The landscape of European football is becoming increasingly chaotic.
In the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Napoli, participating in the competition for the first time since its reform, shocked the world by crushing Wenger's Arsenal 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium. The comprehensive defeat left fans and media alike stunned.
Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Manchester United conceded a goal in just four minutes. However, they turned the game around with a goal and an assist from Rooney, only to concede another late goal.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw with Porto, a result that was equally surprising.
People started wondering whether this season might echo the chaos of the 2004 Champions League, when Porto, led by Mourinho, won the title amid several upsets.
The day after the first two quarter-final matches, the other two games followed.
Barcelona dominated Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Camp Nou, securing a decisive victory. Guardiola's side firmly reinforced their position as the favorites to win the Champions League this season.
On the other hand, Benítez's Liverpool drew 1-1 with Villarreal away from home, leaving them in a favorable position to advance.
In summary, the top half of the draw was chaotic and unpredictable, while the bottom half proceeded relatively smoothly.
Although many still believed Manchester United would eventually advance, Porto's two away goals gave them a legitimate chance for an upset at home.
After the first leg of the quarter-finals, Napoli's odds of winning the tournament increased significantly, placing them as the third favorite behind Barcelona and Manchester United.
Of course, only eight teams remained.
The uncertainty wasn't limited to the Champions League, it extended to Serie A as well.
With Napoli competing on three fronts, their league performance had become inconsistent. A once-comfortable seven-point lead in Serie A had dwindled to just three points.
The stronger Napoli performed in the Champions League, the more concerned fans and media became about their domestic campaign.
Although Gao Shen's carefully planned rotation system was working well, no one could guarantee that Napoli wouldn't slip up again.
A single loss or draw could shrink their lead even further, allowing Inter Milan to catch up. The mounting pressure would pose an enormous challenge for Napoli.
Aware of these concerns, Gao Shen prioritized communication with his players. He even brought in a psychologist to be stationed at Castel Volturno, tasked with addressing players' emotions and mental states.
To the outside world, Gao Shen repeatedly emphasized that the team could handle the challenge of competing on three fronts without issue.
On the afternoon of April 11th, the 31st round of Serie A saw Napoli hosting Del Neri's Atalanta at the São Paulo Stadium.
Del Neri stuck to his signature 4-3-1-2 formation, employing three defensive midfielders and prioritizing defense above all else.
With the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Arsenal looming, Gao Shen rotated heavily, fielding nine substitute players. The team was virtually unrecognizable from its usual starting lineup.
The match turned into a grueling battle.
Atalanta's defensive structure was incredibly solid. Del Neri packed his defense with four defenders and three defensive midfielders, forming a deep block around their penalty area. Napoli struggled to find a breakthrough.
Essentially, Del Neri's strategy was simple: fortify his defensive line, gesture provocatively toward Napoli, and challenge them to attack.
Napoli laid siege to Atalanta's defensive wall but failed to score.
Starting in the 55th minute, Gao Shen made substitutions and tried different offensive strategies, but none proved effective.
It wasn't until the 84th minute that Napoli finally broke the deadlock. Atalanta's defense cleared the ball out for a throw-in near their half.
Macho quickly stepped forward to take the throw-in, launching the ball down the right flank.
Valencia sprinted at full speed, beating Atalanta's left-back Bellini to the ball. Cutting into the right side of the penalty area, he sent a low cross toward the goal.
Both Cavani and Pelle, who had come on as substitutes, charged into the box. Cavani reached the ball first and slotted it into the net from close range.
Atalanta's players protested vehemently, claiming the throw-in was illegal. Their frustration culminated in midfielder Doni receiving a yellow card.
However, the referee dismissed their protests, and Napoli held on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory.
What delighted Napoli fans even more was the result of a concurrent match at the Meazza Stadium. Inter Milan had taken an early 2-0 lead against Palermo with goals from Balotelli and Ibrahimović. However, the game turned on its head in the second half.
In the 73rd and 75th minutes, Inter conceded two goals in quick succession. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, breaking Mourinho's recent winning streak.
With Inter dropping points and Napoli earning three critical points, the gap at the top of the table widened back to five points.
Gao Shen, Zidane, Carlo, and the rest of the coaching staff could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The league was proving unpredictable. Every team in Serie A posed a threat, and even the smallest lapse in focus could have disastrous consequences.
Napoli's narrow escape against Atalanta and Inter's stumble against Palermo were stark reminders that the league's momentum was built game by game.
But it was clear that fighting on three fronts was taking its toll on Napoli's players.
That evening, after the match against Atalanta, Gao Shen drove to the Hilton Hotel near the Bay Area.
Situated on the north side of Civic Park, close to the iconic Castel dell'Ovo, the Hilton was less than three kilometers from both Gao Shen's home and the San Paolo Stadium.
Upon arrival, hotel staff greeted him warmly and guided him through a private entrance to a luxurious private dining room.
Inside, Gao Shen was welcomed by Liu Wenda, the man who had contacted him earlier.
"Hello, Mr. Gao. It's a pleasure to meet you," Liu said with a polite smile.
"Hello, Mr. Liu," Gao Shen replied, shaking his hand.
They entered the private room, which featured dedicated chefs and staff to ensure the utmost privacy and security for the guests.
Liu Wenda, the president of Emirates Airlines in China, had reached out to Gao Shen prior to this meeting.
However, Liu wasn't the main guest tonight. Two others were present, and one of them took Gao Shen by surprise.
The first was Richard Jobery, President of Emirates Airlines for Asia and Oceania.
The second guest left Gao Shen momentarily stunned: it was Mubarak, the new chairman of Manchester City.
Although Gao Shen had never met Mubarak before, he had heard of him. He hadn't expected to meet him here.
On reflection, though, it wasn't entirely surprising.
While Emirates Airlines was based in Dubai, Manchester City's owner hailed from Abu Dhabi. Although the two emirates were technically part of the same country, each had its own distinct interests and rivalries.
Regardless, Gao Shen decided not to dwell on the tangled web of Middle Eastern connections.
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After everyone exchanged greetings, they took their seats.
Since Liu Wenda had been the one to initiate contact, he took the lead in hosting the meeting.
Gao Shen was unfazed by the formalities. In his previous life, he had attended countless similar gatherings and was well-versed in navigating such occasions.
Earlier, Gao Shen had given his guests tickets to Napoli's match against Atalanta. He asked how they enjoyed the game and whether they planned to stay in Naples for the second leg against Arsenal.
Unfortunately, both Jobery and Mubarak politely declined, citing busy schedules.
The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss potential collaborations.
Emirates Airlines had long been active in sports sponsorship, famously lending its name to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and supporting major events like the World Cup.
"We'd like to invite you to become our global ambassador," Liu Wenda explained, "and the UAE Tourism Board would also like to collaborate with you as a tourism promotion ambassador."
The offer caught Gao Shen off guard.
"Why me?" he asked with a smile.
This question had become second nature to him. Whenever an opportunity fell into his lap, his instinct was to ask: why me?
"There are many reasons," Liu began, clearly prepared for the question.
Emirates Airlines entered the Asian Market. Since then, the airline has experienced consistent double-digit growth every year. The potential for continued expansion is immense, and the company's headquarters places great emphasis on the region as a key market for growth.
He went on to explain that with outbound tourism expected to skyrocket in the coming years, destinations like Dubai and Abu Dhabi were poised to become increasingly popular.
"Moreover, your influence reaches far beyond local borders. You have a substantial following in China, Europe, the Americas, and even the United States. With tens of millions of fans online, we believe a partnership with you would hold tremendous value."
What Liu said resonated with what Gao Shen already understood.
The anticipated tourism surge in Dubai was undeniable, and Emirates Airlines was clearly positioning itself to take full advantage of it.
As Liu concluded, Gao Shen began to seriously consider the proposal.
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