The game ended with a humiliating scoreline of 0-7, punctuated by warm appuse from the Bernabeu faithful.

  As per tradition, the home team's score was announced first. Real Madrid, oeam filled with unshakable fidence, had suffered an unpreted aati on their own sacred ground.

  What made the result even more astonishing was that it came at the hands of Napoli, a club making its first foray into the Champions League.

  Seven to zero—this was not just a loss; it was the heaviest home defeat in Real Madrid's 100-year history.

  The appuse that echoed for nearly ten minutes from the Berands was the final verdi the night.

  It was a sound filled with irony, anger, and frustration.

  This was shame in its purest form.

  Not just shame for the pyers on the field but for the ma and coag staff as well. It ublic reing for all involved.

  Real Madrid was a team in deep crisis, and drastic ge was iable. Calderon, Schuster, and the entire leadership team would have to face the sequences of this historic humiliation.

  This was the Bernabeu's appuse.

  ---

  Florentino Perez sat in the VIP box, his emotions in turmoil.

  As a lifelong supporter of Real Madrid, he felt sick watg the team he loved be dismantled so ruthlessly by Napoli.

  This game not only exposed the gring weaknesses of Real Madrid but also highlighted the brilliance of Gao Shen and his Napoli team.

  "At this moment," Valdano ented softly, "it feels like these two teams are not even on the same pne of existe's like watg a child trying to fight an adult."

  The differeweewo teams was stark. Napoli's dominance wasn't limited to individual talent or fitness, it was the tactical gulf that made the disparity s. Gao Shen's advanced and cohesive tactical system pletely dismantled Schuster's outdated approach.

  Even Bara, under Guardio's guidance, was beginning to adopt simir modern tactics, incorporating ball trol and positional py. Gao Shen, however, had perfected these ideas to create a system uniquely suited to Napoli.

  This was not just a victory. It was a statement.

  Napoli had won decisively. Gao Shen had won emphatically.

  Yet amidst the disappoi, Florenti a small, smug satisfa.

  "Look at this, Real Madrid fans," he thought bitterly. "This is the leadership you voted for!"

  In Florentino's mind, this humiliation only reinforced the argument that Real Madrid needed him back. Calderon's presidency had been a disaster. Martin, Calderon, and any other potential didates were, in his view, unfit to lead.

  If Real Madrid were to rise again, Florentino believed only he could bring about that resurgence.

  He khat after tonight, ge was iable.

  Schuster's position as head coach was untenable. Even if Calderon wao keep him, the dressing room revolt would make it impossible. Mijatovic, the teical director, would likely be the o go.

  And Calderon himself? This defeat all but sealed his fate. The presidential ele was fast approag, and Calderon had no ce of reele.

  Florentino's path was clear. He had no serious rivals for the presidency. Former presidents like Sanz and Martin were relics of the past. There was no one else.

  Ironically, Florentino realized he owed a debt of gratitude to Gao Shen.

  Without this catastrophic result, his opportunity might not have e so soon.

  His thoughts were interrupted by Valdano's voice.

  "Florentino," Valdano began carefully.

  "Speak," Florentino replied, his tone guarded.

  "Gao Shen is the coach Real Madrid needs," Valdano said bluntly. "His ideas are ahead of their time, and no one else es close. He's built a tactical system that's both mature and adaptable, something very rare."

  Valdano leaned forward, his voice firm.

  "If you pn to overhaul the team this summer, Gao Shen is the man for the job. His ability to discover and develop talent is unparalleled. Just look at i, Di Maria, Sanchez, and Rakitic, they've all blossomed under him."

  Florentino listened silently.

  To Valdano, the solution was obvious. Gao Shen had proven he could rebuild a team quickly and effectively. If Real Madrid hired him, they could restore their pce among Europe's elite.

  But Florentino's silence spoke volumes.

  He didn't want a Real Madrid built by Gao Shen. He wanted a Real Madrid built by Florentino Perez.

  His goal wasn't just to be a successful president. He wao stand alongside or even surpass the legacies of Santiago Bernabeu and Ramon Mendoza.

  And for that, he needed a team that carried his vision, not Gao Shen's.

  ---

  After the final whistle, Gao Shen wasted no time lingering och.

  Schuster, unsurprisingly, didn't e over to shake hands.

  It wasn't necessarily out of disrespect. Given all the bravado before the match, Schuster's failure was humiliating enough. Fag Gao Shen now would only deepen his embarrassment.

  Gao Shen also chose not to approach pyers like Raul or Casils. He respected them too much to put them in an aosition.

  This wasn't the time for pleasantries or dolences. It would only make things more unfortable for everyone involved.

  Instead, Gao Shen gathered his pyers, appuded the Napoli fans, and quickly led the team off the pitch.

  Even as they left, the appuse from the Bernabeu tio echo.

  The irony of the appuse wasn't lost on Gao Shen. It reminded him of the time when the Bernabeu appuded Ronaldinho after his mastercss for Bara.

  Real Madrid fans, furious with their own team's performance, were using their appuse as a on, a sarcastic ovatio to shame the home side while aowledging the brilliance of Napoli.

  ---

  Ba the locker room, Gao Shen's mood lightened siderably.

  As was his tradition, he began handing out praise to his pyers.

  Carlo and Zidaanding nearby, couldn't help but chuckle.

  For over two years, Gao Shen had been building his team's morale by singling out pyers for praise after victories. His pliments were always genuine and ofteive, making the pyers feel invincible.

  Watg their teammates get hyped up, even the assistants felt a sense of joy and camaraderie.

  "How does he keep ing up with new ways to praise them?" Carlo asked Zidah a ugh.

  "It's a gift," Zidane replied, a trace of nostalgia in his voice. He had experiehis firsthand during his own pying days under Gao Shen.

  "Holy, it's not even his tactics. It's this. The way he motivates pyers. That's his real genius," Carlo added with admiration.

  Zidane nodded in agreement. Gao Shen's ability to inspire was unmatched.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Schuster was fag the press.

  "Napoli's defense was very anized. We just couldn't break through," Schuster said.

  He paused before tinuing, "It was a difficult night. But tactically, there wasn't much wrong with our approach. We created good ces early on but failed to vert. That's just how football works sometimes."

  The reporters exged skeptical gnces.

  Schuster then added, "The pyers didn't execute as phat's the real issue. Some details weren't handled well, and it cost us."

  The implication was clear: Schuster was bming the pyers.

  ---

  Outside the press room, Gao Shen overheard Schuster's ents.

  He shook his head in disbelief.

  "Unbelievable," Gao Shen muttered.

  Shifting the bme to the pyers was cowardly, especially after such a catastrophic performance. If Schuster couldn't take responsibility for his own failures, how could he hope to lead?

  This wasn't just about one bad game. A coach's reputation is built on how they handle adversity, and Schuster had failed spectacurly.

  "You don't abandon your pyers like this," Gao Shen thought. "Not if you want to keep their respect."

  ---

  At his own press ference, Gao Shen didn't hold back.

  "Let me be clear," he began. "Real Madrid's pyers like Casils, Ramos, and Raul showed incredible mental strength tonight. But overall, the team's performance was uable. Some pyers simply aren't worthy of wearing the Real Madrid shirt."

  He paused, letting his words sink in.

  "This isn't just about the pyers. The ma and coag staff share the bme. Everyone must take responsibility for what happeonight."

  Finally, he delivered the harshest blow.

  "Before the game, I never expected this result. I prepared for a tough battle. But after the opening minutes, Real Madrid didn't adapt. That's the truth."

  It was a clear indit of Schuster's tactical iude, leaving no room for doubt.

  And Gao Shen didn't care if Schuster heard it. Someone had to speak the truth, especially for pyers like Raul and Casils, who deserved better leadership.

  ***

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