No one is perfeot even goalkeepers.

  No matter how skilled a goalkeeper may be, they iably have weaknesses and fws.

  For example, Casils struggles with lobs, while Kahn and Van der Sar have difficulty c their left half-height zones.

  These weaknesses often stem from objective limitations. For instance, Casils' issue with lobs is due to his height. While his reflexes and jumping ability are exceptional, they 't fully pensate for his physical stature. Simirly, Kahn and Van der Sar, being right-footed, find it harder to handle shots targeting their left sides.

  In trast, goalkeepers like Buffon, or Cech before his head injury, are more bahey may have minor weaknesses, but none of them are gring vulnerabilities, which is why they are seen as near-perfect goalkeepers.

  However, such goalkeepers are rare. The world only has one Buffon, and even Cech, who many believed could challenge Buffon's dominance, saw his level dee sharply after his head injury.

  How do teams deal with this?

  It's simple: through defensive anization and strategic positioning. Defensive lines are ofte up to pensate foalkeeper's weaknesses. For instance, defenders pying in front of Kahn or Van der Sar would prioritize trolling their left sides and allow more spa their right, where those goalkeepers were stronger and less likely to make mistakes.

  This is why goalkeepers often appear to be superhuman during matches. Their defensive lines have optimized positioning to restrict attackers' angles and make the goalkeeper's job easier.

  Goalkeepers are critical in football, but they don't act alohey rely oire defense.

  ---

  Before the match, Gao Shen had emphasized three key points for his pyers, one of which was the goalkeeper.

  Napoli's analyst, Lucas, had ducted extensive resear Inter Min's goalkeeper, Júlio César. His analysis revealed an intriguing pattern: as a left-footed goalkeeper, César shared a on weakness with many goalkeepers, he struggled with balls aimed at his weaker side.

  The match against Liverpool rime example. Inter Min was pletely outpyed, and Liverpool had numerous ces to score. However, they only mao score twice, and César was widely praised for his outstanding saves.

  But upon closer examination, Lucas found that Liverpool only targeted César's right-hand side ohe side corresponding to the left when viewed from the attacker's perspective.

  That oempt? Steven Gerrard's goal.

  A simir pattern emerged in Inter Min's following match against Roma. After studying several matches and analyzing Inter Min's goals ceded, Lucas discovered a striking trend: shots directed at César's right-hand side had a signifitly higher success rate than those aimed at his left.

  Even more revealing was César's instinctive tendency to use his feet when defending his right-hand side, particurly at half-height, a subscious habit that created a critical vulnerability.

  This insight led Gao Shen to instruct his pyers tet César's right-hand side whenever possible.

  However, as Gao Shen expio his pyers, capitalizing on this weakness wouldn't be easy. Inter Min's defenders were well aware of César's limitations and would naturally position themselves to protect his weaker side, minimizing attackers' opportuo exploit it.

  ---

  The opportunity finally came during stoppage time in the first half.

  ---

  After Lichtsteiner's header sent the ball into the penalty area, Hamsik trolled it with his chest.

  Positioned just outside the penalty area, Hamsik found himself with enough space to act. The Inter Min defenders had been pulled away, leaving him momentarily unchallenged.

  Gng up, Hamsik noticed César shifting his position from the right side of the goal toward the ter.

  Without hesitation, Hamsik let the ball drop, swung his right foot, and struck it powerfully.

  The crowd erupted as the ball rocketed off his foot.

  It was a thunderous shot, heading directly toward the left side of Inter Min's goal.

  César reacted quickly, diving to his right aending his arm in a desperate attempt to save it.

  But his movement was just a fra too slow.

  The ball grazed his fiips and smmed into the .

  "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

  "In stoppage time of the first half, Napoli scores again!"

  "3-0!!!!!"

  "A stunning le strike from Slovakian midfielder Hamsik!"

  "My word, Napoli's relentless attag has pletely dismantled Inter Min's defense. Mani's team is now trailing by three goals!"

  "It's turning into a plete rout!"

  ---

  Hamsik, overwhelmed with excitement, sprioward the stands, arms outstretched.

  The fans roared, their cheers eg throughout the San Paolo Stadium.

  Napoli's pyers rushed after him, mobbing him in celebration.

  Three to zero.

  They couldn't believe it.

  ---

  On the sidelines, Gao Shen threw his head bad let out a triumphant roar.

  Three to zero!

  Even though the match wasn't being pyed at the San Siro, Gao She an immense sense of pride in leading his team to such a dominant performance against Inter Min.

  For a moment, he felt a surge of emotions welling up inside him. It was as if he had fulfilled a dream he had cherished for years, a goal that had always felt out of reach was finally within his grasp.

  Was this real?

  The jubint embrace of his assistants snapped him out of his reverie.

  Yes, it was real.

  As the celebrations subsided, Gao Shen found himself growing calm. Uhe exhiration he had felt after the first two goals, this time he was posed.

  Fulfilling a long-cherished dream wasn't as wild or ecstatic as he had imagined.

  Instead, it was a quiet moment of satisfa, ohat made him look ahead to the challenge.

  ---

  "Data!"

  As the first half ended, Gao Shen hugged his pyers as they headed into the locker room. Then, turning to his staff, he asked in a steady voice for their reports.

  Lucas hesitated for a moment, still adjusting to Gao Shen's sudden shift in demeanor.

  But others, like Carlo, Bueura, and Pintus, exged approving gnces.

  The ability to remain calm in the face of overwhelming success was a sign of Gao Shen's maturity aal fortitude.

  Lucas quickly piled the data, detailing Napoli's first-half performand estimating the physical dition of both teams.

  Gao Shen reviewed the report, nodding occasionally.

  "Good work!" he said, allowing a small smile to break through.

  The staff members grinned, pleased with the reition.

  "Lorenzo, Antonio," Gao Shen addressed the fitness coaches. "How are the pyers holding up?"

  "The pyers' stamina is roughly in lih expectations," Bueura replied. "I believe we maintain this level of iy for another 30 minutes in the sed half."

  "Thirty minutes?" Gao Shen raised an eyebrow.

  "That's my preliminary estimate," Bueura firmed. "We should be fine for 70 to 80 mihough the iy will drop off sharply after that. Substitutions will be crucial around that time."

  Pintus nodded in agreement.

  Lucas chimed in, noting Inter Min's vulnerabilities. "Vieira and Maxwell are struggling, and Materazzi isn't i shape either. Mani might have to limit Mai's attag runs in the sed half."

  Hearing this, Gao Shen couldn't help but smile.

  He goward Lucas and said jokingly, "Brother, I avenged you!"

  Everyone ughed, but the focus soouro the game pn.

  With the team aligned on strategy, Gao Shen prepared to address his pyers in the locker room.

  The stadium roared with excitement as fans celebrated Napoli's first-half dominance.

  But Gao Shehe job wasn't do.

  The sed half awaited, and with it, the opportunity to truly solidify their victory.

  Three to zero is a dangerous scoreline, he reminded himself as he stepped into the tunnel.

  ***

  Support me on patreon to read 45+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.