If someone were to ask which team was the hottest in August of the 2019/20 season across Europe's top five leagues, everyone would likely give the same three answers:
Leeds United (Premier League), Real Madrid (La Liga), and Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1).
This wasn't just because these three clubs maintained perfect records. More importantly, they had all played exceptionally well to start the season.
Since the beginning of the summer transfer window, these three teams had been the focus of media and fan attention.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain each spent more than €300 million, ranking first and second in the European summer transfer market.
Many might think that with such massive investment, it's only natural that they'd perform well.
Then take a look at Barcelona, the reigning La Liga champions. In the first three rounds, they recorded one win, one draw, and one loss, sitting 8th in the table. It may be a temporary position, but scoring seven goals while conceding five already reflects poor form.
Still unconvinced?
Look at Aston Villa, newly promoted to the Premier League. They invested over €100 million and currently sit 18th, facing a high risk of relegation.
Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea also spent heavily. Yet they're ranked 9th, 10th, and 12th respectively.
This proves that spending and team performance aren't directly proportional or even necessarily related.
The key lies in the team-building strategy and recruitment philosophy.
Take Leeds United for example. After selling 10 key players in the summer, they were widely written off. Yet now, the White Roses sit proudly atop the Premier League, boasting both exceptional attacking output and rock-solid defense.
Did anyone think Leeds United reached the top through lavish investment?
German football magazine Kicker published a special report on the start of the new European football season, naming Leeds United the most surprising team of all. Even those who were most optimistic about them never imagined they'd start this strong.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, by contrast, spent big and got results.
Kicker noted that PSG's marquee signings—Pogba, Varane, and Dembélé—had largely lived up to their price tags. Meanwhile, budget-friendly signings like Mazraoui and Darwin Núñez also impressed. Mazraoui, in particular, had become the first-choice right-back in Ligue 1, effectively replacing the departed Dani Alves.
As for Real Madrid, their signings also performed well.
Bernardo Silva settled in quickly. De Ligt was heavily relied upon in defense. Though he scored an own goal, he also found the net for his new club.
And then there was Mbappé—arguably the standout player of Europe's top five leagues this season.
Kicker magazine claimed that Gao Shen had demonstrated "god-like" control over all three teams.
"He is like a master conductor in Vienna's Golden Hall, leading three top symphony orchestras simultaneously."
The German media argued that if managing Pogba, Varane, and Mbappé could be attributed to sheer spending power, then what about Mazraoui?
This right-back, who cost PSG only €15 million, had seamlessly slotted into Tuchel's tactical system. He and Dembélé had formed a deadly right-wing combination.
Then there was Darwin Núñez.
The Uruguayan striker, hailed as the next Edinson Cavani, had already made a lasting impression. With Cavani and Choupo-Moting aging, Darwin Núñez was PSG's future up front.
The German media also highlighted how Real Madrid and PSG had rebuilt their squads with more balanced age structures. Both teams were packed with talent in their prime, while also integrating young prospects into the core lineup.
"Clearly, Gao Shen's task isn't just guiding Real Madrid through a generational transition. He's also ensuring the team stays competitive throughout the process, showcasing the skills of a true team-building expert."
Finally, Kicker stated that holding leadership roles at three top clubs simultaneously was unprecedented. Gao Shen was the first, and so far, his performance had been outstanding.
...
While fans and the media focused on results, squad depth, and team rankings, European football insiders paid far more attention to behind-the-scenes professional details, often invisible to outsiders.
One example was Gao Shen's renovation of PSG's training base.
Another was the cooperation model between Gao Shen's advanced analytics team and the coaching staffs of Tuchel and Zidane.
While this was unknown to the general public, industry professionals were well aware that Gao Shen's team had been deeply involved in PSG and Real Madrid's preseason preparation. They were hands-on with tactical planning, player roles, and positional adjustments.
Officially, PSG was coached by Tuchel, and Real Madrid by Zidane. But as Kicker magazine put it, Gao Shen was like a conductor standing at the front of the stage, facing away from the audience but guiding every note.
Many professionals were deeply curious about how this new cooperation model was implemented.
Would it disrupt the traditional role of the head coach?
What changes would this system bring to European football?
Club owners, in particular, were paying close attention to the results produced by Gao Shen's team. Watching PSG's four straight wins and Real Madrid's resurgent form, it was clear that Gao Shen's presence had made a massive impact—even with the season still in its early stages.
During the international break, UEFA held its annual Elite Coaches Summit in Nyon, Switzerland.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin personally invited Gao Shen to the summit, where over 20 of Europe's top coaches gathered to share insights and ideas. Among the attendees were Pochettino of Leeds United, Tuchel of PSG, and Zidane of Real Madrid.
These three were the center of attention, and everyone wanted to hear their thoughts.
In particular, they were asked: What were the boundaries of head coach authority in this new cooperation model? How was leadership maintained?
Pochettino didn't think it was a big deal. He described it as a traditional relationship between a technical director and a head coach—a model that had long existed in European football.
Tuchel agreed, adding that such cooperation allowed him to focus more on tactics and team management.
"Of course, some head coaches may not like this kind of collaboration, and that's understandable," Tuchel said.
Some managers, he noted, prefer more control over transfers and team building.
Zidane also said the cooperation model saved him from dealing with many headaches, allowing him to concentrate solely on football.
But all three coaches made one key point: big data would completely change—and even disrupt—the role of the head coach.
"This disruption doesn't mean replacing the head coach with anyone off the street," Zidane explained. "It just means the job should become less burdensome."
Zidane agreed with Tuchel, clarifying that this wasn't about making coaching easier, but about freeing coaches from time-consuming, low-value tasks so they could focus on what truly mattered.
Pochettino then referenced a speech Gao Shen gave years ago at the same summit, which remains widely praised in the football industry: Embracing Big Data. It perfectly reflected Gao Shen's philosophy.
"I think the head coach's role and mindset must evolve, especially since today's young players are different from those of the past. They're more individualistic, and they face immense pressure from the outside world."
With the rise of globalization, the internet, and a flood of capital, Europe's top leagues had become stages for fame and fortune.
Many of these players were barely 20 years old, yet they had already earned more than most people would in a lifetime. They were internationally recognized, admired, and held high social status.
This was reality.
Sports stars are respected globally. Their status often surpasses that of entertainers. In fact, in Hollywood, athletes are often more admired than movie stars.
Of course, that one NBA guy who wanted to drink bath water and got rejected was an exception.
Pochettino said that Leeds United placed great emphasis on youth development and helping young players withstand the pressure of fame, money, and temptation—whether that was women, wealth, or other distractions.
In that context, just as Gao Shen once said, the coaching style must adapt to the times. Otherwise, a coach will never be able to control a modern locker room.
From the three coaches' presentations, it became clear that advanced knowledge had given them a distinct edge in managing their teams.
Whether it was advanced technology, tactical support, or training insights, they had all benefited greatly. It allowed them to focus more on the game itself.
Gao Shen's own speech expanded on the points made by Pochettino, Tuchel, and Zidane. He emphasized the sweeping changes that big data and advanced tech were bringing—from youth training and injury prevention to match preparation and squad management.
Some changes were already obvious, while others remained under the surface.
Then, Gao Shen shared a tactical prediction of his own.
He believed that in the coming years, European football would undergo another major transformation—perhaps even a revolution.
"I predict that we are about to usher in an era of super centers."
His statement immediately sparked a heated discussion among the coaches.
The return of dominant strikers?
But clearly, Gao Shen wasn't talking about traditional tall center-forwards like Giroud, Lukaku, or Mandžukić.
He meant something else entirely.
He was talking about the rise of the super center.
(To be continued.)