Capítulo 274: Chapter 274: He Will Definitely Be Able to Do It!
As Biglia walked out of the hospital with Buenaventura and the team doctor, they had barely stepped into the car when Gao Shen's call came through on Buenaventura's phone.
"How is he?"
Biglia, sitting beside Buenaventura, could faintly hear Gao Shen's anxious voice on the other end. His immediate concern for him was unmistakable.
The Argentine midfielder felt a warmth spread through him.
Clearly, Gao Shen valued him greatly.
"Calf muscle strain, expected to be out for a month," Buenaventura replied.
"I know that already. Is there any way to speed up the recovery?" Gao Shen asked, still sounding worried.
Buenaventura glanced at Biglia and sighed softly. "It's hard to say for now. We'll need to monitor it further."
There was a brief silence on the other end before Gao Shen simply said, "Alright." Then he hung up.
...
"Boss seems pretty worried," Biglia said with a rueful smile.
Buenaventura glanced at him and nodded. "Of course, he's worried. You're an important part of his tactical setup."
The Argentine midfielder understood. "I'll do everything I can to cooperate and recover as soon as possible. Once I'm close to being fit, I'll play even if I'm not fully healed. I don't want to leave the team hanging."
"This can't happen," Buenaventura said firmly, waving off the suggestion. "The boss has made it clear: if you're not fully recovered, you're not playing. Those are the rules. His priority is your health, and at your age, any lingering issues could become serious problems later on."
Biglia was deeply moved by this.
The Argentine wasn't one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, and he didn't talk much, but he could feel how much Gao Shen cared about him and his well-being. It wasn't just about tactics, it was about genuine concern for him as a player and person.
In professional football, that kind of care was rare.
For many managers, players were merely assets, commodities belonging to the club. They were treated as tools to be used, often disregarding their long-term health. Many players were forced to play through injuries, risking further damage, all for the sake of short-term results.
It wasn't uncommon to see players rushed back before they had fully recovered, only to see their injuries worsen. Coaches who treated their players like expendable tools didn't inspire loyalty or respect.
But Gao Shen wasn't like that.
It was clear to Biglia and everyone else in Napoli that Gao Shen genuinely cared about his players. He was close in age to most of them, and he treated them more like friends or brothers than just subordinates. His attitude fostered a sense of camaraderie, and it made everyone want to play for him, to give their all for him.
"I know he really wants to beat Inter," Biglia said, breaking the silence.
Everyone on the team knew it. Ever since Napoli's 0-3 defeat to Inter Milan last season, Gao Shen had been clear about his intentions.
He wanted to return to the San Siro and avenge that loss he wanted to win by the same 3-0 margin.
Buenaventura sighed. "It's easier said than done."
Inter Milan was simply too strong.
In Serie A, Inter was in a league of their own, with no real rivals. Even hoping to beat them was difficult, let alone doing so by a 3-0 scoreline in their own backyard.
Napoli had performed admirably this season, but there was still a significant gap between them and Inter Milan in terms of raw strength.
Still, Gao Shen wanted to go for it.
Even if they couldn't win by 3-0, they had to at least try to win the game.
But to do even that, Napoli would have to perform at their absolute best.
"All of us believe the boss can do it," Biglia said, his tone optimistic.
Buenaventura was a little taken aback, but he quickly nodded. "So do we!"
Gao Shen had earned that level of belief in Napoli.
It wouldn't be easy, but what in life was easy?
Napoli had overcome numerous challenges before. Why couldn't they do it again?
Even if they didn't manage it this time, there would be another chance. Napoli was still young, and they had immense potential. Sooner or later, that day would come, and they would stand victorious.
...
As the players began returning from international duty, Gao Shen started receiving some good news.
Aside from Biglia, none of the other players had picked up any serious injuries. They were just exhausted, which was a huge relief for Gao Shen.
It was music to his ears.
However, Biglia's absence would force the coaching staff to revise their plans, and the next few weeks would be grueling. The real problem with international breaks wasn't the games themselves but the toll taken by long-distance travel. Some players had to endure multiple connecting flights, and the fatigue was inevitable.
But it was part of the job. There was no choice but to adapt.
...
...
On September 16th, Napoli hosted Sampdoria in the third round of Serie A.
Sampdoria's coach this season was Walter Mazzarri.
Mazzarri had made a name for himself by leading Livorno to promotion and then keeping Reggina in Serie A for three straight seasons despite losing key players each year. His tactical abilities were widely respected, and his tenacity as a coach was well known.
Last season, Reggina started with an 11-point penalty due to the infamous "Calciopoli" scandal, making them the favorites for relegation. But under Mazzarri, Reggina defied the odds, finishing 14th in the league and avoiding relegation.
It was that performance that earned Mazzarri recognition across Italy.
Gao Shen was familiar with Mazzarri from his past life. He knew that Mazzarri would go on to coach Napoli in the future. Mazzarri was famous for his tactics, particularly his steadfast commitment to a 3-5-2 formation. From Reggina to Sampdoria to Napoli, Mazzarri's tactical setup remained the same.
His style was tough, aggressive, and full of resilience.
It was a style Gao Shen admired.
But today, at the Stadio San Paolo, Gao Shen and Napoli would have to defeat Mazzarri and his Sampdoria side.
...
To counter Sampdoria's 3-5-2, Gao Shen set up a 4-3-3 for Napoli. He opted to rest all of the South American players, instead fielding a squad full of European internationals, who were less fatigued from their shorter travel distances.
Up front, Callejon, Pelle, and Mertens formed the attacking trio.
In midfield, Rakitic and Hamsik were deployed further forward, with Thiago Motta sitting deep to protect the defense.
At the back, Dossena, Paolo Cannavaro, Bonucci, and Lichtsteiner formed the defensive line.
Handanovic started in goal.
Gao Shen's strategy was clear: control possession, wear Sampdoria down, and wait for the right moment to strike.
As for Sampdoria, Mazzarri stuck to his principles. Whether playing at home or away, his 3-5-2 formation remained unchanged.
The first half was hard-fought, with both teams playing at a high tempo. However, there were plenty of errors on both sides, and the game lacked any real fluidity.
But just before halftime, Hamsik threaded a perfect through ball from outside the penalty area. Mertens managed to lose his marker on the right, delivering a low cross into the box. Pelle was there to sweep it home, giving Napoli the lead.
After the break, Sampdoria came out more aggressively, pushing forward and playing with more urgency.
But in the 77th minute, Bonucci launched a long pass from deep. Pelle rose to meet it, heading the ball into the path of Hamsik, who surged into the box and unleashed a powerful shot to double Napoli's lead.
In the end, Napoli ran out 2-0 winners at home.
...
Napoli's victory extended their perfect start to the season, putting them at the top of the table with three wins from three matches.
Meanwhile, Juventus suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Udinese, with Di Natale scoring the winning goal.
AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw away to Siena.
Roma secured a 2-0 win against Reggina, while Inter Milan beat Catania 2-0 at home.
As a result, Napoli maintained their lead at the top of the Serie A standings, with Roma in second place and Inter Milan moving up to third.
...
The real impact of the international break on Napoli and Serie A as a whole became evident in the fourth round.
Despite a week of rest, Napoli struggled to regain their rhythm. With Biglia still sidelined, the team's attacking organization suffered, and they labored to create clear-cut chances.
In the end, Napoli were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Empoli, despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities.
Cavani, Sanchez, Di Maria, and substitute Pelle all failed to convert their chances.
Elsewhere, Roma and Juventus played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in Rome.
Inter Milan were also held to a 2-2 draw away to Livorno.
AC Milan, struggling for form, drew 1-1 at home against Parma.
All of Serie A's top teams experienced a dip in form after the international break, resulting in a round full of stalemates.
...
Three days later, in the fifth round, Napoli hosted Livorno at home.
Once again, Gao Shen deployed his usual 4-3-3 formation, sending out a highly motivated Napoli side determined to make up for the previous round's disappointing draw. From the opening whistle, Napoli attacked Livorno with relentless energy, playing with intensity and dominating possession.
Despite their control, Napoli struggled to break down Livorno's defense. The visitors, well aware of Napoli's attacking prowess, sat deep, content to absorb the pressure and wait for counterattacking opportunities.
The match dragged on with Napoli continuously searching for a breakthrough. But it wasn't until the 85th minute, when substitute Callejon latched onto a loose ball in the box, that Napoli finally found the back of the net.
Callejon's goal, a cool and composed finish into the bottom corner, was enough to secure a narrow 1-0 victory for Napoli.
Though it wasn't their best performance, Napoli took all three points, keeping them at the top of the Serie A standings.
...
Elsewhere, Roma were held to yet another 2-2 draw, this time away at Fiorentina.
AC Milan suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Palermo on the road.
Juventus, on the other hand, bounced back with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Reggina at home, while Inter Milan claimed a 3-0 win against Sampdoria at the San Siro.
After five rounds, Napoli remained in first place with 13 points, with Inter Milan and Roma hot on their heels, both sitting on 11 points.
...
The following weekend brought even more excitement as Serie A entered its sixth round.
Inter Milan traveled to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to face Roma in what was billed as the clash of the titans. Early on, the match took a dramatic turn when Roma's Giuly was sent off, reducing the home side to 10 men. With the numerical advantage, Inter Milan capitalized, cruising to a 4-1 victory.
Meanwhile, Napoli hosted Genoa at the San Paolo.
It was another tightly contested affair. Napoli dominated much of the game and looked poised to secure another victory. But in the 89th minute, a defensive lapse allowed Genoa to snatch a late equalizer through Domenico Criscito.
Napoli were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw, a bitter pill to swallow after dominating the match for so long.
AC Milan, continuing their struggles, drew 1-1 with Catania at home, while Juventus narrowly defeated Torino 1-0, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from David Trezeguet in the Turin derby.
After six rounds, both Napoli and Inter Milan were tied at the top of the table with 14 points each. Interestingly, both teams had identical goal differences of +10.
Due to alphabetical order, Inter Milan edged out Napoli for the top spot.
The seventh round of Serie A was shaping up to be a showdown between the two teams, with Napoli set to travel to the San Siro to face Inter Milan in what promised to be a titanic clash.
The stage was set. All eyes were on this upcoming match.
Would Gao Shen finally get his revenge against Inter Milan?
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Junkdog
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