Goalkeeper Casils, the back line sisting of Felipe Luis, Elgra, Woodgate, and Abeloa from left tht, with Graveson and De La Reid in double midfield, and upfront Law, Zidane, and Beckham, tered by Negredo.

  This was Gao Shen's lineup for the starting team ieam training match, represented by the pyers wearing yellow vests.

  The pyers in red vests included goalkeeper Diego Lopez, defenders Raul Bravo, Mejia, Ramos, and ho, midfielders Pablo Garcia and Gu Ti, with Robinho, Baptista, Cassano in the front, and Soldado as forward.

  The remaining pyers were divided into two substitute teams, mostly young pyers. Pyers like Parejo, Granero, and Juan Mata were among those in the yellow vests.

  There's an unspoken agreement oraining ground that yellow vests signify the starting team.

  Therefore, when the coag staff saw Gao Shen's submitted team list, they were all taken aback.

  None of the Brazilians made it into the yellow vest group. The sole Brazilian in the yellow vest, Felipe Luis, was a young pyer from the sed team who was retively unknown. What did this signify?

  It was at this moment that everyone realized Gao Shen's remarks from the previous day weren't directed at all the superstars. At least Zidane, Raul, Beckham, Casils, and others were still in the yellow vest group, indig they were still the main lineup.

  But Carlos and Ronaldo didn't even make it to the starting red vest team.

  This was simply too humiliating!

  ---

  "Are you out of your mind? Do you even know what you're doing?"

  When Maqueda saw the list, he shouted at Gao Shen, his voice filled with incredulity.

  The shock caused by the list and Maqueda's outburst sent shivers through the coag office.

  Everyohought Gao Shen had lost his mind!

  How could he put Carlos and Ronaldo in the red vest team, or worse, not even include them iarting red vest team? It was eous, wasn't it?

  Do you even know who Carlos is?

  He's one of the three captains of Real Madrid!

  Since joining Real Madrid in 1996, Carlos has always been the premier choice for left-back, with an impressive track record. In terms of seniority, he even outstrips Raul and Guti.

  Keep in mind, Raul only became captain after Hierro left the team in 2003.

  "What are you yelling about?" Maqueda roared, irked by Fernando Lucas beside Gao Shen.

  But Gao Shen quickly gestured for Lucas to stay quiet and said nothing himself, simply fixing his gaze on Maqueda.

  The entire office fell eerily silent.

  Gao Shen didn't utter a word, just stared at Maqueda.

  Others in the room sehe tension, and no one dared to break the silence.

  It was clear that Maqueda was dissatisfied with Gao Shen. Even though Carlos had been dismissed, vention dictated that Maqueda, as assistant coach, would step up. However, Chairman Martin threw ventional wisdom to the wind by appointing Gao Shen instead. How could anyone respect that?

  Maqueda wao assert his domihat much was obvious, but Gao Shen had put him in his pce earlier that m.

  Now, with Gao Shen's bold as, Maqueda couldn't tain himself.

  In Maqueda's eyes, Gao Shen was just a ma puppet. Maqueda had dismissed Gao Shen from the start, seeing him as nothing more than a greenhorn intern. That's why when he saw the list, he exploded.

  Gao Shen didn't say a word, simply tio stare at Maqueda, as if waiting for him to tinue his outburst.

  For reasons unknowo himself, Maqueda suddenly felt flustered.

  At the end of the day, Maqueda was just an assistant coach, and Gao Shen was the head coach.

  Regardless of whether Maqueda accepted it or not, the authority was there. Gao Shen was his direct superior.

  Though it sted for less than two mihe silence felt like ay. Finally uo bear it any longer, Maqueda coughed awkwardly and faltered, "I... I didn't mean anything by it. But this list is... it's just absurd."

  Gao Shen still didn't speak, merely nodded for Maqueda to tinue.

  "You know, Ronaldo is our top scht now. We need his goals..."

  While others took their lunch breaks, Gao Shehe entire nooiculously preparing for the afternoon training.

  He delved into the tactics library, studyiez's strategies at Valencia and Liverpool, fog on formations and positioning, especially defensive systems. There was much to sider.

  Gao Shen could only sketch out a tactical framework for now, hoping to deploy it effectively in the weekend derby. Ohat was done, he'd have time to refine and expand upon it.

  But even then, Gao Shen had a lot on his pte. Primarily, he o ehe pyers grasped his tactical cepts.

  Real Madrid pyers were tactically astute, but they o not only uand but also implement his strategies willingly. That was the hurdle fao Shen: unig his tactical vision and adapting the team's py accly.

  The weekend's derby left him with little time.

  Maqueda's statement was already in the midst of a sophisticated argument, so Gao Shen rudely cut him off.

  "Juan, I must remind you to keep your data and information updated in a timely manner," Gao Shen tinued, ign Maqueda's visibly displeased expression.

  "You're right, Ronaldo is ihe top scorer oeam. So far, he has scored nine goals and provided two assists in the league, but..."

  Gao Shen emphasized his point, gesturing towards Maqueda, "It's been over four months since he pyed iy derby at Calderon Stadium on October 15th and scored twice. We've pyed 18 league games, five Champions League matches, six Copa del Rey games—how many goals has he scored?"

  Without waiting for Maqueda to respond, Gao Shen held up three fingers.

  "Three goals, including one in the 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Zaragoza. In ames, either due to rotation, injury, or other reasons, he hasn't tributed much."

  This was an indisputable fact.

  "I don't deny that Ronaldo is still one of the most lethal forwards in the world, but..."

  Fernando Lucas was momentarily stunned. He noticed that Gao Shen was markedly different now, speaking with crity and vi. Each statement seemed carefully chosen to make an impact.

  "From a head coach's perspective, we have to aowledge that he's not in peak fht now. But what we this moment is to win, to defeat our oppos, and not allow our stars to squander opportunities on the field."

  "When it es down to it—superstars or victory—which would you choose?"

  Maqueda found himself at a loss for words.

  Gao Shen's demeanor was uedly resolute, catg Maqueda off guard.

  Are superstars detrimental to Real Madrid's effectiveness on the field?

  It was a difficult question to answer. Perhaps, as some argued, the issue wasn't the superstars themselves but how they were utilized.

  But when the club is heavily t in a superstar, and when a head coach has such a high-profile pyer, who be ruthless enough to bench them?

  This was bound to cause a stir.

  "Do you believe you win with a teenager from the sed team?" Maqueda adopted a more rational tone.

  Gao Shen shook his head. "No one guarahat. But as the head coach, I'll use my uanding of football and tactics to set up my lineup. Whether we win or lose, I'll take full responsibility. And you, as my assistant, your role is not to question my decisions but to support me iing them. Do you uand?"

  Maqueda's expression soured. Gao Shen had made it clear.

  Regardless of Maqueda's experience or how dismissive he might be of Gao Shen, one fact remained ungeable: Gao Shen was the head coach of Real Madrid and Maqueda's superior.

  Faced with directives from higher up, all he could do was ply.

  Unless he chose to leave!

  Was Maqueda willing to do that?

  He hesitated.

  Because if Gao Shen were dismissed, Maqueda would likely be the in lio take over.

  The coag position at Real Madrid was far more appealing than outsiders might realize.

  The sudden assertiveness shown by Gao She everyone in the office taken aback.

  Previously, they had seen Gao Shen as a timid, even somewhat cowardly ese man. But today, he stood tall and used the authority of his position to put down the arrogant Maqueda.

  There was little doubt that if Maqueda had pressed further, he would have been fired on the spot.

  If Maqueda, with his seniority, could be treated this way, then others didn't stand a ce.

  Perhaps Gao Shen couldn't decide whether to sell a superstar, but he could certainly dismiss an employee.

  At the very least, removing someone from the first team was within his power.

  "Fine, you're the head coach, you make the decisions, and I'll cooperate," Maqueda relented. "But I have a responsibility to remind you that you must be atable to Real Madrid, the fans, and the pyers. Relying solely on these youngsters from the sed team won't win us anything."

  Gao Shen smirked ironically. Acc to the online rope, shouldn't he be scolding these young pyers now, telling them not to bully the poor?

  "You don't o worry about whether we win or not. I've been with the sed team, I know their strengths very well. Your role is tahe training," Gao Shen dismissed him without a hint of politeness.

  Since Maqueda hadn't spared his feelings, why should Gao Shen be polite?

  ---

  Maqueda led the coag staff outside to set up the training ground.

  Meanwhile, Gao Shen pted. He o tinue unig with the pyers, uanding their temperaments, motivations, and desires, and then guiding them one by one.

  "You know, I really respect you now. You were tough back there, putting him in his pce!" Lucas praised with a smile.

  It was clear Lucas had long held a disdain for Maqueda.

  Gao Shen also smiled faintly. "Some people just o be brought down a notch."

  Now he uood what it meant to establish dominance from the outset.

  "However, despite Maqueda's animosity, his points wereirely baseless," Lucas, a college student, maintained a dialectical perspective. He wasn't oo blindly follow.

  "Holy, how fident are you about this weekend's game?" he asked.

  Gao Shen looked at Lucas, the one person he could trust at the moment. He suddenly smiled and replied, "If I said I wasn't sure, would you believe me?"

  Lucas wasn't surprised; his expression suggested he had anticipated as much.

  It was uandable.

  Gao Shen had been denied access to Carlo's strategies for twht days. How could he fidently devise a pn to defeat Atletico?

  But at this point, pride was the least of his s.

  "Don't worry, whatever happens, I'm behind you all the way!" Lucas affirmed.

  With that, Lucas turned and headed for the training ground, pledging to assist Gao Shen in overseeing the sessions.

  As Gao Shen watched him leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth.

  This kid was genuinely sincere.