SWR: Chapter 690/691

Chapter 690: Defeat Manchester United
Real Madrid lost!

When Gao Shen heard the news, he was genuinely shocked.

Mourinho's Real Madrid actually lost!

One to zero.

That was the final score at the Veltins-Arena, with the home team celebrating while the away side walked off defeated.

Magath's Schalke 04 defeated Real Madrid 1-0, thanks to a goal from Raul.

On the way back to Carrington from the Etihad Stadium, Gao Shen kept thinking about this.

Real Madrid actually lost.

Mourinho actually lost such a crucial, decisive match.

How important was this game?

After the first three rounds of the group stage, Manchester City led with nine points, followed by Real Madrid with four, Schalke 04 with two, and Inter Milan with one.

In other words, as long as Real Madrid had beaten Schalke 04 away, they would have been second with seven points, holding a five-point advantage over Schalke. With only two rounds remaining, qualification would have been almost certain.

Even a draw would have maintained a two-point lead.

But after losing this direct matchup, Schalke 04 jumped to second place with five points, and Real Madrid dropped to third.

In the last two rounds, Real Madrid will face Manchester City at home and Inter Milan away, while Schalke 04 will play Inter Milan at home and Manchester City away.

It is clear that Real Madrid have now backed themselves into a corner.

What does this mean?

It means that Real Madrid must win their next home match against Manchester City.

But with Manchester City's current form and performance, who dares to confidently say they will beat them?

…

"Mourinho miscalculated."

Back at Carrington, the players were dismissed, but none of the coaching staff went home.

Carlo, Lucas, Borrell, and the others all had deep emotional ties to Real Madrid. Like Gao Shen, they were paying close attention to their former club.

Hearing that Real Madrid had lost to Schalke 04 away was shocking for everyone.

Why did Gao Shen say Mourinho miscalculated?

Because just before this Champions League fixture, Real Madrid had beaten Racing Santander 6-1 in La Liga.

That should have been a good thing, right?

But the problem was that Real Madrid had fielded all of their key starters in that La Liga match, and then again deployed their full-strength lineup for the Champions League game. However, Schalke 04, playing at home, were far tougher than expected.

In truth, Real Madrid's performance was not bad. They registered 28 shots throughout the match but still failed to break Schalke's defense.

Magath had set his team up to defend with everything they had, desperate for the win at home.

For Schalke 04, this was a battle for survival, and every player gave their absolute best.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's energy was visibly affected.

They had just played a big match on the weekend, and three days later, their physical condition had not fully recovered.

The same issue applied to Manchester City.

After the 8-0 demolition of Arsenal, City's performance dipped noticeably against Wolves, but their superior quality still saw them through.

But Real Madrid had run into a brick wall in Schalke 04.

"The situation in La Liga right now is that Real Madrid lead by just one point, with Villarreal and Barcelona tied for second," Gao Shen analyzed. "Mourinho wanted to maintain their lead in La Liga while also securing Champions League qualification, but now there's a problem. They protected their league position, but paid the price in Europe."

After saying this, Gao Shen let out a long sigh.

He could not say whether Mourinho's decision was right or wrong.

These were the choices every manager had to make.

But from the result, it was clear Mourinho had missed a golden opportunity to seal qualification.

And the consequences of that are obvious.

In the next round, at home against Manchester City, Real Madrid must attack.

Mourinho will not dare to risk leaving everything to the final group match, an away trip to face Inter Milan. The risk would be far too high.

But the question is, can Mourinho's Real Madrid truly go all-out against this Manchester City?

Gao Shen knows he only needs to defend and counterattack, waiting for Real Madrid to press forward.

A draw? Manchester City can accept that.

But for Real Madrid, it would be a disaster.

Even worse, losing ground in the group to Schalke 04 at this stage would heap pressure on Real Madrid and severely damage their morale.

"Right now, Real Madrid are like a team roasting on a volcano," Carlo said, analyzing the situation with clear concern. "Schalke 04 will definitely go all-in against Inter Milan at home. Given Inter's recent form under Leonardo, Schalke stand a good chance of winning."

"The biggest problem is, no matter how Schalke perform, Real Madrid have no choice. They must win the next round. Only victory keeps their hopes alive."

Momentum, both in the league and the Champions League, is built game by game.

A manager's choices always follow the situation at hand.

But right now, Real Madrid are on the back foot. They are passive and under pressure.

Carlo and the others all looked at Gao Shen, as if waiting for him to give a definitive answer.

If Manchester City go all out against Real Madrid, the Spanish giants might not survive.

"We've already secured qualification from the group," Gao Shen said calmly.

Everyone nodded, visibly relieved.

"In the last two rounds, we will prioritize squad rotation and training. But when we go to the Bernabeu, we will still play defensively and look to counterattack. Whether Real Madrid win or not is up to them. It has nothing to do with us."

This was Gao Shen's professional integrity.

As Manchester City's head coach, he would never compromise that, even if it didn't hurt the club's own interests.

The only thing he could do was stick to the original plan, which Mourinho would surely have anticipated: rotation and preparation.

Almost every team that qualifies early in the Champions League group stage does the same. Gao Shen would be no exception.

As for whether Real Madrid could win, that was entirely up to them.

Gao Shen could only watch from the sidelines.

Of course, if Real Madrid were eliminated, Gao Shen would still feel sorry for them.

Because next season, they might drop into the third tier of the draw.

…

The situation in this year's Champions League "group of death" sparked heated discussions among fans and media worldwide.

It was surprising enough that Manchester City stood out with four consecutive wins.

But few could have predicted that Real Madrid would sit third, with Inter Milan bottom of the group.

Several Madrid-based media outlets were in an uproar, warning that Real Madrid were in serious trouble and now needed back-to-back wins to advance. Mourinho, though, remained publicly confident, stating that winning two in a row would not be a problem.

Still, some media outlets reported that if Real Madrid failed to progress from the group stage, Mourinho could face the sack.

Florentino Pérez quickly responded, publicly declaring that Mourinho would not be dismissed even if the team failed to qualify.

"We still have full confidence in him."

But everyone could see that this statement was empty reassurance.

…

Back in the Premier League, Manchester City continued their campaign without distraction.

In the 11th round, City defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-0 away, with Van Persie scoring twice.

Three days later, in the 12th round of the league, Manchester City hosted the Manchester derby at the Etihad.

Both sides had just played in the Champions League midweek, so both rotated their squads.

But even with rotation, the gap in squad depth was evident. Ferguson chose to sit back and defend, looking to counterattack.

From the start, Manchester City launched wave after wave of attacks, but Manchester United's back line of Ferdinand and Vidic, supported by the midfield trio of Carrick, Fletcher, and Lassana Diarra, held firm.

At the break, the score remained 0-0.

Early in the second half, Gao Shen adjusted his approach. He subbed on Gareth Bale to attack United's right flank, where young Rafael was stationed, immediately creating several dangerous situations.

Ferguson reacted quickly, bringing on Wes Brown to replace Rafael and strengthen that side. He also swapped Evra for O'Shea to deal with the threat of Robben on the opposite wing.

Then in the 73rd minute, Gao Shen made a move that drew loud applause from the home fans. He replaced Javi Martinez with Van Persie, switching to a two-striker formation with Van Persie and Suarez paired together for the first time this season.

At that moment, the front four were Gareth Bale on the left, Van Persie and Suarez up top, Robben on the right, with David Silva and Rakitic supporting from midfield.

Gao Shen had effectively sent out his strongest attacking lineup.

It showed just how determined he was to win.

Ferguson, sensing the danger, made his final substitution, bringing on Park Ji-sung for Berbatov and pushing Rooney up front.

The match became a fierce battle between Manchester City's organized attacks and Manchester United's dogged defensive stand.

As the game ticked into the 87th minute, with the score still deadlocked, the tension inside the Etihad was palpable.

The breakthrough finally came.

Manchester City's midfield played a quick pass into Van Persie, who dropped deeper to receive near Carrick. The Dutch forward turned and sent a diagonal ball to the left side of the box.

Suarez controlled it, facing Vidic directly as he edged closer into the penalty area.

Gareth Bale charged in from the left, calling for the ball.

Understanding the signal, Suarez played the ball toward the byline. As Vidic's attention shifted, Suarez cut inside across the box.

Bale reached the baseline, latched onto the pass, and sent a reverse cut-back behind Vidic.

Suarez, arriving perfectly, controlled the ball, but was immediately pressured by Lassana Diarra. Off balance and stumbling, Suarez managed to keep his footing just enough to swing his leg.

His strike threaded through the crowded penalty area, slipping past Van der Sar and into the bottom-right corner of the net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"Suarez! Suarez!!!"

"Manchester City finally break the deadlock. One to zero!"

"Manchester City spent nearly 90 minutes attacking, while Manchester United defended for almost the entire match. Just when everyone thought it would end goalless, the deadlock is broken!"

"One to zero, Suarez delivers the winner against Manchester United!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 691: Real Madrid's Totem
Thanks to Suarez's goal, Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 at home.

This once again triggered heated discussions in the British media.

However, soon after, in the 13th round of the Premier League at the weekend, Manchester City's winning streak finally came to an end.

With the recent intense schedule of two matches per week, especially against strong opponents, Manchester City rotated heavily for their away game against Fulham and ended up drawing 0-0 with the London side.

This time, the heavy rotation did not achieve the desired effect.

The main reason was that Gao Shen rested Suarez, Van Persie, Robben, Gareth Bale, and several other key starters, which greatly impacted Manchester City's attacking power.

After thirteen rounds, with twelve wins and one draw, the record was still impressive enough.

After the match, Gao Shen stated that drawing with Fulham was not a bad thing for Manchester City.

"Take a break, and we can go even further!"

To help the players recover, Gao Shen even granted the team two days off the following week for rest and adjustment.

One week later, in the 14th round of the Premier League, Manchester City bounced back and defeated Birmingham 5-0 at home.

Suarez started and scored a hat-trick, while Zabaleta and Rakitic each added one goal.

This convincing victory once again validated what Gao Shen had said.

The draw against Fulham was just a brief pause for Manchester City.

After the Birmingham match, the team rested at Carrington for two days before flying from Manchester to Madrid.

…

Despite being the opponent, and despite Real Madrid being in a difficult situation, Gao Shen and his team received a warm welcome from the Madrid media and fans upon arrival.

Many journalists and hundreds of fans gathered at Madrid Capital Airport to greet Gao Shen and Manchester City.

From the fans' enthusiastic cheers, it was clear that almost all of them were there for Gao Shen.

Some Real Madrid supporters even held up signs pleading with Gao Shen not to leave.

This scene surprised the Manchester City players.

They had always heard about how highly Gao Shen was regarded at Real Madrid, but seeing it with their own eyes was something else entirely.

In fact, the respect he commanded was even greater than they had imagined.

"I never realized the boss is this popular!"

"Seriously. This is the first time I've seen home fans come to the airport to welcome the visiting team. It's unreal!"

"Hey, maybe we should go easy on Real Madrid this time?"

The City players joked among themselves.

In truth, all the fans at the airport were there for Gao Shen alone. The players were mostly ignored.

Even when people asked for autographs or photos, they were solely focused on Gao Shen, leaving the City squad standing awkwardly by.

This made the Manchester City players feel a mix of amusement and envy over their coach's popularity.

"Isn't it strange?" Sturridge asked, puzzled. "Real Madrid are in this mess mostly because of our boss, yet their fans don't hate him?"

Everyone knew that Real Madrid's current third-place position in the group was certainly linked to their loss against Schalke 04, but the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City in the first round was also a critical factor. Many viewed that humiliating loss as the true cause of their current crisis.

Yet the Real Madrid fans did not seem to blame Gao Shen at all.

"You don't get it," Robinho said, looking toward Gao Shen with admiration.

He had once dreamed of being loved by Real Madrid fans like this, but never came close.

"For Real Madrid supporters, the boss is like an oasis in the desert. The team he coached represents the last period of glory and pride for Real Madrid."

Rather than simply admiring Gao Shen, the fans admired what he symbolized—the star-studded Real Madrid side that won the double in 2006.

People are often full of contradictions.

So many had criticized Gao Shen back then, yet now so many had changed their minds.

As Gao Shen's reputation in European football continued to grow, so too did his status in the hearts of Real Madrid supporters, turning him into a symbolic figure, a spiritual totem.

The worse Real Madrid performed, the stronger the fans' longing and nostalgia for Gao Shen became.

Some called it unrealistic fantasy.

Others said that the fans simply needed something to hold on to.

"Trust me," Robben added, watching Gao Shen signing autographs not far away, his eyes complex. "If he ever returns to Real Madrid, the reaction will be unprecedented. He is the superstar that Madrid yearns for most."

"Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Di Maria, Benzema… all of them together can't compare to him!"

The City players were stunned by Robben's words, but looking at the swelling crowd around Gao Shen, they had no choice but to believe it.

…

The news of Manchester City's arrival quickly spread across Madrid.

At the Bernabeu, Florentino received the update first.

Sitting in the president's office, Florentino's expression was heavy and tense.

He was anxious.

In La Liga, Mourinho's team had performed well. Twelve matches played, ten wins, two draws, remaining unbeaten, and holding a one-point lead over Barcelona. In their last two league matches, they had defeated Atletico Madrid 2-0 in the Madrid derby and then beaten Athletic Bilbao 5-1.

From a league standpoint, Mourinho's Real Madrid were doing an excellent job.

But at Real Madrid, the league has never been enough.

The Champions League has always been the club's top priority.

And in the group stage, Mourinho's record was one win, one draw, and two losses, placing the team third.

If Real Madrid were to drop into the Europa League, it would be an unacceptable outcome for their supporters.

"Judging from what we've seen so far, Gao Shen has no intention of going all out," Valdano tried to reassure Florentino.

That was the good news.

Based on the squad Manchester City had brought to Madrid, aside from Robben and Neuer, none of the main players had traveled. Suarez, David Silva, and Rakitic were all left behind in Manchester.

It was clear that Manchester City, having already secured qualification, were rotating their squad.

"How confident are we?" Florentino asked anxiously.

Valdano paused, glancing at Zidane and Butragueno. Both were silent.

It was not an easy question to answer.

"Honestly, it's hard to say," Valdano admitted with a bitter smile.

Florentino shook his head and gave a wry smile.

"I figured as much. I've already prepared for the worst."

Valdano nodded seriously. "You know, I've never liked Mourinho. I don't like his style of football, his personality, or the way he handles things. But even so, I still say this: don't rush to change the coach."

Florentino looked at him deeply, trying to read between the lines.

Finally, he nodded slowly. "I'll consider it."

After a brief silence, he asked again, "How should we approach this match?"

"They'll likely attack," Butragueno replied.

"Likely?" Florentino raised an eyebrow.

Given the circumstances, there was still uncertainty?

"Gao Shen is excellent at attacking, but we cannot ignore his defensive capabilities," Butragueno explained. "It seems he will rotate heavily and focus on practicing with his substitutes. But we cannot underestimate him."

Florentino let out a long sigh. His mind drifted back to 2006.

Time flies. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

Back then, he had just stepped down as president. Now he was back.

"I still remember all of you telling me how solid his defensive system was," Florentino said, smiling faintly.

In his eyes, Gao Shen had always been the best candidate to coach Real Madrid. But fate had kept them apart.

Sometimes, when you miss a chance, it never comes again.

"Besides, he's excellent at attacking as well," Butragueno added. "It's possible that he'll start on the front foot and then shift to a defensive counterattack."

Zidane, who had been silent until now, chuckled softly. "That's his signature move."

The group couldn't help but smile.

They were all Real Madrid executives, but also people who knew Gao Shen very well.

Florentino stood, walked slowly to the window, and gazed out at the Madrid night.

By this time tomorrow, the match would be underway.

It would be the decisive match for Real Madrid's season. If they failed to beat Manchester City, elimination from the Champions League group stage was likely. And when that happened, the fans' fury could ignite uncontrollably.

If results did not improve, Mourinho would be the first target, but Valdano and even Florentino himself might also be dragged into the storm.

Real Madrid's supporters always expected greatness.

The team might be leading the league for now, but with Barcelona waiting, nothing was guaranteed.

Until they defeated Barcelona, the lead meant little.

Florentino turned back toward his team, adjusting his glasses.

"I wonder how things are going at Valdebebas."

Yes, how was Mourinho preparing?

…

At almost the same time, in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid.

Mourinho stood in front of the window, looking out at the empty training ground, deep in thought about tomorrow night's match.

Conflicted, torn, and hesitant.

He knew that this was a must-win game.

But the key question was… how to win?

Facing such a strong opponent, who could truly guarantee victory?

(To be continued.)