Chapter 391: You Have No Right to Scold Me

The first day at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, turned out to be quite uneventful.

The initial excitement of being there quickly faded.

Take lunch, for instance.

Despite the presence of many famous coaches, Gao Shen, who even went over to Rafael Benítez for a handshake and some pleasantries, eventually realized it was no different from a regular work gathering.

The one highlight for him was that someone actually asked for his phone number, Villarreal's coach, Manuel Pellegrini. The "Chilean Engineer" was as courteous as his reputation suggested.

For all their fame, these legendary coaches were just people. They ate, drank, smoked, cursed, and even exhibited odd habits.

Some were chain-smokers, ducking outside every chance they got; others swore with every sentence they spoke. There were loud talkers who seemed to demand attention from the entire room and elderly coaches who made frequent trips to the bathroom.

Among the twenty-odd managers gathered, no two were alike.

After the lunch break, the main event of the afternoon was the group photo session.

Strange as it might seem, Ferguson had already warned him that this was the highlight of the annual coaching summit.

For the media worldwide, this single photograph would be the most widely circulated image of the event. UEFA would distribute it to major publications, ensuring maximum visibility.

Because the photo would represent the summit globally, the seating arrangement required careful consideration.

UEFA President Michel Platini and Secretary General David Taylor would naturally take center stage. Platini, without a doubt, would sit in the middle of the front row, flanked by the head coaches of the Champions League finalists.

Ferguson, representing Manchester United, was a given. The other seat, however, created a bit of a dilemma. Since Chelsea had reached the final last season under Avram Grant but were now managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, it was decided that Arsène Wenger would take the other seat.

This arrangement was widely accepted.

Once the center positions were determined, the rest of the seating was left to personal choice.

Gao Shen, knowing his place, chose an inconspicuous spot in the back row.

Meanwhile, big names like Ancelotti, Mourinho, Benítez, Guardiola, and Schuster sat in the front.

Later, during the social portion of the event, the disparity in popularity among the managers became even more apparent.

While UEFA officials like Platini and Taylor mingled with everyone to maintain diplomacy, the coaches naturally formed their own cliques.

Despite being a newcomer, Gao Shen found himself surrounded by familiar faces. Guardiola stuck close to him, Ancelotti was often by his side, and Spalletti gravitated toward their group. With Mourinho and Ferguson occasionally joining them, their circle became one of the most talked-about at the summit.

In contrast, Schuster, Real Madrid's head coach, was noticeably isolated.

Unlike the others, who either integrated into the larger group or formed their own small factions, Schuster stood apart. Even his compatriot, Bayern Munich's coach Jürgen Klinsmann, kept his distance.

Gao Shen, always polite, went over to greet him out of courtesy, but it quickly became clear why Schuster was left alone.

The man exuded arrogance, his tone sharp and confrontational.

In a room full of Champions League coaches, no one wanted to put up with his attitude.

It wasn't hard to understand why Schuster wasn't well-liked.

Later, Ferguson gave a speech, but it was nothing Gao Shen hadn't already seen in the tactical library. Even so, hearing it directly from Ferguson himself had a different impact, though the library's information was undoubtedly more comprehensive.

---

In theory, the first day's sessions ended with the group photo, and attendees were free to leave.

But everyone knew it was customary to stick around.

After all, UEFA had gone out of its way to provide excellent hospitality. The food and accommodations were top-notch, so there was little reason to leave.

Besides, with league games temporarily on hold, it was a rare chance to relax.

By evening, Ancelotti, who had spent the entire day suppressing his itch to play cards, finally gave in. Dragging Gao Shen and a few others along, he hosted a card game that lasted well into the night.

As they played, Gao Shen couldn't help but wonder: "You're so daring at the card table. Why are you so conservative on the golf course?"

He suspected that if he ever voiced this thought, Ancelotti might challenge him to a duel.

By 3 a.m., Spalletti had reached his limit and tapped out. Gao Shen seized the opportunity to end the game, retreating to his room and sleeping until noon, when a phone call woke him for lunch.

---

The afternoon's agenda focused on discussions and proposals.

In recent years, much of the discussion revolved around refereeing standards, especially in the wake of Serie A's Calciopoli scandal.

Referees faced increasing pressure as teams sought every advantage within the rules or sometimes just outside them.

Even outspoken critics like Mourinho and Ferguson understood this. Their public criticisms of referees were often tactical, aimed at influencing future decisions in their favor.

Barcelona, for example, frequently surrounded referees during games, applying pressure through sheer presence. Though not explicitly against the rules at the time, UEFA eventually banned such behavior.

During the proposal session, coaches made suggestions based on their own interests. Some brought multiple proposals to the table.

Premier League managers advocated for more lenient officiating, reflecting their league's physical style of play.

La Liga representatives, on the other hand, pushed for stricter protection of technical players, aligning with their focus on skill and possession.

Guardiola's proposal sought greater protection for star players like Messi, arguing that the Champions League was a global showcase where top talents should be safeguarded.

While his suggestion wasn't unreasonable, it faced immediate opposition. After all, if referees shielded players like Messi too much, how could opposing teams possibly defend against them?

---

Gao Shen's proposal was broader in scope.

He suggested abolishing the current system of determining the eight seeded teams based on European competition points. Instead, he proposed that league champions from Europe's top four leagues automatically receive seeded status.

This idea sparked lively debate.

For teams like Napoli, which won Serie A but were placed in the fourth pot during the group stage draw, the current system was undoubtedly unfair.

But not everyone agreed.

Real Madrid's coach, Schuster, stood up to criticize Gao Shen directly, accusing him of proposing a rule change purely for Napoli's benefit while ignoring the interests of the other 31 teams.

"I don't think this platform is meant for such self-serving ideas," Schuster said sharply. "UEFA shouldn't waste time discussing such unrealistic proposals."

His words were a direct attack, leaving the room stunned.

Moments earlier, everyone had been engaging in constructive discussion, and Gao Shen's proposal had been well-received.

Gao Shen, however, remained calm.

He'd heard about Schuster's abrasive personality before and now saw it firsthand. His earlier attempt to be friendly had been met with arrogance, and now Schuster was publicly targeting him.

It was clear Schuster looked down on both Gao Shen and Napoli.

As for why Schuster harbored such animosity, Gao Shen wasn't entirely sure. Perhaps it was resentment from the Champions League draw or lingering bitterness from media speculation about Gao Shen returning to coach in La Liga.

But none of that mattered now.

The room fell silent as Gao Shen stood up to respond.

He first acknowledged that his proposal was partially self-interested, as Napoli's placement in the fourth pot was undeniably unfair.

"But I can also understand the perspective of the top-seeded teams," he added. "Not everyone would be happy with such a change."

He glanced around the room before continuing.

"If you want to accuse my proposal of being selfish, then fine. Most of you here have the right to do so. But there's one person who absolutely does not!"

Gao Shen didn't name names, but his gaze rested squarely on Schuster.

"Because the only reason this guy is still enjoying the privileges of a top seed is because of me! Without my contributions, it's questionable whether he'd even have the qualifications to sit here and accuse me so shamelessly."

With that, Gao Shen sat back down.

Guardiola and Ancelotti, seated nearby, tried to calm him down, signaling for restraint.

Schuster's face turned red with embarrassment.

His hostility toward Gao Shen stemmed from years of unfavorable comparisons. Since the day he took over at Real Madrid, the media had constantly measured him against Gao Shen's achievements. Every loss reignited calls for Gao Shen to return, fueling his resentment.

But he hadn't expected Gao Shen to confront him so directly and with irrefutable facts.

Without Gao Shen's contributions during his time at Real Madrid, the club's recent performances wouldn't have secured them a top seed.

Schuster was furious but had no retort. His earlier criticism now seemed hypocritical.

Silently, he vowed revenge.

"The Battle of the Bernabéu," he thought grimly. "Let's see how long you can keep this up."

***

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