"Just now, in the locker room, I told my pyers that I only have two and a half months left as Inter Min's coach."

  This was Mani's statement at the post-match press fereaking responsibility for the disastrous defeat.

  He said that despite having four years remaining on his tract with Inter Min, he would leave his position at the end of the season. He emphasized that this decision had little to do with the humiliation suffered that night.

  However, Mani reiterated that he would nn before the season ended.

  "I uand that someone must take responsibility for tonight's game, and that person only be me. I am willing to bear the bme. But I want to stress that there are still 12 rounds left in the league, and we haven't pletely lost the title race. We also have the Coppa Italia. I believe resigning now would be irresponsible."

  "It's not hard for me to leave, but that's not my style," he added.

  Mani also pointed out that Inter Min's temporary slip from the top of the table didn't mean they had lost their shot at the title.

  "I want to gratute Napoli. They pyed better and deserved the victory and the top spot. But I believe we have the quality to recim the lead."

  "There are still 12 games left, and the schedule favors us. I believe we still have a good ce of achieving a domestic double. Even in the Champions League, our hopes areirely dashed."

  Mani admitted, however, that achieving this would require everyone oeam to perform at their best.

  "It's difficult, it's not easy, but I believe we do it."

  ---

  Mani's press ference preceded Gao Shen's.

  By the time Gao Sheered the room, he had already heard parts of Mani's responses.

  Although Gao Shen didn't have the best impression of Mani believing him to be arrogant and desding he had to admit that Mani showed a sense of responsibility in his handling of the situation.

  Just as Mani had done as a coach.

  It would have been easy for Mani to walk away now, leaving the mess behind and shifting bme. After all, not all defeats are solely the coach's fault. But choosing to stay on during such a tumultuous time was undoubtedly the harder path.

  Of course, when Mani stated he wouldn't resign, the subtext was clear: if Inter Min wanted him gohey would have to fire him.

  Given Mani's personality, he would probably even fo any termination fees just to walk away ly. For this, Gao Shen found himself admiring Mani and gave him due respect.

  At the press ference, Gao Shen defended Mani when asked by reporters. He praised the Inter coach for leading his team to an uen run of 25 matches this season, and 40 in total, calling it araordinary achievement.

  He also stated that one loss couldn't erase Mani's tributions and aplishments.

  At the same time, Gao Shen emphasized, "We haven't won the championship yet. We're only temporarily at the top due to head-to-head results. This is the result of collective effort from everyone ieam, and we must keep w hard!"

  ---

  For this victao Shen expressed his satisfa.

  Over a year ago, Napoli had been humiliated 3-0 by Inter Min at the San Siro. That loss had lingered in Gao Shen's memory. Now, with a 5-0 demolition of I home, it felt like sweet revenge.

  But Gao Shen jokingly added, "This is Napoli's home turf. I still hope to settle the score at the San Siro!"

  The implication was clear: home defeats should be ave home, and away defeats should be avenged away.

  Naturally, Gao Shen delivered this statement with a lighthearted tone, as if making a joke.

  ---

  Gao Shen held a high opinion of this game but didn't believe it indicated that Napoli was now strong enough to domier Min.

  "Si November, we've experienced a period of instability. Both pyers and coaches cked the experieo navigate such a situation. But during the winter break, we made signifit adjustments and strengthened in all areas," Gao Shen expined.

  He attributed Napoli's improved form to the prehensive adjustments made during the winter break. Everyone from the pyers to the coag staff and the supp team, had tributed to the club's current momentum.

  "This is not the result of any single individual. It belongs to the eeam and everyone involved," Gao Shen emphasized.

  He expressed fiden maintaining the team's form until the end of the season.

  "In our pn, we aim to sustain this momentum and form through the rest of the campaign."

  Gao Shen believed that the difficult period earlier in the season had been instrumental in shaping the team's resilience.

  "What makes me happiest is that during this time, my pyers, my assistants, and everyone in the club showed unwavering trust and support in me."

  "Difficulties have made us strohis rough patch has united us and pushed us to work harder. The team has made remarkable progress. But I don't think we've reached our peak yet, that would be a misception."

  "We are a team with an average age barely over 22. Anyone familiar with professional football knows this is far from a team's peak age. We still have immeential to unlock."

  Looking ahead, Gao Shen envisioned Napoli peting on a higher stage iure.

  When asked by reporters if he was referring to the Champions League, Gao Shen smiled and responded, "Why not?"

  ---

  For this season, however, Gao She more immediate goals: winning the Serie A and Coppa Italia titles.

  Now leading Serie A, Gao Shen didn't shy away from stating his team's ambitions. "If I didn't voice this goal now, it would be hypocritical."

  However, he aowledged the challenges ahead. Napoli still had to face tough matches against Roma and Juventus.

  As for the Coppa Italia, Gao Shen admitted he had unfinished business from st season and hoped to cim the trophy this year. Yet, he emphasized the strength of the remaining teams in the petition, making it no easy task.

  ---

  When Napoli wins, Gao Shen's press fereend to be longer and filled with insightful entary. Often, he would back his analysis with data, and this time was no different.

  Under questioning from repao Shen shared a stunning statistic:

  Napoli had covered nearly 120 kilometers ich.

  And Inter Min?

  Gao Shen didn't give a number but hi was around 100 kilometers.

  In other words, Napoli had outrun their oppos by 20 kilometers, equivalent to ara two pyers on the field.

  This revetiohe reporters in shock.

  "Isn't this basically 13 versus 11 och?" one journalist remarked.

  While on statistics like shots, fouls, and possession were already avaible, Gao Shen highlighted a few other key metrics.

  "Our possession rate was 65.3%. We pleted nearly three times as many passes as our oppos, with a pass success rate of 90%, pared to their 70%."

  Gao Shen expihat these figures demonstrated Napoli's superiority in off-ball movement and overall tactical execution.

  "Our tactics worked perfectly," Gao Shen decred proudly, his fidence evident in his tone and expression.

  This victory, fao Shen, was not just about three points. It was a validation of his pyers, coag staff, and tactical philosophies.

  And now, whether it was Gao Shen himself, the team, or the coag staff, they had all delivered a full-score performance.

  fidence was evident throughout Napoli, and it was well-earned.

  ---

  As Gao Shen ed up the final question, Napoli's PR staff indicated the press ference was ing to an end. Suddenly, a few journalists stood up and began g fao Shen.

  At first, it was only one or two.

  Then three.

  Then four.

  More and more reporters joined in, until the entire room was standing and appuding.

  Eveers from the Italian media, who were typically critical, joined in.

  Gao Shen was taken aback by the se. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

  He smiled, waved, and pced his hands over his chest in gratitude. With a slight bow, he thanked everyone before leaving the room. The appuse tinued long after he had gone.

  ---

  This wasn't the first time Gao Shen had received such reition, but it was undoubtedly the one he cherished most.

  Previously, critics attributed his success at Real Madrid to the club's i strength.

  But this time, it was different.

  This was Napoli, a team he had taken from Serie B and rebuilt step by step. Now, they had just dismantled Inter Min 5-0 in Serie A.

  This victory was entirely his own.

  And it made Gao Sheruly proud.

  ***

  I'm thinking of pig up a new ff to transte, but I'm a bit stumped. If you know of a good ff that hasn't been worked o and think it'd be worth transting, drop me a link, and I'll check it out.

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