章節 26: You win!
Cantaleo finally blew the whistle for the end of the game.
In the final minutes, Atletico Madrid launched a desperate attack, aiming to salvage their pride with an away goal at the Bernabeu, but Real Madrid maintained a clean sheet despite the pressure.
Woodgate was substituted by Pavin in the 71st minute.
The English center-back, a linchpin of Gao Shen's defense, was substituted as Gao Shen anticipated increased aggression from Atletico Madrid in the dying minutes. This substitution also served to encourage Pavin and other young defenders in the team.
Even with Woodgate off, Real Madrid's tactical cohesion remained strong, particularly in midfield. The defense held firm, frustrating Atletico Madrid's attacking efforts.
In the 83rd minute, Gao Shen replaced De La Reid with Borja.
Del Reid, who had received a yellow card and expended considerable energy, was substituted. Gao Shen also wanted to provide Borja an opportunity to showcase his abilities.
Borja, a technically gifted midfielder adept at passing and organizing play, had struggled to find a role among stars like Zidane, Figo, Beckham, and Guti in the Real Madrid squad.
If Gao Shen remembered correctly, Borja moved to Real Mallorca after leaving Real Madrid, where he enjoyed a stellar season in La Liga, impressing with his performances.
After an exceptional season, Borja was signed by West Bromwich Albion for a club-record fee but struggled to replicate his form in the Premier League. He returned to Mallorca on loan after West Bromwich Albion's relegation, revitalizing his career in La Liga.
Gao Shen believed that Real Madrid was never lacking in talent but often struggled to utilize it effectively. Players like Eto'o, Cambiasso, Felipe, Parejo, and Juan Mata had all departed prematurely, despite their potential.
With such a packed schedule, Gao Shen knew that relying on a single lineup was impractical. He aimed to develop and assess talents like Borja and Pavin.
...
As the final whistle blew, Murcia wanted to retreat to the locker room, but upon leaving Atletico Madrid's coaching area, he encountered Gao Shen, who greeted him with a sly smile.
Whether it was a blessing or a curse, Murcia realized he couldn't avoid it.
"Congratulations!" Murcia extended his hand to Gao Shen, acknowledging defeat. "You've won!"
"Thank you." Gao Shen shook Murcia's hand with a smile, leaning in to whisper, "Now, maybe you'll start noticing me?"
Murcia chuckled awkwardly.
Indeed, Gao Shen held a grudge.
"You got lucky tonight; the stars were aligned for you," Murcia remarked, implying that Real Madrid's victory wasn't solely due to their skill but also favorable circumstances.
Gao Shen remained unfazed. "We didn't just win because we scored three goals; it's also because you failed to score."
Murcia's expression fell. He knew Gao Shen was right.
The key difference tonight was Real Madrid's defense. Despite occasional errors, their organization was impressive. In attack, they were well-coordinated, with Raul, Zidane, and Beckham leading the charge.
Without their Brazilian contingent, Real Madrid's attacking prowess was somewhat diminished, yet this allowed Beckham's crosses to shine more prominently than Robinho's dribbling.
"You're probably cursing me in your heart right now," Gao Shen continued with a smile. "But that's okay. I don't hide my grudges; I address them head-on."
Frustrated and embarrassed, Murcia made his way angrily into the player tunnel.
...
In the VIP box above the player tunnel, there was a knock on the door as soon as the final whistle blew.
Even before the door opened, Martin's laughter could be heard.
The new president of Real Madrid practically sprinted into the box, his face beaming with satisfaction.
He had every reason to be proud. A 3-0 victory was an outstanding result both in terms of performance and scoreline.
"How did it go, Florentino? Did you experience the Real Madrid you've been hoping for tonight?" Martin inquired jovially.
Florentino, always composed regardless of his inner feelings, replied, "It was quite good. Zidane and Beckham played crucial roles, and Woodgate—turns out he's not just another injury-prone import."
Florentino deliberately omitted mentioning Raul, who scored twice and was named Man of the Match, as Zidane, Beckham, and Woodgate were all players he had personally recruited.
Martin wasn't oblivious to the undertones.
"No matter how upset you are, Florentino, you always manage a smile," Martin observed.
"It doesn't matter. Next, I plan to set further expectations for the team—specifically, to achieve what you originally aimed for but didn't, to do everything possible to promote the Zidanega Pavin policy and further develop the young players in the squad."
Florentino's smile froze upon hearing this. Despite being certain that Martin intended to provoke him, he couldn't suppress his anger in that moment.
"Then you really should consider reintegrating this young coach. As you mentioned, he's quite capable."
Florentino's words carried a hint of insincerity.
Even after tonight's match, who would truly believe that Gao Shen's high level of skill could genuinely lead Real Madrid out of their current challenges?
Perhaps it was just luck or a coincidence.
With superstars like Zidane, Beckham, and Raul, wouldn't any team have a chance to defeat Atletico Madrid, even if they fielded inexperienced players?
Florentino secretly hoped that Martin would tie Gao Shen down, especially by signing a formal contract. That way, if Gao Shen led Real Madrid into a downturn, Martin would bear the consequences.
If that happened, Real Madrid fans would despair, and Florentino would be tasked with cleaning up the mess, right?
Martin had suffered a setback once but had learned from it this time.
"You're correct, Florentino. Gao Shen is indeed very talented. I've always valued him, but it's too hasty to reinstate him now. Youngsters need pressure to grow faster."
After making lofty statements, Martin changed his tone. "If he manages to lead the team to victory against Arsenal in the next game and ensures smooth advancement, I'll seriously consider your proposal. After all, our Champions League performances over the past two years have been truly disappointing."
Florentino was seething with anger.
Real Madrid places immense importance on the Champions League, a competition deeply rooted in the club's history. Since its inception, Real Madrid had clinched five consecutive championships, fostering a deep-seated affection for the tournament, even surpassing La Liga.
Yet, over the past two years, their Champions League performances had faltered, a sore point for Florentino.
Now, Martin's mention of this clearly aimed to expose Florentino's vulnerability and poke at his sensitive spot.
"Thinking of beating Arsenal? Are you being overly optimistic?" Florentino sneered.
Valdano, beside him, chimed in. "Wenger is astute and cunning. He may be aging, but underestimating him would be a mistake. Are you certain about challenging Wenger?"
"I also believe it's unrealistic for him to take on Wenger," Butragueno added.
They weren't all in agreement with Florentino, but they genuinely felt that Gao Shen's ability to lead the team in a match like tonight's, at his age, was remarkable.
But to defeat the wily Wenger?
Martin smirked and hummed softly. "I believe he can do it!"
With that said, Martin lost interest in remaining.
Everyone in the box understood. Martin's confidence in Gao Shen was superficial. Deep down, he wanted to see his good friend Bosque take charge of Real Madrid.
Gao Shen leading the team to defeat Atletico Madrid was unexpected but not beyond belief.
Now, the worst-case scenario would be losing to Arsenal and being knocked out of the Champions League, with Gao Shen taking the blame.
Everyone knew Carlo wasn't foolish.
Frankly, Gao Shen's success in defeating Atletico Madrid surprised Martin. Yet, what Martin had just said left him uneasy because he knew the task of beating Wenger's Arsenal was nearly impossible.
How could they hope to overcome the fully-equipped star-studded lineup that they struggled against at the Bernabeu? Especially with their current squad issues and internal conflicts, how could they possibly succeed at Highbury Stadium?
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