Starting With Real Madrid

Inter Milan, Pinetina Training Base.

In the coaches' meeting room, Jose Mourinho sat at the head of the table, flanked by his trusted assistants Villas-Boas, Faria, and goalkeeping coach Sylvinho, alongside Inter Milan's assistant coach Giuseppe Baresi.

Laid out before them were freshly compiled reports analyzing Napoli's recent warm-up matches, complete with player evaluations and performance data.

With the Italian Super Cup looming, Mourinho and his team were fine-tuning their strategy. The first step was deciding how Inter Milan would approach the game.

But before the discussion began, Mourinho couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath.

"That damned old man!"

His assistants exchanged knowing smiles and shook their heads, clearly accustomed to Mourinho's fiery personality.

…

Although Mourinho was new to Serie A, his combative nature hadn't changed a bit.

Just two days earlier, he had engaged in a public spat with Juventus head coach Claudio Ranieri.

The bad blood between the two went back to Mourinho's time at Chelsea, where he had replaced Ranieri as head coach. It was no secret that Ranieri harbored resentment toward Mourinho, and now that they were rivals in Serie A, the tension had only escalated.

Their first clash came at the TIM Trophy.

Before the tournament, Ranieri was asked about Mourinho during a press conference. While he praised Mourinho's achievements in Portugal and England, he also pointed out that managing in Italy was uniquely challenging.

Mourinho, never one to back down, fired back immediately: "If Juventus can't beat Inter Milan, Ranieri should focus on his own team instead of worrying about me." The subtext was clear, mind your own business, old man.

But when Ranieri's Juventus defeated Inter 1-0 in the tournament, he didn't miss the opportunity to gloat. He declared that no matter how successful Mourinho had been elsewhere, "In Italy, I won't let him succeed."

Mourinho, of course, wasn't the type to take such jabs lying down.

When Juventus lost 0-3 to Hamburg in the Emirates Cup shortly after, Ranieri tried to shift focus by claiming he wasn't someone like Mourinho, who only cared about winning. He said he was fine with criticism, even boos from fans.

At that point, Inter Milan's preseason performances had started to improve, and Mourinho responded with his trademark confidence.

"I am someone who demands the best from myself and my team," he said. "I need victories to feel happy, and I love winning championships."

Then came the verbal knockout punch:

"Ranieri says he doesn't need to win, and that's probably true. He's over 70 and has only won a handful of trophies. I could count them on one hand and still have fingers left over."

He added, "He should really change his mindset, but he's too old for that. He's even forgotten that his assistants need proper coaching licenses. I pity him."

Ranieri had no answer for Mourinho's sharp wit. The spat, which had lasted several days, became the talk of Italian football, captivating fans across the country.

Last season, Serie A had Gao Shen dominating the headlines. This summer, Mourinho had taken up that mantle.

Now, with the Italian Super Cup just days away—Inter Milan versus Napoli—the media frenzy was in full swing.

The match, set to take place at the Meazza Stadium, promised to be a blockbuster.

…

This wasn't just a match that had Italy talking—it had the attention of football fans across Europe and even the world.

It was the first-ever meeting between Gao Shen and Mourinho.

It was also a clash between Napoli and Inter Milan, the two strongest teams in Serie A.

From any perspective, it was a must-watch showdown.

However, both teams were far from full strength.

Napoli was missing eight key players, all of whom had left to represent their national teams in the Olympics. This left glaring holes in their lineup, particularly in defense.

Interestingly, Inter Milan was facing a similar crisis.

Since the previous season, Inter's central defense had been plagued by injuries.

Walter Samuel and Iván Córdoba were still out with long-term injuries. Marco Materazzi and Cristian Chivu were also sidelined, leaving Nicolás Burdisso as their only fully fit center-back.

…

"From the data we've collected, we can confirm one of Napoli's likely starting center-backs: Cannavaro Jr.," Villas-Boas began, presenting his analysis.

"As for the second center-back, there are three possibilities: Thiago Motta, Arturo Vidal, or Mehdi Benatia."

He broke down each option:

"Thiago Motta is physically strong and good at distributing the ball. He's played as a center-back several times for Barcelona and performed decently. Vidal, on the other hand, was originally a center-back before moving into midfield after coming to Italy. His style is aggressive, even reckless at times."

"Then there's Benatia. He's the most interesting of the three. Based on the data, it's hard to gauge how much the team values him. On the surface, it seems they don't. But in reality, he's had more playing time than you'd expect for someone in his position. According to scout reports, he's mostly come on as a substitute and his performances have been average."

The three options each had their strengths and weaknesses, leaving the choice up to Gao Shen's preference.

Based on minutes played, Benatia seemed the least likely option. As a newcomer with a troubled injury history, he hardly seemed capable of filling the void left by Domic.

But Mourinho wasn't convinced.

"Would Gao Shen really sign someone like Benatia just to make up the numbers?" he asked.

It didn't add up. How could Gao Shen replace Domic, a proven defender who had earned Napoli over €3 million in transfer fees, with someone Marseille had let go on a free transfer?

Sure, transfer fees didn't tell the whole story, but the gap in their perceived value was staggering.

If Gao Shen could casually unearth hidden gems like this to replace established players, then that would be terrifying.

…

"What tactics do you think Gao Shen will use?" Mourinho asked with a sly smile.

"Attack," Villas-Boas answered without hesitation.

Faria nodded. "Attack."

Giuseppe Baresi, however, was more cautious. "Gao Shen once said he wanted revenge for the 3-0 loss at the Meazza last season. Plus, he's young and bold. With so many key defenders missing, he probably doesn't trust his backline entirely. I'd guess he'll lean toward attacking."

Mourinho thought for a moment and agreed.

"If that's the case, then he'll likely go with Thiago Motta. His passing range is excellent, and his long balls can be very dangerous. Gao Shen will want to exploit that strength."

An idea began forming in Mourinho's mind.

With the additions of Mancini Jr. and Sulley Muntari, plus the emergence of young Mario Balotelli, Inter's attacking options had improved significantly.

The 17-year-old Balotelli, in particular, was a fascinating player—fast, strong, technically gifted, and relentless in pressing opponents. Compared to Cruz and Ibrahimović, Balotelli offered a different kind of dynamism.

Mourinho wondered: could he use Balotelli and Ibrahimović together to disrupt Napoli's shaky defense?

The Italian Super Cup might not carry the same weight as other trophies, but it was still a valuable opportunity. Winning it would give Inter a morale boost heading into the new season, especially after last season's disappointments.

For Inter, this match was about more than a trophy. It was about restoring pride and confidence.

"Do you think our defense can handle Napoli's attack?" Mourinho suddenly asked.

The room fell silent for a moment as the coaches exchanged uneasy glances.

Inter's defensive depth was thin, and stopping Napoli wouldn't be easy.

Unless…

"If we can dominate their midfield, I think we can manage," Baresi finally said.

Everyone knew how crucial the midfield was to Napoli's system. Even Sacchi had once famously declared, "Control the midfield, control the game."

Napoli's reliance on their midfield was well-documented.

"If we can suppress their midfield, we can neutralize their attack," Baresi continued.

"Two key absences to note are Biglia, their midfield anchor, and Di Maria, their left winger. Without Biglia, their midfield stability takes a hit. And without Di Maria, their left-side attack is significantly weakened."

Mourinho nodded. Napoli's depleted squad presented a golden opportunity for Inter.

This was the perfect time to strike.

Take advantage of their weakness and crush them.

With renewed determination, Mourinho declared, "Let's stick to this plan. At the Meazza, we'll go all out to win the Super Cup and set the tone for the season."

And, deep down, Mourinho had another reason for wanting to win.

He wanted to prove to everyone especially himself—that he wasn't just a backup choice for the jobs at Barcelona and Inter.

He wanted the world to know:

He, Jose Mourinho, was not a spare tire.

He was better than Gao Shen.

***

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