Chapter 305: Chapter 305: A Big Bet
One of the biggest differences between a fitness coach and a strength and conditioning coach is that fitness coaches are often straightforward and unfiltered.
If there's a disagreement, they'll roll up their sleeves and prove their point themselves!
Take Manchester United's Mike Clegg, for example. He's such a fitness fanatic that even Cristiano Ronaldo admires him.
This can be intimidating for the players.
When facing typical physical trainers, players might complain that the training intensity is too high and challenge them to try it themselves. But few would dare say that to a fitness coach.
Because, unlike others, they actually can do it!
…
In the first training session after the winter break at Castel Volturno, Pintus made an immediate impression on Gao Shen and everyone at Napoli with his direct and intense style.
He arrived in Naples ahead of schedule, and after thoroughly assessing the physical condition of the players, he divided them into groups based on position, roles, and responsibilities, assigning tailored training tasks to each group.
Pintus was taken aback by the professionalism of Napoli's coaching staff, especially the detailed player data and reports they provided. It was so comprehensive that he could hardly believe it.
"I've worked with many teams, but I've never seen such detailed and professional data and reports on players. In Italy, even the famed Milan Lab might not be able to match this because of budget cuts over the years."
With this data backing him up, Pintus could formulate his plans more effectively.
Each group's training task was different, but there was one common denominator: the intensity was very high.
How intense?
Pelle, who had excellent stamina and was known for his running ability among Serie A forwards, lasted only twenty minutes under Pintus' rigorous training before he could go no further.
Since they were compatriots, Pelle tried to complain to Pintus, saying that the training intensity was too high and he was worried about getting injured.
And what happened?
Pintus immediately took off his coat, as if turning into a beacon of energy, and stepped onto the training ground himself. He went through all the players' training drills, completing every task without skipping a beat.
The 45-year-old coach then pointed at Pelle and said, "From today on, I'll do whatever you do!"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
This was a 45-year-old man?
Gao Shen, Carlo, Zidane, and others standing on the sidelines were equally astonished.
"Was he this intense when he was at Juventus?" Gao Shen asked, genuinely curious.
Zidane, recalling his time at Juventus, shook his head. "Back then, he was just an assistant and did occasionally train with us, but he wasn't this intense."
It was impressive, to say the least.
But the upside was clear: if a 45-year-old man could handle it, then the professional players in their twenties had no excuse not to.
…
After a few days of training and getting a good grasp of the players' data and physical conditions, Pintus had a clear understanding of the team's needs. Working alongside Buenaventura and the other coaches, the bald Italian adjusted his training plan.
Initially, he had intended to conduct a ten-day winter training camp, but now he felt it was necessary to extend it to two weeks.
A two-week training camp would be more thorough, ensuring better physical conditioning and longer-lasting stamina for the team.
However, this would inevitably affect their early games after the winter break.
In the 18th round, Napoli would face AC Milan away, followed by a home match against Lazio in the Coppa Italia.
The latter game was especially crucial.
In the first leg, Napoli had lost 1-2 to Lazio away. If they couldn't turn it around at home, their chances of advancing would disappear.
High-intensity training requires time for recovery—usually about two weeks. After recovery, the team still needs an adjustment period to reach peak form.
With Pintus extending the training period, the recovery phase would also stretch, meaning the team might not reach peak condition until the end of February.
"From then on, we'll only need minor adjustments. I'm confident we can keep the team at a high performance level," Pintus assured Gao Shen.
Maintaining peak form indefinitely is impossible, but staying at a high level consistently is already challenging enough.
Mourinho's training system at Porto was famous for keeping players in optimal condition for long stretches.
Listening to Pintus' confidence and reviewing Buenaventura's complementary plan, Gao Shen felt that once Napoli settled in, they might be even more consistent than Porto was in its glory days.
But laying the groundwork would inevitably come with some hardships.
Gao Shen understood that performance fluctuations are inevitable.
Inter Milan had experienced ups and downs in the first half of the season, but after November, they found their rhythm and pulled ahead with a series of wins.
Similarly, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United often staged comebacks in the second half of the season because Ferguson always timed the team's peak condition for that period. The priority earlier in the season was simply to keep up in the standings.
For Napoli, the goal during this difficult training phase was to maintain enough pressure on Inter Milan without falling too far behind, while also holding their advantage over Roma and Juventus.
But this wouldn't be easy.
Napoli was in an adjustment phase, as were Inter Milan, Roma, Juventus, and the other Serie A teams. It was a dynamic, highly competitive environment.
Gao Shen's choices now would directly impact Napoli's future trajectory.
He could play it safe and try to maintain the momentum from the first half of the season. With Pintus on board, Napoli's form would undoubtedly improve, but whether it would be enough to surpass Inter Milan was uncertain.
Or he could take a risk and push the team harder. The risk was high, but so were the potential rewards.
Was there a way to minimize this risk?
Yes, but only if you were strong enough.
Strength includes both the players and the head coach.
Take Inter Milan, for example. Their lineup was so strong that even on an off day, they could still defeat most opponents. That's the advantage of a top-tier team.
This is the fundamental difference between elite teams and the rest.
"Lorenzo, Antonio," Gao Shen addressed Buenaventura and Pintus, "Just stick to your plan. I'm giving you two weeks. Don't let me down!"
Buenaventura and Pintus exchanged a glance, feeling the weight of Gao Shen's trust.
Gao Shen was placing all his faith in them, taking on all the pressure himself.
Everyone knew that if results weren't up to par, the head coach would be the first to bear the consequences.
"I'll handle everything else. Just focus on your work!"
Gao Shen dismissed them to get started.
He still needed to discuss his plans with Marino and De Laurentiis.
…
Zidane stayed in Naples for a week, observing the special training sessions led by Buenaventura and Pintus, which left him deeply impressed.
Before departing, he jokingly told Gao Shen that he was glad to have retired early and expressed his sympathy for the Napoli players.
During his time in Naples, Zidane assisted in training individual players like Cavani and Pelle, working on their technical skills, particularly ball control and shooting accuracy.
Meanwhile, Gao Shen lobbied De Laurentiis and Marino to pursue Sampdoria's right-back, Maggio, whom he had tried to sign the previous summer, only to be rebuffed by Sampdoria.
This time, Maggio was interested in moving to Napoli, but Sampdoria again rejected the approach.
Sampdoria was currently ranked tenth in Serie A, far behind Napoli, yet they were still unwilling to release any players mid-season.
Gao Shen considered other options, but Napoli's budget was limited. He couldn't target high-cost players, and none of the affordable alternatives satisfied him, so he eventually decided to hold off.
…
…
In mid-January, Serie A resumed.
After the winter break, most Serie A teams were struggling to find form.
Juventus faced Catania away.
Fifteen minutes into the match, Juventus found themselves a goal down, and despite their relentless attacks, they couldn't break through Catania's defense.
Just as it seemed Juventus was headed for an upset loss, in stoppage time, the referee awarded them a controversial penalty after ruling a defensive foul by Catania.
Del Piero converted the penalty, securing a 1-1 draw for Juventus.
The game sparked intense debate afterward.
…
Roma took on Atalanta away.
Much like Juventus, Roma conceded an early goal. But by the end of the first half, they turned the game around with goals from Totti and Mancini, ultimately winning 2-1 and claiming three points.
…
Inter Milan played Siena away.
Ibrahimovic scored twice and Cambiasso added another, though Siena managed to equalize twice. In the end, Inter prevailed 3-2, securing three more points.
…
Napoli's away game against AC Milan was the round's highlight.
As a result, Napoli trailed Inter by ten points in the real-time standings, had been overtaken by Roma, and was now level on points with Juventus, dropping to third in Serie A.
AC Milan had signed Brazilian prodigy Pato for a staggering 22 million euros last summer, though he couldn't join until the winter due to his age.
Former Real Madrid star Ronaldo, plagued by injuries since joining AC Milan, had yet to make a significant appearance this season. Now, he was set to return, joining forces with Kaka.
Reports hinted that Ancelotti planned to unleash the "Brazilian trident" of Pato, Ronaldo, and Kaka at home.
The one silver lining for Napoli was that AC Milan's midfield enforcer, Gattuso, would miss the game due to yellow card accumulation, leaving Milan's midfield thin.
Everyone was eagerly anticipating the match, expecting it to be a thrilling offensive showdown.
Especially with Gao Shen and Ronaldo set to reunite, master and apprentice, on the grand stage once again.
***
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