pared to Real Madrid's former sports city, Valdebebas boasts world-css hardware facilities.

  Not to mention anything else, the feren provided for the first team pyers is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, a rarity even among major European clubs.

  Currently, Real Madrid's pyers sit in this spacious and brightly lit feren, awaiting the arrival of their head coach.

  While they casually fis, the general atmosphere in the locker room be dised from the pyers' seating choices.

  Local legends like Raul and Guti occupy the front rows. Some fn stars like Zidane and Beckham sit towards the front, while Brazilians such as Ronaldo and Carlos are also up front, though their posture suggests a detat from the meeting, as if it doesn't them.

  Iy, everyone in the locker room knows that this meeting holds no relevance for the Brazilian ti.

  Retioween ag head coach Gao Shen and them remain strained, so how could he possibly include them in his pns?

  Just the day before, assistant coach Maqueda had a private versation with Ronaldo and Carlos, veying some thoughts from the head coach. Given the importance of the uping Arsenal matd the intense media scrutiny, he requested the Brazilian pyers, especially Ronaldo and Carlos, to maintain a low profile in the media during this period.

  It's well-known that these two have always aimed to exert pressure on the head coach. Currently, there's a strong demand for their return to the starting lineup. If they were to speak out in the media now, it would only put the ag head coa a more precarious position.

  After Maqueda spoke, Raul also veyed his message through Zidane and Beckham, urging the Brazilian tio sider the bigger picture before the crucial matd not create disturbances for the team.

  Zidane and Beckham echoed simir ses.

  Thus, over the past few days, while public opinion has been cm loudly, Ronaldo, Carlos, and the Brazilian pyers have maintained a low profile.

  It's not out of timidity—of course, they desire to make a statement and fight for their starting roles. However, they must weigh the sequences. If they were to escate matters now, they could find themselves isoted within the locker room.

  Thus, they endure silently, their protest evident in their subdued presence duriings.

  Had it not been for the afternoon training session, they likely wouldn't have bothered attending.

  ---

  Gao Sheered the room carrying a thiotebook.

  Gng at those assembled, he smiled faintly and raised a USB drive in his right hand. "I've just received some materials from our scouting team. It's a bit te, my apologies."

  No one seemed to mind.

  Strictly speaking, Gao Shen wasn't te; rather, they had arrived early.

  While his assistant Lucas tinkered with the multimedia setup, Gao Shen addressed the Real Madrid pyers.

  "There's quite a crowd of media and fans gathered at the gates, which I find rather distasteful."

  Gao Shen spoke casually, as if discussing everyday matters.

  "We all know how pervasive the British media be, particurly in their focus on pyers' private lives. They go as far as installing cameras at pyers' doorsteps, monit them round the clock. Many argue that the British media tend to elevate pyers to unrealistic heights only to tear them down ter."

  Even Beckham and Woodgate, both Englishmen, nodded in agreement with Gao Shen's assessment.

  It's a widely aowledged truth in English football.

  "Real Madrid's situation differs. Sihe turn of the millennium, our club's business philosophy has set us apart. Our ma operates akin to a formal corporate entity, a structure that offers bes and efficy evident in our day-to-day operations."

  This owes much to Florentino's influence, a signifit but often unnoticed tribution appreciated mainly by the fans.

  "However, our club's business strategy exposes us stantly to media scrutiny. It's as though they scrutinize us with a magnifying gss, prying into every detail of our lives. We're left feeling exposed, stripped of privaot just as individuals but also within our locker room."

  How did details of the spat between Goody and Ronaldo leak? How did news of Ronaldo lobbying Florentino break out? Who revealed the tensioween the local and Brazilian fas in the locker room?

  Many suspect there's a mole.

  But who is this mole?

  An employee? A coach? A pyer?

  One person? Two? More?

  Such questions define Real Madrid's philosophy.

  Florentino's business philosophy revolves around the eyeball ey, seeking to capture global attention through media, including the recruitment of superstar pyers—all aimed at this objective.

  The bes are clear. Real Madrid swiftly turned losses into profits, emerging as the world's most financially successful club.

  Every wao Shen now spoke could be broadcast to the media within minutes. Everyone present, indeed everyo Valdebebas, could potentially be a source.

  In a past life, Mourinho once decred his io uncover a mole. How does one uh such a figure?

  Does Real Madrid's ma possess this knowledge?

  They likely do.

  But having chosen this path, they must bear its costs. Rather than shield pyers from scrutiny, they iently fan the fmes, exposing pyers not only to public scrutiny but also to immense pressure.

  Under such abnormal ditions, who perform at their best?

  Present were Raul, Ronaldo, Zidane, Beckham, even the young talents from the youth academy—all beneficiaries of the club's business philosophy, yet also victims.

  Thus, they sympathized deeply with Gao Shen's grievances, even aowledging them wholeheartedly.

  "Alright, let's proceed with the meeting."

  Seeing Lucas had finished setting up the multimedia system, Gao Shen nodded in approval.

  ---

  The focus of the meetiered on tactics against Arsenal.

  Gao Shen had analyzed intelligence from Real Madrid's scouting team, arriving at a clusion: Wenger likely wouldn't employ a 4-4-2 formation, meaning Arsenal didn't io attack Real Madrid.

  Instead, they aimed for a banced approach of offense and defense.

  "He anticipates our attack but trusts in his defense. He pns not to sit back but to absorb our attacks and then ter swiftly to score."

  "If they manage anoal, we're finished!"

  The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in as many nodded in agreement.

  Having lost 0-1 at home, the situation was already dire. If Arsenal scored again, Real Madrid would face defeat.

  "So, I veo specute he'll opt for a 4-2-3-1 setup. This is the lineup my coag staff and I deduced."

  Arsenal's tactical lineup appeared on the s behind him. In this setup, Lehmann was in goal, with Fmini, Senderos, Kolo Toure, and Eboue f the defeheir most stable bae.

  In midfield, Gilberto Silva and Cesc Fabregas operated as the double pivot, with Reyes, Hleb, and Ljungberg ahead of them. Henry led the line as the loriker.

  This was a calcuted lineup but didn't rule out Reyes being repced by Adebayor.

  Ljungberg had performed admirably in the ret derby, and Wenger wouldn't bench him, as it could demoralize the team. In that derby, Ljungberg pyed as a left midfielder. As for Hleb, whom Wenger held high hopes for this seasoypically pyed as an attag midfielder during his Bundesliga tenure.

  Currently, Gao Shen couldn't firm Ljungberg and Hleb's precise roles.

  However, Reyes was expected to py on the left.

  "We know Arsenal's py often revolves around Cesc Fabregas. So, I need Zida only to nullify Fabregas but also to tain Gilberto Silva, atiensive deferag."

  "Both Henry and Reyes favor drifting to the left, so when we lose possession, Beckham must drop back promptly from the right to reinforce our deferucture, f a back three to shield our defensive lines."

  "Abeloa will mark Henry, Ramos will provide timely support on the right, and De La Red must be prepared to drop bato the ter to plug defensive gaps."

  Through his PowerPoint presentation, Gao Shen illustrated the defensive blueprint, particurly how to stymie Arsenal's left-sided attacks and ensure coordinated defensive movements.

  When in possession, the formation would transition to 4-2-3-1; without the ball, it would shift swiftly to a defensive 4-3-1-2. Beckham's role ivotal here—if he failed to track back, any defensive pse on the right could expose Delray. His ability to swiftly recover to the defensive line's front positions is especially vital.

  Later that afternoon, Gao Shen instructed his coag staff taactical group drills. The starting defensive line, along with the double pivot and Beckham, underwent rigorous training focused on defensive positioning and movement. They also practiced sarios simuting Arsenal's left-sided attacks.

  Successfully taining Arsenal's left fnk would signifitly hamper their sg opportunities.

  Gao Shen had detailed pns for other defensive zones as well.

  Regarding the burning question outside—what tactics would Real Madrid employ? Gao Shen provided a prehensive uanding to all pyers present.

  "We find ourselves in a precarious situation. To advance, we must attack. However, both Arsenal and the world know our iions. The Gunners have set a trap at Highbury, waiting for us to fall into it."

  "Should we opt for defense, waiting for Arsenal's mistakes would be too servative and passive. Arsenal likely won't afford us such a ce. It seems we have choices, but iy, we have none."

  "Therefore, we must dictate the game's tempo and not allow Arsenal to dictate terms!"

  The assembled pyers uood—Gao Shen had made his decision.

  It was a decisiht with uainty.