Chapter 319: Must Win

Facing the sea, with the feeling of spring in the air, Gao Shen took a deep breath as he admired the beautiful Naples coastline.

It was early February, and the sea breeze was fresh, carrying with it the scent of salt and adventure. The view from here in the Posillipo district, a scenic residential area on a hill near the coast, was breathtaking. In front of him lay the blue expanse of the Bay of Naples, and across the water stood the imposing silhouette of Mount Vesuvius.

Legend had it that the sight of Vesuvius was even more stunning when capped with snow.

Gao Shen couldn't help but think of the mansion in the Hollywood movie "Iron Man." Of course, this villa wasn't as extravagant as Tony Stark's, but it had its own charm, with a stunning view of the bay and the mountain. Standing at the edge of the courtyard and gazing at the distant volcano, he felt as if he were in a scene straight out of a postcard.

"Honestly, since coming to Naples a year and a half ago, this is the first time I've been able to just stand and enjoy the view like this," Carlo said, smiling as he joined Gao Shen. "It makes you feel like you never want to leave."

"If you love it so much, you should move in," Gao Shen replied with a grin. "I live here alone anyway. It'd be nice to have some company."

Carlo gave him a look, shaking his head. "Nah, I wouldn't want to cramp your style. What if you bring a lady back late at night? You wouldn't want me in the way."

Lucas walked over, chuckling and holding a glass of wine in his hand. "Exactly, Gao. Besides, the nightlife around here is pretty lively. With all the socialites and celebrities nearby, you'd probably have a lineup of beautiful women throwing themselves at you. You could have a new date every night."

There was a story about Maradona, who, back in his Napoli days, had been notorious for making the most of the city's nightlife. The house where he lived was nearby, bigger and more luxurious, and rumored to be host to many lively evenings. That house was now owned by a local tycoon, but Gao Shen's villa, while smaller, was newly rebuilt with modern amenities and a design that he found charming.

The house had been chosen by De Laurentiis, the club's owner, who had arranged everything to make Gao Shen comfortable, from the rent and utilities to hotel-level housekeeping and even meal services delivered straight to his door. Gao Shen barely had to lift a finger, allowing him to fully focus on his work with the team.

Napoli's owner had gone to these lengths not only because Gao Shen had delivered impressive results on the field, but also because he wanted to keep him at the club. De Laurentiis hoped that by offering Gao Shen such perks, the young coach would feel settled and motivated to lead Napoli to even greater achievements.

The stunning view, the thoughtful amenities, it was all designed to make Gao Shen feel at home, with no worries outside of football.

Of course, Gao Shen understood the message. If he were to reject such a generous offer, it would likely signal to De Laurentiis that he had no intention of renewing his contract. So he accepted, though he deferred contract negotiations until the end of the season. Officially, he was simply too busy to deal with contract talks, but in reality, he wanted to keep his options open.

After the game against Udinese, Gao Shen invited the team over for a housewarming gathering. It was the first time he'd invited the players to his home since taking over as head coach, and everyone was eager to see his new place. De Laurentiis and Marino even arranged for food and drinks to be delivered from a nearby hotel, with the club footing the bill.

As they admired the stunning view and relaxed in the villa, the conversation naturally drifted to football and their current standing in the league.

Sacchi, in his recent column, had articulated the very strategy Gao Shen had been contemplating: the match against Inter Milan in the 26th round would be pivotal. Gao Shen likened it to a critical point in the campaign. For Inter Milan, a draw would suffice to keep their lead. But for Napoli, it was a must-win.

Just like when he coached Real Madrid against Barcelona, Gao Shen knew that this wasn't merely about securing three points, it was about morale, confidence, and momentum. A victory would give Napoli the strength to launch a final push for the title. A loss, or even a draw, would likely mean the end of their championship hopes.

Inter Milan was formidable, with a strong lineup and immense depth. But they had vulnerabilities, too.

First, their form. Mancini's team had hit their peak in November and December but had shown signs of decline since the winter break. Recent performances had been shaky. How much Mancini could adjust the team's form by the end of February remained uncertain.

Second, the schedule. Inter Milan faced a grueling stretch of fixtures. With two matches a week, they also had the Champions League Round of 16 games looming against Liverpool, the previous season's runner-up. The Serie A title was Inter's main prize, but Mancini couldn't afford to neglect the Champions League, especially given Inter's lackluster performances in Europe in recent years.

The timing couldn't be better for Napoli.

"There's a saying," Gao Shen began, looking around at the team gathered in his villa. "To win a battle, you need the right time, the right place, and the right people."

He let the words hang in the air, adding to the tension in the room.

"With Inter Milan's demanding schedule, we have the right time on our side. As long as we stay within seven points in the next few rounds, the timing will work in our favor."

He looked at each player, making sure his words resonated.

"In the 26th round, we're playing at home. We'll have the entire city of Naples, 50,000 fans in the stadium, all behind us. The home advantage will be ours."

Around the room, heads nodded. Everyone knew what that meant—Naples had always been a fortress for them, where the passion of the fans lifted them to greater heights.

"And finally, we need the right people. That's all of you." Gao Shen's gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each player. "We have to work together, give everything we've got, and make sure we maintain this seven-point gap. If we can keep up, if we can stay close, then when we face Inter Milan, we will have a chance to close the gap to four points."

Four points. With twelve rounds remaining after that, it would be within striking distance.

More importantly, a victory against Inter would shift the momentum entirely. It would be a psychological blow to Inter Milan and fuel Napoli's belief that they could take the title.

"But I need to remind you," Gao Shen continued, his voice steady but intense, "this is a long, challenging campaign. Not just for Inter, but for us too. We have to bring our best to every remaining game."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. This was the same group of players he had worked with tirelessly, many of whom had been promoted and nurtured under his guidance. They trusted him, and he trusted them.

"Back in the seventh round, we had the chance to beat Inter but couldn't. I don't want to point fingers or assign blame, but let's learn from that game. Inter Milan is not an easy opponent. They're a team that can challenge for the Champions League."

"But if we—" Gao Shen's voice grew stronger, filled with conviction. "If we can beat them at home, if we can win that battle, we'll prove that we have the strength to push through the toughest tests and take this season to the finish line."

The room was silent, the players captivated by Gao Shen's words. His fists were clenched in excitement, and his energy was contagious. Around him, the players were just as tense, their breaths quickening as they felt the weight of the opportunity ahead.

"If we beat Inter Milan," Gao Shen declared, "we'll be closer to the Champions League than ever. Next season, we'll be competing with Europe's elite."

"The Champions League!" he shouted, his voice full of determination.

Eyes lit up around the room. The thought of playing in the Champions League was electrifying. It was every footballer's dream, the pinnacle of club football. For many of these young players, it was something they had only watched from afar. Now, it was within reach.

Gao Shen had mentioned before that the legendary Ajax team Van Gaal coached to Champions League glory was only slightly older on average than Napoli's squad. With more than a year of experience under their belts, these Napoli players had grown stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

Serie A had shown them that those giants they once admired were not invincible.

And now, Napoli had the chance to challenge the best in Europe.

Gao Shen's words had sparked a fire within them.

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