Chapter 306: Gao Shen is Satisfied

On the evening of January 13th, in the final match of the 18th round of Serie A, Napoli traveled to San Siro Stadium to face AC Milan.

The game was intense, but it unfolded completely differently from what everyone had anticipated.

Instead of their usual high-pressing, attacking style, Napoli adopted a tight defensive approach on the road.

This led to a passive performance, with Napoli lagging behind AC Milan in almost every aspect.

Ancelotti's team, seemingly rejuvenated from the winter break, showed a newfound vigor. Their adjustments had clearly activated both their offense and defense, allowing them to dominate the game.

The two teams went back and forth in a fierce contest of attack and defense, putting on a thrilling display.

But in the 63rd minute, Napoli's defense faltered.

Pirlo sent a precise, surgical pass into the penalty area. Pato broke free from his marker, controlled the ball, and turned to shoot. Handanovic made a brilliant save, diving to block the shot.

The ball rebounded to the right side of the box, where Ronaldo picked it up. He shook off Vargas and fired again.

Handanovic, still on the ground, quickly rose and made another diving save, deflecting the ball to the left side of the penalty area.

György Garics, starting in place of Lichtsteiner, failed to recover his position in time. Kaka seized the opportunity, rushing in to beat him to the ball and score for AC Milan.

With that, AC Milan took the lead, and the game returned to its back-and-forth rhythm of attack and defense.

…

Gao Shen wasn't surprised by how the game was unfolding.

He knew that Napoli's form tonight was far from ideal.

Anyone watching would hardly believe that this was the same Napoli team that had been so dominant in the first half of the season.

Mistakes were plentiful.

Napoli couldn't compete with AC Milan in any one-on-one duels.

On top of that, Napoli players were often knocked off balance or thrown to the ground by the physicality of their opponents.

The players' determination was unquestionable. They fought for every ball and pushed themselves hard, but their rhythm and physical condition were lacking.

As head coach, Gao Shen was fully aware of this.

It was for this reason that, despite knowing Gattuso's suspension would weaken AC Milan's midfield, he didn't dare to go on the offensive.

If they pressed too high, Ancelotti would undoubtedly spot the vulnerability, and the consequences could be disastrous.

Last season, Gao Shen had lost to Inter Milan 0-3 in this very stadium. He didn't want another humiliating defeat to a Milan team here again, another big loss would be unacceptable.

"You guys have really put the players through the wringer," Gao Shen said with a wry smile, glancing at Buenaventura and Pintus.

After all, the winter break isn't as long as pre-season, and time was limited. Napoli was still adjusting while playing competitive matches.

Buenaventura offered a sheepish smile and nodded. The blame was on him.

Indeed, Napoli's players had been pushed hard in recent training sessions.

The primary focus now was on regaining their rhythm and form.

…

After conceding the goal, Gao Shen made quick adjustments to strengthen the team's defense.

He substituted Hamsik with Nainggolan.

Yes, by the 70th minute, Hamsik was already exhausted and could barely keep up.

This substitution highlighted the poor physical state of Napoli's players.

But Hamsik was a crucial player because he was tasked with keeping Pirlo in check.

The attack that led to the goal had started from Pirlo's incisive through ball after he received it without pressure.

Hamsik had failed to track Pirlo in time, a clear sign that his energy was nearly depleted.

Thus, Gao Shen brought on Nainggolan to cover that position.

Napoli maintained a defensive stance while AC Milan continued to organize and push forward in attack.

Ancelotti was well aware that a 1-0 lead wasn't safe.

When the clock hit 70 minutes, Gao Shen signaled to Carlo to prepare for another substitution.

Three minutes later, Antonio Valencia, who had been warming up, came over to stand beside Gao Shen.

"Did you analyze AC Milan's defense?" Gao Shen asked.

Valencia nodded, though he wasn't sure what Gao Shen was planning.

From the bench, he had closely watched the game, trying to read AC Milan's strategy.

"Kaladze and Nesta are in central defense, with Maldini on the left, and Ambrosini providing cover in front. When they attack, one of the full-backs always pushes forward, either Maldini or Bonera."

Ancelotti was a cautious manager; he would never let both full-backs push up simultaneously, as it would leave his team too exposed. Yet, he had to send one forward to provide width to the attack.

In this match, AC Milan employed a 4-3-1-2 formation to accommodate their Brazilian trident upfront.

In this setup, the full-backs' forward runs were essential to stretch the attack.

"I estimate we have about ten minutes to exploit Maldini's side. Keep an eye on his movements, get behind him, and use your speed. Can you do it?" Gao Shen asked.

Valencia nodded eagerly. This was precisely his specialty.

"Tell Cavani and Callejon to be mindful of their positioning while defending, conserve some energy, and be ready to follow you in the counterattack."

"Got it."

"Go!" Gao Shen gave Valencia an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

Shortly after, Napoli made the substitution, with Valencia coming on to replace Sanchez.

…

Gao Shen anticipated about ten minutes to strike, but Ancelotti reacted swiftly.

As soon as Napoli made the substitution, Ancelotti called Favalli over to warm up.

Emerson also began his warm-up.

It was clear that Ancelotti wanted to solidify his lead and was preparing to lock down the game.

Gao Shen quickly made tactical adjustments, signaling his team to open up the right side and invite AC Milan to attack down the left.

Soon, AC Milan won a throw-in on the left side of Napoli's half.

Maldini advanced quickly, throwing the ball to Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, noticeably heavier than during his Real Madrid days, still showed flashes of agility, but he wasn't as dangerous as before. As soon as he controlled the ball, Vidal closed in, forcing him to pass.

But the pass intended for Kaka was intercepted by Biglia.

David Luiz quickly stepped out of the penalty area, intercepted the ball, and pushed forward with confidence.

The Brazilian was increasingly resembling Lucio in his playing style.

Before reaching the halfway line, David Luiz spotted an opening and launched a long diagonal pass.

The pass was struck with impressive force, landing directly on the right side of AC Milan's penalty area.

AC Milan's defense scrambled to retreat. Kaladze and Nesta sprinted back desperately, Kaladze focusing on Valencia, while Nesta kept his eye on Cavani.

But Napoli's counterattack was faster.

Valencia bolted down the right side of the penalty area like a flash, leaving Maldini, who was chasing him, far behind. Before Kaladze could reach him, Valencia struck the bouncing ball on the volley with his right foot.

The low, fast ball flew across the face of AC Milan's goal.

Cavani, who had been tightly marked by Nesta and Kaladze all game, seized the moment. He accelerated, pulling half a body's length ahead of Nesta, and slid in at the edge of the six-yard box, redirecting Valencia's cross into AC Milan's net.

Goalkeeper Dida charged out but couldn't prevent Cavani's goal-bound slide.

One to one!

Cavani and Valencia sprinted to the sidelines to celebrate their equalizing goal.

Gao Shen clenched his fist triumphantly on the sideline.

He was satisfied!

…

AC Milan quickly adjusted their substitutions.

Favalli replaced Maldini, and soon after, Gilardino came on for Ronaldo to add fresh legs to the attack.

Napoli switched to a conservative strategy, pulling back and holding the line to protect the draw.

Ancelotti, showing his determination, made a bold decision, substituting Pirlo with Gourcuff to keep pressing.

In the final minutes, AC Milan poured on the pressure, almost pinning Napoli in their half.

But with the speed of Cavani and the fresh-legged Valencia up front, AC Milan couldn't afford to push forward recklessly.

With David Luiz and Bonucci capable of launching long passes from the back, and Valencia's speed and Cavani's relentless energy up front, Napoli's counterattacking threat kept AC Milan in check.

In the end, the match concluded with a 1-1 draw.

…

After the game, Gao Shen high-fived and embraced his assistants one by one.

Given the team's poor form, securing a point away at AC Milan was more than satisfying for Gao Shen.

What more could he ask for?

"Thanks to your substitution!" Pintus praised Gao Shen as they hugged.

The timing of the substitution was crucial.

Had Valencia started the game, he might not have had the same impact. But by bringing him on when AC Milan was beginning to tire, Gao Shen struck the perfect blow.

The assistants knew it well.

Whether it was the pre-game setup or the in-game tactics, Gao Shen had maximized Napoli's current lineup and form, even opting for a defensive counter-attacking strategy.

Given the players' physical condition, a more aggressive approach could have led to a crushing defeat by AC Milan.

A 1-1 draw was an excellent result!

"It's unfortunate that we dropped a place in the standings and are now nine points behind Inter Milan," Gao Shen said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. But soon, he smiled, his eyes filled with determination. "But it's okay. Once we get through this phase, we'll catch up!"

The Napoli coaches all nodded in agreement.

"I believe that with everyone's hard work and with this group of outstanding players, we'll be able to achieve the best results!"

First comes hardship, then comes success!

It was a principle Gao Shen's parents and teachers had taught him since he was a child.

And he firmly believed that after enduring this brief period of struggle, Napoli would be ready to explode and reach their peak form!

There was definitely a chance to win both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia!

At the very least, he wasn't going to worry about the odds. His only thought was to give his all and approach every game with maximum effort.

That's what he had done when he coached Real Madrid.

And now, he would do the same again.

***

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