Gao Shen and Beckham parted ways in the parking lot. One headed to the locker room, the other to the coach's office. Their versation had no definitive clusion, as Gao Shen couldn't make any strong promises to Beckham, and Beckham naturally couldn't it to anythiher. However, Gao Shen did express his heartfelt thoughts to Beckham.

  He believed that Beckham was not just the idol star many perceived him to be. Despite his numerous off-field activities, these didn't affect his on-field performance. Gao Sheold Beckham that, after Real Madrid's loss to Arsenal in the Champions League first-round knockout stage, Beckham was the only superstar who could leave the Bernabeu with his head held high.

  "I've always believed that you should be one of the most pivotal pyers oeam. You should be in a position where you maximize your impa the right, not in the middle."

  Beckham's crosses are among the best in history, but they require someone in the front court to capitalize ohe entire world knows Ronaldo isn't known for his heading ability; the Brazilian prefers to solve problems with his feet.

  At Maer United, Beckham's best partner was Ruud van Nistelrooy, a cssiter-forward. Over the years, Ruud van Nistelrooy missed Beckham's precise crosses from the right. The differen performaween the Puese and the Englishman on the right fnk was signifit.

  Ronaldo, Raul, Cassano, and even Baptista, who was temporarily pushed to the front line, are not traditional ter-forwards, which has severely weakened Beckham's role on the right. bined with a ck of defensive midfielders and the previous presence of Figo on the right, Beckham was naturally moved to the tral midfield position.

  Gao Shen's remarks were a remihat the true Beckham was the one on the right wing.

  The two talked for nearly 20 minutes. Gao Shen unreservedly shared his positioning and expectations for Beckham. But Beckham was not immediately vinced and did not promise to py fao Shen on the spot. Such ses belong in online novels; in real life, it is not easy to vineone.

  After all, within this club and at this training base, no one believed Gao Shen would st long. Almost everyohought he was just a pawn of the new chairman, Martin, used to suppress and weakeeam's superstars and prepare for Bosque's return to the Bernabeu.

  In such circumstances, who would be willing to promise anything to Gao Shen? Who would trust any promises made by him?

  In the end, Beckham only said that he rofessional pyer signed by Real Madrid.

  "Don't worry, as long as I wear this jersey and still py, I will fight to the end. This is my professiohics!"

  Beckham left after speaking. He didn't say he would suppao Shen, nor did he promise not to oppose his coag, but that was enough. If Beckham had agreed too quickly, Gao Shen would have been worried. As it stood, at least it showed he would sider it.

  …

  As he approached the coach's office, Fernando Lucas greeted him, holding a report from the team doctor.

  De Red had goo a nearby hospital with the team doctor for a detailed physical examination, especially fog on his heart. The results showed that he was very healthy and had problems.

  This puzzled Gao Shen. Could it be that De Red's dition developed ter?

  In any case, it meant that De Red could be used with fidence for now.

  "The office just received a fax from the French Football Association," Fernando Lucas reported quietly.

  Gao Shen was a bit surprised. "What's it about?"

  "France coaenech wants us to release Zidane for a national team mat mid-March, betweeh and 28th rounds, against Slovenia."

  Generally, wheional team calls up pyers, they must send a fax to the club in advahe head coach must firm before the pyer leave to report to the national team. Sometimes, the club's head coach might even refuse the call-up.

  Gao Shen was worried about not having a ce to talk to Zidane, and the French Football Association had just handed him an opportunity.

  "Should you take advantage of this call-up to talk to Zidane?" Lucas raised his eyebrows.

  Lucas was suggesting putting some pressure on Zidahrough the national team's request.

  But Gao Shen wasn't pnning to do that. Such tactics might work for some people, but Zidane wasn't one of them. Moreover, Zidane's position iional team was solid. Domerusted him and even built the team's tactics around him. This warm-up game was just for training and pyer iion. Whether Zida or not wouldn't affect his national team standing.

  If Gao Shen made a fuss about this call-up, wouldn't he e off as a vilin?

  There's such a thing as having a certain standard, after all.

  Two Real Madrid presidents—Calderon was ridiculed as a , while Florentino raised as a mogul. This was because of their levels of sophistication.

  "You're still a bit green," Gao Shen said early to Lucas, shaking his head.

  As Gao Shen walked into the coach's office, Lucas was left w, why did he say I'm green?

  How old are you, brother?

  However, it had to be said that Gao Shen's behavior over the past two days had ged signifitly. He seemed like a pletely different person, making Lucas feel quite unfamiliar.

  Perhaps this is what they call a transformation.

  There's a saying: power is a man's ce!

  …

  In European football, hiring a head coach usually involves hiring the eeam led by the head coach. The size of the team is iated between the head coad the club, typically sisting of four or five people who work together.

  However, there are special cases. When Luxemburgo was dismissed, he took his entire coag team with him, leaving behind the coaches hired by Real Madrid. When Carlo romoted from the sed team to the first team, he brought only one assistant coach, Maqueda, and the rest of the first team's inal staff remained unged.

  As fao Shen, he was just an intern, not part of the coag team, more like a temporary worker doing errands.

  Every m, before the team's training session, the coag staff held a meeting. Usually, the head coach would expin the project arra for the session or the entire day's training. For specific projects, the head coach would provide detailed instrus, such as the goals and expected outes.

  For insta Maer United, Ferguson delegated training responsibilities to Queiroz many years ago. Queiroz was responsible for expining the training tasks to the coag staff daily, including targeted tactical drills. As he got older, Ferguson focused more on strategy and less on training.

  When Gao Shen walked into the coach's office, Maqueda was leading a meeting with the first team coaches, expining the training pns for the day.

  Maqueda was a former Real Madrid pyer. After Carlo left, he was the senior-most in the office, so everyone was used to following his arras.

  Upon seeing Gao Sheer, Maqueda g him but tinued with his expnations. Although some wao greet Gao Shen, seeing Maqueda's attitude, they remained silent.

  After all, no one knew how long Gao Shen would stay in this position.

  Maqueda was quite satisfied with this situation. He wao make Gao Shen seem insignifit, perhaps even repceable.

  But at this moment, Gao Shen, who had said he would follow Maqueda's arras yesterday, suddenly interrupted him.

  "Let me say a few words!" Gao Shen's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear.

  Everyone looked over, surprised, while Maqueda was furious. However, he quickly calmed down and squeezed out a sneer. "Alright, go ahead."

  Gao Shen waved his hand, "Don't worry, our pyers aren't that fragile. Just be cautious. Besides, our training iy hasn't been high, and a midweek game will help stimute their form."

  Maqueda felt humiliated by the stant interruptions.

  Even Carlo respected him, so why was he being treated this way now?

  "Okay, we'll make the arras," Maqueda gritted his teeth but thought to himself: I'll see how you fare!

  Gao Shen couldn't see Maqueda's eyes burning with anger, but he didn't have time to pay attention to it. Right now, every minute recious. He had to prepare everything for the weekend derby against Atletico.

  It just dawned on him that Ramos would be suspended for the weekend. He hadn't known that before. But in hindsight, it was true. Ramos was suspended for one game due to accumuted yellow cards.

  This meant Gao Shen had to make some adjustments in the tral defense sele.

  Did it really have to be Raul Bravo and Elgra as ter-backs?

  Fag such challenges, Gao Shen had no choice but to adapt. For now, the most important thing was to talk to Zidane and Woodgate first.