The first day at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzernd, turned out to be quite uful.

  The initial excitement of being there quickly faded.

  Take lunch, for instance.

  Despite the presenany famous coaches, Gao Shen, who eve over to Rafael Benítez for a handshake and some pleasantries, eventually realized it was no different from a regur wathering.

  The one highlight for him was that someoually asked for his phone number, Vilrreal's coach, Manuel Pellegrini. The "Chilean Engineer" was as courteous as his reputation suggested.

  For all their fame, these legendary coaches were just people. They ate, drank, smoked, cursed, and even exhibited odd habits.

  Some were -smokers, dug outside every ce they got; others swore with every sentehey spoke. There were loud talkers who seemed to demand attention from the entire room and elderly coaches who made frequent trips to the bathroom.

  Among the twenty-odd managers gathered, no two were alike.

  After the lunch break, the mai of the afternoon was the group photo session.

  Strange as it might seem, Ferguson had already warned him that this was the highlight of the annual coag summit.

  For the media worldwide, this single photograph would be the most widely circuted image of the event. UEFA would distribute it to major publications, ensuring maximum visibility.

  Because the photo would represent the summit globally, the seating arra required careful sideration.

  UEFA President Michel Ptini aary General David Taylor would naturally take ter stage. Ptini, without a doubt, would sit in the middle of the front row, fnked by the head coaches of the Champions League finalists.

  Ferguson, representing Maer United, was a given. The other seat, however, created a bit of a dilemma. Since Chelsea had reached the final st season under Avram Grant but were now managed by Luiz Felipe Scori, it was decided that Arsène Wenger would take the other seat.

  This arra was widely accepted.

  Ohe ter positions were determihe rest of the seating was left to personal choice.

  Gao Shen, knowing his pce, chose an inspicuous spot in the back row.

  Meanwhile, big names like Ai, Mourinho, Benítez, Guardio, and Schuster sat in the front.

  Later, during the social portion of the event, the disparity in popurity among the managers became even more apparent.

  While UEFA officials like Ptini and Taylor mingled with everyoo maintain diplomacy, the coaches naturally formed their own cliques.

  Despite being a newer, Gao Shen found himself surrounded by familiar faces. Guardio stuck close to him, Ai was often by his side, and Spalletti gravitated toward their group. With Mourinho and Ferguson occasionally joining them, their circle became one of the most talked-about at the summit.

  In trast, Schuster, Real Madrid's head coach, was noticeably isoted.

  Uhe others, who either ied into the rger group or formed their own small fas, Schuster stood apart. Even his patriot, Bayern Munich's coach Jürgen Klinsman his distance.

  Gao Shen, alolite, went over to greet him out of courtesy, but it quickly became clear why Schuster was left alone.

  The man exuded arrogance, his tone sharp and frontational.

  In a room full of Champions League coaches, no one wao put up with his attitude.

  It wasn't hard to uand why Schuster wasn't well-liked.

  Later, Ferguson gave a speech, but it was nothing Gao Shen hadn't already seen iactical library. Even so, hearing it directly from Ferguson himself had a different impact, though the library's information was undoubtedly more prehensive.

  ---

  In theory, the first day's sessions ended with the group photo, and attendees were free to leave.

  But everyone k was ary to stick around.

  After all, UEFA had go of its way to provide excellent hospitality. The food and aodatioop-notch, so there was little reason to leave.

  Besides, with league games temporarily on hold, it was a rare ce to rex.

  By evening, Ai, who had spent the entire day suppressing his itch to py cards, finally gave in. Dragging Gao Shen and a few others along, he hosted a card game that sted well into the night.

  As they pyed, Gao Shen couldn't help but wonder: "You're s at the card table. Why are you so servative on the golf course?"

  He suspected that if he ever voiced this thought, Ai might challenge him to a duel.

  By 3 a.m., Spalletti had reached his limit and tapped out. Gao Shen seized the opportunity to end the game, retreating to his room and sleeping until noon, when a phone call woke him for lunch.

  ---

  The afternoon's agenda focused on discussions and proposals.

  I years, much of the discussion revolved around refereeing standards, especially in the wake of Serie A's Calciopoli sdal.

  Referees faced increasing pressure as teams sought every advahin the rules or sometimes just outside them.

  Even outspoken critics like Mourinho and Ferguson uood this. Their public criticisms of referees were often tactical, aimed at influeng future decisions in their favor.

  Bara, for example, frequently surrounded referees during games, applying pressure through sheer presehough not explicitly against the rules at the time, UEFA eventually banned such behavior.

  During the proposal session, coaches made suggestions based on their own is. Some brought multiple proposals to the table.

  Premier League managers advocated for more le officiating, refleg their league's physical style of py.

  La Liga representatives, oher hand, pushed for stricter prote of teical pyers, aligning with their focus on skill and possession.

  Guardio's proposal sought greater prote for star pyers like Messi, arguing that the Champions League was a global showcase where top talents should be safeguarded.

  While his suggestion wasn't unreaso faced immediate opposition. After all, if referees shielded pyers like Messi too much, how could opposing teams possibly defend against them?

  ---

  Gao Shen's proposal was broader in scope.

  He suggested abolishing the current system of determining the eight seeded teams based on European petition points. Instead, he proposed that league champions from Europe's top four leagues automatically receive seeded status.

  This idea sparked lively debate.

  For teams like Napoli, which won Serie A but were pced in the fourth pot during the group stage draw, the current system was undoubtedly unfair.

  But not everyone agreed.

  Real Madrid's coach, Schuster, stood up to criticize Gao Shen directly, acg him of proposing a rule ge purely for Napoli's be while ign the is of the other 31 teams.

  "I don't think this ptform is meant for such self-serving ideas," Schuster said sharply. "UEFA shouldn't waste time discussing surealistic proposals."

  His words were a direct attack, leaving the room stunned.

  Moments earlier, everyone had been engaging in structive discussion, and Gao Shen's proposal had been well-received.

  Gao Shen, however, remained calm.

  He'd heard about Schuster's abrasive personality before and now saw it firsthand. His earlier attempt to be friendly had bee with arrogance, and now Schuster ublicly targeting him.

  It was clear Schuster looked down on both Gao Shen and Napoli.

  As for why Schuster harbored suimosity, Gao Shen wasirely sure. Perhaps it was rese from the Champions League draw or lingering bitterness from media specution about Gao Sheurning to coa La Liga.

  But none of that mattered now.

  The room fell silent as Gao Shen stood up to respond.

  He first aowledged that his proposal artially self-ied, as Napoli's pt in the fourth pot was undeniably unfair.

  "But I also uand the perspective of the top-seeded teams," he added. "Not everyone would be happy with such a ge."

  He gnced around the room before tinuing.

  "If you want to accuse my proposal of being selfish, then fine. Most of you here have the right to do so. But there's one person who absolutely does not!"

  Gao Shen didn't name names, but his gaze rested squarely on Schuster.

  "Because the only reason this guy is still enjoying the privileges of a top seed is because of me! Without my tributions, it's questionable whether he'd even have the qualifications to sit here and accuse me so shamelessly."

  With that, Gao Shen sat back down.

  Guardio and Ai, seated nearby, tried to calm him down, signaling for restraint.

  Schuster's face turned red with embarrassment.

  His hostility tao Shen stemmed from years of unfavorable parisons. Sihe day he took over at Real Madrid, the media had stantly measured him against Gao Shen's achievements. Every lnited calls fao Shen to return, fueling his rese.

  But he hadn't expected Gao Shen to front him so directly and with irrefutable facts.

  Without Gao Shen's tributions during his time at Real Madrid, the club's ret performances wouldn't have secured them a top seed.

  Schuster was furious but had . His earlier criticism now seemed hypocritical.

  Silently, he vowed revenge.

  "The Battle of the Bernabéu," he thought grimly. "Let's see how long you keep this up."

  ***

  Support me on patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.