Chapter 326: Strangle Them Hard for Me!

The twenty-sixth round of Serie A was destined to be unusual from the very first game.

At home, Roma crushed Parma 4-0 with goals from Aquilani, Totti, and Vucinic.

This decisive victory set a blazing tone for the twenty-sixth round of the league.

Following that, Ancelotti's team managed only a 1-1 draw with Lazio at home.

After a strong streak of victories over the winter break, AC Milan's form had started to falter.

The demands of the Champions League seemed to be taking their toll, as Milan's performances had visibly dropped recently, causing them to frequently drop points in Serie A. They still hadn't been able to bridge the gap from fifth place to fourth.

Meanwhile, Juventus suffered a shock 2-3 defeat at home against Fiorentina.

Ranieri's team had now fully lost any chance at the Serie A title, and they even risked losing their fourth place spot. With this loss, they were only one point ahead of Fiorentina.

This result once again proved Gao Shen's earlier statement that the fastest way to close a standings gap is through head-to-head matchups.

With this victory, Fiorentina had closed the gap from four points to just one with a narrow win at the Stadio delle Alpi.

Now, all eyes turned to the most anticipated game of the round.

...

The finale of the twenty-sixth round was Napoli vs. Inter Milan.

Not only was this game the focus of Serie A, but it was also a decisive battle that fans around the world eagerly awaited.

At the pre-match press conference, Gao Shen boldly declared that this game was Napoli's most important battle of the season a Battle of Heartbreak Ridge in the Serie A season.

"It's a shame that we didn't get a win at San Siro earlier in the season. We deserved it, but for various reasons, we didn't take all three points. I've even had my players rewatch that game to remind them of what happened."

"In fact, before tonight's game, I'll make my players rewatch our 0-3 defeat from last season. I want them to remember that humiliating game!"

Yes, humiliation.

Gao Shen had always used this word to describe last season's game.

He never belittled his team, even though they were a Serie B side back then. Nor did he justify their loss simply because they were up against a powerhouse like Inter. All he saw was that, on the pitch, Napoli had been powerless against Inter Milan.

A year had passed.

Today's Napoli was no longer a Serie B team. They were the second-place team in Serie A, and they were here to challenge Inter Milan for the title!

"My players, my colleagues, and I will do everything we can to defeat Inter Milan at the Stadio San Paolo and reclaim the top spot in Serie A!"

Gao Shen's powerful and defiant declaration stirred the hearts of fans not only in Italy, but throughout Europe and even around the world.

The story of Hamlet endures because its core spirit the drive for revenge and justice resonates with everyone.

Today, Gao Shen and his Napoli team were like the returning prince, poised for vengeance.

Even in China, media outlets hyped up the match, suggesting that Gao Shen was embodying the Chinese idiom, striking back with all his might.

An authoritative Chinese newspaper even published a rare commentary on the game, stating that Gao Shen had already won by courageously facing Inter Milan head-on.

"In him, we see a tenacious, unyielding, and hardworking spirit that doesn't bow to power!"

Not just in China, but across Asia and around the world, this game was receiving unprecedented attention.

It wasn't merely a battle for the Serie A title; it was an epic showdown of revenge.

Even in the United States, a country typically indifferent to soccer, The New York Times ran a pre-game story, calling it the most anticipated game in European football so far this season.

"Media from all around the globe have gathered in the southern Italian city of Naples. The Stadio San Paolo, which originally had more than 54,000 seats, was expanded to hold 60,000, yet it still couldn't meet the demand of eager fans. Nearly 200 countries and countless TV stations will be broadcasting the game live…"

"This is more than just a Serie A game—it's a celebration for soccer fans worldwide!"

…

To accommodate fans in various time zones, the game was scheduled for 7:30 PM on Sunday night.

But in reality, as soon as night fell, fans had already started entering the stadium.

Napoli's president, De Laurentiis, hosted a special banquet that night to welcome soccer legend Diego Maradona, who had flown in from Argentina.

Maradona had been invited to attend Inter Milan's centennial celebration, but with the showdown in Naples fast approaching, he chose to fly to Naples early to support their game against Inter.

Before the match, Maradona told reporters, "Given the choice between Napoli and Inter Milan, I chose Napoli without hesitation!"

Along with Maradona, several distinguished guests were in attendance, including Arrigo Sacchi, Jorge Valdano, Zinedine Zidane, Pep Guardiola, and Johan Cruyff. Additionally, Italian coaching legends like Trapattoni, Capello, and Lippi were also present to watch the match.

All of this made the Stadio San Paolo the center of attention.

De Laurentiis was in high spirits, practically buzzing as he mingled with various guests, chatting with Naples' political and business elite as well as with legends of the football world. He also had his hands full with media from around the world, all eager to interview him.

De Laurentiis had never experienced such a moment of prestige as he did tonight.

Throughout the evening, he held his head high, brimming with pride, practically radiating an air of accomplishment. And he deserved it.

After all, he was the one who had personally recruited Gao Shen to Napoli, a decision that had transformed the club's fortunes.

After the banquet, De Laurentiis led his distinguished guests into the stadium to take their seats.

…

When the players returned from their warm-ups, Gao Shen received Inter Milan's starting lineup.

Mancini had set up his team in a 4-3-1-2 formation. This was his typical Champions League strategy with a three-man midfield, a more conservative setup. In Serie A, Inter usually used a 4-4-2 formation.

It was clear that Mancini was approaching this game with caution.

"It seems the rumors were true," Lucas said.

Before the game, some media outlets had reported that when Moratti visited Inter's training base, he had instructed Mancini to prioritize a draw to retain the top spot, because the club's centennial celebration was coming up next weekend.

After leading Serie A for most of the season, if Inter were to lose the top spot before their centennial and then fail to reverse their loss to Liverpool in the Champions League, what would become of Inter Milan's centenary celebration?

Judging by the starting lineup, Mancini indeed seemed to be playing it safe.

The lineup was as follows:

Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar.

Defense: Maxwell, Chivu, Materazzi, and Maicon.

Midfield: Vieira, Cambiasso, and Zanetti formed a three-man midfield with Stankovic ahead of them.

Forwards: Suazo and Ibrahimovic.

One noticeable change was that Suazo was starting up front instead of Cruz.

"This really reveals Mancini's mindset. Suazo is more effective on the counterattack with his speed, while Cruz is more suited for physical battles," Gao Shen quickly deduced Mancini's approach.

It wasn't hard to guess, given that Mancini didn't have many other options.

Gao Shen had long assessed that Inter Milan was not in peak form and would be reluctant to go head-to-head with Napoli.

Anyone could see that Napoli had been steadily improving in recent weeks, reaching a peak, whereas Inter was at a low point. If Inter tried to play aggressively, they would likely be torn apart by Napoli.

"From the lineup, you can see Mancini's internal struggle. He's afraid of taking risks, afraid of conceding, but he still wants to win, so he's playing it safe. That's just Mancini's personality," Gao Shen analyzed confidently.

If this were a team managed by Benitez or Ferguson, Gao Shen might have hesitated, but Mancini was predictable.

With a smirk, Gao Shen said, "We can go on the offensive, confidently and boldly!"

...

Napoli stuck to their tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation for this match.

Goalkeeper: Handanovic.

Defense: Vargas, David Luiz, Bonucci, and Lichtsteiner.

Midfield: The double pivot consisted of Biglia and Rakitic, with Di Maria, Hamsik, and Sanchez in front of them.

Forward: Cavani as the lone striker.

This lineup represented the best of Napoli's squad this season.

After weeks of meticulous adjustments by Gao Shen and his coaching staff, this set of players was performing at their peak.

In fact, since the winter break, Gao Shen had been preparing specifically for this match, as well as for two other crucial games following it. These were must-win battles; otherwise, Napoli's season could quickly slip away.

...

When the players returned to the locker room after warm-ups, the coaching staff sprang into action.

Gao Shen listed Inter Milan's starting lineup and the likely tactics he predicted from Mancini, making targeted adjustments and instructions to his own players.

The choice of Inter's lineup didn't surprise him, though he hadn't expected Maxwell, Cambiasso, and Ibrahimovicall carrying injuries to start. This raised a question in Gao Shen's mind: just how fit were these three players?

He quickly regrouped his thoughts and faced his players, gathering them around.

"Three key points!" Gao Shen raised three fingers, looking each player in the eye with intensity.

"First," he began, "remember what I told you before the game. Inter Milan's midfield—Vieira is aging and has suffered too many injuries. Cambiasso and Zanetti aren't natural midfielders, so their positioning can be erratic. When they fall back, they tend to retreat too deep, leaving space around the edge of the penalty area."

He looked directly at Hamsik, Rakitic, and Biglia, who all nodded, fully understanding the message.

"Second," he continued, "the goalkeeper. I don't need to elaborate. Keep this firmly in your minds!"

This time, the entire team nodded together, understanding the importance of testing Julio Cesar whenever possible.

"And third…" Gao Shen paused, letting the tension build. He scanned the faces of his players, his expression fierce and determined.

"From the second the whistle blows, I want you to press forward with maximum intensity. I want you to suffocate Inter Milan, deny them every inch of space, and leave them no breathing room. Strangle them hard, don't let them escape. Make them feel the full force of Naples!"

He let his words hang in the air, his voice fierce, almost predatory.

"Have you all got that?" Gao Shen roared.

"Got it!" the players responded in unison, their voices filled with fire and conviction.

***

For every 500 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 45+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.