As night falls, the lights in the head coach's office at Arsenal's Colney training base north of London are still on.
Wenger was sitting at his desk, watching a football match on the computer screen in front of him.
In the twenty-sixth round of La Liga, Real Madrid faced Atletico Madrid at home.
Is this the first time he has watched this game?
Wenger himself couldn't remember it clearly, but the more he looked at it, the more interesting it became.
In this game against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid's offense was actually very rough, and it was obviously not carefully polished and practiced, but this team's defense is worthy of scrutiny.
The players made a lot of mistakes and the scene looked very passive, so many fans and even many Spanish media accused Real Madrid of playing Italian football. However, true insiders can easily see the clues when watching this game.
Real Madrid's defensive system has changed!
The 25-year-old Chinese youth injected fresh blood into this aging team.
Whether it is the double midfielder or the defensive system, it all looks like Benitez. The only difference is that Real Madrid does not use high-position pressing tactics in the game.
Is this out of consideration for the players? Or is it because they don’t understand these things?
Wenger is unknown, but even so, it is amazing enough.
He is only twenty-five years old!
After watching the game, Wenger was a little unfinished, and a question involuntarily arose in his mind. This is also the question that fans all over the world have been waiting for in the past few days.
What tactics will Real Madrid adopt when visiting Highbury Stadium?
If it were Carlo, it would actually be better to guess, because it is difficult for this head coach to have such great courage.
But that's not necessarily the case with profoundness.
Young people are always more impulsive and reckless.
And Ronaldo and Carlos, will these two Real Madrid offensive giants get a chance to play?
When Wenger conducted pre-match deliberation with the coaching staff, he felt that there was a high probability that he would, even if he did not start, he should be included in the squad, because Real Madrid really needs the offensive capabilities of Ronaldo and Carlos.
Moreover, the new chairman of Real Madrid also came forward.
In a previous interview, Wenger also added fuel to the fire because he also wanted Ronaldo and Carlos to start.
The reason is simple, he wants to replicate the Bernabeu game at Highbury.
Real Madrid has many veteran players, and the bodies of several superstars can no longer keep up with the high-intensity pace of the game. If Ronaldo and Carlos play, Real Madrid's pace will be slower and the overall running of the players will be worse.
What is Arsenal, or rather, the Premier League team, best at?
Fast-paced running and impact!
Beat the slow with the fast!
That's why Wenger deliberately said those things in the media.
The media, fans, management, chairman, and even opponents have come forward. Wenger thinks that the 25-year-old acting head coach of Real Madrid should compromise, right?
When the professor thought of this, a smile appeared on his lips.
He learned this trick from that bad old man who was full of bad intentions.
At this moment, assistant coach Pat Rice appeared at the office door and knocked on the door.
Wenger looked up and saw the assistant coach walking in hurriedly, holding a fax in his hand.
"The press conference in Madrid is over. This is the 18-man Real Madrid squad we just got."
Pat Rice handed the fax to Wenger with a solemn expression.
"It's a little different from what we guessed before. Ronaldo, Carlos, Baptista, Robinho and Cicinho and other Brazilian players still haven't made the squad."
Wenger's eyes were always focused on the list of faxes. He scanned the names one after another and found that Ronaldo, Carlos and others were not there. Then he raised his head in surprise and looked at his assistant.
They guessed wrong!
But soon, Wenger laughed again, shook his head and said: "You are indeed a young man, he is brave enough!"
The whole world was calling for Ronaldo and Carlos, and even their immediate superiors came forward to request that they be arranged to play. As a result, Gao Shen refused to arrange and took all the pressure.
This is either stubbornly insisting on one's plan, or breaking the pot.
To be able to defeat Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu, no matter how you look at it, it should be the former.
"This young man is interesting!" Wenger praised. He rarely praises others, especially the opponent's head coach.
But this time, he really felt that Gao Shen was very interesting.
"If I remember correctly, he is from Loughborough University?"
"Yes, I went to find out about the physical education major, and my academic performance is very good."
Wenger nodded, "When he comes down from the Real Madrid coaching position, you can contact him, give him a contract, and let him come to work in Colney. I like this young man!"
Pat Rice was stunned. Is this poaching?
There was no Ronaldo and Carlos, and there was no Brazilian gang. Although Wenger was a little surprised, he was also relieved.
Whether his words are true or not, with or without Ronaldo, there are pros and cons.
But it's obvious that Gao Shen is making choices based on his own ideas.
What on earth does he want to do?
Wenger also wanted to know.
…………
…………
At almost the same time as Wenger, in a mansion on the outskirts of Madrid, former Real Madrid president Florentino also learned the results of the just-concluded press conference from his assistant Redondo, and even got more.
.
"According to UEFA's requirements, the head coach must participate in the pre-match and post-match press conferences, unless there are special circumstances."
As soon as Redondo finished speaking, Florentino couldn't help laughing.
"So, he has a special situation?"
Redondo suppressed a smile and nodded: "Yes, I said it was uncomfortable."
This reason is so far-fetched that anyone can hear that it is perfunctory.
"Our acting head coach is really interesting. He doesn't even bother to think of excuses. But on the other hand, he still insists on not using Ronaldo and Carlos and dares to make enemies of everyone. It's a bit interesting. It's really interesting!"
Florentino suddenly felt that he really wanted to meet this young man.
There are not many interesting young people these days.
"He is pushing himself into a dead end." Redondo shook his head.
In his opinion, this was somewhat motivated.
"If you think about it this way, Manuel, if he decided early on that as long as he lost to Arsenal, he would leave regardless of whether the club kept him or not, then it is not difficult for you to guess his decision at this moment."
If we follow public opinion and use Ronaldo and Carlos, even if we lose to Arsenal, Real Madrid will be eliminated from the Champions League, and Gao Shen will be fired with a high probability, but after all, there is still a little bit of hope. But now, withstanding all the pressure, with
The management, media and fans are at odds with each other. If he wins, everyone will be happy, but if he loses, he will have to bear all the infamy and leave.
"Furthermore, Manuel, what do you think Martin is thinking at this moment?"
Redondo's first thought was that Martin should be angry now because the subordinate he promoted disobeyed him.
But soon, he thought deeper and found that Martin had no reason to be angry.
Ronaldo was the benchmark signing for his predecessor. Now with Ronaldo, if he wins, the credit will go to his predecessor, and if he loses, he will take the blame. This is not worthwhile at all, and he even threatened to suppress superstars a while ago.
Anyone who knows the inside story will understand that when Martin came forward to make peace at this time, he felt the pressure from the board of directors, media and fans, but in his heart he definitely did not want Ronaldo and Carlos to come back.
It doesn’t matter to the Brazilian, the win is all his fault, isn’t it normal to lose?
No team in the Champions League has won such a game in so many years. Who can ask him to win?
Thinking of this, Redondo immediately understood.
At this time, Martin was probably feeling secretly happy.
"Do you understand?" Florentino asked with a smile, "This guy is not old, but his skills are not bad. He tricked Martin before, and now he takes the initiative to take the pressure. Even if he really takes the blame and gets dismissed from get out of class, Martin will also treat him well as appropriate."
Taking the blame for the leader is also a skill.
If nothing else, isn't Valdano's dismissal from Real Madrid just to take the blame for Florentino?
Didn’t Florentino also treat him kindly?
Even if the time is right and he returns to the throne of Real Madrid chairman, Florentino will still let Valdano return with him. This is the best proof.
At this moment, Redondo's cell phone suddenly rang.
Another piece of news came from the Bernabeu.
"Martin has decided to go with the team to Highbury!"
It is basically impossible to win this game. For the sake of appearance, arranging Vice Chairman and Technical Director Butragueno to accompany the team is already a high standard.
Martin went in person, which is his support for Gao Shen!
…………
…………
Before the team set off, Gao Shen made a special trip to the Ordaleza District.
He came to say goodbye to Carlo.
"If I lose this game, I won't come back!" Gao Shen said firmly.
Carlo suddenly raised his head and looked at Gao Shen in surprise. He did not expect that Gao Shen had already made such a big determination.
This game is important, but is it really worth risking everything on it?
"Don't be so surprised, Mr. Carlo, the world is fair." Gao Shen smiled relievedly.
"If I win, everything will be completely different when I come back. By then I should get a regular coaching contract, which will make me the youngest player in the history of European football and even world football.
As a head coach, my life will undergo earth-shaking changes."
"Compared to this, the price of losing is nothing."
Gao Shen suddenly enjoyed the feeling at this moment. He was like Jing Ke who was about to enter the Qin Dynasty and assassinate him, like Xiang Yu who was burning the cauldron and sinking his boat, and like Han Xin who was arrayed against the water, but he preferred Li Shimin on the banks of the Weishui River.
This is the life a time traveler should have!
Carlo was silent, he understood what Gao Shen said, but he still sighed, "If that's the case, then why are you so stubborn and don't let Ronaldo and Carlos enter the squad? With these two people here, the team's offensive power
It will be stronger, don’t you know that?”
"I know." Gao Shen understood Carlo's thoughts, "But they are really not in my plan."
To make this decision, Gao Shen considered many aspects, but the most important thing was to make this decision from a technical and tactical perspective.
"Your plan?" Carlo frowned, "You mean, you plan to guard and wait for Arsenal to make mistakes?"
Gao Shen smiled slightly and asked, "Do you think I am such a conservative person?"
Carlo was speechless because he asked himself, if it were him, he would probably do this.
"Don't worry, Mr. Carlo, you will definitely see a different Real Madrid in Highbury!"
