SWR: Chapter 521/522

Chapter 521: The First Time Was So Nice I Had To Do It Twice
Standing in front of the home team's dugout at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Gao Shen maintained a solemn expression.

The match was nearing its end.

Moments ago, the fourth official on the sidelines had raised the electronic board, signaling four minutes of stoppage time. Now, extra time was well underway.

The game had effectively been decided when Thiago Motta scored Napoli's fourth goal from a corner kick.

No one had expected the match to unfold with such a shocking outcome.

Before the game, Barcelona had been the overwhelming favorite.

But football is unpredictable, that's what makes it so fascinating.

Even Gao Shen himself hadn't anticipated such a result.

Before kickoff, he had envisioned a tight game, perhaps a 1-0 win, or at most, a 2-0 or 2-1 scoreline.

Those seemed like the most reasonable outcomes.

And if Napoli were to lose, he figured it would likely be by a single goal.

But instead, they had won by four!

"Tomorrow, do you think people will start suspecting that this match was fixed?" Gao Shen turned to his assistant.

Zidane and the others could only smile wryly, such speculation was certainly possible.

Some conspiracy theorists might even claim that Guardiola had deliberately thrown the match as a favor to Gao Shen, repaying him for recommending him as Barcelona's head coach a year ago.

But honestly, that kind of theory was complete nonsense.

As a professional coach, if Guardiola had actually done something like that, the first to hold him accountable would be Barcelona itself.

Still, the scoreline was that unbelievable.

At that moment, Lucas suddenly recalled something.

"When I was in college, I studied economics. I remember my professor once told us something interesting. He said that in modern global economics, oil is the lifeblood of industry, every sector depends on it."

"Now, suppose that, for some reason, the world's oil production suddenly drops by 10%. What do you think will happen to oil prices? And if production were to increase by 10%, how would prices react?"

Gao Shen, Zidane, and Carlo exchanged puzzled looks.

We're football coaches, not economists.

"If production drops, oil prices will obviously rise. If production increases, prices will fall, but…" Carlo trailed off, uncertain.

Lucas smirked, clearly pleased with the chance to show off his knowledge.

"If oil production decreases by 10%, the price of oil doesn't just rise by 10%, it skyrockets to a level where only 90% of people can still afford it. Likewise, if production increases by 10%, prices don't just drop by 10%, they plummet to an unbelievably low level."

Gao Shen thought for a moment and suddenly grasped the underlying logic.

"We live in a world of dynamic equilibrium, and the same applies to football. It's not as simple as 'do something right, score a goal; do something wrong, concede a goal.' That's elementary school arithmetic. The reality is, when you execute a tactic correctly, you can keep scoring until the opponent reacts and adjusts, bringing the game back into balance."

Zidane and Carlo both nodded in sudden realization.

Analyzing football through an economic lens, it was a novel perspective.

And when you thought about it, it made perfect sense.

Guardiola had made just one substitution the entire match, bringing on Sylvinho for Yaya Touré.

And yet, three of Napoli's four goals had come after that change.

Still, Guardiola refused to adjust further.

Gao Shen understood his character.

To put it nicely, Guardiola was a football purist. To put it bluntly, he was too stubborn, too obsessed with his own philosophy.

Gao Shen was convinced that when Barcelona conceded the second goal, Guardiola must have realized his tactical shift had failed.

And yet, he refused to change it. He refused to admit he was wrong.

He was unwilling to revert to the more balanced setup of the first half.

He would rather lose even suffer a crushing defeat than acknowledge his mistake.

Gao Shen, on the other hand, had no such pride.

For instance, in the second leg against Manchester United, as soon as he realized what was happening, he immediately adjusted his tactics.

Football purist?

Not a chance!

But for Guardiola, it wasn't just about winning, it was about winning the right way, the way he believed in.

Gao Shen had always felt that this mindset was a weakness, one that needed fixing.

Hopefully, tonight's defeat would be a wake-up call for Guardiola.

Pep, I really tried to help you!

…

The final whistle blew.

Referee Webb signaled the end of the match.

Instantly, the Napoli substitutes, staff, and team personnel, who had been eagerly waiting on the sidelines, stormed onto the pitch in celebration.

Everyone ran, embraced, cheered, and shouted in ecstasy!

In the stands, over 30,000 Napoli fans erupted in wild celebration, singing and dancing in jubilation.

4-0!

A result that no one had seen coming.

Napoli's players and staff basked in the glory of their historic triumph.

"Congratulations to Napoli!"

"And at the same time—congratulations to Gao Shen!"

"Ever since he chose Napoli in 2006, almost everyone doubted him. They believed that moving to Serie B after winning both the Champions League and La Liga was a step down—a sign of regression."

"But now, looking back, we have to admit, Gao Shen made an incredibly wise decision."

"At the time, staying at Real Madrid seemed like the best option. But with the club's presidential change and the chaos that followed, it's clear that what looked like the best choice wasn't necessarily the right one."

"He was also close to joining Juventus, but just look at Juventus now. The club's management is in turmoil, the three main executives are constantly clashing, sporting director Alessio Secco is at odds with nearly every head coach, and their transfer strategy is a mess. If Gao Shen had taken that job, the best-case scenario would've been leaving after one season, just like Deschamps."

"When Gao Shen chose Napoli, almost everyone questioned him. But now, in just three years, he has taken a newly promoted Serie B side to the very top of European football—Champions League winners."

"More importantly, when we look back at what Gao Shen said upon taking charge at Napoli, he was clear, he wanted to build a team that was entirely his own, one that reflected his coaching philosophy and style. And today's Napoli is the perfect embodiment of that vision."

"It's fair to say that this team is a direct showcase of Gao Shen's coaching philosophy and tactical brilliance."

"We can see his coaching ability in every aspect of this Napoli side. Whether it's possession-based play, high pressing, or carefully crafted tactical adjustments, Gao Shen executes it all with precision. And he's still improving."

"Even legendary managers like Ferguson, Wenger, and Lippi are full of praise for his tactical acumen."

"Tonight, Gao Shen led Napoli to the second Champions League title of his career, cementing his status among the world's elite managers. Among active head coaches, only Hitzfeld, Del Bosque, Ferguson, and Ancelotti have won two Champions League titles. Del Bosque and Hitzfeld are now managing national teams."

"In other words, Gao Shen is one of only three active club managers in world football today who have won the Champions League twice!"

"Even more remarkable, Ferguson won both his titles with Manchester United, and Ancelotti won both with AC Milan. But Gao Shen is the only one to have won his two Champions League titles with two different clubs—Real Madrid and Napoli."

"Leading two different teams to Champions League glory is an achievement only two other managers have accomplished in the competition's 50-year history. One was Austrian coach Ernst Happel, who won with Feyenoord in 1970 and Hamburg in 1983."

"The other was the legendary German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who led Dortmund to victory in 1997 before winning the Champions League again with Bayern Munich in 2001."

"And now, Gao Shen has become just the third manager in history to win the Champions League with two different clubs!"

"And what's even more unbelievable, he's only 28 years old!"

"From his time at Real Madrid until now, in just three years, Gao Shen has won two Champions League titles and three top-flight league championships. This incredible résumé has already cemented his name in football history."

"At the same time, we have every reason to believe that Gao Shen will continue to bring us more surprises and more breathtaking football in the future!"

…

As the Napoli players and staff stormed onto the pitch in celebration, Gao Shen stood calmly on the sidelines, watching it all with a smile.

He was savoring the moment.

For him, this was the most special, the most captivating feeling.

People find joy in different things, some love the process, some love the result. But for Gao Shen, the true satisfaction came in the aftermath of victory.

He cherished this moment, the energy in the stadium, the joy of the Napoli fans, the happiness of those who had supported him and believed in him.

That's why he hated losing.

Because he never wanted to disappoint the people who supported him.

As he soaked in the atmosphere, he let go of all his thoughts and simply relaxed.

"Do you know what I'm thinking right now?" Gao Shen asked with a smile, watching his players celebrate on the pitch.

Zidane stood beside him, shaking his head.

Even now, he still found Gao Shen's depth of thought unpredictable, always difficult to grasp.

"I'm thinking that I should take a long vacation, get some proper rest, completely unwind," Gao Shen said, his tone filled with anticipation.

Zidane nodded in agreement.

The life of a manager was incredibly demanding. Gao Shen hadn't taken a real break in at least three years.

"Where's a good place to go?" Zidane asked.

He, too, wanted to take a long vacation and spend time traveling with his family.

Gao Shen shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe I'll just stay at home, or maybe I'll go traveling—I have no plans yet."

Zidane couldn't help but laugh. That was exactly like Gao Shen.

For the past few years, his mind had been completely focused on football. How could he have found time to think about vacations?

Besides, they had won tonight but what if they had lost?

Would he even be in the mood to travel then?

"I actually have a plan," Zidane began. "I was just about to tell you—"

Before he could finish, Gao Shen patted him on the shoulder and shook his head.

"Let's talk about it later. Right now, we have something very important to do."

Huh?

Something important?

Was it time to receive the trophy?

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Chapter 522: Gao Shen, I Didn’t Expect You to Be Like This

"Congratulations, Gao!"

"Thanks!"

A white-haired UEFA official approached, but Gao Shen couldn't recall his name.

After shaking hands, the official gestured for Gao Shen to gather all his players. The podium was almost ready, and both teams would soon begin the awards ceremony.

"Barcelona will go up first, and you and your players will stand on both sides," the UEFA official explained, pointing to the entrance of the podium. He then went over the entire awards process and added, "This is the tradition for Champions League winners and runners-up."

Gao Shen understood.

The UEFA panel goes up first, followed by the runners-up, and finally, the champions.

Traditionally, the winning team lines up to escort both the judges and the runners-up to the podium, a show of sportsmanship.

All around the stadium, media crews and TV stations partnered with UEFA roamed the pitch with portable cameras, capturing every moment.

In the distance, the Barcelona players huddled together, their expressions filled with disappointment.

Losing such a major final and missing out on the treble was devastating, especially for some players, who might never get another chance to lift the Champions League trophy.

Like Thierry Henry.

The French forward had left Arsenal for Barcelona with one goal, to finally win the Champions League.

After securing La Liga and the Copa del Rey this season, he was determined to complete the treble. But after suffering such a crushing defeat in the final, how could he accept it?

This might have been his last chance at Champions League glory.

Guardiola and Vilanova stood to the side, both looking completely dejected, especially Guardiola.

For him, this match had been like a major exam.

And he had failed.

The moment Napoli scored their second goal in the second half, he knew he was powerless.

There was no way to turn things around.

As he stood there, fragments of past conversations with Gao Shen surfaced in his mind.

Looking back now, Gao Shen had truly understood him.

…

Victory belongs to the strong, while defeat isolates the weak.

This was on full display at the Stadio Olimpico tonight.

Napoli, the victorious side, was showered with applause and praise.

Barcelona, meanwhile, stood in the shadows, not daring to step forward.

Every player was processing the loss in their own way.

Some, like Yaya Touré, were filled with grief and frustration.

Some, like Henry, were disheartened.

And others—Messi, Eto'o, Xavi, Iniesta—were simply furious at the way they had lost.

While the world's attention was elsewhere, Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, descended from the VIP stands with his entourage.

He approached the players one by one, embracing them and offering words of encouragement, especially Guardiola.

Laporta hugged his manager tightly, urging him not to be discouraged and to keep pushing forward.

"Everyone, no matter what, this has been a successful season for Barcelona."

"On behalf of the club, I promise that we will invest heavily in top-tier players this summer. Next season, we will come back stronger and reclaim the Champions League!"

Laporta was known for being unreliable at times, but at this moment, his leadership was crucial.

His words lifted the players' spirits, and many forced themselves to respond to his rallying cry.

Even the Barcelona fans in the stands reacted, breaking into applause to encourage their team.

Just then, a UEFA official arrived to inform them, the podium was ready.

…

"Congratulations, Gao!"

"Thanks!"

Gao Shen hugged Guardiola, repeating the phrase he had said countless times that night.

The word he had used the most tonight was thank you.

"This final turned out exactly as you predicted, I lost," Guardiola admitted frankly.

"I… didn't win that much," Gao Shen chuckled.

Guardiola was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter. He gently patted Gao Shen's shoulder.

The two shared a strong friendship, often teasing each other behind the scenes.

But Gao Shen had always believed that Guardiola's tactical approach had a fundamental flaw, it lacked flexibility.

Many people viewed Mourinho as a control freak, but in reality, Guardiola was just as obsessive.

His tactical instructions were so detailed that he even dictated how Henry should move.

That's Thierry Henry!

One of the greatest strikers in the world!

Gao Shen had seen this kind of thing before, not in football, but in his previous life, working in a company.

Overly rigid rules and excessively detailed regulations often did more harm than good.

He remembered an incident from back then.

One day, he urgently needed a document signed, so he went to a sister department.

Unfortunately, the person responsible for that task was on leave.

It was a small issue, there were over a dozen colleagues in that department, and anyone could have signed it.

But no one was willing to.

Not because they had a bad relationship with Gao Shen.

In fact, they were colleagues, often working together and even eating lunch as a group.

But their reasoning was simple.

"It's the company's business, not ours. Just wait until the responsible person returns and let them handle it. Why take responsibility for something that's not our job?"

A football pitch is different from a corporate office, but Gao Shen believed that some fundamental principles remained the same.

If a system is too rigid, too detailed, it may look efficient on paper but in reality, it often becomes impractical.

Of course, having no rules leads to chaos.

That's why, throughout history, management has always been a delicate balancing act.

…

Howard Webb and the UEFA judging panel took the stage first to receive their awards.

Next, Guardiola led the Barcelona players onto the podium.

Napoli lined up on both sides of the tunnel, applauding as they made their way up.

Once Barcelona had received their medals and exited the stage, it was finally Napoli's turn.

However, just before they were about to go up, a small incident occurred.

According to protocol, a club official was supposed to go on stage to accept a commemorative badge on behalf of the team.

General Manager Marino had already stepped forward, leading the team and preparing to go up.

But just as he was about to take the final step, De Laurentiis appeared.

The bearded Napoli owner, rarely seen in formal attire, walked straight up to Marino and told him to step aside. He insisted that he would be the one to accept the award on behalf of the team.

"No, boss, didn't you say earlier that you didn't want to go on stage?" Marino protested, looking aggrieved.

"It's not that I didn't want to… I originally planned to give you the opportunity. But now that I think about it, your image, especially that shiny bald head just doesn't represent Napoli properly. So I have to do it myself!" De Laurentiis declared confidently.

"But…"

"It's fine! This is a birthday gift from God to me. How could I possibly refuse it?" De Laurentiis said with a straight face.

A birthday gift from God?

Gao Shen and the players were stunned.

Wait… today's his birthday?

Damn, no one knew!

"Boss, your birthday is on the 24th. Today is the 27th," Marino pointed out.

De Laurentiis snorted. "When I was born, the registration date was incorrect. My mother told me I was actually born on the 27th." Then, he narrowed his eyes at Marino. "Satisfied now?"

Marino was completely intimidated.

He couldn't explain it, but whenever he faced his boss, he always felt a deep sense of dread.

But the chance to stand on the Champions League podium… that was once in a lifetime.

"Boss, traditionally, it's the general manager who accepts the award. Why go through all this trouble yourself?" Marino tried one last time, forcing a smile.

De Laurentiis ignored him and turned to Gao Shen instead. Smirking, he asked, "Gao, do you think our team even has a general manager?"

Gao Shen had been enjoying the show, but the moment he was dragged into it, he immediately understood what was happening.

He glanced at poor Marino—deeply sympathizing with the man for having such an unreasonable boss.

"Honestly… not really," Gao Shen laughed.

Marino's jaw dropped. He pointed at Gao Shen, completely speechless.

Gao… I didn't expect you to be this kind of person!

De Laurentiis also burst into laughter. He turned back to Marino. "So, Pierpaolo, does Napoli have a general manager?"

Marino felt like he was being forced into submission.

But what choice did he have?

He was just an employee.

"Boss, you go ahead. I'll just… watch from the sidelines." Marino almost teared up.

Satisfied, De Laurentiis strutted forward, leading the team like a mafia don, waving his hand grandly for everyone to follow.

Gao Shen happily walked behind him. As he passed Marino, he shot him a look full of sympathy.

The rest of the Napoli players did the same.

Poor Marino.

His once-in-a-lifetime chance to step onto the Champions League podium had just been mercilessly stolen from him.

Such is the fate of a working man!

…

"Oh my God, Gao, I don't even know how to describe my feelings right now. We are all so proud of you. Thank you for everything you've done for European football!"

When Gao Shen reached UEFA President Michel Platini, the Frenchman was visibly emotional.

After speaking, he pulled Gao Shen into a big hug.

To be honest, Gao Shen felt extremely uncomfortable.

Platini was short, so Gao Shen had to lean down to hug him—an awkward position that made him feel stiff.

Afterward, he spotted Juan Carlos, the man who still owed him the Spanish throne.

Upon seeing Gao Shen, the former king beamed and said, "I owe you a meal at Juan's House BBQ Restaurant!"

His tone and expression were so eager, s o excessively friendly that Gao Shen decided to let him off the hook.

He also exchanged a few words with high-ranking Italian government officials before greeting senior diplomats and Chinese ambassadors visiting Italy.

As Napoli's captain, Montevino, prepared to lift the Champions League trophy, Gao Shen quietly stepped aside, deliberately avoiding the center of attention.

He left the prime spot for his players.

Tonight, he wasn't afraid of being overshadowed.

Because what he was about to do next…

No one had ever done before.