Chapter 188: Imprint
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL"
After a long goal announcement, the entire San Paolo stadium was filled with cheers from Napoli fans.
They were all cheering and shouting wildly, releasing all their passion and energy pent up since the game began.
From the first minute of the match, Napoli had been dominating possession and seeking opportunities, but Juventus defended resolutely, giving them few chances. Finally, the team broke through the Bianconeri's defense.
"Napoli's style of play has left a deep impression on us. Their high-level rhythm is extremely fast, and their passing and movement are smooth. Although not yet fully refined, overall, it is very exciting."
"More importantly, this team has great stamina, which allows their high pressing to exert significant pressure and trouble on their opponents. Juventus have struggled to withstand such pressing."
"Clearly, if you watched Real Madrid last season, you'll notice that this Napoli is even more aggressive and intense. Gao Shen is delivering on his pre-season promise. He aims to build a team with his personal imprint."
"Today, we have to say, he has done it!"
"It's a unique but very impressive team."
...
After Gervinho scored, Gao Shen leaped in excitement, clapping his hands loudly for his players, then turned around to exchange high-fives and hugs with the coaching staff.
However, the key to this goal lay with Pelle.
"This kid seems to be getting it," Gao Shen smiled, clearly excited.
For that goal, Pelle used his body to suppress Kovac, creating a small but crucial gap in Juventus's defense, which allowed Gervinho to get past Birindelli and strike. His positioning also hindered Buffon.
No matter how good Buffon is, he's still only human.
When two attackers are well-positioned in front of the goal and ready to shoot, even Buffon will struggle.
"The recent training is starting to show some effect, but this is just the beginning," Borrell laughed.
It takes time for a player to change their playing habits, especially those that have been ingrained for years.
If nothing else, consider how hard it is for anyone to change a habit.
On the pitch, where things change rapidly, players almost rely on instinct. To change their habits, shift their thinking, and translate that into performance on the field is no easy task.
"Training will continue. In games against tight defenses like this, Pellet's role becomes even more critical," Gao Shen urged.
Cavani is like a charging tank, while Pelle is more of a battering ram different tools with different purposes.
As they spoke, the players on the field finished celebrating and walked back past the home team's coaching bench. Gao Shen smiled at them and applauded Gervinho's goal.
"Nice job, Kuasi!" he praised.
He then gave Pelle a high-five. "Graziano, remember that feeling from just now. Keep creating space and opportunities for your teammates. Understand?"
"You did great. Keep it up!"
Pelle nodded continuously, as if starting to understand.
Borrell also came forward to give Pelle a few pointers, mainly praising his previous performance and pointing out some exposed weaknesses.
"Keep it up, Graziano, you can do it!" Borrell encouraged.
Buoyed by the encouragement from both the head coach and Borrell, Pelle regained much of his confidence.
David Luiz was also performing exceptionally well tonight, particularly in his marking of Bojinov. The young Bulgarian had been unable to gain any advantage. Every time he tried to get the ball, David Luiz would stick to him, forcing him to lose possession.
In fact, even if Bojinov managed to get past David Luiz, he would still struggle to threaten Napoli's goal, because Bonucci was waiting behind.
Italian defenders are known for their strong individual defensive skills, but Bonucci is an exception. His personal defense isn't his strongest suit, but his sense of positioning is outstanding, and his passing and ball-handling skills are excellent.
If you compare him to Italian defenders like Cannavaro and Nesta, Bonucci might not seem exceptional.
But times have changed.
Gao Shen vividly remembered that dinner conversation with Sacchi and Valdano. Valdano had mainly criticized Florentino's strategic choices, but Sacchi's criticism focused more on team tactics.
Sacchi argued that Real Madrid's strategy went against the broader trends in football.
In simple terms, Real Madrid used a player-characteristic management model rather than building a cohesive team.
For instance, the team knew the superstars up front were reluctant to track back defensively, so they put a dedicated defensive player in front of the backline to compensate for that.
This is also a team strategy, but it is inefficient.
Ideally, a good team setup should allow players to be stronger when they are together than when apart one plus one should be greater than two.
However, Real Madrid's team model had become more about managing individual players' characteristics. It was like completing a puzzle finding missing pieces. The problem is, in such a model, players can't fully play to their strengths, leading to a decline in overall effectiveness.
This results in one plus one being less than two.
Undoubtedly, the first model is the current mainstream. For youth training, the result is more well-rounded players, not specialists.
Bonucci, for example, can defend, organize, and attack, but this makes him a jack of all trades, master of none.
If he were the best at everything, he'd be a god.
At that time, Gao Shen had an epiphany because he thought of Ferguson's Manchester United.
Under Ferguson's guidance, Manchester United's players seemed average individually, but they played extraordinarily well together.
The same squad under Ferguson could win championships, but under Moyes, it couldn't.
That's what Sacchi meant the difference in team philosophy.
Valdano said the essence of football is for players to express themselves on the pitch. He believed that the mind of a coach on the sidelines could not compare to the minds of the eleven players on the field, so players must be free to express themselves.
Sacchi agreed, but not entirely.
He believed football is about allowing players to express themselves, but not just letting them express themselves.
He agreed with Valdano that the mind of a coach on the sidelines couldn't match the eleven players on the pitch. However, how do you ensure all eleven are thinking in sync? How do you keep them from clashing?
This requires the coach to build a system, to let them think within that framework and form a unified force.
That conversation left a deep impression on Gao Shen and made him think deeply.
Sacchi and Valdano were both wise men with distinct thoughts and perspectives.
The former had never played professionally but advocated for a system; the latter was a football genius who believed in the individual.
But both agreed that the system and the individual aren't mutually exclusive but can be integrated. The key is whether you choose more system or more individual.
If you manage to achieve maximum integration between the system and the individual when building a team, congratulations, you've built a great team.
Gao Shen was greatly influenced by this and has been pursuing this direction.
As Sacchi and Valdano suggested, to win the La Liga and Champions League double at 25, he needed to set higher goals for himself. Anything less would be failing himself, right?
Thus, Napoli's players had a clear mandate: Whoever wins the ball must immediately set up a counterattack.
All players were versatile; attackers in the front actively participated in counter-pressing and defending, while the back-line players had to be capable of organizing and distributing the ball, including the goalkeeper.
This is why Napoli had been playing so well in the last three games.
It is also the direction Gao Shen would continue to pursue in the future.
He aimed to lead Napoli to a balance between system and individual brilliance.
Thinking of this, Gao Shen walked to the sideline, almost stepping out of the coaching area.
His sudden movement made the fourth official tense.
But Gao Shen merely stood there and loudly shouted to the Napoli players who had just returned to the field, "Keep attacking! Keep pressing up! I want to see another goal!"
At this moment, his blood was boiling!
On the pitch, the Napoli players heard him and all clapped in response to the coach's order.
At this moment, they were all fired up!
...
Deschamps nearly stumbled when he heard the interaction between Gao Shen and his players from the visiting team's coaching area.
Going to attack again?
And seemingly even stronger than before!
He truly envied the deep connection between Gao Shen and the Napoli players a connection that extended from tactics and spirit, as if this team was an extension of Gao Shen himself, his will manifesting on the pitch.
This was also the lifelong pursuit of many coaches.
It was at this moment that Deschamps understood why Gao Shen left Real Madrid. Why he turned down Juventus.
Not just Gao Shen if he were in the same situation, pursuing this kind of philosophy and environment, he would make the same choice.
Because only then could one truly create a team that is fully their own.
Like Napoli at this moment, immature, unstable, with many issues, but undeniably stamped with Gao Shen's mark, even in their very souls.
Reflecting on this, Deschamps walked to the sideline as well.
"Be careful, hold your defensive lines, don't get disorganized. Wait patiently for your chances! We still have time!"
Against this fearless Napoli, even mighty Juventus had to pull back.
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