The m training session began amidst protests from Real Madrid fans.

  Nearly 300 fans gathered at Valdebebas, all protesting against the club's high-handed policies. They made siderable noise and otion on the sidelines, severely disrupting the pyers' training on the field. Raul and Guti attempted to pacify the fans, but their efforts were in vain.

  Si was a recovery-focused training session, Gao Shen delegated its supervision to Maqueda while he silently observed, paying particur attention to Woodgate, who had suffered another injury a ferior.

  The English tral defender has been pying sporadically retly. Carlo preferred to use Raul Bravo rather than risk relying on Woodgate, not solely due to his poor performances—quite the trary, as he had shown strong performances—but because of s over his fragile physical dition.

  During the 90-miraining session, Gao Shen silently observed throughout, once again surprising the Real Madrid pyers.

  Could it be that this rookie head coaly intends to act as a figurehead?

  Raul, especially, who could dis his thoughts, was even more puzzled.

  With the intra-city derby approag, shouldn't we begin targeted tactical drills by now?

  Unlike his departure immediately after the previous day's afternoon training session, Gao Shen remained after the m session, waiting to talk to Zidane.

  ---

  In the Real Madrid team, the Fren had always been a man of few words, but that did not diminish Zidane's influence.

  On the trary, it was widely aowledged that Zidane's words carried more weight than Ronaldo's.

  Ronaldo was often seen as self-tered, frequently calling Florentino at any hour. Despite his frequent exges, did Florentino truly favor this superstar who pined incessantly and even challenged authority?

  Zidane, oher hand, maintained a calm demeanor. He rarely disturbed Florentino unnecessarily, whily served to heighten his standing in the Real Madrid dressing room. He was sidered the invisible boss.

  Regardless of whom he faced, Zidane always remained posed, as if nothing could disturb him.

  Gao Shen uood Zidane's character well and didn't waste words. When they were alone, he went straight to the point.

  "We've received a call-up fax from the Frenational team."

  Upon hearing this, Zidane raised his head and regarded Gao Shen with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

  "Don't misuand. I'm just following protocol to get your opinion. If you want to go, I'll send the fax ter. If you have other pns, I assist with that too," Gao Shen said casually.

  His words showed full respect for Zidane's personal wishes, implying that he was on Zidane's side. If Zidane chose not to go, Gao Shen could take the bme.

  Zidane was sharp. He immediately grasped the subtle implications. He looked at Gao Shen with a ged expression.

  "Sineook charge, there's been a push for youth reform iional team. The average age has dropped, and they've begressive. Retly, they've called up a group of experienced veterans to help with the transition," Zidane expined.

  After the 2004 European Cup, Zidane had initially retired from iional duty but was ter persuaded by Domeo return.

  It was clear to everyohat Zidane's goal was the World Cup in Germany. The humiliating group stage exit in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan was uable for a superstar of his caliber.

  "You've seen that from November to May, we only have this friendly," Zidane added casually.

  Gao Shen nodded. "Uood. I'll send the fax when I return."

  "Thank you," Zidane replied evenly.

  As the French superstar turo leave, Gao Shen spoke again uedly.

  "You pyed for Fra the World Cup in Germany to leave s. What about Real Madrid?"

  Zidane frowned and stared at Gao Shen suspiciously. "What do you mean? Are you questioning my professionalism?"

  "No, you've misuood," Gao Shen replied with a gentle smile. "I never doubted your professionalism. I was simply sidering whether you're willing to end your career at Real Madrid like this."

  Zidane fell silent, touched by Gao Shen's words that resonated deeply with him.

  What kind of superstar was he?

  In the past decade, alongside Ronaldo, he had been among the most dominant pyers.

  Such superstars were often proud and even arrogant, which was uandable.

  Without this self-respeg aura, how could they perform at their best in crucial moments?

  "I believe you've noticed that we're currently ten points behind Bara and two behind Valencia. Yet, Celta, Celta, and Osasuna are right behind us. If you step up and help us challenge Bara's top spot, it's not impossible," Gao Shen tinued after a pause.

  He reminded Zidane again, "There are still thirteen league matches and the sed leg of the Champions League. What are your thoughts?"

  Zidane uood Gao Shen's iion and was taken aback. He had initially thought Gao Shen would suppress the superstars, including himself. Yet, Gao Shen had taken the initiative to talk to him.

  "Didn't you decre war on the superstars just yesterday?" Zidane asked calmly.

  Gao Shen smiled and said, "The media always likes to spin stories like this. What I'm saying is that not every pyer deserves to wear the Real Madrid jersey, but that doesn't apply to you. I know you have a deep affe for this team. It's where you reached the pinnacle of your career, and it will be a lifelong memory for you."

  Zidane fell silent again, aowledging Gao Shen's words.

  While his iional career had been illustrious, Real Madrid was where he truly reached the peak of his career, especially under Florentino.

  "I believe you wouldn't want this memory to end on a sour note, no matter what," Gao Shen posed a profound question that left Zidane speechless.

  Why had he decided to retire this summer?

  It was because he was deeply disillusioned with the current state of Real Madrid. tinuing to py felt like repeating the mistakes of the past three years. For him, instead of enjoying the game, it had bee a form of torment and humiliation.

  Gao Shen's words struck a chord with him, but so what?

  "What do you think you ge?" Zidaed with his characteristic mix and fidence, challenging the core of Gao Shen's argument.

  Gao Shen didn't take offense; instead, he felt a sense of satisfa at having identified Zidane's vulnerability.

  "I'm not sure what ges I bring. Many say I won't st long in this role, but I believe there's always something to be done. What Real Madrid cks isn't just a great manager, but someone who unify the team and work towards a on goal."

  After finishing, Gao Shen smiled freely and added, "Maybe I'll be sacked after losing to Atletico this week, or maybe I'll wiher way, as long as I'm here, I'll do what I and leave s."

  Zidane fixed Gao Shen with a searg gaze, as if trying to dis something in his eyes. Finally, he left with a cryptic remark.

  "Let's talk when you've firmly established yourself in this position."

  Watg the French superstar depart, Gao Shen smiled deeply.

  He had seen it: Zidane remained ral.

  ...

  After seeing off Zidane, Gao Shen headed straight for the medical room.

  As expected, the team doctor was there dug medical exams on several injured pyers, a routine procedure after training.

  Gao Shen casually inquired about the ditions of several injured pyers, particurly fog on Woodgate.

  The team doctor expressed satisfa with the physical dition of the English tral defender, noting there were no signifit issues.

  Woodgate had sustained an injury in the ninth minute of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Arsenal.

  Joining Real Madrid in August 2004, Woodgate had been pgued by injuries since April. Even the day before signing, he was undergoing treatment in Munich. Despite this, Real Madrid had chosen to sign him, undersg his importao the club.

  His rehabilitation upon joining had not gone smoothly; he suffered repeated injuries in training. His debut was deyed until September 2005, during the fourth round of the season against Athletic Bilbao at home. Unfortunately, he scored an own goal ih minute, putting the team at a disadvantage.

  Subsequently, Woodgate's pying time became sporadic, with Carlo showing caution in his use due to his extended absences.

  This pattern persisted until the end of January, when, during the league's twenty-first round, a match against Celta Vigo away saw Danish midfielder Gravesen injured. Woodgate came on as a substitute, shifting Elgra into midfield. This adjustment signifitly bolstered Real Madrid's defense in the sed half, resulting in a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo.

  Following this, they achieved a 4-0 victory over Espanyol at home and a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao away, seg sheets in secutive games. With Woodgate pying a promi role, Real Madrid's defeably improved.

  A standout performance came in the Copa del Rey, where after losing 6-1 toza in the first leg, the bination of Ramos and Woodgate in the sed leg resulted in a 4-0 victory at home, achieving redemption.

  The games at the end of January and beginning of February underscored Woodgate's strength, ving everyone of his reliability in Real Madrid's defense.

  Uedly, in the first leg of the Champions League against Arsenal, Woodgate sustained an injury after just nine minutes, tributing to Real Madrid's 0-1 home loss.

  In the subsequent matches, Woodgate failed to make the squad, with Carlo opting to use Raul Bravo as a tral defender.

  Many are unaware that apart from the Arsenal game, Woodgate had pyed 13 matches for Real Madrid that season, totaling 891 minutes, with 11 wins, one draw, and one loss. They ceded three goals in a 3-1 away loss to Deportivo but only two goals in the remaining 12 matches.

  Notably, one of these goals was an own goal by Woodgate himself.

  Without injury, Woodgate was sidered a world-css tral defender.

  Gao Shen also vividly recalled how this "fragile" pyer, whled at Real Madrid, transformed into a defealwart at Middlesbrough and earned a recall to the Engnd national team.

  What made his performances so divergeween Real Madrid and Middlesbrough?