Gao Shen stood calmly on the sidelines, occasionally with his hands in his pockets, sometimes gesturing to direct the game.
When he saw Modric pass the ball to Di Maria on the right, he had a gut feeling that this could be a dangerous move.
Because the entire right flank was wide open.
In Gao Shen's prediction, Di Maria would probably try to drive the ball forward and combine with Carvajal again.
Unexpectedly, Di Maria not only didn't carry the ball forward, but deliberately adjusted it.
Sometimes, even Gao Shen had to admire the instincts and talent of the players on the pitch.
Di Maria's slight adjustment gave Benzema time to drop back.
The French striker retreated to draw Hummels' attention, while Ronaldo made a diagonal run from the left inside channel to the right side of the penalty area, slipping in behind Hummels and just in front of Subotic.
After Di Maria's perfectly weighted long ball, the Portuguese forward leapt in the box. Subotic didn't dare to challenge him, because if he made any contact, Ronaldo would likely have deflected the ball and drawn a penalty.
But Subotic hesitated, and Ronaldo easily brought the ball down before poking it past Weidenfeller, sending it into the back of Dortmund's net.
In that moment, the entire Santiago Bernabéu erupted with thunderous cheers from the home fans.
Only then did Gao Shen react. He jumped up in excitement, pumping his fists in celebration and shouting Ronaldo's name, cheering the Portuguese's brilliant goal.
That goal was truly spectacular!
It wasn't just about the long switch, but Di Maria's clever adjustment.
With the Argentine's ability, there was no need for that extra movement, yet he chose to make it—waiting for Ronaldo's run.
Sometimes, knowing when to make that subtle adjustment is what separates the great players from the good ones.
Passing the ball directly could still pose a threat, but if the timing is off, Ronaldo would arrive too early or too late and miss the best window.
If the pass was too slow, Ronaldo might overrun it or risk being offside, making the follow-up shot more difficult or even impossible.
But Di Maria made that slight adjustment, then struck the ball. The speed, trajectory, and placement were perfect. It was certainly thanks to Ronaldo's brilliant movement, but Di Maria's long pass was exquisite.
At this level, precise passing is a basic requirement. That little adjustment—that's the flash of genius.
"I've always said, this guy isn't just a straightforward attacker!" Gao Shen said with a smile of admiration.
If he were just a pure winger, he'd have pushed forward with the ball and combined with Carvajal to attack Dortmund's left side. That would've posed a threat, but likely not as fast or effective as what just happened.
Zidane nodded repeatedly. "That pass just now was absolutely brilliant."
Everyone was full of praise.
It could be said that under Gao Shen's guidance, Di Maria was being fully utilized.
He wasn't just a winger. He could drop deep to organize, support in transitions, and carry the ball forward. That long pass just now showcased excellent technique. A player like that was a real asset.
Hierro felt it most deeply.
He realized that Gao Shen truly liked using these well-rounded and versatile players.
Toni Kroos, Modric, Xabi Alonso, Benzema, Di Maria...
Gao Shen's team was filled with all-rounders.
"The more complete a player's skill set, the more diverse your tactical options become."
That was a line Gao Shen often repeated. It wasn't some deep philosophical insight.
But he applied that principle thoroughly.
Just like earlier, Real Madrid didn't execute some intricate combination play. It was a simple pass, Ronaldo's explosive run, and Di Maria's pinpoint long ball.
It was the kind of moment that Real Madrid fans would remember and talk about for years to come.
"What now? It's only the 24th minute," Zidane asked helplessly.
Earlier, many were still worried whether Real Madrid could score twice.
Now what?
In under half an hour, Real Madrid had already completed the mission ahead of schedule.
What were they supposed to do with the remaining hour?
Gao Shen laughed cheerfully. "Klopp knows me too well. I'm just responding to the situation. We have no other choice. We still need to stay steady. Our foundation is weak, we can't afford to waste it."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Now with a 2-0 lead, the mood relaxed.
Real Madrid had to stay composed. There was no need to take unnecessary risks.
If they could maintain the 2-0 scoreline, then Dortmund would be forced to fight Manchester City head-to-head.
At that point, all Real Madrid would need is an away win over Porto to qualify.
"Will Klopp try to go all out against us?" Carlo asked cautiously.
"Yes, but we'll just wait for him to come at us," Gao Shen replied with a smile.
It's good when the opponent is aggressive.
Aggressive teams often focus so much on attacking that they leave gaps behind, and that's the opportunity.
Playing defensive counterattacks is a sophisticated skill—and it's Real Madrid's specialty.
"I bet Klopp is so angry right now. He probably hates you," Zidane joked.
Gao Shen had played dirty tonight. He wasn't following the usual playbook at all.
Even the initial attack was launched down the right while Real Madrid defended on the left.
That was a cautious tactical setup.
The turning point of the match was Dortmund's own error.
Real Madrid capitalized on that mistake with individual brilliance to seize the lead.
Once Gao Shen gained the upper hand, it was nearly impossible to flip the script.
…
After falling two goals behind, Dortmund finally woke up.
Actually, it wasn't after the second goal, but after Gündoğan received a yellow card.
Klopp must have noticed that Gündoğan, Götze, and Sven Bender had all been booked.
And the match had only gone a little over 30 minutes.
What did that mean?
Dortmund's midfield couldn't hold back Real Madrid.
With Reus and Grosskreutz positioned wide, and Lewandowski leading the line, Dortmund's midfield was unable to suppress Real Madrid's trio. They were getting overrun.
Another key factor was Carvajal's forward runs and Di Maria's dropping deep.
That meant Dortmund's double pivot and backline were constantly exposed to Real Madrid's attacks.
So Klopp began to adjust.
Following those changes, Dortmund slowly settled into the game, and things evened out.
Real Madrid also found it harder to launch the kind of fast counterattack they'd used earlier.
On the other hand, Dortmund's pressing in midfield and the final third had weakened.
The first half ended with Real Madrid leading 2-0.
During the break, Gao Shen reviewed and assessed the team's first-half performance, praised the players' execution, and laid out plans for the second half.
At this stage, Real Madrid's players clearly understood the situation, and their calculated strategy had paid off.
Especially the targeted tactics in the opening half.
This 2-0 lead was the best reward they could've asked for.
But the real test would come at the start of the second half.
"Dortmund will definitely come out trying to score. They'll want to get that away goal."
According to the Champions League group stage rules, if points are tied, the head-to-head results are prioritized. If Dortmund got an away goal, Real Madrid's two goals could be nullified in tiebreaker terms.
"So right after the second half kicks off, they'll press hard and launch an offensive. I'm certain of it."
Gao Shen was extremely confident in his judgment.
Given both teams' physical condition, if Dortmund didn't attack early in the second half, they might not get another chance.
Unless Real Madrid made a major error, which would be out of anyone's control and purely down to luck.
Gao Shen's instruction for the team was to focus on defense in the second half and not allow Dortmund's offense to be effective.
"Their energy won't hold up for long. My guess is 10 minutes. Fifteen at most."
"After that burst, they'll slow their tempo to recover."
A football match lasts 90 minutes. After an intense spell, teams often need to breathe and regain stamina.
Of course, different teams manage this differently.
Real Madrid, for example, can control possession to slow down the pace and recover while keeping the ball.
Barcelona can do the same.
But teams like Klopp's Dortmund or Simeone's Atletico Madrid don't have that kind of ball retention.
Some might ask why they don't recruit more players with great passing skills.
The answer is simple. Players who are strong in possession often can't keep up with the high pressing and tempo demands of those teams.
Those who can control the ball and handle the pressing intensity are rare, and usually very expensive. Teams like Dortmund simply can't afford them.
Just like Modric, Toni Kroos, and Xabi Alonso, how many teams in Europe can afford to field all three at once, and still have someone like Verratti sitting on the bench?
With both Higuaín and Benzema up front, Real Madrid's attack has double insurance.
That's the biggest gap between top clubs and the rest.
Teams like Dortmund can't afford those kinds of players, so they must compromise tactically.
Take Dortmund's midfield pairing. One of the pivots is Gündoğan.
As soon as Shinji Kagawa performed well, Manchester United snapped him up without negotiation.
"Remember what I said before. We stick to the same rhythm and tactics as the first half. If they push up, we drop back. If they retreat, we push forward. Never let them play at the tempo they're most comfortable with. Understand?"
Gao Shen gave his final instructions.
All the Real Madrid players agreed in unison.
Xabi Alonso, Toni Kroos, and Modric were the team's conductors. They were also the key contacts for tactical communication. They all knew how to disrupt Dortmund's rhythm.
Finally, Gao Shen rallied the group.
"Winning this game will completely turn our group stage campaign around. We may not finish first in the group, but we'll definitely qualify!"
"I told you I'd take you into the knockout stages of the Champions League next year!"
"I mean what I say. All I ask is that you give it your all and carry out my tactics!"
(To be continued.)
***
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