Iy, there's no such thing as "metaphysics" in football. Each game is a test of how well the team has been trained and prepared during the preg weeks and months.

  After the game against Juventus, Gao Shen and his coag staff could clearly sense a fluctuation in the Napoli pyers' form.

  Every pyer's fighting spirit remains high, but their performance isn't as electrifying as it used to be.

  It's obvious that Napoli's form is slipping.

  The coag staff has been w hard to adjust the team's training regimen, hoping to better support the pyers.

  But one has to admit, even in a professional league, there are far too many untrolble factors.

  For example, who would have expected, before the season began, that the Italian Football Association would require Napoli to py in the first two rounds of the Italian Cup?

  Adding these extra games, with a match every three days, has signifitly disrupted Napoli's entire pre-season preparation.

  Furthermore, iember and October, many pyers were called up for their national teams for the first time, and some even sustained injuries, which impacted Napoli's preparation ply.

  It could be said that, by this point, the team has pushed themselves to their limits just to hold on.

  Gao Shen and the coag staff had mentally prepared for this sario.

  Napoli is a team of young pyers. Youth brings excellent physical dition, but it also means a ck of experience.

  Experience isn't just about having pyed on the field; it's about knowing how to handle various emergencies and overing challenges, like pying well even when you're not in your best form.

  For stars like Ronaldo, Zidane, or other seasoned pyers, this isn't a problem at all. But for many young pyers entering this for the first time, it's a huge issue.

  It's entirely normal.

  It's like being iary or middle school, thinkiain things were the end of the world. But after a few years, once you've grown and matured, looking back, you realize they were trivial.

  But back then, in that phase, there was indeed a sense of panic, as if the sky was falling.

  This is where Gao Shen and the coag staff's work es in.

  But human resources are always limited.

  …

  Three days after the match against Juventus, Napoli pyed Fiorentina away ienth round of Serie A.

  Fiorentina's head coach was Cesare Prandelli, who would ter go on to mahe Italian national team. He's most famous for leading Italy to the Euro 2012 final. Although they lost to the rising Spanish team, Prandelli still earned widespread appuse, particurly for his successful transformation of the Italian squad.

  Gao Shen had high praise for Prandelli's Italian team, especially his use of Pirlo's diagonal long passes, which were simply beautiful. Prandelli boldly reformed the Italian national team, and Gao Shen admired his determination and ce.

  However, at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, Fiorentina adopted a defensive ter-attag strategy, using a 4-2-3-1 formation with two defensive midfielders to faapoli.

  Gao Shen had to rotate the squad for this game due to the intech against Juventus.

  Both sides fought fiercely for 76 minutes. Ih minute, Montolivo delivered a brilliant pass. Mutu broke past Napoli's right-back, Gyarrick, on the left and crossed into the box. Vieri overpowered avaro Jr. and Bonucd scored with a header.

  This goal secured the victory for Fiorentina!

  Though Gao Shen made immediate adjustments and unched a frantic offensive against Fiorentina, they were uo breach the oppo's defense.

  In the end, Napoli suffered their first defeat in Serie A!

  …

  Seven wins, two draws, and one loss—this was the record from Gao Shen's first ten games in Serie A.

  In any league, such a record would be quite impressive.

  But unfortunately, they had to tend with the exceptional Inter Min in Serie A.

  Ienth round, Mani's team defeated Genoa 4-1 at the Meazza Stadium, with goals from Cordoba, Cambiasso, Suazo, and Cruz.

  This is the difference!

  Even after a major rotation, Inter Min could still field a star-studded lineup and tio domiheir oppos steadily.

  Napoli is simply too young.

  After this round, Napoli, who had been leading by two points, was overtaken by Inter Min, falling behind by one point and ranking sed in Serie A.

  After defeating Genoa, Inter Min's head coach Mani proudly decred that his team would not lose again after reg the top position.

  "We will pay no mind to any other oppos because we are fident that we have no rivals in Italy!" Mani boasted boldly.

  This also reflected Mani's fiden Inter Min's current form.

  But soon, he would be proven wrong.

  …

  That weekend, in Serie A's eleventh round, Inter Min pyed Juventus away.

  After suffering a crushi against Napoli, Ranieri's team won 3-0 at home against Empoli, the up a tight defeo wait for Inter Min's visit.

  In the 41st minute, Cesar broke through Juventus's right defense and assisted Cruz foal. But ih minute, Juventus substitutes Iaquinta and Camoranesi bined for an equalizer.

  In the end, Juventus held Inter Min to a 1-1 draw at home.

  Meanwhile, Napoli returned home to face Reggina, led by the veteran coach Ulivieri.

  Ulivieri, a respected figure in Italian football, notiapoli's poor form and hoped to exploit any gaps. He deployed a 3-5-2 formation with tight defense.

  Napoli's tinued rotation and overall slump meant that they dominated on the field but couldn't score.

  But Gao Shen's team tenaciously pressured Reggina throughout the game and finally, ih minute, Sanchez scored the winning goal, giving Napoli a narrow 1-0 victory.

  This goal brought Napoli three precious points.

  …

  With eight wins, two draws, and one loss, Napoli had 26 points.

  Inter Min remained uen with seven wins and four draws, earning 25 points.

  Napoli once again recimed the top spot in Serie A, leading for the third time this season.

  Mani was furious after the game, critig his pyers' poor performance.

  But soon, Inter Min's results validated Gao Shen and the coag staff's earlier s.

  Starting from the twelfth round, Inter Mi on to defeat Lazio 3-0 at home, Atanta 2-1 at home, Fiorentina 2-0 away, Torino 4-0 at home, and Cagliari 2-0 away.

  Mani's team won five secutive games through November and early December, showg incredible form, sg thirteen goals in five games, and g only one.

  During this period, Inter Min appeared invincible.

  Napoli, oher hand, had a tough time in these five rounds.

  First, they drew 2-2 with Palermo away, theed ia 2-0 at home, drew 1-1 with Atanta away, won 1-0 against Parma at home, and drew 1-1 with Siena away.

  Iween, they also pyed an Italian Cup match, losing 1-2 to Lazio away.

  While Inter Min won five straight games, Napoli only mawo wins and three draws in Serie A, iably falling behind.

  Most importantly, iandings, Inter Min remained uen with 12 wins and 4 draws, leading Serie A with 40 points.

  Napoli had ten wins, five draws, and one loss, earning 35 points and ranking sed.

  Roma and Juventus both had nine wins, five draws, and two losses, with 32 points each. Due to goal difference, Juventus pced third, while Roma was fourth.

  Following them were Udih 28 points and Fiorentina with 25.

  A, struggling with a poor start, had only accumuted 22 points and was ranked eighth.

  Such standings made it hard for the Rossoo hold any hopes for the new season.

  …

  On the evening of December 22nd, in the seveh round of Serie A.

  This was also the st game before Christmas, after which Serie A would ehe winter break.

  Pying at home, Napoli tiheir sluggish form from ret matches and ceded a goal in the first half. Finally, in the 81st minute, Hamsik scored with an assist from Pelle.

  Napoli ended up drawing 1-1 with Torino at home.

  Inter Min, meanwhile, faced A in the Min Derby at home.

  After Pirlo gave A the lead, Ibrahimovic assisted Cruz to equalize ih minute. In the sed half, Cambiasso scored again for Iurning the game around.

  In the end, Inter Mied A 2-1, seg three points.

  Roma beat Sampdoria 2-0, and Juventus beat Siena 2-0.

  Among the top four teams in Serie A, only Napoli drew with their oppo.

  As a result, the Serie A standings were clear heading into the winter break.

  Inter Min tio dominate, leading by seven points.

  Napoli followed closely. Despite a rough pat November and December, they still gathered signifit points, trailing Inter by seven but leading Roma and Juventus by one, pg them sed.

  Roma and Juventus trailed Inter by eight points and Napoli by one, but both had a six-point cushion over Udinese and seven over Fiorentina.

  After losing the Min Derby, A's ranking dropped further, pg them ninth.

  The Serie A situation had bee clear. Judging from the current standings, Inter Min's dominance seemed unshakable. Napoli had bee the biggest dark horse this season, but to challeer, they'd need an outstanding sed half performance.

  Especially with Roma and Juventus hot on their heels, ready to overtake Napoli at any time.

  The day after the draw with Torino, Gao Shen called a meeting with his coag staff.

  He was deeply dissatisfied with the team's ret performance.

  Napoli was sick!