Starting With Real Madrid

It was a simple question: Does Gao Shen really like coaching?

The answer, however, was equally simple: Yes.

But this wasn't the answer Zidane was after. What he truly wanted to ask was: Why?

Gao Shen thought about it for a moment before deciding to tell a story he rarely shared with anyone. It was a story that might sound unbelievable to Europeans, and perhaps even to Zidane, despite his African heritage.

There was once a Chinese boy who knew nothing about football. He had never played it—not even during physical education classes—because his school didn't have a football field.

Then came the summer of 1998. His family had saved up to buy a color television, and when he turned it on, he stumbled across a football match. Only then did he learn about the World Cup.

That tournament introduced him to legends: Ronaldo, Zidane, Beckham, Simeone, Owen… and a player who leapt over defenders with an almost frog-like jump, though he could never remember that player's name.

In junior high, he finally got the chance to play football.

He became friends with a group of boys who loved the game. They would play on sandy fields under the blistering midday sun, falling and scraping themselves bloody. Sometimes they cried in pain, but they always got back up and continued playing.

Eventually, the school administration intervened and banned students from playing on the playground at noon.

"He fantasized countless times that he was a hidden prodigy, someone just waiting to be discovered. One day, like in the novels, a European scout would pick him out. He'd go abroad, play against Zidane and Ronaldo, and become one of the brightest stars in the game."

But reality hit hard. As his academic pressures increased, he had less and less time to play, until he eventually stopped altogether.

By the time he reached university, he had completely forgotten what it felt like to kick a ball.

Only when he saw the scuffed, battered sneakers in the shoe cabinet at home or felt the occasional ache in his old ankle injuries did he remember how much he once loved football.

Then, out of nowhere, his mind began to wander to peculiar thoughts.

When he bought breakfast at the cafeteria, he'd wonder: Does the lady serving food actually enjoy cooking?

When he rode the bus, he'd ask himself: Does the driver genuinely like driving?

In the classroom, watching his teacher lecture tirelessly, he'd think: Does this teacher truly enjoy teaching?

He began asking this question about everyone he encountered.

Did they like what they were doing?

"You have to understand," Gao Shen explained, "in my country, college students are highly regarded. Especially graduates from prestigious universities like mine. We're expected to have bright futures. I'd even mapped out my life—where I'd work, how much I'd earn, when I'd buy a car, buy a house, find a girlfriend, get married, have kids… climb the ladder, get promoted, and keep rising."

"I could imagine it all, and most of it would have come true."

"But sometimes, I wondered… many years later, after achieving all that, would I be happy? Would I still remember what it felt like to play football with friends on a sun-scorched field? Would I miss those moments?"

…

Zidane listened intently. He couldn't fully empathize with Gao Shen's story, he hadn't lived that life but he could sense the sadness and helplessness in Gao Shen's words.

He also suspected that this wasn't just a story. It was Gao Shen's story.

Zidane had read about Gao Shen before. He knew that Gao Shen had attended a prestigious university in China before abruptly deciding to study at Loughborough University in England.

What Gao Shen was describing now seemed to be the inner transformation that led to that decision.

Zidane stayed silent, listening carefully.

…

Gao Shen, meanwhile, was lost in his memories.

Not just of what happened after his time travel, but everything before it. The two timelines now overlapped and intertwined, merging into one indistinguishable whole.

It was a strange sensation but very real.

He considered himself lucky, both in his previous life and this one.

Time travel itself was a miracle, and to have crossed into this world as the head coach of Real Madrid, with the opportunity to carve out an extraordinary life, was nothing short of a blessing.

But even before the time travel, there had been luck.

When he had hesitated about whether to turn his passion into a career, he chose to take the leap and study in England. That choice had been fortunate, too.

And Su Qing's unwavering support during that pivotal moment had made all the difference.

When Zidane heard Gao Shen mention that choice to go abroad, he couldn't help but sigh.

"She's a remarkable woman."

Gao Shen nodded with a smile. "Yes, she is."

…

By the time Gao Shen finished his story, the answer was clear.

He thought about the conversation Guardiola had once had with Bielsa. It had taken Guardiola a long time to reconcile his emotions and come to terms with himself, which is why he could later give Bielsa such an honest answer.

But Zidane wasn't there yet. He hadn't sorted it all out in his mind.

"For me, football started as just a hobby," Gao Shen said with a confident smile. "But now, I get to treat my hobby as my job and even better, it's filled with challenges!"

"Since I began coaching Real Madrid, challenges have been my constant companion. Every day, countless people want to beat me, to take me down. And my job is to keep improving so they can't."

"I hate losing," he admitted. "I love to win, and that passion pushes me forward. The pressure can be immense, but it's a good kind of pressure. It's a happiness that comes from doing what I love."

…

Gao Shen couldn't recall how long he and Zidane talked, but when Zidane finally left, it was clear he felt fulfilled.

The Frenchman had gained valuable insight into Gao Shen's thoughts and life, and in return, Zidane's respect and admiration for him had only deepened.

In truth, Zidane carried a heavy psychological burden.

Before Gao Shen's time travel, Zidane had been hesitant to coach. Rumors swirled about his coaching ambitions not long after his retirement, but he always avoided the topic. It wasn't until later, when he joined Ancelotti's coaching staff, that he made up his mind.

At Zidane's level, technical skills, tactical knowledge, and player management weren't the problem. The real challenge was embracing his new role.

Some players struggled to adapt after becoming coaches. Schuster, for example, had failed to make the transition. His public comments after a recent match were inappropriate not just as a coach, but even as a player. It showed he had already lost control.

Even legends like Maradona and Van Basten faced similar issues. Their understanding of football was unmatched, but they couldn't translate it into coaching.

Gao Shen believed Zidane, like Guardiola, simply needed time to understand himself.

In the end, their greatest adversary wasn't external. It was internal.

That night's conversation, Gao Shen realized, was to help Zidane confront himself.

Now, Gao Shen felt like he had taken on the role of a mentor—guiding him toward greatness.

…

The buzz around Real Madrid's coaching change reached its peak the next day.

Youth director Michel was officially announced as Schuster's replacement and took over as interim head coach.

Michel's appointment was celebrated by the club's leadership and fans alike. As a legend of Real Madrid's iconic "Quinta del Buitre" era, Michel enjoyed strong backing within the organization.

At his inaugural press conference, Michel confidently declared, "The 7-0 loss to Napoli is behind us. Real Madrid needs to look ahead. We are still one of the strongest teams in Europe!"

The Spanish press generally supported Michel's ability to stabilize the team, though international reactions were more reserved. Real Madrid's issues couldn't be solved by a simple coaching change.

Domestically, they had room to recover in La Liga. But in the Champions League, their disastrous opening loss left many doubting their ability to escape the "group of death."

Gao Shen refused to comment on Real Madrid's new coach or the team's situation. He declined all related questions, choosing instead to focus entirely on Napoli's preparations.

Napoli faced a grueling schedule: two Serie A matches in the coming week and a home game against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. It was a critical test for the team.

Both Gao Shen and his staff were on high alert, determined not to repeat last season's mistakes. Buenaventura and Pintus worked tirelessly, leaving nothing to chance.

Four days after their victory at the Bernabeu, Napoli hit the road again for their next challenge.