Gao Shen once heard a question: why is football the number one sport in the world?

  He believes the best answer is that football mirrors our society.

  From this perspective, football tactics resemble people's philosophies of life in this society.

  Offense or defense? Fe ahead or remain cautious?

  The development of football tactics is also very simir to the evolution of human society.

  In the earliest days, everyone och had a fixed role and position. Each pyer operated within their designated responsibilities, dividing bor and cooperating with one another.

  Holnd's total football cept overturhis pattern, breaking boundaries and unifying attad defense.

  A steal in one's owy area is a successful defeion, but if it occurs in the oppo's penalty area, it bees a threatening offensive move.

  Simirly, Gao Shen has seen much debate about Guardio's dream team: is possession-based football offensive or servative?

  When Gao Shen was just a faen wondered why coaches like Mourinho and Capello were known for their defensive prowess. Why didn't they rely more oive pyers? And why do many head coaches, even when knowing there are few opportunities and a high risk of loss, still choose to be proactive?

  Fans often discuss these issues using terms like "football philosophy."

  How do these philosophies arise? How do they fun? How do they influence pyers?

  Why does the same pyer struggle under one coach but excel under another?

  Gao Shen's study of Lippi and Capello's books iactical library, along with parisons to other coaches' works, has given him a deeper uanding of these questions.

  Football philosophy is akin to a life philosophy, and behind both lies the character of the head coach.

  It's like iing: some people like to take risks, opting fh risk, high input, and high output, while others are ily risk-averse and prefer the safety of a bank.

  Ba the football field, if you draw the tactical spectrum as an axis, the in represents bance, one side offehe other defense.

  Moving towards offense results in more chaotiations and higher risks but also greater creativity and moals. versely, moving towards defense brings more order and tighter formations, redug risk but also diminishing creativity and goal-sg opportunities.

  In football, offense is taking risks—high risk but high reward—while defense represents order—low risk but low return.

  There's a saying: "Goals are made by adventurers." The more a team embraces risk, the mgressive they will be in attag and sg.

  A simple example is Real Madrid.

  During the Gacticos era, with superstars gathered, the team adopted very risky tactiaximize the creativity of front-line pyers, resulting in a potent offe a fragile defense.

  Thus, each head coach's choice of team tactics depends on their personality, preferences, and life philosophy, determining whether they emphasize risk-taking or order.

  These choices profoundly affect all aspects of the head coach's decisions, from team sele and trao overall tactical stru, individual pyer tactics, season strategy, formation, and in-game ma.

  This influence is as pervasive as personality and life philosophy in a person's life.

  This uanding crifies yer might thrive under one coach but not another.

  It may simply be that the former coach values order, stantly emphasizing positioning, spag, defense, and passing accuracy, while the tter coaces risk-taking, allowing for more adventurous pys even if the formation suffers.

  After uanding this, Gao She enlightened.

  Moreover, from the books of Lippi, Capello, Ferguson, aez, he realized that the world's top football coaches have long uood these truths, and they are more aware of their issues than outsiders.

  They don't try to overthrow or abandon their philosophies but instead delve deeper into their ideas.

  They all seek to find a bance where offense and defense, risk and order coexist.

  Throughout football history, all great dynastic teams have achieved this bance.

  ...

  Iactics library, Gao Shen sat silently.

  He pondered, what exactly is his football philosophy?

  From a personality standpoint, he is pragmatid not overly idealistic. Thus, after taking over Real Madrid, he chose a defensive focus, believing it would lead to victories.

  Overall, he leans towards being adventurous while still valuing order.

  If he had to choose, he admired Real Madrid under Ai's initial tehe most.

  Ai is an iing coach. Early in his career, especially at Juventus, he was extremely servative, so much so that even the servative Juventus fans couldn't stand it.

  One imagine how servative Ai must have been at that time!

  Who would have thought that after moving to A, Ai began to let loose, first positioning Pirlo deep and then adopting various offensive formations, transf his coag career.

  Of course, Ai wasn't perfect, as seen in the sed half of the Istanbul miracle.

  Gao She blindly follow Ai or others. He tio study iactical library, learning from many sources, embrag diverse ideas, and ultimately finding his own path.

  ...

  The m, the Real Madrid first team coaches arrived early at Valdebebas.

  Before the team returhey held another meeting to finalize tactics for the evening's match against Deportivo, especially the starting lineup.

  Gao Shen arrived earlier than everyone else.

  Although he officially signed with Real Madrid, Gao Shen still worked with all the coaches, rather than using the separate head coach office left by Carlo.

  Initially, it was to show solidarity, but he eventually grew aced to it.

  Once all the coaches were present, Gao Shen called everyoogether.

  "I've decided that tonight against Deportivo, we will go all out for the three points!" Gao Shen stated clearly, without room fotiation.

  Maqueda was surprised and wao persuade him otherwise, but seeing Gao Shen's determination, he remembered Gao Shen's previous words and swallowed his objes.

  He didn't think it was a good idea due to the high risk, but he knew Gao Shen had made up his mind. His role was to support and assist, not question.

  "Beckham's dition is good; let him start. Cassano will move up, Raul will py on the left, Guti as the attag midfielder, and Pablo Garcia and De La Red as the double pivots. The defense will have Raul Bravo, Helguera, Ramos, and Arbeloa. This will be our lineup."

  Negredo was not included iarting lineup, clearly to prepare for the midweek match against Turin.

  Everyone uood that pying against an Italian team without a tral forward was unwise.

  After seeing Gao Shen's decision, no one else objected. They were employees, and the pressure was on the head coaot them.

  Lucas leased, believing Gao Shen had taken his advice.

  Bueura also seemed to favor a proactive approach, evident from his expression.

  Bielsa and Guardio, both admired by Bueura, tend to be proactive in their strategies.

  This is also why Gao Shen wao beat Deportivo.

  No one predict the future. When an opportunity arises, it should be seized immediately, and other matters be addressed ter.

  Always w about gains and losses makes it difficult to achieve great things.

  ...

  Before the m meeting, Gao Shen spoke with the starting pyers individually and also addressed those inally scheduled to start, expining his reasons for the ges and hoping for their uanding.

  Later, at the team tactical meeting, Gao Shen eborated on his thoughts.

  He believed that Bara's draw presented Real Madrid with a great opportunity to close the gap.

  As long as Real Madrid wins against Deportivo, holds their ground against Turin in the midweek Champions League game, as Bara in the weekend's Csico, all the pressure will shift to Bara.

  "I know it's difficult, but nothing in this world is easy. Each of you has pyed football for many years. To reach this level ahis jersey, you have experienced tless hardships. No one uands better than you the importance of fag challenges and pushing limits.

  "And it's even more critical for a team!

  "We are behind our oppos and have no choice. We only catch up or even surpass them by putting in double or triple the effort.

  "I've always felt that a team like ours is born to win every game. In a team like this, with pyers like you, there should be no talk of strategipromise iving up.

  "I believe we have the ability to win every game a any oppo, no matter who they are!"