The heated battle between Gao Shen and the Italian media didn't disrupt Napoli's preparations.

  After the mat Rome, Gao Shen and his coag staff focused intensely oing ready for the uping csh against Juventus.

  The st two big matches, Napoli had pyed away from home. This time, they would have the advantage of pying at their home ground.

  And Gao Shen inteo make full use of it.

  Before the game, Gao Shen had a meeting with the club's general manager, Marino, to discuss some tactical preparations and other pns.

  "Juventus will bring about 2,000 fans with them for the away game. As usual, we'll pce them in the most remote, marginal ses of the stadium. That's standard home team procedure," Marino expined.

  For away fans, uhere's low attendahey're typically seated in the least desirable areas. Especially in Naples, where the stadium is often filled to capacity.

  Frankly, just getting tickets in Naples is a blessing for most away fans.

  "And what about Ranieri?" Gao Shen asked, with a sly smile.

  Marino paused for a moment, then chuckled as he caught on. Ranieri had bee off with a red card in Juventus's previous match against Genoa.

  Acc to the rules, he wouldn't be allowed to sit on the ben this match.

  It was actually quite a ical situation.

  Juventus had already been leading 1-0 when, three minutes before the end of the game, Nedved was sent off with a red card for elbowing Genoa's Konko. Ranieri, furious, publicly bsted the referee, Banti.

  Ranieri was under a lot of stress; after all, they had to face a strong Napoli team in just a week. Losing a key pyer like Nedved was a huge blow to Juventus.

  But referee Banti didn't take kindly to Ranieri's outburst. After all, Nedved's elbow was right in front of him. Was there anything tue about?

  In response, Banti gave Ranieri a red card as well, sending him off and leaving Juventus without their coad one of their key pyers.

  "So, how are things usually arranged for this?" Gao Shen asked, smiling mischievously.

  "If we 't use our home advantage in this situation, are we really at home?"

  "Typically," Marino expined, "in cases like these, the Italian Football Association will have an official supervise the situation. Ranieri ehe locker room before the game, at halftime, and after the game, but he won't be allowed onto the pitch. He'll likely end up anding from the stands."

  Gao Shen nodded, familiar with this setup.

  He hadn't been in this position himself, but he'd seen it plenty of times with other managers—especially Mourinho, who was known for his creative ways of coag from the stands when banned.

  " he bring a cell phoh him?" Gao Shen asked, feigning innoce.

  "Absolutely not," Marino replied, shaking his head. "If he were allowed to use a phone for a 45-minute call, what would be the point of the ban?"

  "What about passing notes?" Gao Shen asked, trying to hide his grin.

  Marino thought about it for a moment, then said, "That might be possible, but he'd need someoo help him."

  At that, Gao Shen raised his eyebrows with a knowing look, and Marino couldn't help but ugh as they both uood each other.

  "I got it," Marino said, nodding. "I'll make the arras."

  "I think Mr. Ranieri is a highly respected figure in Italian and even European football. Si's a rare occasion for him to visit our Stadio San Paolo, we should give him a very special experience, don't you think?"

  "Absolutely," Marino said, pying along with a sly grin. "Don't worry, I'll make sure Mr. Ranieri enjoys a truly unique, five-star experien our stadium."

  Gao Shen chuckled to himself, thinking, This Marino is getting sharper tely. He's really catg on!

  The two tio spire, huddled close together, whispering quietly. At this point, if anyone else saw them, they might have suspected a plot and called the police to report a terrorist scheme.

  In the following days, Napoli's preparations tinued smoothly.

  With a full week to prepare, Gao Shen allowed the pyers to rest and recuperate, knowing that after the Juventus match, they'd soon face the tenth round of Serie A, and the fixture pressure would start to increase again.

  Additionally, both Napoli and Juventus were only involved in domestipetitions, with no European fixtures, so both sides would be fully recharged.

  Juventus, however, was fag more issues. Coach Ranieri would be banned from the sidelines, Nedved was suspended with a red card, and midfielder Cristiano Zai was out with an injury. This left Juventus's midfield somewhat weakened.

  Cristiano Zai had pyed well for Inter Min before joining Juventus, where he quickly became one of Ranieri's key pyers. His absence would definitely impact Juventus.

  Although Ranieri was an Italian coach, he'd been away from Serie A for over a decade.

  After managing Fiorentina in 1997, he left Italy to coach Valencia and hadn't returo Serie A since.

  Over the years, he managed Valencia and Atletiadrid in La Liga, Chelsea in the Premier League, aually returo Valencia in 2004.

  After leaving Valencia in 2005, he spent some time without a team, making a living by writing ns for British neers.

  He'd been taking the time to recharge himself.

  Last season, Parma erf terribly. After their coach, Pioli, was sacked following a defeat by Gao Shen's Napoli, Ranieri stepped in and led Parma to a remarkable turnaround, which paved the way for him to take over Juventus this season.

  Few people khat before Ranieri was hired, Juventus general manager Bnc had actually tacted Gao Shen. But Gao Shen deed, saying he wasn't ied in coag Juventus, which ultimately led to Ranieri's appoi.

  Naturally, this little-known backstory was dug up by the media before the game.

  With this history between Gao Shen and Juventus, the uping match wasn't just a showdowween two of Italy's northern and southern powerhouses, but also a personal battle betweewo coaches, with Ranieri aiming to prove himself against Gao Shen.

  Perhaps that's why Ranieri had reacted sly in the game against Genoa. When Nedved was sent off, Ranieri lost his cool and ended up getti off as well.

  On the m of the team's journey south to Naples, Juventus sp director Alessio Secco arrived at the training ground.

  Officially, he was there to send off the team, but iy, he was also there to discuss the starting lineup with Ranieri.

  With Nedved suspended and Zai injured, Secco was very ied in how Ranieri would set up his lineup.

  "You know, Cudio, we made some of the biggest signings in Europe this summer," Secco said to Ranieri.

  "We brought in several high-level pyers who excelled at their previous clubs—Thiago, Iaquinta, Almiron, Noo… Unfortunately, Andrade got injured in the game against Roma and is out for the season, but I believe the other pyers and should step up to py important roles for the team. Don't you agree?"

  Ranieri, with his extensive experience coag various clubs, kly what Secco was implying.

  Truth be told, Secco's signings had e under criticism.

  Andrade had been the most promising of the new signings, but after only three and a half games, he was sidelined with a season-ending injury.

  Iaquinta had shone in the first match but found it hard to get sistent pying time sirezeguet and Del Piero were perf well, making it difficult for Iaquinta to break into the lineup.

  Ranieri had sidered trying a three-striker formation with Iaquinta, Del Piero, and Trezeguet, but he quickly abahe idea after finding it left their midfield too weak.

  As a result, Iaquinta had to pete with Trezeguet and Del Piero, who were both loyal Juventus veterans from their Serie B days.

  Meanwhile, midfielders Thiago and Almiron were alsling to secure starting roles, whereas Noo, who was brought in from Serie B side Piaza, had exceeded expectations and was even called up to the Italian national team.

  Juventus had spent 55 million euros in trahat summer, ranking ninth in Europe and first in Serie A. But at this stage, the return on that iment seemed disappointing.

  This put Secder signifit pressure.

  After all, Juventus and the Fiat Group that owhem weren't in the best financial situation. They'd ied heavily, yet the results hadn't been as expected, making Secco's position precarious.

  "I think we should give the new pyers more opportuo ie into the team," Secco suggested.

  Though framed as a suggestion, his words carried an unmistakable hint of and.

  Ranieri could read between the lines and knew he had little choice.

  He nodded, feigning a serious expression, "I'll do my best te it."

  "Great," Secco replied, satisfied. "I'm relieved to hear that."

  After a pause, Secco tinued, "We've performed well this season and are currently third in Serie A. But i few games…"

  He hesitated, then added, "Our offense seems to have hit a bit of a slump. Don't fet, Cudio, Napoli was a tough oppo for us st season. We couldn't beat them at all. Everyone—ma, fans, and even the higher-ups are eager to see us erase that stain."

  "You know, we're one of Serie A's top giants, so I hope that in Naples, you and the team show the strength and performahat a top team should have. I believe you do it, so let's bring it home!"

  Ranieri gave a wry smile and nodded.

  With everything Secco had said, what else could he do but agree?

  "By the way, Mr. Secco, about the arras at the stadium, especially the unication during the match," Ranieri asked cautiously.

  This was a critical point for the uping game.

  "Don't worry," Secco reassured him, "I've already made arras. I've spoken to people at the Football Association, and we'll make sure someone on the ground assists you with passing information. You coordih your assistant, and there shouldn't be any issues."

  Ranieri let out a sigh of relief.

  Fag Napoli away without being able to coach from the sideline would have been a major disadvantage.

  After all, football is a game of stant, fluid ges.