Capítulo 268: Chapter 268: Unsolved Naples

The first half ended with a scoreline of 2-0 in favor of Napoli.

Reggina had no answer for Napoli's relentless pressure, and the odd tactics deployed by Ulivieri didn't seem to pose any real threat. Several counterattacks from Reggina were snuffed out with little to no danger.

As the second half began, Napoli continued their aggressive approach. In the 60th minute, Vidal executed a perfect high press, dispossessing a Reggina player deep in the opponent's half. He quickly passed the ball to Pellet, who played a clever layoff just outside the box. Vidal, charging forward, took a touch to control and unleashed a powerful shot that found the back of the net.

3-0!!!!!!!

By this point, the result was all but decided.

Ulivieri, clearly recognizing the inevitable outcome, began making substitutions. His moves were less about trying to win and more about damage control. On the other hand, Gao Shen also made his adjustments, opting to give his younger players valuable minutes on the pitch, rather than pursuing a more lopsided victory.

When the final whistle blew, Napoli secured a 3-0 win, advancing comfortably to the fourth round of the Coppa Italia, thanks to goals from Pelle, Vidal, and an own goal by Cascione.

This year's Coppa Italia format had some changes. Napoli and Genoa had to navigate through the first two rounds of the cup, and after the third round, 16 teams remained. These would now face off in single-elimination matches, with the winners advancing to the fourth round.

At that stage, the remaining eight teams from Serie A, including the previous season's top eight, would enter the fray, adding another layer of competition.

The fourth round, set for December, would mark a shift from single-elimination to two-legged knockout ties, a significant change from the first three rounds. The winners from the third round would be matched against the newly entering Serie A teams, ensuring that no powerhouse teams would clash prematurely.

The Italian Football Federation's intent was clear: avoid early matchups between strong teams to keep the tournament exciting. However, two wild cards in this year's tournament were Napoli and Juventus. Both teams had shown formidable strength, and few, besides the Milan clubs, could claim to be clearly superior to them.

The fourth round's return to home-and-away knockout matches would add even more intrigue. From there, matches would continue until the single final held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

As it stood, the third round of the Coppa Italia had effectively eliminated all Serie B teams, a stark reminder of how difficult it is to create upsets in Italian football. The hierarchy of talent and tactics remained firmly in place.

Because of this, no one took Gao Shen's pre-match comments about potential upsets seriously.

…

After the match, Gao Shen walked over to the visiting team's bench and offered his hand to Ulivieri.

Napoli's victory had come without much drama, but Ulivieri's tactical decisions still piqued Gao Shen's curiosity. As they shook hands, Gao Shen couldn't resist probing Ulivieri about his lineup choices.

The veteran coach, clearly not eager to discuss his missteps, gave a brief, non-committal answer. He explained that his aim was to create more passing options out wide when faced with Napoli's high press.

Gao Shen nodded in acknowledgment, this was indeed one way to approach the problem.

Many say that Pep Guardiola's Barcelona changed the landscape of European football, but how exactly did they do it?

Was it all about possession?

Yes, after Barcelona's dominance, many teams began emphasizing ball control, but none quite pursued possession to the obsessive extent that Barcelona did. And by 2021, the football world had largely come to a crucial realization.

Barcelona's dominance during their "Dream Team III" era wasn't solely about possession. It was a two-pronged approach: possession and high pressing.

The team's success relied on these two pillars equally. When their pressing diminished mainly due to the aging of players like Xavi and Iniesta. Barcelona became vulnerable. Their decline was swift, as teams exploited the gaps left by a pressing system that no longer worked.

This showed that possession alone wasn't enough. Pressing was just as important, if not more so.

After Barcelona's reign, other teams adopted high pressing as a means of dealing with their dominance. Goalkeepers and defenders began playing a crucial role in maintaining possession, which became the primary method of breaking high-pressure tactics.

Initially, teams were helpless against Barcelona's press. Coaches were left scratching their heads, unable to find a solution. Pundits famously said, "The only thing that can defeat Barcelona is time." In other words, there was no immediate tactical solution, teams just had to wait for Barcelona's players to age.

Mourinho's Inter Milan famously parked the bus in their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, deploying a defensive masterclass that remains iconic. But even then, the match was hardly beautiful to watch.

Soon after, teams like Klopp's Borussia Dortmund and Simeone's Atletico Madrid emerged with their own high-pressing systems. However, these teams couldn't maintain possession as well as Barcelona. They compensated for their technical deficiencies with relentless running and high energy, but this came at a cost they could only sustain this level of intensity for about 60 minutes.

The evolution continued. Heynckes' Bayern Munich and Ancelotti's Real Madrid found a balance between technique and physicality. As Barcelona's stars aged and their intensity dropped, these teams capitalized, taking European football by storm.

This historical context gave Gao Shen the confidence to boldly declare that he could turn Napoli into a dominant force within three years.

He knew he couldn't recreate Barcelona's magic, but he didn't need to. His goal was to build a team like Bayern, Real Madrid, or Atletico, a team that balanced physicality and technique while adopting an overall pressing style.

In today's football, a well-drilled pressing system is nearly unbeatable. Unless the opposition parks the bus or Napoli itself makes critical mistakes, there's no clear solution to high pressing.

Even a seasoned tactician like Ulivieri struggled to find an answer.

Ulivieri's attempt to create more passing options on the flanks was a traditional approach to dealing with high pressure. But to fully exploit this strategy, teams need defenders and goalkeepers who are excellent with the ball at their feet.

And in 2007, where could they find such players?

…

Gao Shen wasn't irritated by Ulivieri's reluctance to share more. In fact, he admired the veteran coach and would have loved to engage in a deeper tactical discussion. But he also understood that pride could be a barrier for Ulivieri, a figure deeply respected in Italian football.

As Gao Shen turned to leave, Ulivieri suddenly called out to him.

"Gao!"

"Hmm?" Gao Shen paused, turning back. "What's up?"

Ulivieri hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you planning to attend the Professional Coach Summit?"

Gao Shen raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected that question. He knew about Ulivieri's role in organizing the event, but he was unsure whether he would attend.

"Is it mandatory?" Gao Shen asked.

"No, it's voluntary. Just an exchange of ideas," Ulivieri clarified.

"Oh, I see," Gao Shen nodded. "I'll have to check my schedule. I might be busy around that time."

He didn't commit either way, but his response seemed to please Ulivieri. The veteran coach's eyes softened with relief.

Gao Shen couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. Why did it seem like the old man was so concerned about whether or not he would attend?

Regardless, Gao Shen decided it was best to keep his distance.

….

Napoli's 3-0 victory over Reggina didn't attract much attention in the grand scheme of things.

The Coppa Italia wouldn't fully heat up until the top eight Serie A teams entered the competition. For now, Napoli's win was just another step forward.

Beating Reggina had been straightforward, and while it was satisfying to outmaneuver the old master, Gao Shen quickly shifted his focus to Napoli's next challenge: Udinese in the second round of Serie A.

It was the last match before the international break, and Gao Shen wanted to end this phase of the season on a high note.

Udinese, with their ambitions and talent, posed a unique challenge. The Pozzo family had built a team of cost-effective stars, including Di Natale, Quagliarella, Asamoah, and Zapata, with the aim of competing for European spots.

After drawing with Inter Milan in their opening match, Udinese was looking like a formidable opponent.

For Gao Shen, this was the perfect opportunity. Unlike many Serie A teams, Udinese played a more open, attacking style, exactly the kind of game Gao Shen relished.

It was time to sharpen Napoli's blades and make a statement.