Gao Shen watched Paris Saint-Germain's first training session from the sidelines.
The session focused on recovery and adjustment, with a light workload and a well-organized atmosphere.
Nasser and Blanc were both pleased with the players' spirit, especially Tuchel's demeanor.
"He's very confident now," Blanc said with a smile, turning to Gao Shen.
Just the day before, on the first day of the team's training camp, Paris Saint-Germain held their first press conference of the new season at the Camp des Loges. Tuchel confidently declared his slogan.
"What we want this season are the championships, all the championships!"
He then repeated, "We're not talking about the future, but the present. I can proudly say that in this new season, we will be a team no one wants to face!"
Yes, that was the level of his confidence.
Hearing this, Gao Shen chuckled. "That's just a little too flamboyant."
Nasser and Blanc both burst into laughter.
For the first time, the two top executives of Paris Saint-Germain saw something rare in each other's eyes: reassurance.
In the past, the club had always been full of unresolved issues and messy situations.
But somehow, after just one summer, everything seemed to be running smoothly and in order.
Were there still problems?
Of course there were.
But now, any issue that arose was quickly resolved.
"The next phase is crucial, especially the logistical support. We need to make sure everything runs properly. Tuchel's fitness coach is very capable and has set high standards for the players. They spent over a month refining this preseason program, which will be essential for the season," Gao Shen reminded them.
One of Ligue 1's features is its relatively long winter break, which makes it an ideal time for intensive training.
"Don't worry, leave the logistics to me," Blanc replied.
Although Gao Shen would stay closely involved, certain responsibilities naturally fell to the CEO.
Tuchel was very capable and had a solid tactical foundation. German coaches generally valued data analysis, and with the support of Gao Shen's technical structure, his integration had been smooth.
However, Tuchel had one major flaw: stubbornness.
"He's a very traditional coach, focused purely on what happens on the training ground. That's why we need to handle everything else for him and create the right environment. Then, he'll be able to surprise us," Gao Shen said confidently.
Nasser and Blanc both nodded in agreement.
Tuchel's tactical knowledge was beyond question, and with a top-level technical director like Gao Shen backing him, his confidence at the start of the season reflected his renewed spirit.
He genuinely wanted to achieve something.
Barring any unforeseen changes, Paris Saint-Germain would likely continue using a 4-3-3 formation this season.
Goalkeeper: Navas.
Defenders: Bernat, Thiago Silva, Varane, and Mazraoui.
Midfield: Jorginho sitting deep, with Pogba and Kanté ahead of him.
Forwards: Neymar, Cavani, and Dembele.
This was the ideal lineup, though the final selections would depend on players' fitness and form. Other key squad members included Rabiot, Paredes, Marquinhos, Kurzawa, Meunier, Kehrer, and Draxler.
There were also promising young players like Nkunku and Lo Celso.
The biggest concern was the centre-forward position. Cavani was already 32, while Choupo-Moting was 30, creating uncertainty.
Interestingly, Choupo-Moting was a player personally chosen by Tuchel, but his performances at PSG had been underwhelming. Even last season, when Cavani struggled with injuries, Choupo-Moting failed to seize the opportunity.
Speaking of Choupo-Moting, he was quite the unlucky one.
He came through Hamburg's youth system but never got a real chance there. In 2011, he joined Mainz, coached by Tuchel, on a free transfer. In his first season, he became a regular starter, making 34 appearances and contributing 10 goals and 4 assists. That was an impressive output for a 21-year-old forward.
However, in his second season, disaster struck. Choupo-Moting tore his meniscus twice and barely played all year.
By that point, he had already suffered four meniscus injuries.
Two of those had happened while he was still at Hamburg, one of which caused him to miss the entire 2008/09 season.
After finally recovering, he scored 10 goals and provided 3 assists in 32 appearances in the 2013/14 season. It was respectable, but not exceptional for a 24-year-old striker.
In 2014, Tuchel left Mainz, and Choupo-Moting moved to Schalke 04—again, on a free transfer.
Schalke's coach Jens Keller trusted him and made him a key player. Choupo-Moting responded with his best-ever form, scoring 9 goals and 5 assists in the first 16 Bundesliga matches—a top-level performance for a striker.
Unfortunately, Keller was sacked midseason, and Di Matteo took over.
From that point, Choupo-Moting didn't score another goal for the rest of the season.
His form declined year by year at Schalke.
In 2017, he moved to Stoke City in the Premier League—on yet another free transfer—but failed to impress, and Stoke were relegated that season.
Then, in the summer of 2018, he joined Paris Saint-Germain, reuniting with Tuchel, again on a free transfer.
Many at PSG were skeptical of a striker with such a modest record, and his performances didn't exactly silence the critics.
But Tuchel always trusted him.
Not long ago, Tuchel spoke to Gao Shen about Choupo-Moting, insisting that as long as he stayed healthy, he could be surprisingly effective.
Curious, Gao Shen reviewed his data. What he found was a tragic injury record—almost every season marred by fitness problems.
From four serious meniscus tears early on to hip damage, adductor and cruciate ligament injuries, and even a groin strain at Stoke, his body had taken an incredible toll.
And these were not minor knocks—each injury sidelined him for months, sometimes nearly an entire season.
"This guy is actually quite inspiring," Gao Shen said.
It became clear that the reason Choupo-Moting was constantly available on free transfers wasn't that he was bad—it was that he was unlucky.
A free agent with decent ability, low wages, and good character was always attractive to clubs looking for depth.
So Gao Shen decided to keep him.
He even assigned Buenaventura and Pintus to oversee a personalized training plan to minimize injury risks.
When it came to injury prevention, Gao Shen's team were true experts.
Whether Choupo-Moting could deliver a surprise or not remained to be seen.
...
After the session, Gao Shen, Nasser, and Blanc spoke briefly to the players, offering encouragement.
Gao Shen also addressed them, expressing confidence in the team's new season and urging everyone to give their best.
"As Thomas said yesterday, Paris Saint-Germain has only one goal this season: the championship!"
With the arrival of Pogba, Varane, and Dembele, along with stars like Neymar and Kanté, if PSG still didn't dare to aim for titles, that would indeed be embarrassing.
The players' expressions showed satisfaction with the club's ambition.
After training, Nasser and Blanc both left first.
Gao Shen accompanied Tuchel to his office. Everyone knew the two had things to discuss, so they were left undisturbed.
They mainly talked about current issues and preseason arrangements. Gao Shen emphasized the importance of the training camp and urged Tuchel to make the most of it to build a solid foundation.
Regarding the striker situation, although Cavani and Choupo-Moting were available, both were aging and unreliable.
Gao Shen had considered signing French international Giroud, but Tuchel wasn't particularly interested.
Finally, Carlo and the analysis team recommended a player identified through big data: Darwin Núñez.
"Darwin Núñez?" Tuchel read the report carefully.
It included match highlights, which he set aside to review later.
"Yes," Gao Shen nodded. "He's currently playing for Peñarol in Uruguay. He's only 20, but our data models show he fits your tactical system perfectly. He's tall, fast, aggressive, and technically well-rounded, though still raw and inexperienced."
Gao Shen smiled. "Leeds United's scouts first spotted him at a South American U20 match. He didn't score, but his attributes stood out—they thought he was worth developing."
Tall, powerful, and fast—an explosive combination, especially for a South American player known for flair and skill.
He looked like a quicker version of Cavani.
Still a semi-finished product, but with huge potential.
And the price? Only 15 million euros.
Given PSG's current constraints, signing an established striker would be costly and complicated, especially with Cavani and Choupo-Moting already in the squad. A young, promising player would be a smarter, cheaper long-term option.
Tuchel immediately began watching Núñez's highlights on his computer.
Gao Shen waited quietly beside him.
The player was already a bit too expensive for Leeds United, but he could be a perfect fit for Paris Saint-Germain.
As he watched, Gao Shen found himself impressed but puzzled.
He didn't remember ever hearing of this player in his previous life.
Could it be that, for some reason, Darwin Núñez never made it big in that timeline?
(To be continued.)