Starting With Real Madrid

"God, ninety million euros!!"

When the news of Inter Milan signing Lucio broke in Napoli, the coaching staff erupted in disbelief.

No one had expected Inter Milan to spend such an astronomical sum—€90 million—on building a team for Mourinho, especially in an economically sluggish European football market.

This was no longer just a "luxury squad"; it was outright extravagant.

Inter Milan was acting like a footballing version of royalty, throwing money at every problem.

When Gao Shen heard the news, he was stunned. He hadn't anticipated Mourinho convincing Moratti to spend such an exorbitant amount.

It was clear that Moratti, in his relentless pursuit of a Champions League title as chairman of Inter Milan, was willing to sacrifice anything, perhaps even his family fortune.

Yet, there was something admirable about Moratti's commitment. To pour this level of investment into his club out of pure love and devotion was rare in modern football.

Let's be honest: how many owners in European football are willing to spend so much with little expectation of financial return?

"It's going to be tough to play Serie A this season!" Carlo said, his worry evident.

Always a cautious thinker, Carlo preferred to consider the challenges first.

The rest of the coaching staff nodded in agreement. Inter Milan's revamped squad was indeed daunting.

After their 3–0 victory over Inter in the Supercoppa, Napoli had been brimming with confidence about defending their Serie A title. But now, with Inter's heavy investment, the threat they posed could no longer be ignored.

In professional football, money talks. With money, you get top players. Without it, you're left scrambling to make do.

"Gao, what do you think?" Carlo asked, sensing Gao Shen's silence.

The coaching staff turned their attention to him.

Gao Shen gave a faint smile. "I had a feeling this would happen. After sharing a drink with Mourinho that night, I guessed he'd push the management for reinforcements. But I didn't expect it to be this extensive. Moratti really pulled out all the stops."

Only someone like Moratti, born into wealth and privilege, would be willing to invest so heavily just to chase a dream.

Ninety million euros. Converted into Chinese yuan, that's 900 million.

Gao Shen couldn't help but be astonished.

"Still, no matter who the opponent is, it doesn't change anything for us," Gao Shen said firmly, his voice exuding confidence.

"The games have to be played one at a time. The opponents have to be beaten one by one. Whether it's Roma in the first round or Inter Milan later on, our goal remains the same: victory!"

Gao Shen's confident smile lit up the room.

"Honestly, I thought this season's Serie A would be dull, but now it looks like Inter Milan won't disappoint me!" he added.

"The stronger the competition, the better for Napoli. That's what defines us!"

For reasons they couldn't fully explain, the coaching staff felt reassured by Gao Shen's words.

Sure, Inter Milan was stronger, but Napoli wasn't exactly weak.

This was the same Napoli that had defeated Inter 3–0 at the Meazza before those signings. And even with their new acquisitions, Inter wasn't necessarily better, they might be evenly matched at best.

So, why should they be afraid?

…

News of Inter Milan's signings also reached the players, but Gao Shen quickly calmed any unrest.

It was clear that Inter would be Napoli's main rival in Serie A this season. And with their bolstered lineup, the players couldn't help but feel a little shaken.

But Gao Shen made it clear that he had full faith in his squad. Even with Inter Milan's reinforcements, they wouldn't displace Napoli at the top.

"Mark my words!" Gao Shen declared passionately in front of his players. "When we return to the Meazza, we'll crush Inter Milan again!"

His bold words reignited the players' fighting spirit.

Sure, Inter Milan had strengthened, but Napoli wasn't lacking either.

Most of Napoli's squad had been together for two years. Their chemistry and understanding were unmatched, and they weren't about to be intimidated by Inter's transfers.

Adding to the optimism, Napoli received good news as the players who participated in the Olympics began returning to the team. Before the start of the Serie A season, everyone was back.

The Argentinian contingent—Olympic champions no less, were the last to return.

Di Maria and Biglia had shone during the tournament, boosting Napoli's confidence further.

Napoli had already claimed two trophies before the Serie A season even began, and their first league match was against Roma away.

Against Roma, Napoli held a psychological edge. Gao Shen's record against the Roman side was excellent, and the team was full of confidence.

Roma's captain, Totti, along with Perrotta and Taddei, was injured and set to miss the game.

This effectively removed Roma's most dangerous attacking threats, giving Napoli an even bigger advantage.

…

On August 29, the day before the Serie A season kicked off, the Champions League group stage draw was held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Napoli sent general manager Marino to attend the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Gao Shen and the team remained at Castel Volturno, preparing for the league opener.

Everyone knew Napoli's draw would be tough. Without any European points, they were placed in the fourth pot.

It was ironic: the Serie A champions, placed in the lowest seeding pot. Napoli wasn't happy about it, and other teams certainly weren't either.

After all, who wanted to face a team as strong as Napoli in the group stage?

The fourth pot also included other formidable sides like Atletico Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk.

The eight top seeds included defending champions Manchester United, along with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, and Inter Milan.

The Premier League's dominance was clear, with four of the eight top seeds coming from England. Three of the four Champions League semifinalists last season were English clubs.

The Premier League wasn't just rich—it was a stage for the world's best players and managers.

It was also where some of the greatest coaching minds collided: Ferguson, Wenger, Benítez, and more.

"If you could choose, which team would you want to face?" Zidane asked, breaking the silence as they watched the live broadcast of the draw.

Without hesitation, Gao Shen replied, "Ferguson's Manchester United."

"You want to face the defending champions?" Carlo exclaimed, startled.

Gao Shen nodded. "Yes. I want to test myself against Ferguson. They're the strongest team in Europe right now. Playing against them will show us how good we really are and where we need to improve."

For Gao Shen, matches against elite teams were like sharpening a blade.

What's the point of dominating Serie A if you can't compete against Europe's best?

You can't grow in isolation.

Gao Shen wanted to challenge the masters of the game. Even if he lost, he'd welcome the lessons learned.

"Imagine if every game were as easy as our 3–0 win over Inter Milan. What would we gain from that?" he said.

For Gao Shen, only by facing the strongest opponents could they truly grow and progress.

"And the team you don't want to face?" Zidane asked.

Gao Shen smiled. "Barcelona and Real Madrid."

"Why?" Zidane asked curiously.

"Guardiola is coaching Barcelona. I know what kind of football he wants to play, and I know him too well. If we face each other, I'll win. As for Real Madrid… well, if I beat them, their fans at the Bernabeu might never forgive me," Gao Shen joked, breaking into laughter.

In truth, Gao Shen felt confident against both teams.

Real Madrid was struggling with internal conflicts between coach Schuster and director Mijatovic.

As for Barcelona, Gao Shen didn't want to disrupt their trajectory. He was concerned that if he defeated Guardiola's side, it might derail their journey toward the treble.

"If that happened, Guardiola wouldn't become the legendary manager he's destined to be, and my role as his Mentor would lose some credibility," Gao Shen teased, half-jokingly.

Sometimes, even rivals need a little help.

…

The draw soon began, and the groups took shape.

Due to seeding rules, Napoli wouldn't face AC Milan, Inter Milan, or Roma.

However, their potential opponents included Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, all European powerhouses.

The second pot was just as intimidating, featuring teams like Bayern Munich, Lyon, Villarreal, Porto, and Werder Bremen.

No matter how the draw played out, Napoli was destined for the "Group of Death."

The only question was: how deadly?

As the draw progressed, Barcelona was grouped with Sporting Lisbon, Liverpool with PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United with Villarreal, Arsenal with Porto, and Real Madrid with Bayern Munich.

Watching the unfolding groups, Gao Shen sighed inwardly.

They were all tough draws, and none of the potential opponents looked easy.

The most unfortunate pairing so far seemed to be Group H, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

But Gao Shen thought to himself: surely Napoli wouldn't be that unlucky… right?

***

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