Chapter 20: Can Gao Shen Handle It?
March 4th, morning, Odalesa district.
Carlo rose early as usual, stepping outside to retrieve the fresh Aspen newspaper from the mailbox, as well as two tickets discreetly placed inside. They were for tonight's highly anticipated derby match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium.
What differed from routine was the presence of a note amidst the tickets, scrawled in twisted Spanish.
"I hope you can come to watch the game, Gao."
Even without a signature, Carlo instantly recognized the handwriting as Gao Shen's, unmistakably messy.
Back inside, seated at the dining table, Carlo stared blankly at the two football tickets.
Four days had passed since his dismissal from the position of Real Madrid's head coach.
"Who sent the tickets? Is it Gao?" his wife emerged from the kitchen, concerned, spotting the tickets in Carlo's hand.
Carlo remained silent, simply nodding.
"Why didn't you invite him in?" Mrs. Carroll complained.
Knowing his wife harbored a favorable view of Gao Shen, Carlo understood her misunderstanding. Yet, his departure from the Real Madrid helm had nothing to do with Gao Shen; it was purely due to the antics of the new chairman Martin, a sore spot he couldn't shake.
His thoughts were in turmoil.
Did he want to attend?
Absolutely, he truly desired to.
Did he not want to go?
Equally so, he felt a strong reluctance. Just four days ago, he commanded Real Madrid as head coach; now, attending a game with tickets sent by Gao Shen felt uncomfortable, whichever way he turned it in his mind.
"Why didn't I see anyone?" Mrs. Carroll scanned the courtyard, puzzled by the absence of a tall figure.
"The tickets were probably delivered last night. Let's leave it be. He didn't wake us to deliver them, just left them in the mailbox," Carlo explained.
Mrs. Carroll discerned her husband's internal struggle and joined him at the table. After a few minutes of silence, she couldn't resist asking, "So, are you going to the game tonight?"
Carlo remained silent once more.
He clearly didn't want to provide an answer.
"He mentioned he really wanted you to attend," Mrs. Carroll gently nudged.
Carlo regarded Gao Shen as his pupil, often visiting their home. Mrs. Carroll held a favorable opinion of Gao Shen and didn't want this matter to cause friction.
Having been with Carlo for 20 or 30 years, she understood her husband's character better than anyone else and empathized with his current predicament.
Don't say Carlo had changed; this situation was testing him.
After some hesitation, Carlo pushed the tickets gently towards his wife. "I won't go. If you want to, take a friend along. If not, maybe give them to our neighbors at the bar."
With that said, Carlo opened up today's newspaper.
Mrs. Carroll regarded her husband intently, saying nothing more, and collected the tickets.
---
Predictably, the headlines in Aspen were dominated by tonight's derby game.
For weeks now, the entire city had been buzzing with anticipation for this pivotal showdown.
Outsiders often failed to grasp Atletico Madrid's deep-seated animosity towards Real Madrid. Only those residing in the city understood this longstanding rivalry that had only grown more intense with time.
Long before Atletico Madrid's relegation, their chairman, Old Hill, had famously stated that Atletico Madrid's sole mission was to dismantle Real Madrid. Their satisfaction would only come through triumph over their arch-rivals.
Unexpectedly, Atletico Madrid had indeed achieved their ambition.
For Atletico Madrid, this marked a catastrophe, shattering their aspirations of becoming a dominant force. However, it further fueled their resentment towards Real Madrid.
During Atletico Madrid's stint in the second division, Florentino took charge of Real Madrid, clinched two Champions League titles in three years, and assembled a squad of global superstars, creating a formidable galactic battleship.
Atletico Madrid languished in the second division, gazing upwards at their former nemesis. In La Liga, the Champions League, and globally, Real Madrid shone brightly.
It was a psychological blow that could have crippled them, but Atletico Madrid displayed remarkable resilience.
Returning to La Liga, the Rojiblancos squared off against Real Madrid once more.
Every encounter between the two sides was fiercely contested, characterized by unwavering determination from Atletico Madrid. Though Real Madrid had secured 4-0 and 3-0 victories, each clash was fraught with tension and closely fought battles.
Atletico Madrid's return to La Liga also meant their return to the Bernabeu, where Real Madrid boasted one win and two draws. Conversely, at the Calderon Stadium, Real Madrid had emerged victorious in four consecutive encounters.
What did this pattern signify?
At the Bernabeu, Atletico Madrid consistently challenged Real Madrid!
---
Atletico Madrid coach, Murcia, expressed in a pre-match press conference that this was the optimal moment for Atletico Madrid to defeat Real Madrid. With the Bernabeu in turmoil, they saw an opportunity to avenge their Calderon defeat.
"While it's unfortunate to see Real Madrid in disarray, as competitors, this presents a significant opportunity for us. We're eager to exact revenge at the Bernabeu," Murcia declared.
Murcia also questioned the appointment of Gao Shen, Real Madrid's interim coach at just 25 years old, deeming it an absurd decision given the team's average age of over 25 years.
"They will pay the price for their folly!"
Joining in the criticism was Atletico Madrid's top scorer, Fernando Torres, who expressed delight upon hearing that Real Madrid had excluded their Brazilian stars from the squad.
"This decision baffles me. One might even suspect our acting coach at Real Madrid of being a spy at the Bernabeu," Torres quipped, tongue-in-cheek.
While it was meant in jest, Torres highlighted the absence of key Brazilian players, including Ronaldo, Robinho, Baptista, Carlos, and Cicinho, all pivotal figures for Real Madrid.
Torres confidently stated, "It's going to be a tough match, especially at the Bernabeu."
Spanish international defender, Pablo Ibanez, echoed Torres's sentiments, dismissing Real Madrid's threat without Ronaldo as a toothless tiger.
"A Real Madrid without Ronaldo isn't a side to fear," Ibanez asserted. "We're prepared to demonstrate our strength at the Bernabeu."
Antonio Lopez, an Atletico Madrid youth academy product, also reflected on their previous encounter in the seventh round, where he received a red card in the sixth minute.
"At that moment, I didn't even make contact with Raul," Lopez claimed. "Yet, the referee showed me a red card after pressure from Real Madrid players. Tonight at the Bernabeu, they'll pay for that."
---
The rivalry between these two city rivals had always been intense and heated.
At the Calderon, they set a record with one red card and seven yellow cards. It was widely expected that tonight's match at the Bernabeu would be no different.
Carlo anxiously perused the pre-match analysis in the newspaper, keenly aware of Atletico Madrid's determination.
Real Madrid was grappling with internal turmoil and division, while Atletico Madrid sought to capitalize on their vulnerabilities.
They possessed the strength to do so.
The question remained: could Gao Shen handle it?
Tonight, at the Bernabeu, he would not only confront the challenge posed by their arch-rivals, Atletico Madrid, but also contend with internal pressures, managerial threats, and the skepticism of 75,000 Real Madrid supporters.
He stood at a precipice, isolated and under scrutiny.
With these thoughts weighing heavily, Carlo glanced once more at the note left by Gao Shen.
"I hope you can come to watch the game."
---
Match days were always hectic.
Every player listed in the match squad arrived punctually at Valdebebas, assembling precisely as required.
Gao Shen initiated a tactical briefing, focusing intensely on fine-tuning the team's formations and strategies.
Addressing recurrent issues highlighted during recent training sessions, Gao Shen stressed certain tactical adjustments.
He regretted the team's rushed preparation due to time constraints.
Yet, he found solace in one piece of news: Woodgate's fitness was intact.
This was indeed welcome news.
Upon spotting Woodgate in the conference room, Gao Shen couldn't contain his smile. "Jonathan, it's great to see you here!"
The crux of Gao Shen's emphasis lay in positional play and defensive organization.
Previously employing man-marking, Gao Shen now opted for zonal defense—a strategic evolution.
Simply put, zonal defense represented a departure from individual marking.
Valencia and Liverpool's successes under Benitez highlighted the efficacy of this defensive approach.
Additionally, set-piece defense was a critical focus.
Over the past few days, Gao Shen had drilled these tactics into the players repeatedly. Their execution on the field would ultimately determine their success.
Later that afternoon, Gao Shen conducted targeted tactical sessions, placing particular emphasis on pressing Atletico Madrid's defensive line.
With Pablo Ibanez standing at 1.92 meters, and Pereira, Varasco, and Antonio Lopez all under 1.8 meters, Negredo held a distinct advantage that could be capitalized upon.
On the defensive front, Torres remained the primary concern.
As a dual threat, Kežman also warranted close attention.
"Finally," Gao Shen addressed the assembled players, taking a deep breath.
Each of the 18 players had been selected by him. The outcome—victory or defeat—rested squarely on his shoulders.
"I hope that each of you, as you step into the Bernabeu Stadium tonight, can deliver your best performance and honor the jersey you wear!"
Having said that, Gao Shen gazed deeply at those present before turning to depart.
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