Gao Shen was truly prepared to be scolded and even ned by the whole try in Spain.

  From the moment he decided to aim for a 0-0 away draw, he was ready for the backsh.

  But what he did not expect was that the anticipated crusade never materialized.

  In other words, the media and fans' criticism was far less severe than he had imagined.

  A 0-0 draw with Juventus away, everyone familiar with and uanding football knows how difficult that is. However, for Real Madrid fans and the Spanish media, Gao Shen's servatism is uable.

  The previous 1-0 win was criticized, and now they have adopted a porized attitude towards Real Madrid's 0-0 away draw.

  For example, the "Aspen" neer, led by editor-in-chief Alfredo's n, gave a high evaluation of Gao Shen and Real Madrid's performan Turin, believing that for Real Madrid to e away unscathed in such a devilish schedule was already quite an achievement.

  "Since Gao Shen took charge of Real Madrid, we have seen many qualities in this atypical Real Madrid that we had not seen before, such as cohesion, unity, and tenacity until the st moment."

  Alfredo was also clearly afraid that Gao Shen would face overwhelming criticism, so he defended Gao Shen in his n, arguing that Gao Shen was not servative. He pointed out that Gao Shen's start at Highbury showed amazing ce, bravery, aermination.

  "Without his persiste would have been difficult for Real Madrid to score the first goal at Highbury, and there would have been no miraculous eback."

  Alfredo stated that, as a Real Madrid fan for decades, he is very aware of the current team's problems: aging, an unbanced lineup structure, and obvious shortings that disadvahem in both the Champions League and strong matches.

  Against a strong team like Juventus away, how should Real Madrid py?

  Alfredo even believes that with Real Madrid's current situation, fag Capello's Juventus, even if any other famous coa the world were in charge, it would be difficult to do better than Gao Shen.

  The editor-in-chief's words were highly respectful of Gao Shen, even paring him directly to world-renowned coaches.

  However, also in "Aspen," there was another report questioning Gao Shen and his Real Madrid.

  The skeptics argued that Real Madrid's advantage lies ieique and ball trol, but Gao Shen did not show enough ce to face Juventus directly, leading to Real Madrid beirained and forced into a physical battle with Juventus.

  "It turns out that Real Madrid is absolutely at a disadvantage in terms of physical frontation and petition fh balls. Ramos and Woodgate look like children in front uet and Ibrahimovic."

  Wheeam is physically outmatched and the overall tactics are inferior, Real Madrid should leverage their teical skills and passing advao pull and wear down Juventus, rather thaing to passive defense.

  "Clearly, from the beginning, he didn't think about winning in Turin; he just wao keep a 0-0 draw."

  The skeptics argued that Juventus had their own problems, and Real Madrid had opportunities. If Real Madrid had shown more ce to attad at least scored one away goal, it would have been a huge advantage.

  They said that Gao Shen's servatism made Real Madrid look small, g their usual grandeur and charm, and they pletely lost their creative spark, making them unreizable.

  Spanish star host Del Morena had a more ral stan his program.

  On one hand, he aowledged the skeptics' views. From the start, Gao Shen hought of winning the away game, so his approach was servative, making Real Madrid py awkwardly in Turin, pletely losing their advantages.

  But oher hand, he also uood and appreciated Gao Shen's strategy.

  "A lot of skeptical people only type on their keyboards and write. They always assume pyers have unlimited stamina on the field, but they never sider that pyers are not superhumans."

  Del Morena said in his program that physical fitness is the foundation of football. Without it, all interviews are useless.

  But physical energy isn't like a battery. It doesn't stop when it hits zero. Before that, pyers tio fun, but as their energy drains, their teical as deteriorate, and they are proo mistakes.

  Fag a team like Juventus, both teique and ball trol require signifit movement, which demands physical support.

  "Gao Shen must have prehensively assessed the team's physical dition. After st week's match against Deportivo La Coru?a, where they secured three points, he must have sidered sg away goals in Turin, but also evaluated the risks."

  Del Morena believes that with Real Madrid's current lineup, physical dition, and form, it's too difficult and risky to try and break Juventus' defense in Turin without g a goal to them.

  "Many people think it's a draw, so why not strive for a oo-one draw?"

  "But the real situation is likely that if Real Madrid focuses on attag, their defense will bee less trated, and the final result might be 1-2 or even 0-2, making the sed leg extremely difficult."

  "Everyone knows that once Capello has a goal adva's nearly impossible to get it back."

  However, Del Morena also cluded that sihe first leg ended 0-0, Gao Shen would definitely aim to score in the sed leg.

  The hidden danger is that betweewo legs, Real Madrid has to py iional derby.

  "This is Real Madrid's devilish schedule!"

  ...

  ...

  After returning to Madrid from Turin ht, and heading home after the team disbanded, Gao She straight to bed. He theered the tactical library to review the game's gains and losses.

  This habit of reviewing is actually very beneficial.

  Whether studying or w, and now as a head coach, reviewing every day is a way of self-improvement.

  The m, Gao She out to buy breakfast and picked up a few neers.

  He was a bit surprised by the media and fans' reas.

  At least, the neers didn't have unanimous criticism and accusations. Media like "Aspen," "Marca," and "El Pais" not only supported and approved his strategies, but also criticized and questioned him.

  This made Gao Shen feel quite at ease.

  At least, there was no longer a one-sided barrage of criticism.

  However, he vaguely felt this had something to do with Bara's performance.

  In their away game against Puese Super League team Benfica, Bara also failed to score, ending with a 0-0 draw.

  Well, Real Madrid faced Juventus, arguably the stroeam in the Champions League quarter-finals, and Bara faced the weakest team, Benfica, ending with the same 0-0 score.

  So, tell me, you criticize Real Madrid without critig Bara?

  Even the most biased media would struggle to do such a thing, right?

  Gao She care whether Bara advances, because he believes there is no suspense in Bara advang. He only cares if Rijkaard will hold ba this game.

  Uhose who were fully prepared for their time travel, Gao Shen didn't do enough homework beforehand. Uhose who remembered every game clearly, he now doesn't know if Rijkaard held back.

  Bara also has injury issues now.

  Both Messi and Xavi have been out for a long time. tral defenders Edmilson and Marquez are injured, and Puyol is out too, leading Rijkaard to field Van Bommel as a tral defender against Benfica.

  It was reported earlier that Puyol could py against Benfica, but he wasn't even on the squad. Did Rijkaard deliberately hold him back for La Liga?

  After all, the Champions League is a two-leg affair, and it's not difficult for Bara to kill Benfica at Camp Nou.

  ...

  Gao Shen analyzed the neer while eating breakfast, wholeheartedly fog on the reports.

  As soon as he finished pag up and was about to go to work, his ph.

  Carlo called to gratute him on the good result in Turin st night.

  "I read the m papers, and more people are starting tnize your efforts," Carlo said lightly.

  Gao Shen listened on the phone, sensing a bit of an uone. ood was likely far from calm, as the more people reized Gao Shen, the lower Carlo's predecessor evaluation would be.

  With the same lineup, Gao Shen faced a worse envirohan Carlo, yet he led the team to such results. What about Carlo?

  Gao Shen didn't know how to respond, so he quickly ged the subject, bringing up his question.

  "It's possible," Carlo agreed with Gao Shen's judgment. "Bara likes to trol the ball and attack from a high position, leaving a lot of spa the back. Puyol's presence is the biggest reinfort for their bae, and Rijkaard might have rested him for the Csico."

  Sihe Real Madrid and Bara games were pyed simultaneously, Carlo didn't watch the Bara-Benfica match, so he said they'd have to review the game video to uand the specifics.

  "I'll watch the video first. e over to my pce for dionight, a's discuss it," Carlo ughed.

  He was now idle at home and had plenty of time.

  With a free advisor avaible, Gao Sheainly wouldn't refuse. He theioned Zidane and Beckham visiting his room before the game.

  "What are you pnning to do with Ronaldo and the Brazilian pyers?" Carlo asked with .

  This should be the biggest variable in the Real Madrid locker room.

  If handled well, Real Madrid's strength could rise to another level. But if not handled properly, it would be dangerous.

  The World Cup only es once every four years. How many four-year cycles does a pyer's career have?

  If Gao Shen's attitude remains tough, there's no guarahat the Brazilian group won't cause disruptions. the team still focus on preparation?

  Gao Shen is also aware of this, and it gives him a headache.

  There's a saying that's quite accurate: war is a tinuation of politics.

  If this saying is applied to football, it bees: the game is just a presentation of results.

  So there's another saying on the football field: the moment a pyer walks onto the field, the oute is already decided.

  "I'll think about it some more. Let's meet first and see what he has to say," Gao Shen replied.