Ronaldo arrived at the hotel where Gao Shen was staying, feeling nervous.
Like Ramos, he drove himself, entered the parking lot through the private entrance to the hotel's presidential suite, then took a private elevator up to the floor where Gao Shen was staying.
He wore sunglasses the entire time, as a slight disguise.
This wasn't just to avoid the paparazzi, but also to conceal his inner anxiety.
He even wondered, if he met Gao Shen and Gao Shen acted arrogantly, how should he respond?
If he got angry, would he just walk away and quit on the spot?
He and his team had gone over many contingency plans and made thorough preparations. But the moment he saw Gao Shen open the door, he realized all the preparations were meaningless.
Because Gao Shen was not only smiling but also warmly greeted him with a big hug and invited him in. He personally brewed him tea brought from his hometown and even talked with him about various tea-making techniques.
This was completely different from their previous standoff.
Ronaldo even began to wonder—was the tough and commanding image he had seen on TV and heard about from rumors all fake?
After so many years in football, Ronaldo was no longer the rookie he once was. He could easily tell sincerity from pretense.
Gao Shen's smile was genuine. His attitude was friendly.
But why did it change so quickly?
So quickly that Ronaldo was a bit confused, like he had walked onto the wrong set?
In fact, this was because he never understood Gao Shen's intentions from the beginning. Had he grasped the purpose behind Gao Shen's initial hardline stance, he would now understand the drastic change in attitude after he gave in.
In other words, Gao Shen never intended to sell him from the start.
After all, he was the only player in the world who could truly rival Messi.
…
Gao Shen had also prepared thoroughly for this meeting, including reviewing many of Ronaldo's past matches and even some of his recent games from the European Championship. Gao Shen and his team had spent considerable time gaining a deep understanding of the player.
Cristiano reported on his recent condition. Although he had just finished the Euros, he hadn't really rested and was still training every day.
This matched Gao Shen's impression of Ronaldo.
The waves were rough, but he never missed a single training session.
That was the main reason Ronaldo had been able to maintain his form for so many years.
Gao Shen had some plans and ideas for the new season.
First, from a tactical perspective, Gao Shen pointed out some of Real Madrid's issues, particularly with the No. 10 playmaker role.
He believed that while this system allowed Ronaldo to score many goals, it also caused the team to lack tactical depth and flexibility in matches against top sides, especially in terms of midfield control.
This was one of the main reasons why Real Madrid had been uncompetitive in the Champions League in recent seasons or struggled in league matches against strong opponents like Barcelona.
Second, in terms of tactical detail, Gao Shen wanted to strengthen the offensive play down the left flank.
He told Ronaldo very clearly that he wasn't the type of coach to ignore a player's individual ability. On the contrary, no matter which team he managed, including the first Galácticos team he coached at the beginning of his career, he always placed great importance on the players' personal abilities.
But the prerequisite was that those personal abilities must serve the team's tactical system, not exist outside of it.
Gao Shen was direct with the Portuguese: in many games last season, he had shown a strong tendency toward individualism.
"Of course, that doesn't mean players must follow the coach's orders blindly."
"You're free to express your views, and when I draw up tactical plans, I'll respect your playing habits and your strengths. I'll build the team's tactics around your advantages. That's the key to victory."
"And your individual ability is one of our greatest strengths!"
Cristiano finally understood the meaning behind Gao Shen's earlier tough stance.
What Gao Shen said wasn't new—many coaches build their systems around key players.
The difference was that Real Madrid's players had always been superstars who enjoyed privileges.
Now, Gao Shen wanted to revoke some of those privileges.
However, he also promised to continue building the team's tactical system around the left wing, where Ronaldo played.
Gao Shen explained that the main reason he sold Coentrão was that he smoked, and he didn't like players with such habits.
Ronaldo said he had advised him about it many times.
In the new season, Marcelo would become Ronaldo's most important partner on the left.
"Whether it's attacking or defending, I hope the two of you can develop good chemistry and support each other."
On the opposite flank, Gao Shen would look to create another attacking channel to reduce the defensive pressure on the left, maximize midfield control, use quick passing and movement to stretch the opposition's defensive line, and create more scoring chances.
After hearing all this, Ronaldo realized that attacking football was in Gao Shen's blood.
This aligned perfectly with his own preferences.
After all, he was an attacking player.
But attacking alone wasn't enough. So after offering enough sweet talk, Gao Shen also laid out his demands—defense, especially pressing and counter-pressing in midfield and the final third.
As the team's main attacker, Gao Shen wouldn't expect Ronaldo to press like Cavani, but he still needed to contribute on defense.
This was about the overall quality of the team's defensive structure.
"I believe you understand. Whether it's in the Champions League or La Liga, good results are impossible without a strong defense."
"Barcelona always loses to me in the Champions League because I know very well that their defense is a mess. We at Real Madrid cannot make the same mistake. We must do our defensive work well."
"A strong defense, a powerful offense, all linked through a midfield with excellent control. That's my vision."
"And I promise you, as long as you follow my system, your goal tally and overall performance will not drop. At the same time, we can compete for more titles, especially the Champions League!"
This was Gao Shen's first target for the new season.
To be honest, in some ways, winning the Champions League was easier for Real Madrid than winning La Liga.
Because Barcelona's system was so stable in league play.
Apart from Real Madrid, only Atlético Madrid could pose a real threat to them in La Liga.
In this context, if Real Madrid wanted to win silverware this season, the Champions League was more realistic than La Liga.
Of course, that was Gao Shen's personal view. When the season truly began, he wouldn't take any competition lightly.
…
If Ronaldo had been nervous and uneasy before walking through the door, then after more than an hour of heart-to-heart conversation, he had to admit he was completely won over by Gao Shen's detailed plans and ambitious vision.
This was a development blueprint that accounted for both the present and the future.
Previously, he thought Gao Shen sold Coentrão and others merely to assert his authority or eliminate dissidents. But now, it was clear his thinking had been too narrow.
Gao Shen came in with a complete, mature plan.
Every move he made had meaning. He never acted on impulse.
That depth and detail excited Ronaldo.
After the conversation, the Portuguese star solemnly promised to fully cooperate with the coaching staff's instructions. That included defensive duties on the pitch, which he would do his best to fulfill.
Gao Shen was very pleased with his attitude.
"Believe me, Cristiano. I'll help you win your second, third, even fourth FIFA Ballon d'Or in the shortest time possible!"
Previously, Ronaldo had won a FIFA World Player of the Year and a Ballon d'Or. But now that the two awards were merged, Gao Shen referred to it as his second FIFA Ballon d'Or.
That was also the Portuguese star's goal!
…
After seeing Ronaldo off, Gao Shen closed the door and collapsed onto the sofa.
From the time he arrived in the south until now, he had been working at full intensity every day.
It seemed like he was always in his hotel room, but in reality, he was constantly dealing with different players and various situations, while also managing Valdebebas remotely.
But the effort had paid off.
For now, he had stabilized the Real Madrid dressing room.
Sounds easy, doesn't it?
Talk, flatter, promise some things, hype them up, and it's done.
If only it were that simple.
Gao Shen dared to say this—even if another world-class coach copied his method 100 percent, they still wouldn't achieve the results he had.
Because he was Gao Shen!
All the Real Madrid players believed he could succeed at the club.
So, they followed him.
But the more trust they had in him, the greater the pressure on his shoulders. Because he knew once that trust was broken, the consequences would be severe. Even his past achievements would be called into question.
The more trust they gave, the more cautious he had to be. He could not let them down.
This was a mutual obligation. It was also the responsibility of being the team's head coach.
So now, even though Gao Shen let out a breath of relief, it was far from time to relax.
He picked up his phone and called his wife in Cheshire.
At this moment, he just wanted to hear her voice.
After just a few sentences, Su Qing already guessed how he was doing. She didn't ask further and simply chatted with him about family matters, complaining about her current "miserable" situation.
For example, both her mother and mother-in-law treated her like a broodmare. They said it was for the baby, but they wouldn't let her do anything.
When she turned on her computer, they said it emitted radiation. When she checked Twitter on her phone, they said it strained her eyes. When she watched dramas, they said they were too violent and bloody...
"Hubby, please, save me!"
Su Qing's "misery" made Gao Shen burst out laughing.
This really proved the saying: someone's happiness is always built on someone else's suffering.
You were the one who couldn't decide whether to come to Madrid with me.
Hmph, you deserve it!
(To be continued.)