The press ference hall at Valdebebas acked with media reporters from all over the world.

  Cameras and microphones were set up, all aimed at the main podium.

  Journalists from Spain, Europe, and beyond were present for the uping national derby.

  The hall buzzed with versation, and every so often, people goward the entrance, w if the ese coach, Gao Shen, would show up. He was known for avoiding pre-matd post-match press ferences.

  This habit of his had bee a point of tention with the media.

  Previously, the Spanish Football Association had been pressured by the media, but since Gao Shen was still an ag head coach at the time, they suppressed the news, g he was unwell.

  What a ve excuse!

  Have you ever seen someone so active and ei regur days but vely "unwell" during press ferences?

  UEFA has strict rules requiring coaches of all teams in the Champions League to attend pre-matd post-match press ferences. Yet, Gao Shen skipped the ones against Arsenal and Juventus, g illness, with assistant coach Maqueda stepping in. When UEFA pressured Real Madrid, the club replied that Gao Shen was young and afraid of fag the media.

  This excuse nearly caused the reporters to flip their desks in frustration.

  At his inauguration and signing ceremonies, Gao Shen boldly decred war on superstars and Bara. He showed hen, so how could he be afraid now?

  Iingly, despite Real Madrid's history of maintaining good retions with the media and often releasing information to them, tely, there had been a noticeable decrease in the information flow from Valdebebas.

  Previously, media access to Valdebebas was retively easy. Now, with closed training sessions, media o apply for admission and could oer on media open days.

  Everyone khis was the doing of Gao Shen, but all they could do was pin. He restricted their access, limited superstar appearances, and enforced stricter protocols, leading to a barrage of criticism. Yet, Gao Shen's results silenced many critics.

  Despite criticism for pying "ugly" football, Gao Shehe team to impressive results, including a Champions League reversal against Arsenal and a goalless draw away to Juventus. The media criticized him relentlessly, but readers seemed captivated.

  Sales of neers featuring Gao Shen on the cover were sistently higher. Whether praised or criticized, his presence boosted sales.

  It became a running joke among journalists that a tabloid famous for bashing Gao Shen received pints from readers when their criticism became repetitive.

  In the press ference hall, media reporters waited eagerly, their feelings a mix of anticipation and frustration. Gao Shen's evasiveurned press ferences into a spectacle.

  ...

  Maqueda always felt uneasy when he had to step in fao Shen at press ferences.

  He had often imagined himself as the head coach of Real Madrid, fidently addressing the media. Instead, he found himself fag boos and jeers each time he appeared, because the reporters were expeg Gao Shen, not him.

  Once again, as he stepped up to the podium, the hall filled with boos and sarcastic remarks.

  Maqueda tried to calm the crowd, raising his hands to signal for quiet.

  "Uh...he's...still...a little unfortable today," Maqueda said awkwardly.

  He really waao Shen only gave him this excuse, and Maqueda had to figure out how to hahe reporters.

  He had run out of creative excuses.

  "Unfortable? Then tell everyone, what's the problem this time?" a sharp-tongued reporter challenged.

  This was met with ughter and cheers. The reporters enjoyed seeing Maqueda squirm, ing up with new excuses.

  "Is it a stomachache again? Dizzy? Cold and fever... Or is it his time of the month?"

  The room erupted in ughter.

  For readers, the fun was watg how media reporters would find new ways to criticize Gao Shen. For reporters, the fun was watg Maqueda i new excuses.

  After a barrage of questions, Maqueda stood there, feeling like a pincushion.

  Thankfully, Real Madrid's PR team stepped in to maintain order, allowing Maqueda to tinue.

  He quickly announced Real Madrid's 18-man squad for Bara, reading the names and jersey numbers rapidly.

  Initially, the reporters didn't react much, but when they heard the name of the number 9 pyer, many jumped up in surprise.

  Ronaldo?

  An uproar ensued.

  "Ronaldo is in the squad?"

  "Does this mean he'll py against Bara?"

  "Have the flicts between him and Gao Shen been resolved?"

  "Is Gao Shen pnning t back the Brazilian Gang?"

  "What's the reason for Ronaldo's inclusion? Expin!"

  The barrage of questio Maqueda speechless.

  Once again, the PR team interveo maintain order, instrug reporters to ask questions one by one. But Maqueda's repeated "I don't know" responses frustrated everyone.

  "You don't know anything? Then what's the point of you being here?"

  Maqueda felt like g. He really didn't know much. He khat iernoon, Gao Shen had arraargeted defensive drills and included Ronaldo in terattack training, but he wasn't sure what could be shared.

  In the end, Maqueda hurriedly exited amid the media's scolding.

  He swore he would tend another press ference, unless Gao Shen forced him to.

  But the media reporters weren't satisfied.

  Such big news, and no expnations?

  "Call Gao Shen to us! If he doesn't expin, we're not leaving today!"

  In the press ference hall, the media reporters roared angrily.

  ...

  The news from Valdebebas quickly spread and became a hot topic across Spain.

  Florentino ughed upon hearing the news.

  "This kid is really iing," Florentino praised. "I want to meet him once he's less busy. We'll find an opportunity."

  Redondo nodded. "I'll make arras."

  After a pause, Redondo added, "From what we've heard, Ronaldo talked with him for an hour yesterday at noon. Then Gao She with Raul and Ramos. Today, Ronaldo is in the squad…"

  He if there was a e.

  "Don't overthink it," Florentino advised. "It's not that plicated. He already got what he wanted, which is obedience."

  "You mean, what he wants is pliance?"

  "Of course. From the beginning, he made it clear. Even if you go bad listen to his first press ference, what he wants is obedience. Whoever obeys and cooperates, he'll use. In his eyes, there are no Brazilian gangs, local gangs, or superstars."

  Redondo was quite surprised. "Could he have really thought of this from the beginning?"

  "Manuel," Florentino said with a smile, "you have to admit, some people in this world are different, and Gao Shen is one of them."

  Redondo still found it hard to believe but nodded.

  In his experience, few people received praise from Florentino. Gao Shen was an exception.

  "He's using Ronaldo now, and he'll likely use Brazilian pyers iure. Won't that create internal flicts in the locker room?" Redondo wondered if a 25-year-old could really mahe Real Madrid dressing room.

  "You have to look at it from a higher perspective," Florentino advised. "As a leader, having some flicts among your people isn't necessarily bad. If everyone's happy, it usually means they're not doing mubsp;

  "flict has two sides. It's about how you ma. Too much is bad, but all isn't good either. It requires a bance, and that's where leadership es in."

  "Gao Shen ha well. Initially, he suppressed the strong Brazilian gang and supported the local pyers. Now that the local gang is stronger and the Brazilian gang more pliant, he's reintrodug the Braziliao bahings. This way, he maintains trol as the coach."

  Florentino couldn't help but admire, "This kid keeps surprising us."

  Redondo hinking: If Gao Shen had phis from the start, it would indeed be terrifying!