Chapter 291: Gao Shen is a Genius!

Referee Tagliavento finally blew the final whistle.

The moment the young Italian referee let go of the silver whistle, he felt utterly drained.

This was the first time he had experienced such a game.

He couldn't help but worry: would he be branded a traitor by his fellow Italians after this match?

Because, throughout the game, it seemed as though he was helping Italy's public enemy, Gao Shen.

The game had been decided well over an hour before it ended.

Napoli scored two goals within the first ten minutes, and then added another just before halftime with a brilliant counterattack. After switching sides for the second half, they netted again in the 60th minute, securing a 4-0 lead.

From there, Napoli played a steady game, while Roma seemed to fall apart.

Gao Shen didn't make any substitutions until the 75th minute.

Everyone thought the match was over at that point, but to everyone's surprise, the substitute players for Napoli reignited the attack, unleashing a fresh wave of aggression on Roma. Spalletti had no choice but to use his last substitution, bringing on veteran Panucci to stabilize things.

Parejo, Callejon, and Mertens Napoli's three young substitutes made a deep impression.

Parejo, in particular, had several dangerous passes.

Pellè had one shot that hit the post, and Mertens had a golden opportunity inside the box but shockingly missed wide...

If those two shots had gone in, it would've been a 6-0 rout.

In the end, the game finished 4-0, with Roma soundly defeated!

At the final whistle, the only sounds echoing around the stadium were the cheers of the Napoli fans.

Gao Shen and his coaching staff celebrated the victory from the visitors' bench, while the players rushed off the field to join the coaches, reveling in the three points they had secured.

This victory meant a lot for Napoli.

"Now we're in the eighth round of Serie A, with Napoli playing the first game of this round. Tonight, Inter Milan will play away against Reggina, and it's shaping up to be a highly anticipated match."

"Especially after Napoli's 4-0 away victory over Roma, the pressure will be on Inter Milan."

"Before today, Napoli and Inter Milan were level on points with the same goal difference, with Inter topping the standings only by alphabetical order. But now, with Napoli's decisive 4-0 win over Roma, if Inter Milan fails to beat Reggina, Mancini's team will lose their lead in the league."

"The pressure is definitely on Inter now."

"Keep in mind, as a club full of international stars, Inter Milan has more players affected by national team duties than Napoli. They also have several South American internationals, which makes tonight's match against Reggina more challenging."

"Of course, Napoli's 4-0 victory over Roma is undeniably the standout result of this round, and it might even shift the trajectory of Serie A this season."

"Especially for Roma. If Spalletti's team can't regain their form at home and address their weaknesses, their hopes of contending for the league title will become increasingly unlikely."

"With this performance, Napoli has proven that they have the strength to challenge for the Serie A title!"

"Gao Shen is delivering on the promise he made to the world when he arrived in Naples over a year ago!"

---

"Hahaha, did you see that? Did you see that?"

After the game, Napoli's owner De Laurentiis couldn't help but stand up proudly, pointing at the Napoli players celebrating on the field, laughing with delight.

"Back then, everyone thought I was crazy, that Gao Shen coming to Naples was doomed to fail. Everyone thought that his goal of building a strong Serie A team within three years was just a dream. But now, look at us!"

Rosella Sensi and Bruno Conti from Roma looked utterly dejected.

They, too, had doubted Gao Shen from the beginning, and even until recently, they hadn't truly believed in his potential.

But now, they had to admit that Napoli indeed had the strength to challenge for the Serie A title.

Maybe in terms of raw strength, they were still behind Inter Milan, but they had an extraordinarily clever and resourceful coach.

Yes, Gao Shen is undeniably a genius!

How else could you explain a 27-year-old commanding a team with the composure and ingenuity of a seasoned master, executing tactics that even many veteran coaches struggle with?

Just look at this game from the pre-match psychological tactics, to the strategic setup, to the in-game adjustments...

This didn't seem like the work of a 27-year-old in only his second full season of coaching.

Bruno Conti, who had coached Roma himself, knew firsthand the difficulty of managing a team.

It was precisely this experience that made him realize just how impressive Gao Shen's achievements were.

De Laurentiis might not be the most charming owner, but he had every reason to be smug.

After all, he had been laughed at for his decision to bring Gao Shen to Naples.

"In this game, we only lost a single goal on the pitch," Bruno Conti said with a sigh.

De Laurentiis, Marino, and even Sensi looked surprised.

What did he mean by that? Wasn't the score 4-0?

After a long sigh, Conti shook his head and clarified, "But we lost three or even six goals from the bench."

Everyone was taken aback.

This was a victory led by the head coach a triumph for Gao Shen!

"I'm certain that before the game, Gao Shen wasn't thinking about how many goals they would win by. He probably just wanted to secure a win, and any additional goals were a bonus. But we handed him such an easy start."

In the end, Conti couldn't continue.

Roma's shaky start gave Gao Shen the perfect opportunity to push forward, resulting in an onslaught that led to four goals.

What else could he say?

Even the goals Napoli scored on the field were enough to shame Roma.

Roma was the second-best team in Serie A last season, while Napoli was a newly promoted side.

For the league runner-up to be defeated so decisively by a newly promoted team was nothing short of humiliating.

And as Roma's technical director, Bruno Conti couldn't escape responsibility!

"If the media and fans demand accountability after this, I'm willing to take responsibility," Bruno Conti said with resignation.

Hearing this, Rosella Sensi panicked. "Don't say that, Bruno. Now's not the time to assign blame!"

Bruno Conti was one of the core pillars supporting Roma, and she couldn't let him resign.

Meanwhile, De Laurentiis and Marino felt a rush of pride upon hearing Conti's words.

Gao Shen was becoming a force to be reckoned with!

In the past, their victories led to the downfall of opposing managers. Now, even Roma's technical director felt compelled to take responsibility!

What a feat!

If this trend continued, perhaps even the owners of other clubs would be forced to reconsider their roles.

Well, if something so meaningful were to happen, how could De Laurentiis not be involved?

---

When De Laurentiis and Marino entered the Napoli locker room, they could hear Gao Shen praising the players.

The players clearly loved their coach, laughing and joking with him.

At times, De Laurentiis wondered what kind of magic Gao Shen had used on these players.

How did he get each one of them to be so loyal to him?

He had seen many leaders who were great at motivating others, but Gao Shen was on another level.

De Laurentiis and Marino initially thought Gao Shen would wrap up with a few quick words of praise, but to their surprise, he kept talking for a solid ten minutes, showering the players with compliments without repeating himself. Even De Laurentiis and Marino, eavesdropping outside the door, were captivated.

With such eloquence, it was a pity that Gao Shen was a coach.

He'd be perfect for sales!

Finally, Gao Shen finished praising the players and had to leave for the post-game press conference. He said his goodbyes to the players and, upon stepping out, noticed De Laurentiis and Marino at the door.

"Hey, what brings you here?" Gao Shen asked, a little surprised.

Caught up in the moment earlier, he hadn't noticed anyone listening in.

"Oh, just came by to celebrate the team's big win and check on the players," De Laurentiis replied with a grin.

Gao Shen nodded, signaling to his assistant Carlo with a subtle wink. Carlo nodded back, signaling that he'd keep an eye on the owner and prevent him from causing trouble.

Reassured, Gao Shen said goodbye to De Laurentiis and headed to the press conference.

Once Gao Shen was gone, De Laurentiis straightened his suit and took a moment to gather his thoughts, determined to inspire the players as much as Gao Shen had.

Clearing his throat with a dramatic cough, he entered the locker room with Carlo by his side.

But the sight that greeted him was disappointing.

The Napoli players, who had been laughing and cheering with Gao Shen, were now busy packing up their belongings.

It felt like they had all entered a state of calm after Gao Shen's pep talk.

This left De Laurentiis at a loss for words.

When the players noticed the owner and the general manager, they greeted them politely, but there was no excitement, which made De Laurentiis feel deflated.

What was going on?

Is Gao Shen some kind of enchanting beauty that makes everyone thrilled, while I'm just chopped liver?

He's their leader, sure, but I'm their big boss!

Couldn't they at least pretend to care a little?

Carlo also noticed the awkward atmosphere and coughed a few times, stepping forward to say a few words to the players. He reminded them that the boss had come down personally to visit, encouraging them to show a little more enthusiasm. He even joked, telling one player to at least put on some shorts before facing the boss with his bare backside.

This seemed to liven up the locker room a bit, with players straightening up, giving a bit more attention to their surroundings, and putting on a semblance of respect for the owner. De Laurentiis finally saw his chance to speak.

But by then, he was also out of the heady excitement he'd felt just moments earlier. The rousing speech he had prepared outside the door was now slipping away, replaced by simple words of congratulations. He managed a few compliments, praised their performance, and then, with a forced smile, made his way out of the locker room.

As soon as he stepped outside, his smile faded.

Is this really his team?

No, this is Gao Shen's team!