SWR: Chapter 672/673

Chapter 672: Shell Shadow

De Bruyne looked up, panting, and glanced at the scoreboard.

Seventy-six minutes had passed.

He was truly exhausted.

He had never imagined that the intensity of Premier League matches would be this high. The Belgian domestic league couldn't even compare, and there was far more physical contact in the Premier League.

Just moments ago, he had a great chance to play a through ball to his teammate during a counterattack, but Essien tracked back just in time and bumped him, making it impossible for him to control the pass.

What frustrated him most was that the referee didn't even blow the whistle.

My God, the level of intensity and physicality is just overwhelming!

De Bruyne finally understood why, when he first joined Manchester City, everyone had told him that his small frame wouldn't be able to handle the Premier League.

Buenaventura and Pintus's preseason training had been grueling, but after getting through it, he felt that his potential had been tapped into. His physical condition had improved, and he was much stronger. He'd thought he was finally ready for the Premier League.

But now, he realized he was still too young and inexperienced.

It was already the 76th minute, and the head coach still hadn't subbed him off. Clearly, he intended for De Bruyne to play the full match.

Before the game, the coach had called him into the office to talk. He had mentioned this and told him to speak up if he couldn't make it through the game. But he'd managed to hold on this long.

Even so, every time he paused, he could feel his legs trembling slightly.

That was a sign that his energy was nearly depleted.

Thanks to Pintus and those long runs after every training session, he was still able to persevere.

…

After taking a deep breath, De Bruyne saw the ball coming his way again and instantly started running. Yet his mind couldn't help but drift to the coach's instructions and the reminders given before the match.

After arriving at Manchester City, De Bruyne truly felt what a professional team was like.

Gao Shen, along with the coaching and analysis staff, had focused specifically on his training and preseason performances. They thoroughly analyzed his technical traits and gave him very targeted advice.

He had good ball control and dribbling, and was skilled at getting out of tight situations. But his greatest strength was his diagonal passing.

Gao Shen had told him, "I see the shadow of Beckham in you."

That compliment had flattered De Bruyne.

Beckham was a global superstar, once a top-three contender for the Ballon d'Or.

Even more importantly, Gao Shen had been Beckham's head coach. A compliment from Gao Shen carried serious weight.

Throughout the preseason, Gao Shen and the staff helped De Bruyne analyze his strengths and unique qualities.

As modern football tactics became more compact, diagonal passes were becoming rarer.

There were more direct passes and horizontal combinations.

But diagonal passes had a distinct advantage. They were less predictable and much more dangerous.

Gao Shen even placed the diagonal pass on the same level as the inverted triangle pass.

That was saying a lot. The inverted triangle pass had long been considered one of the most lethal, especially when the receiving player was facing the goal—those situations were extremely hard to defend.

Robben had trained his diagonal passes relentlessly. After cutting in from the right, his favored move, he would use his left foot to send a diagonal ball toward the back post. It was deadly.

Gao Shen used tons of examples, videos, and even hand-drawn illustrations to explain the mechanics and benefits of diagonal passing to De Bruyne.

In the Belgian league, De Bruyne's passing had already been a key asset for his team. But people only knew he was a good passer. No one had ever explained exactly why he was good, or what made his passes effective.

And no one had ever shown him how his skill set could translate to one of the top four leagues.

At Manchester City, for the first time, someone had shown him how to exploit defensive blind spots with diagonal passes. How to deliver assists that made it easier for teammates to finish. And how to select the right type of pass in complex, high-pressure situations.

It was a systematic education that had opened a whole new door for him.

He now had a much clearer understanding of both his strengths and weaknesses. And he knew that if he wanted to secure a place at Manchester City, in the Premier League, and at the top level of world football, he needed a signature weapon.

And what Gao Shen had taught him—that was his trump card.

In addition, Gao Shen emphasized the need to strengthen his fitness and physical condition.

"A passer has to run," he said. "Otherwise, you'll get locked down, just like Beckham used to."

After just one short preseason, De Bruyne had been completely convinced by Gao Shen.

He finally understood why Hazard had progressed so rapidly under him in just one season.

He finally understood how Gao Shen had developed so many stars.

…

Manchester City launched a fast counterattack after winning the ball in midfield.

Hazard dribbled down the left and passed to David Silva.

Before receiving the ball, the Spanish midfielder glanced up, then without stopping it, used his left foot to play the ball to Van Persie, who had dropped back. He then turned, bypassed Ramires, and moved laterally, raising his hand to call for the return pass.

"Here!"

Van Persie understood and played the ball into Silva's path, allowing him to avoid Ramires. As he received the ball, Silva looked to push forward, but Essien was already on him, forcing him to stop and turn to shield the ball.

One more step and Essien would've gone in for the challenge.

David Silva turned in a tight circle to shake off Essien, looked to his right, and saw De Bruyne waving for the ball in open space. He immediately passed it with his left foot.

The Belgian was out of breath, but he was still moving.

With his back to the right touchline, he had a wide view of the entire penalty area.

Gao Shen had told him: a great and intelligent passer must always stay alert.

You need to see both the big picture and the details. You must be aware of everyone's movements and constantly predict their intentions in your mind.

Just like now.

With a single glance, De Bruyne could see the entire penalty area clearly. At the same time, his mind was running through all the possible options and passing routes.

He could pass it back to Lichtsteiner, but that would waste a good attacking chance.

David Silva was in position, but Essien was tight on him and it wouldn't work.

Van Persie?

No. He had just dropped back outside the box. He wouldn't be able to return in time. The ball would likely be intercepted by Alex and Terry.

The best option was the left side. That part of the penalty area was a bit open. Hazard was about to cut in, and Ivanovic was too close to the center backs. The outside was wide open. If he passed it there, Hazard could receive it and be in a one-on-one.

If Hazard could beat Ivanovic and square the ball across goal, Van Persie would be right there for the finish.

All this info poured into De Bruyne's mind in an instant, forming a clear goal-scoring route.

He trapped Silva's pass with his right foot and let it roll forward, quickly catching up to it. Before Ashley Cole could close him down, he used his right foot to curl a diagonal pass.

The ball arced from the right side toward the left edge of the penalty area.

Hazard sprinted up and controlled the ball with his chest as Ivanovic closed in.

But Hazard didn't wait for him to set his feet. He feinted inside, throwing Ivanovic off, then quickly poked the ball to the byline, sprinted after it, and whipped in a low cross with his left foot in front of the six-yard box.

The Belgian winger could use both feet like a natural!

Ivanovic was left chasing shadows. Terry, trailing behind, was also caught off guard and instinctively yelled, "Danger!"

Behind him, Van Persie charged in and got ahead of Alex, sliding in and driving the low cross into Chelsea's net.

Cech dove to save it, but there was no way he could stop a shot from that close.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Seventy-seventh minute, Van Persie! It's Van Persie again!"

"Manchester City's attack was full of imagination, and Van Persie's finish was perfectly timed, ending Chelsea's unbeaten run this season!"

Van Persie ran straight toward Hazard in celebration, sprinting to the sideline to celebrate with the Belgian.

Behind him, Manchester City players chased after him one by one.

2–0. With only ten minutes left, Manchester City had essentially sealed the win.

Especially considering how few threats Chelsea had created all game.

"Let's take another look at this goal. David Silva—once again, the heartbeat of Manchester City's midfield. That one-two with Van Persie outside the box was beautiful."

"After Mikel went off, Manchester City found more space near Chelsea's penalty area. This looks like a deliberate tactical move. Watch Silva's escape—what footwork!"

"You rarely see such delicate touches and dribbling in the Premier League these days. Then he plays it to De Bruyne."

"Now watch De Bruyne's pass. My God, that was genius. A long diagonal ball that was completely unexpected, and absolutely brilliant. He had such great vision and Hazard received it perfectly."

"Hazard then destroyed Ivanovic one-on-one."

"This goal really showcases the individual brilliance and creativity of Manchester City's young players."

"You can see Gao Shen celebrating wildly on the touchline. He's clearly very happy with this goal."

"Of course. We all know Gao Shen has always favored attacking football. He loves technically gifted players. And now, Manchester City clearly reflects his philosophy. Even against Chelsea, they played beautifully."

"Chelsea, on the other hand, looked completely outclassed tonight."

"Tactically, even Ancelotti came up short."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 673: 80 Million Euros Without Discount

"Can I ask you a question?"

After the match, Gao Shen walked over to the visiting team's bench to shake hands with Ancelotti and his assistants. The Italian coach, who had stood side by side with Gao Shen throughout the match, frowned as he spoke.

Gao Shen shook his head solemnly. "No."

Ancelotti nearly lost it right there on the spot.

Damn it, I was just being polite, and you're already refusing?

Whether you let me or not, I'm going to ask!

"Where did you find all these weird players?" Ancelotti asked curiously.

Weird?

Gao Shen's expression darkened. "Are you sure that's the right word?"

"You really want to know?"

Seeing Gao Shen's reaction, Ancelotti thought he might actually get an answer, so he nodded quickly.

This was one of the biggest secrets in world football.

The media and fans were all desperate to understand it.

It was part of what gave Gao Shen such a mysterious aura.

Ancelotti really wanted to know.

If it was truly something magical, then maybe he could start scouting players better suited to his system and build his own dream team.

But Gao Shen immediately poured a bucket of cold water over his head.

"I'm not telling you!" he said smugly.

Ancelotti looked like he was about to break down and nearly lunged forward to tear this guy apart with his bare hands.

Damn it, why bother teasing me if you're not going to say anything?

I should've known—this guy's just as unreliable as he is at cards!

Gao Shen looked at Ancelotti cheerfully. He thought the pudgy Italian was the perfect punching bag. So much fun to mess with.

"What did you think of De Bruyne?" Gao Shen asked.

"Average," Ancelotti replied flatly, though the tone of his voice betrayed his true feelings.

"Really? I thought he was just average too. How about I sell him to you? Interested?" Gao Shen asked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ancelotti was stunned. His eyes lit up with surprise. "Seriously? You're selling that kid?"

"Interested or not? Otherwise, I'll offer him to someone else," Gao Shen said with a straight face.

"Why?" Ancelotti started to feel suspicious.

This guy was full of tricks. You could never trust him completely.

"You can see it yourself, I've got so many talented midfielders that I can't use them all. Rather than keeping him on the bench and holding back his development, I'd rather let him go. I've been training him for months, and he still hasn't managed to stand on his own."

Ancelotti found that a little more convincing. He was starting to waver.

Judging by his performance today, De Bruyne did have some shortcomings. For example, his physical condition still needed work. But for his age, he was already quite good.

His passes today were very impressive. That kind of vision and execution left a strong impression.

With more time and better fitness, this kid could definitely become something special.

"How much do you want for him?" Ancelotti asked.

Given De Bruyne's current value, Ancelotti didn't even need to report to the higher-ups. He could make the call himself.

At worst, Chelsea's board would buy him just because he was handpicked by Gao Shen. They'd focus on developing him.

Gao Shen thought about it, hesitated for a moment, then gave his answer.

"Tell you what, since we're old friends, I'll give you a friendly price."

Ancelotti nodded happily. That's more like the Gao Shen I know, generous and righteous!

"Eighty million euros!"

Ancelotti's smile froze instantly. He nearly collapsed on the spot.

What the hell?!

"Eighty million euros?"

"Very cheap," Gao Shen nodded, looking like it pained him to say it.

"Are you out of your mind? Is he really worth 80 million euros?" Ancelotti was completely dumbfounded.

"Don't argue about the price. No discounts!" Gao Shen insisted.

Ancelotti pointed at Gao Shen, completely speechless.

At last, he realized this guy was just messing with him the whole time.

"Believe it or not, in two or three years, you won't even be able to buy him at this price," Gao Shen said confidently.

Ancelotti wanted to shout, I don't believe you!

Even if it's true, that would be in two or three years. And now you want to sell him at that price?

Ancelotti pointed at Gao Shen, wanting to curse him out, but couldn't get the words out. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and say, "I've never seen someone as shameless as you! I don't know you!"

He turned and left angrily.

Gao Shen waved goodbye happily.

"When you've got time, invite me to play cards!" Gao Shen shouted after him.

Ancelotti was cursing him silently.

Play cards with you?

Like hell!

If I ever invite you again, may I… may I…

Forget it. I'm never inviting you again when there are people around!

Hmph!

…

Manchester City defeated Chelsea 2–0 at home, with Robin van Persie scoring a brace, securing a six-game winning streak.

This was the first match of the Premier League's sixth round, and it sent shockwaves through British football.

"Manchester City is the team most likely to win the title," Ancelotti said in the post-match press conference.

The Italian admitted that Chelsea failed to execute their game plan because Manchester City applied relentless pressure in midfield, which prevented Chelsea from playing to their strengths.

Ancelotti didn't hide his disappointment. "We gave our opponents too many counterattacking chances."

"We should thank our defenders and Cech for their outstanding performance in diffusing many threats, but unfortunately, we still conceded two goals."

Many media outlets noted that Ancelotti's post-match comments revealed both his frustration and his recognition of Manchester City's strength.

It was worth noting that Gao Shen had not even used his strongest lineup for this match.

After the game, Sky Sports released player ratings. Manchester City's center-back and captain Kompany received the highest rating of nine, and was named Man of the Match.

Interestingly, Chelsea's striker Drogba received the lowest rating of five, with the comment: "A disappointing performance, which led to his substitution in the second half."

Kompany's review read: "Rock-solid performance, barely missed a tackle, flawless in marking Drogba, completely neutralized the Ivorian striker."

This was one of the rare occasions in recent years where a central defender had successfully locked down Drogba!

In the post-match press conference, Gao Shen also praised four players by name, with Kompany among them.

Van Persie, who scored two goals, was also mentioned. Gao Shen said that since joining Manchester City, the Dutch striker had performed consistently well and was a reliable center forward.

Yaya Touré was also praised for his solid link-up play in midfield.

The 4-3-2-1 formation often risks being disjointed, but Yaya Touré's presence helped maintain cohesion and flow.

The fourth player was De Bruyne.

Gao Shen gave a very high evaluation of the young Belgian, saying he could play a much bigger role in the Manchester City setup. He also encouraged De Bruyne to keep improving and perform even better.

"I think he's just getting started. He's far from his peak. But I believe he'll eventually take over the whole pitch and become the best midfielder in European and world football."

A reporter then asked about David Silva.

"David?" Gao Shen chuckled. "He's already the best midfielder in the world. Just like Rakitic."

This was undoubtedly high praise.

…

Manchester City's 2–0 win over Chelsea took place at noon. Shortly afterward, at 3 p.m., Arsenal kicked off their home game against West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium.

To everyone's surprise, even though West Brom missed a penalty in the first half, they went on to score three goals in the second half, tearing through Arsenal's defense like paper.

Although Nasri scored twice in quick succession to close the gap, Arsenal still failed to equalize.

The upset shocked everyone.

West Bromwich Albion was a newly promoted side. Even though they were ranked tenth in the table, no one had expected them to beat Arsenal at the Emirates.

But this match clearly showed that Wenger's side had declined significantly this season. Especially after Van Persie and Adebayor's departures, the team's overall strength had taken a big hit.

On one hand, they suffered an upset defeat to a bottom-tier team. On the other, Van Persie was on fire at Manchester City, scoring goal after goal. The contrast couldn't have been sharper.

If there were people who had doubted Arsenal's transfer strategy or questioned the decision to let Van Persie go, he was now proving his worth with every goal. At the same time, he was showing everyone how undervalued he had been at Arsenal.

Gao Shen had managed to pull him out of the mire and make him shine. Once again, this highlighted Gao Shen's incredible eye for talent and earned him universal praise from both media and fans.

Due to international fixtures, European competition, and the League Cup, this round had turned into a kind of Waterloo for teams playing on multiple fronts.

Liverpool drew 2–2 at home against Sunderland. Tottenham lost 0–1 away to West Ham.

Manchester United drew 2–2 away at Bolton.

Apart from Manchester City, none of the top teams won. They either drew or lost.

The British media interpreted this as a symptom of the strain from fighting on multiple fronts.

So why wasn't Manchester City affected?

A key reason was that Manchester City had deliberately fielded young players in the League Cup, allowing Gao Shen's main squad to stay fresh for the match against Chelsea and the upcoming Champions League group match on Wednesday.

"Clearly, in Gao Shen's season plan, the Premier League and Champions League are Manchester City's main objectives. Domestic cup competitions aren't a major focus. He might even treat them as platforms to develop young players."

Now, with six straight wins, a victory over Chelsea, and a three-point lead at the top of the table, Gao Shen's strategy appeared to be paying off. After all, the League Cup was practically useless.

Given the choice between a meaningless domestic cup and leading the league, everyone would undoubtedly choose the latter.

(To be continued.)