I think everyone imagine how angry Lazio's coach, Dario Rossi, was at the post-match press ference. He criticized Gao Shen and his Napoli, mehe unfairness of the game's oute, and voiced his frustrations.

  He had a list of excuses ready, even though Gao Shen had openly admitted at the press ferehat Lazio had performed better.

  "But I still believe we deserved this victory," Gao Shen said.

  This statement only added fuel to the fire.

  What did he mean by saying Lazio was the better team, yet g Napoli deserved the win?

  A reporter asked Gao Shen if Napoli was going to abandon their high-flying offensive football style, which they had previously championed.

  Gao Shen crified, saying Napoli never cimed to hold any high-flying banner.

  "As a professional football team, as a professional head coach, my job is to help the team win," he said firmly.

  While Rossi and Lazio were eliminated from the Coppa Italia, Gao Shen expressed sympathy, but he didn't see it as an upset. "The better team progressed, as it should be," he stated.

  "But Mr. Gao, you just said Lazio performed better," the reporter questioned Gao Shen's seemingly tradictory statements.

  "Yes, I meant they were better in this particur game, visually. But overall, we were strohat's why we're third in the league standings, and Lazio… well," Gao Sheured downward with his hand, indig a lower position, "…they're down there."

  "Oh, there it is," he added, sing the standings. "They're in 15th pce, quite close to the relegation zone."

  The reporters were taken aback, sensing this was more than just an observation—it felt like a jab at Lazio.

  Gao Shen looked puzzled. "Did I humiliate them? How did I humiliate anyone? I'm just stating facts. Isn't Lazio in 15th pce?"

  "What? Now telling the truth is sidered an insult? Fihen I'm insulting them. So what?" he added nontly.

  This attitude irked the Italian media, prompting many outlets to rally against him.

  Roma's La Repubblica ran a headline suggesting that Napoli was in poor form and that Gao Shen was merely defleg attention from his team's issues.

  "Lazio will teach you a lesson in humility in the weekend league match!" they decred.

  Gazzetta dello Sport also criticized Gao Shen, calling his provocation irrational and noting that Napoli was in a slump. "This is the time to keep a low profile, not to provoke oppos," they wrote. "Clearly, humility is not one of Gao Shen's virtues."

  Turin Sports Daily went even further, predig that Napoli was nearing their breaking point. They boldly stated that in the uping Serie A csh, Lazio would tear Napoli to shreds.

  Gao Shen didn't back down. Instead, he fired ba Twitter, tagging Turin Sports Daily in a tweet.

  "Haha! Wait until you actually beat me before talking. You'll just end up defeated!"

  Then, as if fate had a sense of humor, the Italian Football Associatiohe draw for the Coppa Italia quarter-finals—and Napoli was matched up against Juventus.

  As soon as the results were announced, Gao Sheed that he was delighted to face Juventus.

  "We've had plenty of experience beating Juventus," he posted fidently.

  Juventus fans were quick to respond, some suggesting that the draw was rigged. They were suspicious why else would Juventus be drawn against Napoli out of all eight teams?

  Clearly, Juventus had developed a sense of dread when it came to fag Gao Shen and his Napoli.

  But Turin Sports Daily swiftly ged its tune, calling this the perfect opportunity for Juventus to exact revenge, especially with Napoli's current dip in form. They argued that Juventus would finally settle the score by eliminating Napoli from the Coppa Italia and that Lazio would give Napoli a reality che the uping league match.

  "Napoli's Coppa Italia run will e to a plete stop at the Stadio Olimpico," Turin Sports Daily procimed.

  Gao Shen found himself fighting on multiple fronts, yet his energy didn't seem to wane. Every time he tweeted, it sparked headlines in Italy's major neers like Turin Sports Daily and La Repubblica, often even making the front page.

  Wheers asked Italian football legend Arrigo Sacchi for his opinion, he ughed it off. "I've actually called Gao Shen and asked him to teach me how to use Twitter. He was kind enough to follow me aweet my first post, whie quite a few followers."

  Sacchi's lighthearted answer left the reporters feeling a bit exasperated.

  They were looking for a serious analysis, not a Twitter tutorial.

  Under pressure, Sacchi was eventually coaxed into enting on Gao Shen's knack for antagonizing fans and clubs in Turin, Rome, and Min all at once.

  "To be ho, I think he's quite successful at it!" Sacchi said with a smile.

  …

  "Damn it!"

  Dario Rossi threw down his copy of La Repubblica, which had featured yet another one of Gao Shen's taunting tweets.

  The test read: "I'm not worried about the 19th round! I don't think Lazio will dare to py aggressively at the San Paolo Stadium!"

  That siweet became front-page news across Italy ht.

  For days, every move Gao Shen made seemed to capture the Italian media's full attention. If they could report on what color pants he was wearing, they probably would.

  Public opinion was at a fever pitch.

  At Lazio's training ground, fans gathered, calling oeam to crush Napoli and silehe "arrogant ese coach."

  Clearly, Gao Shen's words had stirred up Lazio's fanbase.

  The media had stoked the fire, and Lazio's supporters were fully infmed.

  Roman fans, whether they supported the Giallorossi or the Biai, were notoriously passiohey didn't take insults lightly.

  If they entered Gao Shen outside the stadium, it wouldn't be surprising if things got physical.

  Some furious Lazio fans even called the club, demanding that the team aveheir Coppa Italia elimination by Napoli and lift their current league ranking from the near-relegation zone.

  Ma, too, put pressure on Rossi, insisting that they could not afford to lose this weekend.

  Lazio's position recarious, teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. If they dropped further, Rossi's job would be on the line.

  The media, fans, and club executives were all pushing Rossi t dooli in the weekend match.

  Yet, Rossi couldn't shake the feeling that he was being maniputed, that Gao Shen was orchestrating this euation.

  Or perhaps Gao Shen was leveraging the media storm for his own advantage.

  Why else would he keep stirring the pot with so many remarks to the press and on Twitter?

  Was it because Napoli wasn't i form? Was Gao Sheing a situation that would work in his favor?

  But Rossi didn't have much choice.

  The fact remained: Lazio was on the brink ation.

  Being knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Napoli was a reality.

  His job was i risk.

  He hese three points at the San Paolo Stadium to stabilize his position.

  Gao Shen's tactics were ruthless, leaving Rossi with no choice but to take the bait.

  And that realization only made Rossi angrier.

  …

  "This isn't going to be easy!"

  While Dario Rossi was fuming, Gao Shen also had s.

  Despite his fidence about fag Juventus on Twitter, deep down, he knew what he against.

  This was a tough draw.

  Juventus was incredibly strong this season in Serie A.

  Inter Min was the undisputed powerhouse, head and shoulders above the rest.

  Napoli, Juventus, and Roma were all roughly on the same level.

  Napoli was young and somewhat inexperieheir strength came from Gao Shen's advanced coag methods and the tactics he had crafted for the team, allowing them to keep pace with Juventus and Roma.

  But after the winter break, Napoli's physical dition and form had deed. And now, they faced back-to-back games against Juventus in a gested schedule. It was far from ideal.

  "At least we're pying the first leg away, then at home," Carlo analyzed.

  Gao Shen gave a wry smile. "Ranieri is a cautious manager. Even though he's not yet reached the level of a championship-winning coach, he's not easy to deal with. Last time, we only got the upper hand because he was suspended."

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  Just then, Fernando Lucas rushed in, looking like he'd uncovered a major secret.

  Lucas stopped in front of Gao Shen, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Guess what I found out?"

  "What?" Gao Shen asked, intrigued.

  "I was gathering intel on Juventus in advance, and on a whim, I decided to dig a bit deeper. I found something big."

  Lucas handed a file over to Gao Shen, his expression full of mystery.

  Gao Shen took it, not thinking much of it at first. But as he read, his eyes widened.

  "No way… Juventus made such a rookie mistake?" Gao Shen excimed in shock.

  Carlo and the others, seeing Gao Shen's rea, grew curious and gathered around. Carlo took the file and, after reading it, looked equally astonished.

  "Is this real?"

  "It 't be…"

  Everyone shared the same surprised rea as Gao Shen.

  But Luodded fidently. "I double-checked it."

  "Then this just got iing." Gao Shen muttered, a sly smile spreading across his face.

  He khat if this information got out, it could throw Juventus into chaos, especially sidering their current situation.

  Everyone else seemed to realize this too, and they all began to ugh.

  ***

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