Chapter 316: Come to Juventus

The Juventus players' morale had completely collapsed!

Even after scoring five goals against the Bianconeri, Napoli continued to apply pressure on Berardi, Juventus's substitute goalkeeper.

Berardi, already shaken, began to make a series of nervous mistakes. Although these didn't result in further goals, they further eroded the team's confidence.

It wasn't until Gao Shen started making substitutions that Napoli slowed down, adopting a more controlled, steady pace.

It became clear that Napoli was waiting for Juventus to press forward, setting up opportunities for a counterattack.

Faced with this cunning strategy, the Juventus players grew more frustrated and demoralized.

The best reflection of Juventus's shattered mindset came in the 80th minute. Camoranesi, who had only been on the pitch for about 20 minutes, tried to launch an attack down the right flank. He was intercepted by Thiago Motta, who had positioned himself well.

Motta quickly passed the ball to Hamsik, and as Hamsik moved upfield, Camoranesi chased him down and tackled him from behind, right near the center circle.

Referee Saccani immediately ran over and, without entertaining any explanations from the Juventus players, showed Camoranesi a straight red card.

After his reckless challenge on Hamsik, the Juventus veteran seemed to know he would receive a red card. Without even protesting, he walked off the field without looking back.

"Juventus has truly fallen apart!"

"To concede five goals at home to Napoli is utterly humiliating, no matter how you look at it."

"The players should reflect on tonight's performance, especially Berardi. His series of errors were unforgivable and unbecoming of a Juventus goalkeeper."

"But the primary responsibility lies with Ranieri. He needs to seriously reflect on his tactical approach tonight."

"It's understandable that Ranieri is under a lot of pressure right now. Many have criticized his lack of creativity and attacking prowess, so he likely wanted to prove himself and divert attention from the Capanna scandal."

"However, he overlooked a crucial fact: Napoli is the second-highest-scoring team in Serie A this season, just behind Inter Milan and Roma. They are not a weak team."

"More importantly, Gao Shen's team has always been known for their offensive style. Their greatest challenge is facing teams that sit back and defend, not ones that attack them."

"Ranieri chose the wrong opponent to go all-out against!"

"With the red card, this game is effectively over."

"Juventus suffers a crushing defeat at home, losing 2-5. This not only ruins their chances in the Coppa Italia but may also have consequences in the league."

"It's becoming increasingly evident that Juventus is falling behind the top three teams, while AC Milan, who have been recovering recently, might become serious contenders for a top-four spot this season."

"Ranieri really needs to think long and hard about this!"

…

"Inter Milan, Roma, and all the other teams aiming for a top-four finish should thank me!"

Gao Shen couldn't help but chuckle after seeing Camoranesi receive a red card.

Was this just a red card?

No, it symbolized the end of an era!

Before the season began, Lippi had emphasized the importance of the "Juventus spirit," and Ranieri had often spoken about it as well. Both saw great value in the contributions of veteran players like Nedved, Camoranesi, and Trezeguet.

But tonight, Camoranesi's red card shattered that illusion.

Juventus was crumbling!

The spirit of the old Juventus?

Could this group of veterans still bring Juventus back to glory in Serie A? Could they even help Juventus compete for the title?

Even if they had the heart and fighting spirit, did they still have the skill and stamina required?

More importantly, as an outsider, Gao Shen could see that the tension between Ranieri and these veterans, especially with Capanna's training methods, had deepened the divisions within the Juventus locker room. Now, this internal strife was on full display for the world to see.

Juventus was not going to win any titles this season.

In fact, if they didn't regroup quickly, even a top-four finish might slip through their fingers.

Their fire had burned out!

And it had all happened at once.

…

Napoli ultimately triumphed over Juventus with a 5-2 victory on their turf.

Amidst the resounding boos of the Juventus fans, Gao Shen and his Napoli players exited the stadium.

Before leaving, Ranieri approached Gao Shen and extended his hand. The Tinkerman looked deeply despondent.

It was understandable.

Just yesterday, there was the scandal surrounding the fitness coach Capanna, who hadn't even been allowed to sit on the bench. Now, this crushing defeat at home. How could Ranieri possibly cope with all this?

In hindsight, it wouldn't be surprising if Juventus announced Ranieri's dismissal soon after.

Ranieri was a great guy, talented at building tactical structures and integrating a team. But this was not enough to lead a club to a title over the course of a long season.

Gao Shen had come to value the cultivation of a strong spirit and identity within Napoli. This wasn't just a legacy he wanted to leave for his successor; it was also key to making Napoli a title contender.

A person without inner strength is like a walking corpse. The same goes for a team.

But this was Ranieri's weakness.

Gao Shen didn't talk much with him, just exchanged a few words and then left.

Entering the tunnel, Gao Shen headed straight for the visitors' locker room.

"Mr. Gao!"

At a fork in the hallway, Gao Shen heard a voice call out from behind.

Turning around, he saw Juventus general manager Jean-Claude Blanc smiling and waving at him from a distance.

Gao Shen looked around cautiously, noticing only a few Juventus staff members nearby. He walked over to meet Blanc.

"Congratulations, Gao. That was an impressive victory!" Blanc smiled wryly, extending his hand.

Gao Shen shook his hand and thanked him politely, but he sensed there was more to this encounter than mere congratulations.

It wasn't surprising that Juventus management might consider a coaching change after Ranieri's crushing defeat and the Capanna scandal.

As expected, Blanc once again broached the topic of Gao Shen coaching Juventus. He even hinted that if Gao Shen were willing, they could dismiss Ranieri immediately.

"If you're interested in taking charge of the team, we're willing to grant you the authority you need. We believe it's not too late to turn things around," Blanc said earnestly.

Gao Shen didn't ask what Blanc meant by "not too late," but he assumed they were hoping he could still salvage the season and secure a top-four finish.

But Gao Shen only smiled and shook his head. "Claude, after tonight's game, the most realistic goal for Juventus is to aim for a top-four finish. You should also be wary of AC Milan and Fiorentina."

Both teams were formidable.

He had personally experienced Prandelli's exceptional coaching prowess.

Gao Shen's words were a subtle hint to Blanc that he had no intention of taking over Juventus at this time.

With Napoli practically assured of a spot in the Coppa Italia semifinals, even if Juventus made a coaching change, it would be almost impossible to overturn the 5-2 deficit, with five away goals against them.

In the league, Napoli was securely in third place, three points ahead of Juventus, and the momentum was clearly in their favor.

Why would Gao Shen abandon everything he had built in Naples to take over the mess at Juventus? What benefit would that bring him?

"Thank you, Claude. I wish you the best of luck," Gao Shen said, extending his hand again.

Blanc, understanding the hidden message in Gao Shen's words, shook his hand, visibly disappointed.

Blanc had been the one who brought Ranieri on board. Now that the situation had turned sour, he had hoped to recruit Gao Shen as a way to salvage his reputation and rectify his mistake.

But Gao Shen's refusal left him feeling deflated.

As Gao Shen turned to leave, the smile on his face faded.

He wasn't naive.

With Secco still in his position as sporting director, any promises from Blanc could easily be rendered meaningless.

Besides, why would he walk away from everything he had built at Napoli?

Juventus was a sinking ship. Anyone who boarded it now would be in trouble.

Not to mention, the team was filled with aging veterans like Nedved and Camoranesi, and the club's long-standing traditions and culture were fundamentally incompatible with Gao Shen's philosophy.

It would be a miracle if he went to Juventus and things turned out well.

…

Gao Shen walked into the away team locker room, and Blanc turned to leave the passage.

After everyone had dispersed, Marino emerged from the corner, adjusting his glasses.

He had initially been on his way to the locker room to congratulate the players but had stumbled upon the brief encounter between Gao Shen and Blanc.

Though the conversation was short and vague, Marino could discern that Juventus was very interested in Gao Shen—and increasingly so.

The most telling sign was that Juventus was now willing to offer Gao Shen the power he had previously demanded, which they had initially refused.

However, Gao Shen wasn't foolish. He hadn't agreed.

After all, as long as Secco remained as sporting director, any promises from Blanc lacked credibility.

But what if Juventus finally decided to cut ties with Secco?

On one side was a wealthy, prestigious club, and on the other was the resource-constrained Napoli. If Marino put himself in Gao Shen's shoes, he knew the temptation of Juventus or any other top Serie A club would be hard to resist.

If not Juventus, then perhaps another club?

For instance, AC Milan. Rumor had it that Ancelotti's future was uncertain due to underwhelming results this season, and he was likely to leave at the end of the season. Gao Shen was reportedly one of the candidates being considered for the head coach position at AC Milan.

Additionally, Barcelona, all the way over in Spain, was also expected to change coaches this summer. Rijkaard's Dream Team II had collapsed, and his departure was almost certain. Gao Shen was high on the list of candidates to lead Barcelona as well.

The Gao Shen of today was no longer the same as he had been two years ago.

He had proven his worth at Napoli.

Taking a newly promoted team to the Serie B championship, demolishing Roma 6-0, and now consistently keeping Napoli in the top three of Serie A—all of this had turned heads across Europe.

These achievements also cast a new light on the two championships he won with Real Madrid two years prior.

Everyone knew that in European football, a coach who had won the Champions League was always in high demand.

Marino's face grew serious as he realized the implications.

"It's time to renew his contract!" he muttered worriedly.

*****

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