SWR: Chapter 557/558

Chapter 557: You Are an Expert

At the Cup Invitational Tournament in South Africa, Manchester City won one match and lost the other, failing to secure the championship, a result that disappointed many fans.

After completing the two warm-up matches, Gao Shen led the team out of Cape Town, heading north on a direct flight to Mallorca, Spain.

Mallorca's playing style had remained consistent from the Cooper era in the 1990s to Aragones' tenure. Their current head coach, Manzano, was also a well-respected figure in Spanish football.

Gao Shen deliberately chose this strong opponent to assess his own team.

However, in the warm-up match, he made large-scale rotations. Substitutions were nothing new, but this time, he completely reshuffled player positions. Gareth Bale was deployed at right-back, Sturridge played as a center forward, and Nigel de Jong was placed in central defense...

In the end, Gao Shen once again managed to defeat himself.

Manchester City suffered a 0-1 loss away to Mallorca.

Even Mallorca's head coach, Manzano, couldn't help but ask Gao Shen after the match why he had made such unorthodox tactical choices.

Gao Shen joked, "I was worried about spies in the stands gathering intelligence on us."

But he quickly clarified, "A warm-up match is the only opportunity I have to experiment and see what my players are capable of. Once the season starts, I won't get this chance, right?"

Manzano nodded in understanding and with a hint of envy.

Not every team had the resources or flexibility that Gao Shen enjoyed. For clubs like Mallorca, even assembling a complete starting lineup that fully embodied the coach's tactical vision was a challenge.

Having the freedom to experiment? That was a luxury!

…

After the Mallorca match, Manchester City flew west to Barcelona.

Their fourth warm-up fixture was against Espanyol, Barcelona's city rivals.

The decision to arrange this match was partly because Espanyol's tactical approach aligned well with Gao Shen's preferences, but also because of their head coach—Pochettino.

In fact, it was Pochettino who had reached out to Gao Shen for this friendly. Like Gao Shen, he had just taken over a new team.

More importantly, during his time in Italy, Pochettino had attended every single one of Gao Shen's coaching courses without fail. He was a textbook example of a diligent student. Now that he had stepped into management himself, it was only natural for Gao Shen to support him.

At Espanyol's El Prat Stadium, Gao Shen deployed a three-man defense.

He positioned Javi Martínez as the central defender, with David Luiz and Kompany flanking him on either side.

On the wings, Gareth Bale and Sturridge took up wide midfield roles.

The result? Manchester City played with bold aggression, their attacking play flowing smoothly—especially down the flanks.

Unfortunately, the man leading the line, Giroud, was wasteful in front of goal, squandering several chances. Still, thanks to a strike from Rakitic, City went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, Gao Shen switched to a 3-5-2 formation, pairing Giroud and Sturridge up front while moving Zabaleta into the right midfield role. This adjustment strengthened their offensive approach, but the finishing remained inefficient.

On the other hand, Espanyol, after making a series of tactical tweaks, found their rhythm. They launched a string of counterattacks and scored three goals in quick succession, turning the game on its head.

In the end, Espanyol came from behind to defeat Manchester City 3-1.

Despite the loss, Gao Shen was in high spirits.

Speaking to the media after the match, he described it as Manchester City's best performance since preseason began.

"Apart from the result, I'm very, very pleased with our overall play."

Gao Shen wasn't the only one who saw positives in the performance, Espanyol's head coach, Pochettino, also praised Manchester City.

"I could clearly see that he was experimenting with something new," Pochettino said. "And I'm really looking forward to seeing how it develops."

He dismissed the criticism surrounding Manchester City's warm-up results, insisting that reading too much into preseason games was pointless.

"If this had been a competitive fixture, I guarantee Manchester City would have played very differently."

Pochettino emphasized that friendlies should be judged on the process rather than the scoreline.

"Who says Manchester City has to play with three at the back?" he asked. "Just because they lined up that way in a warm-up match doesn't mean they'll do it in the actual season. Football has never been about rigid formations—player positioning is fluid."

Then, he took a jab at the media.

"This year's reporters? Absolute amateurs!"

…

Despite receiving backing from Pochettino, Manzano, and others, Manchester City still faced a media storm of criticism. After all, in four warm-up matches, they had recorded just one win and three defeats.

For a squad assembled at a cost of over €200 million, that was a dismal record.

The British press, always eager to stir controversy, treated Manchester City's preseason struggles like a festival. Doubts swirled about whether Gao Shen had any real tactical direction, and with the new Premier League season fast approaching in August, concern mounted over City's lack of a settled playing style.

A few rational voices attempted to counter the narrative. For instance, The Times pointed out that during Gao Shen's three years at Napoli, his preseason records had consistently featured more losses than wins.

But such perspectives were drowned out by the sheer volume of negative coverage. In the cutthroat world of British media, sensationalism sold far better than reasoned analysis.

As Gao Shen wryly remarked on Twitter, "The entire Premier League is waiting to laugh at us!"

Then, he added defiantly, "But I'm sorry, you're going to be disappointed!"

But that statement only brought him more doubt and ridicule.

The team had performed so poorly in the warm-up matches, how could he still have the nerve to say such things?

As for why preseason results supposedly mattered so much, the media had no real answer. They just criticized.

Because, after all, who told him to take charge of Manchester City?

…

From South Africa to Spain, Manchester City's next stop was Germany.

First, in Munich, they played to a 1-1 draw against 1860 Munich, then suffered a 1-2 away defeat to Mainz, coached by Thomas Tuchel.

Like Pochettino, Tuchel had also been one of Gao Shen's most dedicated students during his time teaching in Italy. He attended every session without fail.

Now that Tuchel had stepped into management, Gao Shen arranged this friendly to show his support from thousands of miles away.

After the match, Tuchel told the media that Manchester City had actually played better but were struggling with an intense schedule.

"From South Africa to Spain to Germany, they're playing a match almost every three days," he pointed out.

"And Gao Shen is really going all out. His lineup is completely different in every game, and he's even shifting players into unfamiliar positions."

Tuchel recalled discussing this approach with Gao Shen back when they were in Italy.

"He always felt that this kind of preseason was very effective, and he genuinely enjoys it. I think this method suits him, but it wouldn't work for everyone."

Tuchel also defended Gao Shen against the criticism he was receiving.

"He doesn't need to prove anything to anyone anymore. He is the best head coach in European football, maybe even the world. Yes, he's only 28, and some people refuse to accept it, but it's the truth."

He also noted that Manchester City showed clear tactical evolution during the match.

"There are a lot of professional details I can't go into, but I can say that he's attempting something very interesting. He's looking to further refine and improve upon his tactical ideas from Napoli."

"I'm really happy to see him doing this because it shows he's not a coach who just settles. He's still pushing boundaries, still innovating. That's something we can all learn from."

"For me, this wasn't about winning. The final score was irrelevant. What mattered was that it made me think—it inspired me. That's more valuable than any result."

While Tuchel, Pochettino, and Manzano had all praised Gao Shen's approach, the media and fans continued to mock Manchester City for their poor preseason results.

…

After finishing their matches in Germany, Manchester City took a brief pause before flying back to Manchester.

This was the first time the team had returned to Carrington since their summer training camp began.

According to the plan outlined by Gao Shen and his coaching staff, the preseason was divided into two phases. The first phase was now complete.

Upon returning, the team would review and analyze their performances before entering the second phase. This next stage would still feature warm-up matches, but now their preparations would start to revolve around the upcoming Premier League season.

Manchester City's league opener was scheduled for August 15.

Before that, Gao Shen arranged two final warm-up matches in the UK—one against Scottish giants Celtic and another against Southampton, a third-tier English side.

The Southampton match had been part of the agreement when City signed Adam Lallana.

Manchester City had acquired Lallana for €1 million, plus all the revenue from this friendly.

These two games would serve as the final sprint in their preseason preparations.

However, the British media remained unimpressed by Manchester City's summer training camp, especially by Gao Shen's work.

They argued that, after an entire month, he still hadn't settled on a mature and stable tactical system. That, in their eyes, was unacceptable.

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen also voiced concerns about Manchester City's fitness levels, form, and morale. Based on their preseason performances, he felt the team was not in good shape.

Gao Shen, however, dismissed such criticism outright.

Tagging Alan Hansen on Twitter, he sarcastically remarked that he didn't mind bringing some attention to Hansen's "pitifully low follower count." Then, he posed a direct question:

"The warm-up matches weren't even broadcast live—so tell me, where exactly did you watch them?"

Hansen replied that he had gathered his opinions from colleagues who attended the matches in person.

Gao Shen's response was short and cutting:

"I can only say—you really are an expert!"

Today, Alan Hansen was just another media pundit.

…

Despite the overwhelming criticism from outside, things remained calm within Manchester City.

That was largely because Gao Shen had shielded his team from the backlash, absorbing all the media fire and accusations himself.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 558: Manchester City's Dictator

In the large conference room, the players sat up straight, listening attentively as the coaching staff analyzed their performances.

From Carlo to Lucas, from Buenaventura and Pintus to Borrell, each coach took turns on stage, offering their assessments based on their respective areas of expertise.

One defining characteristic of Gao Shen's coaching team was their exceptional professionalism.

Their analysis wasn't just surface-level, it was rooted in video reviews, data, and in-depth tactical breakdowns. They dissected each issue thoroughly, explaining the cause-and-effect relationships behind mistakes, helping the players understand what went wrong, why it happened, and how to correct it. This method was essential for progress.

In the past, Gao Shen was always the first to speak, but today, he went last.

It was only after the other coaches had finished that he strolled up to the stage at a leisurely pace.

"You all made some excellent points," he said. "I'd like to add a few more."

Gao Shen scanned the room, his expression dark and serious. It was necessary to apply pressure when needed.

This had always been his approach to managing the locker room.

To outsiders, he was the players' shield, protecting them from external criticism so they could focus on training and matches. But within the team, he had no problem calling out mistakes. If players failed to respond after repeated warnings, he would demote them to the reserves. In extreme cases, he wouldn't hesitate to cut them from the squad altogether.

This authority gave him a firm grip over the dressing room.

Although Manchester City was still a developing team, a month of working together had been enough for the players to understand Gao Shen's personality and leadership style.

Off the pitch, he was approachable, able to draw players into conversations with just a few words. But when it came to discipline, he was stricter than anyone—his rules were absolute.

Even the biggest names in the squad, like Robinho, Rakitic, David Luiz, and Robben, followed his lead. Naturally, the rest of the team dared not step out of line.

After all, even club captain Richard Dunne had been sold under Gao Shen's orders. If he could go, anyone could.

Kompany, Zabaleta, and other players brought in during 2008 had fully bought into his philosophy. Meanwhile, local academy graduates like Micah Richards were still too junior to challenge his authority.

As a result, the Manchester City dressing room had become a place where Gao Shen's word was final.

Standing on stage now, he swept his gaze across the room. Every player was focused, sitting with rigid attention, wary of being singled out.

"The First Issue: Mentality."

"Through the four warm-up matches we've played so far, the biggest problem I've seen is that many of you, if not the majority have not fully adjusted your mindset."

The fundamental difference between Manchester City and the Napoli team Gao Shen built was that his Napoli players had been blank slates—young, highly adaptable, and easy to mold.

Manchester City's squad was also young, but many of these players had already spent two, three, or even four or five years playing under different coaches. Their habits and playing styles had already been shaped by others.

That made change more difficult.

"As I've repeatedly emphasized, our pressing is not about winning the ball. Not about winning the ball. Not about winning the ball."

He deliberately repeated the phrase three times for emphasis.

"But after four matches, I still see too many players chasing the ball instead of pressing properly. That makes our movements disorganized."

Whether at Real Madrid, Napoli, or now Manchester City, Gao Shen had always advocated high pressing—not to immediately win the ball back, but to apply pressure and control the game.

At this point, he played a video clip showing Manchester City attempting a counter-press after losing possession. When the press failed, the players instinctively chased after the ball, breaking their defensive shape and allowing the opposition to create a dangerous attack.

"I understand that at your previous clubs, the focus was on winning back possession as quickly as possible. Of course, we want to win the ball too, but that is not our objective."

"The purpose of our pressing is to delay and dictate."

He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing.

"We've talked about this before, don't be afraid of the opposition attacking us. Let them come. When a boxer throws a punch, they first pull their fist back, that's what gives the punch power. It's the same in football. We want our opponents to attack because it plays into our strategy."

"So stop being afraid. Stop panicking. Our goal is to control the flow of the game, to guide the opposition into the areas we want them to be in."

"But when you fixate on winning the ball, you disrupt our entire shape. The moment the opposition makes a simple pass, we're out of position and left scrambling."

A heavy silence filled the room.

The players knew he was right. The data backed it up.

Mental adjustments and ingrained habits couldn't be changed overnight.

The footage Gao Shen had just shown was from their first warm-up match, and they had improved since then but the issue still appeared in every game. That made it worth addressing again.

"The Second Issue: Midfield."

Gao Shen turned his attention to Javi Martínez.

"Your positioning is still an issue, especially when dropping back. You're not retreating deep enough."

Then he expanded his criticism.

"But this isn't just your fault. The midfielders ahead of you are also failing to track back and provide the necessary cover."

After saying that, Gao Shen played two more video clips—one showing a successful sequence and the other highlighting a failure. Both focused on how Manchester City transitioned from attack to defense, particularly the positioning of the midfielders.

Gao Shen's philosophy was clear: after losing possession in the attacking third, the team should immediately counter-press and apply pressure. Winning the ball back was ideal, but the primary objective was to delay the opposition, forcing them to play backward and buying time for the rest of the team to reposition defensively.

If they couldn't hold the opposition in place, the next priority was to guide the ball to the flanks.

There were two main reasons for this approach. First, the wings were narrower, making them easier areas to press and suffocate the opposition. Second, Manchester City's full-backs pushed forward aggressively during attacks, meaning that when possession was lost, they were already positioned high up the pitch, providing defensive support on the flanks.

But what if the opponent bypassed the wing and attacked through the half-space or center?

That's where the importance of the number four position came in.

One of the two center-backs would shift to the side to cover the space behind the full-back, taking on a role similar to a wide defender. Meanwhile, the player in the number four position would drop into the vacant center-back slot.

Once the defensive midfielder fell back into position, the two central midfielders ahead of him had to quickly recover and provide additional cover in front of the defensive line.

This defensive setup had already been tested successfully at Napoli, proving to be both effective and flexible.

After all, Napoli's defense had withstood the test of top-level competition, including the Champions League.

Why Javi Martínez?

The entire system revolved around the number four position, which was why Gao Shen had specifically chosen Javi Martínez for the role.

Not only was he a talented midfielder with strong passing and defensive abilities, but he also had the physical attributes, strength, positioning, and a height of over 1.90 meters to excel in that role.

Regardless of the era, the defensive midfield position had always been crucial.

But in Gao Shen's eyes, Martínez had yet to fully adapt to the demands of the role and needed further improvement.

To address this, the coaching staff would develop specialized training programs to help him refine his positioning and decision-making.

"The Third Issue: Communication."

"Now, let me ask you—how do you think your communication has been on the pitch?"

"Because from my perspective, it's complete chaos."

Gao Shen's tone became noticeably sharper.

"I've said this before: in the locker room, on the pitch, and on the training ground, only English is allowed. We need to unify our language and communication methods."

"But frankly, you've done a poor job in this regard!"

This shouldn't have been a problem.

It would be unreasonable to expect every player to become fluent in English within a month. However, at the very least, they should have grasped the essential football-related terms and phrases needed to communicate effectively during matches and training sessions.

Yet, reality painted a different picture.

Many players were still struggling.

"From this moment forward, I'm launching a ten-day intensive English crash course!"

"For those of you whose English isn't up to standard, your assigned English teachers will be giving you daily learning tasks. Starting tomorrow, before every morning training session, I will randomly test your progress. Everyone must pass."

Gao Shen's voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

"I'm making this clear now, anyone who fails the random checks, regardless of who they are, will immediately be sent to train with the reserves and have their workload doubled. Until you meet the required standard, you will not be allowed to participate in first-team training or matches!"

"Let me repeat: no exceptions!"

The room fell into dead silence.

For players like Giroud, David Silva, and Suárez—who weren't fluent in English—this was a nightmare.

European football had never seen a manager like this before.

A dictator!

Not only did he expect them to play football at the highest level, but now he was making them memorize English words, phrases, and sentences?

Even in school, their English teachers hadn't been this strict!

"If we wanted to study, we wouldn't have become footballers!"

But Gao Shen had no other choice.

If there had been an easier solution, he wouldn't have resorted to such a drastic measure.

"These struggling students are really giving me a headache," he thought.

A month had passed, yet communication on the pitch was still an issue. How were they supposed to function as a cohesive unit?

Many of the problems exposed in the warm-up matches weren't due to individual player ability but poor coordination and language barriers played a major role.

When players didn't share a strong tactical understanding, verbal communication was the key to survival.

"In addition," Gao Shen continued, "if any of you have suggestions for improving in-game and training communication, speak up!"

"You're welcome to create custom jargon or secret codes, as long as your teammates understand them instantly during matches, I'll approve."

He paused before adding, "In fact, if your contributions are useful and get adopted by the team, you'll be rewarded—including but not limited to skipping certain training sessions."

Suddenly, the players' reactions changed.

If the first part of his speech had left them feeling oppressed, the last part had ignited excitement.

Skipping training?

That was a golden opportunity—especially when it came to Pintus' grueling fitness sessions.

Anyone who had endured Pintus' training knew it was pure torture. If there was a way to avoid it, they'd take it in a heartbeat.

"All we have to do is come up with some jargon and secret signals?"

"That's easy!"

(To be continued.)