Starting With Real Madrid

After leading 3-0 in the first half, it was clear to everyone that Napoli was destined to win.

In the second half, Napoli eased off slightly. Zenit tried to press aggressively early on, but their efforts failed. Instead, Napoli added a fourth goal in the 53rd minute.

Sanchez, tracking back, intercepted the ball and initiated a counterattack with a perfectly weighted through pass. Di Maria escaped his marker on the right flank, broke into the penalty area, and fired a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper.

4-0!

After conceding the fourth goal, Zenit retreated into a defensive shell, and Napoli slowed the tempo further.

By the end of the match, no additional goals had been scored.

It seemed Napoli had spared Zenit any further humiliation.

---

A 7-0 demolition of Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, a 2-0 victory over Bayern at home, a 1-1 draw away at Zenit, and now a 4-0 win at home against Zenit...

After four rounds of the Champions League group stage, the football world was stunned. Napoli, the dark horse in this brutal group, had emerged as its best-performing team, playing an attacking style that left spectators and pundits alike in awe.

In his post-match press conference, Gao Shen expressed satisfaction with his team's performance.

"Yes, when the draw was made, my players and I—just like everyone else—were worried. We were drawn against some incredible teams, teams with histories of success."

He went on to acknowledge the quality of Real Madrid, Bayern, and Zenit, but emphasized Napoli's unique mentality.

"This team thrives under pressure. In fact, the tougher the challenge, the more motivated we become!"

Since Gao Shen had taken the reins at Napoli, the club had undergone a remarkable transformation. The once rugged and workmanlike team from southern Italy now played a style of football that was dazzling, technical, and fluid, all while retaining the fierce determination and tenacity that defined its identity.

Gao Shen's impact had been so profound that he had effectively rewritten the team's DNA.

Napoli's fearlessness was evident even during Gao Shen's early days in Serie B. Back then, he boldly declared his ambitions to win Serie A and took down heavyweights like Roma in the Italian Cup.

Time and again, whether in domestic competition or on the European stage, Napoli had proven themselves capable of rising to the occasion against stronger opponents.

Gao Shen's assertion held true: strong teams brought out the best in Napoli.

With three wins and one draw in their first four matches, Napoli had scored 14 goals and conceded just one, a testament to their balance of attacking firepower and defensive solidity. Without question, they were the standout performers of the Champions League group stage so far.

---

While Napoli celebrated their 4-0 victory over Zenit, elsewhere Bayern came from behind to defeat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabéu.

The results left the group standings as follows: Napoli in first place with 10 points (three wins, one draw), Bayern in second with nine points (three wins, one loss), Real Madrid in third with three points (one win, three losses), and Zenit last with one point (one draw, three losses).

While Zenit's performance had been valiant, their standing reflected the sheer difficulty of competing in such a loaded group.

Under different circumstances, Zenit might have fought for qualification, but the level of competition here was simply too high.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's campaign was in shambles. With just three points from four matches, their hopes of advancing were mathematically impossible.

Even if Real Madrid won their final two matches and Bayern lost both, the teams would be level on nine points. However, Bayern had won both head-to-head encounters, securing the tiebreaker.

The realization that Real Madrid was eliminated with two games to spare sent shockwaves through Spain.

The Spanish media erupted in collective outrage.

How had Real Madrid, one of the most prestigious clubs in football history, failed to make it out of the group stage?

Blame quickly fell on head coach Michel, though many saw him as merely a stopgap. The real criticism was directed at President Ramón Calderón and sporting director Predrag Mijatović, whom the media accused of destabilizing the club with poor decisions.

To appease the enraged fanbase, Real Madrid announced Michel's dismissal immediately after their defeat to Bayern. His replacement? Juande Ramos, the Spanish coach recently fired by Tottenham Hotspur.

Ramos became Real Madrid's third manager this season, eerily reminiscent of their chaotic 2006 campaign.

On his radio program, De La Morena of Cadena SER said, "In 2006, Real Madrid sacked two coaches, then brought in Gao Shen, who went on to achieve something miraculous. Now, they've sacked two coaches again. Do they really think Ramos can replicate Gao Shen's legend?"

His tone left little doubt—De La Morena was deeply pessimistic.

Gao Shen's story was one-of-a-kind, a legend that could never be repeated.

---

Thousands of miles away in Cyprus, José Mourinho stood in Larnaca International Airport, staring out at the Mediterranean as he processed the news from Naples.

Napoli had defeated Zenit 4-0.

Mourinho's Inter Milan had also played their Champions League match, a frustrating 3-3 draw against Anorthosis. Though still unbeaten, the performance left him unsettled.

After four rounds, Inter led their group with two wins, two draws, and eight points. While their position was safe, their remaining opponents too weak to pose a threat—Mourinho couldn't shake the frustration.

Particularly when he compared his team's progress to Napoli's.

"One of our scouts attended the game in Naples," said André Villas-Boas, Mourinho's assistant. "He said Napoli's performance was extraordinary. They're at a very high level."

Mourinho nodded grimly. "I'm not surprised."

After over two years under Gao Shen's guidance, Napoli was no longer a work in progress. The team was complete, fully realizing its potential.

"Building a team takes time," Mourinho continued. "It's not something you can rush. And with Inter, we're not there yet."

Inter's squad was still a work in progress. Key players like Lucio, Moutinho, and Pandev had joined relatively late, leaving Mourinho with limited time to integrate them fully.

"Not everyone can walk into a new team and hit the ground running," Mourinho added, citing Rafael van der Vaart as an example. "Even Zidane needed six months to settle at Real Madrid."

Reflecting on Napoli's success, Mourinho sighed. "I knew they were aiming to make a statement in the Champions League this season. When I saw their group, I thought they'd struggle... I didn't expect this."

He shook his head, a mix of frustration and admiration in his voice.

"Gao Shen is ruthless. Ruthless to himself, to his players, and especially to his opponents."

Mourinho had hoped Napoli's European campaign would distract them, causing their Serie A form to falter. But instead, they excelled on both fronts, challenging Inter's dominance in the league while conquering the group of death in Europe.

"There's no denying it," Villas-Boas said. "If Napoli tops their group, they could go far, maybe even to the semifinals."

Mourinho hesitated, then shook his head. "It's hard to say."

He elaborated, "The group stage is one thing, but the knockout rounds are a completely different challenge. In the knockouts, even a minor weakness can be exploited. And Napoli, for all their brilliance, is still a young team. They lack experience, and their style is risky."

He paused before continuing. "In the group stage, teams like Real Madrid and Bayern didn't play conservatively. But in the knockouts, Napoli will face more disciplined teams—Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United. It'll be a different game."

Even within Serie A, Napoli wasn't invincible.

Mourinho's gaze returned to the horizon. "There are still 25 days until we face Napoli in the league."

With most of Inter's injured players returning, he saw an opportunity to strengthen his squad further.

"Let Gao Shen focus on the Champions League," Mourinho said. "We'll be waiting for them at the San Siro."

His voice dropped, filled with determination.

"I just hope he doesn't slip up before we get the chance to face him."