After fag Capello's Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals, Gao She every night studying Ai iactical library.

  He found something very iing: Sacchi.

  In a way, Ai is Sacchi's successor.

  When Ai was still a pyer, Sacchi entrusted him with the important task of being the core of A's midfield. At that time, the Rossoneri used a 4-3-3 formation, and Ai pyed a role simir to the deep-lying pymaker in Bara and Dutch football.

  But during his time at Roma, Ai was the standard No. 10.

  When Gao Shen saw this, his first rea was: Isn't this just like Pirlo?

  Both were No. 10 pyers, pying both front and back. Ai was essentially molding Pirlo into another version of himself.

  The difference is that Pirlo's style of py differs from Ai's when he yer.

  If Ai's decision to put Pirlo in the back was a revolutionary innovation, how great was Sacchi's use of Ai nearly twenty years ago?

  But soon, Rijkaard came along.

  This textbook-level Duto. 4 came to A, f one of the greatest football binations in history, the Dutch Three Musketeers, while also transitioning A to a 4-4-2 formation. Rijkaard and Ai sat in the middle of the midfield.

  Using Ai's own evaluation, this bination profoundly influenced many people. Whenever a double pivot is used, it is usually built on this model.

  For example, Albelda and Baraja at Valencia, or Mascherano and Xabi Alonso at Liverpool.

  Gao Shen's double pivot at Real Madrid, Gravesen and De La Red, follows the same model. her is a strict defensive midfielder. Gravesen is the anizer, and De La Red is a versatile midfielder with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

  Min under Sacchi was admired by tless people and revered in the football world, and rightfully so.

  Gao Shehought that in 2009, Guardio's Bara brought a simir level of subversion and revolution.

  ...

  From Sacchi's philosophy, Ai's ability to build a defensive system stands out.

  Many people associate defeh parking the bus.

  Iy, parking the bus is the worst form of defense. If not absolutely necessary, no one wants to park the bus.

  The reason is simple: it leaves the team too passive, making effective terattacks difficult.

  Serie A defense emphasizes flexibility and yers.

  Through a yered and flexible defensive system, the oppo's offehreats are blocked outside the penalty area while still having the energy tahreatening terattack.

  When Gao Shen was studying Ai, he realized that Ai was still the same coach from his Juventus days. The difference was that he was servative back then because he didn't know how to attack.

  At A, he figured it out, and with pyers like Pirlo and Kaka, his team naturally thrived.

  Oher hand, when Mourinho coached Porto or ter Chelsea, his defense relied heavily on pyers, using their physicality to run, press, and tackle.

  But when he arrived at Inter Min, his defensive system was pletely transformed. The two-leg match against Bara was the pinnacle, showg a yered and flexible defense.

  Mourinho's Ihat season was the peak of his coag career.

  This transformation was due not only to Mourinho's thinking and improvement but also to the tempering enviro of Italian football.

  Gao Shen admired Italian football, but this time, at the Bernabeu, he wao challenge Ai's defensive system with cepts inspired by Guardio's Bara revolution in 2009.

  He was curious and full of anticipation.

  ...

  At the crowded Bernabeu, Ai was dressed in a suit and tie, his white hair ly bed, looking eic.

  As soon as Gao Shen saw him, he greeted him with a smile aended his hand.

  "Wele to the Bernabeu, Carlo."

  Ai, a senior with a distinguished career, smiled and shook Gao Shen's hand.

  "I was a little surprised by your starting lionight," Ai said.

  Goalkeeper Casils, defensive line Felipe, Woodgate, Ramos, and Abeloa, double midfielders Gravesen and De La Red, and in the front, Raul, Zidane, Beckham, and Ronaldo.

  "I thought you would use Negredo, but you took a big gamble."

  "I don't see it as a gamble, but as fidence," Gao Shen tered.

  Ai ughed. "You're still young."

  Gao Shen smiled nonittally. "Your starting lineup didn't surprise me at all, Carlo. I guessed it right."

  A's lineup: goalkeeper Dida, back line Serginho, Kadze, a, and Stam, midfield Seedorf, Pirlo, Gattuso, Kaka, and forwards Inzaghi and Shevko.

  Girdino, heavily used retly, was on the bench. Clearly, Ai had a pn.

  But Gao Shen had correctly guessed A's starting lineup.

  "Really?" Ai didn't care. "Guessing the starting lineup is basic. Winning is the real skill."

  "Wait and see."

  ...

  The coaches exged words, and Ai stood on the sidelines, reminding his pyers to watch their defense.

  In the locker room, Ai was surprised by Real Madrid's starting lineup. Ronaldo's physical fitness was a , but he was starting, meaning reduced pressing amble.

  "He wants to grab an early goal," Ai frowned.

  Real Madrid's superstar lineup was formidable. Even A had to be careful.

  "This kid surprises me. When he's servative, he's very servative. When he's adventurous, he fights harder than anyone," Mauro Tasotti remarked.

  Ai nodded. "It's all about judgment based ouation."

  Indeed.

  "Tell them to start steady," Ai instructed.

  The match was set: A defending, Real Madrid attag. The battle would be one of offense and defense.

  ...

  "It's as I expected!"

  Gao Shehe excitement of anticipation and strategy.

  But victory was still a long way off.

  However, Gao Shen was excited because he had guessed right.

  Ai was visiting the Bero defend and terattack.

  Stam repg Cafu was a clear signal. Real Madrid's right fnk with Beckham was a threat. Ai deployed Serginho there.

  Raul and Zidane on the left meant Stam over Cafu for better defense.

  Annal was Inzaghi.

  Ferguson once said Inzaghi lived on the offside line.

  This meant A repared for terattacks with space for Inzaghi, Shevko, and Kaka.

  A's offeup indicated terattag, not a direct frontation.

  "Tonight, we must break A's goal!" Gao Shen resolved.

  Whether Ai was indug Real Madrid to take the initiative or not, Real Madrid's goal was clear: score and prevent the oppo from sg.

  Gao Shen looked at his assistants. Lucas and Bueura supported him, while Maqueda seemed hesitant, being cautious by nature.

  To win, to score, and defend well—did they really think they were the invincible protagonist of a novel?

  You 't have it both ways.

  Gao Shen walked to the sidelines, g and shouting at his pyers, not minding being overheard by Ai.

  "Brace yourselves! Be careful! Just like in training!"

  Not far away, Ai and Tasotti had just remiheir pyers to start steady when they heard Gao Shen's shout, making them frown.

  Especially when Gao Shen looked over with a pyful smile, an ominous feeling crept in.

  What went wrong?

  Why did it feel off?