In Inter Milan's tactical setup, the reason why Maicon dared to press forward so boldly often not returning in time to defend even after losing possession was because of Zanetti, the right-sided defensive midfielder covering behind him.
Inter Milan's captain always stayed back to fill in for Maicon, covering the position whenever needed.
When Di Maria surged forward at full speed, chasing down Bonucci's long pass, Zanetti was also racing back to defend.
Behind him, Maicon realized the gap left by his forward push and also began to sprint back desperately.
Di Maria caught up to Bonucci's long pass down the left, nearly level with Inter Milan's penalty area, but Zanetti had already closed in on the inside line, catching up just as Di Maria reached the ball.
Maicon, hot on their heels, was also closing in.
The Brazilian right-back was incredibly fast.
Di Maria had a flash of inspiration; he suddenly stopped abruptly, using his left foot to control Bonucci's pass and bring it inside.
Zanetti couldn't stop in time, rushing past him, while the ball stopped right behind him where Di Maria was positioned.
The young Argentine cut inside and advanced into the penalty area, leaving Zanetti behind.
But Inter's captain wasn't someone to give up easily. With his wealth of experience and quick reflexes, he managed a nimble turn and slid in for a tackle, hoping to intercept before Di Maria could break free.
Di Maria, however, showed courage and flair.
With Zanetti on his left and Materazzi blocking his path inside the box, the stage seemed set for him to lose possession. But just as Zanetti lunged in for the tackle, Materazzi hesitated, reluctant to disrupt his captain's defensive play.
In that moment, Di Maria, cutting horizontally across the field, suddenly flicked the ball diagonally toward the goal line on Materazzi's right, slicing into Inter's penalty area at a sharp angle.
The entire Sao Paulo stadium erupted!
Excitement, gasps, disbelief—all sorts of emotions swirled in the stands.
Di Maria surged into the penalty area, reaching the ball near the left side of the six-yard box. With a quick glance up, he delivered a lofted cross with his left foot.
The ball arced gracefully, descending right in front of the small penalty area.
At this exact moment, Cavani, moving like a tank, muscled his way past Inter's central defender Qiu. Despite their difference in physicality and size, he overpowered him, positioning himself perfectly in front of Di Maria's cross. Cavani rose and headed the ball directly at the goal.
The ball, propelled by Cavani's powerful header, arched sharply toward the right side of Inter's goal.
Cesar, standing on the left side of the net, couldn't react in time—no matter his reflexes or shot-stopping ability, he was powerless against Cavani's point-blank header.
"Goooooalllllllllllllllll!"
"Cavani!!!"
"In just three minutes, Napoli has scored the first goal against Inter Milan!"
"Only three minutes! Three minutes!!"
As the Uruguayan striker found the net, Qiu, still clutching at Cavani's shirt, could only watch helplessly. Cavani shook him off and sprinted toward the sidelines in celebration, leaving Qiu rooted in place, stunned.
The entire Sao Paulo stadium was chanting Cavani's name!
More than 60,000 Napoli fans sprang from their seats, screaming and cheering with raw passion!
Gao Shen's heart raced. When he saw Di Maria beat two defenders and deliver that cross with his left foot, he clenched his fists. As the ball headed into the right side of the net, Gao Shen leapt into the air, unable to contain his joy.
"Yesss!!"
As he landed, the sharp sound of the referee's whistle confirmed the goal, filling Gao Shen with overwhelming excitement, and he began celebrating uncontrollably.
Behind him, the Napoli coaching staff poured out from the sidelines, each one embracing Gao Shen in a wave of exhilaration and joy.
Like Gao Shen, everyone was beyond thrilled, shouting and cheering with abandon.
"I really didn't expect Napoli to score against Inter Milan within the first three minutes."
"It's absolutely shocking."
"All Serie A fans familiar with Napoli know that their aggressive pressing right from the start is their signature tactic. But even so, no one anticipated that Inter Milan would concede so early. This is quite a disadvantage for them as the game progresses."
"You can see that Napoli's players are in superb condition. Their pressing from the opening whistle has been relentless, causing chaos for Inter Milan. However, Inter's response has been somewhat mechanical, lacking any sort of adaptability."
"It almost feels as if Mancini didn't prepare specifically for Napoli's high-pressure opening. This is surprising, especially since the media and fans had all been talking about how Napoli's aggressive start was something to be wary of."
"But despite the warnings, Inter Milan conceded right away."
"One-nil. This is going to be difficult for Inter to recover from."
"The situation looks grim!"
In the chairman's box, witnessing Inter Milan's early concession, all the renowned Italian coaches present wore somber expressions. Trapattoni even shook his head.
"Napoli's tempo is incredibly fast, and now that they've scored, it's as if they've found a crack in Inter's armor. Gao Shen will definitely push his players to keep exploiting this opening. Inter Milan is now on the back foot," Lippi sighed softly.
The game confirmed their fears.
After the restart, Napoli continued their relentless high pressing, launching wave after wave of attacks.
Inter Milan's early concession had rattled them. Combined with the importance of this match, they looked disorganized on the field, which only fueled Napoli's momentum.
"Mancini's team looks completely unprepared. Their defense is sluggish and lacking flexibility—something's off. Inter is a seasoned team; they shouldn't be falling apart over a single goal."
Trapattoni shook his head. "Napoli's high-pressing game is intense and relentless, but the question is, how long can they sustain this? Can their players keep running at this pace?"
"So, Inter should stay calm and wait for the right opportunity."
Trapattoni's words sparked discussion among the other coaches, especially those like Ulivieri and Ventura, who had experienced the challenges of facing Gao Shen's Napoli.
They all knew just how hard it was to endure Napoli's playstyle.
Napoli's approach relied on proactive defense, which was extremely difficult to counter.
When they press, they attack in groups; if they fail, they fall back and reorganize rapidly. Who can guarantee their players won't make mistakes under such pressure?
Especially against the high-intensity pressure applied by Napoli.
The mid- and lower-tier teams might be able to tolerate such tactics, playing conservatively, clearing the ball, and ceding possession. But a powerhouse like Inter Milan, a Serie A giant, wouldn't accept that kind of humiliation. Playing defensively without attempting to dominate the field would be a blow to their reputation.
"I also think there's another factor as important as tactics: the unity of the team's mindset. Napoli's players all seem completely aligned, but Inter Milan doesn't seem to have reached a consensus. When they conceded earlier, Maicon stayed up front trying to counterattack, not making it back in time to defend. Meanwhile, Napoli's defenders, like Biglia, were sharp and ready to intercept long balls."
Lippi said this with a helpless expression.
Even if it wasn't Mancini, any coach would struggle against such a cohesive team.
But looking at it from another perspective, Lippi knew that establishing a unified team mindset was crucial.
A team without unity will fall apart on the field.
And anyone in a leadership position whether in a company or even a country—knows that reaching consensus among people is one of the hardest tasks.
Mancini's team seemed to lack this unity.
They had displayed similar issues against Roma, and now it was even more obvious against Napoli.
With players not on the same page, mental disunity would manifest in tactical errors on the pitch.
All the experienced coaches understood this well, and it was no surprise to them.
They realized that, for Inter Milan, this game might no longer be about winning or even drawing; it was about salvaging their dignity.
Conceding in the opening three minutes and facing Napoli's high-intensity tactics, as well as Gao Shen's determination after previous setbacks, meant this match would be relentless.
In that moment, whether it was Lippi, Trapattoni, or any other coach present, they all wore solemn expressions.
Many of them had an unsettling thought in their minds.
Could it be that Italian football's era is truly changing?
Does Gao Shen's tactical philosophy represent the future?
Would Italian coaches from now on have to learn from him?
Although they had been studying Napoli's style quietly, seeking inspiration and absorbing its nuances, becoming second to Gao Shen would be a whole new reality.
While the Italian coaching legends pondered, Inter Milan's issues emerged again just five minutes after the previous goal.
Maicon, pushing forward from the right, had barely crossed the halfway line when Biglia intercepted him, forcing him to pass toward Stankovic in the center. However, Hamsik, tracking back, intercepted the ball with ease.
With the steal, Hamsik advanced, drawing in Zanetti and Cambiasso, then launched a long pass to the left side of the pitch.
Napoli was once again targeting Inter Milan's right flank!
Di Maria sprinted down the left side, racing past Inter's backline, and controlled the ball in the penalty area.
Facing Materazzi, who charged toward him, Di Maria made a sudden stop and cut inside, tricking Materazzi into blocking the inside lane.
However, Di Maria abruptly poked the ball toward the goal line once more, catching Materazzi completely off-guard. The quick succession of movements left Materazzi scrambling, unable to keep up with the Argentine winger's agility and feints.
Under the pressure of the sudden shift, Materazzi reflexively stretched out his leg in a desperate attempt to block Di Maria's progress, only to clip nothing but air as the winger slipped past him effortlessly.
***
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