Starting With Real Madrid

When he woke up, Carlo was in a very cheerful mood.

Madrid was enjoying an unusual sunny and warm weather today.

After Carlo finished breakfast, he spent some time with his wife and asked her to go to the vegetable market to buy groceries for preparing a hearty lunch at noon. He intended to host a special guest and then moved out to the courtyard, sitting in his chair, basking in the sun while reading the newspaper.

Carlo was somewhat dissatisfied with the reports in the Spanish media. He felt they were unfair to Gao Shen.

Not to mention the game against Atletico Madrid, just last night's match at Highbury, Gao Shen deserved more praise. However, media reports focused more on the superstars and youth players, overlooking the crucial role of head coach Gao Shen.

This situation wasn't hard to understand.

On one hand, it was in line with Real Madrid's tradition, and on the other hand, the media, which had previously criticized him, now couldn't keep up with their own promises, right?

Mrs. Carlo was also in a good mood. She had prepared some delicious dishes and, upon returning home, immediately got busy in the kitchen. Later, she even called Carlo in to help.

The couple busied themselves in the kitchen until noon, when the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of their guest, prompting Carlo to step out.

...

After the morning training session, Gao Shen specially drove to a nearby mall with Raul to buy a gift.

Knowing Carlo's habit of enjoying two glasses of wine every evening, he had prepared a bottle of fine wine just for him.

"Why bring a gift when you've brought yourself?" Carlo joked with a smile upon accepting the gift. Despite being half-hearted, he did not hesitate to receive it. After accepting it, he opened the gift bag and glanced inside, "Wow, you went for an expensive wine this time. Planning to dine here next?"

As Gao Shen's former boss, Carlo knew well how modest Gao Shen's salary was.

The annual salaries of Real Madrid's stars were high, and the head coach's salary was also considerable, but others might not be as fortunate, particularly interns like Gao Shen, who was akin to free labor at Real Madrid.

To put it bluntly, I could allow you to come to Real Madrid to enhance your reputation without charge.

"I was thinking of bringing this bottle of wine and making it a daily occurrence," Gao Shen quipped.

"Yes, we'd welcome that," Mrs. Carlo's voice floated in from the kitchen.

Gao Shen and Carlo chuckled in unison.

"In fact, I plan to sign a formal contract."

Carlo's expression froze, his outstretched hand pausing mid-air. He was evidently taken aback by the news but quickly masked it with a wave, motioning for Gao Shen to sit and talk.

"It's about time, don't you think? You can't keep renewing your intern contract forever."

That was easier said than done, though Carlo was genuinely pleased for Gao Shen, believing he deserved it. Yet, deep down, he felt a tinge of sadness because just ten days earlier, he had been the head coach of Real Madrid, whereas now, with Gao Shen signing this contract, he felt an emptiness inside.

Gao Shen had noticed Carlo's expression and understood his feelings, but some things were bound to be revealed sooner or later.

"Sir, I have a proposal."

Carlo poured a cup of hot water for Gao Shen. "What is it?"

"I want you to come back."

Carlo was taken aback again, not fully comprehending the depth of the suggestion.

"I could put in a request above to create an additional role in the coaching staff, like Head of Coaching or Special Advisor to the Head Coach, whatever fits. I truly need your assistance, and Real Madrid values you greatly." Gao Shen's sincerity was evident.

This was his genuine sentiment.

Maqueda wasn't bad, but there was always a gap between him and Gao Shen, and he couldn't fully submit to Gao Shen's authority.

When Carlo was head coach, Gao Shen didn't always agree with him. However, as an assistant, Gao Shen could confidently handle team training and other matters, and even contribute to tactical discussions during lineup decisions.

The snag was that Maqueda was already the chief assistant coach and couldn't be displaced. Gao Shen therefore proposed creating a position between head coach and assistant coach. He believed this wouldn't pose a significant issue.

The crux of the matter lay in Carlo's willingness.

Observing Carlo's changing countenance, Gao Shen discerned his thoughts. Before Carlo could respond, Gao Shen smiled and said, "I understand it might be difficult and inappropriate for you to agree right away. I'm not forcing it. I just hope you'll give it some thought."

He hadn't given Carlo a chance to refuse, using the art of postponement instead.

Carlo merely nodded in response.

The two sat down, and conversation naturally drifted to Real Madrid and the recent match.

Carlo expressed keen interest in the defensive tactics Gao Shen employed in these two games. He had experimented with the 4-2-3 formation previously, but without success. Gao Shen's attempt, however, had been effective. Why was that?

Over the past ten days or so, Gao Shen had been poring over the tactical library every night, studying Benitez's formations and drawing insights from Ferguson's tactical ideas. He had a wealth of knowledge at his disposal.

Gao Shen didn't conceal the fact that his 4-2-3 formation was inspired by Benitez, but if one traced it further back, it originated in Italy, particularly Sacchi's concept of zonal marking.

Since the inception of Inter Milan's catenaccio, Italian football had been deeply influenced. Sacchi further refined this into zonal marking.

Initially, Sacchi's football philosophy faced skepticism. Despite its exceptional performance, doubts persisted. Even powerful teams like Juventus didn't favor Sacchi's ideas. Lippi, for instance, had opined on several occasions that Sacchi's concepts weren't groundbreaking; they merely altered training methods without effecting revolutionary changes.

Looking back from 2021, Sacchi's introduction of spatial marking, building upon the foundations of man and ball, was indeed revolutionary.

However, revolution often demanded prolonged and repeated validation before gaining acceptance.

What many people didn't realize was that Benitez had spent a year studying in Italy and had been influenced by Sacchi's philosophy. His predecessor at Valencia, Cuper, had left to coach Internazionale, the stars' black hole, further fostering a tactical pilgrimage. 

So, what differentiated man marking from zonal marking?

In essence, man marking entailed defenders adopting a man-to-man approach, marking offensive players entering their defensive zones. This, however, required that offensive players entered one's defensive zone.

For several decades, this defensive concept had been deeply ingrained. Yet, regardless of its potency, time had subjected it to relentless scrutiny. Seasoned coaches had come to recognize its inherent flaws.

Suppose Helguera and Ramos formed a defensive pairing; each guarded his designated zone. Initially, they prioritized their defensive duties.

If Henry dribbled the ball toward Elgr, passing through Elgr in record time, Ramos would be obliged to shift from his zone to aid in the defense, but there would be a time lapse in this process. Ramos wasn't expected to respond. 

Sacchi's defensive strategy does not emphasize man-marking but instead focuses on active pressing. From the defensive line to the midfield and onward to the frontline, players maintain careful positioning, keeping close distances and cooperating closely. If one moves, several players move together, ensuring coordinated actions at all times.

Many people may be surprised why Thierry Henry struggled in Serie A but excelled in the Premier League.

The reason lies here.

In Serie A, when Henry had the ball, he often faced not just one defender but two or even three simultaneously. This made it challenging for him to utilize his speed advantage or maintain possession under pressure.

In the Premier League, he found more space to receive the ball and initiate attacks swiftly. He exploited gaps between defenders, dribbling past opponents or scoring directly.

In 2021, many fans ask why goalscorers have become increasingly sidelined over the years.

The reason is simple: defenses have become more meticulous, and even weaker opponents leave minimal space to exploit.

Gao Shen told Carlo that with Elguera and Ramos in better form and understanding each other, Henry wouldn't have earned that penalty, and Real Madrid could have contained Arsenal at Highbury.

"I can confidently say that zonal defense is the future trend, and proactive pressing tactics will dominate future defenses. Central defenders like Ramos represent our future!"

Ramos, Pepe, David Luiz, Chiellini, and other future central defenders—none of them are exempt from labels like rash or error-prone.

Yet, over time, teams discover their defenses suffer unbelievably when these players are absent.

This distinction between proactive pressing and passive defense is crucial.

Real Madrid, with its legacy of offensive football, is unsuited to passive defense.