The final round of the Champions League group stage, an away match against Bayern Munich, held little significe for Napoli.

  Unless Napoli suffered an absolute thrashing, losing top spot in the group was virtually impossible.

  Given Bayern's form this season, even their manager, Klinsmann, likely wasn't fident about defeating Napoli at home. The oute felt predetermined.

  Gao Shen fielded a rotated lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation, giving pyers like Pellè, Vidal, Hamsik, and Nainggon the ce to experiehe atmosphere and tempo of an away game against a European giant.

  The result, however, was surprising.

  Ih minute, Vidal unleashed a long shot that smacked against the post, sending a wave of tension through the Allianz Arena and triggering a chaotic scramble in the box.

  Napoli quickly regained possession and reanized. Valencia sent a cross from the right to the penalty spot. Hamsik struck the ball ly, but it deflected off Demichelis' leg, ging dire and rolling into the goal behind Rensing.

  1-0!

  The Allianz Arena fell into stunned silence.

  Even Gao Shen was momentarily frozen.

  An own goal!

  Napoli stuck to their tactical approach, pressing Bayern and trolling the game on the field.

  It wasn't until the 82nd mihat Bayern mao equalize. A free ki the attag third saw Ze Roberto seize his opportunity, leveling the score for the home side.

  The matded 1-1, with her side emerging victorious.

  ---

  After six group-stage matches, Napoli advanced as group winners with four wins and two draws.

  Napoli also became the highest-sg team in this season's Champions League group stage, earning widespread praise from fans and pundits alike.

  Bayern Munich finished sed in the group. Meanwhile, Real Madrid defeated Zenit 3-0 at the Bernabéu in the final round, seg third pce. Zenit's form dipped signifitly in the winter months, struggling iwo away games.

  It was evident that Russia's notorious winter ditions impacted even Russian teams when they pyed away from home.

  As the group-stage rankings across the Champions League were finalized, Gao Shen noticed something peculiar—and frustrating—about this season's petition.

  It felt as though the draw for the knockout stage was deliberately stacked against Napoli.

  Seg first p the group is supposed to ensure a more favorable draw by avoiding the stro runners-up. But this season, several sed-pced teams were remarkably formidable.

  Among them were Arsenal, Lyon, Vilrreal, Atletiadrid, and Chelsea.

  Admittedly, pared to group winners like Bara, Liverpool, and Maer Uhese teams were somewhat less daunting.

  heless, reag the knockout stage was already a signifit achievement for Napoli, especially sihis was their first Champions League campaign in over a decade. The team ushing itself to the limit, eager to keep proving their worth.

  Gao Shen enced his pyers while also cautioning them. He remihe team that the challenges in the knockout rounds would surpass anything they had faced so far. The top teams in Europe were not just strong they were relentless and unfiving.

  "Each of them will be an incredibly tough oppo," he said.

  After his spee the locker room, Gao Shen headed to the press ference hall at the Allianz Arena, escorted by UEFA staff.

  Before entering the room, he uedly crossed paths with Franz Bebauer, the legendary "Kaiser" of German football.

  ---

  Although Gao Shen had long grown aced to meeting football legends and superstars, seeing Bebauer was still something special.

  After the press ference, Bebauer invited Gao Shen to join him for a drink in the VIP area of the Allianz Arena.

  Initially, Gao Shen thought he would be meeting Bayern's executives, like Rummenigge or Hoeness, but they weren't there.

  This led to a moment of misuanding.

  For a brief sed, Gao Shen wondered if Bayern might be sounding him out as a potential rept for Klinsmann, who was struggling this season.

  He even sidered what it might be like to coach Bayern. It was certainly a tempting option given the club's history and stature. However, dealing with the egos of superstars like Ribery and Robben would present its own challenges.

  While there was no question about the talent of those two, Gao Shen couldn't help but wonder if they'd fully buy into his system and tactics. Would they cooperate, or would they resist?

  For now, it seemed manageable. Ribery was desperate to achieve success, while Robben was eager to prove himself again.

  But Gao Shen quickly dismissed the thought, chug at himself. Bayern had no sutentions, this meeting urely casual.

  ---

  Bebauer had a natural charisma that made him immensely popur, not only in Germany but also within UEFA and FIFA circles. Rumors had even swirled at one point that Btter inteo back Bebauer as a didate for UEFA president when Johansson stepped down.

  Ultimately, though, it tini who took the position, while Bebauer was said to have his sights set on the FIFA presidency.

  Although he didn't hold much real power within Bayern these days, his influen global football was unparalleled.

  During their versation, Gao Shen opened up about his admiration for Bebauer, mentioning how his first football-reted book had been Bebauer's autobiography.

  "Do you remember the Bertelsmann Book Club?" Gao Shen asked with a smile.

  Bebauer's face lit up. "Of course! I was one of their tracted authors and a member of the club."

  "I read your autobiography I Am Julius Caesar," Gao Shen said.

  "Really?" Bebauer was delighted. "I even attehe ese u for that book. If I'd known you liked it, I would've made a point to meet you."

  Gao Shen ughed, though he couldn't help but think wryly, I was just a kid back then!

  The shared e eased the versation, making it more rexed and enjoyable.

  Though it had been years since Gao Shehe book, Bebauer's excitement about his visit to a was clear. He vividly recalled ndmarks and experiences from his trip, speaking about them with enthusiasm.

  "ime you e to Shanghai, let me know," Bebauer offered warmly. "I have a house with the best view of the Huangpu River. I'll make sure you have a great experience."

  Gao Shen readily agreed.

  ---

  As the versation turo football, Bebauer brought up Klinsmann's precarious situatioe his shaky results, Klinsmann maintained a good retionship with Bayern's ma, who were known for their ability to part ways amicably with coaches.

  Bayern had a unique culture in this regard. Former pyers often moved into ma positions, and they valued maintaining personal retionships with head coaches. Even when performance led to a dismissal, they left the door open for future cooperation.

  For instance, both Hitzfeld and Heynckes had left Bayern only to be brought back ter, Heynckes even after retiring. Such moves would have been impossible without the strong personal bonds within Bayern's hierarchy.

  During a previous versation over drinks, Klinsmann had shared some of Bayern's internal challenges with Gao Shen. Gao Shen had offered his thoughts on German football and Bayern's potential, ideas that Klinsmann seemed to have passed on to people like Bebauer.

  As they tio chat, Bebauer touched on German youth training, an area where he had been a pivotal figure.

  Gao Shen listetentively, asking questions and soaking up the insights. Germany's youth development system was known for its structure and rigor, and Bebauer had been instrumental in its creation. Ba the te 1990s, he had reized the growing talent deficit in German football and pushed for reforms.

  Gao Shen learned a great deal from this versatioails and nuahat were rarely shared publicly. While this knowledge wasn't immediately applicable, he k might prove invaluable iure.

  ---

  Gao Shen and Bebauer ended up talking for over an hour before parting ways.

  What Gao Shen didn't know was that shortly after he left, Rummenigge and Hoeness arrived at the VIP area.

  "Franz, what do you think?" Hoeness asked, gng in the dire Gao Shen had gone.

  Bebauer houghtfully. "He's a young man with sharp ideas. He's already proven his abilities at Napoli. A lot of his ideas align with ours. I think he's worth sidering."

  Rummenigge and Hoeness exged a gnce, both nodding in agreement.

  While Bebauer didn't hold executive power, his opinions carried signifit weight in Bayern's major decisions. His influence, both within the club and among fans, was unmatched.

  At present, Bayern was sed in the Bundesliga standings, tied on points with Hoffenheim but trailing on goal differehis was a marked improvement from mid-October, when Bayern had fallen to 11th pce.

  Back then, the ma had seriously sidered repg Klinsmann. However, Bebauer had publicly backed the coach, giving him time to stabilize the team. Sihen, Bayern's performances had improved, leading to their current position.

  Still, Klinsmann's future wasn't secure. If he wao stay, he'd o deliver more ving results.

  "Gao Shen's achievements at Real Madrid and Napoli are impressive," Rummenigge said, "but he's very young. We o think this through carefully."

  Bebauer and Hoeness both nodded in agreement.

  After Klinsmann's struggles, Bayern's ma couldn't afford anamble. If they repced Klinsmann with a young coach like Gao Shen and the team faltered, someone in Bayern's leadership would have to shoulder the bme.

  No one wao take that risk lightly.

  Besides, Bayern traditionally favored familiar faces when hiring coaches. Bebauer and Gao Shen had only just met, and there was still much to learn about the young manager.

  At Bayern, decisions like this weren't taken lightly. The club prided itself on its deep uanding of football and khe importance of choosing a coach carefully.

  Even so, Gao Shen had officially entered Bayern's radar.

  ***

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