The bes of not being reized became apparent upon arriving at Valdebebas.

  Despite the team's 3-0 victory over Atletiadrid, many Real Madrid fans protested at the training base. sequently, they pletely overlooked Gao Shen, allowing him to openly ride his bicycle through the gates. This irony was not lost on him.

  Gao Shen was the first person to arrive at the coach's office, where he found a report on the pyers' physical examinations after the previous night's game, fog on Woodgate and De La Reid.

  Lucas had overseen these examinations with the team doctor upoeam's return the previous night.

  The results were satisfactory. Woodgate was not injured, but having been out of a for a while, the team doctor couldn't yet determine if he would be fit to py on Wednesday. De La Reid, oher hand, was cleared with no issues.

  The ditions of the other pyers were generally simir, with all professional athletes carrying some minor injuries that did not impact their ability to py.

  As Gao Shehrough the report, Lucas, Maqueda, and the rest of the coag staff began to arrive, ready to start their work.

  As was ary, the coag staff held a special meeting to devise the training programs before the uping match.

  Gao Shen's first directive was to cel the team's half-day off, aiming to allocate more time for targeted training. Achieving this required adjusting the training schedule and effectively unig these ges to the pyers.

  "I will hahe unication with the pyers, while you should draft a raining schedule as soon as possible," Gao Shen instructed.

  Many fans often enter this situation: when media outlets criticize a team's poor performahey often cite the challenge of midweek games, believing it signifitly impacts the team. Why? Isn't three days enough time for recovery?

  Iy, this reflects a misuanding among fans regarding the team's training regimen.

  As is well-known, ohe petition schedule ehe team's training revolves around the matches, broadly categorized into three stages: daily training, pre-match preparation, and post-matalysis.

  Daily training occurs between games and focuses on enhang pyers' teical skills, tactics, physical fitness, aal acuity to achieve optimal performance.

  Pre-match preparation involves targeted training sessions and tactical drills tailored to the uping oppos.

  Post-match training typically includes pyer feedbad game analysis, followed by specific training sessions desigo address identified areas for improvement, which signifitly enhaeam performance.

  From a stific standpoint, with one game per week, pyers bance work a, engaging i to ten training sessions weekly while ensuring adequate recovery and adjustment time, which is deemed optimal.

  In trast, with two games per week, the number of training sessions reduces to five to seven, with pyers usually receiving only half a day's rest after each match, which proves insuffit.

  Beyond physical ditioning, this frequency of games promises tactical and targeted training, tributing to increased pyer fatigue and potentially impairing the team's teical and tactical abilities.

  While a seasoeam may mahe risk, it poses siderable challenges for a team like the current Real Madrid.

  Gao Shen believed it imperative to squeeze in an additional training session to duct a simution exercise specifically tailored for fag Arsenal. Otherwise, upon arriving at Highbury, Real Madrid might find themselves unprepared, potentially forfeiting rather than peting.

  The coag staff alshe challenges posed by midweek matches, fearing potential pyer resistance.

  However, with Gao Shen itted to personally unig with the pyers, they had little room to object.

  "Sedly, regarding the csh at Highbury on Wednesday, I want to hear everyone's opinions," Gao Shen decred seriously.

  Maqueda and the others exged uneasy gnces, clearly unprepared.

  their hesitation, Lucas attempted to speak first but was silenced by a stern loao Shen.

  What Gao Shen sought now were opinions, whether positive ative—he insisted on hearing them out.

  Lucas was well aware of this. He didn't want Lucas to merely echo his ses; otherwise, how would others dare to voice their own?

  "It's alright, everyone should speak freely. It doesn't matter whether I agree with them or not," Gao Shen enced.

  Yet Maqueda and the others tio exge hesitant gnces, each relut to speak up.

  Gao Shen uood that their hesitaemmed not from ck of ce or ideas but from their reluce to tradict him.

  "In that case, allow me to share my thoughts first," Gao Shen said, rubbing his hands as the weather turned cold.

  "We all know that in Champions League history, only once has a team mao overturn a home defeat in the first leg of a knockout round—Ajax against Panathinaikos. Thus, in many people's minds, losing the first leg at home in the Champions League is akin to a death sentence."

  Maqueda and the others, seasoned football practitioners, were well aware of such statistics.

  This pessimism pervaded Real Madrid's ranks aeo the media and fans alike.

  "However, I personally believe we should set aside these probabilities and data and focus on the game itself."

  Gao Shen's words held merit. Excessive fixation on statistid probabilities would be unprofessional.

  At times like this, every head coach must do their utmost and accept fate.

  "We're down 0-1 at home, which means we must score at Highbury. Only a victory will see us through; a draw is of no use, so we must attack."

  This aspect of the Champions League knockout phase is enthralling. The away goals rule and two-legged format ihe sed leg with suspense of various kinds. These nuances ot be encapsuted by mere statistics.

  Historical data serves to bolster Arsenal pyers' psychological advantage, nothing more.

  Maqueda hat Gao Shen's analysis was sound, prompting him to interject, "Gao, you're right. Therefore, I believe our foremost requirement is Ronaldo and the Brazilian gang—Robinho, Baptista, Carlos, and ho—they represent our stro offensive firepower."

  Many nodded in agreement.

  Indeed, Real Madrid's offensive prowess relied heavily on the Brazilian ti.

  In fact, this was the fidehat emboldehe Brazilian gang to challenge ma and assert their influence over local talents.

  Hadn't Ronaldo himself retly underscored this point?

  Real Madrid needs him!

  Gao Shen scrutinized everyone, as Maqueda and the others observed him in turn, each trying to dis the others' thoughts.

  At suents, Gao Shen couldn't afford to waver. Having decred his iion to hear everyone's opinions, how could he now refute Maqueda's suggestion to recile aate the Brazilian gang?

  Lucas, standing anxiously on the sidelines, yearo speak up in defense of Gao Shen but was restrained by Gao Shen's gesture.

  "You're right, but have you sidered this? If we start them, our defense hold up at Highbury Stadium?" Gao Shen posed the question directly without revealing his stance.

  Maqueda found himself momentarily speechless.

  It's an undeniable fact that Brazilian pyers are remarkably effective due to their superior strength and attag prowess. However, their defensive shortings are widely reized. Ronaldo, aside from sg goals, isn't known for his defensive tributions, and Robinho is much the same. Carlos and ho excel in attack but struggle defehey push forward but struggle to recover.

  While outsiders may not realize it, the Real Madrid coag staff uands the critical roles pyed by Abeloa and Felipe ieam's ret 3-0 victory over Atletiadrid at home. Their ability to press effectively ivotal.

  Could Real Madrid hold their ground without them?

  Could Raul and Zidane be given the freedom they need?

  The 0-1 deficit from the home leg means Real Madrid must score at Highbury. However, if the defense isn't solid, Arsenal's formidable attag firepower could overwhelm them. In such a sario, they might fa even heavier defeat.

  The knockout system of the Champions League is shrouded in mystery, myriad possibilities. Both teams must anticipate each other's strategies and devise tactics accly.

  This is why many argue that defense is crucial in the Champions League knockout stages.

  The reasoning is straightforward—strong defense ensures invincibility, regardless of the tactics employed by the oppo.

  Real Madrid's current challenge lies in the dilemma: should they focus on attag or defending?

  There's no definitive answer.

  Gao Sheed that if he possessed such crity, he wouldn't o solicit opinions.

  "Let's approach it differently—what tactics do you think Arsenal will employ?" Gao Shen redirected the discussion.

  This prompted everyoo ponder deeply once more.

  After some time, Maqueda hazarded a guess, somewhat uainly, "Defensive terattack?"

  Enced by Gao Shen's approving gnce, Maqueda eborated, "Arsenal's deferength at Highbury is well-known. Given our o attack, they might opt for a defeand capitalize on their terattag prowess with Henry, Reyes, and others."

  Many nodded in agreement, though differing viewpoints emerged.

  "I don't think that's right. If we've anticipated it, Wenger must have sidered it too. Besides, Arsenal's squad is predominantly young pyers—they might not be certain about our lineup with Ronaldo and others, so they're uo sit bad defend."

  "Exactly. Premier League teams excel in fast-paced offense and defense. Arsenal's passing and ball trol are formidable. I think they'll intensify the game, pressing and aiming to outst us. Frankly, we might struggle to keep up."

  "Arsenal has a match against Liverpool ing up this weekend, and they'll prioritize advang to the quarter-finals over everything else."

  The debate tinued, with a myriad of ideas and opinions being voiced.

  Gao Shen refrained from making any definitive statements, instead listening attentively.

  Sometimes, as a leader, attentive listening proves invaluable.

  While no clusive agreement was reached, the discussion gradually crystallized Gao Shen's strategisights regarding Arsenal.

  Specifically, he began to grasp the various strategies Wenger might employ.