"Are you really optimistic that the team can continue to compete for the Champions League next season?"
After chatting for several hours, Su Qing came out only after Pochettino had left.
She wasn't eavesdropping, but she had overheard a few words as she passed by.
Besides, there were no secrets between her and Gao Shen, so why bother hiding?
If she wanted to listen, she would just listen openly.
"Don't you have confidence?" Gao Shen asked with a smile instead of answering.
Su Qing shook her head. "It's hard to say. Many people think last season's success was a surprise. We reached the final, but we didn't win the Champions League. That was disappointing. And this summer, we'll definitely have to sell a few more players."
"You know," Gao Shen began, "I've discussed this with people like Sacchi, Valdano, and Ferguson. Many coaches build teams as if assembling a puzzle."
Su Qing frowned slightly. "What's wrong with that?"
"That kind of approach turns into managing player characteristics, doesn't it?" Gao Shen countered.
Su Qing still looked puzzled.
"For example, if we sell Kante, we'd look to sign another ball-winner like him to fill the gap, right?"
Su Qing nodded. That was the usual logic. Almost every club thought that way.
"But here's the problem," Gao Shen continued. "Where can you find another Kante in this world?"
Su Qing paused, not sure how to answer.
"More importantly," Gao Shen explained, "building a team like a puzzle is very inefficient. You end up with a collection of talented players who don't necessarily fit together. Take Kante for example—he's a very special player."
Hearing this, Su Qing suddenly understood why Gao Shen said Leeds United's midfield wasn't great at ball distribution.
If she thought about it carefully, as long as Kante was there, Leeds United's passing issue in midfield would always exist. Even if Kimmich played as a defensive midfielder and Bernardo Silva or Bruno Fernandes played alongside him, the problem would remain.
According to the "barrel theory," Kante's shortcoming was simply too short.
This shortcoming wasn't about poor passing. On the contrary, under Leeds United's system, Kante's passing accuracy was excellent. The issue was that he made few dangerous or creative passes, mostly choosing safe transitions.
Of course, his strengths were tremendous.
That was why Leeds United had relied on him for years.
But things were different now.
First, Kante was difficult to keep. Second, Leeds United's identity had changed.
They were no longer just a strong team.
They were champions.
Premier League champions and Champions League runners-up.
In the past, when Premier League clubs faced Leeds United, they wanted to fight. Now, they would defend first.
This was exactly what Gao Shen had told Pochettino: in the new season, Leeds United's attacking power would determine how far they could go.
"Modern football tactics are about amplifying players' abilities and achieving a multiplier effect," Gao Shen said.
Su Qing, quick to catch on, immediately grasped the core of his point. "So what you're saying is that football today focuses more on collective performance than individual brilliance?"
"Exactly!" Gao Shen praised her. "If one plus one can be greater than two, then what about one plus one plus one? What if it's eleven players? How big would that effect be?"
"The integrated power of this multiplier effect far surpasses the brilliance of any individual. Even players like Ronaldo or Messi are no exception. They still need to fit into the team's overall framework."
"That's why, in the Champions League, especially in tactically sophisticated matches, you sometimes see huge scorelines between strong teams. It's not because of the difference in individual ability, but because of the disparity in the multiplier effect created by tactics."
The gap was not in overall strength but in performance on the pitch.
Last season, Real Madrid had looked uncomfortable because they disrupted their own multiplier effect at the tactical level, which backfired.
Now, Su Qing fully understood what Gao Shen meant.
"So this is the secret behind your coaching success all these years?" she asked playfully.
Gao Shen grinned. "What, are you planning to steal the Exorcism Sword Manual and defeat Dugu Qiubai?"
Su Qing rolled her eyes. "What Sword Manual? You're the one practicing Exorcism... Ugh, forget it!"
"It's a theory," Gao Shen said with a laugh, "and it sounds simple, but it's hard to apply in practice."
"It's like studying. For top students, the same problem looks simple—'you do this, this, and that, and it's done.' But for weaker students, it's completely confusing."
"I remember when Ronaldo first joined Real Madrid, I asked him to train with Benzema. Ronaldo told him that one-on-one scoring wasn't difficult. 'Just deceive the goalkeeper and score.' Do you know what Benzema said?"
"What?" Su Qing asked, smiling sweetly.
"'Buddy, you're Ronaldo!'" Gao Shen burst out laughing.
That joke became a classic inside Real Madrid's dressing room and was often used to tease Benzema.
Su Qing laughed too.
That's exactly it.
The theory might be sound, but the people applying it make all the difference.
For no particular reason, Gao Shen suddenly sighed deeply.
He thought of Real Madrid and his old players.
Only now did he truly understand why Ferguson delayed his retirement again and again, and why so many players refused to quit even when they could no longer perform at the top level.
After all, it's never easy to let go.
…
2018 was the year of the World Cup.
FIFA President Infantino had personally invited Gao Shen to Russia to attend the opening match and the final, and Gao Shen gladly accepted. He hadn't yet been to Russia.
So after discussing it with Su Qing, they decided to travel there for the World Cup, combining business with leisure.
After so many years of coaching in Europe, this was the first time he truly felt free enough to enjoy the tournament.
But before heading to Russia, Gao Shen had to return to China to handle some matters.
After staying in Cheshire for a while, Gao Shen and his family returned home, taking their child to visit his grandparents.
Their family's wine company had now become a major enterprise in China, holding agency rights for several top international brands and well-known domestic wineries.
But most operations were now handled by professional managers, while Gao Shen and Su Qing simply oversaw things casually.
Sanchez and Vidal's vineyard and farm businesses in Chile were also flourishing. After tasting success, they expanded further, supplying exclusively to the Chinese market and earning a fortune.
Vargas from Peru had also built a thriving farm. After retiring, he devoted himself fully to business, partnering with several high-tech companies.
Over the years, Gao Shen had invested in many ventures with players. Some made money, some didn't, but the sums were small, and he never cared much about the losses.
With his current wealth, such things barely mattered.
Things were different now.
In recent years, Gao Shen's hometown had undergone a major urban renewal project. Among them, the redevelopment of Yangguangli was led by the government, with Gao Jianguo, Su Zhijun, and the residents jointly funding the project.
Every family now lived in a single-family villa, roughly the same size as before, with small courtyards in front. The remaining land was used to build malls, hotels, residential buildings, and nursing homes.
The shopping centers and hotels were operated by leading domestic companies. The commercial housing, initially planned for both residents and outside buyers, sold out instantly within the community.
Profits from the housing supported the community renovation, while rental income from malls and hotels funded the neighborhood committee and nursing home operations. Each household also received annual dividends based on their registration.
After several years, Yangguangli had become one of the most desirable areas in the city center.
All of this began with the initiative of Gao Jianguo and Su Zhijun.
So when Gao Shen and Su Qing returned, they were warmly welcomed by everyone in the community.
Over the years, they had always been a source of pride for the neighborhood. Both families had contributed greatly to the community, and everyone was grateful.
Back in his hometown, Gao Shen finally understood the saying, "If you don't return home in glory, it's like wearing fine clothes in the dark."
The neighbors' praise was one thing, but visitors also came from the district, the city, and even the province. The local leaders personally met with him.
He had his parents to thank for that, as their community work had earned them deep respect.
It made Gao Shen realize that his and Su Qing's roots would always be here.
"When you have time, we must come back often," Gao Shen told her.
During their stay, they visited their old schools—kindergarten, primary, and secondary. Everything had changed so much. Although Gao Jianguo and Su Zhijun donated every year, Gao Shen and Su Qing still made generous contributions in their own names, earning honorary school director titles.
After spending about ten days at home, Gao Shen and Su Qing said goodbye to their parents as the World Cup approached.
It was an emotional farewell.
Both Gao Shen and Su Qing were nearly 38, and their parents were in their sixties. At this age, they didn't want to cause any more worry.
In the past, their parents talked about visiting abroad and even encouraged them to have another child, but not anymore.
They preferred to live comfortably in their familiar community, surrounded by lifelong neighbors and friends.
What reassured Gao Shen most was that the old neighborhood of Yangguangli remained close-knit. Everyone still looked out for each other, and all four parents were healthy, so he and Su Qing could leave without concern.
After saying a reluctant goodbye, Gao Shen and his family boarded a plane, first stopping in the capital for two days before flying to Russia.
Gao Shen was curious to see whether this World Cup would unfold the same way as in his previous life.
(To be continued.)