Chapter 436: Serie A vs Premier League

When Gao Shen left the Allianz Arena, he didn't look back.

His mind was still preoccupied with the conversation he'd had with Beckenbauer, particularly about the German youth training system.

Gao Shen had long been aware of the rigor and depth of Germany's football development programs. He understood the strength of their football infrastructure and the Germans' attitude toward the sport, qualities that couldn't be replicated or caught up to in a short period of time.

Currently, Gao Shen wasn't lacking in money.

When he signed his contract with Napoli this summer, he received a signing bonus of €1 million—equivalent to 10 million yuan—not including his salary and the bonuses he earned for winning the double last season.

So far this season, with Napoli advancing to the Champions League knockout stage, Gao Shen was set to earn another sizable bonus, not to mention additional incentives tied to their league performance.

But his income wasn't limited to coaching.

He held shares in companies like Penguin, Twitter, and Apple. His Twitter account itself held significant commercial value, and his agricultural and wine businesses in Chile and Peru were seeing steadily increasing revenue and profit every month.

In short, Gao Shen didn't have to worry about money anymore. He had the resources to pursue whatever he wanted, except when it came to football.

He'd once asked Su Qing to help him research ideas for a meaningful football project, something beyond coaching a team. He was particularly interested in youth training.

Su Qing compiled materials, studied policies, and conducted detailed research. She eventually concluded that even setting up a small football training program for elementary school students would be a massive challenge.

The logistical hurdles were immense: finding suitable venues, sourcing students, obtaining the necessary qualifications, ensuring student safety, and addressing the financial sustainability of the program.

In the end, Su Qing suggested, "You should focus on your promising career as a head coach. If nothing else, consider investing in stocks or other ventures. Youth training is not for you."

Although Su Qing didn't spell it out, Gao Shen understood what she meant.

If he mishandled the project, it wouldn't just fail to produce results; it could also cause him significant trouble and damage his reputation.

What would be the point of taking that risk?

Without widespread grassroots popularity in football, launching a youth training initiative would be a thankless task. It could even become a public embarrassment.

Gao Shen had seen similar situations before. A friend of his had started a basketball training program, but only after becoming the head coach of a top-tier high school basketball team with national recognition. The school offered independent enrollment quotas for exceptional students, and the program thrived as a result.

But that was around 2015.

Before then, his friend had simply been a promising physical education teacher.

Football training programs, on the other hand, only began to emerge as a viable business in 2018, when the sport started gaining more traction in grassroots communities.

After his conversation with Beckenbauer, Gao Shen gained valuable insights but also recognized the reality of the situation. Without widespread participation in football, any discussion of reform or development was meaningless.

How could you develop a sport if no one was playing it?

His visit to Coverciano had sparked some ideas. Perhaps he could launch a coaching training program instead?

Promoting football wasn't something one person could achieve alone, nor could it be done in a short amount of time. But training coaches was a feasible goal. After all, domestic leagues and clubs needed more professional, high-level coaches.

However, Gao Shen wasn't in a rush. He decided to revisit the idea later, when he had more time.

For now, his focus remained on his coaching career.

The higher he climbed, the more leverage he'd have to pursue meaningful projects in the future.

He also wanted to prove to the world that even a Chinese coach could succeed at the highest levels of football.

---

After the match against Bayern Munich, the Champions League group stage officially concluded.

Returning to Italy from Munich, Napoli quickly shifted their focus to domestic competition. Over the weekend, they faced Lecce at home in the 16th round of Serie A.

Gao Shen continued his rotation policy, and the team delivered a solid performance. With goals from Hamsik, Rakitic, and Cavani, Napoli secured a 3-0 victory and another three points.

Elsewhere, Roma edged out Cagliari 3-2 at home, while Inter Milan defeated Chievo 4-2 at the San Siro, with Zlatan Ibrahimović scoring twice.

Despite losing ground earlier in the season, Mourinho's Inter remained determined to fight back, waiting for Napoli to slip up.

After 16 rounds, Napoli maintained their five-point lead at the top of the table.

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At noon on December 19, the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 took place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Napoli sent general manager Marino to represent the club at the draw. The guest responsible for conducting the draw was Bruno Conti, the general manager of Roma, who also oversaw the group stage draw earlier this season.

Unfortunately, despite being an Italian, Bruno Conti managed to send Italian teams into difficult matchups.

As a group winner, Napoli drew Chelsea, a nightmare matchup by any standard.

It was a tragic outcome.

Inter Milan was paired with Manchester United, Roma drew Arsenal, and as for AC Milan…

Well, Ancelotti's team didn't even make it out of the group stage and was relegated to the Europa League, where they would be playing alongside Real Madrid in what felt like a soap opera.

The result was clear: a showdown between Serie A and the Premier League.

---

After the draw, the Italian media were not optimistic about Napoli's chances against Chelsea.

Under the management of Luiz Felipe Scolari, Chelsea was having a strong season. They were sitting in second place in the Premier League, with an impressive streak of eight consecutive away victories. While their Champions League performances had been less dominant, their struggles were largely confined to away matches.

The biggest concern for the Italian media, however, was Chelsea's status as the most balanced team in the Premier League this season. Known for their solid defense under Scolari's meticulous coaching, the Blues had scored 35 goals in 16 league matches while conceding only six.

By comparison, Manchester United, in third place, had scored 30 goals but conceded 10. Chelsea's defensive record was unmatched.

Napoli, on the other hand, was celebrated for their offensive football. But teams with strong defensive systems, like Chelsea, had historically posed significant challenges for them. Scolari's coaching style, marked by defensive organization and resilience, was precisely the kind of opponent Napoli would prefer to avoid.

The bookmakers' odds reflected this pessimism.

Before the draw, Napoli had the sixth-best odds of winning the Champions League among the 16 remaining teams, trailing Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Liverpool. Their odds were 15-to-1, signaling strong outside confidence in their abilities.

But once the draw was revealed, Napoli's odds of winning plummeted to 29-to-1, ranking them alongside Roma and even below Bayern Munich.

In contrast, Chelsea's odds remained unchanged at 6-to-1, tied with Manchester United and second only to Barcelona.

Though odds are not definitive predictors, the message was clear: few believed Napoli could advance past Chelsea.

For Napoli, it felt like they'd fallen victim to bad luck twice, first with their group stage draw in the so-called "group of death," and now with this.

When Gao Shen saw the results of the draw, he half-jokingly wanted to call Bruno Conti to ask, "Do you have something against me? Or did you forget to wash your hands before the draw today?"

How could the outcome be so terrible?

It wasn't just Napoli, this draw seemed like a collective punishment for the Serie A teams. The Premier League was at its peak, and Serie A teams had consistently struggled against English opposition in recent years. If they weren't careful, all three Italian clubs could be eliminated.

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As was customary, Gao Shen was interviewed by the media following the draw.

No matter how much frustration he vented privately, he maintained a calm and confident demeanor in front of the press.

"Yes, drawing Chelsea is undoubtedly a challenge," Gao Shen admitted. "We all know the Blues are one of the strongest teams in the competition, and no one wants to face such a tough opponent early on."

However, he made it clear that Napoli wouldn't back down.

"At the end of August, when we were drawn against Real Madrid, Bayern, and Zenit, everyone said the same things they're saying now that we wouldn't make it out of the group stage, that it was a 'group of death.' But in the end, we proved them wrong. Everyone saw the result."

"What I want to emphasize is this: no matter who our opponent is whether they're the strongest or the weakest we won't let it affect us. We won't be afraid or overconfident. We will focus on playing our best football in every game."

Gao Shen also pointed out that Napoli had an advantage in the schedule. As group winners, they would play the second leg at home.

"I'm looking forward to the battle at Stamford Bridge in February," he said with a confident smile.

Napoli's players echoed their coach's sentiments. While they expressed respect for Chelsea's strength, they also voiced their belief in their ability to advance.

Even club president De Laurentiis made a bold statement, declaring his faith in the team.

"I think Napoli is the strongest team in European football! Even if we secure qualification at Stamford Bridge, I wouldn't be surprised at all because I know we have the strength to do it!"

The ever-bold and outspoken president left no doubts about his confidence.

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Whether due to the pressure of the draw or other factors, the 17th round of Serie A saw mixed results for the league's top teams.

Roma suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Catania on the road, conceding three goals early before mounting a comeback that ultimately fell short. Spalletti's team seemed haunted by their upcoming clash with Arsenal.

Inter Milan, on the other hand, managed a narrow 2-1 victory over Siena thanks to a brace from Maicon.

Juventus defeated Atalanta 3-1, while AC Milan crushed Udinese 5-1 at the San Siro.

Napoli, meanwhile, traveled to Turin, where Cavani's lone goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory and another three points.

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After this round, Serie A officially entered its winter break.

Napoli remained at the top of the table with a five-point lead over second-placed Inter Milan. Juventus, AC Milan, and Fiorentina rounded out the top five.

However, instead of starting their Christmas holiday immediately, Napoli's players gathered at their training base in Castel Volturno the day after the final match.

Gao Shen had something planned, something he had been preparing for a long time.