Starting With Real Madrid

(5/6)

The weather in Madrid began to change, and Gao Shen sneezed several times in the morning, which made him feel very strange.

Could it be that someone was cursing him in secret?

With such an amiable character, who could he have offended?

Immediately after the recovery training in the morning, Baptista, Robinho, and Cicinho arrived together to see him. Gao Shen received them in his office.

It was clear that the trio had listened to what Ronaldo had conveyed and now sought reconciliation with Gao Shen.

Resolving the issues between Baptista and Cicinho proved relatively straightforward, as both players were cooperative and willing to adapt to advanced tactics. They simply needed clarity on their roles and how best to contribute.

Robinho, however, presented a more challenging situation.

The Brazilian prodigy possessed immense talent but also had noticeable shortcomings. Gao Shen wanted him to minimize unnecessary ball possession, a task that required Robinho to distinguish between essential and excessive dribbling.

Frankly, this was a difficult adjustment for Robinho.

However, Gao Shen devised a strategic approach inspired by what he had seen in Ferguson's methods with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. When Ronaldo first arrived, his style was flashy and overly individualistic, not fitting Manchester United's direct and efficient play.

To mold Ronaldo into a more effective player, Ferguson instructed defenders like Gary Neville to challenge him aggressively in training, pushing him to refine his decision-making and teamwork gradually.

Gao Shen intended to employ a similar method with Robinho, albeit acknowledging it would take time.

The discussion lasted an hour, during which Gao Shen laid out his expectations openly and reassured the Brazilians that they would receive playing time based on their performances. However, they would not feature in the upcoming game against Juventus on Wednesday, a decision Gao Shen had planned since the first leg.

He promised them opportunities in the league if they demonstrated commitment and improvement in training.

...

After seeing off the Brazilian players, Gao Shen felt a sense of relief.

Since taking charge of Real Madrid a little over a month ago, he finally felt he had settled into the dressing room.

Managing a club like Real Madrid, with its myriad interests and demands, posed a considerable challenge. As Raul had once remarked, the coach at Real Madrid was simultaneously pivotal and insignificant.

Why insignificant?

Because the players were all world-class professionals capable of performing without constant coaching. They understood the game and their roles instinctively.

Yet, the role of the head coach was crucial.

While these players possessed exceptional individual abilities, only a coach—unless they were a former superstar like Zidane—could guide them as a cohesive unit and tactically manage them.

Moreover, these were ordinary people beneath their exceptional footballing talents. Some had limited education, having devoted their lives to the sport from a young age. If transplanted into an academic setting, many might struggle to complete primary school.

They experienced the same human emotions and challenges as anyone else—pre-game nerves, personal disappointments, family issues—and needed leadership to stay focused and motivated.

This applied equally to the team as a whole.

The head coach's role was to navigate these complexities and keep both individuals and the team on track.

So, was there a point to this?

Smaller clubs focused on coaching ability, but giants like Real Madrid emphasized managerial acumen.

Take Pellegrini, for instance—a coach capable of guiding Villarreal to Champions League semifinals. He was undoubtedly skilled tactically. Yet, his methods that worked at smaller clubs often faltered at Real Madrid.

Gao Shen had been navigating this high-pressure environment for over a month, weighing every decision meticulously. He had finally won over the dressing room, save for Carlos, and felt secure in his position—so long as the results followed.

...

Before the afternoon training session, Real Madrid held a review meeting to dissect their performance at Camp Nou.

Gao Shen highlighted two areas where the team had fallen short: midfield and forward pressing, and defensive positioning.

While the former was partly due to the team's unfamiliarity with advanced tactics, the latter—especially Samuel Eto'o's goal—was a critical error that demanded correction.

Gao Shen wasn't assigning blame to Elgra but insisted on analyzing the mistake rigorously to prevent its recurrence.

Real Madrid couldn't rely on luck every time.

The coaching staff devised training drills to address these issues in the afternoon session.

For midfield and forward pressing, they employed a shadow play technique reminiscent of Sacchi's methods. Lippi had once critiqued Sacchi's zone defense as innovative in training methodology rather than tactical revolution. Shadow play involved players moving in formation around flagpoles on the training ground, responding to imaginary opponents and maintaining cohesive movement.

To improve defensive positioning, they organized a five-versus-four exercise. Four defenders stood at the edge of the penalty area, while five attackers circulated, with one forward making runs behind the defensive line when opportunities arose.

These drills aimed to simulate game scenarios and refine team movements effectively.

...

Throughout training, Gao Shen observed from the sidelines, leaving Maqueda and Buenaventura to oversee proceedings.

The players responded positively, demonstrating commitment and teamwork, which promised a fruitful training session. However, the true test would come in upcoming matches.

At the session's end, club president Martin arrived, accompanied by senior executives, directors, and media representatives, including board member and lawyer Ramon Calderon.

Calderon, inconspicuous yet strategically positioning himself for the upcoming presidential election, had surprised Martin previously and now sought to assert his influence.

Martin's visit aimed to capitalize on Real Madrid's recent victory over Barcelona, bolstering his presence and garnering support.

Gao Shen seized the opportunity to speak privately with Martin, informing him about Butragueno's proposal for a dinner meeting with Florentino.

Martin appeared unaware but adopted a genial demeanor, not wanting to appear unaware of club affairs. Gao Shen subtly hinted at Florentino's previous interest in him, indirectly prompting Martin to acknowledge and support him.

"Just a dinner; it shouldn't be a big issue," Martin replied with a generous smile before shifting the conversation. "Gao, I have high hopes for you. If you encounter any challenges, feel free to approach me. I'm here to assist you."

Gao Shen seized the moment, feigning hesitation before raising concerns about renewing contracts for young players like Ramos. He emphasized their potential and loyalty to Real Madrid's youth system, suggesting prompt contract renewals to reinforce morale.

Martin readily agreed, viewing it as a straightforward matter. He assured Gao Shen of his support and instructed him to proceed with the renewals, promising to endorse the decisions made.

Gao Shen was pleased.

Renewing contracts for players like Ramos was not just about rewarding talent but also about asserting his managerial authority. While he couldn't dictate transfers yet, he could influence playing time and wage decisions.

This was precisely why he had discussed the matter with Martin.

As for dining with Florentino—did it really matter?