Chapter 240: Are you here to poach

David Wenner is a well-known British football journalist with a reputation for building close relationships with football stars. He has written autobiographies for players like Bergkamp and Ferdinand and has authored several books on football.

One of his books, Brilliant Orange, delves into the philosophy of Dutch football. In it, Wenner theorizes that the Dutch, living on flood-prone plains, developed a natural skill for managing space in their daily lives. Over time, this spatial awareness carried over into their football tactics, leading to the distinct style of play associated with the Netherlands and later, Barcelona.

In the book, Wenner also refers to an interview with Peter McWilliam, a former Tottenham Hotspur manager from the early 20th century:

"Possession is the key. Don't rush to pass. Move forward patiently."

"Long balls are risky. Technique is what counts. If you have the ball at your feet, keep it. The other team can't score if they don't have the ball."

Does that sound familiar?

That's because this is essentially the foundation of the Dutch "total football" concept, which later evolved into the possession-based football of Barcelona.

McWilliam himself isn't widely known, but his influence carried through to Englishman Vic Buckingham, who played under him at Tottenham. Buckingham, in turn, was the predecessor to Rinus Michels at Ajax and Barcelona. In many ways, it was Buckingham who laid the groundwork for the footballing philosophies that Michels and later Cruyff would develop into the systems that dominated global football.

Many people remember Michels and Cruyff as the architects of modern football, but fewer acknowledge Buckingham's contributions. His ideas passed from Michels to Cruyff, to Van Gaal, Rijkaard, and eventually Guardiola, forming a line of tactical inheritance.

But there's one figure in this evolution whose role has been undervalued: Louis van Gaal.

Van Gaal took the possession and passing principles he inherited from Michels and Cruyff and adapted them to fit the needs of modern football. His Ajax team in the early 1990s introduced the "No. 4" role, a tactical innovation that continues to shape football today.

The No. 4 is essentially a deep-lying midfielder who can also drop back into defense, creating a flexible system that transitions smoothly between a three-man and four-man defense. Van Gaal's use of the No. 4 was revolutionary because it bridged the gap between defense and midfield, allowing for smoother transitions and more dynamic control of the game.

Before Gao Shen's time, there were many debates around players like Busquets. But from this tactical perspective, doesn't his role suddenly make a lot more sense?

Football tactics are interconnected. Van Gaal's small tweak—pushing the central midfielder forward to play a dual role—completely changed the way teams approached both defense and attack. The No. 4 became not only a defensive shield but also a key part of the playmaking process.

This was the core of Van Gaal's philosophy, and it influenced generations of coaches. Guardiola's use of Busquets as the No. 4 at Barcelona is a direct continuation of this tactical evolution.

Gao Shen had been experimenting with Napoli's tactics since the start of last season. While the 4-2-3-1 formation provided a solid foundation, it wasn't aggressive enough, especially against teams with deep defenses. He noticed gaps between the midfield and defense during attacks, which made transitions difficult.

So, Gao Shen started experimenting with the 4-3-3 formation. He tried multiple players in the No. 4 role—Biglia, Rakitic, Vidal, and even David Luiz. But none of them could fulfill his vision for the role.

Take Vidal, for example. While he excelled in man-marking and disrupting attacks, as he did against Totti in the second leg against Roma, his passing and playmaking left much to be desired. He was defensively solid but lacked the finesse required to initiate attacks.

Neither Biglia nor Rakitic could adequately handle the responsibilities of a lone defensive midfielder either.

That's when Gao Shen turned his attention to Barcelona, the current stronghold of the No. 4.

---

As soon as Gao Shen exited the airport, his phone rang.

"I'm in the parking lot, directly across from you. It's the black car with the hazard lights on. Do you see it?"

It was Guardiola on the line. Gao Shen quickly spotted the car and made his way over.

As soon as he got in, Guardiola hit the gas, speeding away from the airport.

"I say, why are we sneaking around like this? Are we spies or something?" Gao Shen asked, puzzled.

Guardiola shot him a glance, half-smiling. "You don't know? You're one of the most unpopular people around here. If anyone sees me with you, it'll be front-page news tomorrow."

Gao Shen laughed. "The head coach of some fourth-division team is making headlines? Big deal."

Guardiola couldn't help but grin.

He wasn't usually talkative—he was known for being stern and reserved—but with Gao Shen, it was different. They had a rapport that put him at ease.

"I'm telling you, you'd better make sure there's good food and fun tonight. If not, I might just sell you out to the press tomorrow. They'll be thrilled to hear how you're ruining Barcelona's next generation of players."

Guardiola burst out laughing. "Weren't you just saying my team is a broken-down fourth-division squad? What's there to ruin?"

Gao Shen smirked. "The team's bad because of its coach."

"Does that mean you could turn it around?"

"Easy. I'd have them promoted in a year, maybe even two tiers. After that, though, it's out of my hands."

Guardiola shot him a disbelieving look. "You're bragging even more than the last time I saw you."

The two continued bantering, laughing all the way as they drove into the city.

This trip was different for Gao Shen. Previously, his visits to Barcelona were stressful, tied to high-stakes matches. But this time, he could actually relax and enjoy the city.

As they sped through Barcelona's streets, Gao Shen couldn't help but think of a movie he had seen in his past life, *The Bourne Identity*. In the film, the protagonist, an amnesiac spy, washed up on the shores of Barcelona after being shot. He had no memory of who he was, but Barcelona became his refuge.

"Do you like it here?" Guardiola asked, noticing Gao Shen's wandering gaze.

Gao Shen smiled. "It's not bad."

Guardiola's eyes lit up. "You should come here and coach. I'll be your assistant."

Gao Shen laughed. "You're ambitious, aren't you? Trying to replace Carlo already?"

As much as Gao Shen liked Barcelona, he knew it wasn't the right place for him—at least not yet.

"By the way, how did that thing I asked you to do go?" Gao Shen asked, changing the subject.

Guardiola grinned. "All set. We're having dinner with Txiki tonight."

Txiki Begiristain, Barcelona's technical director. If Gao Shen wanted to poach a player from Barcelona, he needed Txiki's blessing.

"Let me guess," Guardiola said, narrowing his eyes. "You're here to poach one of our players, aren't you?"

Gao Shen just smiled mischievously. "You might not want to know."

Guardiola suddenly felt a sinking feeling. "Oh no, you're not seriously here to dig into my team, are you?"

"Misunderstanding!" Gao Shen said, feigning innocence. "How could I do that to you?"

Guardiola gave him a side-eye, his suspicions only deepening.

"Don't worry," Gao Shen said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're in the fourth division. There's nowhere lower to go. What's there to lose?"

"That's not an excuse to rob my team blind!" Guardiola protested.

Gao Shen sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Is that really what you think of me?"

Guardiola didn't answer. Instead, he just stared, his expression saying everything.

This left Gao Shen feeling exasperated.

"Some friend you are," he muttered under his breath.