Bab 231: Chapter 231: Fiasco
The 6-0 rout of Roma had left Naples buzzing with excitement.
That same energy was palpable during the team's recovery training the next morning. Every player was brimming with enthusiasm and vitality, their spirits soaring high.
Gao Shen had another surprise in store for his players: Zidane had agreed to stay in Naples for a few more days.
In truth, Zidane didn't have much going on after his retirement. The French legend found himself bored at home, staring at his wife or shuttling his kids back and forth from school. For someone who had spent years on the pitch, this quiet life was hard to adjust to.
And this, in fact, was quite common.
Many retired stars shared this sense of restlessness, with some even delaying their retirement for as long as possible, trying to prolong their careers in any way they could.
Zidane was no different in this respect.
Gao Shen told the players that after each training session, Zidane would stay at the base to answer their questions, discussing football and helping them solve tactical dilemmas. Additionally, he would hold a seminar with the players to talk about the intricacies of the game.
This unexpected news sent a wave of joy through the Napoli squad.
It was Zidane!
To receive one-on-one guidance from a football legend like him was something most players could only dream of. For the Napoli players, this was a golden opportunity.
This also deepened their admiration for Gao Shen, as they understood that Zidane had stayed because of his relationship with their coach. After all, Zidane could have easily gone to Juventus, where he used to play.
Gao Shen, noticing the players' reaction, was quite pleased.
As the saying goes, "You're never too old to learn."
This principle applied just as much to the football field. Young players needed to constantly improve their abilities and understanding of the game. Learning from football geniuses like Zidane, absorbing their insights and experiences, would be invaluable for their development.
Gao Shen himself was well aware of this.
Every book he read in the tactical library was of immense value, representing the wisdom of the greatest minds in football. These resources had accelerated his own growth as a coach.
Now, he hoped his players could also benefit from interacting with legends like Zidane and Guardiola.
At noon, the Coppa Italia semi-final draw took place at the Italian Football Federation headquarters in Rome.
Napoli sent their general manager, Marino, to represent the club at the draw.
The four teams that had reached the semi-finals were Napoli, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Sampdoria.
Of course, Napoli would have preferred to draw Sampdoria, giving them a better chance of reaching the final. The second-best option was to face AC Milan. The worst-case scenario would be to draw Inter Milan, who were by far the strongest team in Italy at the moment.
But, as fate would have it, Napoli drew Inter Milan.
When Gao Shen and his coaching staff received the news, they all shared bitter expressions.
There was no denying it Inter Milan was too strong this season!
Ever since the Calciopoli scandal, Inter had emerged as the dominant force in Serie A.
Their squad was incredibly deep, filled with world-class talent.
In goal was Júlio César, not yet a household name but already demonstrating his quality. The defense featured the likes of Samuel, Materazzi, Cordoba, Burdisso, Maicon, Zanetti, Maxwell, and Grosso all of them top-tier players.
The midfield boasted stars like Vieira, Cambiasso, Stanković, Solari, and Figo, a collection of world-class talent.
And their forward line? It was one of the most fearsome in the world, featuring Zlatan Ibrahimović, Adriano, Crespo, Cruz, and Recoba.
Simply put, Inter Milan's squad was even stronger than the Juventus team that dominated the previous season under Capello.
Mancini, Inter's coach, was also formidable, having proven his tactical acumen during his time with Lazio.
Against such a team, Napoli were truly facing an uphill battle.
When the draw result was revealed, the Napoli coaching staff looked understandably concerned.
But Gao Shen wasn't one to back down easily.
"Come on, cheer up! Stop with the long faces!" Gao Shen called out to his assistants, rallying their spirits.
"If we can lose 1-2 away and then beat Roma 6-0 at home, why can't we take on Inter Milan? We have just as much chance of beating them in the semi-finals and making it to the Coppa Italia final!"
His fighting spirit was contagious, and soon, the mood in the room began to shift.
After all, hadn't Napoli just demolished Roma 6-0? Why should they fear Inter Milan?
If they could defeat Roma so decisively, why not Inter Milan?
With this new perspective, the coaching staff's resolve returned.
That afternoon, after lunch and a brief rest, Zidane held the first of his seminars at the training center in Castel Volturno.
Gao Shen, along with the entire coaching staff, attended the session.
Since there hadn't been much time for preparation, Zidane opted for a more interactive format, allowing the players to ask questions while he provided answers. This approach made the session engaging and lively.
The Napoli players, understanding the rarity of this opportunity, didn't hold back. They asked Zidane all sorts of questions, ranging from tactical advice to the minutiae of his personal rituals, such as whether he stepped onto the pitch with his left foot or right foot first.
Zidane, enjoying the interaction, answered every question patiently.
One of the defining traits of Napoli's squad was their youth and vitality.
With a team mostly composed of players in their early twenties and a management style that emphasized openness and communication, the atmosphere was electric. This vibrancy rubbed off on Zidane, and he found himself becoming more invested in the sessions.
After the first seminar, there was still plenty left to discuss, so both sides agreed to continue the following day.
In the afternoon, after training, Zidane once again took to the field to personally coach the players.
He demonstrated various techniques, showing attackers how to shoot, pass, and even take free kicks.
At Zidane's level, his command over the ball was extraordinary. His technical mastery left everyone in awe.
Occasionally, Zidane would get so carried away with his demonstrations that he'd join in, prompting applause from the players.
"If he hadn't retired, he could still be a starter on any team in the world," Carlo remarked with a sigh.
Gao Shen didn't doubt it. But noticing Carlo's wistful expression, he smiled and said, "Don't overthink it. None of this matters now."
Zidane's decision to retire was tied closely to Real Madrid's struggles the previous season. Although the team had improved in the second half of the season, Zidane remained firm in his decision.
In a way, Zidane was a wise man.
Whether on the pitch or in coaching, he understood when to advance and when to retreat.
If Zidane had decided to return to football after winning a double with Real Madrid and finishing as World Cup runner-up, the world would've celebrated his return. Real Madrid and many other clubs would have welcomed him with open arms.
But then what?
Age catches up to everyone, and no matter how well Zidane maintained his form, he was still getting older.
By retiring when he did, Zidane left the game at the pinnacle of his career, preserving his legacy. The fans would always remember him at his best.
Staying too long would've only tarnished his reputation as younger players inevitably surpassed him.
Zidane was smart. He knew when to bow out gracefully.
…
The draw against Inter Milan created an immense sense of pressure throughout the Napoli camp.
From the day the draw was made, Gao Shen concentrated all of the team's efforts on preparing for the first leg at San Siro against Inter Milan. He and his coaching staff studied Inter's tactics and match footage day and night, hoping to identify any weaknesses they could exploit.
Over the weekend, in the 20th round of Serie B, Napoli drew 1-1 away at Lecce.
To rest his key players for the upcoming cup match, Gao Shen fielded a nearly full reserve team against Lecce, resulting in a hard-fought draw.
This decision wasn't easy, but it was necessary.
Napoli's squad depth wasn't that great, and Gao Shen had to focus his best players on the Inter Milan clash.
After two days of meticulous preparation in Castel Volturno, Napoli headed north to Milan.
On the evening of January 24, at the iconic San Siro Stadium, Napoli faced off against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final.
As the dark horse of the tournament, Napoli had garnered significant attention, especially after their 6-0 demolition of Roma. The Italian media had rallied behind Inter Milan, calling on them to stop Napoli's fairytale run. Under no circumstances could Gao Shen and his team be allowed to have the last laugh it would be a disaster for Italian football, they said.
Mancini, the Inter coach, kept quiet before the match but made his intentions clear once the game began.
Inter Milan fielded their strongest lineup, with Júlio César in goal, Maxwell, Samuel, Materazzi, and Maicon forming the defense. In midfield, Solari, Cambiasso, Vieira, and Figo started, while Ibrahimović and Crespo led the attack.
It was a formidable lineup, playing in a 4-4-2 formation.
Inter quickly exposed Napoli's weakness on the right flank, where Solari and Maxwell ran riot, while Ibrahimović kept Napoli's right-center back, Cannavaro, under constant pressure.
In the 11th and 24th minutes, Inter Milan scored two goals in quick succession, first through Solari and then Crespo.
After halftime, despite Gao Shen's best efforts to regroup his team, Inter's dominance continued. In the 56th minute, Vieira added a third, extending their lead to 3-0.
Napoli, despite their resilience and hard work, were no match for Inter's overwhelming strength that night. Gao Shen had prepared meticulously for this clash, but it wasn't enough to overcome the gap in quality and experience between the two sides.
It was the most painful defeat Gao Shen had experienced since becoming a coach.
This 3-0 loss at San Siro served as a harsh reminder of the challenges that still lay ahead for his young Napoli team.
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