Wiurned int, and before long, summer arrived. Time seemed to fly as Serie B progressed, and it became more evident to Italians that Napoli's loss to Inter Min was not the disaster many had predicted.

  Instead, it appeared to be a catalyst for something greater Napoli's Nirvana, a rebirth.

  ---

  After their crushi, Napoli experienced an almost manic resurgence.

  When everyone expected Napoli to spiral into despair following their 0-3 loss to Inter Min, the team bounced back immediately. In the 21st round of Serie B, they delivered a resounding 3-0 victory over Verona at home.

  Then came the sed leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter Min. Although the matded in a 1-1 draoli showed grit. The team was still on the back foot, struggling to trol the game, but ultimately, it ellè's assist that allowed Gervinho to score, equalizing the match.

  Despite the 1-4 aggregate loss and elimination from the Coppa Italia, Napoli mao find some pride in their resilie the post-match press ferenapoli made their iions clear: they were fully focused on quering Serie B, with an eye already on Serie A.

  Gao Shen boldly decred that Napoli's goal was the Serie A title.

  "We are going to be the darkest dark horse in Serie A!" he said, a statement that caused an uproar in Italian football.

  "I want to lead Napoli to pletely overthrow the Inter Min dynasty!"

  Napoli's top brass echoed Gao Shen's words. Both Chairman De Laurentiis and General Manager Marino publicly supported the decration, fident that Napoli would soon shake off the defeat and trate on seg promotion to Serie A.

  De Laurentiis eve further, vowing that onapoli secured their p Serie A, he would spend heavily ttheeam particurly addressing some of the weaknesses exposed throughout the season.

  One gring issue was the right-back position, a vulnerability that had been exploited multiple times. Ohey made it to Serie A, Napoli needed reinforts in that area.

  However, after initial tact, Marino was regretful that the trahey had in mind were proving difficult. Sampdoria's starting right-back, Pietro Accardi, rime target, but Sampdoria rejected the inquiry. After all, they were in Serie A and had no reason to sell to a newly promoted team.

  The option was Dario Srna from Shakhtar Dosk, a Croatian right-back. However, Shakhtar, being a Ukrainian powerhouse with Champions League football, had no i iing Srna go. Napoli's overtures were swiftly dismissed.

  Despite the setbacks iransfer market, Napoli's performances och were nothing short of sensational.

  ---

  From the 22nd round onward, Napoli went on a relentless winning streak. The team stormed through their oppos, colleg victory after victory in Serie B. They seemed unstoppable, sweeping aside every team that stood in their way.

  By the 30th round, after a 2-0 home victainst AlbinoLeffe, Napoli had racked up ten secutive wins.

  This remarkable feat shook the entire Serie B and beyond. Evealian football world was astonished. After being thhly beaten by Inter Min, Napoli veheir frustration on Serie B, pying some of their best football of the season.

  The pyers tio improve under Gao Shen's guidance. In those ten secutive victories, Napoli had scored three or moals in six games, while g only foals total.

  Napoli had bee an attag juggernaut.

  Even Gazzetta dello Sport aowledged Napoli's relentless form, saying the team had throwire Serie B into chaos. All their oppos were wary of fag the Neapolitans.

  Many believed that Juventus, who were also in Serie B following their forced relegatiohe only team capable of challenging Napoli.

  The third match between Napoli and Juventus was scheduled for the 31st round, with Napoli traveling to face Juventus in Turin.

  There was great anticipation before the game, with many expeg Juventus to stop Napoli's winning streak.

  But it wasn't to be.

  Juventus, who had Buffon in goal and had been in good form, crumbled. Napoli dismahe Bianeri, with Buffon forced to fish the ball out of his owhree times.

  In the first ten minutes, Pellè's header opehe sg for Napoli. Just before halftime, Hamsik doubled their lead.

  The sed half saw Gervinho put the game beyond doubt, sg Napoli's third goal.

  Napoli walked away with a 3-0 victory, marking their 11th secutive win.

  This result was the final blow to any hope that Serie B teams could stop Napoli. It was clear now that Gao Shen's team was destined for the title.

  ---

  Following the victory over Juventus, Napoli won four more secutive matches, bringing their streak to 15 wins in a row. By the end of this run, they had ched the Serie B title with two months of the season still remaining.

  With the league title secured, Gao Shen began to experiment freely with tactid lineups, using the remaining games to prepare for the challenges of Serie A.

  In these final games, Napoli pyed with a sense of freedom. Gao Shen rotated pyers aed various formations. Some games saw him utilize a 4-3-3 formation; in others, he switched to a 4-2-3-1 or even a 3-5-2 setup.

  At times, Gao Shen would ge formatioween halves, all the while maintaining the team's core principle of high pressing and quick transitions.

  Napoli's dominand tactical flexibility caught the eye of many, including Sacchi. The legendary coach wrote about Napoli's progression in his regur ns, often analyzing Gao Shen's evolving tactics. What no one knew was that Sacchi frequently exged thoughts and ideas with Gao Shehe phoer each game.

  Fao Shen, Sacchi's perspective provided an invaluable, objective view of his team's performance. For Sacchi, the versations offered a glimpse into Gao Shen's evolving thought process.

  This stant exge of ideas allowed Gao Shen to tinually refine his team and push his pyers to their limits. He experimented with pyers in various roles Vidal pyed as an attag midfielder, a holding midfielder, a ter-back, and even a right-back. David Luiz was occasionally pushed up to act as a target man iack.

  Some of Gao Shen's experiments were successful, while others weren't. In one game, he even pushed his goalkeeper, Handanovic, out of the penalty area to py the ball in Napoli's defensive half. Twice, Handanovic was dispossessed, leading to goals for the opposing team. After that, Gao Shen quickly adjusted.

  In their 40th round match against Verona, the game ended in a 3-3 draw one of the rare times Napoli had dropped points. The experiment had gooo far, but Gao Shen remained uerred. He tio push his team's limits, believing that such experimentation would ultimately prepare them for Serie A.

  ---

  In the penultimate round of Serie B, Napoli pyed their final home game of the season and were presented with the Serie B trophy at the San Paolo Stadium. Team captain Montevino and vice-captain avaro lifted the trophy to the cheers of the home fans.

  Napoli followed the trophy presentation with a 2-0 win over Lecce, before rounding off the season with a 1-0 away victainst Genoa.

  With that, Napoli were ed Serie B champions.

  Juventus, despite their loss to Napoli, also secured promotion as runners-up. Genoa, who fihird, cimed the third automatiotion spot.

  Gao Shen had successfully led Napoli back to Serie A as champions. Now, all eyes were on him as he prepared for his ultimate goal the Serie A title.