Bab 294: Chapter 294: Deep Conspiracy
The heated battle between Gao Shen and the Italian media didn't disrupt Napoli's preparations.
After the match in Rome, Gao Shen and his coaching staff focused intensely on getting ready for the upcoming clash against Juventus.
The last two big matches, Napoli had played away from home. This time, they would have the advantage of playing at their home ground.
And Gao Shen intended to make full use of it.
Before the game, Gao Shen had a meeting with the club's general manager, Marino, to discuss some tactical preparations and other plans.
"Juventus will bring about 2,000 fans with them for the away game. As usual, we'll place them in the most remote, marginal sections of the stadium. That's standard home team procedure," Marino explained.
For away fans, unless there's low attendance, they're typically seated in the least desirable areas. Especially in Naples, where the stadium is often filled to capacity.
Frankly, just getting tickets in Naples is a blessing for most away fans.
"And what about Ranieri?" Gao Shen asked, with a sly smile.
Marino paused for a moment, then chuckled as he caught on. Ranieri had been sent off with a red card in Juventus's previous match against Genoa.
According to the rules, he wouldn't be allowed to sit on the bench in this match.
It was actually quite a comical situation.
Juventus had already been leading 1-0 when, three minutes before the end of the game, Nedved was sent off with a red card for elbowing Genoa's Konko. Ranieri, furious, publicly blasted the referee, Banti.
Ranieri was under a lot of stress; after all, they had to face a strong Napoli team in just a week. Losing a key player like Nedved was a huge blow to Juventus.
But referee Banti didn't take kindly to Ranieri's outburst. After all, Nedved's elbow was right in front of him. Was there anything to argue about?
In response, Banti gave Ranieri a red card as well, sending him off and leaving Juventus without their coach and one of their key players.
"So, how are things usually arranged for this?" Gao Shen asked, smiling mischievously.
"If we can't use our home advantage in this situation, are we really at home?"
"Typically," Marino explained, "in cases like these, the Italian Football Association will have an official supervise the situation. Ranieri can enter the locker room before the game, at halftime, and after the game, but he won't be allowed onto the pitch. He'll likely end up commanding from the stands."
Gao Shen nodded, familiar with this setup.
He hadn't been in this position himself, but he'd seen it plenty of times with other managers—especially Mourinho, who was known for his creative ways of coaching from the stands when banned.
"Can he bring a cell phone with him?" Gao Shen asked, feigning innocence.
"Absolutely not," Marino replied, shaking his head. "If he were allowed to use a phone for a 45-minute call, what would be the point of the ban?"
"What about passing notes?" Gao Shen asked, trying to hide his grin.
Marino thought about it for a moment, then said, "That might be possible, but he'd need someone to help him."
At that, Gao Shen raised his eyebrows with a knowing look, and Marino couldn't help but laugh as they both understood each other.
"I got it," Marino said, nodding. "I'll make the arrangements."
"I think Mr. Ranieri is a highly respected figure in Italian and even European football. Since it's a rare occasion for him to visit our Stadio San Paolo, we should give him a very special experience, don't you think?"
"Absolutely," Marino said, playing along with a sly grin. "Don't worry, I'll make sure Mr. Ranieri enjoys a truly unique, five-star experience in our stadium."
Gao Shen chuckled to himself, thinking, This Marino is getting sharper lately. He's really catching on!
The two continued to conspire, huddled close together, whispering quietly. At this point, if anyone else saw them, they might have suspected a plot and called the police to report a terrorist scheme.
In the following days, Napoli's preparations continued smoothly.
With a full week to prepare, Gao Shen allowed the players to rest and recuperate, knowing that after the Juventus match, they'd soon face the tenth round of Serie A, and the fixture pressure would start to increase again.
Additionally, both Napoli and Juventus were only involved in domestic competitions, with no European fixtures, so both sides would be fully recharged.
Juventus, however, was facing more issues. Coach Ranieri would be banned from the sidelines, Nedved was suspended with a red card, and midfielder Cristiano Zanetti was out with an injury. This left Juventus's midfield somewhat weakened.
Cristiano Zanetti had played well for Inter Milan before joining Juventus, where he quickly became one of Ranieri's key players. His absence would definitely impact Juventus.
Although Ranieri was an Italian coach, he'd been away from Serie A for over a decade.
After managing Fiorentina in 1997, he left Italy to coach Valencia and hadn't returned to Serie A since.
Over the years, he managed Valencia and Atletico Madrid in La Liga, Chelsea in the Premier League, and eventually returned to Valencia in 2004.
After leaving Valencia in 2005, he spent some time without a team, making a living by writing columns for British newspapers.
He'd been taking the time to recharge himself.
Last season, Parma was performing terribly. After their coach, Pioli, was sacked following a defeat by Gao Shen's Napoli, Ranieri stepped in and led Parma to a remarkable turnaround, which paved the way for him to take over Juventus this season.
Few people knew that before Ranieri was hired, Juventus general manager Blanc had actually contacted Gao Shen. But Gao Shen declined, saying he wasn't interested in coaching Juventus, which ultimately led to Ranieri's appointment.
Naturally, this little-known backstory was dug up by the media before the game.
With this history between Gao Shen and Juventus, the upcoming match wasn't just a showdown between two of Italy's northern and southern powerhouses, but also a personal battle between the two coaches, with Ranieri aiming to prove himself against Gao Shen.
Perhaps that's why Ranieri had reacted so strongly in the game against Genoa. When Nedved was sent off, Ranieri lost his cool and ended up getting sent off as well.
On the morning of the team's journey south to Naples, Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco arrived at the training ground.
Officially, he was there to send off the team, but in reality, he was also there to discuss the starting lineup with Ranieri.
With Nedved suspended and Zanetti injured, Secco was very interested in how Ranieri would set up his lineup.
"You know, Claudio, we made some of the biggest signings in Europe this summer," Secco said to Ranieri.
"We brought in several high-level players who excelled at their previous clubs—Thiago, Iaquinta, Almiron, Nocerino… Unfortunately, Andrade got injured in the game against Roma and is out for the season, but I believe the other players can and should step up to play important roles for the team. Don't you agree?"
Ranieri, with his extensive experience coaching various clubs, knew exactly what Secco was implying.
Truth be told, Secco's signings had come under criticism.
Andrade had been the most promising of the new signings, but after only three and a half games, he was sidelined with a season-ending injury.
Iaquinta had shone in the first match but found it hard to get consistent playing time since. Trezeguet and Del Piero were performing well, making it difficult for Iaquinta to break into the lineup.
Ranieri had considered trying a three-striker formation with Iaquinta, Del Piero, and Trezeguet, but he quickly abandoned the idea after finding it left their midfield too weak.
As a result, Iaquinta had to compete with Trezeguet and Del Piero, who were both loyal Juventus veterans from their Serie B days.
Meanwhile, midfielders Thiago and Almiron were also struggling to secure starting roles, whereas Nocerino, who was brought in from Serie B side Piacenza, had exceeded expectations and was even called up to the Italian national team.
Juventus had spent 55 million euros in transfers that summer, ranking ninth in Europe and first in Serie A. But at this stage, the return on that investment seemed disappointing.
This put Secco under significant pressure.
After all, Juventus and the Fiat Group that owned them weren't in the best financial situation. They'd invested heavily, yet the results hadn't been as expected, making Secco's position precarious.
"I think we should give the new players more opportunities to integrate into the team," Secco suggested.
Though framed as a suggestion, his words carried an unmistakable hint of command.
Ranieri could read between the lines and knew he had little choice.
He nodded, feigning a serious expression, "I'll do my best to arrange it."
"Great," Secco replied, satisfied. "I'm relieved to hear that."
After a pause, Secco continued, "We've performed well this season and are currently third in Serie A. But in the last few games…"
He hesitated, then added, "Our offense seems to have hit a bit of a slump. Don't forget, Claudio, Napoli was a tough opponent for us last season. We couldn't beat them at all. Everyone—management, fans, and even the higher-ups are eager to see us erase that stain."
"You know, we're one of Serie A's top giants, so I hope that in Naples, you and the team can show the strength and performance that a top team should have. I believe you can do it, so let's bring it home!"
Ranieri gave a wry smile and nodded.
With everything Secco had said, what else could he do but agree?
"By the way, Mr. Secco, about the arrangements at the stadium, especially the communication during the match," Ranieri asked cautiously.
This was a critical point for the upcoming game.
"Don't worry," Secco reassured him, "I've already made arrangements. I've spoken to people at the Football Association, and we'll make sure someone on the ground assists you with passing information. You can coordinate with your assistant, and there shouldn't be any issues."
Ranieri let out a sigh of relief.
Facing Napoli away without being able to coach from the sideline would have been a major disadvantage.
After all, football is a game of constant, fluid changes.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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