Winter nights came especially early.

  As soon as training ehe su quickly beyond the horizon.

  The Napoli pyers returo the locker room, took showers, ged, and waited. Soon, a member of the analysis team walked in with a stack of reports, and all the pyers gathered around eagerly.

  Each pyer received their own analysis report detailing their performan the day's two training sessions.

  The reports tained various analytical data, pointing out each pyer's mistakes and areas for improvement. Each pyer also received a USB drive taining specially edited video clips from training, created just for them.

  Thiago Motta was one of the st to get his report. When it was finally his turn, the analyst only had a single report in hand.

  "This is yours, Thiago. You did a great job today. Keep it up!" the analyst said with a smile.

  Thiago Motta accepted the report without a word auro his seat to read it carefully.

  He'd made a few minor errors, but they were small details. As a result, his report was retively thin.

  Overall, he was the top performer in today's training.

  "Wow! Star of the day!" David Luiz popped up beside him, his wild curls nearly brushing against Thiago Motta's face. The defender didn't eveo notice.

  "gratutions, Thiago Motta! You'll be on the Honor Roll tomorrow!"

  The Honor Roll was a list dispyed promily at the entrance of the Napoli locker room. It reized several achievements, including the best-perf pyer in each training session.

  This was a small petition that Gao Shen had introduced to inspire the pyers. He expihat in a, schools often had simir rankings to motivate students to work harder and pete with one another.

  The coag staff also provided various rewards to those who made it onto the Honor Roll, with each prize carefully thought out.

  For instahe "Star of the Day" was granted a small privilege, they could make a special request during the day's training session.

  It erk many pyers looked forward to because Napoli's training iy was extremely high. It was a rare pleasure to ask for a break during a grueling session and watch teammates struggle from the sidelines.

  "Why don't you look particurly happy?" David Luiz asked, notig Thiago Motta's subdued expression.

  Thiago Motta looked up at his friend, who was fshing his usual carefree smile. He envied David Luiz, who always seemed upbeat, as if nothing could ever bring him down.

  Well, except for that brief period when David Luiz worried, "The boss seems like he wants to sell me off." During that time, he'd worked harder than ever. But after the situation passed, his natural optimism returned, and his performan the pitch improved as well.

  With Bonucci also perf well, captain avaro was finding it harder to get pying time and was growing frustrated.

  "e on, if something's b you, just tell me," David Luiz said, taking a seat o him.

  Thiago Motta shook his head, then looked down at his report. "It just… feels pointless."

  "What? Why would you say that?" David Luiz was surprised.

  "You know, ever since I came to Napoli, I've been doing individual training with Lorenzo. He created a lot of specific exercises for my right knee. I feel like I'm fully recovered… but…"

  Thiago Motta trailed off, not sure how to tinue. Seeing the genuine in David Luiz's eyes, he took a deep breath and tinued, "But I don't feel important."

  "Not important?"

  "Yes, I've had opportuo py, but the boss has never given me any specifistrus. He treats you and some of the uys differently. With me, it's like he doesn't care whether I py well or not."

  "Look at the situatioeam's in right now. I feel like I could tribute, but… I…"

  "Then go tell the boss. Tell him you think you py a bigger role," David Luiz interrupted without hesitation.

  "Just go and tell him?"

  "Yes! Take that report in your hand, go to him, and say, 'Boss, look, I was the best performer in training today. I feel great, I'm ready, and I think I make a differen the games. You t on me,'" David Luiz said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

  "Just like that? That's all?" Thiago Motta hesitated.

  "Yes! It's simple. Say it, and he'll think about it."

  "But what if I get onto the pitd don't perform well? You know, I'm not sure I really help the team…" Thiago Motta stammered, clearly flicted.

  David Luiz couldn't uand his friend's hesitation. His own straightforersonality couldn't rete to such self-doubt.

  Seeing Thiago Motta so ed up in worry, David Luiz took matters into his own hands. He grabbed the midfielder by the arm and marched him down the hall to Gao Shen's office. The door was slightly ajar, and inside, Carlo, Lucas, Bueura, Pintus, and a few others were discussing pns.

  Thiago Motta tried to pull away, but David Luiz held firm and knocked on the door.

  "Boss! Thiago says he won Star of the Day and has something he wants to tell you!" David Luiz announced loudly.

  …

  Even after sitting down in the office, Thiago Motta kept his head low, avoiding Gao Shen's gaze.

  Though he looked strong and posed oside, the Brazilian midfielder was actually quite vulnerable inside.

  Since joining Napoli, he had made gradual progress, but deep down, he was still pgued by self-doubt.

  He hadn't suffered any injuries retly and had even gotten pying time, though he rarely stood out to the media or fans. However, the coag staff had been him closely. His overall performance had been average, restrained even, though occasionally he'd have a standout game.

  Everyone khat defensive midfielders often didn't draw much attention.

  As Thiago Motta sat there, unsure how to start, Gao Shen waited patiently. He even poured a cup of tea, remaining silent for two or three minutes, making the Brazilian even more nervous.

  It was a sign of his ck of fidence.

  All of his self-assurance had been eroded during his time at Bara.

  Even now, at Napoli, he pyed cautiously, afraid of making mistakes.

  Gao Shen didn't want to push him too hard. After a few minutes, he stood up, walked to his desk, took out a thick report, and pced it in front of Thiago Motta.

  "This is the report from Lorenzo and Antonio over the past few weeks. Physically, you're doing well because you haven't pyed many games this season, and your knee has fully recovered. But the real issue is your mentality."

  For many injury-prone pyers, the problem is often psychological rather than physical.

  "Lorenzo and Antonio have prepared a specialized training pn for you, particurly tthen y muscles. They believe it will help you avoid injuries, and I agree with them."

  Thiago Motta nodded quietly, taking it all in.

  "Do you remember when I met you in Bara? I told you that Napoli needs you—always!" Gao Shen said, his tone serious.

  Hearing this, Thiago Motta finally looked up at him.

  He'd chosen Napoli because of Gao Shen's words.

  "I was very impressed with your performance against Roma. Everyone was focused on David Luiz, but the coag staff and I felt you were the best pyer in that match."

  Thiago Motta felt a wave of emotion. He realized now that the coach had been paying attention all along.

  "In that game against Roma, I saw glimpses of the Thiago Motta I remembered from La Liga, the fearless pyer who once shone for Bara alongside stars like Ronaldo and Zidane."

  "I've been waiting for you to e to me. Not because I'm trying to prove a point, but because I wanted you to take that first step. I was hoping you'd e to me and tell me directly what you want, what you think you offer."

  "Only by doing this you truly find yourself and regain your fidence."

  Thiago Motta's eyes filled with tears.

  Since joining Napoli, he hadn't felt special or important, whether he pyed well or not. He had feared that Gao Shen might be like other coaches, who praised him before he joined only to abandon him ter.

  But now, he uood.

  Gao Shen didn't just want to heal his injuries, he wao heal his heart.

  "e on, Star of the Day. Be brave and tell me—what do you want?" Gao Shen enced him with a smile.

  Thiago Motta managed a faint smile, rare for him, but it was a start.

  "I want to py. I want to help the team get through this rough patch. I feel ready. I feel like I've recovered!" he said, his voice firm and steady.

  Gao Shen smiled, extending his hand to shake Thiago Motta's with a firm grip.

  "I'm gd you had the ce to say that, Thiago."

  But then Gao Shen quickly added, "However, I have to tell you that you're not in my pns for the midweek game."

  Thiago Motta froze, feeling a surge of panic, but Gao Shen raised a hand to calm him.

  "Listen. You're not in the lineup for midweek, but I want you ready for the weekend. We have two back-to-back games against Lazio, and we o win both."

  "If we want to stay ile race, we 't let Inter Min pull too far ahead. The league game this weekend is crucial."

  One game would decide their fate in the cup, while the other could determihe future of their league standing.

  There was no room for error iher of these matches.

  "I uand, boss. I'll be ready," Thiago Motta replied with determination.

  Gao Shen nodded approvingly. "Good. I trust you, Thiago. Keep w hard in training, follow Lorenzo and Antonio's pn, and keep your fidence up. Remember, you're not just filling a position, you're a key part of this team."

  Thiago Motta's face softened, a newfound sense of purpose filling his eyes. The uainty and self-doubt that had pgued him seemed to lift, repced by a quiet determination.

  "Thank you, boss. I won't let you down."

  ***

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