A silver Volvo XC60 slowly pulled into the Piina training base in the small town of Appiaile.

  Moments ter, Moratti, Bnca, and Oriali stepped out of the car one by one.

  The staff at Piina had already e out to greet them ahe trio into the training base.

  Inter Min's headquarters may be located iral Min, but their training base is led here in the quiet suburbs.

  Moratti and his panions were familiar with the facility and headed straight for the pyers' lounge.

  On their way, they happeo run into Mani and his coag staff, who had already heard of their arrival. Moratti and his ente exged cheerful greetings with Mani, and the atmosphere was visibly positive.

  In the pyers' lounge, Moratti went through his usual routine, asking about the team's dition, especially regarding the injured pyers.

  Retly, Inter Min had been pgued by injuries.

  This was, in fact, one of the most troublesome issues fag I the moment. Samuel had been injured in the December match against A, and Cordoba had also been sidelined shortly after. Both ter-backs had sustained severe injuries and were out for the rest of the season.

  Cambiasso, Maxwell, and Ibrahimovic had also retly picked up injuries.

  Moratti asked about their status with genuine , wanting to know if they'd be able to py against Napoli.

  Mani gave him a thh response.

  None of the three had severe injuries. Maxwell had twisted his ankle, Cambiasso was dealing with a minor injury, and Ibrahimovic had an old knee problem. All three were currently training with the team, but whether they could py would depend on their dition leading up to the match.

  After all, recovery from this type of injury could ge day by day.

  Moratti uood this well.

  The president of Inter Min offered words of encement to the pyers, urging them to give their all a Napoli in the weekend match. He also called oo put forth their best performance for the sed leg of the Champions League Round of 16 week, hoping for a eback against Liverpool.

  The pyers responded positively, assuring the president of their itment.

  …

  "These ret injuries really couldn't have e at a worse time."

  Leaving the pyers' lounge, Moratti, Bnca, and Oriali went baani's office with him.

  The four of them shut the door and began discussing the current situation.

  Moratti felt that the atmosphere in Inter's locker room wasn't ideal, due to both injuries a performances.

  "Manoratti addressed Mani, "You're carrying a heavy burden right now."

  Mani nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, I'll do my best..."

  "No, no, no, Mancho. You don't uand what I mean," Moratti interrupted. "I don't want to hear about 'doing your best'—I was. You should know this isn't the time for empty promises."

  Mani was a bit taken aback.

  "The match against Reggi weekend? To be ho, si's a home game, I'm not worried. I believe that even with a rotated squad, we win. But I am very ed about this weekend a Wednesday."

  This weekend, they were heading south to faapoli, and the following Wednesday, they would be hosting Liverpool.

  "You know, after the Reggina game, we'll be celebrating the club's tenary. We've invited many distinguished guests from the world of football, including FIFA President Btter, UEFA President Ptini, as well as legends like Pele, Maradona, and Cruyff. Over two or three hundred former pyers and coaches who represehis club will be attending."

  The tennial celebration is a moal occasion for any historic club.

  Back when Florentino resident of Real Madrid, he'd made up his mind to fire Del Bosque, partly because he felt Del Bosque had botched the club's carefully pnned tennial celebration.

  Now, it was Inter Min's turn. It was Mani's turn.

  Inter Min had meticulously phe event. The tenary celebration cided with their home game against Reggina—a retively po, which made a victory highly probable.

  As Moratti had said, even a sed-string lineup could likely handle Reggina.

  But what Moratti, and all Inter fans, really wanted was to stay on top in Serie A and to make a strong showing in the Champions League.

  In Serie A, Napoli was chasing fiercely, closing the gap to just three points. If Inter lost this weekend's high-stakes match, they'd be forced to relinquish their lead.

  After the first leg loss in the Champions League Round of 16, even Moratti had to admit that the odds of overturning Liverpool were slim, but no matter how slim, they still had to give it their all at home.

  However, if they lost to Napoli this weekend and were subsequently eliminated by Liverpool Wednesday, would Inter's tenary celebration even matter?

  Mani uood Moratti's message. He wao make a strong promise, but…

  Inter's squad was currently struggling with a wave of injuries, and the tight schedule didn't help. Add to that an aging roster, and the ret injuries had bee overwhelming.

  In fact, Mani had anticipated these challenges, which is why he had requested the signing of Maniche during the wiransfer window.

  "Mancho." Even now, Moratti's tone remained gentle, without a hint of pressure; it was more like a request than an order.

  He was a kied man—a very, very kied man.

  "You know, this celebration holds a special meaning for us. It represents our 100-year history. My hope was that the team could secure another Champions League trophy during this tennial year, but now it seems…"

  Moratti trailed off.

  "I only have one request for you: beat Napoli and keep our lead at the top. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

  Mani felt a pang of guilt.

  He knew in his heart how good Moratti had been to him. Given the current situation, he felt obligated to meet this request, and even if he hadn't, Moratti's plea made him want to do his utmost.

  But pying at the Stadio San Paolo this weekend was bound to be a hellish challenge.

  That damn coad his damn team had been waiting for this moment for two years!

  They'd e close to defeating I the San Siro, but that draw only fueled their determination.

  No one knew how long the coach had been preparing for this match, or how much effort that damn team from the south had put into it.

  But ohing was certain this game would be incredibly tough.

  If Inter had been in peak form, Mani would have been fident about seg an away win, but now…

  Mani had to admit that he and his coag staff had been too pt.

  As early as the beginning of the season, he had known about the club's tennial pns, but he still believed Serie A was secure. Even after winning their Champions League group, he hadn't pced enough importan the Round of 16 matchup.

  Now, Inter found themselves on the back foot against both Napoli and Liverpool. But at this critical moment, the team had hit a slump, health issues were piling up, and injuries had begun to take their toll. They had been dropping points and sufferibacks oer another.

  Surrounded by internal aernal pressures, Mani was in a difficult position, fag challenges on all fronts.

  He wao offer a strong promise to Moratti, but the words wouldn't e.

  In the end, all he could do was tell Moratti, "I promise, even if we 't win, I will make sure we don't lose and will keep us at the top. If I fail, I'll take full responsibility and resign."

  Mani finally made a firm itment.

  Moratti listened carefully.

  Mani didn't dare promise a victory in Naples; he could only guarantee a draw to maintain their position at the top.

  This showed that he truly cked fidence.

  Was that coach really that formidable?

  Was the Napoli team he trained really that powerful?

  Moratti wasn't oo pressure others. After hearing Mani's words, he gently patted Mani's shoulder and said quietly, "I believe in you, Mancho." Then he left with Bnd Oriali.

  Mani stood there, feeling a cold chill in his heart.

  He knew he had disappointed Moratti.

  After so muvestment and so many reinforts, to end up possibly tarnishing the club's tennial celebration, anyone would be disappointed.

  Mani uood that the uping games were about more than just three points, more than Inter's tennial, more than the Serie A title, more than fulfilling Moratti's hopes and the dreams of Inter fans…

  It was also about saving his own job.

  ...

  ...

  While Mani was seeing Moratti and his party off at Piina, across town at Fort Volturno, Gao Shen was holding a tactical meeting for his eeam.

  He o align everyone's mi before the big game.

  Over the past few days, Gao Shen had spoken with each pyer, whether a starter or a substitute.

  Now, he o unify the team's focus.

  The general manager, Marino, had also bee by De Laurentiis to attend the meeting at Fort Volturno.

  "Before I start, I want all of you to be crystal clear."

  Gao Shen stood at the front, fag the entire group, including the coag staff, pyers, and support staff.

  Everyone looked at him ily. The room was silent, and only his voice resonated.

  "For this weekend's game, Naples has only one objective." Gao Shen's voied with determination.

  "Victory!"

  "I don't want a draw, and I won't accept a loss. I want a win!" Gao Shen shouted with all his might.

  He wanted everyoo feel his resolve, to feel the fire of his fighting spirit.

  "I've waited two years for this moment. Last season, we suffered a humiliating 0-3 defeat at the San Siro. It was the most disgraceful game since I started my coag career!"

  "On that day, in that stadium, I swore to myself that I would make Inter Min pay for that humiliatiht here at the San Paolo!"

  "In the first game of this season, we managed a 2-2 draw away. We could have won, but that's all in the past. Now, the time, the pce, and everything else is on our side. This weekend, there is only oe I'll accept—we win!"

  Gao Shen's words radiated a fierce determination, his killing i unmistakable.

  Everyone in the room felt the fire igniting in their hearts.

  He had been holding this in for far too long.

  He had endured long enough.

  Now, the moment had arrived, and he was doh patience. He was ready to lead his Napoli team and, right here at the San Paolo Stadium, crush Inter Min!

  To seize the top of the table once more!