(5/6)

  The weather in Madrid began to ge, and Gao Shen sneezed several times in the m, which made him feel very strange.

  Could it be that someone was cursing him i?

  With su amiable character, who could he have offended?

  Immediately after the recovery training in the m, Baptista, Robinho, and ho arrived together to see him. Gao Shen received them in his office.

  It was clear that the trio had listeo what Ronaldo had veyed and now sought reciliation with Gao Shen.

  Resolving the issues between Baptista and ho proved retively straightforward, as both pyers were cooperative and willing to adapt to advaactics. They simply needed crity on their roles and how best to tribute.

  Robinho, however, presented a more challenging situation.

  The Brazilian prodigy possessed immealent but also had noticeable shortings. Gao Shen wanted him to minimize unnecessary ball possession, a task that required Robinho to distinguish between essential and excessive dribbling.

  Frankly, this was a difficult adjustment for Robinho.

  However, Gao Shen devised a strategic approaspired by what he had seen in Ferguson's methods with Cristiano Ronaldo at Maer United. When Ronaldo first arrived, his style was fshy and overly individualistiot fitting Maer United's dired effit py.

  To mold Ronaldo into a more effective pyer, Ferguson instructed defenders like Gary Neville to challenge him aggressively in training, pushing him to refine his deaking and teamwradually.

  Gao Shen inteo employ a simir method with Robinho, albeit aowledging it would take time.

  The discussion sted an hour, during which Gao Shen id out his expectations openly and reassured the Brazilians that they would receive pying time based on their performances. However, they would not feature in the uping game against Juventus on Wednesday, a decision Gao Shen had pnned sihe first leg.

  He promised them opportunities in the league if they demonstrated itment and improvement in training.

  ...

  After seeing off the Brazilian pyers, Gao She a sense of relief.

  Siaking charge of Real Madrid a little over a month ago, he finally felt he had settled into the dressing room.

  Managing a club like Real Madrid, with its myriad is and demands, posed a siderable challenge. As Raul had once remarked, the coach at Real Madrid was simultaneously pivotal and insignifit.

  Why insignifit?

  Because the pyers were all world-css professionals capable of perf without stant coag. They uood the game and their roles instinctively.

  Yet, the role of the head coach was crucial.

  While these pyers possessed exceptional individual abilities, only a coaless they were a former superstar like Zidane—could guide them as a cohesive unit and tactically mahem.

  Moreover, these were ordinary people beh their exceptional footballing talents. Some had limited education, havied their lives to the sport from a young age. If transpnted into an academic setting, many might struggle to plete primary school.

  They experiehe same humaions and challenges as anyone else—pre-game nerves, personal disappois, family issues—and needed leadership to stay focused and motivated.

  This applied equally to the team as a whole.

  The head coach's role was to navigate these plexities and keep both individuals and the team on track.

  So, was there a point to this?

  Smaller clubs focused on coag ability, but giants like Real Madrid emphasized managerial a.

  Take Pellegrini, for instance—a coach capable of guiding Vilrreal to Champions League semifinals. He was undoubtedly skilled tactically. Yet, his methods that worked at smaller clubs often faltered at Real Madrid.

  Gao Shen had been navigating this high-pressure enviro for over a month, weighing every deeticulously. He had finally wohe dressing room, save for Carlos, a secure in his position—so long as the results followed.

  ...

  Before the afternoon training session, Real Madrid held a review meeting to dissect their performa Camp Nou.

  Gao Shen highlighted two areas where the team had fallen short: midfield and forressing, and defensive positioning.

  While the former artly due to the team's unfamiliarity with advaactics, the tter—especially Samuel Eto'o's goal—was a critical error that demanded corre.

  Gao Shen wasn't assigning bme to Elgra but insisted on analyzing the mistake rigorously to prevent its recurrence.

  Real Madrid couldn't rely on luck every time.

  The coag staff devised training drills to address these issues iernoon session.

  For midfield and forressing, they employed a shadow py teique remi of Sacchi's methods. Lippi had once critiqued Sacchi's zone defense as innovative in trainihodology rather than tactical revolution. Shadow py involved pyers moving in formation around fgpoles oraining ground, responding to imaginary oppos and maintaining cohesive movement.

  To improve defensive positioning, they anized a five-versus-four exercise. Four defenders stood at the edge of the penalty area, while five attackers circuted, with one forward making runs behind the defensive line when opportunities arose.

  These drills aimed to simute game sarios and refieam movements effectively.

  ...

  Throughout training, Gao Shen observed from the sidelines, leaving Maqueda and Bueura to oversee proceedings.

  The pyers responded positively, demonstrating itment and teamwork, which promised a fruitful training session. However, the true test would e in uping matches.

  At the session's end, club president Martin arrived, apanied by senior executives, directors, and media representatives, including board member and wyer Ramon Calderon.

  Calderon, inspicuous yet strategically positioning himself for the uping presidential ele, had surprised Martin previously and now sought to assert his influence.

  Martin's visit aimed to capitalize on Real Madrid's ret victory over Bara, bolstering his presend garnering support.

  Gao Shen seized the opportunity to speak privately with Martin, inf him about Butragueno's proposal for a dinner meeting with Florentino.

  Martin appeared unaware but adopted a genial demeanor, not wanting to appear unaware of club affairs. Gao Shen subtly hi Florentino's previous i in him, ily prompting Martin to aowledge and support him.

  "Just a dinner; it shouldn't be a big issue," Martin replied with a generous smile before shifting the versation. "Gao, I have high hopes for you. If you enter any challenges, feel free to approach me. I'm here to assist you."

  Gao Shen seized the moment, feigniation before raising s about renewing tracts for young pyers like Ramos. He emphasized their potential and loyalty to Real Madrid's youth system, suggesting prompt tract renewals to reinforce morale.

  Martin readily agreed, viewing it as a straightforward matter. He assured Gao Shen of his support and instructed him to proceed with the renewals, promising to endorse the deade.

  Gao Shen leased.

  Renewing tracts for pyers like Ramos was not just about rewarding talent but also about asserting his managerial authority. While he couldn't dictate transfers yet, he could influence pying time and wage decisions.

  This recisely why he had discussed the matter with Martin.

  As for dining with Florentino—did it really matter?