How do you react when you see Zidane oraining ground?

  That was the expression pstered across the faces of Napoli pyers when they saw Zidane walking onto the training ground. Their eyes almost bulged out of their heads, and their jaws nearly hit the floor.

  David Luiz, the goof, couldn't help but ask an idiotic question: "Are we sure that's the real Zidane?"

  Bonucci, uo hold back, gave him a pyful kibsp;

  Everyone burst into ughter, but underh the humor ure excitement.

  This was the power of a superstar!

  While Guardio was a star in his ht, even a legend, his influence wasn't on the same level as Zidane's. That's not to downpy Guardio's talent or achievements, but Zidane was in a league of his own. Alongside the likes of Ronaldo, Zidane was one of those rare pyers who transded football to bee a global i, breaking out of the football sphere to bee a household name.

  Pyers like Van Basten, Romário, and Figo great as they were couldn't rival the worldwide aura of Zidane or Ronaldo. These pyers had bee legends, synonymous with greatness, adored by fans all over the globe.

  That's why when Guardio first showed up at Napoli's training ground, the pyers were excited, but when Zidane arrived, it felt like they were in the presence of a mythical figure.

  It's Zidane, f out loud!

  Before the training session, Gao Shen gave the Napoli pyers some time to run over and ask Zidane for autographs and selfies. He stood nearby, enjoying the spectacle with a grin on his face.

  The pyers were ecstatie of them could hardly believe their luck, looking at Gao Shen with newfound admiration.

  They'd heard about other head coaches, but surely, none of them could pull off what Gao Shen had. First, Guardio came as a student and assistant, and now Zidane was here.

  Rumors spread among the team. Maybe one day Gao Shen would call up the entire squad of Real Madrid's Galácticos and have them py a match with Napoli. How awesome would that be?

  After the brief fanfare, Gao Shen quickly put everyoo work and begaraining session.

  Zidane was already familiar with most of Gao Shen's coag staff, except Guardio. By the time Zidane moved to Real Madrid, Guardio had left La Liga for Brescia in Serie A, so the two hadn't crossed paths.

  But Gao Shen made sure to introduce Guardio to Zidah great respect, knowing the potential csh of titans this enter represented.

  Zidane had only e to apany Gao Shen and observe from the sidelines, but it didn't take long before he was impressed.

  Though he had watched Napoli's matches before, seeing the training sessions up close was airely different experience. He could see how meticulously anized and disciplihe team was. Napoli's pying style, with its energy, tactical precision, and pressing, was a far cry from the more chaotic tactics Zidane had known during his pying days.

  "I finally uand why you were so frustrated with Real Madrid," Zidane said with a bitter smile, realizing the depth of tactical sophistication Gao Shen had always wanted.

  Gao Shen chuckled, shaking his head. "It wasn't frustration, really. Every team has its own strengths and weaknesses. At that time, I just had a lot of ideas in my head, and I wao see if I could implement them if they would work, if they would succeed."

  Gao Shen knew full well that the level of trol he had over Napoli was a rare and special situation. In almost any other club, it would be nearly impossible to tear everything down and build a team entirely from scratch, with plete authority.

  But Napoli was his team, and here he had the freedom to create somethiirely his own.

  As Sacchi and Valdano had said: People must have ambition, a sense of pursuit. They must dream, but dreams alone aren't enough they must be put into practice. That's hress is made.

  Napoli would never be a perfect team, and it would always have weaknesses and problems to solve. But that was what made it exg. The process of stantly refleg, adjusting, and improving was how both the team and Gao Shen would grow.

  While Gao Shen was basking ihoughts, Zidaerrupted. "Where did you even find these pyers? How did you gather so many talented guys in such a short time?"

  Gao She out a deep sigh, smiling wryly. "You're not the first to ask that."

  He ughed it off. "It's an industry secret, Zidane."

  Zidane rolled his eyes, pyfully gesturing as if to flip him off.

  That night, Gao Shen hosted a dinner in o wele Zidane, and the entire Napoli coag staff resent except Carlo, the assistant coach, who had politely deed.

  Everyone uood. Carlo's retionship with Gao Shen and Zidane was sensitive. Even though they were on good terms, it was better to avoid any unnecessary awkwardness.

  During dinner, Italian national TV aired a preview for the uping Coppa Italia matches, with various pundits analyzing the quarterfinals. Among the guests was her than Arrigo Sacchi, who redictably standing firm in his support fao Shen.

  Sacchi was one of the few promi Italian figures who had sistently defended and praised Gao Shen.

  It was iing to note how different Sacchi's approach was pared to someone like Ai. Although Ai had a good retionship with Gao Shen, he maintained a certain distan public to avoid unnecessary troversy. Sacchi, oher hand, wasn't coag anymore and had no such qualms. He could say whatever he wanted, without fear of backsh.

  "Sacchi's really doubling down on you," Zidane said with a ugh.

  Everyo the table shared a knowing smile.

  Sacchi's support was genuine, but Gao She wasirely without self-i. Sacchi's legendary status in Italian football was uionable, but he had been challenged and criticized throughout his career, even after his historic success with A.

  By championing Gao Shen's cause, Sacchi was, in a way, reinf his own legacy. If Gao Shen succeeded, it would validate many of the ideas Sacchi had pioneered.

  Of course, Gao Shen didn't mind. This was how the football world worked everyone had their own is at py. What mattered was that both sides were getting something out of it.

  Gao Shen mused to himself that no one would call him Sacchi's disciple forever. In time, if he tio grow and achieve success, perhaps other young coaches would one day be beled as Gao Shen's disciples.

  Just like how Ronaldo and Ronaldinho had to shake off the "little" in their names and emerge as global stars in their ht, the same could happen fao Shen in the coag world.

  And if he reached that level, it wouldn't be long before people started referring to Guardio, Zidane, and others as Gao Shen's protégés.

  Thinking about this, Gao Shen couldn't help but gnce over at Guardio, grinning to himself. Good, I've already got a powerful ally.

  And then he looked at Zidahis one's a potential recruit too. If I rope him in, I will be unstoppable!

  His mind wao the future, imagining a world where famous Italian coaches like Allegri, te, and Sarri might be under his influeoo. While those three were still struggling in Serie B or Serie C, he could see their potential. But as, these particur coaches didn't seem destio join Gao Shen's "school of thought."

  Still, the idea of creating a coag empire, of building a school of coaches who would carry on his philosophy, was thrilling.

  Gao Supreme, Only I Am Gao Shen!

  The thought amused him, and he chuckled inwardly. But he khis wasn't something that could be forced. Coaches weren't pyers; you couldn't just "recruit" them. They had to e to you willingly, with resped admiration for your methods like Guardio had.

  Cough, Gao Shen thought to himself. It'll take time, but I'll get there.

  It was all about the right opportunities and the right people ing together at the right time.

  And for now, he was on the right path.