Starting With Real Madrid

The signing ceremony itself was quite simple, but Manchester City made it an exceptionally grand occasion.

Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO Gary Cook, and other key senior executives were all present, highlighting the significance they placed on Gao Shen's arrival.

The media presence was just as remarkable. Nearly 200 media outlets from around the world, including top-tier British journalists and major international sports networks, attended the event.

Additionally, representatives from Manchester City's local fan club were on-site, officially welcoming Gao Shen on behalf of the club's supporters.

Due to the sheer number of attendees, the signing ceremony was moved to an open area at the Etihad Stadium.

After signing the contract, a special ceremonial event followed.

Dressed in a sharp Chiton suit and a Manchester City scarf, Gao Shen stood at the main entrance for City fans, his back to the Etihad Stadium, allowing the gathered media to capture the moment. By the following day, these images would be seen worldwide, marking an important milestone.

He also posed for additional photos in front of Manchester City's administrative offices.

Once the formalities were complete, he made his way leisurely into the massive press conference hall.

By this time, the room was packed with journalists from across the globe. Cameras were set up everywhere, all focused on the podium at the center.

As soon as Gao Shen entered, he was met with warm applause.

Regardless of their nationality, the media collectively welcomed his arrival in the Premier League.

After all, with Gao Shen here, they had plenty of headlines to run with.

The season hadn't even started, yet he had already stirred up a storm across English football.

For several consecutive days, the news cycle had been dominated by controversies surrounding Manchester City. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger had publicly criticized the club, accusing them of disrupting the Premier League and even European football's transfer market. They claimed that Gao Shen and Manchester City were engaging in reckless competition, questioned the club's financial backing, and even urged both the Premier League and UEFA to investigate their funding sources, some even went so far as to suggest City should be banned from European competitions.

This wasn't just empty rhetoric. UEFA president Michel Platini had long been an advocate for financial sustainability in football.

Under pressure from multiple Premier League clubs, both the league and UEFA expressed their concerns over Manchester City's financial activities.

In other words, they had officially put the club under scrutiny.

Fans and media alike accused City of being a "nouveau riche" club, and some even saw Gao Shen's decision to coach them as a step down in his career.

At the press conference, the first question came from a journalist from the Manchester Evening News, who directly asked how Gao Shen viewed the criticism surrounding his appointment.

"I've heard that British journalists are tough to deal with—is this my first warning?" Gao Shen joked.

Laughter erupted throughout the room. Some reporters even playfully shouted, "Yes!" as if eager to stir the pot further.

"Honestly, I don't see a problem," he continued. "I don't think Manchester City is any different from other top clubs."

"People claim that City lacks independent revenue streams and relies solely on the owner's investment, but hasn't football always been this way? Haven't all the top teams in Serie A operated like this? The same goes for La Liga, the Bundesliga in the past, and even the Premier League many clubs still operate this way today."

Gao Shen shook his head. "I have great respect for Ferguson and Wenger, but I can't agree with some of their statements. Especially when it comes to Manchester United—if I'm not mistaken, their debt situation is very serious, yet they don't seem to have any restrictions on signing players."

"I completely agree that football clubs should aim for financial sustainability. That's also something Manchester City is striving for. But it's a process, especially for a club like City. We need time to develop and catch up to the teams ahead of us, and that requires investment."

Gao Shen then smiled and revealed his true thoughts.

"Honestly, I'm thrilled that almost every Premier League club is attacking us."

"Really, I'm not worried or upset at all. On the contrary, I find it amusing."

"In my experience, unless it's the British pound or the euro, nothing in this world is universally loved. And there are very few things that are universally hated unless they threaten someone's interests."

"Clearly, we've put immense pressure on the entire Premier League. Especially those who are shouting the loudest—that just proves they're afraid of us. And that's a good thing," he said with a bright smile.

As for his move to the Premier League, Gao Shen saw it as another challenge.

"From the moment I became a manager, I've constantly faced challenges and doubts. From Real Madrid to Napoli, I've been questioned at every step. And now, once again, people are saying I won't succeed in the Premier League."

"Yes, there is no doubt that the Premier League is the most competitive league right now. The level of competition is intense, and there are many top-class managers—Ferguson, Wenger, Benítez, Redknapp, Moyes… and now, this summer, my old friend Ancelotti has arrived. To be honest, I'm really looking forward to facing them."

Gao Shen repeatedly emphasized that he was still a young head coach, and his purpose in coming to England was to gain experience and continue learning. He needed support, not just from his assistants and players, but also from the club's management, the fans, and even the media.

"I can't do everything on my own. I need all the help I can get. But thankfully, so far, everything has been going very well."

This naturally led to a discussion about Manchester City's summer transfers.

There had been much criticism from the outside world about City's spending, with many accusing them of reckless and unfair spending.

Gao Shen addressed these concerns, explaining that some of the signings from last season did not fit his tactical philosophy. As a result, he had to make adjustments to the squad—something any head coach would do.

However, he denied claims that Manchester City was becoming an "international" team, pointing out that the squad still had young English talents like Daniel Sturridge, Stephen Ireland, and Micah Richards.

"I've just promoted a young player from the reserves, Kieran Trippier, and we have Joe Hart returning from loan. These are all promising young players."

"In addition, we've signed English players like Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Gary Cahill, and Wayne Bridge. Not only do we meet the Premier League's homegrown quota, but we actually exceed it. In that regard, I'd say we're a model club."

Gao Shen's remarks drew laughter from the press.

In the Premier League, clubs often claimed to prioritize homegrown talent, but in reality, even top teams like Arsenal and Chelsea had not invested much in English players.

Liverpool and Manchester United had traditionally shown more interest in developing local talent.

By comparison, Manchester City's current setup could indeed be considered a "model student" in this regard.

Gao Shen also promised to give these local players ample opportunities in the new season, helping them grow and improve.

When asked about the team's tactics and overall strategy for the season, he admitted that he couldn't say much at this stage.

"We've brought in quite a few new players, and I still need time to understand them better. At the same time, they need to prove themselves to me. So for now, I haven't finalized the starting lineup or our tactical approach. Those decisions will come after we've had time to work together."

When pressed by the media, Gao Shen stated, "The only thing I can say for certain is that we will be different from every other team. We'll play attacking football. As for whether it's a 4-2-3-1, a 4-3-3, or a 4-4-2, it doesn't really matter. The key is to win games."

Regarding the club's expectations and performance targets, Gao Shen smiled and said that there was no specific pressure from the management. This, he felt, was a sign of trust, and he was grateful for it.

"But I didn't come to the Premier League just to make up the numbers. I want to build something special here and create unforgettable memories for the fans. At the same time, my players and coaching staff need to develop chemistry and work in sync as soon as possible."

"After that, we can start talking about winning trophies."

His statement immediately sent shockwaves through the room.

Manchester City?

Winning a title?

Was he serious?

"Yes, I'm very serious!" Gao Shen replied confidently. "I know we finished tenth last season, but that result is in the past. This Manchester City is a completely different team. Last season's standings have no relevance to us this season."

Many journalists remained skeptical.

Even after spending over 200 million euros, could Manchester City really compete for the Premier League title? Could money alone guarantee success?

"Three years ago, when I took over Real Madrid, I said we would surpass Barcelona, but no one believed me. And yet…" Gao Shen spread his hands. "You all know what happened."

"Three years ago, when I first arrived at Napoli, we had just been promoted from Serie B. I said we would win the league and earn promotion, but no one believed me. And yet…" He spread his hands again.

"Two years ago, after getting promoted to Serie A as champions, I said we wanted to compete for the Serie A title. People laughed, and we faced countless doubters. Even a year ago, when we entered the Champions League as Serie A winners, everyone predicted we would fail. But in the end, we won an unprecedented treble."

At this point, Gao Shen smiled confidently.

"I understand that, for the sake of media coverage, you will continue to hype things up and question us—it helps sell stories. But I advise you to be careful."

"Right now, it's nearly July, and preseason training is about to begin. I can proudly say this—"

"We have an incredibly strong squad, and I came to the Premier League with only one goal: to win the title!"

"The doubts and accusations from outsiders won't slow us down. If anything, they'll only fuel our determination!"

"That's all I have to say. Let's talk again next May!"

The moment Gao Shen finished speaking, the press conference erupted into an uproar.

Even with Manchester City's massive spending this summer, could they really expect to win the Premier League title in their first season?

Was this underestimating the competition?

When José Mourinho won the league in his first year at Chelsea, he had inherited a squad that had been carefully built by Claudio Ranieri over several seasons.

Manchester City, on the other hand, had torn everything down and rebuilt from scratch. Could they seriously expect to win the title immediately?

Even with Gao Shen's impressive track record in La Liga and Serie A, even with all his past successes, this still seemed impossible.

(To be continued.)

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Junkdog's Note: Here you go