September 24, Vallecas Stadium, southeast Madrid.
It was 19:30, almost time to walk out onto the pitch.
Gao Shen led his coaching staff from the coaches' lounge into the players' dressing room, clapping his hands loudly to get everyone's attention.
Real Madrid's players were experienced. All pre-match preparations had already been completed.
Now, it was time for the head coach's final pre-match talk.
This was the routine for every team before every match.
Although Vallecas Stadium was located in the Spanish capital, it was a modest ground. Rayo Vallecano did not have much financial power, their facilities were basic, and the locker room was cramped, making the players feel as though they were boxed in tightly within the concrete structure.
"Tonight can be considered a derby."
Gao Shen opened with a joke.
Of course, no one really thought of Real Madrid versus Rayo Vallecano as a derby.
The two teams were not on the same level. Even Getafe weren't seen as true rivals by Real Madrid.
Still, both Getafe and Rayo Vallecano had benefited greatly from Real Madrid's youth academy. In that sense, it was a win-win relationship.
Many clubs that seem to be competitive rivals actually maintain unique relationships behind the scenes.
On the pitch and off it, the lines are blurred. That's what professionalism is.
"So far this season, we've played five games, with two wins, two draws, and one loss. What's funny is that people think we're in crisis just because we lost away to Dortmund."
"In the last round, we drew away to Sevilla."
"That makes it three away games so far—two draws and one loss. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano have one win and one draw at home. So…"
Gao Shen didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to. The players understood exactly what he meant.
The whole world thought Real Madrid were in trouble.
And it wasn't entirely without reason. The intense fixture congestion hadn't allowed the team any time to recalibrate.
Most fans don't realize that back-to-back away matches during such a tight schedule are a nightmare for any club.
The players returning from international duty had only one day to train before the team left for Seville.
The coaching staff had to check each player's physical condition, injury status, and fatigue levels. The biggest issue with international matches wasn't the games themselves, but the long travel and jet lag.
The team also needed to train together again. After being apart for more than two weeks, a few joint sessions were necessary to regain tactical cohesion.
And just like that, time vanished.
After the Sevilla match, the team had only two days in Madrid.
The next morning, there was recovery training. Then, tactical adjustments and team drills, and straightaway, they were on the road again.
Gao Shen hadn't even had time to organize specific tactical sessions for Dortmund.
That was why he said, after the game, that the team had performed well.
Some might criticize him for making excuses. Every top team deals with intense schedules and multiple away fixtures.
That's true, but Real Madrid's case was different—they were undergoing a restructuring period.
If he were still at Manchester City, Gao Shen wouldn't be fazed by these challenges. The players there already understood his ideas and knew exactly what was expected of them.
But at Real Madrid, it wasn't that simple—at least, not yet.
The players understood this.
No one knew better than them why they had drawn with Sevilla and lost to Dortmund. They were well aware of their own performances.
But Gao Shen had shouldered the responsibility alone.
"I won't demand that you destroy the opponent," Gao Shen said firmly, "even though it looks like we don't have any other choice. But honestly, I haven't felt any pressure. No one's put pressure on me."
He looked around at the players, confident and calm.
"I firmly believe you're the best players in the world. Your goal isn't Rayo Vallecano, or even just La Liga. I know what you're aiming for. So I don't need to pressure you. You're already pushing yourselves harder than I ever could."
"So, as always, I'll say this again—relax. Don't be nervous. If we play our normal game, with the quality we have, we'll win. Understand?"
"Enjoy the match. Enjoy the process. And remember…"
Gao Shen extended his right hand, moving it across the squad, finally stopping at Di María, Ronaldo, and Benzema.
"Angel, Ronnie, Karim—remember what I told you: left, left, left!"
Almost at that moment, the bell rang. Time to head out.
Gao Shen clapped his hands sharply, signaling it was time to move.
He stood at the dressing room door as usual, exchanging high-fives and hugs with every player to give them a final boost.
…
As soon as the referee blew the opening whistle, Real Madrid, who kicked off, launched their first wave of attacks.
Marcelo took the initiative, bursting down the left flank. After receiving a pass from a teammate, he dribbled past two defenders and sent a ball down the wing. However, Ronaldo failed to reach it in time, and it went out for a goal kick.
This highlighted one of Real Madrid's current issues.
Under Mourinho, players often stayed in position. But Gao Shen emphasized movement.
Only through movement could passing options open up. But movement also loosens the defensive structure.
The key then was how to transition quickly from attack to defense and reorganize effectively.
The clever solution? Immediate counter-pressing after losing possession.
This is already a mature football concept.
But many of Real Madrid's players still hadn't adapted to it. Positioning was inconsistent.
Toni Kroos, however, surprised Gao Shen.
His adaptability was remarkable. Once Gao Shen explained a concept, Kroos understood it instantly and adapted without issues.
He had played as an attacking midfielder at Bayern and as a left-sided playmaker at Leverkusen. Now, Gao Shen had him operating on the left of midfield. The German adjusted effortlessly and executed his role flawlessly.
That was no coincidence. It was a testament to his intelligence and technical strength.
In the 2nd minute, Kroos switched play to the right with a pinpoint diagonal pass.
Arbeloa received and pushed the ball forward. Di María dribbled and was fouled by a Getafe defender.
There was no avoiding it. Di María's runs were too dangerous.
Real Madrid earned a free-kick just two minutes in.
Xabi Alonso and Kroos stood over the ball. Ramos, Pepe, Ronaldo, and others positioned themselves in the box.
Kroos quickly stepped up and whipped in a diagonal cross with his right foot, sending it to the near side of the six-yard box.
Ramos surged forward and met the delivery with a powerful header.
The ball went in!
"Less than three minutes in, and Real Madrid have taken the lead!!!"
The players erupted in celebration, running across the pitch with joy.
A large contingent of Real Madrid fans in the stands rose to cheer.
Behind Gao Shen, the coaching staff jumped up in celebration.
It was a beautifully executed set piece!
"Since joining Real Madrid from Bayern, Toni Kroos has dropped deeper into midfield, but his vision, awareness, technique, and passing range have all been showcased."
"So far this season, his performances have been steady, and Gao Shen clearly has great trust in him."
"You have to admire Gao Shen's eye for talent—especially his ability to develop and utilize players."
…
Play resumed.
After scoring early, Real Madrid controlled the tempo and played with composure.
Ten minutes later, Getafe tried an attack outside the penalty area, but Real Madrid had set their defensive line high.
Getafe attempted a long ball over the top, but Pepe headed it clear.
Xabi Alonso picked up the loose ball and directed it left to Marcelo, who sent it forward.
Ronaldo received it and launched a counterattack. Spotting Di María making a diagonal run, the two wingers combined.
The Portuguese fed a pass behind Rayo's defense. Di María sprinted into space.
Many forget—he's a left-footed player!
As Di María collected the ball at the edge of the box, he suddenly halted inside the area. After freezing the defenders, he burst to the byline and drilled a low cross to the center.
The ball slipped between the defender's legs and rolled across the goalmouth.
Benzema, who had been lurking on the edge of the area, pounced and tapped it into an open net.
2-0!
Real Madrid fans erupted once more.
Di María, Benzema, and Ronaldo all raced to the touchline to celebrate.
The positional interchanges—this was what Gao Shen had stressed in the locker room. Focus attacks on the left.
Such fluid switching of roles caused chaos for the defenders.
Benzema, typically operating centrally, didn't make the run. As a right-footed player, he lacked top-end pace. Di María, on the other hand, had blistering speed, intricate footwork, and excellent one-on-one ability.
Treating Di María the same as Benzema would always be a mistake.
…
In the 19th minute, Real Madrid, having already netted twice, continued to control the game.
But Getafe started making their own mistakes.
Ramos cleared the ball from deep and sent a long ball toward Benzema. Under pressure, Getafe's center-back misjudged the clearance and failed to clear properly.
Suddenly, the ball fell to Benzema.
Despite being surrounded by three defenders, he calmly shifted the ball right and laid it off to Di María.
The Argentine collected the ball just outside the top-right corner of the penalty area. One-on-one, he had options—cut inside and shoot, or take on the defender wide.
Di María glanced up, feinted once, then suddenly shifted the ball inside. He curled in a cross with his left foot, arcing it toward the far post.
Ronaldo charged forward and met the delivery with a left-footed volley, blasting the ball past the goalkeeper at close range.
3-0!
The Portuguese winger spread his arms wide and sprinted in celebration, soaring like an Iberian eagle in full flight.
(To be continued.)
***
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