allianz Arena.

David Silva continued to carry the ball forward. Suarez and Gareth Bale were already near the edge of the penalty area.

Badstuber saw Planic tracking back and knew he couldn't afford to retreat further.

If he backed up any more, David Silva would enter shooting range.

So he held his ground at the top of the arc.

But the moment he stopped, David Silva played a through ball.

The ball glided just past Badstuber. The Bayern center-back hadn't even reset his balance—how could he possibly block it?

Suarez, who had started behind him, suddenly cut across and caught up with David Silva's pass. Before goalkeeper Kraft could come out, Suarez coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner with his right foot.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"LUIS SUAREZ!!!!"

"Manchester City strikes first!"

After scoring, Suarez sprinted out of the pitch in wild celebration.

Only then did a wave of shocked exclamations rise from the Bayern supporters at the Allianz Arena.

But the ball was already in the back of the net.

"Eight minutes in, Manchester City snatches the ball in the attacking third and capitalizes with a deadly quick counter! David Silva assists Suarez for the opener!"

"Completely unexpected! But this is Manchester City!"

On the sidelines, Gao Shen jumped up and cheered loudly.

This was exactly what he had envisioned!

He knew that as long as the plan was executed properly, Bayern would eventually slip up.

And he was right!

It gave him a deep sense of satisfaction.

"One to zero!"

"We can see how dangerous Manchester City's pressing up front was. Bayern's back line struggled with the build-up."

"Badstuber's pass to Schweinsteiger was risky, but the real killer was David Silva and Gareth Bale suddenly pouncing. Schweinsteiger never saw it coming."

"After losing the ball, Bayern's center-backs failed to close down quickly and got punished by Suarez's well-timed run."

"A textbook counterattack!"

"We have every reason to believe this was a pre-game tactical setup by Gao Shen. Otherwise, it's hard to explain the perfect coordination and shared intent among the Manchester City players."

…

They fell right into the trap!

Van Gaal sat in the home dugout at the Allianz Arena. With his vast experience, he instantly understood what had happened.

Gao Shen had deliberately targeted Bayern's buildup from the back!

Damn that sly fox!

Van Gaal cursed internally, but had to admit—this attack had hit his team's weak point.

He quickly stood up, walked to the sideline, and adjusted Bayern's tactics, pulling the two center-backs closer and asking the full-backs to drop slightly deeper.

But Van Gaal was never one to take a blow lying down. He immediately signaled the team to press harder and increase attacking pressure, especially focusing on Ribery's flank on the left.

Ribery was Bayern's current star player. In top form and highly threatening with the ball.

After the restart, Bayern quickly attacked down Ribery's wing.

The Frenchman sprinted down the flank, cut inside past Lichtsteiner's challenge, and drove into the box diagonally. But Rakitic had tracked back in time and used his body to block him. Kompany decisively poked the ball to Javi Martinez.

The Spanish midfielder turned sideways, surveyed the field, and sent a straight pass forward.

Suarez dropped deep, controlled the ball, turned, and drifted left. David Silva was already sprinting ahead, spearheading the counter. But the ball went to the left.

Gareth Bale surged forward down the left sideline with the ball.

Once the Welshman picked up speed, even Lahm couldn't stop him. All he could do was stick close on the inside.

Reaching the left side of the box, Gareth Bale swung his left foot and delivered a cross.

The ball soared from the left side of the penalty area, floated over the heads of David Silva and Tymoshchuk, and curved toward the far post.

Robben was already charging in at the back.

(To be continued.)

Junkdog's Note: Special thanks to PSG for saving football yesterday.