Gao Shen's declarations were not baseless. They were supported by solid reasoning.
For instance, not long ago, Leeds United secured five places in the 2020 Premier League Team of the Year, as selected by major British media outlets, effectively dominating half of the best XI.
Goalkeeper: Alisson.
Defenders: Arnold, Thiago Silva, Ruben Dias, Robertson.
Midfielders: De Bruyne, Declan Rice, Bruno Fernandes.
Forwards: Son Heung-min, Haaland, Sancho.
The inclusion of five players clearly reflected Leeds United's outstanding performance in the Premier League this season and their incredible form.
Many authoritative outlets such as The Times, The Guardian, The Sun, and Sky Sports all consistently ranked Leeds United as the top contender for the Premier League title this season.
This was an extraordinary accomplishment for such a young team, with an average age in the early twenties.
It was precisely because of this that the media and professionals were full of optimism about Leeds United's future.
Everyone believed that if this team could maintain its current momentum, winning the Premier League was highly likely.
Especially before the winter break, Leeds first demolished Manchester United 9-0 away in the league, then thrashed Arsenal 5-0 in the League Cup, leaving a lasting impression on everyone.
As Sacchi wrote in his column, if Leeds can hold their top position through the Christmas and winter schedule, they are very likely to continue their winning run throughout the rest of the season.
Leeds United will play three matches shortly after Christmas.
Among the three—home against Burnley, away to West Bromwich Albion, and away to Tottenham Hotspur—only the third fixture against Spurs is seen as a real test. The other two opponents are considered significantly weaker than Leeds in terms of overall strength.
The next challenge for Leeds United will be competing on multiple fronts around the Champions League knockout stage.
The inconsistency of young players is a known concern, and Leeds must address this.
However, the general consensus is that with Leeds United's training system and squad depth, the team is well equipped to remain competitive across all competitions.
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In several media polls, all three of Tottenham's featured players received high praise.
Centre-back Thiago Silva, midfielder Bruno Fernandes, and winger Son Heung-min.
There was no debate around Son. As for the other two, they were both new signings this summer: Thiago Silva arrived from Paris Saint-Germain, while Bruno Fernandes transferred from Leeds United for a hefty fee.
Looking back, both transfers turned out to be bargains.
Thiago Silva has become the backbone of Tottenham's defense, and Bruno Fernandes is arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League this season.
Many praised Enzo Fernandez for seamlessly replacing Bruno at Leeds, but based on statistics and ratings, Bruno remains more influential and favored.
This has a lot to do with Mourinho's tactics.
Much like his time at Chelsea, where he used a tall striker like Drogba and wingers like Robben and Duff to unleash Lampard's goal-scoring potential, Mourinho is replicating that success at Spurs.
Now at White Hart Lane, Bruno Fernandes is hitting the peak of his career.
With a target man like Abraham up front, flanked by Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura, and Lamela, and anchored by holding midfielders like Winks and Højbjerg, Bruno has the freedom to exploit attacking spaces.
The Portuguese midfielder has showcased his elite attacking instincts and creativity, playing a decisive role in Tottenham's climb to third in the table.
In addition, Abraham has been outstanding, earning admiration and even sympathy from fans and pundits alike.
In today's football, strikers are no longer judged solely on goals.
Abraham may not have scored or assisted frequently, but his tactical importance is immense.
Of course, he scores when given chances.
In Matchday 14, Tottenham hosted Leicester City. Abraham bagged a brace, Thiago Silva scored once, and Bruno Fernandes delivered two assists.
Abraham even had a goal wrongly disallowed. Otherwise, he would have secured a hat-trick.
It's clear that the lineup Gao Shen built for Mourinho has shown its true strength in the first 14 rounds of the Premier League.
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Compared to Leeds leading the table, Tottenham sitting third, and Newcastle United in sixth, all three teams are having impressive seasons.
Though sixth place might seem modest, Newcastle are just one point behind fifth-placed Chelsea and fourth-placed Liverpool.
In other words, a single slip-up from Liverpool or Chelsea could see Newcastle leapfrog them.
Ancelotti's side has also shown strong competitiveness, albeit not as eye-catching as Spurs.
After several months of league play, everyone reviewing Newcastle's summer transfer business is left amazed.
"Brilliant!"
Previously, many had doubts about spending €75 million on Osimhen. Was he worth it? Was he a fraud?
But based on his performances this season, Osimhen has proven himself. He may not yet be at the level of Europe's elite strikers, but it's clear that he is definitely not a dud.
Osimhen has become the attacking focal point of Newcastle's front line.
Bruno Guimarães, Willock, McAllister, Raphinha, Botman, and Brehme have all justified their price tags. Some have even shown flashes of brilliance.
The central defensive pairing of Botman and Brehme has elevated Newcastle's defensive solidity to a new level.
In midfield, Bruno Guimarães, Willock, and McAllister have also become crucial contributors.
Raphinha's impact has been particularly noticeable.
When it comes to the top-performing right wingers this season, besides superstars like Sancho and Salah, Raphinha is easily in the top five, if not top three.
He has not only lived up to expectations but also significantly increased his market value.
Newcastle's sixth-place standing is a testament to their progress.
It's also worth mentioning that both Newcastle and Tottenham have advanced to the League Cup semi-finals.
In the semi-final draw, Tottenham were drawn against Newcastle, while Leeds United were paired with Manchester City.
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Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain continue to lead Ligue 1, and Real Madrid sit atop La Liga.
For a time, all the teams associated with Gao Shen were riding waves of strong momentum.
Leeds United, PSG, and Real Madrid all advanced from the Champions League group stage as group winners. Both Leeds and Real Madrid even won all six of their matches.
In the Round of 16 draw, Leeds United were matched against Barcelona, who had finished second in their group.
This was awkward for Barcelona, as they were grouped with Juventus and failed to top the group, leading to their unfortunate pairing with a dominant Leeds side.
The outstanding performances of these teams have only elevated Gao Shen's reputation and value.
What was once considered a fluke at Leeds United is now seen in a new light. Gao Shen, through the continued success of PSG, Real Madrid, Tottenham, and Newcastle, has demonstrated that he and his team possess a legitimate and proven football methodology.
They are nothing like Manchester United owner Ratcliffe, all talk and no results.
If the achievements of these clubs are not convincing, then what is?
More importantly, whether it's PSG, Real Madrid, Spurs, or Newcastle, every signing made by Gao Shen has been expensive but worth every penny. Almost all of them have increased in value.
Take PSG's Mazraoui, for example. He's now widely regarded as one of Europe's top right-backs.
And Real Madrid's roster speaks for itself.
This success has made Gao Shen one of the most sought-after figures in football, with countless clubs reaching out to collaborate with him.
The fees may be high, but with the performances the players are delivering, no one's complaining.
Take Newcastle, for instance. If they were to sell the players Gao Shen signed, they would not only turn a massive profit but likely improve their league position even further.
Savvy club owners know how to run the numbers.
But Gao Shen has repeatedly declined new partnerships.
One major reason is the lack of personnel.
Although Gao Shen himself has become less involved in day-to-day operations after the company stabilized, others remain extremely busy.
Maintaining current service standards and quality is difficult without adequate staffing.
As a result, Gao Shen has prioritized quality over quantity and has politely declined all new requests for collaboration.
This created a bit of panic, as many clubs tried to reach out through various contacts and back channels, hoping to secure a deal with him.
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After a busy but fulfilling Christmas period, the Premier League resumed.
For clubs like Leeds United, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Manchester City, all of whom reached the League Cup semi-finals, the upcoming fixture schedule will be especially brutal.
From December 26 to January 16, in just 22 days, teams will play five league matches, one FA Cup tie, and one League Cup semi-final, averaging a match every three days.
After a brief one-week break, it's back to two matches per week.
This period is a major challenge and a serious test for any team.
Gao Shen and his team are well aware of the Premier League's demanding schedule. Leeds United have ample experience handling this, as do Mourinho and Ancelotti, so all three teams have prepared thoroughly.
From squad rotation, to daily training schedules, to fitness management during the winter break—Pintus's specialty "winter mini-recharge"—everything has been meticulously planned.
The goal is simple: all three teams must survive the festive period in one piece.
On January 1, New Year's Day, Leeds United will travel south to London to face Tottenham Hotspur away from home.
It will undoubtedly be a fierce showdown.
(To be continued.)