Chapter 259: So Brutal!

After switching sides for the second half, neither team made any substitutions. The game continued to be a tight contest of offense and defense, just like in the first half.

It was evident that the smile on Ventura's face was growing wider. The veteran Italian coach could see that the match was unfolding exactly as he had planned, and the turning point he was waiting for was getting closer.

However, when the game reached the 60th minute, Napoli was preparing for substitutions two changes at once.

Young Spanish midfielder Callejon and Chilean winger Sanchez had completed their warm-up and were heading toward Gao Shen. The two players stood in front of the coach, listening intently as Gao Shen gave final tactical instructions before they entered the field.

Seeing this, Ventura, standing by the home team's bench, felt a sudden unease.

What was Gao Shen planning?

Two substitutions at once?

Ventura sensed potential danger but hesitated to make any counter-move since he wasn't sure of Gao Shen's intentions.

Better to stay patient and hold his ground.

---

Callejon came on to replace the Chilean midfielder Vidal, while Sanchez replaced Belgian winger Mertens. On the surface, they were direct swaps with no drastic tactical changes.

Ventura breathed a sigh of relief.

But when play resumed, he quickly realized that something was off.

Napoli had shifted gears. Instead of relentlessly pushing forward and pressing high up the pitch, they started to focus on patient ball control in midfield. The pace slowed as the team built their attacks methodically, pushing forward gradually.

The front three especially Sanchez and Callejon became much more dynamic, frequently switching sides and positions. At times, both wingers even appeared on the same flank, causing Pisa's defenders no small amount of confusion.

In the 69th minute, both Sanchez and Callejon found themselves on the left wing. David Luiz, from his deep position in defense, launched a long ball over the top, catching Pisa's backline off guard.

Sanchez darted towards the ball near the edge of the penalty area, got to it first, and quickly laid it off to Callejon. The Real Madrid youth product didn't hesitate; after one touch to control, he unleashed a powerful strike with his right foot that flew into the net.

One-nil to Napoli.

It was Callejon's first goal since joining Napoli, and it came as a relief after some underwhelming performances. Now, with Napoli's attack finding a rhythm, he began to show his speed and technical ability.

Gao Shen applauded enthusiastically on the sidelines, praising Callejon's goal.

"Well done, Jose!" Gao Shen shouted, giving Callejon a hearty slap on the back as he ran over. "Keep it up!"

Turning back, Gao Shen caught sight of Ventura's expression; the once-smiling coach no longer looked pleased. The contrast made Gao Shen's smile even bigger.

Truthfully, Ventura's grin never suited him anyway.

---

The goal broke the deadlock and threw Pisa into disarray.

After over 60 minutes of holding Napoli scoreless, their defensive shape collapsed once the first goal went in. In a panic, Pisa tried to respond by increasing their pressure on Napoli, especially in midfield.

However, they quickly discovered that Napoli's players were comfortable with the ball, able to pass around them with ease.

Just five minutes after Callejon's opener, Parejo displayed his flair for creativity with a deft chip over Pisa's defense, perfectly timed to Callejon's run.

Callejon controlled the ball on his chest, cut inside past a defender, and squared a low cross towards the penalty spot.

Pelle, timing his run to perfection, met the cross with a powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Two-nil.

Gao Shen erupted with joy on the sidelines.

He had known since his time at Real Madrid that Callejon was not just fast and skillful; he was also an intelligent player with great awareness, especially when it came to breaking the offside trap. As for Parejo, his passing vision was the main reason Gao Shen had recruited him.

However, Parejo still had areas to improve, particularly his physical strength and defensive skills. If Gao Shen had started him alongside Biglia and Thiago Motta from the beginning, Napoli might have struggled defensively. But at only eighteen, Parejo had plenty of time to develop.

---

Ventura, ever the seasoned tactician, didn't hesitate to react. After seeing Napoli's offensive flow vastly improve, and conceding two goals in quick succession, he made two substitutions of his own to shore up the midfield and defense.

An experienced coach who prided himself on Italian tactical mastery, Ventura quickly identified that Napoli had shifted towards better midfield control and passing precision.

He saw Parejo as the key to this shift a playmaker who, though less physically imposing than Vidal, brought creativity and the ability to pick out killer passes, like the assist to Callejon.

With the defensive changes, Pisa managed to regain some stability, but their original game plan of launching a counterattack had been thrown out the window.

It was clear that Ventura's pre-match strategy had failed.

The match again settled into a stalemate, but Napoli continued to press and probe for more opportunities.

---

In the 88th minute, Pisa's midfielder lost possession under pressure. Biglia intercepted the ball and quickly pushed forward, threading a pass down the left wing to Sanchez.

Sanchez had just switched flanks with Callejon. He controlled the ball, and with two defenders closing in, he swiftly cut inside. With a burst of acceleration, he slipped between the two defenders and then performed a sudden stop, followed by another rapid change of direction, leaving a third defender flat-footed.

Seeing the opening, Sanchez didn't hesitate. He curled a right-footed shot toward the far corner. The ball bent beautifully into the top corner of the net.

Three-nil.

Sanchez sprinted off in celebration, racing past Pisa's bench before leaping into Gao Shen's arms at the Napoli technical area. The rest of the team quickly surrounded them, cheering wildly.

---

The players gradually returned to the field after the euphoric celebration. Gao Shen, however, looked down at his now-wrinkled, sweat-stained suit. He wore a weary smile.

"This suit is brand new," he groaned.

He had specially tailored the outfit for the new Serie A season, and tonight was only its second appearance. Now, it was a mess sweat-soaked and rumpled.

"Those brats must've done this on purpose," Gao Shen muttered, shaking his head. "They're just jealous of my style."

Behind him, Carlo and Lucas couldn't contain their laughter.

It seemed that sometimes, being well-liked by your players had its downsides.

"Don't worry, Gao. We'll get you a few more suits on the club's dime," Carlo joked. "Besides, it's a small price to pay for a win."

But the laughter soon turned into snickers as everyone thought back to Gao Shen's meticulous choice of this particular suit casual yet elegant, understated yet bold. Now, it was covered in sweat from overzealous players.

Brutal!

---

Napoli's 3-0 away victory over Pisa, with goals from Callejon, Pelle, and Sanchez, was an emphatic statement. Scoring all three goals in the final 30 minutes highlighted Gao Shen's astute game management and tactical adjustments. The match also demonstrated the team's growing versatility and resilience.

The defeat was a bitter pill for Ventura. The veteran coach had started the game confidently, but his optimism faded after Napoli's relentless onslaught. The cheerful smiles he had worn throughout the first 60 minutes were now nowhere to be found.

Nevertheless, Ventura maintained his composure, shaking hands with Gao Shen after the final whistle. He congratulated Napoli on their victory, though his words felt hollow.

Gao Shen sensed the insincerity, but it didn't bother him. It wasn't reasonable to expect a defeated opponent to be completely gracious.

In return, Gao Shen acknowledged Pisa's effort, though he kept his praise short. He knew Ventura might misconstrue his comments as sarcasm after losing so convincingly.

For a brief moment, Gao Shen considered explaining to Ventura that the pre-match remarks had been misrepresented by the media, that they had distorted his words. But he thought better of it.

At that moment, explaining would seem condescending. It wouldn't change the result and might even deepen Ventura's resentment.

Besides, some misunderstandings couldn't be resolved with an explanation. If someone didn't want to believe you, no amount of proof would convince them otherwise.

Ventura was an experienced coach; he had dealt with the media for decades. He knew how the game worked.

In the end, Gao Shen left it at that.

If winning by three goals didn't convince anyone, no words could.