Starting With Real Madrid

When referee Christian Brighi blew the final whistle, thunderous cheers erupted from the fans at the Meazza Stadium.

Gao Shen had a fleeting illusion that the applause and cheers were for him.

But the cold, hard numbers on the scoreboard reminded him of the truth: they had lost.

Completely defeated.

Inter Milan was just too strong, incredibly strong.

Their strength wasn't in any flashy tactics but in the fact that they had no obvious weaknesses. Mancini's approach was standard a basic 4-4-2 formation.

Gao Shen couldn't help but suspect that Mancini had deliberately used the 4-4-2 formation.

At the recent coaching summit, Sacchi had criticized Italian football for being too conservative and not innovative enough.

Now, Mancini had used the same "conservative" 4-4-2 to utterly defeat Gao Shen's "advanced" 4-2-3-1 formation.

Formations alone don't win games. Mancini's victory seemed to prove that as long as a team is strong enough, even so-called "conservative" tactics can prevail.

So, Mancini should be very pleased with this 3-0 victory.

Gao Shen stood there, motionless, staring at the pitch. He didn't say a word, make a move, or show any reaction.

Behind him, Carlo, Pep Guardiola, and the rest of the coaching staff were also in low spirits.

Inter Milan was simply too powerful.

While Napoli had potential and strength, they were still far behind Inter Milan at this point.

In the last half-hour of the game, Mancini even brought on Adriano from the bench, fielding three strikers, clearly intent on further humiliating Napoli.

Gao Shen made quick adjustments to hold onto the scoreline, defending relentlessly in both halves.

They had to what other choice was there?

Ibrahimović had completely dominated the combination of Cannavaro, Solari, and Maxwell, tearing apart Napoli's right side. Meanwhile, Vieira and Maicon's pressure on the left had paralyzed Napoli.

Losing by only three goals was actually a relief.

But that couldn't be said aloud.

Especially not when Carlo and the others looked at Gao Shen's back, unable to see his face but clearly feeling the emotional weight of this defeat pressing down on him.

It was the worst loss in his coaching career so far.

Zero to three. A complete defeat.

Even more painful was the fact that they had lost purely because the opponent was better.

Carlo, Lucas, Guardiola, Buenaventura, and Borrell all wanted to approach Gao Shen, to offer some words of comfort, but they didn't know what to say.

Just as they hesitated, Gao Shen took a step forward.

The players were walking off the pitch.

"It's alright," Gao Shen began, addressing his players.

"Don't feel bad. I've got this."

"Stand tall, don't hang your heads."

"Look up, smile."

"Like me stay calm."

Gao Shen reassured each player as they came off the field, one by one.

His own heart hurt more than theirs. This was the first time he had realized that even after giving his all, it still wasn't enough to defeat an opponent. Being outclassed repeatedly like this was a terrible feeling.

But he knew that he didn't have the luxury of feeling sorry for himself or licking his wounds.

Because he was the head coach.

The entire first-team squad, the coaching staff, the club's management everyone at Napoli was looking to him, relying on him. He couldn't afford to falter.

Not now, not ever.

"So we lost so what?"

Back in the dressing room, Gao Shen continued to rally his players.

"Every great team has experienced losses. Which team hasn't failed before succeeding? Aren't all great teams forged through the fire of failure?"

Gao Shen clenched his fists as he spoke, not just encouraging the players but also himself.

Every great coach has emerged from the ashes of failure.

Who hasn't?

Even Ancelotti, the coach Gao Shen admired most, had endured countless defeats. His AC Milan led 3-0 in the Champions League final, only to be famously overturned by Liverpool.

But what was the result?

This year, Ancelotti's AC Milan would have the chance to reverse that defeat and get their revenge on Liverpool.

And in the future, Guardiola how many times would he lose? Yet he would rise again and again.

Even Heynckes, who endured the infamous "Triple Silver" season with Bayern Munich, would bounce back the very next year to lead them to a treble.

Success is always rare; failure is the norm.

Gao Shen was in a bad place emotionally. He was hurting. But he knew that only those who could endure failure would ever be able to embrace success.

If he crumbled tonight, if he broke down in the face of this 0-3 loss at San Siro, he would never rise again.

"Come on! Look at me!" Gao Shen shouted, his voice commanding the attention of everyone in the dressing room.

The entire Napoli squad stood up, raising their heads to meet their coach's gaze.

"Remember this 0-3 tonight, but don't be defeated by it. I promise you all, right here and now, I swear I will come back to this stadium, and I will return this 0-3 scoreline to Inter Milan!"

As Gao Shen said this, he clenched his fists tightly, his voice filled with determination.

He didn't hate Inter Milan there was no point in that. The defeat wasn't due to anything but their own shortcomings.

Football was like that. The winners were kings.

But Gao Shen swore that he would exact his revenge.

And he would do so with an honorable, resounding victory.

At this very San Siro Stadium.

Everyone present, including the coaching staff behind Gao Shen, could feel his fierce resolve.

---

"I lost."

The moment Gao Shen stepped into the post-match press conference, he spoke before any of the journalists could ask a question.

"I admit it I lost!"

The room was instantly abuzz.

Most reporters had expected Gao Shen to put up some kind of defense, or even struggle to find words under their probing questions.

But to their surprise, Gao Shen admitted defeat right away.

"I don't see any reason not to admit it," he continued. "I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of. We lost 0-3 to one of the strongest teams in Italy and Europe Inter Milan. We lost fair and square."

Gao Shen laid out his reasons for the defeat.

"I'm not going to make any excuses for this loss, and I don't want to find any. We lost. The opponent was better, stronger, and performed at a higher level than us. That's all there is to it."

The media members present were taken aback, as if they were seeing a new side of Gao Shen for the first time.

Many had come with the hope of seeing Gao Shen defeated, hoping for a glimpse of him being downcast like a fallen rooster. It would have satisfied their sense of schadenfreude.

But instead, they were greeted with Gao Shen accepting his defeat with grace.

It was clear that Gao Shen was hurt by the loss, but he accepted it.

"I want to thank Mancini and his Inter Milan for giving us a wake-up call during our period of growth. They forced us to sober up, to see ourselves more clearly, and to recognize the gap between us and the strongest teams in Europe today. We've also learned more about our own weaknesses."

"This match has given us valuable experience, and we'll take it to heart."

Gao Shen apologized to the Napoli fans who had traveled to Milan to support the team.

Before the game, he had promised them a victory. Instead, they were dealt a crushing defeat.

But he emphasized that both he and the players had given their all.

Inter was simply too strong.

"Inter is a very mature, very stable team. They have outstanding players in every position, making it extremely difficult for us to gain any advantage in the game. That's why we lost."

"But what I want to say is this: we are a young team. Our average age is only in the early twenties. I believe that tonight's game will help our players gain more valuable experience and lead to significant growth."

Gao Shen acknowledged that this 0-3 defeat at the Meazza Stadium had likely sealed their elimination from the Coppa Italia. But he didn't see that as entirely negative.

"There are still five months left in the Serie B season, and my goals remain the same. In fact, I'm more determined and confident than ever."

"I will use the next five months to hone this team, to push every player to their limit, to uncover their full potential. I will work to correct our tactical deficiencies and address the gaps in our lineup. I will do everything in my power to improve my coaching abilities."

"In five months, I guarantee you, Napoli will be stronger. We will not only be promoted to Serie A as Serie B champions, but we will also carry our unique brand of Napoli football into Serie A. We will shake up Serie A just like we did Serie B!"

"Tonight's loss was a painful blow, but it is also our motivation to work harder!"

Gao Shen's voice grew louder, more forceful.

"And I'm telling you now, our goal for next season in Serie A is the championship!"

"I'm telling all our opponents—Napoli will be stronger next season than we are today!"

"And I swear I will come back to this San Siro Stadium with Napoli and erase this humiliating defeat!"

Gao Shen's powerful words echoed through the press conference hall, lingering in the air.

They initially anticipated witnessing the downfall of Gao Shen, but in the end, they were left disappointed.

As Gao Shen exited the press conference hall, the media reporters suddenly regained their composure, resulting in a flurry of reactions from the crowd. 

Doubt filled the air as they questioned Gao Shen's statements, particularly his bold vow to avenge Inter Milan, which drew derisive laughter. 

Yet, despite his evident struggles, there was something about him that exuded an unwavering determination and enthusiasm, leaving a lasting impression on those present.