Starting With Real Madrid

"In English football, there's a circulating joke.

Before the afternoon training session, Gao Shen spoke for the first time as head coach.

The players in front of him had various expressions: some casual, some dismissive, some attentive...

But he paid no mind and continued with the carefully prepared first lecture.

"In the 1995-1996 Premier League season, after Manchester United lost 3-1 to Aston Villa in the opening match, football legend Alan Hansen remarked to Ferguson on a TV show, saying, 'You can't win anything with kids!'

This story is indeed familiar to English football fans, and anyone who has played in the Premier League has heard it.

"Three years later, Ferguson took these 'kids' and won the treble, turning Alan Hansen's words into a joke."

Back in the coaching office, Maqueda's expression soured, and the other staff members looked similarly uneasy.

Earlier, Maqueda had spoken to Gao Shen in the office about this.

Now they understood: this rookie head coach was one to watch out for. He not only confronts issues head-on but also plans ahead meticulously. He's too sharp!

They decided not to cross paths with such a person in the future!

"Just now, someone said the same to me, that I'm just a kid with a bunch of kids, incapable of winning anything. Currently, my situation is even worse. Ferguson was a renowned coach then, while I'm just a fledgling rookie. Yet those 'kids' from Manchester United later became top stars in the Premier League and Europe."

"And unlike Ferguson, I don't have much time. He built a treble-winning team in three years; I might only have three days left until the weekend derby decides my fate."

Everyone stared silently, their eyes reflecting various sentiments—disdain, ridicule, and some complexity.

"But my take on this isn't about Ferguson's future treble or Alan Hansen's joke. It's about Ferguson bravely doing what he believed was right, despite doubts and an uncertain future."

"Ferguson is the coach I respect the most. I can't compare myself to him, but I can learn his attitude. So, I'll continue doing what I believe is right and necessary. As for the outcome—whether I get sacked after the weekend—that's for time to decide."

In line, Raul, Beckham, Zidane, Woodgate, and several promoted teenagers from the reserves exchanged glances with Gao Shen. They understood his thoughts. Hearing his sincere words, they felt a deeper connection than others.

Especially for the young promoted players, they felt like the 'kids' Gao Shen referred to. He shielded them from overwhelming doubts.

It touched them.

...

The afternoon training session was closed to outsiders.

When assistant coach Maqueda announced the team lineup, everyone was stunned.

Not only were several young players in yellow vests, indicating they were starters, but Carlos and Ronaldo were also missing from the red vests.

What did it mean?

That day, Carlos had publicly confronted Gao Shen, and Ronaldo had been openly critical of him. They were also leaders of the Brazilian clique. Now, Gao Shen had directly challenged them; his intentions were clear.

Upon hearing the lineup, Ronaldo and Carlos sought to argue profoundly, but their teammates intervened. Fernando Lucas stood between them and Gao Shen, separating the two superstars.

After a brief quarrel, they spat out harsh words and left in anger.

"Let's see how you end up!"

"You're finished! You won't last the weekend!"

Gao Shen was prepared for this scenario and remained unfazed. To him, everything was planned. He immediately signaled for warm-ups and began team training.

During warm-ups, Gao Shen assembled a group of yellow vests. Lucas handed him a tactical board, and Gao Shen outlined a 4-2-3-1 formation on it.

He emphasized it was just the first session, primarily for getting used to it. He encouraged players to offer feedback based on their roles and situations.

In this 4-2-3 -1 formation, balance was key. Negredo, a high center forward, led the line. Raul played left, close to the center, with Zidane as the attacking midfielder orchestrating play. Beckham handled long passes and crosses from the right.

Gravesson wasn't just about attack but also defense. He partnered with De La Reid in midfield.

Full-backs were cautioned against over-committing in attack, unlike Carlos and Cicinho before. After moving up, they had to swiftly return to position.

Woodgate focused on rushing, while Elgra held back—an adaptation from his Real Madrid days when he made his name as a central defender.

Compactness and orderliness were crucial to Gao Shen. He divided the pitch into zones and stressed every player should return to their zone when defending.

At this stage, defense was prioritized, a sensible move to secure an unbeatable position.

With Real Madrid's attacking prowess, a solid defense offered a chance to counterattack.

...

Time was short.

Despite Gao Shen's thorough preparation, players understood the concepts but struggled with execution.

Despite their attacking lineup—Robinho, Soldado, Baptista, and Cassano—the opposition's individual skills, aided by Guti's distribution, and Cicinho's activity on the right, pinned back their efforts. The red vests dominated, creating numerous chances.

The Yellow Vests struggled to implement advanced tactics, lacking cohesion. Mistakes under pressure led to dangerous situations.

Benitez adjusted tactics based on the field, player characteristics, and Real Madrid's strengths. Fine-tuning continued.

Yet there were bright spots.

Robinho started brightly but faded against Abeloa's marking.

Notably, Felipe Luis on the left stabilized after a shaky start, containing Cassano effectively.

Soldado and Baptista, aside from an early goal, found little space thereafter.

Real Madrid's defense started to layer up, frustrating the attacking quartet.

For instance, when Baptista looked to advance, Gravesson and De La Reid flanked him, with Woodgate and Elgra providing cover.

Layered defense made it hard for attackers to breach.

This was the strength of the 4-2-3-1 formation.

But it wasn't foolproof. Atletico Madrid boasted Torres.

Torres' speed and explosiveness posed a threat unmatched by current Real Madrid players. Stopping him would prove critical.

Whether tactics would succeed depended on the game's flow and player execution.

Raul, Zidane, and Beckham recognized the tactical shift, markedly different from previous Real Madrid approaches, emphasizing team cohesion and compact lines.

Initially, players speculated Carlo's influence.

Carlo had experimented with the 4-2-3-1 formation, but superstar egos and mixed results led to its abandonment. Yet, under current circumstances, reviving such tactics wasn't unthinkable for Real Madrid.

The misunderstanding amused the superstars, but they executed diligently.

Trust in Carlo far outweighed any rookie's tactical brilliance.

Yellow vests stabilized defensively and started pressing offensively.

Unaware of players' speculation, Gao Shen focused on defensive solidity, feeling the impact of advanced tactics.

Given more time, adaptation was possible.