"For two years, I've been refleg on one question: why did the Gacticos fail?"

  After watg the game, Florentino invited Gao Shen and a few others to a high-eaurahe Bernabeu.

  In the privacy of the VIP room, Florentino opened up to Gao Shen, Valdano, and Zidane, sharing some of his refles.

  Gao Shen guessed that Florentino had likely e to some important realizations.

  "I discovered that the main reason was that we didn't follow the fual rules of football."

  Florentino's clusion aligned perfectly with what Gao Shen had said long ago.

  The so-called "fual rules of football" rgely referred to the age of the pyers.

  The Gacticos policy had prioritized signing one superstar each year, but the issue was that most of these superstars were already past their prime.

  For instance, Figo was 27 when he joined Real Madrid, and Zidane was 29. Though both were at the height of their careers, everyone khat a pyer's peak often sted only about three years.

  By the time Beckham arrived, Figo was already 30, and Zidane was 31. Both were on the dee, and this led to Real Madrid's barren years after 2003, culminating in the earthquake of 2006 when the club fell into turmoil.

  In truth, this oute had beeable sihe iion of the superstar strategy.

  Yet looking back, the core problem was that Real Madrid's approach to signing superstars was unsustaihe strategy demahe best pyers in the world, but those pyers were often already ie 20s. The pool of avaible talent was ily limited.

  This created an unsolvable tradi within Real Madrid's superstar policy.

  However, Gao Shen believed this dilemma wasn't without solutions, Real Madrid just o adjust its perspective.

  They could either sign multiple superstars at oo create a golden geion or focus on acquiring younger pyers with the potential to grow into superstars.

  Gao Shen agreed wholeheartedly with Florentino's assessment but alsht up another crucial factor: the improvement of trainihods.

  This insight came directly from his experience coag Napoli.

  As high-level stific training became more promi in professional football along with increasingly mature pyer development systems pyers were getting younger and peaking earlier.

  For example, Kaka, who led A to a Champions League title and won the Ballon d'Or, was only 25.

  Simirly, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Puese winger making waves at Maer United, was just 23.

  And then there was Messi, Bara's prodigy and future Ballon d'Or winner, who was only 20.

  As someoh knowledge of the future, Gao Shehese three pyers were already top stars, and their achievements would only grow.

  Of course, Kaka would eventually be hampered by injuries, but at this moment, he was still in his prime, and Gao Shen had to aowledge him.

  "The level of training is improving dramatically," Gao Shen said. "It's being more stifid standardized, and pyer support systems are increasingly prehensive. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo already has a dedicated fitness coach, a personal chef, and a nutritionist, among other things."

  "This season in Serie A, Del Piero is perf exceptionally well because he hired a personal traiotti has also long had his own personal trainer, and both veterans are in remarkable shape."

  "I fidently say that in the foreseeable future, the careers of highly self-disciplined pyers will tio lengthen. We'll see more and more pyers reag the top level earlier in their careers. Some could even bee world-css stars in their early twenties."

  This bold predi wasn't just specution—it was grounded iy.

  Take Napoli, for instance.

  Napoli's squad had an average age in the early twehe oldest pyer in their starting lineup was Vargas, a 24-year-old Peruvian, while the you was Alexis Sánchez, a 19-year-old Chilean winger.

  Yet despite their youth, they were dominating och.

  After all, this was the same team that had crushed Serie A champions Inter Min 5-0 at home.

  Uheir advaactical system, Napoli's young pyers were just as effective as aablished stars.

  People were already paring Gao Shen's Napoli to Van Gaal's Ajax, a young, fearless, and immealeeam brimming with passion.

  ---

  Florentino, Valdano, Zidane, and Butrague?o were all stunned.

  Every time they spoke with Gao Shen, his ideas and insights were thought-provoking, often ahead of their time.

  Even more remarkable was Gao Shen's fidend crity iing his arguments.

  Many of the predis Gao Shen had made two years ago were now beiy, and Napoli's performances tio validate his theories.

  Gao Shen was no lohe inexperienced coach of two years ago. Now, he was leading a Serie A title tender and one of the most talked-about teams in Europe. His reputation and influence were growing rapidly.

  So much so that Florentino jokingly said, "If I return to Real Madrid, you'd be my ideal didate for head coach!"

  Gao Shen merely smiled and didn't respond.

  He knew better than to take Florentino's words at face value. People in business always knew how to sweeten the deal, but promises were rarely guaranteed.

  Even if Florentiuro Real Madrid, who could say he would keep his word?

  And even if he did, was Gao Shen willing to dive bato Real Madrid's chaos?

  So, he just ughed it off.

  Instead, Gao Shen turo Zidane.

  "Zinedine, have you passed your coag certificatio?" Gao Shen asked abruptly.

  The French legend froze for a moment before smiling awkwardly. "Not yet."

  "A scker, huh? A proper underachiever!"

  Who would have thought that Zidane, a genius och, hadn't even pleted his coag certification?

  The others, curious, asked for the full story, and Gao Shen expihe room erupted in ughter.

  "You've got five months left," Gao Shen said. "If you haven't passed the test by then, it's fine, you still e a to me. But I'll make sure to fess to the media beforehand so we don't end up with another Ranieri situation."

  Ranieri had faced signifit trouble due to his fitness coach na's ck of certification. While Juventus' ma eventually protected him, it had still caused plenty of headaches.

  Gao Shen didn't io make the same mistake, so he warned Zidah a smile. "If you're caught, I'll drag you straight to the stands to be my assistant. That way, it's not me who gets embarrassed, it's you."

  Zidane's expression turned sour. "You're too ruthless!"

  But Gao Shen remained firm. "If I don't push you, who knows how long it'll take you to get certified?"

  ---

  In truth, Gao Shen wasn't overly ed with his long-term future.

  Like many coaches, he preferred to focus on the present.

  For now, his primary goal was to lead Napoli to the Serie A title and take the team to the level season.

  While he didn't expeuch from Napoli in the Champions League given the petition's unique challenges he couldn't help but dream.

  After shaking up Serie A, Gao Shen wao do the same in Europe.

  However, he was acutely aware of the challenges ahead.

  ---

  The Champions League's Moat

  Napoli, as Serie A champions, would undoubtedly qualify for season's Champions League. Yet due to their ck of European petition points, they would be pced in Pot 4 during the group stage draw, effectively guaranteeing pt in a "Group of Death."

  This wasn't uo Napoli, it was how the system worked. European points acted as a moat for traditional powerhouses, proteg their dominance.

  Napoli's inexperience meant they'd face a brutal uphill battle from the start. Even if they advanced from the group, it would likely leave the team exhausted, making further progress difficult.

  But Gao Shen didn't care.

  He refused to believe that a team like Napoli young, fearless, and brimming with potential couldn't defy the odds.

  If Napoli could be Serie A's dark horse, why not Europe's?

  Fao Shen, the challenge was irresistible.

  After quering Serie A, his goal was clear: turn Napoli into the first true dark horse in Champions League history.

  But first, he had to finish the job at hand.

  Win the Serie A title. Win the Coppa Italia.

  Only then could he set his sights on Europe.

  ***

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