Starting With Real Madrid

Three, two, one… beep!

The referee's whistle pierced the air.

Instantly, every Napoli player surged forward, pressing into Manchester United's half like a blue tidal wave.

From the sidelines, Gao Shen watched the movement unfold, and for some reason, a lively Spanish melody from a barbecue restaurant in Madrid popped into his head.

It was almost as if his players were moving in perfect rhythm, each press, each sprint falling into place like notes in a song.

And then it hit him, his mindset had shifted.

For the first time in a long time, Gao Shen felt completely free of pressure.

All the tension, all the weight that had come with facing Ferguson—gone.

It was like a breakthrough moment, a personal evolution.

Even if he faced Ferguson again in the future, he would never feel the same pressure as before.

Some battles, once fought, change you forever.

On the pitch, Napoli's high-intensity pressing took full effect.

They pushed their defensive line past midfield, suffocating Manchester United's buildup play.

When it came to high-pressing football, Napoli were the best in Europe.

Even Barcelona, with all their intricate passing, might struggle to match this level of intensity.

Back in the first leg, Ferguson had asked Gao Shen:

"Why didn't you attack?"

At the time, Gao Shen had given no response.

But now?

Now, he had his answer.

This is the attack you were waiting for, Sir!

With a 2-0 lead, Napoli played with confidence, composure, and ruthless execution.

Gao Shen had given them one clear instruction:

"Unless I tell you to drop back no one retreats!"

And so, they pressed forward relentlessly, throwing Manchester United into chaos.

United's passing game, already struggling, completely unraveled.

Every time they tried to play out from the back, Napoli's pressing forced hurried passes and mistakes.

And the moment Napoli regained possession, they launched instant counterattacks, forcing United onto the back foot.

The Red Devils found themselves trapped, unable to build anything meaningful.

Slowly but surely, they were being overwhelmed.

---

On the touchline, Ferguson gritted his teeth, watching the game slip away.

A realization dawned on him—

Gao Shen had turned his own tactics against him.

The same high-pressure strategy Ferguson had used to control the first half…

Napoli were now executing it to perfection in the second.

Only this time, the situation was far worse for United.

Because now, they needed three goals and time was against them.

If they couldn't break free from Napoli's press, there was no chance to even launch a comeback.

Already, Rooney and Nani were forced to drop deeper, trying to help their midfield escape the pressure.

Even Berbatov and Ronaldo had to track back.

And that was the problem.

Instead of attacking, United were stuck defending.

Could they go long?

In theory, yes—Napoli's high press left space behind.

But to exploit it, they needed precision passing.

And under this level of pressure, it was almost impossible to find the right pass.

Every time United tried to play a long ball forward, Napoli's midfield swarmed them before they could even set up.

In the end, most long passes turned into desperate clearances, wild punts with almost no accuracy.

Even if Berbatov or Ronaldo got near the ball, Napoli's defenders were always first to react.

If United had a technically gifted midfield, they might have been able to pass their way out of trouble.

But aside from Carrick, none of their midfielders were comfortable playing quickly under pressure.

And the moment they hesitated?

Napoli swarmed them, forced mistakes, and launched another attack.

Steal the ball. Attack. Steal the ball. Attack.

It was a nightmare cycle.

The kind of football that had made teams across Europe terrified of facing Napoli.

Even in Italy—the birthplace of defensive tactics—Napoli's relentless pressing had been hailed as a tactical revolution.

Could United do what Hiddink's Chelsea had done stay compact and defend?

Maybe.

But they weren't in a position to defend.

They needed three goals.

Ferguson hated to admit it, but right now, Napoli were simply the better side.

He had no choice but to bide his time just as Gao Shen had done in the first half.

"Let's see how long you can keep this up!"

At the 60th minute, Hamsik started warming up.

Gao Shen was preparing his first substitution.

Meanwhile, Ferguson found himself hesitating.

Did he need to change things again?

Should he adjust the tactics?

The problem wasn't just positioning, Napoli's energy levels were unreal.

Rakitic had been phenomenal.

For the past hour, he had been an absolute menace, pressing Carrick and Fletcher relentlessly.

Alongside Cavani, Di Maria, and Sanchez, Napoli had choked United's entire midfield and backline.

But after 63 minutes of intensity, Rakitic was beginning to fade.

That's when Gao Shen made his move.

63rd Minute: Substitution

Hamsik ON, Rakitic OFF

Napoli adjusted their shape, shifting into a 4-2-3-1 formation.

However, in reality, the front three remained aggressive, with:

Hamsik playing left midfield

Biglia deeper on the right

Thiago Motta anchoring the back

Hamsik might look like a brute with his Mohawk and tattoos, but his technique was exceptional.

He was deadly with through balls, dangerous from deep runs, and under Gao Shen's coaching, had also developed into a tenacious presser.

Despite being benched in the Champions League for tactical reasons, he had been one of Napoli's best players in Serie A.

Now, Gao Shen had unleashed him, his main mission?

Shut down Carrick.

"Damn it! Why do all their players have endless stamina?!" Ferguson cursed.

Time was slipping away.

By the time Napoli completed their substitution, it was 65 minutes in.

Ferguson hesitated, five more minutes passed.

Finally, in the 73rd minute, he made his move.

Rooney OFF, Giggs ON

It was a clear signal, United were throwing everything into attack.

But before they could build momentum, Napoli struck back.

75th Minute: Vidal ON, Di Maria OFF

This infuriated Ferguson.

Gao Shen had just replaced a winger with a two-way midfielder.

The message was clear, Napoli weren't backing down.

With Vidal joining Biglia in midfield, and Hamsik pushing higher, Napoli continued to control the game.

They weren't slowing the tempo.

They weren't sitting back.

They were fighting to the very end.

At that moment, everyone in the stadium knew.

Manchester United were finished.

With 15 minutes left, Manchester United's hopes were fading fast.

They needed three goals, but there were no signs of a comeback.

Napoli had them completely locked down.

United were losing in possession, shots, and even spirit.

Gao Shen's second-half substitutions had reinforced Napoli's midfield, making it even harder for United to break through.

Ferguson had no answer.

It was eerily similar to the first leg, where United had also struggled to create chances, the only exception being a brief moment when Berbatov linked up with Ronaldo for a goal.

But tonight?

Napoli had closed that door too.

No one could question Cristiano Ronaldo's desire.

He had taken the most shots of any player in the match.

But every single attempt had been contained, blocked, or sent off target.

That was United's biggest problem, their star player couldn't create real danger.

Ferguson had used all three substitutions, yet the situation remained unchanged.

United were out of time.

They still needed three goals and everyone in the stadium knew:

It was impossible.

Even the Manchester United fans sensed it.

Even the United players on the pitch knew it.

As the game neared the 80th minute, Gao Shen made the call.

With his team's energy levels dropping, he signaled them to drop deeper, tighten their shape, and lock down the defense.

They no longer needed to press high, they only needed to see the game out.

But he wasn't taking any risks.

82nd minute— Final Substitution

Valencia ON, Sanchez OFF

The Chilean winger had been instrumental in the first goal, working tirelessly throughout the match.

But now? He was out of gas.

In came Antonio Valencia, an explosive winger with raw pace.

It was a clear tactical shift, Napoli were switching to counterattack mode.

"Napoli is setting up for a defensive counterattack," the commentator noted.

"They have players who can hit long passes, and with both teams exhausted, if Manchester United pushes too far forward, Napoli could exploit them with one quick ball over the top."

"Valencia's speed will be their weapon now."

Napoli adjusted their formation, moving to a 4-3-1-2 setup:

Cavani and Valencia up front.

Hamsik playing behind them as an advanced midfielder.

A solid defensive trio in midfield, sitting deep to protect the backline.

The message was clear:

Napoli would not let their guard down until the final whistle.

From the touchline, Gao Shen never stopped shouting instructions, keeping his players focused.

Everyone in the stadium knew the game was effectively over.

But Gao Shen wasn't taking any chances.

Because in football, miracles happen in the final moments and he wasn't about to let one happen against Napoli.

---

Even in the dying minutes, Ronaldo never stopped running.

He was still looking for a way back into the game.

With every sprint, with every dribble, he threw everything he had onto the pitch.

But football is a team game and tonight, he was alone.

89th minute—one last moment of danger.

Ronaldo drove forward on the left wing, weaving past defenders, winning a corner kick.

For a brief second, Gao Shen felt his heart tighten.

Manchester United pushed everyone forward for the set piece.

They won back-to-back corners, hoping for one last lifeline.

But Napoli held firm.

Neither set piece produced a real threat.

And that was it.

In stoppage time, United resorted to long balls.

They launched desperate crosses, hoping for something, anything.

Ronaldo got on the end of a few passes, but there was no support.

The attacks were isolated, aimless.

Four minutes of extra time came and went.

No miracle. No comeback.

---

FULL-TIME: 2-0!

NAPOLI HAVE DONE IT!

3-1 ON AGGREGATE—NAPOLI ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!

The referee blew the final whistle, and for a split second, there was silence.

Then.

Gao Shen erupted.

He had done it!

He sprinted onto the pitch, fists clenched, roaring in triumph.

Napoli were going to the final!

***

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