SWR: Chapter 595/598

Chapter 595: The Future British Empire

Whether it's among fans or in the media, the title most often associated with Gao Shen is Manchester City's head coach.

If you were a bit more humorous, you might call him the leader of a mercenary group.

But in fact, Gao Shen holds another very important though lesser-known title: Manchester City's technical director.

This isn't a formal appointment, as Manchester City doesn't currently have an official technical director.

However, within the club, everyone knows Gao Shen fills that role. All football-related matters, whether internal or external, must be discussed with him, and his opinion takes precedence.

To some extent, Gao Shen's power at Manchester City even surpasses that of Ferguson at Manchester United and Wenger at Arsenal.

As a picky Virgo, Gao Shen sets high standards for others but even higher ones for himself.

Either don't take the position at all, or do it to the best of your ability.

When Gao Shen first took over at Manchester City, he sent a fax to Mansour in Abu Dhabi and Mubarak in Manchester. In addition to clearly outlining his plans to reorganize and transform Manchester City, the fax also introduced a youth development reform initiative, which he named the Spark Plan.

The name was inspired by a famous saying: "A single spark can start a prairie fire."

The youth development reform involved not only personnel changes but also the establishment and expansion of the scouting network. More importantly, it focused on player selection.

Since the Abu Dhabi consortium acquired Manchester City in 2008, it had steadily increased investment in youth development. But Gao Shen believed this was still far from enough, as the club continued to underperform in several areas.

In the plan, he informed Mansour and Mubarak that Manchester City's rapid rise would inevitably provoke fierce resistance from traditional Premier League powerhouses and even major European clubs, possibly even prompting UEFA to implement regulations to limit it.

It was clear that relying solely on deep-pocketed backers to spend money wouldn't be sustainable in the long run.

Gao Shen believed that, while Manchester City needed to quickly strengthen its first team, it also had to place greater emphasis on youth development, recruiting talented youngsters from around the world, enriching the youth academy, and providing a constant pipeline of talent for the first team.

Both Mansour and Mubarak accepted Gao Shen's proposal and gave him full authority to implement the Spark Plan.

A few months later, as Platini pushed for the introduction of Financial Fair Play regulations, both Mansour and Mubarak were relieved that they had supported Gao Shen early on.

Just yesterday, Mansour even called Gao Shen personally to ask about his response strategy.

Gao Shen's reply was: "Build high walls, store up food, and become king quickly."

This, in fact, had been Gao Shen's approach since day one.

As for building high walls, Manchester City had spared no expense in upgrading the club's infrastructure. They had even begun acquiring land near the Etihad Stadium to construct a new training base and youth academy.

At the same time, the commercial marketing team led by Ha Jin was rapidly expanding and aggressively exploring overseas markets in a bid to increase Manchester City's commercial revenue as quickly as possible.

All of this was laying a solid foundation for Manchester City to become a top-tier club.

As for storing up food, the most crucial element was ensuring a steady supply of youth talent.

That was exactly why Gao Shen was visiting the Youth Training Academy today.

…

Gao Shen had always believed that in the world of professional football, there was nothing that couldn't be solved with a check.

And if one check wasn't enough, then two would do.

Since taking over as Manchester City's head coach, he hadn't just brought in a large number of players for the first team—the youth setup had also been operating at full throttle.

Raheem Sterling was recruited from Queens Park Rangers' youth academy in London, John Stones from Barnsley's youth setup in Yorkshire, Jadon Sancho from Watford's youth academy, Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool's youth system, and Jack Grealish was brought in from Aston Villa's academy...

Manchester City waved their checkbooks and scoured England for promising young talent.

Some of these players were fourteen or fifteen years old, while others were only ten or so—no one was overlooked.

Any other club conducting such aggressive poaching would have faced serious backlash and protests from rival clubs. But Manchester City didn't because they usually solved these problems with money.

On top of that, Gao Shen drastically revised Manchester City's youth scouting and selection standards. The previous focus on physical attributes was replaced by an emphasis on technical ability and creativity. Gao Shen's reforms were evident across the board in the youth development process.

…

"How's the transfer of Marcus Rashford going?"

After touring the youth training academy, Gao Shen and his two companions, accompanied by Cox and others, headed to the conference room. As soon as they sat down, Gao Shen asked about the progress.

Marcus Rashford, 11 years old, plays for Fletcher Moss Rovers.

He and his family live in Withington, just south of the Youth Training Academy, very close by. He comes from a single-parent household with five children, so you can imagine his family situation.

The young player had impressed at the Fletcher Moss Rovers youth camp. Because of the cooperation between clubs, he also trained with both Manchester City and Manchester United's youth teams. He initially wanted to join Manchester City, but was rejected because he was too thin.

After Gao Shen took over and heard about this, he could only smile bitterly.

The future star was turned down due to his physique.

But no matter what happened in a past life, now that they've crossed paths, Gao Shen had no reason to let him slip away.

He always believed in one thing: dig out your opponent's strengths before they have the chance to.

"He hopes to sign a youth contract, and the family is requesting housing and a job for his mother. We're still considering it," Cox said.

Gao Shen had already looked into Rashford's family background and felt the request was reasonable. However, the club might hesitate, as investing so much in such a young player carries significant risk.

But no one knows Rashford's potential better than Gao Shen.

"Promise him!" Gao Shen made a decisive call.

Cox and the others were clearly surprised, was it really that easy to agree?

This was a big commitment. Manchester City would have to invest nearly seven figures in Rashford over the next few years.

"Yes, promise him." Seeing their confusion, Gao Shen repeated himself.

Cox thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, I'll call right away."

"If Rashford is in Withington, invite him to Pratt Lane. I'll meet with him," Gao Shen continued.

This surprised everyone present.

Gao Shen wanted to meet him in person?

Was he really that optimistic about Rashford?

"Okay, I'll arrange it immediately."

With that, Cox stood up and left the room, presumably to make the call. He returned shortly after and informed Gao Shen that Rashford and his mother would arrive at Pratt Lane—the site of Manchester City's youth academy—in about an hour.

"Alright, next one," Gao Shen said, flipping to the next page of the documents. "Have you contacted Adrien Rabiot?"

"We've already reached out," Cox quickly replied.

Adrien Rabiot, fourteen years old, currently unattached.

The young French midfielder was discovered by Manchester City scouts in the summer of 2008 and brought to Manchester. The two parties signed a six-year agreement, and his whole family relocated to Manchester.

At the time, Manchester City was aggressively recruiting global talent, and Rabiot was one of their targets.

Unfortunately, just half a year after arriving in Manchester, things fell apart.

Gao Shen, Cox, Brian Kidd, and others weren't involved at the time, but after digging into the situation, they discovered it was quite complicated.

On one hand, Rabiot's family chose to terminate the contract after his father suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. His mother accused the club of deception and failing to pay for English lessons, rent, utilities, and so on.

However, according to Manchester City scout Gary Payton, the club hadn't done enough, but technically, Rabiot wasn't officially a City player due to only having signed a pre-professional agreement. He wouldn't be considered a full club member until his seventeenth birthday.

Gary Payton's point was that Rabiot's mother didn't leave because of football but because of their difficult living conditions.

Gao Shen understood exactly what he meant.

Judging from all the complaints Rabiot's mother had against Manchester City, it all boiled down to one thing: money.

His father was paralyzed, his mother had to care for three children alone their life situation was tough.

So Gao Shen had instructed the scouts to reach out again. They found that after returning to France, Rabiot hadn't joined any team. Instead, he went back to school and maintained his form through PE classes and after-school training.

That's why Gao Shen wanted to bring this future French international back.

Since they were trying to bring him back, they would need to renegotiate the terms, and offer him proper treatment. This time, Gao Shen planned to give him a semi-professional contract, including a monthly salary subsidy so Rabiot could focus fully on his training.

"What did they say after receiving the offer?" Gao Shen asked.

Cox shrugged and smiled. "We made them an offer the family couldn't refuse."

In addition to Rabiot's salary, the club had arranged a job for his mother—vital support for the whole family.

After hearing that, Gao Shen nodded and laughed to himself.

Now that he had helped Manchester City recruit so many young prospects and reformed the youth academy, would these future stars grow even better than they did in their previous lives?

And when that time comes, how high can they take Manchester City?

"In the future, we need to revise some of the youth academy policies. We should provide more care and support to young players with exceptional potential in difficult life situations, to avoid cases like Rashford and Rabiot," Gao Shen instructed.

Cox and the others all nodded in agreement and took notes.

Gao Shen now oversaw all of Manchester City's competitive affairs. His word essentially represented the club's decisions.

Not only Cox, Lopetegui, and Wilcox but even Brian Kidd had to follow his lead.

After that, Gao Shen asked many more questions, made a series of decisions, and gave out several instructions.

Time flew by in the midst of work.

A staff member walked in to report: Rashford had arrived.

"Let's go meet this future British emperor!" Gao Shen said with a smile.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 596: I Really Didn’t Want to Become the World’s No. 1

The first time Gao Shen met Master La, he was wearing a white shirt and a red tie with black stripes, looking very much like a school uniform.

His mother, Melanie, was a Black single mother whose main job was as a cashier at a betting shop. She also held two part-time cleaning jobs at a nearby shopping mall.

This was how she worked tirelessly, day and night, to support her five children on her own.

Despite their circumstances, she had done an excellent job raising and educating her children.

To Melanie and the eleven-year-old Rashford, Gao Shen seemed like someone far beyond their reach, like a figure in the clouds. They only ever saw him on TV and in newspapers, hearing legendary stories about him.

Even though they had hoped to join Manchester City, they never imagined that Gao Shen would personally come to meet them.

But Gao Shen was very polite to them. He showed no sign of discrimination or arrogance. On the contrary, he was warm and approachable like a close friend.

Manchester City's offer this time was very generous, but Manchester United was also interested in Rashford and had already made contact.

"I believe Mr. Cox has handed you a copy of our carefully prepared ten-year plan for Manchester City. Have you had a chance to read it?" Gao Shen asked with a smile.

Melanie and Rashford both nodded repeatedly, indicating they had.

"I'm sure you don't doubt our club's financial strength, our investment in youth development, or our long-term commitment. The consortium backing us doesn't just see football as a business but as a prestigious calling card."

"It might sound too blunt to say this, but Ferguson is already 68 years old. No one knows how long he'll continue. And no one knows what Manchester United will become after he retires. So I think instead of worrying too much about the distant future, it's better to focus on the present."

Melanie understood Gao Shen's message.

The future is too uncertain what matters most is the present.

"Professional football is very open these days. If in the future Marcus feels Manchester City can't offer him what he needs, he can transfer. But that depends on his ability, doesn't it?"

Melanie was completely convinced.

Compared to Manchester United, Manchester City had a huge advantage: their youth training base was just across the main road from their home in Withington, less than a few hundred meters away. Rashford could walk there for training after school.

Manchester United's training base, on the other hand, was all the way in Carrington. Given their family's financial situation, driving him there regularly wasn't realistic. Getting to Carrington after signing with United would be a real challenge.

Their family had always hoped to sign with Manchester City, but the club had initially rejected Rashford because he was too thin. Melanie had been disappointed ever since.

Gao Shen's explanation was simple: when he had just taken over the club, everything was in chaos, staff turnover was high, and many things weren't handled properly. But that wouldn't happen again.

"I've studied Marcus's playing style, and I think he's a perfect fit for us. I can assure you he'll be one of our key development targets. As long as he studies hard, trains well, and puts in the effort, I believe he'll make it to the Premier League—maybe even the national team."

Who was Gao Shen?

The whole world knew his name. The media and television had hyped him countless times. He was hailed as the world's top talent scout.

Some even said that being noticed by Gao Shen instantly boosted a player's market value.

Now that he had made such a promise himself what was there to hesitate about?

Sign it!

Seeing that they were moved, Gao Shen struck while the iron was hot, saying that after the contract was signed, Rashford could receive a paid youth training contract.

"Normally, this is only offered to players over twelve," Cox added with a smile, "but Mr. Gao has agreed to make an exception for you."

Melanie and Rashford immediately held Gao Shen's hand in gratitude, repeatedly thanking him.

Gao Shen also promised to help Melanie find a job. With the new job and Rashford's youth training allowance, their family's situation would soon improve.

At the same time, Gao Shen encouraged Rashford.

"Believe me, Marcus—you have the ability to become a Premier League regular and even play for the England national team. You will change your family's destiny. So, you must give your best in school and in training, understood?"

Children from disadvantaged families grow up fast.

Rashford knew exactly what this opportunity meant. Despite his thin frame, he stood up straight. "I promise, sir—I won't let you down. I'll definitely repay you one day!"

"Playing good football is the best reward you can give me." Gao Shen smiled and gently patted his head.

…

Gao Shen didn't leave Pratt Lane until evening.

He headed south toward his home in Cheshire in Borrell's car.

That afternoon felt a bit like his previous life, when he was still in the business world.

Especially when he left and caught the complicated expressions on Cox and the others' faces, something stirred in his heart.

How to describe it?

They were probably silently complaining about how demanding Gao Shen was.

But that was normal.

If everyone just took it easy and worked comfortably, this team wouldn't have a future.

Not in a cutthroat environment like professional football.

"You were a bit different today," Borrell said as he drove.

"Different how?" Gao Shen asked.

"Strange," Borrell replied with a nod. "Your attitude toward Melanie and Rashford was totally different from how you were with Cox and the others. I'm guessing Cox wasn't too happy."

"Perfectly normal," Gao Shen replied with a smile.

Cox may be trying to flatter him, but that didn't mean Gao Shen would ease up on his expectations.

"There's no conflict of interest between me and Melanie or Rashford right now. I don't need to put on airs in front of them. Who would I be showing off to? But I need Cox to work for me. I don't care if he likes me or not, I just need him to do the job I assign him."

"I don't have the time to be hands-on with everything in the youth academy. You get what I'm saying?"

Borrell nodded—he understood.

Manchester City paid a high salary, but Gao Shen also demanded high performance. Cox's job was to meet those demands. That was the basis for him to serve as youth academy director at Manchester City.

Someone once asked Gao Shen a question: why do top executives in a company always seem so amiable, while middle and lower management tend to be strict even harsh?

There are basically two reasons: one is conflict of interest, and the other is the closeness of the relationship.

If Cox weren't the youth training director, if he worked in the media department or was just an ordinary employee, as long as he didn't interfere with Gao Shen's interests, Gao Shen would treat him the same way he treated Melanie and Rashford.

But unfortunately, Cox is the youth training director, a role that falls directly under Gao Shen's supervision. Many of Gao Shen's initiatives require Cox to carry them out.

Put simply: Gao Shen sets the requirements, and Cox executes them.

In this situation, Gao Shen had no choice but to be strict. Because if Cox made a mistake, the consequences would fall on Gao Shen.

Thinking about this, Gao Shen sighed quietly to himself.

He hadn't exercised these skills in a long time, he was getting rusty.

In the past, a person like Cox would have been no match for him.

As Gao Shen turned to look out the window at the passing scenery, Borrell cast a sideways glance at him, his expression a bit complicated.

As a core member of the coaching staff, Borrell and the others were actually older than Gao Shen. Yet every one of them was under Gao Shen's leadership. Even Carlo, who used to be Gao Shen's mentor, what about now?

Could he still play the role of a master in front of Gao Shen?

Actually, this wasn't a bad thing.

After working together for a long time, they all understood Gao Shen's character and temperament. Working with him was genuinely a comfortable experience but only if you could keep up with him and meet his standards.

If you could do that, then Gao Shen was the ideal boss.

Not only would he offer you a high salary, but he would also shield you from trouble. Even if you made mistakes, as long as they were within his ability to handle, he would take responsibility and clean up the mess for you.

Of course, his standards were extremely high—at times even harsh. You might want to curse him under your breath, but once you reached his expectations, you'd realize your abilities had improved drastically, all thanks to being "bullied" by your boss.

Just like Lucas once joked: he himself didn't even know how he became the world's number one analyst. He didn't do anything special, he just followed Gao Shen's demanding standards. Then one day, the team performed well, the media picked it up, and suddenly he was crowned the best in the world. People were inviting him to give lectures everywhere, treating him like an expert in the field.

But truthfully, it was exhausting. Before every lecture, he had to burn through countless brain cells to organize his past work and recent achievements into a systematic presentation.

It might sound a little "Versailles" to say it, but, he really didn't want to be the world's number one!

"Gao, were you serious about what you said in the team meeting this morning?" Borrell asked.

"Which part?"

"The part about continuing the winning streak," Borrell reminded him.

"Of course!" Gao Shen answered without hesitation, clearly full of confidence.

After a brief pause, he noticed Borrell's hesitation and smiled slightly.

"It's normal to feel worried. But don't underestimate yourself or the team. We still have problems to fix, but as long as we control injuries and maintain form, with our strength and only one match a week, I'm not afraid of any team!"

Borrell heard the deep ambition in his voice.

A winning streak, what a thrilling goal!

"You don't seriously think I spent over €200 million just to finish in the top four, right?" Gao Shen asked with a smile.

The top four was the bare minimum he promised Mansour and Mubarak. In his own mind, it was never the target. He had only one real goal—and that was the championship!

"Believe it or not, from the moment I set our recruitment strategy, I've been building a championship team. Not a top-four team. That's way too easy for me!" Gao Shen smiled with pride.

Borrell was deeply moved, but more importantly, he understood Gao Shen's ambition.

"I believe it!" the Spaniard replied firmly.

A deep, hearty laugh echoed inside the car.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 597: Secret Weapon

On the evening of September 15th, at the Inonu Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye.

As the referee blew the final whistle, Ferguson raised both arms and let out a roar, celebrating Manchester United's hard-fought victory with unrestrained excitement.

0–1—the scoreboard showed the final result.

The Red Devils had defeated Turkish side Besiktas 1–0, thanks to Scholes' decisive goal.

It was a great start to their Champions League group stage campaign!

But even more important, Ferguson's rotation strategy had paid off.

Van der Sar was still sidelined with injury, so Foster was in goal.

Ferguson made major rotations across other positions.

At right-back, veteran Gary Neville replaced O'Shea. Evans came in for Ferdinand at center-back. In midfield, Carrick and Fletcher were both rested. Ahead of Scholes, the attacking trident featured Park Ji-sung and Anderson behind Nani, Owen, and Valencia.

You could say it was a makeshift Manchester United side.

But even with this lineup, United managed to defeat Besiktas and Valencia was particularly lively down the right flank.

Twenty-five million euros. When Ferguson first signed this winger, many thought it was excessive.

But now, it seemed completely worth it!

Anything recommended by Gao Shen had to be a masterpiece.

Valencia created the most threats for United throughout the match and was their standout performer. He was named Player of the Match, though the assist for Scholes' goal came from Nani on the left.

Sometimes, that's just how football goes.

Still, Ferguson was more than satisfied to win away at Besiktas.

From the opening whistle to the final moments, his face beamed with satisfaction and even delight, his mood was plain for all to see.

And rightly so.

United had traveled to Türkiye with a rotated squad to conserve energy for the weekend derby. But they still came away with a win, something even Ferguson hadn't expected.

It was a pleasant surprise.

He had mentally prepared for a draw or even a narrow defeat. But a win?

"Gao Shen, I'm ready. I'll be waiting for you!" Ferguson said proudly.

…

After beating Besiktas 1–0 away, Ferguson was high-profile in the post-match press conference.

On one hand, he singled out Antonio Valencia for praise, saying the winger had everything needed to become world-class and was the most dangerous player throughout the game—only lacking a bit of luck.

On the other, he explained the rotation strategy as part of managing the squad for multiple competitions.

"Anyone familiar with the Champions League knows how tough it is to travel to Türkiye," Ferguson said. "But today, our players overcame the challenge. Not only did we dominate the field, but we also got the win."

"For me, this result couldn't be better."

When asked about the upcoming Manchester derby, Ferguson didn't hold back.

"I don't care how many games my neighbors have won, it means nothing to me. At Old Trafford, any winning streak stops here."

Ferguson said he never worried about Manchester City.

"I used to call them the noisy neighbors, and I still do."

"This isn't the first time City's made a splash. They spent big last season and did well, but where did they finish? Tenth in the league. And at Old Trafford, we beat them by two goals."

Ferguson continued, "If winning titles was just about spending money, why even bother playing the games? Just compare who has deeper pockets. What's the point of working hard?"

In short, he continued to mock City, portraying them as nothing more than a mercenary squad built with cash.

Regarding the first Manchester derby of the season, Ferguson said that at Old Trafford, United would show their experience and heritage.

"We'll crush them!"

…

Gao Shen ignored Ferguson's trash talk in Istanbul.

He was more focused on Manchester United's performance and squad rotation.

As soon as United's match against Besiktas ended, City's coaching team began compiling data from all sources to analyze United's preparations for Premier League Round 6—especially their lineup.

It was clear Ferguson had left his key players in Manchester.

"First, rule out the ones who played the full 90 minutes in Türkiye," Lucas analyzed. "That includes Park Ji-sung and Valencia, both went the distance."

"If nothing unexpected happens, Carrick, Sneijder, and Fletcher will form the midfield."

That would be Ferguson's preferred setup: balanced in both attack and defense, perfect for a home match.

"On the right, O'Shea should return. In central defense, Ferdinand will definitely partner Vidic. Left-back will still be Evra, there's no better option right now."

United's left flank had become a concern. Evra had no real backup.

Ferguson had tried using Brazilian youngster Fabio there, but his performances hadn't impressed. Evra's durability and high match load meant the youngster rarely got playing time.

On the right, there was more depth: Brown, Rafael, O'Shea—and even Fabio could play there.

"From how he played against Besiktas, it was obvious Evra was holding back. He's saving energy for the derby," Carlo noted.

Evra would be facing Manchester City's right flank.

Robben had come off the bench against Arsenal, scored twice, and provided an assist, three goal contributions in just over 20 minutes. It was by far his best performance since joining City.

After a week of rest and recovery, there was no telling how dangerous Robben would be in the derby.

More importantly, Evra had just completed a long round-trip to Türkiye.

If one side gained momentum while the other was fatigued, it made perfect sense for City to target United's left side.

"In the middle, if Sneijder starts behind the strikers, then Berbatov will be there for sure," Lucas added. "That will help take the pressure off Rooney. Both forwards can receive with their back to goal and with passers like Carrick and Sneijder behind them, United's attack will be very dangerous."

Both Rooney and Berbatov were excellent at holding up play. With Carrick and Sneijder distributing from midfield, they'd become even more of a threat.

And don't forget—Ferguson had left Giggs in Manchester too.

As he aged, Giggs had become more and more effective in specific roles.

As a tactical expert, Ferguson had clearly devised a detailed strategy for the derby well in advance. That's why he rotated so heavily against Besiktas.

And now, it seemed his gamble had worked.

Everything would come down to the clash at Old Trafford.

Everyone in the meeting room offered their insights and analysis on Manchester United and the upcoming game.

Gao Shen sat quietly in his seat, listening calmly.

That had always been his way.

He was used to listening to his assistants' thoughts before giving his own opinion.

This had become the norm in meetings between Gao Shen and his coaching staff when discussing tactics.

"Gao, how do you plan to approach this match?"

Following Carlo's question, all eyes turned to Gao Shen.

Yes—what was the plan?

"Our advantage isn't in the middle," Gao Shen began. "We can't go head-to-head with them there. Instead, we should look to stretch the width in attack and create more one-on-one opportunities on the wings."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Manchester City had an edge on the flanks but not through the center.

Although David Silva and Rakitic both had the ability to make runs from deep, their overall attacking threat was still limited.

Suárez wasn't the kind of center forward who could carve out space on his own, he was more renowned for his agility and movement.

"What we're discussing now, Ferguson's probably already thought it through. And he'll definitely have prepared specific countermeasures."

The coaches all nodded.

Ferguson's tactical acumen was close to perfection. He wouldn't leave himself exposed like that.

"Our two wingers will be marked as priority targets. There won't be many one-on-one chances down the flanks. So I suspect United might use a setup resembling three defensive midfielders—similar to Arsenal, but more disciplined."

Against the Gunners, Gao Shen had only introduced Robben after Wenger pulled off his three defensive midfielders.

There was no reason to think Ferguson hadn't seen that as well.

"I'm even thinking he might leave Giggs out and start Anderson instead. After all, Anderson was subbed off early in Türkiye," Gao Shen speculated.

Many had said Gao Shen was using Manchester City as his personal tactical board or lab but wasn't Ferguson doing the same with United? And he'd been doing it for years.

In the past, people often wondered: how come players who won titles under Ferguson couldn't replicate that success under other managers?

The answer lay in Ferguson's incredible tactical intelligence.

It was like building with Lego blocks. Give the same set to two people, some can't make anything, while others build entire models. It all comes down to ability.

"So what do we do, then?" Carlo asked, sounding a bit concerned.

Everyone turned to Gao Shen, waiting for his response.

They all knew, if Gao Shen pointed out a problem, then he definitely had a solution.

"Don't try to beat Manchester United at their game. Play to our strength, our passing and control. Since they're going to fixate on our wingers, let them. Use the flanks to pin them back."

Everyone was puzzled. What did he mean?

Weren't the wingers Manchester City's most dangerous attacking weapons?

Gao Shen smiled, full of confidence. "Just wait and see, our secret weapon is about to debut!"

Everyone was stunned.

Manchester City had a secret weapon?

How come they didn't know about it?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 598: They Are Not Qualified Yet

As the derby drew near, the tension continued to mount, and even the air above Manchester seemed thick with gunpowder.

In the past, the Manchester derby had always been a one-sided affair. No matter the final result, Manchester City—win or lose—was merely a supporting act to their crosstown rivals. Hardly anyone paid attention to them.

But now, everything had changed.

After two seasons of massive investment and with Gao Shen at the helm, Manchester City had become a rising star in the Premier League, even in all of European football. They were now a major threat to the traditional Big Four.

Five consecutive wins and top of the league table, this was a first in Manchester derby history.

With media coverage ramping up and fans around the world waiting eagerly, the most anticipated Manchester derby in history was about to kick off.

The day before the match, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson publicly stated at the pre-match press conference that under his tenure, United had thoroughly dominated all competitions against City.

Ferguson claimed that although Manchester City had received heavy investment from a Middle Eastern consortium, they remained crude and unrefined, and the players Gao Shen had brought in were not truly world-class stars.

"Suárez? Sure, he's top of the scoring charts right now, but that's just temporary. Believe me, Rooney is much better than him. He'll overtake him soon!"

As for Robben and Robinho, Ferguson dismissed them as past their prime.

"Look at Valencia's performance in Turkey midweek—City doesn't have a winger with that kind of sharpness. Robben no longer has the speed or threat."

Ferguson was clearly determined to push his psychological warfare to the limit.

When discussing City's hot start to the season, Ferguson admitted they'd done well.

"But let's be honest, we've had poor starts in recent seasons, always needing to catch up. Yet we've still won three titles in a row."

"So falling behind early doesn't bother us. We know how to make up ground."

He didn't stop there, Ferguson even refused to call the upcoming match a derby.

"To me, our rivalry with Liverpool will always be the real derby because of the history between the clubs."

His words continued to mock Manchester City's lack of heritage.

Ferguson recalled that when he first took over Manchester United, Liverpool were true champions, winners of four European Cups and numerous league titles, the undisputed giants of English football.

"It was incredibly tough to write a new chapter in history with Liverpool so dominant but we did it."

To Ferguson, Manchester City weren't even qualified to be considered rivals.

"It'll be a tough match, no doubt. But I'm looking forward to seeing him there," he added, referring to Gao Shen.

He still wasn't willing to acknowledge City as true opponents.

"I'll say it clearly and confidently: our opponents are nothing to fear. They're not qualified to surpass Manchester United in the league. As long as I'm alive, that will never happen!"

…

The two clubs' training grounds are separated by just a wall.

No sooner had Ferguson finished speaking at the press conference than Gao Shen received word.

At his own pre-match press conference, Gao Shen responded with a smile, saying he could understand Ferguson's state of mind.

"Has anyone noticed that Sir Alex Ferguson has a pattern to the things he says before games?"

The moment he said that, all the reporters perked up.

Everyone knew Ferguson loved mind games, but a pattern?

"Any team he praises is usually a team he sees as no threat. The more he praises, the less concerned he is. On the other hand, the teams he criticizes, the ones he targets are the ones he truly sees as challengers. The more he scolds, the more uneasy he is."

Gao Shen concluded, "I don't exactly enjoy being insulted, but let me just say this: when your opponent starts getting scared, it's a good sign."

He also pointed out that United had taken a big hit after losing Ronaldo and Tevez.

"Two world-class scorers are gone. I don't know how United can make up for that loss. Just look at how much worse they've been this season compared to last."

Finally, Gao Shen issued a direct challenge.

"I want to say this: the era of Manchester United is over. The era of Manchester City is coming!"

…

The verbal sparring between two of the world's most high-profile managers lit up media coverage across Britain, Europe, and even around the globe.

The Daily Mail even published a feature on the 128-year history of the Manchester derby.

Interestingly, nearly twenty years ago to the day—September 23rd, City hosted United and won 5–1.

That was the most painful derby defeat of Ferguson's career and United's worst loss in 50 years.

The only consolation goal that day? Scored by Mark Hughes, who would later become City's manager.

But fifteen years ago, in November, United had thrashed City 5–0 at Old Trafford. Russian winger Kanchelskis scored a hat trick, with Mark Hughes and Cantona adding goals of their own.

That same season, United beat City 3–0 away, completing a league double.

Historically, Manchester City had no edge in this rivalry.

But this season, based on recent form, Gao Shen's side clearly looked stronger and that had City fans dreaming big.

On match day morning, as Gao Shen left for Carrington, he took out his phone, snapped a photo, and posted it to Twitter with a message:

"Look, what colour is the sky in Manchester?"

It was indeed a rare, clear day—perfect football weather.

Gao Shen's tweet went viral, sparking discussion and reposts from fans, pundits, and media outlets alike.

…

September 20th, 13:00, Old Trafford, Manchester.

There were still thirty minutes to kickoff.

Players from both teams had returned to their dressing rooms for final preparations.

Gao Shen received Manchester United's starting XI.

Goalkeeper: Foster
Defenders: Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, O'Shea
Midfielders: Sneijder, Carrick, Fletcher
Forwards: Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney

It was hard to say whether United were lining up in a 4-3-3, 4-4-2, or 4-2-3-1.

It would depend on the actual positioning when the match began.

But one thing was clear, this was the strongest lineup Ferguson could put out.

The only surprise was the use of Giggs on the wing. Would it have been Nani or Valencia instead? Or even Park Ji-sung?

In contrast, Manchester City's formation was much more straightforward.

Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defenders: Gareth Bale, David Luiz, Kompany, Zabaleta
Midfielders: Javi Martínez (deep), David Silva, Rakitic
Forwards: Robinho, Suárez, Robben

The formation Gao Shen set for Manchester City was a 4-3-3.

The only surprise was at left-back, Gao Shen had chosen Gareth Bale over Felipe, leaving the Brazilian on the bench.

This decision was bound to stir controversy.

After all, Felipe had clearly performed better than Gareth Bale so far this season.

Everyone knew that the Welsh full-back was infamous in the Premier League, he once went 24 games without a win while at Tottenham Hotspur. Although he broke that streak after joining Manchester City, his performances had not exactly been stellar.

Gao Shen arranged the starting lineups for both teams on the tactical board and began highlighting the key areas for attention.

For example: pressuring Carrick, watching out for Sneijder's passes, Evra's overlapping runs on the left, and Giggs' forward support, these were all crucial threats.

How to respond to each had already been repeatedly drilled into the players during the past week's training sessions.

There was no need to repeat it now.

"I want to say this—everyone here understands just how important this match is."

"This isn't just a derby. It's a pivotal battle that could shape the course of the Premier League season. Let me say it clearly: only by defeating Manchester United can we prove we truly have the strength to challenge for the title!"

"They are the grindstone and I believe we are ready to be sharpened!"

"Go out there and crush them from the first minute! Don't hold back, release your firepower and your passion. Show those former champions, who once ruled the Premier League our strength, and tell them loud and clear: the Manchester United era is over!"

…

While Gao Shen was in the dressing room firing up his squad, Ferguson had just received Manchester City's starting XI.

His first reaction was: Is Felipe injured?

For the past three days, City had trained behind closed doors. Even though United's base was just next door, they hadn't been able to gather any intel. They didn't even know what City had been rehearsing.

Gao Shen had done a brilliant job keeping everything under wraps.

Now, seeing Gareth Bale in the starting lineup over Felipe, Ferguson could only draw one conclusion: Felipe must be injured, and Gao Shen didn't want to take the risk.

"City's left flank could be our breakthrough point. Everyone—pay attention!"

After saying this, Ferguson looked at Rooney, who nodded with conviction.

"Don't worry. I'll handle him."

If it had been Felipe, things might've been more difficult. But Gareth Bale? Rooney had faced him before. The kid was quick, sure but he'd never made much of an impression.

Rooney was confident: getting past Gareth Bale wouldn't be a problem.

(To be continued.)