In the stands at Camp Nou, Gao Shen let out a deep sigh.
Many people might disagree with that statement, but both Ferguson and Wenger nodded in agreement.
What Gao Shen was referring to was their defensive organization.
At their peak, Barcelona could perform decently in overall defense, but their structural defensive system had always been poor.
Some might ask, if the defense is poor, how can the overall defensive performance be good?
The answer lies in Barcelona's pressing and pressure in midfield and the attacking third.
To some extent, that came from their possession-based tactical setup.
Barcelona's entire tactical approach revolves around controlling possession. They aim to play to their strengths, particularly their quick, agile tiki-taka passing style.
As Wenger had just mentioned, Barcelona's biggest strength lies in quickly creating numerical superiority in tight areas and breaking down the opposition with intricate short-passing combinations.
Wenger had pointed out two crucial elements: creating a numerical advantage and combining through short passes.
The former represents active movement and coverage, while the latter reflects compact group play.
But this inevitably leads to a problem. When multiple players gather in a small area, it leaves wide gaps outside that zone. If Barcelona controls possession, everything is fine. But once they lose the ball, opponents can quickly exploit those gaps and counterattack.
This has been Gao Shen's tactic against Barcelona for years.
In his previous life, Mourinho's Inter Milan had also mastered this approach.
Of course, those were top-level matchups. Against weaker teams, Barcelona relied on constant running and high pressing to immediately recover the ball.
Barcelona's tactical logic was simple: players press, quickly gather numbers in key areas, break through defenses using compact team play, and if the attack fails, engage in counter-pressing to delay the opposition's transition. Meanwhile, the rest of the team spreads out, reorganizes, and regroups into a defensive shape.
Did you notice?
Both gathering and dispersing require an immense amount of running.
To a large extent, the reason Barcelona's so-called possession-based tactics were able to maintain solid defensive outcomes was because of the sheer volume of off-the-ball movement. Back then, almost every Barcelona player could run over ten kilometers per match.
That concealed their flawed defensive system.
But now, Barcelona can't run anymore.
It's not just one or two veterans falling behind. More and more players, even some of the younger ones, are struggling to keep up.
If they can dominate possession and control the tempo against weaker opponents, it's not a big issue.
However, facing a strong team like Leeds United in a high-stakes match, their entire defensive structure is exposed—and may even be completely ripped apart.
That's why Barcelona have suffered so many high-scoring defeats in recent years.
"Time is like a butcher's knife. Who would've thought Barcelona's management could mess up such a strong hand this badly?" Ferguson shook his head with a sigh.
This was a team that had tormented him multiple times in the past. Watching them now being dismantled by their rivals, Leeds United, it was impossible not to feel something.
"Barcelona's defense has been downright awful these past few years. I'm starting to agree with what you just said. They might really concede double digits," Wenger said, agreeing with Gao Shen's earlier remark for the first time.
Gao Shen laughed. "Aren't you overthinking it?"
Scoring double digits in a professional football match is almost impossible, especially at Camp Nou.
That 9-0 win last season was already an anomaly.
"Ronald Koeman is a capable coach, but he always ends up in these kinds of situations. Sometimes I genuinely feel bad for him," Gao Shen sighed again.
The Dutchman's coaching skills are undeniable. Whether at Ajax, Feyenoord, or later at Southampton and Everton, his ability was clear.
But he has personality issues, and more critically, his choice of teams has often been questionable.
If it were just once or twice, it could be chalked up to bad luck.
No one's luck is perfect.
But making the same mistake repeatedly points to poor judgment—or perhaps he's just a gambler.
Like taking the Barcelona job.
Everyone knows what a mess Barcelona is.
Gao Shen wouldn't even consider working with them, afraid he'd never get paid.
Ronald Koeman went all in... and look what happened. He got burned.
But at the time, he probably thought that if he could lead Barcelona to success, his coaching career would hit a new high.
Sometimes, it really is that simple.
"Your attacking trio has been truly exceptional this season!" Ferguson said with admiration.
"Rashford is most dangerous when cutting inside from the left. Alphonso Davies looks like he's becoming a world-class left-back, dangerous going forward and solid defensively. If Rashford can keep improving his left foot and all-around game, this left flank will become even more lethal."
Gao Shen smiled and nodded. "I agree, but don't forget, we also have Vinícius. That kid's potential is unlimited. Rashford has the edge for now, but Vinícius could catch up at any time."
Ferguson and Wenger exchanged glances, both seeing the envy in each other's eyes.
Indeed, just like Gao Shen said, Vinícius was overflowing with talent.
For people like them, it was easy to spot a genius.
Leeds United had been giving Vinícius steady playing time all season to help him grow.
Then there was Rodrygo—not the one at Manchester United, but the young one at Leeds. He had real samba flair and great potential.
"On the right, Sancho is very good at organizing and linking up play. His ability to get into the box is also excellent. But he needs full-backs who can support him. Achraf Hakimi and Reece James are the best partners for him. And Valverde..."
At this point, Ferguson suddenly realized just how strong Leeds United really were.
"Maybe this is your year. Another Champions League, or even... the quadruple."
If Leeds United pulled off the quadruple, they would become only the second team in Premier League history to achieve it.
And when you think about it, it's not that far-fetched.
Leeds United had already reached the League Cup final, were progressing steadily in the FA Cup, and were leading the Premier League. Winning all three domestic trophies was entirely possible.
The biggest variable would be the FA Cup, but Leeds had always performed well in cup competitions.
In this respect, they were a bit like Gao Shen himself. It felt embedded in their DNA.
The biggest question mark remained the Champions League.
Leeds were strong, but Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were both sly and formidable.
Real Madrid, especially, had resilience and experience.
In recent years, Leeds had a less-than-ideal record against Madrid.
Especially in the knockout rounds.
This wasn't without reason.
Leeds United played with intensity and energy, but Real Madrid were veterans. They would patiently wait for a slip.
But in the Champions League, especially in the knockouts, relying on luck isn't enough.
The elimination format ensures that only the strongest teams make it to the end.
The deeper you go, the harder it gets. That's just the way it is.
In other words, Real Madrid and PSG were inevitable roadblocks for Leeds United.
That was the biggest question mark left in this Champions League campaign.
...
While Gao Shen chatted with Ferguson and the others in the stands, the first half came to an end on the pitch.
Then, everything changed again.
Valverde made a tackle on Pjanić just outside the 30-meter area in Barcelona's half and immediately launched a counterattack.
Haaland controlled the ball, turned, and charged forward.
Rashford, on the left flank of the attacking third, was the fastest to react. He sprinted to the edge of the box, saw Haaland approaching, and took up the role of center forward.
This was part of Rashford's transformation this season.
He was now a physical, powerful striker, but with delicate footwork and incredible speed, allowing him to still thrive on the left wing.
Because of this versatility, Leeds often rotated his position with Haaland, depending on the situation.
Just like now, Rashford suddenly stopped, positioned himself with his back to goal, and waited to support Haaland.
Haaland passed the ball—not into the box but to Rashford directly ahead.
After the pass, Haaland immediately sprinted diagonally, making a run behind Lenglet.
Lenglet stuck with Rashford, but the English forward took a step back, stopped Haaland's pass, turned, and with a flick of his right foot chipped the ball over the defense.
It flew over Piqué and Lenglet and dropped into the center of the penalty area.
Haaland burst through, met Rashford's chipped pass, and as the ball dropped, turned his body and volleyed it into the net before the onrushing keeper could react.
"Goalllllllllllllllll!!!"
"Majin Buu has transformed!"
"A hat trick!!!"
"Leeds United lead 4-0!"
"My God, Leeds United have wreaked havoc at Camp Nou once again!"
"Tonight's match brings back memories of that 9-0 defeat last season!"
"That was a night owned by Barça, a night that belonged to Camp Nou!"
"But tonight, also at Camp Nou, we're witnessing another goal-scoring frenzy from Leeds United!"
"Haaland has already completed his hat trick in the first half."
"This is an unbelievable performance, and there's every reason to believe that Haaland's goal spree isn't over yet."
"As we head into the second half, Barcelona's stamina will continue to deteriorate, and Leeds United will only extend their advantage. Their threat on the pitch will become even greater."
"We can't even begin to guess how many goals this insane Leeds United side—and this transformed Majin Buu—might score tonight!"
(To be continued.)