With Gao Shen's current status, if he appeared at any club, he would make front-page headlines the next day. Many outlets would even hype up his whereabouts.
Only at Leeds United could he watch matches openly.
He could even go to the AXA Center to watch training.
After Leeds United narrowly beat Manchester City at Wembley to win the Community Shield, it was a good start to the new season, but the match also exposed several issues, especially in midfield.
This time, Gao Shen arrived without notifying anyone. He showed up suddenly.
Everyone was stunned when he appeared at the AXA Center holding Gao Ming's hand.
He was dressed in casual sportswear.
The players were even more surprised. When Gao Shen stood on the touchline, even with a wire fence between them, the players were immediately distracted, making a string of mistakes in training. They were scolded by Pochettino and looked embarrassed.
This was the aura of a top coach.
Gao Shen, on the other hand, found it amusing. When he heard Pochettino's lecture, he even shouted, "This proves your training intensity is not high enough, so they get distracted."
For a moment, the players wanted to cry.
Was Pochettino's training not intense enough?
Ask around the world, who does not know Pochettino is a training maniac?
Oh, right, he learned from Gao Shen.
So if Pochettino is a training maniac, then what is Gao Shen?
The players were in tears.
This is the boss, we cannot afford to offend him.
In fact, Gao Shen and Pochettino do not agree on many things.
For example, although both favor high-intensity training, Gao Shen focuses more on ball work, while Pochettino includes a lot of physical conditioning. His teams are excellent at running and high pressing.
Just imagine, even a technical player like Bernardo Silva had been turned into an indefatigable midfielder. You can tell how intense Pochettino's physical regimen is.
There is also Bruno Fernandes. The reason he wasted so much time earlier in his career was related to weaker technique and physical conditioning, but later he found a different path on his own.
At Leeds United, under Pochettino's "abuse," not only his running improved, but so did his fitness.
Sometimes, the environment really changes a player.
The Bruno Fernandes forged by Leeds United is clearly different from the ineffective version developed by teams like Udinese and Benfica.
Gao Shen also noticed veteran José Fonte constantly communicating and talking to teammates even in training, and everyone seemed to respect him.
This center-back incubator had truly helped Leeds United produce many excellent defenders.
And Mbappé, during group drills, was basically on the left.
In addition, Pochettino designed targeted training to sharpen Mbappé's left foot.
There was even a session where Mbappé was forbidden to use his pace to burst through and could only rely on dribbling.
This was clearly aimed at further improving his technique.
The training content was diverse, and the objectives varied, but with the methodology department's support and research behind the scenes, Gao Shen believed there would be no major issues.
In Leeds United's original plan to keep Mbappé, further refining and enhancing his technical traits was a key part, which also attracted Mbappé.
After all, Leeds United's methodology in training and polishing players is recognized by everyone.
…
After the morning session, Gao Shen greeted and chatted with the players across the wire fence.
At first, they thought he had come for a photo shoot.
Leeds roll out a series of new kits before each season. This year, due to the World Cup, it was relatively late, but still in time for the league, so the photo shoot was being done at the AXA Center today.
This included individual shots and first-team group photos.
But Gao Shen did not know about the arrangement, and he was not there for that.
Gao Ming, on the other hand, was thrilled, shouting that he wanted to be the first to get a signature on the new shirt.
Who knows when this kid developed a collecting habit.
His room was full of shirts. If you did not know, you would think it was a jersey gallery.
Although he is no longer head coach, Gao Shen had to say a few words.
He expressed satisfaction with the team's current state. He was full of confidence for the new season and hoped everyone would keep working hard.
"As everyone knows, the Champions League final this season will be held at our Amazon Stadium. I hope to see you lift the trophy there."
Gao Shen's encouragement received a warm response from the young squad.
Clearly, this was not only his expectation, but theirs as well.
They needed to perform better, for Leeds United and for themselves.
…
"The team's morale is good."
After training, Gao Ming ran off to play with the players, while Gao Shen went into the head coach's office with Pochettino.
Pochettino invited him to sit and poured him a glass of water.
"It's pretty good. We've always been motivated," Pochettino said, very satisfied.
With good morale, it would be much easier for him to lead the team.
The most important reason was that Leeds United is a team with hope.
Wages were a bit low, but the club management was very professional and the logistics were impeccable, among the best in Europe.
So players could play without worries here.
"After what you mentioned last time, I looked up the team's matches from last season and watched them. I found there are still some problems."
Pochettino immediately grew serious. He moved his chair closer. "Go on."
"Bruno Fernandes still needs polishing. As you said, his strengths and weaknesses are obvious. You think he suits playing as a free man between midfield and attack. I agree."
This was a bit like how Gao Shen used Isco back then, putting him between midfield and the front line.
But Bruno differs from Isco. He is better at the final pass and finishing.
That is the new path he has found.
"He makes too many mistakes, especially under pressure. I find it unacceptable that he makes so many. Whether in the final third, midfield, or the back line, his passing accuracy is low."
Low here is not relative to all midfielders, but to Leeds United's standards.
For example, his overall pass accuracy rarely exceeded 80 percent.
Many might find that strangely low.
Yes, it is that low.
In detail, his accuracy in the final third was 71 percent, which was an improvement from 68 percent or lower before. Midfield was 84 percent, also improved. The back line was 90 percent.
Since he had more passes in the final third, followed by midfield, and the fewest at the back, his overall success rate was 78 percent.
Gao Shen also looked into it and found that the main reason was his preference for riskier passes.
Those passes are often difficult. If they go through, they threaten the opponent. If they fail, they expose you. They are hard to complete, especially under pressure.
In truth, this is normal. No player is perfect.
The key is that he is still young enough to be refined.
"I have been helping him with off-ball movement since last season. There has been progress, but it is still not satisfactory," Pochettino said, frowning.
Gao Shen nodded. "I think we should help him settle down, put some pressure on him, and get him involved more. That includes controlling the tempo and transitional passing, slowing the game down at times."
Pochettino understood.
In simple terms, stop always chasing stats or trying to create danger in one pass. Stay calm and composed.
This probably related to Bruno's turbulent youth career, which made him eager to prove himself now. It is human nature.
"And Bernardo Silva. I personally think using him at right midfield is fine, but it restricts him a bit," Gao Shen added.
In Pochettino's plan, the midfield organizer this season was Bernardo Silva.
But after watching the Community Shield, Gao Shen felt Pochettino had not maximized the Portuguese midfielder.
"Strengthen his connection with the right winger and right-back, give him more freedom to advance and drop, and allow him to rotate with the left midfielder. I think this player is really good."
In the past and now, Gao Shen felt Bernardo Silva was a very, very good and complete midfielder. Not only can he evade pressure with the ball, but under Pochettino he developed tireless running, possesses strong passing, and averages two successful dribbles per game.
What more could you ask for from such a player?
Gao Shen believed Pochettino's usage was too conservative.
Players like him should be given more trust and support to maximize imagination and creativity.
This was another difference between Pochettino and Gao Shen.
As a former center-back, Pochettino was naturally cautious, so when using creative players, he would instinctively restrain them, which limited their performance.
Source change app, view the latest chapters of this book on multiple sites at the same time.
Gao Shen felt that players like this should be let loose to play.
As for a genius, can he still be called a genius if he is restrained?
"I will try."
Pochettino could accept frank advice.
"You are still a bit conservative at heart. Relax. We are a strong team now," Gao Shen said with a laugh.
A head coach's style comes directly from his personality.
Gao Shen understood this more and more, but he still hoped Pochettino would be bold enough to make attempts and change himself.
He was just one transformation away from becoming a top coach in Europe.
Break through, that is all.
"Come on, let's start the new season against West Ham United."
(To be continued.)