Starting With Real Madrid

Every head coach has their own signature winning template, a tactical approach they excel at.

Or, you could call it a routine.

Some fans might refuse to accept this. How is that possible?

In the conventional sense, "routine" often implies rigidity or predictability, which carries a negative connotation. But in reality, that's not the case.

Football, at its core, is a simple game.

Attack and defense.

Tactically speaking, it boils down to offensive and defensive strategies.

Expand on that, and you get a team's offensive and defensive formations.

But everyone knows that attack and defense have different requirements. Transitioning from an attacking shape to a defensive one takes time and coordination. This process is called offensive-defensive transition.

So, if your offensive formation can maximize its effectiveness, your defensive formation is rock-solid, and your transition between attack and defense is faster and more efficient than your opponent's—then congratulations. Your team is practically invincible.

See? It's that simple. A routine.

So simple that people joke that you could tie a dog to the manager's chair and still win matches.

So predictable that even a casual fan like me can spot the flaws, yet you a so-called professional can't?

Move aside, I'll do it myself!

But is it really that simple?

As we all know, a team's attacking ability can be evaluated from multiple angles, such as its ability to create shooting opportunities and exploit space. But that's just observation.

For example, if there's a huge gap ahead and the winger is isolated, barely holding on, why doesn't the full-back push forward to support?

Fans might vent their frustration and curse at the screen. But a coach doesn't have that luxury.

He has to consider the player's pace, stamina, and the opponent's attacking threats. Pushing forward is easy—but can he get back in time?

Wasn't Roberto Carlos strong enough?

Then why was he criticized in the latter stages of his career?

Because once he surged forward, he couldn't recover in time!

Sometimes, when watching a live match, you might see a seemingly perfect opportunity—yet the player in possession just keeps dribbling, driving himself into a dead end, losing the ball, and wasting a golden chance.

Fans will curse: "Why the hell didn't you pass?!"

But the reality could be that he was forced wide with no viable passing options. His teammates' passing lanes were blocked, and any forced pass would result in a turnover.

What should he do then?

Just surrender possession?

Should he hand the ball to the opponent and say, "Sorry, we messed up this time. Your turn."

That's absurd, right?

Football tactics are actually far more complex than they seem.

So complex that no matter how much you break them down, you still can't fully explain them in simple terms.

Some concepts sound easy in theory, like pressing.

And pressing happens to be Gao Shen's specialty.

But even pressing requires timing.

You can't just charge at an opponent in open space with multiple passing options that's just a waste of energy.

The best time to press is when the ball is near the touchline, in a tight space, or when the opponent is outnumbered or forced to pass backward. In these situations, their options are limited, and pressing is most effective.

So, how do you execute an effective press?

Compress space, close down the ball carrier, move as a unit, and apply collective pressure.

Gao Shen and his team were highly experienced in this area. They knew what to say, what to do, and how to effectively instill their philosophy into the players. Some things could be explained in words.

But in reality, every head coach had a wealth of thoughts that couldn't be fully expressed. Each had their own winning routine, a tactical blueprint they would never share—or even if they did, others might not be able to execute it properly.

Because these tactics were built on their personal understanding of the game, something they had developed, mastered, and refined over time. A completely individualized approach.

Once a coach mastered their philosophy, any team they managed would bear their distinctive imprint. At the same time, they could quickly establish a unique tactical identity, even using it to compete for titles.

Take Guardiola, for example, his starting point was possession-based football.

No matter what, his top priority was keeping the ball. By maintaining possession, he could stretch the opponent's defensive structure, disrupt their shape, and exploit openings. Layering movement and positional rotations on top of this foundation, he could build attacking threats.

Right now, his philosophy was still evolving, but that was the general framework.

So, what was Guardiola's biggest fear?

It wasn't parking the bus with deep, compact defending. Nor was it a reckless, all-out high press both of which were nearly suicidal tactics against his team.

What Guardiola feared most was pressing defense.

Gao Shen had already proven this on the biggest stage—the Champions League final.

The real question was: Did people actually understand it?

And now, Gao Shen had a vague yet intriguing idea—his own winning formula.

…

Butragueño posed a thought-provoking question:

If you were Real Madrid's head coach, what would you do?

Initially, Gao Shen didn't want to answer such a hypothetical question. But under the joint persuasion of Zidane and Valdano, he eventually gave a brief response.

"Xabi Alonso is a deep-lying playmaker on par with Xavi. His medium and long-range passing allow the team to exploit gaps and shift the tempo quickly. He's also defensively solid."

"So, in this Real Madrid squad, anyone could be negotiable but Xabi Alonso must stay. And he needs the right partner."

"Mascherano?"

"If I have to use Kaka, then Mascherano would be my choice, or…" Gao Shen trailed off, shaking his head with a laugh.

Zidane, Valdano, and the others were puzzled. Why had he suddenly stopped?

"Or who?" Butragueño pressed.

"I can't say. Just go sign Mascherano."

With a double pivot, Kaka's role as an attacking midfielder would be fully unleashed.

"Why not Lass Diarra?" Valdano asked.

"Lass Diarra is an excellent ball-winner with decent passing ability. But if we're talking about a pure defensive midfielder, he doesn't quite fit the role. He holds onto the ball too long and lacks stability."

Zidane knew Gao Shen too well. A single glance was enough to understand why he hesitated.

"Gao, are you fantasizing about another player again?"

"No, I'm not! I didn't! Stop making things up!" Gao Shen immediately denied it three times.

Could you just throw around such accusations?

Even if you were Zidane, you couldn't just slander people like this!

"Following your tactical ideas in Naples, it's easy to see that Rakitic fits the mold. He has outstanding work rate, covers a lot of ground, and has explosive power. Whether in attack or defense, he plays a crucial role, and his passing is excellent."

Zidane took on a thoughtful expression, analyzing Gao Shen's logic.

"David Silva, on the other hand, possesses exquisite technique and vision. He's also a fantastic dribbler, adept at evading defenders. Although he lacks pace, his composure and passing ability more than compensate."

"I looked into David Silva's stats for Valencia this season and compared them to Modric's at Tottenham. Frankly, we underestimated him!"

At the end of his analysis, Zidane sighed helplessly.

David Silva had missed many games due to ankle and muscle injuries. Yet, despite playing only half as many minutes as Modric, he still managed four goals and eight assists, nearly identical to Modric's three goals and nine assists.

Furthermore, Silva averaged 1.2 dribbles per game and delivered two key passes per match, clear proof of his offensive influence. On top of that, his defensive stats were impressive: 3.2 ball recoveries, 1.1 tackles, and 1.6 interceptions per game.

Statistically, Silva and Modric were quite similar. The only major difference was that Modric had a higher pass completion rate, while Silva played higher up the pitch, which made sense.

In short, David Silva was criminally underrated.

Everyone had their eyes on David Villa, but few recognized Silva's true impact.

Gao Shen chuckled. "It's not that I underestimated him. He was just born in the wrong era."

In the Spanish national team, he had to compete with legends like Xavi, Iniesta, and Xabi Alonso. At club level, he played for Valencia before moving to Manchester City, where his importance wasn't fully recognized until Guardiola arrived. Only then was his talent fully unleashed.

Zidane nodded, then shifted gears.

"So, we've covered David Silva and Rakitic. But it's obvious that your system still lacks a No. 4, someone like Thiago Motta. Based on your preferences and what you've told me before, I'd guess you're interested in Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao."

Valdano and Butragueño both turned to Gao Shen, eyes filled with surprise.

Damn, this guy is targeting Real Madrid players on purpose!

First David Silva, and now Javi Martinez? These were both players highly rated on Real Madrid's scouting list.

Javi Martinez had the physicality and height, but his playstyle was surprisingly refined. He had excellent ball control, sharp passing, and solid defensive skills—an ideal profile for a deep-lying midfielder.

Thinking back to Gao Shen's earlier hesitation, Valdano suddenly realized the midfielder Gao Shen was secretly referring to was Javi Martinez!

This guy…

Gao Shen didn't deny it. He grinned and nodded.

"As expected, Zidane—you know me best."

"But don't overthink it. This player already belongs to us!"

"Already signed?" Valdano was taken aback.

(To be continued.)