Given Gao Shen's current status in world football, there are few things that can truly trouble him.
Because of his exceptional standing, everyone must show him respect.
Whenever he speaks with intention, not only national football associations but even UEFA President Ceferin must listen carefully, and sometimes they might even have to act on his words immediately.
After all, Gao Shen's current position is founded on the achievements he has built over the years.
This legitimacy is far more convincing than that of officials like Ceferin, who are elected through votes.
If Ceferin were to show disrespect toward Gao Shen, it would be seen as disrespecting the entire European football system, which could also undermine his legitimacy as UEFA president.
Of course, this premise only stands as long as Gao Shen does nothing to damage his own reputation.
However, there are still matters that Gao Shen finds troublesome.
For example, the European Super League, which has long been a controversial topic within professional football circles in Europe.
Yes, it was the same decision that had caused a storm in domestic news before Gao Shen's transmigration in his previous life. In truth, the concept had existed for many years. Even back in the G14 era, discussions and feasibility plans had already begun, and the idea never disappeared.
After years of experience in European football, and especially now as the owner of Leeds United, Gao Shen has gained a much deeper understanding of this issue.
How should it be described?
Both UEFA and the clubs are ultimately motivated by profit.
From the clubs' perspective, this is the era of globalization. Local income for top teams now represents only a small portion of total revenue. Yet, whether it's the domestic leagues or the Champions League, apart from the Premier League, the top clubs from the other three major leagues have grown increasingly dissatisfied with how their leagues operate and with UEFA's management of the Champions League.
The reason is simple: they have failed to keep pace with globalization.
This is also why the Premier League remains the only dominant force today.
Moreover, the top clubs have long been dissatisfied with both the Football Associations and UEFA.
Veteran football fans are familiar with the G14. Even after its dissolution, the underlying tension has never gone away. Especially after the series of scandals that brought down figures like Blatter and Platini, UEFA's reputation hit rock bottom.
Take the Champions League as an example.
Almost all top clubs feel that while they work tirelessly to compete, UEFA takes a large portion of the money without doing much, while also limiting them with endless rules, adding smaller teams from minor nations just to share in the revenue.
This frustration is particularly evident among clubs like Real Madrid.
After all, it was Real Madrid that initiated the creation of the Champions League in the first place. What right does UEFA have to dictate to them?
Not only the Champions League, but even FIFA was founded through the efforts of these major clubs. So, what qualifications do these officials have to lecture their founding members now?
Indeed, this sentiment is shared among many top European clubs, whose dissatisfaction with UEFA has existed for a long time.
It's not just about scandals or politics, but because UEFA has crossed too many lines and interfered too much.
For instance, recent reports suggest that Ceferin has been studying amendments to the Financial Fair Play regulations to attract more sovereign wealth funds, such as those backing Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, into European football.
Unsurprisingly, many traditional football families are unhappy about this.
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are already unsettling enough, yet UEFA wants to bring in more similar investors? How can the old footballing families compete under those circumstances?
Everyone knows why these sovereign funds enter football. They inflate transfer fees and player wages to extreme levels. If they one day pull out and leave behind chaos, who will clean up the mess?
In recent years, UEFA's leniency toward the financial audits of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain is an open secret. Now they actually want to welcome more of them?
So, whenever this happens, rumors about the top clubs forming a European Super League reappear, mainly as a means to pressure UEFA into concessions.
Does it work?
Yes.
For example, not long ago in Monaco, UEFA announced a reform to the prize distribution of the current Champions League season, allocating a larger share of the prize money based on each club's European performance over the past ten years.
This clearly benefits the top teams.
Still, these clubs remain uneasy because they have no influence over UEFA's internal decisions.
Especially now that UEFA is pushing the European Nations League and planning to further expand the Champions League, the interests of the top clubs are being directly threatened. Naturally, the tension continues to escalate.
All the above reflects the perspective of the clubs. But what about UEFA?
From UEFA's side, the situation is equally complicated.
The organization also feels it is being treated unfairly.
Take La Liga as an example. Real Madrid and Barcelona receive hundreds of millions in broadcasting revenue every year, while the remaining 18 teams combined barely earn the same amount.
Similarly, UEFA represents not just the four major leagues, but over 50 member nations.
In elections where each member gets one vote, how many votes do the four major leagues have compared to the combined total of the smaller countries?
From Platini to Ceferin, all have relied on votes from these smaller nations to secure their positions.
And these smaller nations hold deep resentment toward Western European football and the dominance of the big four leagues.
So, when UEFA slightly tilts the Champions League to favor weaker nations, and the rich clubs complain, UEFA can argue that the big clubs have been at the top for years, exploiting talent from all over Europe and the world. Why complain now?
In truth, the expansion of the Nations League and the Champions League is UEFA's attempt to grow its commercial influence, suppress the power of the big clubs, and reinforce its political legitimacy.
At the same time, it serves to repay the smaller nations whose votes keep them in power.
However, both these expansions increase players' workloads, which frustrates the clubs. When players represent their countries, the benefits go to the national teams, FIFA, and UEFA, while the clubs bear the risks and losses.
This contradiction has persisted for many years.
At this stage, it is nearly impossible to define who is right or wrong.
But from the current situation, UEFA is indeed becoming more powerful. This is evident in their continued promotion of the Nations League and plans for Champions League expansion and financial reform.
Reports suggest that Ceferin has already reached a consensus with Andrea Agnelli, the president of the European Club Association and chairman of Juventus. The two share a strong personal bond, with Ceferin even being the godfather of Agnelli's youngest daughter.
Wherever Ceferin goes, he seeks to consolidate more support for himself.
The Slovenian UEFA president presents himself as a diplomat, claiming to have received an Eastern European education and to be a firm supporter of disadvantaged groups.
In the past, Gao Shen had little to do with such "battles of the gods," but things are different now.
He is not only the most respected manager in world football but also the owner of Leeds United.
In recent years, Leeds United has been performing better and better in Europe. UEFA has praised the club as a rising force capable of breaking the established hierarchy among top European teams.
Most importantly, because of Gao Shen's influence, even the elite clubs led by Real Madrid can accept Leeds United's rise.
However, as Leeds United continues to grow, the ongoing conflict between UEFA and the giants has become increasingly unavoidable.
When it comes to the struggle between UEFA and the top clubs, Gao Shen's stance is to side with neither.
UEFA has indeed become more authoritarian and corrupt, making reform and oversight necessary. On the other hand, the European Super League proposed by the top clubs should also not be supported, as it strays from football's original spirit.
In fact, many fans might not realize that in Europe, especially in the Premier League, football clubs are deeply tied to their local communities. This connection goes beyond fan support and match attendance.
For example, among Leeds United's local sponsors in the UK, the most popular players are not global superstars like Mbappé, but homegrown heroes like Harry Kane in the past, and now Vardy and Kalvin Phillips.
Because they are local heroes.
Every month, Leeds United arranges for many players to participate in community activities. This is a way to give back to the local community and maintain that emotional bond between the club and its supporters.
Leeds United now treats not only the city of Leeds as its base but also extends its reach across Yorkshire, striving to expand and nurture its local fan base.
But if the European Super League were to be established, that emotional connection would be destroyed. Football would become nothing more than a playground for capital.
According to the Super League model from Gao Shen's previous life, a dozen wealthy clubs would play in a closed system without promotion or relegation, and every team would be guaranteed profits. How long could such a league possibly last?
Because neither side has clean hands, Gao Shen and Leeds United must tread carefully between them.
When Ceferin and Boban came to speak with him, Gao Shen couldn't avoid them, so he responded tactfully.
He adopted a strategy of deflection and neutrality, maintaining a consistent tone. No matter what was said, he simply nodded and agreed vaguely.
Express his opinion? No, he had none.
Show support? Sorry, Leeds United is just a small club. Our words carry little weight.
Don't believe it? Just listen to the Barcelona fans and Catalan media. They can curse and mock us thousands of times in a single day with endless creativity.
My opinion? I have no opinion.
Is it necessary to take a stance? Well, matters like this require caution, caution, and more caution. At most, we can try to win broader support from other clubs.
As for recommending him to join UEFA? That was out of the question. Gao Shen enjoyed being a head coach too much.
Gao Shen handled the matter very carefully, refusing to make any clear response no matter what Ceferin said.
Leeds United couldn't afford to offend either the top clubs or UEFA.
Besides, it was better to leave such public battles to the truly powerful.
But at the end of the conversation, Gao Shen made one thing clear.
"We can win this game tonight."
(To be continued.)