SWR: Chapter 707/710

Chapter 707: Remember this Name

Claude Puel spent nearly his entire professional career and later coaching career at Monaco.

He took over at Lille in 2002, and at one point led the team to a runner-up finish in Ligue 1, nearly disrupting Lyon's dominance during their five consecutive league titles.

So, in 2008, Lyon brought him in.

But at Lyon, Puel failed to replicate the impressive performances he'd had at Monaco and Lille.

Sometimes, managers are like that. Those who excel with small or mid-sized clubs might not do well with big teams.

Puel prefers the 4-2-3-1 formation.

Everyone knows it's a sophisticated and well-known tactical setup—very stable, but it demands a lot from the center forward and the number 10.

Today's Lyon can be described as a team full of talent.

Goalkeeper: Lloris.

Defense: Aly Cissokho, Cris, Lovren, and Réveillère.

Midfield: Turan and Källström as the double pivot, with Bastos, Gourcuff, and Delgado ahead.

Striker: Gomis.

This season, Pjanić has been Lyon's main playmaker. But facing a strong Manchester City team that topped their group, Puel dared not be careless and opted for a double defensive midfield.

Gourcuff was a star signing for nearly €20 million, so Puel benched Pjanić and started Gourcuff instead.

Even at home, Puel didn't dare play both of them, fearing the midfield wouldn't be able to hold against Manchester City.

But at the Gerland Stadium, Gao Shen launched an aggressive and relentless attack right from the opening whistle.

The interesting thing about the Champions League knockout stages is the away goals rule, which encourages the visiting team to go all out for goals, while the home side often becomes more cautious.

Gao Shen's attack wasn't reckless. He targeted Gourcuff.

The French midfielder, nicknamed "Little Zidane," even plays a similar style. That might have worked in the early 2000s, but now the pace of the game is too fast.

So, Manchester City opened the match with speed versus slow, quickly earning a throw-in on their first attack past the halfway line.

…

Gao Shen stood in front of the visiting team's dugout. When he saw Gareth Bale forced out of bounds while receiving the ball, he immediately signaled nearby players to come closer and press.

"Luis!" Gao Shen shouted, waving at Suárez to come over.

Felipe quickly ran to the sideline, controlled the ball with his foot, and wiped it clean on his jersey.

Before kick-off, Lyon had heavily watered the pitch, knowing Manchester City excel at short passing and ball control.

Gareth Bale sprinted over and used his body to shield Lyon's right-back Réveillère.

You had to admire the Welshman's physical strength. Just standing there leaning back was enough to make Réveillère unable to get around or intervene.

Felipe immediately threw in the ball, aiming at the ground to make it easier for Bale to control.

The ball bounced in front of Gareth Bale, who then lobbed it backward, attempting to find Suárez.

Lyon's center-back Cris reacted quickly, retreating and tracking the ball's trajectory. Suárez charged in right after.

Cris had the better position, forcing Suárez to chase from behind. But as Cris prepared to jump, Suárez still leapt forward recklessly, without regard for his own safety.

This seriously disrupted Cris's header.

The ball didn't travel far and landed in Lyon's half.

Gourcuff rushed over to control it, but David Silva was already pressing him the moment he tried to bring it down.

Not only Silva—Manchester City had tilted their entire defensive shape to the left following Gao Shen's earlier instructions. Rakitic was now on the other side of Gourcuff, and the two midfielders executed a double-team press.

It's hard to say who touched the ball first, but all three fought for it.

Before Gourcuff could secure possession, the ball was stolen.

Rakitic won the ball, took a step forward, and before Turan could close in, he quickly passed it back to David Silva.

The Spanish playmaker showed superb skill and composure, dribbling past Källström near the top of the box, then playing a sharp through ball.

Suárez cut in from the left, got to the ball ahead of Cris, dribbled inside, bypassed Lovren, and struck with his right foot from just inside the penalty spot, smashing the ball into Lyon's net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"

"Oh my God! Less than a minute into the match. Technically, just 53 seconds!"

"Manchester City strike first through Suárez!"

"One to nil!"

"Unbelievable pace!"

"This might be the fastest goal in the Champions League this season!"

"Manchester City tore through Lyon's defense on their first attack!"

The broadcast replay began, but not from Felipe's throw-in. Instead, it showed Gao Shen waving toward the left flank, urging his players to press.

"As we can see, Gao Shen's on-the-spot command was absolutely critical here."

"Manchester City quickly gained the upper hand on the left, and Gao Shen's tactical tweak played a key role."

"The link-up between Suárez, David Silva, and Rakitic was also perfectly in sync."

"Less than a minute in, Manchester City had already broken Lyon's defense, completely disrupting Puel's tactical setup."

Puel had said before the match that avoiding conceding an away goal would be crucial over two legs.

That's why he started Källström instead of Pjanić.

But in the end, they conceded in under a minute.

"After the goal, Manchester City's players were visibly fired up, but Gao Shen remained calm, as if he had expected it all along."

"You have to admit, that's the demeanor and composure of a top-class coach."

…

After conceding early in the first half, Manchester City kept up their relentless pressure.

But Lyon stuck to their defensive strategy.

Puel even had his team fall back deep, trying to resist Manchester City with a compact defensive counterattack setup.

As a result, Lyon were pinned back for extended stretches and had no way out.

It wasn't until the 28th minute that Lyon registered their first shot—a long-range effort from Turan, 30 meters out.

That alone showed how passive the home side was.

However, Lyon's defense held together well. Aside from the early blunder after kickoff, they performed solidly. Their midfield and forward pressing barely held off Manchester City, and thanks to some outstanding saves from Lloris, City couldn't score again.

This reflects a growing trend in European football in recent seasons.

Take Lovren at Lyon, for example. He's excellent at playing out from the back. Under pressure from Manchester City's high press, he showed composure and poise in handling the ball, leaving a deep impression on Gao Shen.

This same Lovren would move to Southampton a few years later, then to Liverpool, and even start in a World Cup final for Croatia with a standout performance.

Holding a one-goal lead and an away goal, Gao Shen's mentality became even calmer.

After watching Lovren play the ball forward while under pressure from Suárez, Gao Shen turned back toward the dugout, asked for a bottle of water, and quietly reminded Lucas.

"Keep an eye on that number five, Lovren. I want a full scouting report on him later."

Lucas was momentarily stunned. He looked at his boss, then at Lovren on the pitch. The kid wasn't very well-known.

But last summer, Lyon had paid €8 million to bring him in from Croatia.

Given Lyon president Aulas's famously tight-fisted approach, they wouldn't spend that kind of money on just anyone.

Thinking of that, Lucas nodded and silently made a mental note of the name.

…

The first half ended with Manchester City leading 1-0.

In the second half, Manchester City resumed their attack, looking to completely crush Lyon.

The Ligue 1 side had no answer for the aggressive English visitors and were forced to bunker down.

Still, City kept carving out chances.

In the 49th minute, Bastos pulled Robben down from behind and received a yellow card. City earned a dangerous free kick.

Gareth Bale struck a brilliant shot, but it clanged off the left post.

The crowd at the Gerland Stadium let out a collective gasp.

Had Manchester City scored again, the tie might've already been over.

But just a minute later, Manchester City came again.

Robben dribbled across the right flank, drawing defenders in, before laying it off for Rakitic, who then lofted a through ball over the top.

Lichtsteiner charged in from deep on the right and whipped in a low cross.

Suárez darted between the two central defenders, Lovren and Cris, and met the cross with a close-range header, but it hit the crossbar and bounced out.

Two consecutive attacks denied by the woodwork.

Even Gao Shen on the touchline slapped his forehead in frustration.

Lyon then tried to hit back, but in the 63rd minute, Robben won another free kick near the right edge of the penalty area.

It was almost the same spot as the earlier one.

Bale stepped up again. While defending, Gourcuff clearly raised his arm and blocked the ball. It was inside the box and clearly handball, even if unintentional. The referee pointed to the spot.

Bale converted the penalty, extending Manchester City's lead to 2-0!

After that, both teams had chances. Lyon brought on Pjanić and tried to be more proactive in attack. In the 77th minute, they earned a set piece. Lovren won the header, and Gomis followed up to score from the far post.

But just before the final whistle, Gareth Bale sent a long diagonal ball from the left to the right side of the penalty area.

Robben brought it down, cut inside, beat the defender, and fired with his left foot, beating the keeper again.

3-1, Manchester City win away at Lyon!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 708: The Number One Rival

Manchester City beat Lyon 3-1 away.

Chelsea beat Copenhagen 2-0 away.

Manchester United drew 0-0 away at Marseille.

Liverpool beat Barcelona 2-1 at home.

…

After the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, all four Premier League teams delivered satisfying performances.

This immediately shocked the entire European football world.

In recent years, the Premier League's dominance in European football has been remarkable. They even had three teams reach the semi-finals consecutively, which showcased the strength of English clubs.

Especially this season.

Manchester City, led by Gao Shen, is the only unbeaten team across Europe's top five leagues so far. Their results have been steady, and the squad depth is impressive. No one doubts that Manchester City will be a dark horse in this season's Champions League.

More importantly, Gao Shen has always been adept at cup competitions.

With such a deep squad backing him, Gao Shen is ambitious to make his mark in this tournament.

And Manchester City's strength was indeed astonishing, defeating Lyon 3-1 away and essentially securing their spot in the quarterfinals early.

Lyon manager Puel said in the post-match press conference that his team gave it their all, but still couldn't resist the strength of Manchester City.

"But no matter what, we will do our best to turn things around in the return leg!"

This statement, however, was hardly convincing.

In essence, Puel was admitting his team was simply outmatched.

Aside from Manchester City, the other surprise result in the first leg was Liverpool's 2-1 win over Barcelona.

It's widely acknowledged that Benítez's teams are always strong in knockout competitions.

But Barcelona have significantly improved this season. Guardiola has built a formidable attacking unit that has struck fear across La Liga and European football.

Yet at Anfield, Benítez's side managed to overcome Barcelona, which was undeniably a major upset.

What was even more surprising was that Liverpool went toe-to-toe with Barcelona instead of sitting back.

Yes, Benítez's team pressed forward.

Though they were at a clear disadvantage in possession, their cohesive defensive shape and high pressing disrupted Barcelona's rhythm at Anfield.

The midfield triangle of Biglia, Mascherano, and Gerrard played a vital role in this match.

It can even be said that these three were the key to Liverpool's victory.

The British media were even more ecstatic about this win than Manchester City's victory away to Lyon.

Because according to the bookmakers' odds, Barcelona were the favorites to win this season's Champions League.

Many had expected that Manchester United, Manchester City, or Real Madrid might challenge Barcelona. However, Real Madrid had already been eliminated in the group stage.

Now, neither Manchester United nor Manchester City had faced Barcelona yet, but Liverpool looked to be on the verge of knocking them out.

…

While the media and fans were buzzing with excitement, the Manchester City coaching staff also wasted no time reviewing the matches after returning from Lyon.

"The tactics Benítez used were the same ones we used at Napoli against Barcelona," said Carlo after watching the match for a while.

Gao Shen had always believed that when facing a team like Barcelona, with superb passing and control, sitting back too deep was never effective.

No matter how tight the defense, it wouldn't stop Barcelona's attacking movement and penetration.

If you take the initiative, there are basically two approaches. One is Mourinho's style—ensure a solid and compact defensive shape, apply intense pressure, and place a physically dominant striker up front.

On the counterattack, go long to the striker, who then holds the ball up and connects the play.

In the century derby at the end of November, Mourinho used Adebayor in this role, but it didn't work well. In the end, Real Madrid lost 0-3 at Camp Nou.

Well, even though it wasn't as humiliating as Gao Shen's past experience, it was still a heavy loss.

The other approach is to press high, just like Napoli did. It's a do-or-die tactic against Barcelona.

But this requires a very cohesive and disciplined team. Gao Shen had spent three years building that kind of squad at Napoli before they were capable of executing it.

Now Benítez was using the same approach.

The reason was simple—they didn't have a proper center forward.

Torres was a capable scorer, but his strength lay in facing the goal. Expecting him to play with his back to goal like a target man was simply unrealistic.

Later, when Torres moved to Chelsea, one of the key reasons he struggled was that Chelsea's midfield couldn't provide him with chances to attack the defense directly. He had to drop deeper like Drogba to help link play.

Of course, injuries also affected Torres' performance significantly on a personal level.

In truth, whether it was Shevchenko, Torres, or even using Anelka as a central striker in a 4-3-3, the results were never ideal. The key issue was that none of them were target men like Drogba. They couldn't play the hold-up role in Chelsea's system.

That's often how "parallel imports" come to be.

"From the first leg, Liverpool really pushed their limits at home, but the danger signs were everywhere. Going to Camp Nou with this squad could end in disaster," Gao Shen speculated.

In fact, from the first leg, Barcelona still had a clear edge. They just lacked finishing, had some bad luck, and were disrupted by Liverpool's pressing.

But those same disadvantages would be hard to replicate at Camp Nou.

"Fernando, send someone to Camp Nou to watch the return leg and collect detailed firsthand data," Gao Shen instructed.

Lucas immediately nodded.

In Manchester City's assessment, Barcelona were their top rival in the Champions League this season.

Looking at the first-leg results, Gao Shen's earlier evaluation of Moratti had been spot-on—Serie A was gradually declining, and the Bundesliga was on the rise.

The clearest sign was that, aside from Napoli, AC Milan had also lost at home in the first leg.

Whether Napoli could stop the overall decline depended heavily on the strong team Gao Shen had left behind.

Recently, Gao Shen had also been keeping a close eye on developments involving the Qatari consortium.

Rumors suggested they were still in talks with Manchester United, but it was also possible they were secretly negotiating with Paris Saint-Germain.

If the Qatari consortium enters European football, it will inevitably trigger a wave of acquisitions. At that point, Napoli would surely draw attention. If Gao Shen could seize that opportunity to cash out again, it would be a much-needed financial boost for him.

…

After the midweek Champions League fixtures, the FA Cup fifth round was scheduled for the weekend.

Manchester City's opponent this time was Aston Villa.

By this round, most remaining teams were from the Premier League, with only two Championship sides left. Interestingly, one League One team had also made it—Brighton, backed by a wealthy owner.

Manchester City hosted Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

Gao Shen rotated the squad. Yaya Touré opened the scoring in the 5th minute after a cross from Leighton Baines.

Later, Yaya Touré assisted Van Persie to score.

In the second half, Henderson sealed the win for Manchester City.

In the end, City beat Aston Villa 3-0 at home.

Following that, Manchester City got a favorable draw in the FA Cup quarter-finals, drawing Championship side Reading.

However, Reading had just caused an upset by beating Everton 1-0 away, so they couldn't be underestimated.

Brighton, despite being a wealthy League One club, were still only third-tier level and were defeated 3-0 by Stoke City.

…

Back in the Premier League, the 28th round kicked off.

Gao Shen once again rotated his squad and managed a 2-1 home win over Fulham.

Then in round 29 of the league, they narrowly defeated Wigan Athletic 1-0 at home.

In the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, Manchester City hosted Lyon.

Having already won 3-1 away, City were essentially guaranteed qualification but still played a composed and cautious match at home.

Lyon, knowing they were likely to be eliminated, played with nothing to lose. They fielded an aggressive three-forward formation, using both Gourcuff and Pjanić as dual playmakers in midfield, leaving only Toulalan to sit deep.

The barefoot don't fear those wearing shoes. Up against such a desperate side, City were initially pushed back, but Gao Shen quickly adjusted tactics, focusing on targeted defense, and stabilized the game.

In the 37th minute, Gareth Bale made a low cross from the left, and Felipe broke into the box to score the opener for City.

In the second half, Felipe crossed from the left to assist Suárez for a header.

Then, David Silva set up Robben, who cut inside and finished with his left foot to seal the victory.

In the end, Manchester City won 3-0 at home and 6-1 on aggregate, advancing to the quarterfinals.

…

Manchester City's emphatic progression came alongside the expected result from the Camp Nou.

After losing the first leg 2-1, Barcelona regrouped at home and dominated Liverpool.

Benítez's side held on for the first half, but completely collapsed in the second.

Messi scored twice, and Busquets and Xavi also added goals. Barcelona scored four in under thirty minutes, leaving Liverpool with no chance to respond.

In the end, Liverpool lost 0-4 away.

With a total score of 2-5, they were knocked out.

…

After eliminating Lyon, Manchester City followed up with a 1-0 win over Reading in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Reading defended deeply, using a low block to frustrate Manchester City.

It wasn't until the second half that Giroud assisted Sturridge for the winning goal.

But in the following Premier League fixture, City drew 1-1 away to Ancelotti's Chelsea.

The Blues were under heavy pressure. Carlo Ancelotti had chosen to give up on the FA Cup and focus on the league, but still couldn't beat Manchester City at home.

One to one, both sides settled for a point.

After the Chelsea game, Su Qing, who had returned to China to complete her resignation after the Spring Festival, finally returned to the UK.

Soon after came the Champions League quarter-final draw and new developments related to Leeds United.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 709: An Unexpected Event

The past month or so had felt like torture for Ken Bates.

In this test of patience, the 80-year-old Englishman, known for his terrible temper, had to admit defeat to the gentle and graceful Chinese woman. He was ultimately forced to accept what he considered an extremely unreasonable offer.

His original asking price was £25 million, and at worst, he had hoped to sell for £20 million.

You have to understand, many League One clubs now sell for more than £10 million.

When the Swiss Liebherr family bought Southampton, it cost them £14 million—and that was for a League One side.

So, selling Leeds United, a mid-table Championship team, for £20 million wasn't excessive at all.

Not long after their first meeting, Ken Bates asked Cash Harris for updates on Su Qing's position.

The reply was that the Chinese side was holding firm at £15 million.

"Mr. Bates, she's very firm about it," Cash Harris said helplessly.

Ken Bates, a shrewd man, knew it was part of the negotiation strategy, so he didn't panic. He kept waiting.

About two weeks later, Bates contacted Su Qing again through Cash Harris. The response he received was…

"Sorry, Mr. Bates. I've returned to China."

Yes, Su Qing had gone back to complete her resignation procedures.

Even with today's technology enabling remote negotiations, Su Qing remained calm and unhurried, insisting that she was only willing to pay £15 million for Leeds United.

In front of Cash Harris, she even asked him to look for other clubs available at a similar price.

"I hope you understand, Mr. Bates. I'm not obligated to buy Leeds United."

Su Qing's manners were exceptionally refined, but her words left her opponent no room to fight back.

"As you know, I love my fiancé very much. We're getting married this summer. I want to buy a club to better understand his profession, his work, and his philosophy."

"Coincidentally, Leeds United is close to him. That's the club's only real advantage."

"In fact, I've already spoken to Sheffield United. You can check. That shouldn't be hard to verify, since that club is also close to Cheshire, which means I could see my fiancé every day."

"So, I'm only willing to pay this amount for Leeds United."

Su Qing used the most pleasant tone to say the coldest words, rendering all of Bates's plans useless.

But an 80-year-old man wouldn't give in so easily. He still resisted.

Then, in early March, Leeds United's director of football, Gwyn Williams, called to inform him that they had finally recruited a youth training director. The club's board wanted Bates to come to Leeds for a meeting to discuss youth development and planning for the new season.

Gwyn Williams was an old acquaintance from Bates's time at Chelsea. He had coached Chelsea's U18s for nearly 20 years and developed numerous talents. Later, Bates promoted him to the first team to assist Gullit, Vialli, and Ranieri. He was a figure from four managerial eras.

After Mourinho arrived, Williams couldn't stay in the first team and switched to scouting.

When Bates bought Leeds United, he immediately brought in Williams to serve as director of football, a role he still held.

He was also Bates's trusted insider at the club.

As for the youth training director, the situation was quite embarrassing.

After Bates acquired Leeds, he had appointed Welshman Darral Pugh as youth training director. But in October last year, Pugh suddenly resigned to Gwyn Williams, citing three months of unpaid salary.

Since November, the position had remained vacant. Most candidates withdrew after seeing the state of Leeds's academy.

Why?

Because the club didn't even have enough players for the crucial U18 and U23 levels. With delayed wages as well, who would want the job?

This time, Gwyn Williams had to tap into personal connections to find former Chelsea youth player Chris Sulley. But this would be Sulley's first administrative role since retiring in the 1990s.

Still, it was better than nothing.

That's how Gwyn Williams and the board persuaded Bates to return for the meeting.

They called it a discussion, but really, it was about money.

Unpaid wages, next season's transfer budget, and youth development investment—everything needed funding.

How to solve it?

These weren't accidents. This was the same issue every year.

Rich clubs could make bold plans, but poor ones like Bates's Leeds United could only argue over every penny. Bates didn't even dare show his face.

He knew that if he returned to Leeds, he'd be forced to spend money.

Between a rock and a hard place.

In the end, Bates clenched his teeth, stomped his foot, and gave in.

£15 million it was!

…

As a rising star being groomed by the ministry, Su Qing's resignation caught her superiors by surprise. But upon reflection, it wasn't unreasonable. The pressure at the ministry was immense.

Su Qing wasn't just any employee. She was Gao Shen's fiancée, well-known both at home and abroad. If they married, her status would rise even further.

Marrying someone like Gao Shen—why would she need to work in a ministry for experience?

So, her superiors didn't make things difficult. They simply asked her to begin the handover.

After finishing her affairs in China, Su Qing originally planned to go to Shanghai. But then she received a call from Cash Harris—Ken Bates had agreed.

Su Qing canceled her trip and had lawyer Richard Cramer travel from Leeds to London. She flew from China to London and met with Cash Harris and Ken Bates directly.

This time, Ken Bates also brought his lawyer.

Since both parties had agreed on the price, the negotiations went smoothly. But then something unexpected happened.

Su Qing insisted on hiring a law firm to conduct full due diligence on Leeds United. The goal was to verify all liabilities and ensure no hidden debts would surface post-acquisition.

This cost would be covered by Gao Shen.

After completing the audit, the law firm would issue a detailed report. Ken Bates and other shareholders would need to settle all debts and pay all overdue salaries and expenses. Only then could Gao Shen buy Leeds United for £15 million.

Simply put, Gao Shen would pay £15 million, and all debts and unpaid wages would be none of his business.

But Ken Bates had a surprise of his own.

"I've contacted the other shareholders and spoken with the Leeds City Council. They all support the Chinese acquisition of Leeds United. But there's one condition. The deal must include the Thorp Arch training ground, Elland Road Stadium, and the land surrounding it. The land behind the West Stand used to be the first-team training pitch."

"These properties are valued at £20 million in total."

Su Qing's brows furrowed at the news.

All the men present, including the 80-year-old Bates, couldn't help but sigh—this Chinese woman's frown had a beauty that was both unique and captivating.

"I can't give you an answer right now. I need to reassess," Su Qing said, using a delaying tactic.

In fact, according to Gao Shen's plan, the stadium and training base had to be purchased. The price wasn't unreasonable either.

Compared to the £3 million in annual rent, buying them for £20 million made more long-term financial sense. Ownership would allow for renovation and expansion to generate additional income.

But before, Ken Bates hadn't made this a condition.

Now, he claimed it was the request of other shareholders and the city council.

The acquisition of Leeds United would cost £15 million. Now, there was an additional £20 million charge out of nowhere. It felt like a forced upsell.

"Ms. Su, please don't misunderstand," Cash Harris explained. "I can assure you these properties are worth it. The reason we're bundling them in is that they're owned by a private company. Other than renting to Leeds United, they serve no purpose. The £3 million in rent doesn't offset the depreciation and holding costs."

"Fan groups and the city government also prefer that the club owns its own assets. It shows your commitment to managing Leeds United for the long term, doesn't it?"

The deal was already in its final stage. It would be foolish to fall apart now.

"That may be true," Su Qing replied, frowning slightly, "but I still need to reevaluate. After all, this is an extra £20 million we're talking about."

"Alright. I'll talk to the other shareholders and the city government. You take your time. Meanwhile, we can begin the legal due diligence immediately and aim to close the deal as soon as possible. What do you think?" Ken Bates appeared anxious.

Su Qing understood his urgency and nodded. "Alright. But I hope we can sign a non-disclosure agreement. Please do not disclose our identities or any specific details until the deal is complete."

Ken Bates considered Gao Shen's public status and agreed immediately.

The rest was left to the lawyers from both sides to draft the NDA and exclusivity clause.

This also marked the beginning of formal due diligence.

From Ken Bates's attitude, Su Qing could see how desperate he was.

As for the stadium and training facilities, Gao Shen had always wanted them. Now, Su Qing saw a chance to leverage the situation.

Just as Gao Shen had said, people like Bates were cunning and well-connected. Maybe they could extract some benefits or favorable terms from them.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 710: We Are the Most Professional at Spending Money

From the moment Gao Shen decided to acquire Leeds United, he had no intention of keeping it secret from Mubarak and his assistants.

This was a matter of trust.

At the right time, Gao Shen disclosed it to Mubarak.

The Manchester City chairman was initially surprised, but after an in-depth conversation with Gao Shen, he consulted Mansour, who was in the Middle East. Mansour's response was one of trust and support.

In fact, there was no need for Manchester City to react strongly, because this was Gao Shen's personal matter. More importantly, it wasn't a bad thing for the club. As Gao Shen explained, he was optimistic about the future of youth development in European football and wanted to acquire a lower-league club to focus on youth training. This was actually beneficial for Manchester City.

Since the two clubs occupied different competitive tiers, there would be no conflict of interest.

Of course, Gao Shen didn't reveal everything. He didn't mention his long-term ambition to reach the Premier League.

However, a potential complication would arise if Leeds United were eventually promoted to the Premier League. At that point, it would conflict with his role as Manchester City's head coach.

Many people don't realize that the Premier League operates more like a supervisory organization.

What does that mean?

The Premier League's CEO and staff are all employed by the league, but the ownership of the league belongs to the 20 participating clubs.

Before each season, the Premier League holds a roundtable where representatives or owners of the 20 clubs gather to discuss the upcoming season's direction.

If Leeds United, owned by Gao Shen, were promoted to the Premier League in the future, it would undoubtedly trigger protests at that meeting.

And the consequence of such a protest would be two options—one or the other.

That's why Gao Shen wanted to communicate with Manchester City in advance. He didn't want any misunderstanding between them.

He even told Mansour that if the club chose to replace him this season, he would accept it without asking for any compensation.

But Mansour gave his full support and promised to honor Gao Shen's contract. He also said that if Gao Shen needed help with the new club after the acquisition, Manchester City would do its best to assist.

…

Besides clarifying things with Manchester City, Gao Shen also informed his core coaching staff.

Fernando Lucas was his chosen candidate to become the future CEO of Leeds United.

During the recent negotiations in London, Lucas's preparation and competence had already earned Su Qing's recognition.

If the acquisition went through, Gao Shen would hand over all his responsibilities at Manchester City to Brian Kidd, including the analysis team he had built, ensuring the club could continue to operate smoothly.

Aside from Lucas, Gao Shen also spoke with Sarri.

The Italian coach had been with Gao Shen for three years and had learned a great deal. Gao Shen felt it was time for Sarri to take on a bigger role. He didn't pressure or bribe him, but asked him to think it over carefully.

If Sarri wanted to return to Italy, Gao Shen would help him, at least securing a job in Serie B or even Serie A. But if he chose to stay, and the Leeds acquisition was completed, he would become head coach of Leeds United. Gao Shen would then build a squad tailored to him.

Sarri had deep respect for Gao Shen's abilities. Since Gao Shen promised to build the team around him, he had no doubts and agreed.

With the chairman, the CEO, and the head coach in place, there was still one crucial position left.

Technical director.

As a coach, Gao Shen disliked being restricted by a technical director. But as a club owner, he had to admit that a technical director was essential for long-term stability.

Managers come and go. A technical director, however, must remain steady and ensure continuity.

For Leeds United, the top priority was youth development.

The first person Gao Shen considered was Carlo. Back in Spain, Carlo had spent years coaching in the lower leagues, including Mallorca B and Real Madrid B, developing many players and proving his abilities.

More importantly, Carlo was meticulous, steady, and trustworthy.

Gao Shen believed Carlo would make an excellent technical director, but it would mean losing a vital assistant, someone who could cover his blind spots.

Buenaventura could still handle training, but Carlo's role would be hard to replace.

After much deliberation, Gao Shen chose someone else.

Rodolfo Borrell.

If Carlo had strong credentials in youth development, Borrell's were equally impressive.

At just 40, he had been coaching in Barcelona's youth system since he was 25, rising from the lower levels to become head coach of the U18 team. His personal capability was unquestionable.

Having followed Gao Shen for years, Borrell had become one of his most trusted technical coaches. He also served as a technical consultant for Manchester City's youth academy and had a deep understanding of youth development in England.

More importantly, those familiar with Borrell knew that he wasn't just a great trainer. He advocated for attacking football and technical style, had strong tactical understanding, and was a master at spotting talent.

In some ways, Borrell was even more suitable than Carlo.

After thorough discussion with both Carlo and Borrell, Gao Shen made his decision.

Once the acquisition was complete, Borrell would become the technical director of Leeds United, responsible for competitive affairs, especially youth development, which would be central to the club's strategy.

Su Qing, Lucas, Borrell, and Sarri. This was the leadership team Gao Shen envisioned for Leeds United.

And all of them came from his coaching staff.

It's worth noting that in Gao Shen's newly designed management structure, Borrell's title would be Technical Director, not Director of Football.

The key difference lies in authority over transfers and recruitment.

A technical director is more like a consultant in transfers. A director of football, by contrast, has final say.

Moreover, technical directors focus on youth development, while directors of football oversee all competitive matters.

Gao Shen believed Borrell was better suited to the role of technical director.

At least when it came to negotiating transfers and handling transactions, that wasn't his strength.

…

After Su Qing returned to Cheshire from London, Gao Shen called Lucas and Borrell together.

This was the first meeting of Leeds United's future leadership team—and Gao Shen's most trusted inner circle.

Sarri, as head coach, wasn't yet qualified to attend such a meeting.

Su Qing first detailed her meeting with Ken Bates in London, especially the issue of the £20 million.

"Have you been back to Leeds United since?" Gao Shen asked.

"I have," Su Qing replied. "Of the £20 million, the most valuable property is Elland Road and the land surrounding it. The Thorp Arch training ground is in the suburbs, about 20 to 30 kilometers north of Leeds, on the outskirts of a town called Wetherby, near a small village named Walton."

It sounded complicated, but in fact, it was just outside that tiny village.

Of course, in the UK, being rural doesn't mean being bad. In fact, rural areas often have better public safety than urban ones.

A village like Walton might not even have a thousand residents.

"Of the six full-sized pitches, two are abandoned. There's a tin-sided training building with no geothermal system. It'll be hard to train in winter," Borrell said with a frown, shaking his head.

The facilities were seriously lacking.

In a place like the UK, a geothermal system is standard. Without it, what happens when it snows?

If the pitch freezes, how can you train?

Not long ago, Real Madrid had made headlines because of snowfall. The staff at Valdebebas forgot to switch on the geothermal heating, and the first team's pitch froze. Mourinho was furious and fired the staff immediately.

Indoor training grounds are high-end features. You can't expect that here yet, but at the very least, there should be geothermal heating.

Leeds United didn't even have that.

"From what I gathered, Leeds United's original training ground was Fullerton Park, just west of Elland Road. It's now totally abandoned. The space is roughly equivalent to four full pitches, currently flattened and used as a temporary parking lot on match days," Lucas added, sounding helpless.

"If we want to renovate the training base, how much would it cost?" Su Qing asked seriously.

Lucas and Borrell exchanged glances before Lucas responded.

"Hard to say right now. First, the water supply and drainage systems must be redone. The pitch conditions are extremely poor. The first team's pitch isn't even standard length. There's no geothermal heating either, so that'll need to be installed."

"Also, the fencing around the fields is in bad shape. I walked around, and in several places people could enter directly. That's just unacceptable. Even if there aren't many people nearby, we need to be prepared."

"If we're following our standards, we'll need a new training facility, a composite track, outdoor pitch analysis cameras and systems, a heated pool and gym, plus essentials like ice baths and hydrotherapy pools."

Su Qing frowned again and turned to Gao Shen.

Seeing her expression, Gao Shen smiled helplessly and said, "You know, when it comes to spending money, we're the most professional!"

Su Qing and the others burst out laughing.

Gao Shen wasn't wrong. His coaching team was top-tier in both software and hardware. Naturally, their standards were the highest. That included a full set of advanced training equipment.

And while adding equipment and renovating facilities was just the hardware cost, there would also be long-term expenses for staffing.

For example, those analysis systems on outdoor pitches would require at least two dedicated analysts to operate.

This wasn't just a one-time investment. It was a long-term financial commitment.

Is it useful?

Extremely. The results were obvious.

But to implement all of it, you needed one thing above all else—money.

Broke and bare, that was the current state of Leeds United.

To put it humorously, it was like a blank canvas. Gao Shen could paint anything he wanted.

The prerequisite was having enough money.

(To be continued.)