There's a saying: "If you do not accumulate small steps, you will not be able to reach a thousand miles; if you do not accumulate small streams, you will not be able to form a river or sea."
Gao Shen had heard this phrase since he was young and understood the concept of "progress through accumulation."
At the time, everyone around him, his parents, his teachers told him that accumulation came from hard work. As a child, it sounded simple enough. But one day, while speaking with a professor in college, he was struck by something his professor said: "Progress comes from accumulation, and accumulation comes from hard work, but hard work does not necessarily equal progress."
It seemed easy to grasp on the surface, but after Gao Shen graduated and stepped into the real world, he realized that "hard work" itself was a heavy burden. Once you're dealing with family responsibilities, performance indicators, deadlines, and debt, hard work becomes a necessity rather than a path to progress. Often, the harder you try under pressure, the further away true progress seems.
There was a time when he asked himself why he, like many others, bought into the culture of working incessantly, often known as the "996" schedule—working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week.
A senior in his previous job shared an interesting example with him: the famous "Skinner's Pigeon Box" experiment conducted by psychologist B.F. Skinner.
In this experiment, eight pigeons were placed in separate boxes. At random intervals, food was dropped into each box. After a few days, six of the pigeons developed peculiar habits. One might constantly turn in circles, while another might keep pecking at a corner of the box. Each pigeon had created its own ritual, believing that a specific action would cause the food to appear again.
They had become superstitious, associating their random behaviors with food rewards, just as people in the workplace often superstitiously believe in grinding away, in hopes of "success" falling into their lap.
After crossing over and becoming the head coach of Real Madrid, Gao Shen advocated for a different approach: humanized management. He focused on a scientifically structured training regimen. Each session was ninety minutes—matching the duration of a football match and aligned with recognized best practices in European football.
He designed these ninety-minute sessions to be intense and efficient, ensuring players remained focused throughout. He discouraged additional training afterward and frequently gave players rest days, even allowing them some free time the night before matches.
These principles were inspired by other renowned coaches like Ferguson, Wenger, and Ancelotti. Gao Shen knew what to do, but he wasn't fully aware of the reasoning behind it.
Then, in his time with Napoli, Gao Shen consulted a renowned Italian sports psychologist, who introduced him to the "3F Rule," a framework proposed by two American psychologists. The 3Fs stand for Focus, Feedback, and Fix-It Improvements.
With this new understanding, Gao Shen refined his approach. Each training session maintained strict focus for ninety minutes, after which players were free to unwind. At the end of each session, the analysis team provided each player with a detailed report, listing any issues observed during training. From there, the coaching staff would work with the players individually to correct these problems.
Napoli followed this regimen throughout the season. Even during the team's slump in the two months leading up to the winter break, they had managed to secure second place in Serie A. Gao Shen remained committed to this structured approach, bringing in Pintus over the winter break to help strengthen the players physically alongside Buenaventura.
During the winter break, the Napoli squad endured a grueling period of intense "devil training."
To be honest, both the players and coaching staff, including Gao Shen himself, were apprehensive. They didn't know if the results would validate the effort until they faced real matches.
Then came the packed schedule of Serie A and Coppa Italia fixtures. For two consecutive weeks, the team played double matches, rotating constantly. Every player was pushed to their limits.
As for the immediate results of the devil training? There were no clear, miraculous changes. At best, the players seemed to show a slight improvement in fitness and endurance, but that was about it.
After a tough game against Udinese, the team finally had a week-long break. Gao Shen granted the players two full days off—one on Sunday and another on Wednesday. This was a luxury in professional football, but it was clear that they needed the rest.
When the players returned to Castel Volturno on Thursday, the difference was immediately apparent. The coaching staff could see it in their energy levels, in the metrics recorded by the team doctors, and in the way they trained. The atmosphere at the training ground was lively; the players were sharp and focused. From time to time, their outstanding plays would spark cheers from their teammates.
Gao Shen stood by the side, observing quietly, a sense of satisfaction swelling within him. He could feel it, the energy in his players had returned. They had grown stronger from the challenges they had endured.
He knew, without a doubt, that bringing in Pintus had been the right call. The decision to double down on fitness was proving its worth. Gao Shen was confident now that, within the next three weeks, the team would be in peak condition to take on Inter Milan at home.
After training, Gao Shen approached Pintus and extended a hand. "Thank you, Antonio!"
Pintus, who had also noticed the transformation in the players, beamed with pride. "Thank you, Gao. You gave me the opportunity to prove myself. I'm pleased with what we've achieved, but we have to keep pushing forward."
The rest of the coaching staff nodded in agreement, feeling reassured by Pintus' confidence.
Gao Shen then went over to thank Buenaventura for his hard work. Despite the team's earlier struggles, he acknowledged Buenaventura's dedication. This experience had only made them stronger, and Gao Shen believed that Buenaventura would continue to improve.
As the saying goes, "A hero is only as good as his three allies."
Gao Shen knew that the journey ahead would be challenging, and these trusted members of his coaching staff would be his greatest assets.
"I'm feeling more confident than ever," Gao Shen declared to the team. "Our battle with Inter has just begun!"
The twenty-second round of Serie A saw Roma winning 2-0 at home against Reggina, briefly overtaking Napoli in the standings. AC Milan also beat Siena 1-0, showing a marked improvement since Ancelotti's mid-season adjustments.
Juventus, feeling the pressure, fought hard in an away game against Udinese. They conceded early, but managed to turn the game around with goals from Camoranesi and Iaquinta, winning 2-1.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, faced Catania and secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Cambiasso and Suazo.
Napoli's opponent for this round was Sampdoria.
Walter Mazzarri's team was known for its tenacity, particularly at home, where they were a formidable force. Playing in his signature 3-5-2 formation, Mazzarri fielded Cassano and Bellucci up front and launched a fierce offensive against Napoli from the start.
Within two minutes, Sampdoria nearly scored, with Bellucci setting up Macheda for a powerful strike that forced a brilliant save from Handanovic. Five minutes later, Macheda tried again with a long shot, but it sailed just wide.
On the sidelines, Gao Shen watched Macheda's performance closely. He admired the right-sided player's ability to cover the entire flank on his own. In Mazzarri's 3-5-2, Macheda was both an attacking threat and a defensive asset, embodying the spirit of a complete player. Gao Shen was even more determined to bring him to Napoli in the summer to strengthen the right wing.
After weathering the initial onslaught, Napoli found their rhythm and started countering. In the 30th minute, they won a corner, and Bonucci capitalized on it with a towering header into the top left corner. One-nil, Napoli!
The goal only fueled Sampdoria's aggression. They pressed harder, but Napoli's defense held firm. Di Maria struck the post in a swift counterattack, and in the 39th minute, Hamsik unleashed a long-range shot that found the back of the net, doubling the lead to 2-0.
In the second half, Sampdoria continued to press forward. In the 65th minute, Napoli's counterattack caught them off-guard. Di Maria's play in the front diverted the defenders, leaving Lichtsteiner unmarked. He surged into the penalty area and fired a rocket with his right foot, sealing the game at 3-0. Follow current novels on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
The match ended with a decisive win for Napoli. Sampdoria's relentless attacks couldn't break through, and Gao Shen's team had defended brilliantly while exploiting every opportunity to counter.
More importantly, Napoli's performance on the field showcased a team that had emerged from its slump.
Napoli had returned to form, just in time to chase down Inter Milan.
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