Chapter 437: We Have Only One Goal

Not long ago, ahead of Napoli's away game against Inter Milan, a team from the country's leading national television station traveled to Italy to produce a special report on Gao Shen's work in Naples.

The three-part feature, aired on the sports channel, delved into everything Gao Shen had accomplished in the city.

The production crew wandered through the streets of Naples and discovered how deeply football had permeated the city's culture. It wasn't just a sport; it was part of the city's lifeblood.

"Dirty, chaotic, and poor—that's the first impression most tourists have of Naples," the report began.

"But in the Agora district, often considered the heart of Naples, football is everywhere."

The cameras captured shop shutters painted with graffiti of Maradona, the Napoli team, and Gao Shen. Sky blue was the dominant color of the city, and football culture was evident everywhere from shop signs to handcrafted trinkets. Statues of Maradona and Gao Shen frequently appeared in the footage.

"Napoli fans even turn their creativity against their rivals," the report added. "You'll find toilet paper adorned with the logos of opposing teams, sold as souvenirs."

Interviews with fans revealed a shift in rivalries.

"Napoli fans used to hate Juventus the most," the report explained. "The rivalry began in Serie B. But now, Inter Milan has taken Juventus's place."

A street interview captured one fan passionately explaining why.

"Because they beat us 3-0 in the Italian Cup!" he exclaimed. "Our coach, Gao Shen, said he'd never forget that match, and neither will we."

This bitterness turned into creativity, with mockery of Inter Milan becoming a thriving business. Items like toilet paper featuring Inter Milan's logo or caricatures of Ibrahimović known for his brash remarks about Naples were especially popular.

This playful street culture was part of what made Naples unique. Many tourists visited the markets to experience the city's authentic and vibrant character.

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In 1990, Maradona led Napoli to their second Serie A title.

To honor the legendary player, Naples residents pooled their money to commission a graffiti mural. The artist, Mario Filardi, lived in the Spanish Quarter and worked with a team of volunteers to complete the project.

The mural became a pilgrimage site for football fans visiting Naples. But over time, the graffiti began to fade, and some details were obscured, like Maradona's face, which was painted on a window. When the window was opened, his image disappeared.

Many locals believed Maradona deserved a more permanent and prominent tribute.

Last season, after Napoli won the Serie A double, fans petitioned the city government to create a new mural for Gao Shen and Maradona. The proposal included placing Gao Shen's mural next to the original Maradona mural.

The city government approved the idea. But a street artist proposed an even grander project: using the side of an entire building to create two massive murals in the coastal heart of Naples.

One mural would feature Maradona, while the other would showcase Gao Shen.

At the same time, the city government responded to fan requests by erecting life-sized statues of Maradona and Gao Shen at the northwest and southeast entrances of the San Paolo Stadium.

The Maradona statue depicted him in his playing days, while Gao Shen's statue showed him wearing a suit, standing on the sidelines in a coaching pose.

Every match day, Napoli fans entering the stadium would pass by one of these statues. The city even redeveloped the surrounding area into landscaped zones, ensuring the statues became central features of the fan experience.

The street artist's massive murals were funded by local businesses and widely supported by the people of Naples. The statues at the stadium were a joint effort by the city government and the Napoli football club.

Both tributes were scheduled for unveiling just before Christmas.

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As in previous years, Gao Shen led the Napoli players in community outreach activities before the holiday. The team was divided into groups and visited hospitals, nursing homes, kindergartens, and other local institutions across Naples, participating in charity and community events.

This tradition is a must for European teams, as local fans contribute the majority of ticket revenue. It is a way to give back to the community and show appreciation for their unwavering support.

The event lasted the entire morning. Each group visited several locations and took part in a variety of activities.

At noon, the entire team returned to the San Paolo Stadium to attend the unveiling ceremony of the statues, a joint effort by the city government and the club. Even Maradona, the newly appointed head coach of the Argentina national team, flew in to attend.

The ceremony began with the unveiling of Maradona's statue. Numerous media reporters from Italy and abroad gathered to capture the moment.

Maradona expressed his gratitude to the Naples city government and the club, reaffirming his deep connection to the city.

"I am very happy to see that the team I love and once fought for has now become the strongest team in Italy and even in European football under the leadership of a passionate and successful coach," Maradona said.

"I am so proud of this Napoli team!"

Maradona admitted that since becoming a coach, he now understood how challenging the job could be.

"Many people, including Valdano and Menotti, have told me that Gao Shen is the most thoughtful coach in world football. So, this time, I came to Naples not just to participate in this event but also to learn from this team and its coach."

Though often rebellious, Maradona displayed humility during his time in Naples, a city that always brought out his softer side.

The ceremony then moved to the southeast entrance of the stadium, where Gao Shen personally unveiled the red cloth covering his own statue. The crowd of fans, players, and media responded with warm and enthusiastic applause.

At just 28 years old, with less than three years of coaching experience, Gao Shen had achieved something extraordinary, a statue in his honor erected by Napoli.

In his speech, Gao Shen humbly responded to Maradona's earlier comments. He expressed his pride in standing alongside a legend like Maradona, whom he described as "the eternal god" in his heart, someone irreplaceable.

Gao Shen also took the opportunity to thank Naples for the experience he had gained there.

"This has been a pivotal chapter in my growth and my coaching career," he said. "It has taught me so much, lessons that will benefit me for the rest of my life."

When asked about the team's goals for the season, Gao Shen kept it straightforward.

"In Serie A, we are leading the standings, and our only goal is to win the championship," he declared confidently.

Gao Shen explained that as long as Napoli maintained their strong performance from the first half of the season, he was confident in their ability to claim the title.

Regarding the Italian Cup, he acknowledged that Napoli had already reached the quarterfinals and credited their successful rotation system for keeping the team competitive on multiple fronts. He stressed that this balance was key to winning the Italian Cup as well.

Finally, Gao Shen addressed the Champions League.

"Many people felt frustrated, even pessimistic, after the draw with Chelsea," he said, his gaze sweeping across the crowd of fans and players. He continued with a hint of playfulness, "And yes, I know many of you felt the same way, even if you didn't say it out loud."

"But I'm here to tell you—it's unnecessary!"

Standing confidently in front of the microphone, Gao Shen faced the mayor, city councilors, and other prominent figures without a hint of nervousness.

"Naples is a unique city, and Napoli's football is just as unique. From the past to the present and into the future, this city and this team have always fought back against the odds.

"When we were in Serie B, we dared to challenge Serie A teams, including the top clubs. Yes, we suffered crushing defeats, but those experiences became valuable assets that made us stronger."

"When we were promoted to Serie A, everyone assumed our goal was merely survival, to avoid relegation. But only we knew the truth: survival was never our goal. Our goal was to win the championship!"

"Countless people called it a fantasy, an impossible dream. But in the end, we proved them wrong. We overcame every obstacle, defeated every team, and turned the impossible into reality. We became the first promoted team in Serie A history to win the championship!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

"And now, we've fought our way out of the group of death, going up against European powerhouses like Bayern, Real Madrid, and Zenit. We've shown the world that Napoli is no pushover. We've shown that we have the strength to fight for what we want."

"So let me say this clearly: no matter who our next opponent is—Chelsea or anyone else—we don't care. Because in the end, they are destined to fall before us."

"We have only one goal: the championship. All the championships!"

Gao Shen's voice was resolute as he concluded.

"My players and I promise each and every one of you that we will give everything we have to fulfill this promise!"

As soon as Gao Shen finished speaking, the crowd burst into applause, louder and more passionate than before.