Chapter 261: Serie A Debut

Before Gao Shen's journey began, whether online or at work, he often heard people venting their frustrations to him.

They would say things like, "I work so hard, I endure so much, yet why am I still struggling?"

Whenever he heard this, Gao Shen would offer words of comfort, telling them that they were among the hardest workers he knew, and if they hadn't succeeded, it was just a matter of bad luck or some uncontrollable factors.

But was that really the case?

Often, effort might be the least significant factor in determining success.

After all, everyone is working hard.

More critical than effort are choices and luck.

Luck is self-explanatory. If fortune smiles upon you, like Giampaolo, who was handed a Serie A promotion while sitting at home, what more could be said?

And then there's making the right choices, choosing a path that suits you and working hard in that direction.

If you choose the wrong direction, the harder you work, the further away from success you'll find yourself.

In Gao Shen's view, Giampaolo's choices were misguided.

Or rather, like many in Italy, he clung stubbornly to conservative Italian football.

Take Giampaolo's Cagliari, for instance.

From his signings of Fini, Parola, and Foggia, to retaining players like Del Grosso, it wasn't hard to discern his strategy—he wanted to replicate his promotion success at Ascoli.

But he forgot one crucial thing: times have changed!

Did Gao Shen's Napoli not impact Italian football at all?

Even Ventura, a seasoned coach, was trying to speed up the pace with his Pisa team. Wasn't that proof enough?

And who could claim that renowned coaches like Ancelotti or Mancini weren't influenced in some way?

However, their current lineups restricted them.

For example, could Ancelotti deploy a high-pressing game with Milan's aging squad?

They'd collapse within minutes.

But that was the case with the Milan giants; Giampaolo was coaching Cagliari.

---

"My guess is he'll go for a counter-attacking approach. That's what Cagliari and Giampaolo are best at."

Gao Shen sat at the conference table, twirling a pen while frowning. This habit signaled to everyone that he was deep in thought, as he shared his analysis.

"To be honest, the real challenge for us in this game is the players' adaptability. After all, they were one of the strongest defensive teams in Serie A last season."

The others nodded in agreement.

Serie B and Serie A are worlds apart.

Napoli did face a few Serie A teams last season, but neither Parma nor Ascoli were among the top defensive teams in the league. Cagliari, however, was a different story, boasting one of the best defenses last season.

Of course, excluding the eight rounds coached by Colomba.

There were unexpected results, like the second-round loss to Roma. Napoli didn't perform well against Inter Milan in two rounds, and the first encounter with Roma was also tough. Now, facing Cagliari in the league opener, fresh off two matches in one week, would be a significant test for the Napoli squad.

"At home, we must win no matter what. We'll focus on attack but stick to a 4-2-3-1 formation, keeping it steady!"

Gao Shen's approach was to make progress while maintaining stability.

It was a mature and cautious strategy, given that the first league game is always tough, and it's wise to avoid unnecessary risks.

This opening match marked not only Gao Shen's debut in Serie A but also the Serie A debut for many players on the team. For Napoli, it carried a special significance that they couldn't afford to squander.

This was why Napoli had been so displeased with the Italian Football Federation's scheduling.

"How's Pastore's condition lately?" Gao Shen asked suddenly.

"He's okay, but still not fully adjusted," Carlo replied.

Gao Shen shook his head, "There's no time. Let him get used to it on the field. He'll start on the bench, along with Parejo."

"What do you mean…?"

Gao Shen looked at Carlo and clarified, "The opponent is away, and getting a point is a success for them. But for us, we must secure three points at home."

Carlo thought it over and understood.

The idea was to anticipate a defensive approach from the opposition.

It was entirely possible.

Though Napoli was a newly promoted team, they had earned some respect. This season, they had already played two rounds in the Coppa Italia, and while that was more taxing than Cagliari's schedule, the 8-0 and 3-0 victories over Cagliari in those matches served as a warning.

If Giampaolo decided to sit back and defend on the road, earning a point would indeed be a success for Cagliari, as Napoli shouldn't be evaluated merely as a newly promoted side.

And everyone knows how tough it is to break down a Serie A defense once a team parks the bus.

Gao Shen's decision to bench Pastore and Parejo was likely made with this in mind.

---

Even after two years, Marco Giampaolo vividly remembered that afternoon on August 28, 2005.

It was the first time in his career that he led a team into Serie A!

He had once dreamed of standing in the halls of the sport's elite.

As a professional player, he had never played in Serie A or even Serie B.

For more than a decade, he had toiled in the lower leagues, dreaming of stepping onto the grand stage and becoming a shining star.

But unfortunately, he lacked the talent.

God had closed a door for him, only to open a window.

Though he wasn't gifted as a player, he found success as a coach.

By a stroke of luck, he became the head coach of Ascoli and led them to Serie A.

He was even more excited than the players when he marched into Ascoli's Stadium del Duca.

And his first Serie A opponent was AC Milan!

He would never forget that match. His team played Milan at home, and when Cotin scored the first goal for Cagliari, they held the lead for six minutes before Kaka set up Shevchenko to score.

But Milan couldn't find the net again after that.

That game had a lasting impact on him.

Giampaolo spent a lot of time reflecting on last season. He analyzed it thoroughly and decided to build on last season's defense while strengthening the midfield and attack.

After selling Suazo, he secured ample transfer funds and aggressively pursued the players he wanted.

Fini, Foggia, Parola, Matri…

Cagliari's preseason had gone well, and the team seemed to gel, boosting Giampaolo's confidence.

Relegation?

No, he aimed to recreate the highs of Ascoli two years ago.

His target was a top-ten finish in the league!

---

Giampaolo was no stranger to Napoli.

He recalled that a year ago, during a coaching summit in Rome, Sacchi had given a speech urging all Italian coaches to learn from Napoli's young coach.

The statement had sparked intense debate at the time, with many dismissing Sacchi's comments as absurd.

Giampaolo certainly didn't believe it—how could a young coach in his twenties be so impressive?

But as Gao Shen's results improved, especially after 4-0 and 6-0 wins over Parma and Roma, respectively, Giampaolo began to see that Gao Shen's football was indeed different from traditional Italian football.

In his hiatus from coaching, Giampaolo had studied many of Napoli's matches and tactics, and was deeply struck by Gao Shen's approach.

The style wasn't entirely new, but Napoli's organized and purposeful pressing, coupled with efficient energy use, was certainly distinct.

More importantly, their quick transitions from defense to attack were remarkable.

Giampaolo realized that a paradigm shift was underway.

After studying Napoli's play and various tactical trends, Giampaolo knew he had to adapt.

Thus, he decisively adjusted Cagliari's tactics for the season.

He had high expectations for the away game against Napoli.

Just like two years ago, when he faced AC Milan and Ancelotti.

He believed Sacchi's words: the era of layered defenses was ending. It could no longer cover the entire pitch or control different areas effectively.

After Ancelotti's Christmas tree formation triumphed in last season's Champions League, Giampaolo became a believer.

He wasn't trying to replicate the past or revert to his old style, but rather to use his experience to manage his current players better.

He wouldn't mimic Gao Shen, because Gao Shen's approach didn't suit him.

Instead, he sought inspiration from his opponent of two years ago, AC Milan's Ancelotti.

For the Italian scene, for Cagliari, this was the ideal tactic.

The Christmas tree formation, 4-3-2-1.

---

August 26, 2007, afternoon.

Stadio San Paolo, Naples.

When Gao Shen received Cagliari's starting lineup, his brow furrowed.

He had guessed right about the counter-attacking approach.

But he had guessed wrong about the formation. Giampaolo hadn't gone with the dual-forward 4-4-2 from his Ascoli days; instead, he opted for a Christmas tree 4-3-2-1, similar to AC Milan, starting with three defensive midfielders.

"Ancelotti, that damn fat man!" Gao Shen muttered through gritted teeth.

After winning the Champions League, AC Milan's 4-3-2-1 had sparked a trend in Italy, especially last season, and now it was even more popular.

The reasoning was simple: three defensive midfielders provided a rock-solid defense.

And it was easy to imagine the challenge of facing two defensive lines made up of seven players, plus the two lines in front. Breaking through would be a nightmare for any opponent.

Gao Shen and his Napoli were no exception.

He really wanted to confront all these coaches and ask them, "Ancelotti has Pirlo, Kaka, and Seedorf. Who do you have?"

"Fini and Foggia? Are they comparable to Seedorf and Kaka?"

"This game is going to be tough!" Gao Shen sighed, shaking his head.

Carlo nodded with a serious expression.

Indeed, Serie A matches were never easy.

So conservative!