Bab 328: Chapter 328: A Lesson for Mancini
Led by the young referee Nicola Rizzoli, the players of both teams slowly entered the Stadio San Paolo amidst the roaring cheers of over 60,000 Napoli fans.
At just 36 years old, Nicola Rizzoli was already highly regarded in the Italian refereeing community. Recently promoted to international status, he had started officiating in European competitions, including Europa League and European Championship qualifiers.
But tonight, veteran referee Pierluigi Collina had entrusted him with one of the biggest games of the season: Napoli vs. Inter Milan. This demonstrated the confidence that the Italian refereeing establishment had in this promising young official.
Gao Shen and his coaching staff had carefully studied Rizzoli's refereeing style before the game. Known for his leniency, Rizzoli was not one to hand out too many yellow cards, which had earned him both praise and criticism.
Notably, he had officiated a key match in the previous round, the Turin Derby, which ended in a 0-0 draw between Juventus and Torino.
Just one week later, he was assigned to oversee the top-of-the-table clash between Napoli and Inter Milan. This choice solidified the belief that Rizzoli was destined to become one of Italy's top international referees.
…
When Gao Shen walked onto the pitch at the Stadio San Paolo, the cheers and applause he received were almost as loud as those for Maradona.
The entire stadium, more than 60,000 fans, erupted into chants, shouting his name with wild enthusiasm.
Gao Shen seemed to relish the moment. Smiling, he raised his right hand to acknowledge the fans, like a king accepting the adoration of his people. The cheers grew even louder, a deafening wave of support rolling through the stadium.
"Gao Shen's status in the hearts of Napoli fans is extraordinarily high!" the TV commentator exclaimed.
Despite being broadcast live, the thunderous noise from the stadium reverberated through television speakers, allowing fans at home to feel the overwhelming atmosphere that enveloped the San Paolo.
The cameras were trained on Gao Shen as he basked in the crowd's adulation. After waving to the supporters, he made his way to the visiting team's bench to greet his counterpart.
"Hello, Mancho!" Gao Shen said, extending his hand to Mancini with a polite smile.
"Hello, Gao." Mancini forced a smile, though his enthusiasm seemed lacking. He shook hands with Gao Shen and gave a brief, perfunctory hug.
In truth, there was no friendship between the two managers. After the formalities, Gao Shen told Mancini, "Good luck." Mancini offered a similar response before heading back to prepare.
"These are two of the most successful managers in Serie A this season," the commentator noted.
"Mancini, at forty-two, is an experienced coach, but Gao Shen is only twenty-seven. There's a fifteen-year age gap between them."
"Remarkably, Gao Shen has led Napoli to challenge for the Serie A title at such a young age. He is the youngest head coach in Europe's top leagues."
"And Napoli, with an average age barely above twenty, is the youngest team in the big four leagues this season. Under the guidance of this young manager, they're playing some of the most dynamic, attacking football seen in Italy."
"In contrast, Mancini represents traditional Italian football. A former professional player himself, he now leads Inter Milan, a classic Italian powerhouse with a star-studded squad."
"That's why this game has captivated audiences worldwide."
"This match brings together so many elements—fans everywhere, regardless of their knowledge of Italian football or its stars, can find something to resonate with in this clash."
"This is a one-of-a-kind showdown!"
…
When Gao Shen returned to Napoli's coaching area, the players were already gathering in the center of the field for the coin toss.
Young Hamsik, donning Napoli's captain's armband, walked to the center to meet Inter Milan's captain, Zanetti. Napoli won the coin toss and chose their side, giving Inter Milan the first possession.
This was exactly in line with Gao Shen's pre-match strategy.
Tonight, Napoli didn't want excessive possession.
Otherwise, Gao Shen wouldn't have chosen this lineup and tactical approach.
"Keep a close eye on Inter Milan's players, especially their physical fitness and how they're handling any lingering injuries," Gao Shen instructed Lucas.
With key players like Ibrahimovic just returning from injury, Gao Shen was eager to see whether they were fully recovered or merely playing through the pain.
Inter Milan was dealing with a wave of injuries, which was no coincidence.
For one, their squad was aging. With the demands of multiple competitions this season, their players were overburdened. Whether Mancini had properly managed rotations and recovery remained in question, especially as the team hit this rough patch in February and March.
Anyone familiar with football understood that injury waves were common, but in this case, Mancini seemed ill-prepared.
Perhaps he had genuinely believed that Inter Milan would cruise to the Serie A title.
But who would have predicted Napoli's incredible surge after the winter break?
Even when Napoli was struggling, Gao Shen's tactical adjustments and in-game management allowed them to keep pace with Inter Milan.
Now, as Inter Milan entered their own slump, Napoli had closed the gap.
Gao Shen's patience had paid off better than he had anticipated.
Pride comes before a fall!
Now, Gao Shen understood this phrase on a deeper level.
And tonight, he was determined to teach this arrogant Inter Milan team a lesson they wouldn't forget.
…
…
Rizzoli checked his silver whistle and looked at the watch on his wrist.
The players from both teams stood poised, ready for battle in their respective halves.
In the center circle, Suazo and Ibrahimovic awaited the referee's signal.
With a sharp blow of the whistle, the game began, and Suazo tapped the ball back to Ibrahimovic.
Almost simultaneously, Napoli's players surged forward, pressing aggressively into Inter Milan's formation.
Di Maria, Cavani, and Sanchez led the charge, followed closely by Hamsik, with the double midfielders and defensive line pushing up in support.
As soon as Ibrahimovic passed the ball back, Cavani shot past him, charging up the field.
Cambiasso received the ball, but before he could settle it, Stankovic shouted a warning, and Cavani was already bearing down on him.
The tall Uruguayan striker showed surprising speed as he closed the distance.
Cambiasso quickly turned and played the ball back to the defense.
Cavani sprinted past him, now pressuring the back line.
Chivu received the ball, but as soon as he tried to adjust, Cavani was upon him.
The Romanian defender had no choice but to pass to Materazzi. Cavani immediately switched direction, sprinting towards Materazzi, who hurriedly played the ball back to goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Cesar, sensing the intensity of Napoli's pressing, launched a long ball forward without hesitation.
After sprinting half the pitch, Cavani finally slowed down as Cesar's kick soared overhead. He turned back, looking as if he was carefully avoiding an offside trap.
Standing near the penalty spot, Cesar watched the unfolding situation, feeling a sense of unease.
Napoli's trident was positioned high, pressing Inter's defense fiercely.
It was clear that Napoli intended to suffocate Inter, refusing to give them any room to breathe.
…
Cesar's instincts were spot on.
From the start, Napoli's players relentlessly pressured Inter Milan, denying them the chance to build up play.
Napoli's high pressing made it difficult for Inter Milan to play out from the back, forcing them to rely on long balls.
But each long ball fell into Napoli's control.
David Luiz and Bonucci dominated in aerial duels, particularly David Luiz, who won both of his battles with Ibrahimovic, preventing the Swedish striker from influencing the play.
Napoli also controlled the second balls.
Whenever David Luiz won a header, even if the second ball wasn't ideally placed, Napoli's players were quick to recover possession.
And as soon as they regained the ball, they launched swift counterattacks, transitioning from defense to offense at breakneck speed.
This high tempo allowed the game to enter a relentless cycle of attack and defense, with possession changing hands frequently.
Yet overall, Napoli was the team on the front foot, while Inter Milan was pushed back defensively.
…
Mancini quickly recognized Napoli's opening strategy but wasn't entirely surprised.
This was Napoli's trademark style!
He knew that Napoli would start strong, aiming to unsettle Inter with intense pressure.
But he also believed that Napoli couldn't sustain this level of intensity indefinitely.
"Push up a bit, don't drop too deep!" Mancini called out to his defenders.
He was well aware of the limitations of his three-man midfield, which had already conceded goals in similar situations. The last thing he wanted was for his players to invite pressure by retreating too close to their penalty area.
The pace of the game was blistering.
About three minutes in, Inter managed to work the ball to Maicon on the right side of the field.
In this 4-3-1-2 formation, Inter Milan had no true wingers, relying instead on their full-backs for width.
Maicon was Inter's most active outlet on the flanks.
As he crossed the halfway line with the ball, Biglia closed in to block his advance.
The Brazilian attempted to pass to Ibrahimovic, who had dropped back to receive the ball and create a give-and-go play.
But before he could do so, David Luiz stepped up, intercepting the pass with a deft touch, preventing Ibrahimovic from getting the ball.
Biglia quickly moved into position, collecting the loose ball before Maicon could recover, and immediately passed it to Vargas on the left.
Maicon abandoned his pursuit of Biglia and rushed to close down Vargas, trying to push Napoli back.
Vargas, seeing Maicon charging at him, calmly played a safe pass back to Bonucci, who was holding his position at the back.
At that moment, Suazo sprinted towards Bonucci, hoping to apply pressure and force an error.
But Bonucci, ever aware of his surroundings, quickly looked up and spotted an opportunity. Without hesitating, he sent a long, lofted pass downfield.
The ball arced gracefully through the air, sailing over Inter's midfield and defensive lines, and headed towards the left side of Inter's half.
There, sprinting at full speed, was Di Maria, his eyes locked on the ball as it descended.
The entire Stadio San Paolo roared with anticipation, realizing that Napoli was on the verge of a breakthrough.
***
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