"Tell me holy, was it you who leaked the news about Juventus?"

  On the flight from o Turin, Marino, who was traveling with the team, insisted on sittio Gao Shen. He leaned over and quietly asked about the biggest sdal of the day.

  He seriously suspected that Gao Shen was behind it.

  Otherwise, how else could one expin that right as Napoli was about to head to Turin, Juventus got hit by such explosive news?

  Anyone could see that this news gave Napoli a siderable advantage.

  At the very least, it would have severely impacted Juventus' morale.

  When Gao Shen heard the question, he was momentarily stunned. But then, seeing Marino's doubtful expression, he quickly shook his head with a firm, indignant look.

  "It wasn't me! I didn't do it! Don't talk nonsense!"

  "Not you?" Marino asked, still surprised.

  "e on! You know my retionship with the Italian media. Why would they publish anything for me?" Gao Shen protested indignantly, almost looking like he was ready to roll up his sleeves and fight.

  Marino, now slightly skeptical, asked, "Are you sure it wasn't you?"

  Gao Shen snorted, crossing his arms, refusing to dignify that question with an ahe gesture was more ving than any words could be.

  Marino finally started to believe him. "Alright, alright. Sao. I just had to ask."

  "Ask? You sounded like you were interrogating me as a suspect. Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"

  For a moment, Marino almost blurted something, but he held bad chuckled awkwardly. "Not really."

  "In fact, I think it was you who did it," Gao Shen shot back.

  "Me? How's that possible?" Marino looked shocked.

  "What's so impossible? You've got great retionships with all the big media outlets, right? With your es, anizing such a big scoop would be no problem at all. Plus, Naples would be the most from this sdal, so..."

  Gao Shen gave Marino a suspicious look, nodding as if he'd figured everything out. "Just admit it, Marino."

  "Believe it or not, it wasn't us!" Marino protested, shaking his head emphatically.

  Gao Shen finally nodded, indig he believed him.

  "Well, it doesn't matter who did it. This i is a huge help to us. Whoever it was, they must be a good person! We should all be grateful," Gao Shen said with a serious face.

  Marino nodded, agreeing with Gao Shen's assessment.

  Yes, whoever it was, they were a good guy!

  …

  After pacifying Marino, Gao Shen turned his head away and nearly burst out ughing.

  The truth was, this leak was orchestrated by Fernando Lucas, under Gao Shen's i instrus.

  Lucas, who managed intelligence for the team and had regur dealings with the media, used his work to "actally" let the secret slip. Journalists who trusted Lucas jumped at the story and spread it widely.

  Iy, such leaks often e down to mutual be and reciprocation of favors.

  Of course, Gao Shen wouldn't tell anyone about Lucas's involvement. Even most of the media didn't know that Lucas was the source. If it ever got out, the media especially Turin Sports Daily would tear Gao Shen apart.

  As for Lucas's media tacts, they also had their own professiohics.

  If they broke fidentiality, they'd never work in the industry again.

  The impa Juventus would undoubtedly be signifit, but how much it would influehe game was still unknown.

  The pyers who had already been dissatisfied with Ranieri and na would now feel even more justified in their distent.

  But this match was still at Juventus' home ground, and given the history between Napoli and Juventus over the past two seasons, this game was anything but guaranteed.

  …

  Just how much do Turin fans hate Napoli?

  Well, by the time Napoli's team bus arrived at their hotel in Turin, there were already throngs of fans gathered outside.

  Insults and taunts were the mildest forms of abuse some fans even threw objects at the bus.

  In Italy, team buses have strict protective measures, and Napoli's was no exception.

  But even so, the pyers still felt uneasy on the bus.

  No one bore the brunt of the fans' anger more than Gao Shen.

  This wasn't just because his Napoli team had sistently beaten Juventus; it was also because he represented a deep humiliation for Juventus. Even the local Turin media bmed him for the whole na sdal.

  Why?

  Last summer, Gao Shen was Juventus's top didate for head coach.

  Although Sp Director Secco had publicly opposed his hiring, both Bnd the ma team were very keen on Gao Shen, leading many to believe that he was destio take over Juventus.

  But, shogly, Gao Shen turned down the offer!

  After Gao Sheed them, Juventus shifted focus and hired Ranieri, who then brought in na as the fitness coach.

  So, was Gao Shen ultimately responsible?

  Regardless of the truth, the bme fell squarely on him.

  And that's why Juventus fahe most vocal in their attacks on Gao Shen outside the hotel.

  …

  "Are these Juventus fans crazy?"

  "Right? This is borderline discrimination."

  "The boss is just the head coach of Napoli, and he beat Juventus a few times. Do they really o hold such a grudge?"

  "It's absurd. At least there are police around."

  "Police? I don't think those officers like the boss much either. Did you see the way they looked at him? I even think they're holding ba purpose, just watg."

  "Ha, so you're saying they'll only step in once a fan actually charges at the boss?"

  "Get out of here, man!"

  Ohey ehe hotel lobby, Napoli's pyers gathered around Gao Shen, joking and lifting his spirits. Despite everything, they seemed to be in high spirits.

  Gao Shen calmly walked in, faintly hearing his pyers' banter.

  "Alright, ighe side! The most important thing now is for you to get a good rest. Tomorrow, we'll focus on how to beat Juventus and give these guys a lesson!"

  As soon as Gao Shen finished speaking, the pyers cheered in unison.

  Their collective roar drew everyone's attention in the lobby.

  "Get plenty of rest and be in top shape tomorrow!" Gao Shen enced.

  …

  After cheg in aling the pyers, Gao Shen and his coag staff didn't rest. Instead, they gathered in their hotel room to finalize the game pn for the day.

  Goalkeeping coach Lopis brought up an important topic: Juventus's backup goalkeeper, Emanuele Berdi.

  One of the most "unfortunate" goalkeepers in Europe, Berdi had gained a reputation for his struggles on the field.

  How unlucky was he?

  As Buffon's backup, Berdi hadn't pyed a single minute in Juventus's nearly 50 matches st season.

  The 30-year-old had started his career at Reggiana, where he'd performed well. In 2004, he moved to Napoli, who were in Italy's third division at the time, but he was still mostly a backup. A year ter, he transferred to zaro in Serie B.

  In 2006, Juventus signed him as Buffon's substitute.

  He didn't py a single mi season, and this season, he'd been on the bench again, only appearing twi the Italian Cup.

  In the ret match against Livorno, Buffon suffered a bajury, and Berdi was brought on. His performance was average.

  But Lopis saw potential weaknesses in Berdi.

  "Over the past few years, he hasn't had sistent pying time, especially st season when he didn't py at all. He's not used to the high-iy pace of petitive matches," Lopis expined.

  "I watched his st three games. In two matches against Empoli, they lost 1-2 and 5-3, with him g five goals. Against Livorno, he ceded anoal. Although he received det reviews for that match, there were still noticeable issues."

  Lopis analyzed Berdi's weaknesses iail from a teical perspective.

  "His hand positioning, his sense of timing, and his rhythm in the game are all problematic. He's been out of practice for too long, and no amount of training fully pensate for that."

  Gao Shen, Lucas, Carlo, and the others exged gnces, all agreeing with Lopis's assessment.

  Lopis was an expert in training goalkeepers, and he was just as sharp in analyzing opposing goalkeepers.

  When Buffon was healthy, Juventus's goalkeeper position was a strength, but now, with Buffon ihat strength had turned into a vulnerability.

  "Any suggestions?" Gao Shen asked Lopis.

  The Spanish goalkeeping coach smiled. "Two things. First, ence more long shots. If there's a ce, take it. Sed, in the penalty area, increase pressure on the goalkeeper and be ready to poun loose balls."

  Gao Shen uood and turo Carlo. "Add these two points to our tactical briefing tomorrow."

  This was one of Gao Shen's defining traits: he trusted his team and valued their professional insights.

  This trust motivated everyone oeam to work hard.

  Everyone ehe feeling of being trusted.

  "I suspect that Ranieri won't just defend and terattack at home tomorrow. He's in a tough spot tely, and even the ge person fights back when ered. Ranieri is a nice guy, but that doesn't mean he won't retaliate if pushed."

  Lucas, Carlo, and the others noted dowhing Gao Shen said.

  "If Juventus does press forward, I'll sider ung a direct offensive against them. We need a morale-boosting game. We 't keep pying defensively all the time—it's demoralizing." Gao Shen expined, sidering the team's morale.

  Sihe winter break, the team had been pying cautiously, fog on defehe younger pyers, full of energy and potential, were gettiless.

  A game against Juventus could be the perfect opportunity to release that pent-up energy. Even if it didn't guarantee a victory, it would help alleviate the pyers' current frustration.

  Simply put, attag football was in Napoli's DNA.

  Moreover, this was an away game in the first leg. Sg a few away goals would be an ideal sariao Shen.