บท 322: Chapter 322: You Are the Strongest in Serie A!
After Materazzi was sent off, the outcome of the match between Inter Milan and Liverpool seemed almost inevitable.
Yet, what left Gao Shen feeling both amused and frustrated was Liverpool's inability to break through Inter Milan's defense for an extended period. Gao Shen found himself itching to ask Benitez why he was leaving Xabi Alonso on the bench, especially when he could have stabilized the midfield and potentially wrapped up the game in this first leg.
Instead, the two sides remained deadlocked for much of the match.
One amusing incident occurred in the second half when Mancini substituted Vieira in for Cruz. Vieira barely spent two minutes on the field before gifting a perfect pass unintentionally to Torres, setting him up with a one-on-one opportunity. Luckily for Inter, Julio Cesar was in stellar form, managing to block Torres' shot and sparing Inter from further embarrassment.
In the final minutes of the game, however, Liverpool managed to score twice in quick succession, with both goals orchestrated by Pennant, who had come on as a substitute. Benitez's skillful substitutions finally paid off, as Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan.
The final statistics told the story: Liverpool had 25 attempts with six on target, while Inter Milan could only muster a meager four shots, none of which were on target.
---
Leaving the stadium, Gao Shen had mixed emotions.
On the one hand, he was fairly certain that Inter Milan's chances of advancing past the round of 16 were slim. Losing 0-2 in the away leg was a tough blow, and the odds of staging a comeback in the second leg seemed slim to none.
But this could have implications for Napoli's showdown with Inter in the 26th round of Serie A. If Inter had any hope of advancing in the Champions League, Mancini might have shifted focus to that competition. However, with little hope left, it was more likely Mancini would refocus on the league, possibly throwing everything he had into Serie A.
On the other hand, Gao Shen had to acknowledge that Serie A teams seemed weak on the European stage. Even Inter Milan so dominant in Italy had struggled against a Liverpool team that was not exactly in peak form. The difference in competitiveness was striking.
Gao Shen shook his head, managing a wry smile. "It's hard to take pleasure in Inter Milan's misfortune when it just means they'll probably double down in Serie A," he sighed.
Lucas and Buenaventura shared his sentiments. They understood that Inter Milan's early struggles in the Champions League likely meant they would refocus all their efforts on domestic success.
"Still, if tonight's game showed us anything, it's that Inter Milan's mental resilience is lacking," Lucas pointed out. "When the pressure is on, they seem to falter. That's something we can use to our advantage."
"Exactly," Buenaventura agreed. "Push them to the edge, and they'll start crumbling on their own."
Gao Shen nodded in agreement. This was a common trait among teams lacking mental fortitude; they would fall apart under sustained pressure. In contrast, teams like Ferguson's Manchester United only grew stronger in adversity. The Red Devils would fight until the very end, their resilience never wavering.
"So our job is to push Inter Milan to that breaking point," Gao Shen concluded. "We need to make the 26th-round match at the San Paolo Stadium a decisive battle!"
After watching Liverpool dismantle Inter Milan, Gao Shen felt a renewed sense of purpose. He knew exactly what his team needed to do.
---
Elsewhere in Europe, Italian clubs were struggling. AC Milan managed a 0-0 draw away to Arsenal, while Roma surprised Real Madrid with a 2-1 victory at home. Raul initially put Madrid ahead, but Roma struck back with two quick goals.
Following this defeat, Spanish sports papers Marca and AS criticized Madrid's coach Schuster and called for a return to the style under Gao Shen. "At least Gao Shen managed to lead Napoli to a 6-0 win over Roma!" some fans noted wistfully, remembering Gao Shen's era at Real Madrid as a golden age. His legendary victory over Barcelona and his double trophy win left fans longing for his return.
---
The 24th round of Serie A soon followed.
Juventus suffered a shock 2-1 loss away to Reggina, with a last-minute penalty sealing their fate. To make matters worse, Zanetti was sent off with a red card in stoppage time. This defeat not only dashed Juventus' slim title hopes but even put their hold on a top-four finish in jeopardy.
After the game, Juventus management released an open letter protesting the officiating, claiming that they had been treated unfairly. In response, clubs including Inter, Torino, and Genoa spoke out, accusing Juventus of trying to unduly influence the referees.
---
In the same round, Napoli traveled to face Livorno.
With Cavani scoring twice, Napoli emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, adding another three points to their tally.
Roma also managed a narrow 1-0 win at home against Fiorentina, with Cicinho scoring the only goal of the game.
---
Meanwhile, Inter Milan, bruised from their 0-2 defeat at Liverpool, faced Sampdoria away.
Evidently having studied Inter's weaknesses exposed at Anfield, Mazzarri's Sampdoria came out aggressively, pressing Inter Milan high and dominating the midfield early on. Despite this, Sampdoria squandered multiple chances and didn't break through until the 65th minute, when Cassano spun past Materazzi to score.
Inter equalized in the 77th minute, however, with Crespo heading in a goal to salvage a 1-1 draw.
---
The news of Inter Milan's dropped points traveled quickly, and Napoli's players and coaching staff were thrilled.
On the day after their match, the team gathered for training, which Gao Shen had delayed specifically to watch Inter's match. As soon as the result was confirmed, Gao Shen leapt out of his seat, and the entire coaching staff erupted in cheers.
Gao Shen strode over to the players' lounge, where the Napoli squad had also been watching the game. As he entered, the room quieted, but everyone's faces were glowing with excitement.
"Did you all watch the match?" Gao Shen asked, grinning widely.
The players nodded in unison. "Yes, Coach!"
"Five points!" Gao Shen exclaimed, holding up his hand. "We're now just five points behind Inter Milan!"
The room exploded into cheers once more.
"I told you," Gao Shen continued, "Inter would make mistakes. They're not as strong in tough games, and with the added pressure of competing on two fronts, they were bound to slip. Was I wrong?"
The players shook their heads, thoroughly impressed by Gao Shen's foresight. He had been predicting Inter Milan's struggles since the winter break, and now everything was playing out exactly as he had envisioned.
Encouraged, Gao Shen pushed further. "Trust me, Inter will drop more points. Maybe even in the next match."
Napoli's players listened intently. Inter's next game was against Roma, a strong team capable of pushing them to their limits. Mancini's side was under immense pressure, and cracks were already beginning to show. Vieira's outburst when substituted and Materazzi's mistakes in recent matches only underscored the tension within Inter's ranks.
"Inter Milan's internal conflicts are coming to the surface. From their loss against Liverpool to this draw with Sampdoria, this Serie A giant is slowly losing its grip!"
"We have to keep pushing, keep winning. When Inter Milan comes to the San Paolo, we will be ready to strike them down!"
Gao Shen's words electrified the team. For many of these young players, the idea of winning Serie A had always seemed like a distant dream. But now, with every victory, that dream was becoming tangible. They were on the brink of something historic.
"From here on, treat every match as if it's the most important of your career," Gao Shen urged them. "If we win every game, the title will be ours in the end!"
"Can we do it?" he roared.
"Yes!" the players shouted back, their voices echoing through the room.
---
Three days later, in the 25th round of Serie A, Juventus was held to a disappointing 0-0 draw in the Turin Derby, as Ranieri's side continued to struggle. This result only reinforced Gao Shen's earlier prediction that Juventus had lost their edge since the humiliating defeat against Napoli.
AC Milan, juggling both Serie A and Champions League commitments, could only manage a 1-1 draw against Catania.
Napoli, however, was in high spirits. With goals from Hamsik and Cavani, they defeated Genoa 2-0 on the road, securing another vital three points.
In the round's headline match, Roma almost managed to pull off an upset against Inter Milan. Totti's goal gave Roma the lead for most of the game, but in the closing minutes, Mexes received two quick yellow cards and was sent off. Shortly after, Zanetti scored to snatch a 1-1 draw for Inter Milan.
The gap at the top remained tight, with Napoli inching ever closer.
***
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