"I suddenly feel like we're getting old," Lippi said, leaning closer to Ulivieri with a self-depreg ugh.

  Ulivieri nodded in agreement, sharing the se.

  The atmosphere in the auditorium remained lively, with stant ughter eg throughout the room.

  During Gao Shen's speech, the audience had been attentive and serious, many taking notes. But ohe Q&A session began, the mood shifted, and the room became animated and even chaotic.

  Everyone wao ask a question, and Gao Shen didn't limit them. Any topic was fair game: Napoli's ret loss of the league lead, his personal life, why he turned down Bara, or whether he'd return to Real Madrid iure.

  The questions came without boundaries.

  Gao Shen, with his characteristic humor, answered everything. No matter how sensitive or unventional the question, he provided a response, often mixing wit ay that left the audience r with ughter.

  For example, someone asked why he was so active on Twitter.

  He replied with a grin, "Because I'm a shareholder."

  The crowd burst into ughter, thinking it was just a joke. But Gao Shen followed up seriously, expining that he genuinely was a shareholder.

  "When they were raising funds, I was their user with the most followers, even more than the U.S. president at the time. I found that exg, so I ied a siderable amount. Now, I'm a shareholder."

  He paused for effect before adding, "Based on their current valuation, I've probably earned a few million euros already."

  This revetion caused a stir among the audience.

  Who would have thought that Gao Shen's Twitter habit wasn't just casual scrolling but a lucrative iment? And how long did it take him to make such a fortune?

  It didn't stop there. Gao She on to share that a sponsor once approached him, €100,000 for a single promotional tweet over 100 words long.

  "I tur down," Gao Shen said, shaking his head. "Their offer was too low."

  The room erupted again, half in shod half in amusement.

  The idea of making money by scrolling Twitter was mind-blowing for many in the audience. Some were likely sidering signing up for Twitter themselves, dreaming of being influencers and raking in money, rather than grinding it out as coaches.

  Meanwhile, Lippi and Ulivieri, seated in the front row, exged bewildered gnces.

  They'd heard of Twitter and the i, but they didn't fully uand it. Watg Gao Shen captivate the crowd so effortlessly, they couldn't deny that this "modern stuff" seemed incredibly popur and advanced.

  Both men reached the same clusion: they were old. Or, as they preferred to frame it, "mature."

  In trast, Gao Shen was vibrant, fident, and full of energy. His words carried vi, and whe excited, it felt as though he was anding the world.

  "I've heard of Twitter," Ulivieri said, almost wistfully. "I heard old man Sacchi uses it a lot. He even moved his n there."

  That was influence.

  Of course, everyone knew Lippi and Sacchi didn't get along.

  During Sacchi's peak, Lippi had publicly criticized him, g that Sacchi's tactics weren't revolutionary but merely a different way of training.

  However, with the rise of modern football trends—rgely aligned with Sacchi's ideas, his reputation had growronger, while Lippi's earlier ents now seemed like srapes.

  "Gao Shen is truly talented," Lippi admitted begrudgingly. "But his one fw is that he's too close to Sacchi."

  Lippi then turo Ulivieri, adding, "Our Coaches Associatioo find more ways to colborate with him. Events like today's are so beneficial. Everyone learned a lot, and the atmosphere was fantastic. We should do more of this iure."

  Ulivieri uood what Lippi was implying.

  Covero's Ladder Lecture Hall restigious, but most speakers treated it with such serioushat their lectures ofte dry and overly academic. Many coaches cked public speaking skills, and while the tent was valuable, it failed to ehe audience.

  Gao Shen, however, was a rare exception. He bined valuable insights with humor and charisma, creating an experiehat was both informative aertaining.

  It would be a shame to let Sacchi—or anyone else—monopolize such a talent.

  Beyond that, events like this could be both Covero and Gao Shen himself. The turnout alone roof of Gao Shen's influence, and as word spread, his reputation within European football would only grow.

  Titles like "famous coach" were ofteing, especially wheowed by the media. A string of losses, and the title could vanish ht.

  But reition from peers within the football world? That carried real weight.

  Take te, for example. Bari's attag pyers might not be deliveris, but why were so many young talents joining Bari?

  Because their head coach was Antonio te.

  Sometimes, reputation alone could make all the difference.

  ---

  Gao Shen had been in the industry long enough to uand the unwritten rules of every profession. One universal truth was the importance of respeg one's predecessors.

  Whether the respect was genuine or simply polite, it was crucial to make the effort.

  Gao Shen knew when to shine and when to dial it back.

  Napoli was about to face a series of tough matches: Juventus at home, Zenit in freezing St. Petersburg, and then Lazio away. Each game presented unique challenges, but Gao Shen remained calm and fident.

  "The harder the battles, the more valuable the lessons, and the greater the team's improvement," he said. "And don't fet, our oppos have their own struggles. That's why critical moments ofte opportuo pull ahead."

  Before ing up his speech, Gao Shen thanked Ulivieri, Lippi, and all the seniures present, as well as the Coaches Association fiving him the opportunity to speak.

  He humbly described himself as a rookie, still learning after less than three years in the profession. He expressed his hope to tinue improving by studying with such esteemed colleagues.

  This humility earned him another round of warm appuse.

  Before leaving the auditorium, Gao Shen had Lucas bring out a camera to capture a group photo with everyone present. Standing at the foot of the auditorium stairs, surrounded by the crowd, Gao Shen smiled alongside the attendees, who were all beaming.

  ---

  After the speech, the Coaches Association hosted a buffet lunch at Covero, allowing further discussions aw.

  Gao Shen gdly attended, spending the lunch surrounded by people eager to ask questions or simply chat with him.

  He also made time to ect with Klopp, Tuchel, Pochettino, and others, thanking them for attending his lecture and exging taformation. The three were visibly fttered by Gao Shen's warmth and siy.

  After lunch, Gao Shen accepted Lippi's invitation to visit the nearby national team trainier, where he observed the Italian squad's afternoon session.

  Iingly, the squad featured three Napoli pyers: Maggio, Bonucci, and Pellè. Both Bonucd Pellè had performed well during the Olympics, while avaro Jr. had started losing his pce both at the club and with the national team.

  Fao Shen, this was simply a matter of merit. With Bonucd David Luiz excelling, it was difficult to justify more opportunities for avaro. However, Gao Shen still valued his role as a vice-captain, particurly off the pitch, where his experiend local ties were invaluable.

  Pyers like Montevino, for example, rarely pyed but were instrumental in maintaining team morale and cohesion.

  ---

  By evening, Gao She Covero and headed to Florence Airport, returning to Naples.

  The trip had been immensely rewarding, not just for the speech but for the es he had made and the insights he had gained.

  Witnessing the heart of Italian football's coag system had been eye-opening. It revealed not just the vast gap between systems but the incredible depth and structure that underpialian football.

  While the disparity was daunting, Gao Shen believed it was better to see the gap clearly than to remain ignorant of it.

  Ignorance, after all, was never a virtue.

  Ba Naples, Gao Shen turned his focus to preparing for the uping matches.

  The challenges ahead were formidable. Juventus was strohahe trip to Zenit meant subzero temperatures and thousands of kilometers of travel, and Lazio presented aough test away from home.

  However, Inter Min, Napoli's primary rival, faced simir difficulties. Mourinho's side had its own challenging schedule, including Roma, the Champions League, and Genoa.

  At this critical stage, it would all e down to who could endure and perform under pressure.

  But Gao Shen was fident in his team.

  Because this Napoli was no lohe Napoli of st season.