"Tonight's game reminds me of the Champions League final at Old Trafford."

  Sitting in the presidential stand at the Meazza Stadium, Lippi watched the matfold och. He spoke quietly, his voily audible to Ulivieri and the others seated nearby.

  He was referring to the 2002-2003 Champions League final between Juventus and A, held at Old Trafford in Maer.

  It had been a defensive masterpiece—a 0-0 draw after bur time ara time, with the match ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.

  From a fan's perspective, that final was seen as a disappoi: dull, uful, and without a single goal. But from a professional standpoint, it was a tactical battle of the highest order. Both teams executed near-fwless deferategies, denying their oppos any clear ces to score. At that level, maintaining a 0-0 scoreline was even harder than finding the back of the .

  That match had ted Ai's reputation in European football.

  The people around Lippi were surprised by his parison. They hadn't expected him to hold this game in such high regard.

  Was it just because this match was still 0-0 after 60 minutes? On the surface, the situations seemed different.

  Napoli had trolled the game from the start, creating more ces and showing greater attag i. Meanwhile, Inter Min had only mahree shots, all ing from terattacks, and were relying heavily on their defensive anization to stay in the game.

  "Both managers have maximized the resources avaible to them," Ulivieri agreed with Lippi's observation. "At the same time, they've minimized the threat posed by their oppos."

  The essence of football tactics, after all, is to scoals while preventing the oppo from sg.

  In this game, both teams had clear tactical goals.

  Inter Min, pying at home, focused on defending solidly, looking for opportuo ter and break through Napoli's lines.

  Napoli, oher hand, sought to take the initiative, relentlessly attag to breater's defense while remaining vigint against potential terattacks.

  This created an intriguing stalemate och.

  What elevated the game further was the meticulous attention to detail from both coaches.

  Mourinho had crafted a disciplined defeup. Whether it was his bae or his three midfielders, Inter Min absorbed Napoli's relentless attacks with remarkable posure. At the same time, Gao She Inter no room to exploit.

  Muntari, who had been a standout in previous games, was pletely silenced.

  Mai, Inter's dynamic right-bad one of their primary attag outlets, was firmly pinned back by Di María. His usual surging runs and creative tributions were o be seen.

  With Muntari nullified on the left and Maieutralized on the right, Inter Min's ability to unch meaningful attacks was crippled. Their terattacks cked ahreat, leaving them with just three shots to show for their efforts.

  Even Inter's double-ter-forward tactic, typically a key feature of Mourinho's game pn, was effectively stifled by Napoli.

  Gao Shen deployed a bination of two full-backs, two ter-backs, and Thiago Motta shielding the defense. As soon as Iransitioned into attaapoli's defenders and midfielders closed ranks, f a cage around Ibrahimovi? and Adriano. Whether the strikers pulled wide or dropped deep, their passing nes were cut off, rendering them iive.

  To casual viewers, the game might seem dull. But for seasoned professionals like Lippi and Ulivieri, it was a tactical mastercss particurly from a young coach like Gao Shen.

  Serie A has long been known as a proving ground for rookie managers, a tactical crucible where even the smallest mistake could be ruthlessly exploited. Coaches are forced to treat every game as a high-stakes chess match, stantly adapting and refining their strategies.

  While Serie A is often criticized for its slower pace, modern managers like Spalletti and Mazzarri have introduced a more dynamic style. Gao Shen, however, has taken it a step further, earning a reputation for his fast-paced transitions and aggressive pressing.

  What's even more remarkable is the progress Gao Shen has made in tactical sophistication and in-game adjustments since arriving in Italy. Napoli has bee the most exg team in Serie A this season.

  On more than one occasion, Gao Shen's substitutions and adjustments have pletely altered the course of a match.

  Tonight, he was going toe-to-toe with a heavyweight like Mourinho. Oacked, the other defended; both had clear pns, yet they found themselves evenly matched, eaullifying the other's strengths.

  As the game tinued without a breakthrough, Ulivieri couldn't help but marvel, "It's unbelievable that Gao Shen is only 28 years old."

  If this were a tactical battle betweeerans like Ai and Mourinho, no one would bat an eye. But Gao Shen's rise was exceptional.

  The football world has often cimed there are no true prodigies in coag. Even Guardio, who has dazzled with Bara this season, is often criticized for his ck of adaptability during matches. Guardio's success is attributed more to Bara's collective strength and his well-drilled system.

  Gao Shen, however, is different.

  In just over two years, he's established himself as one of the brightest managerial talents in the game.

  This season alone, he's led Napoli to victories iants like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as Zenit, the reigning Europa League champions under Advocaat.

  "If there is such a thing as a genius in coag," Lippi said thoughtfully, "it would have to be someone like Gao Shen."

  Ulivieri was stunned. He hadn't expected Lippi to hold Gao Shen in such high regard.

  "He's truly exceptional at Napoli," Lippi tinued with a faint smile.

  "But the question is," Ulivieri added, " he break through Inter Min's iron wall tonight?"

  That was the real challenge.

  Lippi sighed. "I don't know. At this stage, her side has as left."

  "Mourinho wants to defend and ter. As long as Napoli doesn't make any major mistakes—like David Luiz being overly reckless—Inter will struggle to score. But defensively, they have to stay rock solid."

  "Look at Gao Shen," Lippi said, gesturing toward the sideline.

  Ulivieri followed his gaze and saw Gao Shen pag ieical area, barking instrus at his pyers.

  "Napoli has had nearly 70% possession," Lippi noted. "Some of that has been forced by Napoli's pressing, but a lot of it has been voluntarily ceded by Inter. Right now, Gao Shen's strategy is clear: keep stretg the py and forter to expend energy."

  Ulivieri nodded. "Napoli does have the edge in fitness."

  Napoli's superior physical ditioning has been one of the team's standout features this season. Remarkably, they haven't suffered a single signifit injury so far, a testament to the two fitness coaches Gao Shen trusts implicitly.

  "Yes," Lippi agreed. "Napoli has the advantage in stamina, so they're f Inter into a battle of endurance. Mourinho knows this, but he has no choice but to hold firm. If he gives in, he'll lose."

  "Does that mean Napoli has a ce?" Ulivieri asked.

  Lippi shook his head. "Maybe, but Mourinho must have prepared for this. What I don't uand is why he only brought one defender, Córdoba, tonight, while leaving pyers like Pastore, Parejo, and Valencia on the bench."

  "Pastore is good at breaking through, Parejo excels at passing, and Valencia is lightning-fast. Each offers something different. The question is, whie will Gao Shen choose or will he use all three? This is what fasates people about Gao Shen."

  At Covero, Italy's renowned coag school, Gao Shen's team-building strategies have even been included in the curriculum. His ability to scout pyers and ie them into his system has amazed professionals across the sport.

  "He has a way of surprising people," Lippi mused. "No matter how much you prepare, sg is always the hardest part of football. Defending is easier. Mourinho has undoubtedly devised a pn to frustrate Napoli, and as long as Iicks to it, Napoli won't have it easy."

  For Inter, a draw at home is acceptable. But for Napoli, it would be a bitter pill to swallow.

  As Lippi put it, "Each team has different objectives, so the same result carries a different meaning for each side."

  His eyes fell ba Gao Shen, standing animatedly on the sideline.

  "I just hope he stays posed and doesn't get reckless. Mourinho is a ing fox, and he's waiting for Napoli to make a mistake."

  Right now, the game's tempo and initiative were firmly in Napoli's hands. As long as they avoided costly errors, Inter's best possible oute would be a draw.

  But as Lippi had pointed out, a draw wasn't something Napoli could accept easily.

  By the 60th minute, her side had made a substitution—a curious detail in such a high-stakes match.

  Mourinho stayed mostly in the dugout, emerging only to issue adjustments, while Gao Shen remained on the sidelines, stantly encing his pyers and direg the a.

  Time ticked on, each sed feeling agonizingly slow for those involved.

  Fao Shen, standing at the heart of the storm, every mome like ay.