"This proposal from the Methodology Department is very good and must be fully supported."
Leaving Thorp Arch and heading to Manchester Airport, Gao Shen gave instructions to Lucas and Borrell.
Leeds United's finances are not that bad now.
Even though they are planning to build a new training base and are also making preliminary preparations for a new stadium, the team's financial situation is still quite good.
This is mainly because Leeds United has been selling players continuously in the past two years.
"Our most difficult period has passed. Our main goal now is to consolidate our foundation and steadily improve our competitiveness. The Methodology Department will be a great help."
In Gao Shen's opinion, this sports technology innovation seminar is not just about enhancing Leeds United's influence. It will also bring long-term benefits to Leeds United, and it must be persisted with no matter what.
Paco Cerullo and Juan Vera have both worked at Barcelona for many years and have extensive connections in the industry. They launched the initiative because they were able to invite so many heavyweight guests.
"Also, do not be too high-profile. Technology is technology. It is better to be low-key and down-to-earth," Gao Shen ordered.
Lucas and Borrell both nodded in agreement.
High-profile publicity certainly brings certain benefits, but it inevitably looks like a show.
Many people who work in technology do not like that kind of hype.
On the contrary, a low-key approach highlights the true purpose of the seminar and is more popular within the industry.
The most typical example is UEFA's Elite Coaches Summit, which is held once a year but is already suspected of being a show.
What results has the discussion actually produced?
Not to mention results, even communication among coaches in the industry is not very good.
In fact, many football associations also hold such exchange meetings, but they are not very meaningful.
Gao Shen believes that since it is a technical seminar, the focus should be on professionalism rather than hype.
"I understand." Lucas agreed.
Gao Shen also mentioned Leeds United's future operations.
The team has benefited greatly from serious sales for two consecutive years. The new training base and new stadium projects are a result of this, but it has also had a great impact on the team. Next, Leeds United will have to make some adjustments to its business direction.
Gao Shen feels that the team should adjust its goals for next season.
Leeds United's goal this season will not change, but they will definitely have to pay attention to results next season.
If you want to improve the team's performance, you can no longer sell players recklessly like before. You must retain players as much as possible to ensure the team's competitiveness in the Premier League.
"We will definitely sell players, but we will not sell as much as we did in the past two seasons."
Selling players is also a matter for the winter break and next summer, but now that Gao Shen has brought it up, it means that Lucas and Borrell need to make some preparations in advance, especially when contacting other clubs.
Lucas and Borrell both understood what Gao Shen meant.
Next, Leeds United needs to strike a balance between results and selling players.
It is not that they cannot sell, but the team's competitiveness must be guaranteed.
Leeds United is currently ranked quite high in the Premier League, but judging from their performances, it is estimated that Pochettino's team will find it difficult to maintain their current ranking, because the team's strength has indeed declined a lot after the devastating sales in the summer.
The defense is actually okay. De Vrij replaced Koulibaly and performed well. He was also selected for the Dutch national team, but the midfield has bigger problems.
Selling four key midfielders, including Pogba, Kondogbia, Jorginho and Allan, in one summer was a disaster. It is almost impossible to make up for the losses all at once.
Moreover, Pochettino is different from Sarri. Coutinho's return to the center of midfield has brought earthshaking changes to Leeds United's entire midfield and front line tactics, which requires time to adapt and adjust.
Judging from the performances this season, finishing in the top ten would be good.
The front line attacking trio of Harry Kane, Salah and Felipe Anderson has performed well.
This is also the key to Leeds United's current high position in the league, but the problems in midfield will be exposed sooner or later.
Others may not know, but Gao Shen and Leeds United are very clear about it and are mentally prepared.
…
Gao Shen and Su Qing returned to Madrid from Manchester Airport and immediately started work at Real Madrid.
The two weeks of national team matches ended quickly.
None of Real Madrid's internationals were injured on duty, but they were very tired.
While Gao Shen was relieved, he also had to engage in intensive preparations and begin getting ready for the tenth round, the league's first clásico of the season.
But first came the ninth round of La Liga, with Real Madrid hosting Malaga at home.
Just like after the previous international break, Gao Shen once again benched all the South American internationals who had traveled a long distance. Even when Di Maria volunteered to play, Gao Shen still put him on the bench.
In the match against Malaga, Gao Shen tried a different style of play.
A 4-2-1-3 formation.
It is essentially a 4-3-3, but the midfield uses a double playmaker setup, with Illarramendi and Verratti as the two, while Isco is left alone in the number ten position in front, acting as a free man.
Up front, the trio of Ronaldo, Morata and Jesé gave Real Madrid plenty of attacking power.
The back line was Marcos Alonso, Nacho, Varane and Arbeloa, and the goalkeeper was still Courtois.
Facing his old club, Isco was also extremely excited.
After the start, Real Madrid's two playmakers kept organizing and creating attacks, especially in the seventh minute. Real Madrid's pressing in the final third forced Malaga into a passing error. After Isco intercepted in the middle, he fed it forward to Morata.
The Real Madrid center chested the ball, turned, and slipped it into the left channel.
Ronaldo controlled it, cut inside, beat his man, and struck with his right foot. The ball flew into the right side of the goal, making it 1-0.
After taking the lead, Real Madrid continued to launch fierce attacks on Malaga.
In the 14th minute, Isco once again dropped deep to combine with Illarramendi on a press. After intercepting Malaga's pass in midfield, Verratti launched an instant counterattack.
Real Madrid's front trio broke quickly.
Jesé carried the ball and played a diagonal pass at the top of the area. Ronaldo took it on the left and slotted in with his left foot, making it 2-0.
A brace.
After scoring twice in quick succession, Real Madrid firmly controlled the game.
In the 36th minute, Real Madrid intercepted in their own half and quickly launched a long pass.
Varane hit it directly into the front. Morata held his ground, cushioned the ball with his right foot, laid it off to the onrushing Isco, then spun and burst forward.
Real Madrid's front three surged again like three arrows loosed at once.
Isco drove the ball into Malaga's 30-meter area, went left, and released Marcos Alonso arriving from deep. Marcos Alonso crossed to the edge of the six-yard box. Morata sprinted in and headed home from close range.
3-0.
After the restart, Real Madrid continued to press.
A minute into the half, Jesé broke into the box from the right and was tripped by Malaga defender Weligton. A penalty was awarded, and Ronaldo converted calmly to complete his hat trick.
4-0.
That was the last goal of the game.
Real Madrid finally defeated Malaga 4-0 at home with a Ronaldo hat trick and a Morata header.
…
Real Madrid won without much trouble, but their rivals were not so fortunate in the other two matches.
Barcelona's away game at Osasuna kicked off four hours after Real Madrid's. Whether it was the pressure of Real Madrid's big win or Barcelona's poor form, they ultimately failed to beat Osasuna away.
0-0, the two sides shared the points.
Atletico Madrid were even worse, losing 0-1 away to Espanyol.
As a result, the La Liga standings did not change much, with Real Madrid still in first place, but the gap to Barcelona opened to 2 points.
Gao Shen's team led the league with nine consecutive wins, showing amazing momentum.
Barcelona failed to beat Osasuna away, and Martino's lineup was once again criticized.
The Catalan media believe it will be difficult for Martino to lead Barcelona to challenge the powerful Real Madrid.
What really surprised Gao Shen was Simeone's Atletico Madrid.
They had agreed before to join forces to defeat Barcelona first and then compete. But now, Barcelona did not fall, and Atletico Madrid dropped three points again.
Gao Shen really wanted to ask Simeone, do your words count?
I am waiting for you up ahead. Please run faster.
…
Three days later, in the third round of the Champions League group stage, Real Madrid traveled to Germany to face Leverkusen away.
Bayer Leverkusen's head coach is former Liverpool legendary center back Sami Hyypiä, and in this game he deployed a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation, with Kiessling as the spearhead.
It was clear that even at home, Hyypiä wanted to focus on defense to contain Real Madrid's overwhelming attack.
But not all teams suit the Christmas tree.
A powerful Real Madrid cut through Leverkusen and completely split the Pharmaceutical Company's lines.
In the 22nd minute, Benzema played a pass, Di Maria broke into the right side of the box, and finished low to open the scoring.
This was the third straight match in which the Argentine had scored.
Just eight minutes later, Benzema nodded the ball across for Di Maria to finish at the back post from close range, his second of the night, 2-0.
After the break, Carvajal scored first, then Ramos netted from a corner.
Finally, Ronaldo received a pass from Pogba, who had come on as a substitute, and sealed the win.
Real Madrid defeated Leverkusen 5-0 away.
After three rounds of the Champions League group stage, Real Madrid beat Anderlecht 7-0 away, Manchester United 4-1 at home, and Leverkusen 5-0 away. Real Madrid have scored 16 goals, with an extremely fierce attack.
Especially after winning three in a row, there is no suspense about qualifying from the group, and top spot is almost certain.
Manchester United defeated Anderlecht 1-0 in this round and ranked second in the group.
After winning comfortably against Malaga and Leverkusen, Gao Shen's team returned to Madrid for a short rest, then set off for Barcelona without stopping.
After defeating Barcelona twice in the Spanish Super Cup, this was the third clásico of the season.
Including the four games last season, Barcelona had faced Real Madrid six times in the past year and lost all six.
As Radio SER's star host De La Morena praised, "Gao Shen's reputation as Barça's nemesis is truly well deserved."
(To be continued.)
***
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