Starting With Real Madrid

"I don't think Inter Milan has any chance of catching us!"

After defeating Juventus 1-0, Gao Shen decided to blow the trumpet, signaling Napoli's full-on charge toward the Serie A title.

"I watched their 2-1 win over Palermo, and to be honest, I feel sorry for a team like that if they manage to win the Scudetto," Gao Shen declared.

"Actually, ever since Inter Milan lost to Liverpool, people have been waiting for me to comment on them. I didn't say anything after the match at San Siro. I didn't say anything after we beat them at the San Paolo either. But now, I think it's time."

"I believe Inter Milan is lost!"

Gao Shen's remarks sent a ripple through the press conference. Reporters at the scene visibly perked up, their faces lighting up in excitement.

At last, they thought. Napoli's coach is speaking his mind!

Spray them! Criticize them! Vent it all!

Some even secretly hoped Gao Shen would go so far as to call for Mancini's sacking.

Gao Shen, of course, noticed the reporters' reactions. He knew they'd been holding back for a long time, eager to latch onto a juicy story.

In truth, he himself had held back for weeks.

Now, the timing was perfect.

After demolishing Inter 5-0, Napoli had gone on to beat Roma and Juventus, securing crucial victories and cementing their status as title contenders. However, Inter Milan had also bounced back with victories over Reggina (2-0) and Palermo (2-1), keeping the pressure on Napoli at the top of the standings.

Despite the tension, Gao Shen wasn't content to sit idle. He decided to escalate.

For many, Inter's recent wins were seen as proof of Mancini's resilience, and some were even ready to believe the team had turned a corner. The players, led by their captain Javier Zanetti, appeared to be rallying around Mancini, with performances on the pitch reflecting renewed determination.

But Gao Shen wasn't having it.

"I don't believe Inter is out of the woods," Gao Shen continued, leaning forward slightly to emphasize his point.

"In fact, I think they've lost their way because they've lost the most important thing: their identity."

He paused briefly, letting the words sink in before pressing on.

"Look at Inter Milan right now. Are they an attacking team? A defensive team? Do they have a well-organized midfield capable of dictating games? What exactly is their strength?"

The reporters scribbled furiously, hanging on his every word.

"People often ask me why Inter Milan isn't competitive in the Champions League. My answer is simple: because this team doesn't have a clear advantage."

Gao Shen's analysis then took aim at Inter's star man.

"I can't deny that Zlatan Ibrahimović is a world-class player, a superstar. But the problem is, he's never fully integrated into the team. He's like a stubborn child who insists that everything revolves around him. That's not how you play winning football."

He then moved to Inter's defensive issues.

"Defensive solidity is supposed to be a hallmark of Italian football. But we've seen Inter concede three goals over two legs against Liverpool in the Champions League, while failing to break down Liverpool's defense. Where is their defensive strength?"

"Even in their recent win over Palermo at home, the number of chances they created was on par with Palermo's. The own goal by Materazzi that cost them a goal highlights deeper issues in their defensive organization."

While it was true that Inter's defensive struggles were exacerbated by injuries key players like Samuel and Córdoba were out for the season, Gao Shen deliberately left that out. He had no intention of giving Mancini an easy out.

"Inter Milan's defensive system is nowhere near the level of some of the top teams in the Premier League," Gao Shen stated. "And in midfield, they're severely lacking in creativity."

He cited a broader trend in Serie A.

"Creativity is already scarce in this league. In the past, Juventus dominated Serie A with physicality and grit but couldn't translate that into European success. The same holds true now for Inter Milan. They simply don't have the creativity needed to compete at the highest level."

Gao Shen paused, then smiled knowingly.

"Except for AC Milan," he added. "Over the years, they've been Serie A's most creative team, which is why they've been able to achieve consistent success in Europe. But Inter Milan? They don't even come close."

His final remarks hit hard.

"Blindly stacking a team with stars is easy. But building creativity, flexibility, and adaptability within a team? That's the real challenge. And that's exactly what Inter Milan lacks."

---

Gao Shen's comments exploded across the Italian media, sparking heated debates and fierce reactions.

Everyone could feel it: Napoli was launching its final assault for the Serie A title, and Gao Shen had just opened a new front in the psychological war against Inter Milan.

Even though many saw through Gao Shen's strategy, the media couldn't resist amplifying it. After all, controversy sells.

For years, Italian journalists had envied their English counterparts, who regularly covered fiery verbal battles between managers like Ferguson, Wenger, and Mourinho. Now, Gao Shen had stepped up to provide Serie A with its very own war of words.

Despite their distaste for Napoli potentially winning the Scudetto, the Italian media couldn't resist feeding into the drama Gao Shen had created.

By the next day, newspapers and websites were flooded with coverage of Gao Shen's remarks. Analysts dissected his words, while headlines blared about the brewing conflict.

Adding fuel to the fire, some insiders began leaking juicy rumors to the press.

"Inter Milan will change coaches this summer," one report boldly claimed.

What's more, multiple outlets suggested that Gao Shen was at the top of Inter Milan's shortlist for potential replacements.

"If you can't beat him, hire him," the saying goes, and Inter Milan appeared ready to follow that logic.

Some even claimed that Inter had already reached out to Gao Shen. All they needed was his agreement, and Mancini would be gone.

---

"Massimo! This is ridiculous!"

Mancini slammed a newspaper onto his desk, his face red with fury.

The Inter Milan manager had just finished reading yet another article speculating about his potential sacking, with Gao Shen touted as his likely replacement.

"This bastard," Mancini seethed, pacing the room. "He's doing this on purpose!"

The timing of Gao Shen's comments couldn't have been worse. After Inter's humiliating 5-0 defeat to Napoli, Mancini had worked tirelessly to stabilize the team. He'd convinced Moratti to give him time to turn things around, and the team had responded with two consecutive wins.

But now, Gao Shen had thrown a wrench into everything.

"Everything he said half-truths and clever omissions, it's all designed to destabilize us," Mancini muttered. "He's trying to tear us apart from the inside."

It wasn't just Gao Shen's analysis that hurt. It was the context. Coming from the man leading Napoli's title charge, Gao Shen's words carried weight, stirring doubts and insecurities within Inter Milan's camp.

Mancini knew he had to act fast to counter this narrative.

---

By noon, Inter Milan's management responded swiftly.

At a press conference held at the club's headquarters on Via Durini, technical director Marco Branca addressed the swirling rumors.

Seated beside him was club president Massimo Moratti, who personally quashed speculation about Mancini's future.

"We have no plans to change coaches before the end of the season," Moratti stated firmly. "I can guarantee that."

While Moratti's public backing offered some reassurance, the damage had already been done. The storm of speculation was far from over.

***

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