Starting With Real Madrid

Barcelona's draw was like a bomb, sending shockwaves through Spanish and European football.

The previously certain La Liga champion now faced unexpected twists and turns. Who would have thought?

In Spain, even Catalan media were soul-searching, questioning what had gone wrong with Rijkaard's team recently. 

The Daily Sports devoted two pages to analyzing the match, ultimately attributing Barcelona's draw to Ronaldinho's absence.

Real Madrid had been fiercely closing the gap, and Barcelona took each game very seriously, fearing an unexpected reversal. Rijkaard did his best, resting only Ronaldinho, who had been playing consecutively. The rest of the lineup remained unchanged, with teenager Rodri partnering with Puyol in defense.

However, without Ronaldinho, the team struggled to win.

Despite an astonishing 80% possession, Barcelona managed only ten shots, with three on target, resulting in two goals. Athletic Santander, playing at home, had about 20% possession but created eight shots, three on target, and scored two goals, matching Barcelona's offensive output.

Santander's head coach, Manolo Preciado, was unsurprised by the draw. At the post-match press conference, he expressed confidence that his team could have won if they had played slightly better.

Preciado openly admitted that he had gained valuable experience defending against Barcelona from the national derby at Camp Nou. "Looking at the match, a two-to-one result in our favor would have been reasonable," he said.

Preciado's remarks attracted considerable media attention. Although he hadn't performed well this season and lacked an impressive resume, his extensive football experience at 59 years old was not to be underestimated.

Was the Camp Nou match really so instructive?

According to Daily Sports, Santander replicated Real Madrid's 4-2-3-1 tactics, particularly the back line, effectively neutralizing Barcelona's front three. Without Ronaldinho, Barcelona lost their attacking core, leaving Larson, Eto'o, and Giuli to fend for themselves. Deco and Iniesta were also physically exhausted after continuous matches.

Daily Sports pointed out that Ronaldinho had missed six games this season, with Barcelona winning two, drawing two, and losing two—an unqualified performance for La Liga leaders, underscoring Ronaldinho's importance. However, even he needed rest.

The Daily Sports contrasted this with Real Madrid. Despite competing on two fronts, Gao Shen rotated most players for the home game against Real Sociedad and still won 1-0.

While the Barcelona media took a jab at Gao Shen's conservative style, citing that most of his games since taking charge had ended with a single goal, they couldn't ignore his effective rotation and decisive use of Brazilian players, who continued to propel Real Madrid forward.

The Daily Sports suggested that Rijkaard and his team should strategize for the dual challenges of La Liga and the Champions League, with upcoming matches against Villarreal in the Champions League semifinals.

With Real Madrid facing AC Milan and Barcelona meeting Villarreal, three La Liga teams in the Champions League semifinals highlighted the league's strength but also warned Barcelona of the challenges ahead.

...

Barcelona's draw silenced many critics of Gao Shen's conservative approach. 

Despite frequent one-nil victories, Real Madrid had consistently secured three points, especially through strong defense. Since Gao Shen took over, Real Madrid had gone seven consecutive La Liga rounds without conceding—a visible improvement.

Some claimed Real Madrid's points were earned through defense.

Regardless, Real Madrid was closing the gap, tying Barcelona on points. With six league games remaining, no one could rule out a Real Madrid comeback.

Spanish public opinion began to shift, with more media praising Real Madrid's defense and player efforts.

A Madrid newspaper reported that after defeating Juventus, Real Madrid stars did not take a vacation but immediately prepared for the next match.

Under the Galactic Battleship era, the team usually took a day off after such matches, or at least half a day, allowing stars to rest. These breaks often doubled as opportunities for players to earn extra income through business events.

Historically, the stars' business activities during breaks were a contentious issue, criticized especially when team performance was poor.

However, during Gao Shen's tenure, team vacations were frequently canceled without controversy. Media even published photos of Raul, Ronaldo, Zidane, and Beckham training in vests post-Juventus, showcasing a transformed Real Madrid.

"We don't know what kind of magic Gao Shen wields to command these rebellious superstars, but Real Madrid has normalized under his leadership," one report stated.

"This is the secret behind Real Madrid's seven-game winning streak!"

...

After tying with Barcelona, Gao Shen still avoided the post-match press conference, letting Maqueda take the spotlight instead.

The media, dissatisfied, felt slighted. Some reporters even threatened Maqueda, saying, "If he doesn't attend the press conference again, we will boycott Real Madrid!"

But such threats held little weight. Despite past performance declines, Real Madrid's star power and this season's dramatic narrative made them irresistible to the media.

Maqueda, unfazed, conveyed Gao Shen's message: "I believe Barcelona will make mistakes again, and we will catch up."

Looking at his notes, Maqueda hesitated, then read Gao Shen's next statement: "There's not much time left. I hope everyone prepares for how to write about Real Madrid winning the championship!"

Initially, the room fell silent, then erupted in uproar. 

Such arrogance! Tying Barcelona in points led some to prematurely assume a championship was within reach. But Real Madrid still ranked second.

However, some media pondered deeper meanings. Was this psychological warfare? A motivational tactic for players?

Amidst the buzz, Maqueda felt puzzled. Wasn't it just a casual remark from Gao Shen?

Despite the media's deep analysis, Maqueda knew one thing: Gao Shen's strategies, though sometimes seeming simple, often had profound impact. 

Gao Shen might look young, but his tactics and insights made him an enigma, commanding respect and awe.

To Maqueda, Gao Shen was like a mysterious monster in the abyss, always a step ahead.