The day, not only the Spanish media but also the major European mainstream media all paid attention to what Gao Shen said at the post-match press ference. Due to their different positions, the interpretations naturally varied.

  Media close to Real Madrid, such as *Aspen* and *Marca*, responded positively, believing that Gao Shen was cheering for the team and firmly believed that Real Madrid would regroup after sufferibacks and tio challenge Bara.

  However, a group of media supp Bara, led by the media, believed that Gao Shen utting up the st stubborahey argued that after failing to win against Vilrreal and missing an excellent opportunity to overtake Bara, Real Madrid no longer posed a threat.

  Not to mention the drop in morale, the schedule clearly favored Bara over Real Madrid.

  **Desperate teams are the scariest.**

  Generally speaking, teams that avation and rush to the fourth pce are the most desperate.

  Unfortunately for Real Madrid, three of their four oppos were fightiher relegation or for a fourth-pce finish, meaning they would py their hardest against Real Madrid.

  Del Morena, the gold medal host of Searle Radio, who had always been more ral, aowledged that Real Madrid was in a more difficult situation. However, he suggested that Gao Shen might still have a ce. If Gao Shen could lead Real Madrid to four secutive victories, even if they failed to win the championship, they would still be seen as valiant.

  **Osasuna, Sp Santander, Sevil...**

  These three tough teams had caused signifit trouble for Bara. From the end of February to the present, out of the nine points avaible from these three away games, Bara had only secured two points.

  **Seven points out of the ten that Real Madrid used to tie with Bara came from these teams.**

  Del Morena believed that this draw was a wake-up call, a painful lesson fao Shen and Real Madrid, who had been winning secutively. It was the first time they had ceded a goal and failed to win, worth thinking about and refleg upon.

  From the twenty-sixth round to the present, Gao Shen had led Real Madrid with a-game winning streak, tying Bara with an unstoppable attitude. But against Vilrreal at the Berhey entered their first league draw.

  In the eight-game winning streak, Real Madrid maintained an impressive record of sheets, but this record was broken against Vilrreal.

  Del Morehis was both a tingend aability because no team could maintain a winning streak and sheets forever. More importantly, after tinuous battles on two fronts, Real Madrid's weaknesses were being evident.

  In defense, Woodgate was well-known for being injury-prone. Under Gao Shen's cautious "care," he participated in only one game a week and performed endably. However, he was still very fragile and posed a signifit hidden danger.

  Elgra was not young, had many injuries, and his dition was unstable. Before the game against Vilrreal, he failed to meet the standard for pying, f Gao Shen to use Pavin.

  As a result, it was the mistakes of Pavin and Raul Bravo that led to Ramos' red card and the penalty.

  Del Morena suggested that Real Madrid's problems should be treated fairly. On the one hand, the lineup issues were still serious. Although Gao Shen had vigorously promoted young pyers, there were still obvious shortings iral defense.

  Oher hand, these shortings highlighted the value of Gao Shen's coag. Leading such a troubled Real Madrid to their current position was an amazi.

  For the same reason, Del Morena asserted that no one could definitively say whether Real Madrid could reverse Bara, nuara.

  From the perspective of the schedule, lineup, and performance, Bara clearly had the advantage. However, the determined Real Madrid team had tinuously created miracles, and who could say they couldn't reverse Bara to wile?

  ...

  Not only Del Morena but also mainstream European media, such as *L'Equipe*, *Bild*, *Gazzetta dello Sport*, *Torino Sport*, and *The Times*, held simir views.

  Bara had the advantage, but Real Madrid still had a ce.

  These responsible media outlets were obviously relut to speak out definitively, wary of potential future sps in the face.

  After all, Gao Shen's record siaking over at Real Madrid had been outstanding.

  versely, some tabloids and media, who thrived oionalism, fully supported Bara, arguing that Real Madrid had no ce.

  Some media eveed that Gao Shen's coag position was in jeopardy due to the draw.

  After the draw at home against Vilrreal, Real Madrid President Martiedly stormed into the locker room, intending to berate the pyers. However, Gao Sheedly blocked his entry, leading to an angry frontation. Martin allegedly threateao Shen on the spot, though he was dissuaded by Butragueno.

  Acc to insiders at the Bernabeu, Martin's move was impulsive and ununicated with the coag staff. After being blocked by Gao Shen, he was so infuriated that he threateo fire him. However, he withdrew his decision under Butragueno's persuasion.

  The i suggested that the honeymoon period between Gao Shen and Martin was over.

  As of the day's neer publication, Real Madrid officials had not made any statements about this matter. Since reporters only learned about the i afterward, they hadn't asked Gao Shen for firmation at the post-match press ference.

  But judging from Gao Shen's radical remarks, it was clear he had been affected.

  ...

  In te April, temperatures in Madrid began to rise.

  Gao Shen bought a bottle of good wine iy and brought it to Carlo's house for a meal.

  Every time he visited, Mrs. Carlo prepared a delieal for him.

  While eating, Gao Shen and Carlo would invariably sit in the courtyard, chatting about Real Madrid and football, which they both cared about.

  "Is it true about Martin?" Carlo asked edly.

  He had read about it in the neer and hadn't sought firmation from anyone else.

  Gao Shen smiled lightly. "Seven ht points."

  "He really said he wao fire you?" Carlo frowned.

  Martin's temper was notoriously bad, something all Real Madrid fans knew.

  "Is he really going to fire me now?" Gao Shen asked with a smile.

  Carlo nodded. "Who would?"

  With Gao Shen's current performance, even Martin couldn't simply fire him. If he did, Martin would be the one fag dismissal the day.

  One by ohe opposition in the board of directors, led by Calderon, was waiting for Martin to slip up, ready to repce him at any time.

  The position of president of Real Madrid, like the coach, was full of allure and pitfalls.

  "He was really angry at the time, and I didn't bother to expin. He scolded a few words outside the door and ersuaded by Butragueno to leave," Gao Shen expined calmly, though Carlo suspected the situation had been more intense.

  "What's the situation in the locker room now?" Carlo asked.

  Gao Shen grabbed his boiling water gss. "It's okay. It's just a draw, aated the squad heavily. Missing the ce to reach the summit is regrettable."

  This was why Gao Shen had prevented Martin from entering the locker room.

  The situation in the locker room was still trolble, and pyers who made mistakes had not been punished. But if Martin had e in angry, it would have created chaos.

  In the end, he would have had to up the mess, and trolling the locker room would have been much harder.

  "pared with Florentino, Martin is still too far behind," Carlo sighed.

  Gao Shen nodded slightly.

  Indeed, more than just Martin. Even if Calderon or other leaders of giant teams took over, they wouldn't measure up to Florentino's stature.

  Florentino had many fws and shortings as president, but he also had signifit strengths and advantages.

  His dismissal led to Martin's rise, who then dismissed Carlo, leading to Gao Shen's appoi.

  After discussing Florentino, both Carlo and Gao She a sense of loss and refle.

  Especially fao Shen, who had been io dinner by Butragueno on behalf of Florentino, but had yet to find the time.

  Even if they did meet, Gao Shen wasn't sure what he would say.

  Their versation psed into a brief silence.

  "What's your p?" Carlo asked.

  Gao Shen looked up at the night sky. "Finish this season... and then..."

  He didn't finish, unsure of what the future held.

  Things stantly ge, and he couldn't be certain what his situation would be by season's end.

  But ohing was clear.

  "I want to build a real team that belongs to me!"

  Carlo was surprised but found it normal. After getting to know Gao Shen, he uood that Gao Shen had his own football philosophy, which was impossible to fully implement at Real Madrid.

  Given his current status, even winning La Liga and the Champions League wouldn't allow him to turn Real Madrid into his own team. It wasn't Real Madrid's tradition.

  Carlo could almost be certain that Gao Shen would leave Real Madrid after the season ended.

  But before that, he o gather more chips.