Gao Shen truly couldn't believe that something this absurd could actually happen in the real world.
But when he saw the little ball marked with a C, it suddenly became all too real.
Yes, the final result of the draw was that Manchester City had been placed in the same group as Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Schalke 04. This group brought together teams from the four major European leagues, all of which were either champions or runners-up from last season.
It was simply unbelievable.
What was this?
Neuer would face his old club. Gao Shen would face his old club. Raul, Metzelder, Huntelaar, and others were also up against former teams.
And Mourinho too.
Was this some kind of joke?
…
The office fell completely silent.
Only Gao Shen was scratching his head in frustration. His hair had grown a bit long, but he'd been too busy lately to get it trimmed.
The head can be cut off, but the hairstyle must remain perfect!
No matter what, the hairstyle mattered.
Everyone else looked at the draw results with bitter smiles, then turned to Gao Shen, only to find that he actually seemed unusually calm.
"Before it was drawn, I was worried it would happen. But now that it's done, there's nothing more to say. Let's just go for it!" Gao Shen said freely and openly.
Carlo, Lucas, and the others smiled wryly and nodded helplessly.
What else could they do?
As coaches now being paid by Manchester City, their most important task was to help the club beat Real Madrid.
Whether they liked it or not, they had to do it.
Otherwise, who in European football would dare hire them in the future?
In fact, in some ways, facing Real Madrid was more exciting for them than playing other teams.
"Alright, I'm heading home first!"
After saying that, Gao Shen turned and left without another word.
The rest of the coaching staff exchanged looks, then also packed up and left.
…
At the Bernabéu president's office, Florentino, Zidane, and Redondo were all stunned.
They stared in disbelief at the TV screen in front of them.
Florentino's first reaction was to call Valdano to ask about the situation at the scene, still holding onto a sliver of hope that something had gone wrong.
But Valdano confirmed it. Manchester City had indeed been drawn.
Moreover, according to the schedule, Real Madrid's first match would be away to Manchester City.
Surprised?
Shocked?
Florentino hung up the phone, eyes closed. His mind was a blur.
"Does this mean we'll have to beat all three other opponents in this damn group, especially the powerful Manchester City, to have a chance at finishing first and qualifying?" Florentino muttered.
Zidane and Redondo looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.
Real Madrid couldn't afford to finish second in the group. Second place meant facing one of the strongest teams in the Champions League Round of 16, which would be highly unfavorable.
The best way to advance smoothly was to win the group.
But looking at this group, finishing first would be incredibly difficult.
This wasn't just the group of death. It wasn't even a super group of death. What should they call it?
Florentino suddenly couldn't find the words.
But he quickly calmed down.
He realized Real Madrid had to bring their best.
Especially in the opening group match, away to Manchester City. That match would be a huge test.
It would be Mourinho's first Champions League match in charge of Real Madrid, against Gao Shen, and it could determine their qualification hopes.
With that thought, Florentino composed himself and made another phone call.
…
In the head coach's office at Valdebebas, Mourinho was in a daze.
They had actually drawn the powerful Manchester City!
Probably no one, except the media and fans, would be pleased with this draw.
That included Mourinho.
He hadn't wanted to meet Gao Shen this early. He still wasn't fully familiar with Real Madrid, the players hadn't fully understood or executed his tactical ideas, and the new signings hadn't completely integrated into the squad.
Carvalho still wasn't familiar with the defensive line. Khedira hadn't adapted fully to the midfield. Kaka returned injured after the World Cup...
Everything had happened too quickly and suddenly.
And now, they had drawn Manchester City!
"Damn it!" Mourinho slammed the table in frustration, nearly shattering the glass coffee table in front of him.
That pretty much summed up his mood at the moment.
Just then, his phone rang.
Caller ID: Florentino.
One of Mourinho's conditions for coaching Real Madrid was the right to speak directly with Florentino.
But the trade-off was that if anything came up, the president would contact him directly.
"Have you seen the draw?" Florentino's voice was as calm as ever, gentle yet carrying a sense of power and pressure.
"I've seen it. We weren't very lucky," Mourinho replied, suppressing his anger.
"Yes, José, but we can't always rely on luck, can we?" Florentino asked.
"I know. Don't worry. I'll do my best," Mourinho assured him.
"I believe in you, and I will fully support you," Florentino said, then shifted the tone. "But José, I hope you understand that this match against Manchester City is very special. You should listen to SER Radio. Our fans are blowing up their hotlines."
Mourinho was slightly surprised, but he had expected it.
Gao Shen had a powerful influence in Real Madrid, in Madrid, and even across Spain.
Maybe it was because he had repeatedly turned down Real Madrid over the years.
What you can't have always seems the most valuable.
It left Mourinho feeling both helpless and bitter.
Why?
"José, I've always believed you are the best coach in the world. I've always believed the best coach should lead the best team, and that's Real Madrid."
Florentino's tone on the phone was sincere, like a kind old man.
"But this is professional football. It's cruel. Our mission is to satisfy our socios and fans. What they want is for us to beat Manchester City away. We can't let them down. Don't you agree?"
Mourinho's heart sank. Florentino's words carried a lot of weight.
But he still took a deep breath and said, "I understand, Mr. Pérez. I will do my best."
"Good. I believe in you, José." Florentino was still gentle. "But you must understand, Real Madrid fans are tolerant, but they're also demanding. They might compromise on other things, but not on this. They will scrutinize the team and this match with the highest standards. Be mentally prepared."
Mourinho understood the underlying message loud and clear.
"I understand, Mr. Pérez. I promise I won't let the Real Madrid fans down."
After hanging up, Mourinho didn't feel relieved. Instead, his heart felt heavier.
Crushingly so.
…
For fans and media around the world, the draw of Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Schalke 04, and Manchester City into the same group was a cause for excitement.
Even fans of the four teams might worry about their chances, but overall, they were still thrilled.
Everyone believed their team was special and would make it through.
But no one could deny that drawing such a group was pure bad luck. It was like opening the door and inviting disaster in.
So what does real good luck look like?
Look at Chelsea.
How lucky were they?
They drew Zilina from Slovakia, Marseille from Ligue 1, and Spartak Moscow from Russia.
Aside from the long trip to Moscow, none of those teams were likely to pose a serious threat. Especially Zilina and Spartak, the gap in quality was massive.
According to the British media, UEFA had practically guaranteed Chelsea a spot in the knockout rounds.
In comparison, other groups had at least one team capable of causing problems, even if not strong on paper.
After being drawn into such a brutal group, Gao Shen was asked about it at the pre-match press conference for the third round of the league. He said Manchester City had no complaints about the draw.
"As I've said before, we never worry about who we'll face. It's all the same to us. The ones who should be worried are the other three teams, because they're about to face the strongest team in European football!"
Gao Shen's words were a bit exaggerated, but he spoke with complete confidence, drawing gasps from the media.
"There's no doubt that our only goal in the group stage is to finish first."
"I don't know what the other teams think, but the moment the draw was announced—sorry—they could only compete for second place. It's harsh, but that's the reality!"
In other words, Manchester City had already locked in top spot in the group.
Gao Shen said he didn't mind facing his old club or reuniting with his old friend Mourinho.
"In fact, my record against Mourinho is quite good. I think I've kept a perfect record so far."
In the opening round, they would face Real Madrid at home, and morale was high. Gao Shen smiled and said this was the challenge and thrill of the Champions League.
"It demands all participating teams to always be ready and in peak form!"
As for Manchester City, Gao Shen said both he and the team were ready.
As if to prove his words, in the third round of the Premier League, Manchester City beat Sunderland, managed by former City boss Mark Hughes, 4–1 away.
Rakitic and Robben scored two goals in the first ten minutes, but Sunderland quickly equalized.
In the second half, Kompany scored from a corner, and Suarez added another.
In the end, Manchester City won 4–1, making it three wins from three.
But Chelsea also beat Stoke City 2–0, so City remained second in the table.
(To be continued.)
***
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