Starting With Real Madrid

"Is he showing weakness?"

When Mourinho received news from Naples, he was puzzled.

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like Gao Shen was lacking confidence. But at the same time, Gao Shen didn't strike him as someone who would show weakness before a game.

"I honestly think he's up to something," said Villas-Boas, shaking his head.

He refused to believe anything Gao Shen had said.

After all, history had proven one thing, anyone who trusted Gao Shen's words before a match ended up regretting it.

Mourinho nodded, taking it seriously. Gao Shen didn't come across as trustworthy, he looked sly and calculating. If Gao Shen had been a player, Mourinho wouldn't have wanted him on his team for anything.

"I think he's preemptively covered everything you could say," Baresi added with a wry smile.

Mourinho blinked, then looked at the transcript of Gao Shen's pre-match press conference. After reading it carefully, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"That bastard," he muttered. "He really did say everything I wanted to say."

What kind of strategy was this?

Say everything the opponent might say in advance, leaving them speechless.

Mourinho had planned to make the defending champions the center of attention, to hype up both teams' strengths, fire up his own players, and put pressure on Naples.

But now?

Gao Shen had already taken the initiative to address everything.

Defending champions? Gao Shen brushed it off as irrelevant, claiming last season's title gave them no advantages this year, if anything, it added pressure.

Seriously, who talks like that?

It was as if Gao Shen was standing there, saying to Inter Milan: Come on, hit us! We're just defending champions, nothing special! Just don't hit my face.

Could Inter Milan even muster the same fighting spirit?

That was the question.

"What am I supposed to say now?" Mourinho asked, genuinely troubled.

He couldn't bring himself to praise Gao Shen and Naples that just wasn't his style.

But showing weakness before a game? That was even further from his character, especially as Inter Milan's manager.

Villas-Boas, Faria, Baresi, and the others exchanged glances. They had no answer either.

It seemed Gao Shen had turned himself into an impenetrable fortress, making it hard for Inter Milan to strike.

Especially with all the pre-match media buzz.

---

The Italian press was left stunned.

The buildup to the Italian Super Cup a match pitting defending champions Naples against Inter Milan, and Gao Shen against Mourinho had dominated headlines. The clash of personalities alone promised fireworks.

But surprisingly, there were none.

At the pre-match press conference, Gao Shen actively downplayed his team's chances. He claimed the title of defending champions didn't mean much, praised Inter Milan as the strongest team in Italy and even in Europe and called Mourinho the best coach on the continent.

Was that analysis of an opponent? Or the speech of an awestruck fan?

Meanwhile, Mourinho's own press conference offered little fuel for controversy. Despite being repeatedly pressed by reporters, he only gave dry, superficial comments about Naples and Gao Shen, choosing instead to focus on his own team.

He stressed the importance of Inter Milan's performance, declaring:

"This match at the Meazza is my first official game as Inter Milan's coach, our first official match of the new season, and it's for the Italian Super Cup.

We will not let the trophy leave the Meazza!"

His words were firm and filled with conviction, but that was it.

The media, expecting a verbal sparring match, were left disappointed.

La Gazzetta dello Sport commented on the unusual dynamic, explaining that both managers' low-key approaches were likely strategic.

Naples, after all, was missing eight key players who were away at the Olympics, including their two main center-backs. In such circumstances, how could they realistically compete?

"Gao Shen's decision to stay humble suggests he isn't confident about this match," the paper wrote.

"However, according to sources, Naples may switch to a 4-3-3 formation and adopt an aggressive playing style. Gao Shen's pre-match remarks could be an attempt to lull the opposition into complacency."

On the other hand, La Gazzetta pointed out that Inter Milan was facing its own challenges. Four of their center-backs were still recovering from injuries, leaving their defense stretched thin.

"In this match, Cambiasso is likely to partner with Burdisso in central defense. But the real test will be whether they can handle Cavani, last season's Serie A top scorer."

The paper also noted that Zidane, now part of Gao Shen's coaching staff, had been personally working with players on their shooting and set-piece techniques.

"With Zidane's guidance, Cavani could pose a significant threat to Inter Milan's defense."

In his column, Sacchi assessed both teams' vulnerabilities. He pointed out that while both sides had defensive issues, Naples was in a more precarious position due to their absences, particularly in midfield.

"Biglia's absence is a major blow," Sacchi wrote. "He was one of Naples' best players last season and the backbone of their midfield."

He also highlighted the absence of Di Maria on the left wing, which would undoubtedly impact Naples' attack.

"Whether it's Callejon or Mertens filling in, they don't bring the same level of threat as Di Maria," Sacchi added.

Given these factors, Sacchi speculated that Gao Shen's subdued approach before the game likely stemmed from the team's unfavorable circumstances.

"Naples may adopt more pragmatic tactics for this Italian Super Cup," he concluded.

---

When Mourinho first joined Inter Milan, he announced he would adopt a 4-3-3 formation—a tactic he had used to dominate the Premier League with Chelsea.

Since Gao Shen had taken over Napoli, the debate about outdated tactics in Serie A had become a hot topic in Italian football. But that discussion largely faded after Naples claimed the double last season, proving that modern tactics could thrive in Italy.

The media even began reporting that several Italian teams had subtly started experimenting with advanced tactical concepts, following Naples' lead. Still, many remained hesitant.

Under Mancini, Inter Milan had stuck to a rigid 4-4-2, a system critics blamed for the team's inability to compete at the highest level in Europe. Mourinho, however, made it clear from day one that he intended to modernize Inter Milan's approach.

The club's transfer activity backed this up. They spent tens of millions of euros on Roma winger Mancini and Porto winger Quaresma, significantly bolstering their attacking options.

As the Italian press put it, Inter Milan had upgraded from a "shotgun" to a "cannon."

Previously, players like Cesar, Solari, and an aging Figo struggled to provide consistent width and creativity. Now, with Mancini and Quaresma on the wings, Inter Milan's attack looked far more dynamic.

Some fans dismissed Quaresma as a flop, pointing to his struggles at Barcelona. But his resurgence in the Portuguese Primeira Liga proved otherwise. Critics who underestimated him, the media argued, clearly hadn't been paying attention.

In Serie A, strong wing play was essential. Both Roma and Naples had demonstrated this repeatedly. Inter Milan's reliance on underperforming wingers last season severely limited their attack, particularly when Figo and Solari were past their best and Cesar was inconsistent.

But with Mancini and Quaresma, the situation had changed.

On the left, Mancini paired with Maxwell; on the right, Quaresma linked up with Maicon. The combination was enough to excite any Inter Milan fan.

And, of course, there was still the veteran Figo, whose experience could be invaluable. The thought of Figo mentoring Quaresma once nicknamed "the next Figo" was a tantalizing prospect.

But before the match, Mourinho shattered those fantasies.

Neither Figo nor Quaresma appeared in the starting lineup. Quaresma didn't even make the squad.

The decision raised eyebrows.

Was Quaresma being eased in slowly? Or was Mourinho simply unwilling to take a gamble in such a high-stakes game?

Adding to the intrigue, Mourinho's lineup included two strikers: Ibrahimović and Balotelli.

So much for the promised 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper: Júlio César.

Defense: Maxwell, Burdisso, Cambiasso, Maicon.

Midfield: Stanković, Muntari, Zanetti.

Forwards: Mancini, Ibrahimović, Balotelli.

The formation hinted at flexibility, capable of shifting to a 4-4-2 with Mancini, Stanković, Muntari, and Zanetti in midfield.

How exactly Mourinho intended to deploy his team, however, remained unclear.

Even Gao Shen hadn't expected this setup.

***

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