Chapter 435: I Am Caesar
The final round of the Champions League group stage, an away match against Bayern Munich, held little significance for Napoli.
Unless Napoli suffered an absolute thrashing, losing top spot in the group was virtually impossible.
Given Bayern's form this season, even their manager, Klinsmann, likely wasn't confident about defeating Napoli at home. The outcome felt predetermined.
Gao Shen fielded a rotated lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation, giving players like Pellè, Vidal, Hamsik, and Nainggolan the chance to experience the atmosphere and tempo of an away game against a European giant.
The result, however, was surprising.
In the 25th minute, Vidal unleashed a long shot that smacked against the post, sending a wave of tension through the Allianz Arena and triggering a chaotic scramble in the box.
Napoli quickly regained possession and reorganized. Valencia sent a cross from the right to the penalty spot. Hamsik struck the ball cleanly, but it deflected off Demichelis' leg, changing direction and rolling into the goal behind Rensing.
1-0!
The Allianz Arena fell into stunned silence.
Even Gao Shen was momentarily frozen.
An own goal!
Napoli stuck to their tactical approach, pressing Bayern and controlling the game on the field.
It wasn't until the 82nd minute that Bayern managed to equalize. A free kick in the attacking third saw Ze Roberto seize his opportunity, leveling the score for the home side.
The match ended 1-1, with neither side emerging victorious.
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After six group-stage matches, Napoli advanced as group winners with four wins and two draws.
Napoli also became the highest-scoring team in this season's Champions League group stage, earning widespread praise from fans and pundits alike.
Bayern Munich finished second in the group. Meanwhile, Real Madrid defeated Zenit 3-0 at the Bernabéu in the final round, securing third place. Zenit's form dipped significantly in the winter months, struggling in their two away games.
It was evident that Russia's notorious winter conditions impacted even Russian teams when they played away from home.
As the group-stage rankings across the Champions League were finalized, Gao Shen noticed something peculiar—and frustrating—about this season's competition.
It felt as though the draw for the knockout stage was deliberately stacked against Napoli.
Securing first place in the group is supposed to ensure a more favorable draw by avoiding the strongest runners-up. But this season, several second-placed teams were remarkably formidable.
Among them were Arsenal, Lyon, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, and Chelsea.
Admittedly, compared to group winners like Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester United, these teams were somewhat less daunting.
Nonetheless, reaching the knockout stage was already a significant achievement for Napoli, especially since this was their first Champions League campaign in over a decade. The team was pushing itself to the limit, eager to keep proving their worth.
Gao Shen encouraged his players while also cautioning them. He reminded the team that the challenges in the knockout rounds would surpass anything they had faced so far. The top teams in Europe were not just strong they were relentless and unforgiving.
"Each of them will be an incredibly tough opponent," he said.
After his speech in the locker room, Gao Shen headed to the press conference hall at the Allianz Arena, escorted by UEFA staff.
Before entering the room, he unexpectedly crossed paths with Franz Beckenbauer, the legendary "Kaiser" of German football.
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Although Gao Shen had long grown accustomed to meeting football legends and superstars, seeing Beckenbauer was still something special.
After the press conference, Beckenbauer invited Gao Shen to join him for a drink in the VIP area of the Allianz Arena.
Initially, Gao Shen thought he would be meeting Bayern's executives, like Rummenigge or Hoeness, but they weren't there.
This led to a moment of misunderstanding.
For a brief second, Gao Shen wondered if Bayern might be sounding him out as a potential replacement for Klinsmann, who was struggling this season.
He even considered what it might be like to coach Bayern. It was certainly a tempting option given the club's history and stature. However, dealing with the egos of superstars like Ribery and Robben would present its own challenges.
While there was no question about the talent of those two, Gao Shen couldn't help but wonder if they'd fully buy into his system and tactics. Would they cooperate, or would they resist?
For now, it seemed manageable. Ribery was desperate to achieve success, while Robben was eager to prove himself again.
But Gao Shen quickly dismissed the thought, chuckling at himself. Bayern had no such intentions, this meeting was purely casual.
---
Beckenbauer had a natural charisma that made him immensely popular, not only in Germany but also within UEFA and FIFA circles. Rumors had even swirled at one point that Blatter intended to back Beckenbauer as a candidate for UEFA president when Johansson stepped down.
Ultimately, though, it was Platini who took the position, while Beckenbauer was said to have his sights set on the FIFA presidency.
Although he didn't hold much real power within Bayern these days, his influence in global football was unparalleled.
During their conversation, Gao Shen opened up about his admiration for Beckenbauer, mentioning how his first football-related book had been Beckenbauer's autobiography.
"Do you remember the Bertelsmann Book Club?" Gao Shen asked with a smile.
Beckenbauer's face lit up. "Of course! I was one of their contracted authors and a member of the club."
"I read your autobiography I Am Julius Caesar," Gao Shen said.
"Really?" Beckenbauer was delighted. "I even attended the Chinese launch event for that book. If I'd known you liked it, I would've made a point to meet you."
Gao Shen laughed, though he couldn't help but think wryly, I was just a kid back then!
The shared connection eased the conversation, making it more relaxed and enjoyable.
Though it had been years since Gao Shen read the book, Beckenbauer's excitement about his visit to China was clear. He vividly recalled landmarks and experiences from his trip, speaking about them with enthusiasm.
"Next time you come to Shanghai, let me know," Beckenbauer offered warmly. "I have a house with the best view of the Huangpu River. I'll make sure you have a great experience."
Gao Shen readily agreed.
---
As the conversation turned to football, Beckenbauer brought up Klinsmann's precarious situation. Despite his shaky results, Klinsmann maintained a good relationship with Bayern's management, who were known for their ability to part ways amicably with coaches.
Bayern had a unique culture in this regard. Former players often moved into management positions, and they valued maintaining personal relationships with head coaches. Even when performance led to a dismissal, they left the door open for future cooperation.
For instance, both Hitzfeld and Heynckes had left Bayern only to be brought back later, Heynckes even after retiring. Such moves would have been impossible without the strong personal bonds within Bayern's hierarchy.
During a previous conversation over drinks, Klinsmann had shared some of Bayern's internal challenges with Gao Shen. Gao Shen had offered his thoughts on German football and Bayern's potential, ideas that Klinsmann seemed to have passed on to people like Beckenbauer.
As they continued to chat, Beckenbauer touched on German youth training, an area where he had been a pivotal figure.
Gao Shen listened attentively, asking questions and soaking up the insights. Germany's youth development system was known for its structure and rigor, and Beckenbauer had been instrumental in its creation. Back in the late 1990s, he had recognized the growing talent deficit in German football and pushed for reforms.
Gao Shen learned a great deal from this conversation details and nuances that were rarely shared publicly. While this knowledge wasn't immediately applicable, he knew it might prove invaluable in the future.
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Gao Shen and Beckenbauer ended up talking for over an hour before parting ways.
What Gao Shen didn't know was that shortly after he left, Rummenigge and Hoeness arrived at the VIP area.
"Franz, what do you think?" Hoeness asked, glancing in the direction Gao Shen had gone.
Beckenbauer nodded thoughtfully. "He's a young man with sharp ideas. He's already proven his abilities at Napoli. A lot of his ideas align with ours. I think he's worth considering."
Rummenigge and Hoeness exchanged a glance, both nodding in agreement.
While Beckenbauer didn't hold executive power, his opinions carried significant weight in Bayern's major decisions. His influence, both within the club and among fans, was unmatched.
At present, Bayern was second in the Bundesliga standings, tied on points with Hoffenheim but trailing on goal difference. This was a marked improvement from mid-October, when Bayern had fallen to 11th place.
Back then, the management had seriously considered replacing Klinsmann. However, Beckenbauer had publicly backed the coach, giving him time to stabilize the team. Since then, Bayern's performances had improved, leading to their current position.
Still, Klinsmann's future wasn't secure. If he wanted to stay, he'd need to deliver more convincing results.
"Gao Shen's achievements at Real Madrid and Napoli are impressive," Rummenigge said, "but he's very young. We need to think this through carefully."
Beckenbauer and Hoeness both nodded in agreement.
After Klinsmann's struggles, Bayern's management couldn't afford another gamble. If they replaced Klinsmann with a young coach like Gao Shen and the team faltered, someone in Bayern's leadership would have to shoulder the blame.
No one wanted to take that risk lightly.
Besides, Bayern traditionally favored familiar faces when hiring coaches. Beckenbauer and Gao Shen had only just met, and there was still much to learn about the young manager.
At Bayern, decisions like this weren't taken lightly. The club prided itself on its deep understanding of football and knew the importance of choosing a coach carefully.
Even so, Gao Shen had officially entered Bayern's radar.
***
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