🎉🎉SWR: Chapter 667/671

Chapter 667: Perfect Score
Real Madrid has stabilized.

But the match was already lost.

Sitting in the stands, Zidane and Valdano both wore bitter smiles and solemn expressions.

As professional footballers, they understood better than anyone the issues this match had exposed.

After Mourinho substituted Pepe, and after withstanding Manchester City's fierce early assault, Real Madrid gradually gained a foothold. But by then, the score was already five-nil.

Afterward, Manchester City settled down, played with more patience, and waited for Real Madrid to take the initiative.

However, Mourinho's side had lost their sharp edge after switching to a three-defensive-midfielder setup. While they did create some threats, they mostly came from individual efforts, and it was difficult to convert them into shots or goals.

Barring any surprises, the game was essentially set to end at 5-0.

"The gap in strength between us and Manchester City isn't as big as the score suggests," Zidane said with a helpless shake of his head.

Valdano nodded but then replied, "But the gap between our midfield and theirs is far wider than the score shows."

Zidane was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile and nodded in agreement.

In terms of overall strength, Manchester City shouldn't have a five-goal lead over Real Madrid, especially in attack.

But as Valdano pointed out, Real Madrid was thoroughly dominated in midfield. In that area alone, they were trailing by more than five goals—especially in the first half. Had Manchester City been more clinical, Real Madrid might have suffered a humiliating defeat.

Just like what happened to Manchester United last season.

Real Madrid's midfield problems are multifaceted. Apart from Xabi Alonso, neither Özil nor Khedira could compare to Manchester City's midfielders.

That's just in terms of individual ability.

As a unit, Manchester City's midfield trio produced a synergy where one plus one plus one equaled more than four, even more than five. Meanwhile, Real Madrid's trio failed to even equal three, perhaps not even two.

The gap was clear.

Now, both Zidane and Valdano fully understood that Gao Shen had been right all along. Mourinho knew it too, which is why he replaced Özil with a trio of defensive midfielders at halftime.

That substitution said more than anything else.

"Now, the most important thing is stability," Zidane said with a sigh.

What he feared most was Florentino making a rash decision to change coaches out of frustration. That would be the worst possible mistake.

Given Real Madrid's current situation, stability was crucial. Otherwise, this season would be a total write-off.

Valdano also sighed. "Don't worry. I'll explain the pros and cons to Florentino when I get back. You should also speak up for Mourinho. We were outplayed, plain and simple."

Zidane smiled bitterly. But being "outplayed" was exactly what Real Madrid found hardest to admit.

They spent so much money and brought in so many stars, yet they were still technically inferior. If people heard that, wouldn't they just laugh?

But sometimes, that's exactly how it is.

"Gao Shen said before the game that we're a team best at counterattacking. Turns out, he was right again." Valdano sighed and gave a bitter smile.

If Real Madrid had pushed forward, their weaknesses would've been exposed completely.

Especially their lack of control in midfield.

"Sometimes I really think—no one in the world understands Real Madrid better than Gao Shen."

"Exactly," Zidane nodded. He was one of the people who knew Gao Shen best. "But it's too late now."

Valdano looked helpless. He had no idea what Florentino would do after this loss, or whether he would change his stance.

Right now, if there's anyone in world football who could go head-to-head with Guardiola's Barcelona, it had to be Gao Shen.

But everything Gao Shen had at Manchester City—his authority, trust from the board, his contract terms—none of it could be matched by Real Madrid. So how could they bring him back?

"We suffered a crushing defeat in this match," Zidane said through clenched teeth. "But we did learn something. At the very least, it showed us clearly that there's still a big gap between us and the top teams. We can't afford to be careless in our next match against Barcelona."

"What worries me most is the Champions League," Valdano said with concern.

Zidane was momentarily stunned, but then he understood and his expression turned grim.

Inter Milan wouldn't be easy to deal with, especially with a star like Ibrahimović in their squad.

Given the issues Real Madrid had shown against Manchester City, their prospects in the group stage were deeply concerning.

…

Mourinho sat quietly in the away dugout, watching the game unfold.

He reached up to stroke his chin and suddenly realized that his beard was getting prickly.

What a cursed night.

Nothing had gone right.

The team had lost—and lost badly.

As head coach, he had to take responsibility for both tactics and execution.

He had no intention of avoiding that. That's why he subbed off Özil at halftime.

This German attacking midfielder was someone he had mixed feelings about.

On the one hand, his passing was superb. On the other, the way he played in the first half—despite Mourinho's repeated warnings—was infuriating.

As a world-class manager, Mourinho was well aware of his strengths.

When his team lost the ball, his system could ensure defensive stability. When they regained it, they could launch an attack in the shortest possible time.

In more professional terms, it was about defensive structure and rapid transitions.

Put simply: defend solidly, and hit quickly on the counter.

So when Gao Shen said before the match that Real Madrid excelled at counterattacking, he was right.

Mourinho knew this. Although he came up through Barcelona and studied under Van Gaal, one thing he never mastered was ball control.

But that had never mattered to him.

He preferred to use space to stifle the opponent's possession.

Tonight, however, Real Madrid's midfield completely failed to control space—especially Özil. In contrast, Manchester City used the space to its fullest, all while dominating possession and dictating tempo.

Mourinho knew he had messed up.

"Losing to a 30-year-old kid... it's so damn pathetic!" Mourinho let out a heavy sigh, raised his head, closed his eyes, and muttered in frustration.

The stadium was loud, and no one outside the coaching area could hear what he said.

Faria, Karanka, and the others were stunned.

They never expected Mourinho—the always defiant one—to admit defeat.

…

The referee finally blew the final whistle.

Gao Shen raised his fists high on the touchline.

Behind him, Manchester City's substitutes flooded the pitch.

The entire Etihad Stadium erupted. Over 50,000 fans rose to their feet, showering the team with cheers and applause, showing their appreciation for the performance.

Gao Shen pumped his fists repeatedly until his assistants ran up to hug him. Then he turned around, embraced his staff, and one by one high-fived and hugged the players coming off the field.

They had only beaten Real Madrid, but the celebrations felt like they had won the league.

Everyone knew—Real Madrid was no ordinary opponent in European football.

Once the celebrations had quieted down, Gao Shen stood on the sideline with his hands on his hips, standing tall and proud.

In truth, he felt a huge sense of relief.

Before the match, he had been confident of winning—but he hadn't expected such a big margin.

By halftime, though, he was sure.

Up 5-0, he could have kept pressing and possibly scored another. But that would also open the door for a Real Madrid counter.

So he played it safe.

In his view, 5-0 was perfect, better than 6-1 or 7-2.

He never cared about racking up goals.

As a typical Virgo, he preferred a clean, perfect scoreline like 5-0.

"Congratulations!"

Mourinho's voice came from nearby.

Gao Shen turned and saw Mourinho walking toward him. He smiled immediately, reached out, and shook his hand.

"Thanks, José."

"You played at a very high level tonight. We played terribly, especially in the first half."

"Yeah, but you did better in the second."

By that, he meant the team focused more on defending.

In fact, if Mourinho had gone with three defensive midfielders from the start, the match would have looked ugly, but the score wouldn't have been this bad. The margin would have been just one goal. Maybe two if things had gone well.

But he conceded three in the first half.

"Actually, we were caught between attack and defense the whole match, and we lacked control," Mourinho observed accurately.

Gao Shen nodded. "You're good at using space—especially with Ronaldo and Di María. If you give them space, they can kill you. That's why we focused on shutting that down."

Tonight, Manchester City's full-backs were more conservative in attack.

As Mourinho said, Manchester City's strength was in midfield control, and from there, they repeatedly broke through Real Madrid's defense.

"A heavy loss, but not humiliating," Gao Shen said with a smile.

Mourinho nodded. "It's a lesson. It showed us how badly we did in certain areas. We still have a lot of work to do—five more group games in the Champions League, and Barcelona in the league."

In terms of control, Barcelona were even stronger than Manchester City. Their attack was just as sharp.

Visiting the Camp Nou would be a massive challenge.

After this game, Mourinho had seen things clearly. He could abandon any illusions and focus entirely on defensive counterattacks.

He believed that neither the board nor the fans would object anymore. In a way, this loss might be a blessing in disguise.

But if he had a choice, Mourinho would rather skip the blessing than suffer such a heavy defeat.

"The group stage is just getting started. We're not out of it yet—and you still have to come to the Bernabéu," Mourinho said, regaining some fighting spirit.

Gao Shen held back a smile and just laughed.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 668: Football Diplomacy and the Dream of Winning the Championship

"Great performance, Gao!"

After the match, Mubarak, Gary Cook, and Manchester City's senior executives all came to the dressing room.

As club chairman, Mubarak was thrilled and encouraged by Manchester City's first-ever Champions League match—a 5-0 home win over Real Madrid. It was a result no one could have imagined before the game.

It could be said that Gao Shen always delivered surprises.

"Mr. Mansour called you just now, didn't he?" Mubarak was in an excellent mood and kept laughing.

Gao Shen nodded. "Yes, he was very satisfied with the team's performance and asked me to pass on his praise and congratulations to the players."

Gary Cook and the others were visibly surprised when they heard this.

As senior club executives, in theory, their status was more stable than Gao Shen's. The head coach's position was high-risk. If performance declined, Gao Shen would be the first to go.

The executives had greater job security and were less exposed to direct blame.

But among all of them, who else could receive personal calls from Mansour like Gao Shen?

And not just once, but again and again.

Even this past summer, Mansour had invited Gao Shen to visit the UAE again.

It could be said that Mansour had shown enough sincerity and invested heavily in Gao Shen.

People within Manchester City had even started to wonder: if the team underperformed, would they even be able to sack Gao Shen?

But if they made a wrong decision and ended up firing themselves instead, that would be a massive joke.

"After he called you, he called me as well and told me to come to the dressing room no matter what," Mubarak emphasized again to show how important Mansour considered this moment. "He's really overjoyed tonight."

Gao Shen was also quite satisfied.

Even though he made a living through his capabilities and had no intention of flattering his superiors, Mansour was, after all, the leader of a country.

…

When Gao Shen entered the press conference hall at the Etihad, the media gave him a standing ovation.

Manchester City had just played their first-ever Champions League match and defeated one of the most storied clubs in the competition, Real Madrid, 5-0 at home.

Was there any headline more sensational?

Gao Shen smiled and waved to everyone, expressing his gratitude for their applause and recognition.

After sitting down, Gao Shen opened up and answered questions from the media with patience.

He said he was very satisfied with the match but hoped everyone wouldn't focus solely on the score.

"I think what satisfied me the most was the way our team won."

Gao Shen believed that over the past year, Manchester City had gradually developed and reinforced its own tactical identity.

"Our style and characteristics are unique in the Premier League. Even Arsenal, once hailed as the most beautiful team, can't compare with us in this aspect. I think that's the most important thing."

"I hope to help the team establish a mature and stable tactical system here at Manchester City so that we can remain competitive over the long term."

However, Gao Shen also emphasized that Manchester City was still far from reaching its peak.

"We are not yet the best team in the world, which means we still have great potential. Everything we're doing now is part of our journey to becoming the best."

"I hope my team can play with more control and attacking power, because we really have a group of very, very good players. Every victory belongs to them, to the coaching staff, to the chairman, to the management, and to everyone in this team. They are the true heroes!"

Gao Shen's words once again earned him warm applause.

Everyone familiar with him knew that he never claimed credit for victories. Wins were always attributed to the players and staff, while losses were his own responsibility.

That's why everyone who had played under Gao Shen, even players like Gervinho who only spent a season with him, had great respect for him and praised him highly.

People also knew about Gao Shen's close ties with Real Madrid. Before joining Manchester City, he was always considered the most likely candidate to become Real Madrid's head coach. This made the match especially symbolic.

But Gao Shen dismissed such claims.

"It was just a football match, nothing more. It was the first round of the Champions League group stage. It was worth three points, and that's it. There's no deeper meaning to it."

Gao Shen also defended Real Madrid and Mourinho.

"I don't think the score reflects the real gap between the teams. It was full of random variables."

"To be honest, we never expected such a result before the match. Real Madrid is a very strong team. They have some of the best superstars in the world and an incredibly powerful attack."

"I think it would be premature to conclude that Real Madrid is weak or underperforming based on just this game."

Gao Shen said the match was over and should be put behind them.

"There's a saying: 'Humility brings benefits, arrogance leads to loss.' That means we must always stay humble, understand where we stand, and keep looking for our weaknesses. I hope my players do the same."

Gao Shen stated that, starting from the end of the match, he and Manchester City would no longer talk about Real Madrid.

It was a smart move.

Not only Gao Shen, but the club's PR and marketing departments agreed with the decision.

The match was won, and the benefits were reaped. Continuing to attack now would only appear petty.

Gao Shen generously praised his players, especially Robinho, who had been named Man of the Match.

He spoke very highly of Robinho's performance and his overall form since joining Manchester City.

"I hope he can keep playing like he did tonight. I believe he'll become an incredible player!"

Gao Shen also praised Robben, calling him Manchester City's most dangerous player.

In fact, in Gao Shen's view, Robben had been even more threatening and impactful than Robinho.

The right flank was the core of Manchester City's attacking build-up, and several key plays had started there.

But Robinho's two goals stood out, and he had an excellent game overall. So it was natural for him to be named Man of the Match.

…

After the press conference, Gao Shen led the entire Manchester City squad back to the Carrington training base, where they held a private celebration.

This game had extraordinary meaning for the club.

Gao Shen told the players that this victory was primarily about boosting confidence and morale.

"I believe that if we can maintain the form we showed in this game, we'll achieve great results in both the league and the Champions League—and we can even win the title!"

When Gao Shen mentioned the championship, everyone at Manchester City lit up.

What an unreachable dream that had always seemed.

Not just for them. For most professional players, winning the Premier League or the Champions League was a distant dream. But now, Gao Shen had shown them the possibility of winning the Champions League.

On the other side, Mourinho, Zidane, and Valdano returned to Madrid with the Real Madrid squad overnight, clearly disheartened and frustrated by the crushing defeat.

Reports said Mourinho admitted to his tactical mistakes in the dressing room and was willing to take full responsibility.

That much was already obvious.

Regardless of the reason, the biggest issue in this match had been the midfield. Mourinho's decision not to use three defensive midfielders was a major mistake.

When Real Madrid landed in Madrid, many Spanish reporters were waiting at the airport, hoping to interview Mourinho and the players. But all of them declined and boarded the bus back to Valdebebas.

After landing, Zidane and Valdano received a call from Florentino. Once the team dispersed, the two headed directly from Valdebebas to the Santiago Bernabéu.

(To be continued.)

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Chapter 669: Wealthy

The 0-5 defeat to Manchester City away from home left Real Madrid's guests departing the Bernabéu in disappointment.

None of them were satisfied with the process or the result of the match.

Even at the stadium, some voices called for Mourinho to be dismissed and for Gao Shen to be brought back. This proposal received considerable support and response.

Gao Shen's name held extraordinary influence not just among ordinary Real Madrid fans, but also among VIP supporters and prominent figures. Many of them were even fans of his personally.

Di Stéfano even claimed that only Gao Shen could save Real Madrid.

As president, Florentino didn't appreciate such remarks. He had always believed that if Real Madrid needed a savior, it could only be himself, not Gao Shen.

He aspired to be a legendary Real Madrid president like Santiago Bernabéu and Ramón Mendoza.

When had Bernabéu or Mendoza ever been considered inferior to a head coach?

That was not Real Madrid's tradition.

But it was also a fact that Real Madrid had suffered a humiliating defeat.

So what should be done?

That became the problem Florentino now faced.

…

When Zidane and Valdano arrived at the Bernabéu, Florentino, Redondo, Butragueño, Pardeza, and others were already gathered in the president's office, discussing the match that had just ended.

As soon as the two sat down, they immediately began sharing what they had seen and heard in Manchester. They also analyzed the flow of the match. Having watched it live in person, their perspective was clearer and more comprehensive than what could be seen on television.

"In fact, the live broadcast didn't fully reflect Manchester City's dominance. Watching in person, it was even more obvious. We created very few real chances and were completely passive throughout," Zidane said, clearly disappointed by Real Madrid's poor performance.

"If we look at one of the most intuitive stats—distance covered—I haven't received the exact data yet, but it's clear that Manchester City's players ran an astonishing amount. At least ten kilometers more. We were far behind."

"Distance covered isn't shown in the broadcast, so people won't notice it. But watching live, it's clear Manchester City were able to complete so many passes and maintain a high pass success rate because they ran. And they ran really well."

Valdano agreed completely with Zidane's analysis.

They had already discussed the match during their flight back to Madrid.

"Since he started coaching Real Madrid, Gao Shen has always emphasized fitness and off-the-ball movement. That was even more the case after he arrived in Naples. He has two world-renowned fitness coaches, Buenaventura and Pintus. The teams Gao Shen coaches are famous for their running ability."

Valdano believed Manchester City's running ability was far superior to Real Madrid's.

The biggest problem in the first half had been Özil, who was virtually invisible.

Along with Ronaldo and Adebayor, four of the attacking players in the final third—except Di María, who tracked back actively—the rest barely participated defensively, leaving Real Madrid with at least one fewer player running than the opponent.

That was the equivalent of playing with a red card.

"This reflects a fundamental difference in team-building philosophy," Valdano said helplessly.

It was simply unrealistic to expect Mourinho to play like Gao Shen. That would be asking the impossible.

Not only would the proud Mourinho never accept it, but even if he did, he wouldn't be able to implement it.

Because it wasn't his style at all.

"Is it possible…" Florentino hesitated and looked at Zidane and Valdano, "I mean, hypothetically, is there a chance we could bring Gao Shen back?"

Both Zidane and Valdano were stunned. They looked at each other and saw the concern in each other's eyes.

They had anticipated this.

"Impossible!" they both said in unison.

This surprised Florentino and the others.

"Why not?"

Valdano and Zidane exchanged a look, and the Frenchman took the lead in answering.

"I know Gao Shen very well. Right now, he is fully focused on winning the Champions League for the third time. We all know how much this means to him. I believe he joined Manchester City with that goal in mind."

"Now, after polishing this team for a year, I think he's ready to chase results. No one can convince him to leave Manchester City now. I don't think he would accept our invitation."

Florentino fell silent. He felt Zidane was right.

Which made him even more frustrated.

Because he had had the chance to hire Gao Shen this past summer, but he didn't.

Now it was too late to regret it.

"I've also heard that not only is Gao Shen receiving the highest salary in world football at Manchester City, but more importantly, he also has generous bonuses. He is both the technical director and head coach. A true football manager. If he wins the Champions League this season, he'll earn a 10 million euro bonus."

"Ten million?"

"Yes, after tax."

Everyone in the room gasped.

How wealthy did a club have to be to offer that?

"Just for the Champions League?" Butragueño asked.

Valdano nodded. "Winning the Premier League also brings a huge bonus. There are others as well."

At that point, Valdano sighed helplessly. "Honestly, it's hard to lure Gao Shen back just with financial incentives."

Everyone turned to look at Florentino, whose face had grown grim.

Now, everything Real Madrid could offer, Manchester City could offer as well. But what Manchester City could offer, Real Madrid might not be able to.

The only remaining advantage was Real Madrid's platform, history, and personal connections.

Florentino was filled with regret.

He had once ignored Gao Shen, and now the man was beyond his reach.

That was exactly how Florentino felt in this moment.

But there was no medicine for regret in this world.

…

Gao Shen slapped Real Madrid hard.

This was the headline published by Spanish newspaper Marca after the battle at the Etihad.

The article was written by veteran journalist José Ánaut, who praised Manchester City's refined squad and performance. He described the match as an elegant display by City, dancing past a hapless Real Madrid.

"Manchester City fans enjoyed a fantastic game, while Real Madrid never even threatened City's goal."

"Gao Shen dismantled the Galácticos with his own hands, and Real Madrid suffered a complete collapse."

Ánaut said he had personally witnessed many legendary teams, such as Sacchi's AC Milan, the Five Eagles era of Real Madrid, Cruyff's Dream Team, and the Galácticos led by stars like Zidane, Figo, and Ronaldo.

"But Gao Shen has always been different."

Ánaut noted that Gao Shen's legendary journey began when he led the Galácticos to a league and cup double. His grassroots rise with Napoli captured everyone's attention, and now at Manchester City, he had showcased a form of money-powered football that stunned the world.

"Under Manchester City's overwhelming high press, Real Madrid completely lost their bearings."

"Mourinho's team couldn't keep up with City's tempo and could only defend passively. But Manchester City's surgical passing repeatedly exposed gaps in Real Madrid's backline and posed a constant threat to Casillas' goal."

Alfredo, editor-in-chief of AS, Real Madrid's unofficial mouthpiece, also wrote an article after the match, declaring that Gao Shen had utterly humiliated Real Madrid.

Alfredo argued that in the past two summers, Real Madrid had spent over 400 million euros bringing in superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Di María. On paper, their strength looked impressive. But when facing a strong team, the truth was clear.

"At the Etihad, Manchester City only scored five. That was Real Madrid's luck. In reality, the Blue Moon could have scored more. Gao Shen simply showed mercy."

Alfredo urged Real Madrid to take serious lessons from the loss.

"In a team, the head coach is like a chef, and the players are his ingredients."

"The same ingredients, when handled by different chefs, can produce vastly different results."

"It's clear that Gao Shen has once again demonstrated his elite 'cooking' ability. He is the chef Real Madrid needs most, the one who best fits the club's requirements."

Alfredo openly called for Real Madrid to bring Gao Shen back.

Compared to the disappointment and helplessness shown by Madrid-based media, Gazzetta dello Sport seemed more amused.

As an Italian outlet, Gazzetta dello Sport said that the powerful Manchester City stunned Real Madrid at home, throwing the group of death into chaos and creating an eerie atmosphere.

"Who would have thought that Real Madrid, one of the favorites for the title, would lose 0-5 in their opening match?"

The paper suggested that Manchester City's win had handed Inter Milan a big opportunity, since their primary group rival had suffered such a blow. Now Inter could push for first place.

"Based on the current situation, Real Madrid may not be able to beat Manchester City and could finish third in the group."

As for Schalke 04, Gazzetta dello Sport didn't take them seriously and expected Inter to easily beat the Bundesliga side at home.

But no one expected what happened next: just one day later, Inter Milan were held to a 0-0 draw by Schalke at home.

And it wasn't a hard-fought draw.

Throughout the game, Schalke 04 played better than Inter. Led by Raúl and Huntelaar, Schalke came close to scoring multiple times.

In the end, Schalke 04 had every reason to feel disappointed, as they came away with only a draw.

Media and fans across Europe and beyond were stunned by the results.

Real Madrid lost 0-5 to Manchester City away. Inter drew 0-0 at home against Schalke 04.

Oh my god, is this group of death really this deadly?

Are we witnessing an upset from the very first round?

Why does it look like Real Madrid and Inter Milan are both in serious trouble in the group stage?

(To be continued.)

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Chapter 670: Mark Drogba

September 19th afternoon.

Three days after the first round of the Champions League group stage, Manchester City faced Wigan Athletic away in the fifth round of the Premier League.

Gao Shen made a major rotation. Except for the two central defenders and the goalkeeper, the remaining eight outfield players were all changed.

Although Wigan Athletic were playing at home, they still adopted a defensive approach.

In the 14th minute, Manchester City took the lead with a long-range strike from Van Persie outside the penalty area.

In the 44th minute, Neuer launched a long ball over Wigan's defensive line. Gareth Bale timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, brought the ball down, broke into the left side of the penalty area, and calmly slotted it home to extend Manchester City's lead.

Two-nil.

In the 70th minute of the second half, Bale won the ball high up the pitch and sent a pass into the left side of the penalty area. Van Persie cut inside and squared the ball with his left foot. Yaya Touré followed up and scored, sealing the win for Manchester City.

In the end, Manchester City defeated Wigan Athletic 3-0 away from home.

…

In the same round that saw Manchester City beat Wigan 3-0, Manchester United drew 3-3 with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

United had taken a two-goal lead, but Liverpool fought back with Gerrard scoring twice in six minutes to equalize.

Berbatov then scored again in the 84th minute to restore United's lead, but at the death, Torres latched onto a pass from Biglia and made it 3-3.

In the end, United and Liverpool shared the spoils.

Arsenal drew 1-1 away at Sunderland.

The Gunners' vulnerability exceeded outside expectations.

This was supposed to be the time of the season when Arsenal were usually at their sharpest.

On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat Wolves 3-1 at home.

The North London side had no problem bullying weaker opposition.

Chelsea played at home and thrashed Blackpool 4-0, with Malouda scoring twice.

This performance once again shocked the Premier League.

They had previously won 6-0 at home against West Brom, 6-0 away to Wigan, 2-0 at home to Stoke, and 3-1 away to West Ham. Now they had added a 4-0 home win over Blackpool.

Chelsea had taken maximum points from their opening five league games and were performing impressively.

Both Drogba and Malouda had shown strong attacking form so far this season.

In the midweek Champions League group match, Chelsea had also beaten Zilina 4-1 away.

In six matches, they had scored 25 goals and conceded just two.

Ancelotti's team had displayed immense attacking power at the start of the season, and their overall performance was very stable.

The Blues were one of only two undefeated teams remaining in the Premier League.

The other was the well-drilled Manchester City.

Interestingly, in the upcoming sixth round of the Premier League, Manchester City would face Chelsea at home.

…

In late September, Manchester City began facing their first real fixture congestion.

On the 21st, in the third round of the League Cup, they were away to West Bromwich Albion.

On the 25th, they would host Chelsea in the Premier League's sixth round.

And on the 29th, in the second round of the Champions League group stage, they would visit Schalke 04.

All three matches were crucial, especially the last two, which Gao Shen prioritized highly.

More frustratingly, Manchester City's luck in the cup draw was terrible.

While other clubs drew lower-league opposition in the League Cup, City were the only Premier League side drawn against another top-flight team—and had to play away.

After careful consideration, Gao Shen and the coaching staff opted to rotate heavily.

He selected Jérôme Boateng to start, giving both starting center backs a rest.

David Luiz and Kompany had already played two full matches in a row.

In midfield, Gao Shen gave minutes to local players like Stephen Ireland and Adam Lallana, offering them valuable match experience.

In the first half, Manchester City performed well. In the 19th minute, Hazard created a great opportunity, assisting Giroud to open the scoring.

But in the second half, in the 55th and 57th minutes, Manchester City conceded twice in quick succession.

The first goal came from a mistake by Boateng, while the second was a direct free-kick that Given was unable to save.

Afterward, City responded with sustained pressure but couldn't find the equalizer.

In the end, they lost 2-1 away to West Brom and were eliminated from the League Cup.

It was Manchester City's first defeat of the season.

Gao Shen said he could accept the result.

At the post-match press conference, he once again took responsibility for the loss, stating that Manchester City's players actually performed well. They dominated the game in all statistical aspects and controlled the tempo.

"In fact, I value the process more than the result."

Gao Shen pointed out that Boateng made several good defensive plays and that Adam Lallana had delivered some impressive passes, though the English midfielder still needed to improve his fitness and running ability.

Not just Lallana—Gao Shen had also spoken privately to De Bruyne, telling him that to become an excellent playmaker, he had to work harder off the ball. Only through constant movement could he avoid being marked out of the game.

Gao Shen also mentioned Giroud.

Although he scored, he also missed several chances, which was a bit unfortunate.

Still, Gao Shen remained encouraging overall.

With the big clash against Chelsea approaching, City's defeat in the League Cup raised some concerns about their form. But Gao Shen remained confident.

"I don't think our League Cup defeat will affect our league performance this weekend."

Regarding the upcoming top-of-the-table clash, Gao Shen declared confidently, "Only one team will remain unbeaten after this weekend."

"That will be us—Manchester City!"

…

Confidence does not come from nowhere.

After the League Cup loss, Gao Shen immediately convened a coaching meeting upon returning to Manchester to begin preparing for the weekend league match.

At the meeting, Gao Shen expressed doubts about Chelsea's so-called explosive start to the season.

"West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham, and Blackpool—Chelsea's five league opponents so far are all bottom-half teams."

"It's obvious that Chelsea has a significant advantage in individual ability, speed, and strength against these sides. Ancelotti's tactical setup has further maximized those strengths."

Fatty An's hallmark was clear.

He tailored tactics to the personnel at his disposal.

If a team like Chelsea was handed to Ancelotti, he would ensure they played steady football with few flaws. As long as they consistently beat weaker teams, there would be no problems.

That's why Gao Shen said Chelsea's five-match winning streak was essentially meaningless.

And it wasn't just him. Most of the British media agreed.

Many were calling this weekend's clash Chelsea's first real test of the season.

What does that say?

The teams they had faced so far were simply too weak.

Even their Champions League group opponent, Zilina, wasn't convincing.

By contrast, Manchester City had proven themselves against stronger sides—Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham.

So even if City were trailing in the league table, they looked more powerful than Chelsea.

Of course, at the level of Manchester City and Chelsea, either team could win or lose. There was no room for complacency.

More importantly, it wasn't just a league match. The second Champions League group match was also approaching.

The trip to Schalke 04 would be another major battle.

Others might not know it, but those who were informed understood very well.

In his previous life, under Magath, Schalke 04 had reached the Champions League semifinals that season.

And it wasn't just luck.

In the group stage, they beat strong teams like Lyon and Benfica. In the knockouts, they eliminated sides like Valencia and Inter Milan. Inter had knocked out Bayern Munich to reach the quarterfinals.

This showed just how strong Schalke 04 were.

Many Italian outlets had criticized Inter's 0-0 draw with Schalke at home, but in that previous life, Schalke beat Inter 5-2 away in the first leg of the quarterfinals.

By comparison, a 0-0 draw didn't look so bad.

That was exactly why Gao Shen, aware of Schalke's real strength, wanted to preserve energy during the weekend match in preparation for the Champions League.

In the group of death, every match required maximum effort. A single slip-up could cost valuable points.

But resting players against a team like Chelsea was risky.

Especially after the recent loss and elimination at the hands of West Brom during a rotated match.

"Space!"

Gao Shen pinpointed Chelsea's greatest weakness.

"The biggest change in Chelsea this season is their players' improved movement and ability to create space. That's why even someone like Essien appears to be an effective passer. It's because he always has time and space on the ball."

"This is partly down to tactics, but more so because their opponents haven't been strong."

"So against Chelsea, we must not allow them any space. If they can't find space, they won't be able to pass like they usually do, and then our advantage will emerge."

Carlo, Sarri, and the others all nodded in agreement.

"What about Drogba?" Sarri asked. "If we can't contain him, Chelsea's attack will be difficult to stop."

Gao Shen nodded. Sarri's sharp eye was indeed that of a future top coach.

Drogba was the key.

The Ivorian striker had a clear physical advantage, allowing him to constantly overpower opposing center backs and fullbacks. He created space for teammates like Lampard to make runs from deep.

"Then we'll assign someone to tightly mark Drogba!"

Tightly mark Drogba?

Was that even possible?

Over the years, many Premier League sides had tried and failed.

Did Manchester City really have a player capable of shutting down Drogba?

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Shisui34 for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 671: Meat Grinder Christmas Tree

September is a rainy season in Manchester.

It had been overcast in the morning, and by noon, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Ancelotti stood atop the visiting team's technical area, watching the fine raindrops and the wet pitch, and couldn't help but curse internally, "Damn weather!"

As an Italian, he still couldn't get used to the British climate.

What made him even more uncomfortable was Manchester City's tactics for the match.

Gao Shen had actually deployed a 4-3-2-1 formation.

Yes, Ancelotti's signature tactic—the Christmas tree!

It was truly surprising. No one expected Gao Shen to adopt this style of play.

Even Ancelotti was stunned at first glance.

But once the match kicked off, he realized that the Chinese version of the Christmas tree was different from the one grown in Italy.

Manchester City lineup:

Goalkeeper: Neuer.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, David Luiz, Kompany, and Zabaleta.

Midfielders: Henderson, Fernandinho, and Yaya Touré playing deeper, with Hazard and De Bruyne pushing forward.

Forward: Robin van Persie.

In contrast, Ancelotti used a 4-3-3.

Chelsea lineup:

Goalkeeper: Cech.

Defenders: Ashley Cole, Alex, Terry, and Ivanović.

Midfielders: Ramires, Mikel, and Essien.

Forwards: Malouda, Drogba, and Anelka.

Interestingly, the two had essentially switched styles.

Ancelotti adopted the 4-3-3 formation that Gao Shen was known for, while Gao Shen used the Christmas tree that made Ancelotti famous.

This was something new.

Ancelotti knew his decision to use 4-3-3 stemmed from Lampard's absence.

But why had Gao Shen opted for a Christmas tree?

Ancelotti speculated that it was probably to conserve energy ahead of the midweek Champions League clash.

So core players like Gareth Bale, Suárez, Robben, David Silva, and Rakitić were all left out.

With Manchester City's current squad depth, Gao Shen had the confidence to do so.

But the question was: could this setup beat Chelsea?

…

In world football today, no one knows the 4-3-2-1 formation better than Ancelotti.

The formation had three main strengths. First, it covered the area in front of the penalty box and put pressure on opponents entering the final third, forcing them to attempt long-range shots.

Second, with three attacking players up front, it allowed for layered counterattacks that could exploit gaps in the opposition's defense.

Third, the attacking trio forced opposing teams to maintain a four-man back line to prevent being overrun during counterattacks.

Why?

Because without enough defenders, it was easy to be exposed by the Christmas tree's layered attacks.

Some might ask, is this system flawless?

Not at all. It has plenty of weaknesses—perhaps more than strengths.

The first issue is that the team often sits deep. It is essentially a defensive counterattacking system. Ancelotti had used it at AC Milan because his aging backline couldn't handle playing high.

But sitting deep meant that when transitioning from defense to attack, the team was far from goal.

Understand?

That's why Kaka thrived in this system—his strengths were maximized.

Also, while the 4-3-2-1 looks like a four-line formation, if the players' positioning isn't tight, it can easily split into a 4-3 and a 2-1, causing a disconnect between attack and defense.

And most importantly, it lacks width. The play is always funneled through the middle.

Look closely, and you'll see how this system perfectly fit that AC Milan side.

On one hand, they had an aging squad. On the other, they lacked wide players, but had someone like Kaka who could drive forward at pace.

So, the question is: why is Gao Shen using the Christmas tree?

He clearly has quality wingers and mobile central defenders. There's no reason for him to rely on this narrow setup.

The answer quickly became clear.

Gao Shen's version didn't sit deep like Ancelotti's at AC Milan. Instead, it pushed high.

The key was to disrupt Chelsea's midfield and attack, compressing their passing space.

Defensively, Manchester City had Henderson, Fernandinho, and Yaya Touré—three workhorses who excelled at covering ground, pressing, and physical duels.

Ahead of them were Hazard and De Bruyne.

These two young Belgians maintained central defensive positions but would drift wide during transitions, freeing up the middle for Yaya Touré to attack.

A high Christmas tree can be broken with quick wingers.

But the problem was Ancelotti had Anelka and Malouda—neither particularly quick or great at one-on-one dribbling.

Another option was to play through Drogba, using his physicality to win battles up top.

But Gao Shen had assigned Kompany to man-mark Drogba specifically.

Drogba was still a powerhouse, but at 32, his physical condition was in decline. He had been adjusting his game in recent seasons. Kompany, on the other hand, was 24 and at his physical peak.

So, when the game began, it was clear that Kompany's job was to stay glued to Drogba.

It was reminiscent of the days when Drogba bullied Arsenal center-back Senderos.

The difference now was that after a few duels, Drogba realized he had no edge over Kompany.

In strength, he was matched. In speed, Kompany wasn't slow either. In off-the-ball movement, Kompany kept up—and Drogba was burning more energy in the process.

In the end, Ancelotti painfully realized that he had no answer for Gao Shen's meat-grinder Christmas tree.

On the contrary, it was Manchester City's midfield—particularly the trio of defensive midfielders—that dominated from the start. The fluent passing Chelsea had shown in earlier matches was broken up entirely.

Essien, hailed by fans for his improved passing and distribution this season, was completely shut down.

Ancelotti knew full well: when there's space, even a former goalkeeper could look like a playmaker.

The key was how much space there was.

But being a true playmaker meant being able to receive and distribute under pressure.

Essien simply wasn't at that level.

Nor was Ramires.

…

In the 27th minute of the first half, Chelsea tried to advance but were met with Manchester City's high pressing. The ball eventually fell to Ramires.

Just as Ramires tried to control it, Yaya Touré stormed in from behind, used his strength to shove Ramires aside, and stole the ball before he had settled it.

After dispossessing him, Yaya Touré drove forward on the counter.

Hazard and De Bruyne both drifted wide, with De Bruyne closer to the ball.

Yaya Touré crossed the halfway line and, before Mikel could close him down, passed it forward to Van Persie.

City's players surged forward, while Chelsea's defense scrambled to retreat.

As they ran, Van Persie lingered between Terry and Alex. Yaya Touré's pass was perfectly placed at Van Persie's feet. The Dutch striker controlled it, spun around at the top of the arc, and struck left-footed.

The ball rocketed toward the left side of Chelsea's goal, grazing the post before slamming into the net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"Van Persie! Van Persie!"

The Etihad erupted as Manchester City fans roared with delight.

"What a touch!"

"Van Persie opens the scoring for Manchester City!"

"And it all started with that steal and counterattack from Yaya Touré."

"You can see both players are thriving in this advanced tactical setup."

Van Persie sprinted to the sidelines, celebrating wildly, eventually sliding on his knees in front of the home fans.

On the visitors' bench, Ancelotti looked deflated.

He hadn't expected Gao Shen to face Chelsea like this.

This was an upgraded version of the Christmas tree.

There's no such thing as a perfect tactic. Only the most suitable one.

And Gao Shen had clearly found the best setup to face Chelsea.

…

In the second half, Ancelotti made a change in the 60th minute.

Zhirkov came on for Mikel.

This was a clear sign that Chelsea wanted to attack down the flanks.

Gao Shen responded quickly, pushing Hazard and De Bruyne wider.

Manchester City suddenly shifted into a 4-3-3, with Hazard and De Bruyne pinning back Chelsea's full-backs.

Henderson and Yaya Touré continued to provide cover for the flanks and support the full-backs.

Gao Shen saw right through Ancelotti's plan. He knew the Italian wanted to exploit the wings.

City's adjustments were perfectly timed.

Although Chelsea managed to create two dangerous attacks, only one truly tested the goal.

Neuer reacted brilliantly, diving to his side to deny Anelka's far-post effort.

He didn't just parry it. He caught it clean.

The German goalkeeper's outstanding save drew warm applause from the crowd.

In the 70th minute, Gao Shen made his first substitution, replacing Henderson with David Silva.

The change immediately made an impact.

Hazard received the ball on the left and took on Ivanović one-on-one. He drove into the box and tried to square it across the middle. Alex got a touch to it first, but Yaya Touré latched onto the clearance and fired a shot just over the bar.

But it gave Gao Shen insight into Chelsea's vulnerability in front of their penalty area.

With Mikel off the pitch, neither Essien nor Ramires could effectively shield the backline.

That gave Manchester City a real opportunity.

(To be continued.)