Chapter 444: Great Changes
Gao Shen, Bonucci, and Hamsik all winning major awards greatly boosted Napoli's morale.
Although Napoli held a brief training camp during the winter break, the team and its players were still adjusting their condition. Nevertheless, Napoli's strength this season was far beyond what it had been the previous year.
Three days after returning to Naples from Turin, the 20th round of Serie A kicked off.
At home, Napoli secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Catania, with Hamsik scoring the decisive goal.
Before the match, Napoli held a brief celebration at the San Paolo Stadium. Gao Shen, Bonucci, and Hamsik walked onto the pitch with their trophies, proudly displaying their achievements to the home crowd.
The Napoli fans were ecstatic.
This team had grown incredibly strong, filled with international players and stars, and its influence was increasing rapidly.
Looking at Napoli now, it was hard to believe that just two years ago, the team had been in Serie B, and three years ago, it had been struggling in Serie C.
All of this transformation was thanks to Gao Shen, who had brought a revolution to both the team and the city.
The fans chanted his name. One supporters' group even wrote a song dedicated to Gao Shen, expressing their gratitude and vowing to remember him forever, just like the statue outside the San Paolo Stadium.
---
While Napoli narrowly defeated Catania, Inter Milan also played at home, where Adriano's stoppage-time goal in the first half secured them a 1-0 win over Sampdoria.
Elsewhere, Roma hosted AC Milan and drew 2-2.
After 20 rounds, the Serie A title race had effectively boiled down to two contenders: Napoli and Inter Milan.
Napoli maintained a five-point lead at the top, but Inter Milan had shown significant potential, especially after Mourinho stabilized the locker room. Players like Cruz and Adriano were in excellent form.
The title would likely go to whichever team made fewer mistakes.
---
Three days later, Serie A's 21st round took place.
Napoli traveled to Florence to face Fiorentina.
Despite being the home team, Fiorentina found themselves on the back foot for much of the match.
The first half ended in a 0-0 stalemate, prompting adjustments from both Gao Shen and Fiorentina's coach, Prandelli, during the break.
Gao Shen's changes bore fruit almost immediately. Two minutes into the second half, Vargas scored for Napoli, giving them the lead.
But Fiorentina responded quickly. Just two minutes later, a swift counterattack saw Santana equalize for the home side.
Both teams traded chances for the remainder of the match but failed to score again, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
After the game, Prandelli was elated, claiming his team had played brilliantly.
To outsiders, it might have sounded as though Fiorentina had beaten Napoli.
Gao Shen, on the other hand, looked frustrated, as if his team had lost, and stated that Napoli should have won the match.
This contrast left Italian media and fans reflecting on how far Napoli had come. Without anyone realizing it, Napoli had become a genuine powerhouse.
---
While Napoli was held to a draw, Inter Milan secured a 2-0 away win over Catania, with goals from Stankovic and Ibrahimovic.
This result reduced the gap between Inter Milan and Napoli to just three points, reigniting suspense in the title race.
Mourinho, emboldened by the win, declared confidently, "By February, we'll overtake Napoli and claim the top spot. They can't keep it up anymore!"
---
Three days later, during the weekend's 22nd round of Serie A, Inter Milan faced Torino at the Meazza Stadium.
However, the high-flying Inter Milan found themselves in trouble. Rolando Bianchi scored early for Torino, giving the visitors an unexpected lead.
Inter equalized in the 58th minute, with Burdisso converting a cross from substitute Figo.
Despite relentless attacking thereafter, Inter couldn't find a winner. Mourinho made an aggressive triple substitution, bringing on Figo, Quaresma, and Crespo, leaving the team with five forwards: Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Crespo, Figo, and Quaresma.
Still, they were unable to break through Torino's five-man defense and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
---
Meanwhile, at the San Paolo Stadium, Napoli hosted Udinese.
Both teams played openly, but Napoli took a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half, courtesy of goals from Cavani and Hamsik.
Although Di Natale pulled one back for Udinese in the second half, Di Maria restored Napoli's two-goal cushion shortly after.
The game ended 3-1 in Napoli's favor, earning them another three points.
After the match, Gao Shen responded to Mourinho's comments from earlier in the week.
"I'm confident we can hold on until the end of the season," he said.
It was reported that Mourinho, furious over Inter's missed opportunity against Torino, erupted in the locker room, even smashing a wardrobe in frustration.
Hearing about this, Gao Shen quipped with a grin, "How much? I'll pay for it!"
The implication was clear: Mourinho's outburst was due to Napoli's success.
---
As Napoli and Inter Milan continued their head-to-head battle, other Serie A teams were faltering.
Juventus, managed by Ranieri, suffered back-to-back losses. After falling to Udinese, they lost 2-3 at home to Cagliari, putting their top-four position in jeopardy.
Roma showed some improvement but remained in seventh place, lagging behind even Genoa and Fiorentina.
AC Milan and Juventus had already fallen six points behind Inter Milan, making them unlikely contenders for the title.
In the relegation battle, Reggina was all but relegated, while Torino and Chievo trailed by four points but still held onto hope of survival.
On the final day of the winter transfer window, clubs scrambled to sign players and make managerial changes.
---
February arrived, and with it, the 23rd round of Serie A.
Inter Milan faced Lecce away and secured a convincing 3-0 win, thanks to goals from Ibrahimovic, Figo, and Stankovic. The result temporarily reduced the gap to two points.
AC Milan, meanwhile, stumbled to a 1-1 draw at home against second-to-last Reggina. Kaka's penalty salvaged a point, but their performance was uninspired.
Rumors swirled that Ancelotti would leave Milan at the end of the season.
Juventus managed a 2-1 away win over Catania, with goals from Acuna and Poulsen.
Roma finally found form, defeating Genoa 3-0 at home under Spalletti.
The pressure was on Napoli, who played the following day.
Despite the weight of expectation, Napoli responded perfectly. Just two minutes into the game, Pelle assisted Vidal for the opening goal.
In the 13th minute, Pelle set up another goal, this time for Nainggolan.
Before halftime, Hamsik scored the third goal, once again assisted by Pelle, completing the striker's hat-trick of assists.
Pelle's performance was sensational. His ability to hold up play and create opportunities was fully on display.
After the match, media outlets universally praised Pelle, calling it his breakthrough performance as an Italian forward.
Napoli's tactics, meticulously planned by Gao Shen, were also lauded.
Several players revealed during interviews that the targeted strategy had been devised by their head coach, and Palermo's defense simply couldn't handle Pelle.
With Napoli's victory, their five-point lead at the top of Serie A was restored, much to Mourinho's frustration.
---
The 24th round of Serie A followed a week later.
Napoli played their match first, hosting Bologna at the San Paolo Stadium.
Gao Shen continued to rotate his squad, and Napoli secured a 2-0 win with two quick goals from Maggiore and Cavani in the first five minutes.
Attention then shifted to the Milan Derby the following day.
Mourinho's Inter Milan stuck with their 4-3-1-2 formation, featuring two strikers up front.
In the 29th minute, Maicon crossed from the right, and Adriano scored to put Inter ahead.
Before halftime, Ibrahimovic provided an assist for Stankovic, who made it 2-0.
Although Pato pulled one back for AC Milan in the second half, Inter held firm and won 2-1.
---
As the 24th round concluded, big news came from England, where Napoli's upcoming Champions League opponent, Chelsea, made headlines.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich fired head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, paying £7.5 million in compensation.
Scolari had started strong, leading Chelsea to six wins and two draws in his first eight matches. But their recent performances had plummeted.
After a 0-3 loss to Manchester United and a 0-2 defeat against Liverpool, Chelsea had fallen to fourth place in the league.
Abramovich, unwilling to wait any longer, dismissed Scolari and brought in Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, leveraging his personal connections.