SWR: Chapter 627/628

Chapter 627: First Championship in History

As his coaching career progressed and he accumulated more experience, Gao Shen's views on professional football changed significantly.

First and foremost, he developed a more accurate assessment of a team's strength.

This applied not only to his own team but also to others.

For example, Gao Shen was very clear about Manchester City's situation this season. With their current strength, even if they qualified for the Champions League, they would have to choose between that and the Premier League. There simply wouldn't be enough energy to compete in domestic cup competitions. They would need to focus on one of the two major fronts and do everything possible to win a title.

Of course, Gao Shen had confidence in Manchester City's ability to fight on a single front, but even so, a bit of luck was still necessary.

And that, in fact, was normal.

Professional football is often said to be metaphysical because luck always plays a role.

Sometimes, a team is suddenly plagued with injuries without any clear reason. It might sound ridiculous, but it's quite common.

Just like Manchester City this time. While the fans started complaining, the coaching staff dug deeper and found some explanations, but none that fully made sense. They couldn't just chalk it up to bad luck. Ultimately, the blame fell on the coaching staff.

These types of situations happen to every team.

Take Chelsea, for instance—they've been in a slump lately.

Gao Shen's ability to judge a team's strength came not only from his coaching experience but also from the extensive reading he did in the tactical library. As his career deepened, the more he read, the more he realized how valuable that library truly was.

It was a treasure trove of accumulated knowledge.

In that library, Gao Shen had repeatedly come across evaluations by renowned coaches about the teams they had led. Many of these evaluations were very accurate. Most coaches had a clear understanding of their teams, and some even had that awareness before they ever took charge.

Take Scolari, for example, when he managed Chelsea—it was all about the money.

Some do it for money, others for fame. But one of the two is always the driving force.

As for those who claim they coach purely out of passion or sentiment—well, it's not that such people don't exist, but that's rarely the decisive factor.

We're all adults. We have families to support and careers to build. There's nothing wrong with that.

Gao Shen now had a clear judgment of Manchester City's situation. What he needed to do next was to further improve the squad depth so they could remain competitive in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

As for whether they could win a title, all they could do was give their best and leave the rest to fate.

…

Facts seemed to confirm his insightful judgment.

In the 30th round of the Premier League, Manchester City beat Sunderland 2-0 away.

In the 31st round, they defeated Fulham 2-1 on the road.

Then, in the 32nd round, Manchester City thrashed Wigan Athletic 6-0 at home.

Unlucky Roberto Martinez was crushed by Manchester City in both legs.

Just three days after the 32nd round, Inter Milan suffered a 0-1 home defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League.

Benítez's side narrowly edged Inter away thanks to a crucial goal from Biglia.

With that home defeat, Inter's chances of advancing were slim.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the last team to lose at home and still turn things around in the away leg of a Champions League knockout stage was Real Madrid—and the coach who led them to that comeback was none other than Gao Shen.

Since Mourinho had been named the top candidate for the Real Madrid job, the Spanish media were closely following this matchup, eager to see if his team could overturn the deficit at Anfield.

It felt like a long-distance showdown between Gao Shen and Mourinho.

…

In the 33rd round of the Premier League, Manchester City demolished Burnley 7-0 away.

Gao Shen's team recorded back-to-back dominant wins and earned roaring applause from the fans.

Liverpool, meanwhile, played away at Birmingham with a rotated squad and only managed a 1-1 draw.

But in the midweek Champions League clash, the Reds once again edged Inter 1-0, this time with a goal from Gerrard.

With a 2-0 aggregate score, Liverpool knocked out the Nerazzurri and advanced to the Champions League semi-finals.

The other three teams in the semi-finals were Manchester United, Barcelona, and Napoli.

Allegri's Napoli continued their strong performances in the Champions League. The team largely retained its high-level squad and playing style, while the emergence of Vidal and Nainggolan made them even more formidable.

Cavani maintained his impressive form, once again winning the Serie A Golden Boot.

It could be said that Gao Shen had left a treasure trove of talent for Napoli.

Mourinho failed to reach the semi-finals and lost this long-distance duel with Gao Shen, frustrating the Spanish media.

Once again, Ibrahimovic disappeared in the Champions League, going goalless in four straight knockout games.

The Swedish striker's slump was a key factor in Inter's double defeat to Liverpool.

Fortunately, Mourinho's team remained at the top of Serie A, but Napoli trailed by just one point and could overtake them at any moment.

…

In the 34th round of the Premier League, Manchester City beat Birmingham 5-1 at home.

Even before this match, Manchester City had already clinched the Premier League title. This big win made the championship even more meaningful and sent fans into a frenzy.

This was Manchester City's first Premier League title and their third top-flight title in club history.

After a 42-year wait, Manchester City were champions of the top division once again.

Everyone in the Blue Moon camp was ecstatic.

At the Etihad Stadium, all the players rushed over and lifted head coach Gao Shen into the air.

Over 50,000 fans in the stadium sang and cheered wildly.

Outside, hundreds of thousands of Manchester City fans took to the streets in celebration.

In terms of local fanbase, City might still be a bit behind Manchester United, but that was normal. After all, fans tend to support stronger teams.

But as Manchester City grew stronger, their local and global fanbase would surely expand rapidly.

After the celebrations, Gao Shen led his players to the center of the pitch to thank all the fans.

At the same time, he made a solemn promise on behalf of the team: they would deliver even better and more consistent performances next season.

"What I want to say is, this championship is not our peak. It's just one of the steps we're climbing."

"To all Manchester City fans: mark my words. Next season, and every season after that, we'll only get stronger and stronger. We'll win more and more important titles."

"You'd better get used to celebrations like tonight!"

The moment Gao Shen finished, the whole stadium erupted.

Over 50,000 fans chanted his name in unison.

"I also want to tell you, today's Manchester City is no longer the Manchester City of the past. Today's Premier League is no longer the Premier League of the past, because we, Manchester City, are on the rise. We will become the most competitive force in the league. Starting with this championship, we will completely change the Premier League landscape!"

Deafening cheers filled the stadium once again.

Finally, Gao Shen left a surprise for the fans, promising that the club would bring in exciting new players this summer to significantly improve the squad's overall strength for next season.

"We're going to charge toward the Champions League title!"

…

After Manchester City secured the title with five games to spare, the biggest remaining suspense in the Premier League was the relegation battle.

As for the top four, there was little left to fight for.

Since last December, Manchester United had gone on a strong run and quickly closed the gap on the second tier.

Manchester City stood alone at the top of the table, while Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United were separated by only one or two points. Arsenal, in fifth, trailed fourth place by a full ten points.

Sixth-placed Tottenham were five points behind Arsenal.

After City clinched the title early, The Guardian gave the season's top four a new nickname: the "new Big Four."

It sounded tacky, but it got the point across.

Manchester City had replaced Arsenal in the league's top four.

The unlucky Gunners were squeezed out.

The Sun, known for its transfer scoops, reported that if Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League, several stars including Fabregas might leave.

In other words, the long-running saga of Fabregas returning to Barcelona might finally be nearing its end.

Fabregas' agent even revealed that Manchester City's Gao Shen was also very interested in his client.

That revelation immediately stirred up a strong reaction across the Premier League.

Gao Shen had finally turned his attention to his domestic rivals!

But bringing in Fabregas would indeed be a major boost for Manchester City.

Both Gao Shen and Manchester City declined to comment on the rumor.

…

In the 35th round of the Premier League, the Manchester Derby.

Champions Manchester City hosted Manchester United and won 1-0, with Suarez scoring the only goal.

Everyone knew that the Red Devils' minds were no longer on the league.

The title race was already over, and their place in the top four was secure. Manchester United were fully focused on the upcoming Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. That was Ferguson's top priority.

United midfielder Sneijder even told the media he was eager to return to the Bernabéu to play in the Champions League final.

It would be his personal revenge against Real Madrid.

In the end, Ferguson's side drew 0-0 away to Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Barcelona defeated Napoli 3-1 at home, gaining revenge for last season's Champions League final.

A week later, Barcelona drew 1-1 away to Napoli, advancing to the final with a 4-2 aggregate win.

Manchester United also drew 0-0 with Liverpool at home. After extra time, the match went to penalties.

The Red Devils emerged victorious in the shootout and booked their place in the final against Barcelona.

This season's Champions League final would be held at the Santiago Bernabéu.

…

In their last three league matches, Manchester City used the games to give young players more playing time and test tactical plans.

A 0-0 draw away to Arsenal, a 3-1 home win against Aston Villa, and a 1-1 draw at West Ham.

City finished the season with over 100 goals and surpassed Chelsea's 95-point total from the 2004–05 season, setting new records for the best performance in Premier League history.

But the British media had already shifted their focus to the exciting new player Gao Shen had promised in front of fans.

Some outlets couldn't wait and even photoshopped images of Fabregas wearing a Manchester City shirt.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 628: Premier League's Top Midfielder

After the final round of the Premier League, some players were preparing for their vacation, while others were getting ready for the World Cup in South Africa.

The World Cup, held once every four years, is a stage that no professional player wants to miss.

In the world of football, representing the national team remains the ultimate goal for most players.

Although the team was about to disband for the summer, Gao Shen still communicated with the players one by one, especially those he valued the most.

Take Hazard, for example.

At the beginning of the season, Gao Shen didn't specifically intend to promote him. After all, Robinho was also one of his players, and Gao Shen treated them equally. Later on, when Gareth Bale began to shine, Gao Shen shifted his focus toward Bale.

But after the winter break, Hazard gradually began to demonstrate his strength and potential.

Lucas compiled a detailed statistical report on Manchester City players for Gao Shen.

As a winger, Hazard averaged 2.5 threatening passes per game this season. In other words, he created five threatening passes every two matches, which clearly showed his exceptional ability to organize and initiate attacks.

This placed him fourth in the team.

Robinho, by comparison, was weaker in this area, averaging fewer than two threatening passes per game.

Although it was just one metric, it was enough to show that in terms of on-field threat, Hazard was gradually overtaking Robinho. His performances and influence on matches were becoming more and more evident.

As a result, toward the end of the season, when Manchester City achieved a string of dominant victories, Hazard took over from Robinho as the team's starting left winger. His performances were both impressive and outstanding.

Gao Shen had a conversation with Hazard, encouraging him to maintain his form during the break and not slack off.

This was also a mistake Hazard had made multiple times in his previous life. Every time he returned from vacation, he had gained weight and had to work hard to get back into shape at the start of the season.

However, Gao Shen also knew it would be nearly impossible for Hazard to completely control himself.

This guy was naturally optimistic and easygoing.

So Gao Shen took a roundabout approach by working through his girlfriend, Natacha.

During their meeting, Gao Shen also presented Hazard with a detailed report that he and the coaching staff had prepared, outlining his role in the team for the upcoming season. He wanted to help Hazard play a more prominent tactical role at Manchester City and encouraged him to rest well and return in top condition.

When Gao Shen mentioned Natacha, the love-struck Hazard immediately promised he would be disciplined.

Gao Shen took the opportunity to hand him a personalized training program for the holidays, detailing everything from workouts to dietary guidelines.

"Take this. I've already sent a copy to Natacha. Just follow it when the time comes," Gao Shen said in a friendly tone, as if it were a casual favor between friends.

Hazard seriously wondered whether, after receiving this special training plan, not only would his holiday be ruined, but he'd also have to thank the head coach for it?

"Alright, keep it. No need to thank me. Thank Natacha. She really cares about you. She told me she's looking forward to seeing your name on the Ballon d'Or shortlist."

After hearing that, Hazard clenched his teeth and accepted it.

The Belgian blood was boiling.

He would fight for Natacha!

…

Compared to Hazard, Suarez had a completely different personality.

The Uruguayan was now living with his girlfriend in Cheshire, and the two had shamelessly been living together for several years.

Suarez had extremely high expectations for his career.

This season, he topped the Premier League scoring charts with 31 goals, surpassing Drogba's 29, and claimed the Golden Boot. But the Uruguayan clearly wasn't satisfied.

He wanted more. He believed he could perform even better.

That's the power of ambition.

Unlike with Hazard, Gao Shen didn't give Suarez a special training plan for the holidays. Instead, he gave him a few suggestions.

Gao Shen believed Suarez should get proper rest, especially since he would be playing in the World Cup in South Africa.

There was still time before the tournament, so Suarez could enjoy a few days off before reporting to the national team. After the World Cup, he'd have a short break again before rejoining Manchester City for pre-season.

Manchester City's coaching staff consisted of seasoned veterans who knew how to manage players' workloads.

The participation of many internationals in the World Cup would definitely impact the team's training and preparations. Buenaventura and Pintus had already made careful plans for the various return dates of different players.

"When the time comes, just rest well. When you come back, you'll still be our main striker," Gao Shen promised.

…

As for Robben, Gao Shen had a different kind of advice, because the Dutchman's biggest problem was always injuries.

This season, Robben missed far fewer games due to injury than in the past, but he still sat out three matches.

Compared to Robben's history, that was already a big improvement.

Gao Shen had already instructed the coaching staff, especially Buenaventura and Pintus, to develop a new customized plan for Robben, with the goal of keeping him healthy and on the pitch as much as possible.

In this season's Premier League, Robben averaged 3.5 threatening passes per game, ranking second on the team, ahead of Suarez, who averaged 3.14.

In other words, Robben was one of Manchester City's most dangerous players.

So who was number one?

You don't even need to think twice. It was David Silva, who averaged four threatening passes per game.

That number was also the highest in the Premier League.

Manchester City's attacking dominance this season was closely tied to David Silva's orchestration and exquisite passing.

Since leaving Valencia, Silva's performances at Manchester City had gained global recognition. Even within a Spanish national team packed with midfield maestros like Xavi and Iniesta, Silva was expected to secure a place and make an impact.

Gao Shen also spoke with other players on the squad one by one, reminding each of them to maintain their fitness during the holidays and not let themselves go.

…

After sending the players off, Gao Shen remained at Carrington with the coaching staff to focus on preparations for the new season.

This year was a World Cup year, and years with major tournaments always posed significant challenges for summer training.

Many players would return late from national team duty, which would delay pre-season preparations. The coaching staff had to plan thoroughly for these scenarios in advance.

But that wasn't the biggest issue.

The real challenge was maintaining the players' form.

The World Cup was a condensed tournament, and national teams would do everything possible to get the most out of their players.

Some players performed exceptionally for their countries, even peaking during the tournament, but once they returned to their clubs, they immediately slumped. This pattern was common in nearly every major tournament year.

On the other hand, some players shone at club level but couldn't replicate that form with the national team. It was all a matter of how well they could adjust their condition.

As a result, many players underperformed at club level in major tournament years, leading to criticism from media and fans suggesting they were saving energy for international duty. Such controversies were common.

How to help players readjust after returning from the World Cup was a key concern for Manchester City's coaching staff.

Having won the Premier League, Manchester City would enter the Champions League group stage directly without going through qualifying. However, due to their long absence from European competitions, the club's UEFA coefficient was zero.

In other words, just like when Gao Shen coached Napoli two years ago, Manchester City was guaranteed to be drawn into a group of death.

"We must be fully prepared. The team has to hit the ground running from the first round of the season and maintain a high level, especially during the Champions League group stage."

In this regard, Manchester City's coaching staff were highly experienced.

Back when Gao Shen was at Napoli, his squad rotation had gone smoothly, and the team's performances were excellent.

"Our current squad is still too thin. If we want to compete on both Champions League and Premier League fronts, the current roster simply isn't deep enough. We need reinforcements in attack, midfield, and defense," Carlo reminded him.

Up front, Suarez was of course the team's top scorer, but Giroud's scoring efficiency was lacking. Sturridge had performed well, but to challenge on multiple fronts, this forward setup wasn't sufficient.

In midfield, De Jong had already been phased out. Homegrown players like Ireland, Henderson, and Lallana were appreciated by the coaching staff, but they still had limitations.

At least based on their current development, these three players were not yet capable of holding their own in the Premier League or Champions League. Under these circumstances, Manchester City would definitely need to strengthen the midfield.

If Gao Shen were still coaching Napoli, he might consider bringing in young prospects and gradually developing them. But now, he was at Manchester City, a club that wasn't short on money.

Mansour had made it clear there would be no cap on this summer's transfer budget. Whoever Gao Shen wanted, they would try their best to sign. The goal was for Gao Shen to lead Manchester City to Premier League and Champions League glory.

As long as he could win titles, the Middle Eastern consortium wouldn't blink at the cost.

Therefore, Gao Shen was prioritizing proven stars who could make an immediate impact.

Of course, the prerequisite was that they could fit into the team's tactical system.

In defense, Gao Shen planned to strengthen both full-back positions as well as add a central defender. These were areas of concern. The current backline simply wasn't reliable enough to go the distance.

On the other hand, the goalkeeper position was solid. Manchester City's starter was Neuer, who had performed brilliantly, and the backup was veteran Given, who was also dependable. They also had Joe Hart out on loan.

There were basically no issues at the goalkeeper position.

It was worth mentioning that in mid-April, during a Bundesliga match, Germany's first-choice goalkeeper Adler fractured his ribs. Then in early May, he underwent surgery, ruling him out of the World Cup in South Africa.

Gao Shen congratulated Neuer and encouraged the German keeper to seize this opportunity to establish himself.

It had to be said, the chosen ones really do seem to cheat fate.

(To be continued.)