Chapter 272: King's Return

"King's Return!"

This was the headline plastered across the front page of Naples' local newspaper 'Il Mattino' after Napoli's 5-0 demolition of Udinese. The cover featured Gao Shen, dressed sharply in a suit, leaping into the air and pumping his fist in celebration as his team scored.

The media congratulated Napoli for climbing to the top of the Serie A standings after just two rounds, becoming the new leaders.

For both the local press and Napoli's passionate fans, there was no doubt: Gao Shen was the hero behind this remarkable achievement.

This brilliant young coach had taken Napoli from Serie B to the top of Serie A in just over a year. Such a feat was nothing short of miraculous!

The local media pointed out that, before the season began, all of Italy, and even European football, believed that Napoli's primary objective was to avoid relegation. This view was reinforced when the club decided to sell one of its top players, Gervinho, before the season kicked off.

"But no one could have predicted that so far this season, Napoli would string together a three-match winning streak, including an 8-0 demolition of Cesena in the cup, followed by two Serie A victories, culminating in a 5-0 away thrashing of Udinese."

"Napoli have exploded onto the scene, with Gao Shen and his young squad determined to shake up the established order of Italian football."

What is the traditional order in Italy?

Looking back over the past two decades from 2007, the vast majority of Serie A titles had been won by the "northern giants": Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.

In the previous 21 years, only two teams outside of these northern powerhouses, Roma and Lazio had each won a single title. Napoli had captured two in 1987 and 1990, and one title had been claimed by Sampdoria from Genoa, another northern team.

In other words, Napoli was the only team from southern Italy capable of competing with the northern and capital clubs.

But in the last six years, Napoli had gone bankrupt and been reborn, clawing their way back from the bottom of the league system to finally return to Serie A.

No one outside of Naples truly understood the struggle and hardship the club had endured to make it back to the top flight. The number of obstacles and challenges they had overcome was immeasurable.

Even at the club's lowest point, when they were relegated to the lowest tier of Italian football, Napoli's fans had continued to fill the stadium, supporting their beloved team through thick and thin.

Even now, Napoli boasts the highest average attendance in Serie A, with every home match a sellout.

Only the local media truly grasped the deep connection between the city of Naples and its football team. They understood the fans' hopes and dreams for the club, and they deeply appreciated the respect and admiration the city felt for Gao Shen, who had led the team to the top of Serie A.

"He is becoming another hero of this city, alongside Diego Maradona!"

The local media also shared an interesting fact: Udinese's front three, their attacking trident, all hailed from Naples.

This revelation surprised many.

Quagliarella, Di Natale, and Flores the three forwards who spearheaded Udinese's attack, were all born in Naples.

This was something Gao Shen hadn't even known before the game.

It certainly seemed like a coincidence, but it was also a fun little twist of fate.

...

Napoli's 5-0 rout of Udinese sent shockwaves throughout Italian football, capturing the attention of the media and fans alike.

Even though many media outlets typically loved to stir controversy around Gao Shen, none could ignore the reality of Napoli's results. They had no choice but to provide extensive coverage of Napoli's rise.

The *Gazzetta dello Sport* ran a headline that read, *Napoli from Another World*. The article noted that this was the first time Napoli had led Serie A in nearly 20 years, and that this achievement, after the club had gone bankrupt and been rebuilt, was nothing short of extraordinary.

The Milan-based newspaper focused on Gao Shen, emphasizing that his tactical approach had completely outclassed Marino, Udinese's young coach.

"If Gao Shen showed his ability to make effective in-game adjustments with his substitutions against Cagliari in the first round, then in the second round against Udinese, his pre-match tactics had already condemned Udinese to defeat."

*Gazzetta dello Sport* argued that this wasn't a match that reflected the true strength of both teams because Udinese had never been able to find their rhythm. They had been dominated from start to finish, unable to dictate the pace of the game.

"Marino made a critical mistake. He foolishly believed that his team could go toe-to-toe with Napoli. In reality, advanced teams have never been afraid of open play, and this was proven last season!"

"Udinese's coach clearly didn't do his homework on Napoli's matches, especially their second-leg game against Roma last season. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made such a poor tactical choice."

"It was Marino's decisions that led to Udinese's disastrous defeat!"

The *Gazzetta dello Sport* acknowledged Gao Shen as the architect of Napoli's success but added that their lead at the top of the table wasn't guaranteed to last.

AC Milan had drawn 1-1 with Fiorentina the previous evening, meaning Napoli would stay at the top of Serie A for at least two weeks until the third round of matches but everyone knew the league had only just begun.

"Both Inter Milan and AC Milan had slow starts, which allowed Napoli to take advantage. But rest assured, once these teams get into their groove, they'll be back on top."

The *Gazzetta dello Sport* concluded that Napoli's momentum would likely be disrupted by the upcoming two-week international break, followed by a grueling schedule. "It will be tough for them to hold onto the top spot for long!"

...

Rome's *La Repubblica* used the headline *0 to 5*, calling Napoli's performance the most beautiful display of attacking football in the first two rounds of Serie A. They praised it as a masterpiece.

"Gao Shen and his team have continued the offensive style they showcased last season, and they are reaping the rewards in Serie A."

*La Repubblica* highlighted Napoli's firepower in attack and their solid defense, which had allowed them to take the lead and shatter the public's preconceptions about the team.

"However, we must remind Gao Shen and his Napoli squad that the Serie A season has just begun. The results from the first two rounds are not enough to draw conclusions, as many teams are still finding their rhythm. The true challenges lie ahead."

The newspaper suggested that expectations for Napoli this season should be raised, but it was still unlikely that this upstart team from the south could truly contend for the Serie A title.

"They still need to beat Inter, Roma, AC Milan, and Juventus first!"

*La Repubblica* emphasized that the league is a marathon, not a cup competition.

Roma, still smarting from their 6-0 loss to Napoli last season, would be looking for revenge in Serie A. Spalletti's team was expected to be much better prepared this time around.

"They haven't faced a real challenge yet!"

...

The *Turin Sports Daily*, unsurprisingly, was far less impressed. They dismissed Napoli's rise as a fluke.

The northern-based newspaper pointed out that Juventus had been the most dominant attacking team in Serie A, having scored eight goals in two matches. Juventus, they claimed, had been far more impressive.

The paper, with its close ties to Juventus, even suggested that Cagliari hadn't put in their best effort against Napoli in the first round, conserving energy for their second-round clash with Juventus. Despite falling behind twice, Cagliari had fought back twice to equalize before Juventus ultimately prevailed.

In contrast, Napoli hadn't faced any real opposition in their first two matches, according to the *Turin Sports Daily*.

"This is what a Serie A champion should look like!"

"And as for Napoli, they have yet to be truly tested!"

The paper reported that neither Juventus management nor their coach, Claudio Ranieri, had included Napoli in their list of title contenders for the season.

"Juventus knows exactly who their rivals are AC Milan and Roma. Napoli isn't even on their radar."

The message was clear: Napoli's time at the top was temporary. Gao Shen's team wouldn't be a serious contender in Serie A this season.

...

Napoli's 5-0 victory didn't just make waves in Italy; it quickly spread across European football and beyond, capturing the attention of the global football community.

Back when Napoli was in Serie B, their successes in the Coppa Italia and Serie B had garnered only limited attention.

But now, Napoli was leading Serie A, and the world was taking notice. This performance had shattered the preconceived notions many had about the club, shocking both media and fans worldwide.

Many people initially believed that Gao Shen and his Napoli were nothing more than an anomaly. But as the media delved deeper, uncovering more about the team, fans began to realize that Napoli's rise had been building for some time.

After leading Real Madrid to a league and Champions League double, Gao Shen's decision to coach a lower-tier team like Napoli had puzzled many. He seemed to fade from the mainstream spotlight, and some even speculated that he might leave coaching altogether.

But now, after a year away, Gao Shen had returned to the global stage by leading Napoli to the top of Serie A.

When Gao Shen had won the double with Real Madrid, there were whispers that it was the strength of the team, not the coach, that had achieved those victories.

Now, with a team that had been bankrupt and rebuilt from the ground up, Gao Shen had taken them from Serie B to the top of Serie A in just one year. What can people say now?

Isn't that achievement convincing enough?

France's *L'Équipe* even published a feature on Gao Shen, detailing his journey with Napoli, both on and off the pitch.

"Mancini's Inter Milan remains as strong and stable as ever; Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan are the reigning Champions League title holders; Roma under Luciano Spalletti are a formidable force, and Juventus, with their rapid rebuilding and heavy investment, have restored the might of the Bianconeri…"

"And now, there's one more contender: Gao Shen and his Napoli!"

"This promises to make Serie A more fiercely competitive than ever before!"