Starting With Real Madrid

The arrival of Su Qing and her parents did not disrupt Gao Shen's schedule.

That afternoon, he took them back to his home in the Bay Area.

He had already asked the housekeeping staff to clean and prepare the house, so all they needed to do was move in with their luggage.

His parents had heard that Gao Shen lived in a large house in Naples, but they never quite believed it. Seeing it with their own eyes now, especially with the stunning sea view and Mount Vesuvius looming majestically across the bay they were thoroughly impressed.

The only regret was knowing that after this summer, Gao Shen would be leaving this place.

After settling his family in, Gao Shen returned to Castel Volturno.

Su Qing and the others stayed at home to rest, recover from the long journey, and adjust to the time difference. Their sightseeing tour of Naples would start the following day.

Everything had already been arranged. The club's driver would take them around the city, and on match day, they would join the families and friends of Napoli's players and staff on a bus to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Although Su Qing and Gao Shen were openly affectionate when alone, and both families had essentially accepted their relationship, she still chose to sleep in a separate room to avoid suspicion.

That said, she picked the room right next to Gao Shen's on the same floor.

The parents on both sides, having been through this stage of life themselves, understood what was going on. They simply turned a blind eye and gave the reunited couple the freedom they deserved after months apart.

That night, Gao Shen skipped his usual overtime at the training base and came home early for dinner with his family. Afterward, the parents excused themselves, claiming they were too tired and needed to rest.

Leaving only Gao Shen and Su Qing alone in the living room.

Without saying a word, they exchanged knowing glances and returned to their rooms.

Not long after, Gao Shen, freshly showered and dressed, snuck into Su Qing's room.

The next morning, he arrived at work in Castel Volturno feeling more energized than ever.

…

For the next three days, Gao Shen followed a simple routine: training at Castel Volturno, then going straight home.

With the Champions League final looming, everyone knew better than to disturb him with trivial matters. He was grateful for the peace and focused entirely on preparing the team.

Meanwhile, Su Qing and the parents toured Naples with the club's driver.

Their first stop was the San Paolo Stadium, where they visited the bronze statue of Gao Shen. While there, they met club president De Laurentiis and general manager Marino, who invited them to lunch.

The rest of their itinerary had also been fully planned in advance.

Naples was buzzing with excitement as the Champions League final approached.

As the city's only Serie A team, Napoli was more than just a football club, they were a source of pride for the entire community. Walking through the streets, Su Qing and the others saw Champions League-themed decorations everywhere.

Tourists from other parts of Italy, as well as international fans, were everywhere. The city had become a melting pot of excitement, all centered around the upcoming match.

The international media were also paying close attention to this final.

Historically, there had only been six Champions League finals in which both competing teams were league champions.

That included the 1993 final when Marseille won Ligue 1 but was later disbanded due to corruption, which complicated the statistics even further.

The rarity stemmed from the Champions League's knockout format.

Before the tournament's reform, only league winners and defending champions could participate. Back then, European teams relied heavily on homegrown talent and had thinner squads, which made competing on multiple fronts a massive challenge.

In fact, before the Champions League evolved into its current format, only four finals had featured league champions from both sides.

Post-reform, the Bosman ruling revolutionized football by enabling free player movement across Europe. Clubs with deep pockets began signing star players from abroad, but the unpredictable nature of the knockout stages still made it difficult for league winners to meet in the final.

The last time this happened was in 1999, when Manchester United faced Bayern Munich.

United famously won the treble that year with a dramatic comeback at Camp Nou. Bayern, meanwhile, had reached the German Cup final that season but played the Champions League final before the domestic cup. After losing to United, they also lost the German Cup to Werder Bremen on penalties, ending the season with only the league title.

This year, Napoli and Barcelona had both won their domestic leagues and cups. Now, they were chasing the elusive treble, a first in their respective histories.

The significance of the moment wasn't lost on UEFA.

In their official promotional video for the final, UEFA proudly declared:

"For the first time in Champions League history!"

L'Équipe also published an in-depth preview.

They emphasized that this match was more than just a battle between two teams, it was a tactical duel between two brilliant young coaches.

The media dubbed it the "master and apprentice showdown," highlighting the relationship between Gao Shen and Guardiola.

They revisited how Guardiola had once studied under Gao Shen in Italy, and how Gao Shen later recommended him to Barcelona's board when the club was searching for a new manager.

Back then, many had assumed Gao Shen was simply helping a friend.

But with the benefit of hindsight, people began to view it differently.

Now that Guardiola had led Barcelona to a domestic double and reached the Champions League final in his debut season, the consensus was that Gao Shen had seen his potential all along.

How else could one explain their parallel success both having won their leagues and domestic cups in the same year, and now meeting in the Champions League final?

L'Équipe concluded that, in terms of tactics, philosophy, and personality, Gao Shen and Guardiola were the two standout managers of the new generation.

Gao Shen already had a Champions League trophy, two Serie A titles, and a La Liga title to his name. He was undoubtedly a top-tier coach in Europe.

Now, with the treble on the line, the world was watching.

Who would come out on top, the master or the apprentice?

---

Former Real Madrid coach and current Spanish national team manager Vicente del Bosque wrote a column for Marca, offering his thoughts on the upcoming Champions League final. He admitted that, naturally, he hoped Barcelona would win.

"But beating Gao Shen won't be easy," Bosque warned.

As the Spanish national team coach, he was well-acquainted with Barcelona's players and knew the squad was filled with top-tier European stars. But this time, they were facing an opponent like no other.

"I know Gao Shen from his time coaching Real Madrid. I know his character and his tactical style. I'm sure Guardiola knows it too. But I'll say this, don't let Napoli score first. If that happens, it will be a disaster!"

Bosque predicted that the match would be anything but boring, as neither side was known for conservative football.

"In my opinion, Gao Shen has already reached a master-level standard in terms of in-game adjustments. Whether it's adjusting the team's attack, defense, tempo, or morale, he handles it all with remarkable precision."

"This is not good news for Guardiola. From many of Barcelona's matches this season, I've noticed his relative lack of experience and adaptability as a coach."

"Yes, Gao Shen is only 28, but he already led Real Madrid to a domestic double and guided Napoli to two consecutive league titles. Now he's on the verge of delivering Italy's first-ever treble. That says everything about his ability."

Bosque concluded by urging Guardiola to prepare mentally for a tough, tactical battle.

…

On the day Barcelona departed for Rome, Guardiola held a press conference at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and announced his final squad.

The entire team, regardless of whether they were named in the matchday squad or not, would travel to Rome.

Guardiola spoke with calm determination, saying that both he and his players were mentally prepared for the challenge.

"We won't change our style of play for the final or for our opponent. Our goal is to show the world just how great we are."

When asked about Gao Shen, Guardiola spoke with genuine respect.

"He's one of the coaches I admire most. But this time, we're opponents."

Earlier in the tournament, Gao Shen had faced Ferguson's Manchester United and, under pressure, had adopted a more conservative approach in the first leg, a decision that drew criticism from fans and media alike. He later admitted it was a mistake.

Would Guardiola make a similar error when facing Gao Shen?

Guardiola smiled at the suggestion.

"Of course, I feel pressure when facing Gao Shen. I've learned a lot from him. He knows me well, just as I know him. That naturally brings pressure. But pressure doesn't mean fear."

He acknowledged that many of his players would be experiencing their first Champions League final as starters.

"But when it comes to experience, Napoli has even less than we do and they're younger overall," he added.

While Guardiola remained respectful, Barcelona's players showed far less restraint.

Captain Carles Puyol, who had played in the 2006 Champions League final when Barcelona lost to Real Madrid under Gao Shen, hadn't forgotten that bitter defeat.

"This time, I'm going to lead the team to revenge," Puyol declared.

"I can't wait for the match!"

Meanwhile, Messi exuded his usual quiet confidence.

"I made a bet with my teammates: if we lose, I'll stop cutting my hair and let it grow out until we win the Champions League."

"But I know that's basically impossible," Messi added with a self-assured smile.