After spending the night iactical library, Gao She out early the m in high spirits to buy breakfast. Passing a roadside and, he bought several neers at once. He wao see how the Spanish media evaluated him after Real Madrid's 3-0 victory over Atletiadrid.

  Perhaps due to the cold winter weather and his butire, Gao She unreized during his outing, which left him somewhat disappointed.

  "Still nnized even after being promoted to head coach? Real Madrid fans really don't have an eye for these things," he thought to himself.

  Bae, Gao Shen nibbled on breakfast while reading through the neers. Aspen, as the mouthpiece of Real Madrid, gave a glowing review of the derby victory, praising the team's strength iing Atletiadrid 3-0 amidst internal turmoil.

  The neer separately uded Raul, named Man of the Match, Zidane for his goal, and Beckham for his standout performatributing their dispys to their exceptional qualities as pyers.

  Aspen also dedicated an article to praise the starting young pyers, particurly Felipe Luis, the Brazilia-back, who demonstrated both offensive prowess and defensive solidity. They highlighted his youth and impressive all-around abilities, suggesting he might even surpass Carlos in capability.

  Arbeloa's right fnk defense was also ended, alongside De Redd's midfield tributions and Negredo's strategic impact. Overall, the young talents delivered a satisfactory performance.

  Woodgate's solid py also garnered praise, though Aspen expressed s about his injury history despite his undeniable ability.

  Reading through the entire Aspen neer, Gao Shen uzzled by the st mention of his own name or any entary on his coag. The only reference found was a brief and inspicuous note ohird page by a reporter named Andrew from AS, critig Gao Shen for not attending the post-game press ference, deeming it a pse in the duct expected of a Real Madrid head coach.

  Another obscure mention came from Alfredo, Aspeor-in-chief, who noted in his n that Real Madrid's tactical anization and defensive solidity under Gao Shen were improved that night, and the pyers' enthusiasm was notably rekindled.

  Gao Shen was left with a perplexed expression after reading through it all.

  "Seriously, not even a mentiohey all thinking this before the game too?"

  Determined not to give up, he turo Marca for another perspective.

  Simir to Aspen, Marca's extensive ce praised Real Madrid, highlighting stelr performances from superstars like Raul and the impressive dispy from young talents. Woodgate's tributions were also highlighted, alongside interviews with Real Madrid fans expressing satisfa with the team's active performance.

  "Reads like ao Real Madrid's resurgence," he muttered, flipping through several pages without finding aion of himself.

  "Damn, seriously?"

  Turning to other neers yielded much the same. Even when his name appeared, it was only in passing, almost as if his role as head coach was insequential.

  The most audacious critique came from Le Monde, where a specific sg n rated pyers and coaches from both teams. Real Madrid's top performers—Raul, Beckham, and Woodgate—received the highest scores, sistent with Gao Shen's assessment of the match. Zidane and Felipe Luis followed closely, with other pyers receiving satisfactory ratings for their roles ieam's success.

  However, Gao Shen was irked by his own rating as head coach, a modest five points beled "satisfactory," with the entary stating that the stelr performances of the team's stars had secured his first victory at Real Madrid.

  "This is beyond frustrating!"

  It felt like they were implying he had dohing but sit on the bend i a derby victory.

  "Well, if this is how it's going to be…"

  For the first time, Gao Shehe sting of being an uned king.

  ---

  The frustration soon passed, and Gao Shen's attention shifted to the La Liga standings after twenty-six rounds.

  Following the twenty-fifth round, Real Madrid stood third in La Liga, trailing sed-pced Valencia by two points and a signifit ten points behind leaders Bara.

  After the twenty-sixth round, Valencia's goalless draw away at Maga and Real Madrid's 3-0 wiletiadrid propelled them to tie on points with Valencia, but ahead on goal difference, sequently leapfrogging the Bat Legion iandings.

  It ositive news, though not particurly meaningful.

  Bara, in their match against Deportivo Deportivo, overturned a 2-3 deficit with goals from Ronaldinho, Larson, ao'o, maintaining a ten-point lead.

  With twelve rounds remaining in La Liga, Real Madrid faced a daunting task, trailing Bara by ten points. Closing such a gap seemed unrealistic, especially sidering their uping fixtures.

  Bara had navigated through the toughest stret February, while Real Madrid's own challenging schedule loomed ahead.

  Both teams had five home games left, but Bara's oppos in the remaining twelve rounds included only Real Madrid and Vilrreal as strong tenders. Moreover, these matches were scheduled at Camp Nou, making any hopes of snatg points slim.

  Real Madrid, oher hand, faced formidable challe home against Vilrreal aivo, as well as away games against Valencia, Zaragoza, Bara, and Osasuna.

  With a ten-point deficit already daunting, their schedule made a eback seem improbable.

  Even AS and Marca seemed resigo the idea that despite the derby triumph, Real Madrid's hopes for a title were virtually extinguished.

  Gao Shen couldn't deny the difficulty of their situation—it was indeed very challenging.

  However, he refused to abandon all hope. The pivotal moment y in their first game of April—a visit to Camp Nou to face Bara. A victory there could reigheir ces.

  At this point, the initiative y firmly in Bara's hands. Real Madrid's best course of a was to py each game with utmost determination and wait for Bara to slip up.

  Hope for a league title was dwindling, but until the st game, nothing was certain.

  The real challenge, however, y ahead in the Champions League, particurly in the uping csh against Arsenal.

  Wenger and Arsenal were formidable oppos, with the Gunners holding a anding advantage in their history of Champions League enters. It was widely believed that Arsenal's victory was all but assured.

  But Gao Shen refused to succumb to despair.

  "Even if AS and Marca say we're bound to lose, who's to say we won't find a way?"

  The crucial question now was how he would navigate Real Madrid through this challenge.

  ---

  Meanwhile, while the Spanish media remained rgely unimpressed, Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Real Madrid's ret game.

  Their ce stemmed from an exclusive interview with Ronaldo, during which a signifit development surfaced.

  Moratti, the Inter Min president, was reportedly preparing a €15 million bid to reacquire Ronaldo and pair him with Adriano.

  During the interview, Ronaldo didn't deny the rumors but expressed fusion and over his current situation at Real Madrid.

  He hi being excluded from the squad unfairly and alluded to tensions with local pyers like Guti, her firming nor denying rumors of a locker room altercation.

  Ronaldo stressed the importance of team unity but made it clear he hadn't unicated with Gao Shen and dismissed the appoi of a 25-year-old rookie as Real Madrid's head coach as a farce.

  "I don't o appease anyone's s. Everyone has their role ieam, and they should fulfill it," he remarked.

  "However, I don't io stay out of a forever. Last night at the Bernabeu, I met with club ma, coaches, pyers, and fans—all of whom believe Real Madrid needs me, and I feel the same."

  Gao Shen chuckled to himself upon reading the interview. Amidst Ronaldo's statements, he found a five-word message: "e and persuade me, then!"

  He aowledged Ronaldo's temperament but viewed it as typical. Ronaldo had been pampered and aodated throughout his career—a fate Gao Shen wasn't ined to tinue.

  Gazzetta dello Sport also interviewed former Real Madrid teical director Sacchi, who praised Real Madrid's derby performance.

  Watg the game, Sacchi likened Real Madrid's py to that of an Italian team—not for fewer shots than Atletiadrid but for their improved deferucture.

  Sacchi credited Gao Shen for iing new philosophy and disciplio the team, which he believed tributed to their success at the Bernabeu.

  "The young coach has brought a fresh perspective," Sacoted. "His uanding of the team's dynamid his tactical adjustments were key to their victory."

  Sacchi cited the words of Herrera, the 1960s coach, who said, "The coach's role is to enhahe team's existing qualities and potential."

  "From this game alohe young coach of Real Madrid has done exceptionally well," Sacchi cluded, "but his true test awaits in the Champions League Wednesday."

  "Wenger is among the greatest managers, and Arsenal remains a formidable force. It seems iable that the Gunners will prevail."

  "But I'm curious," Sacchi mused, "how will he choose to orchestrate Real Madrid's defeat?"