Chapter 7: Three Things a New Official Does When He Takes Office
"Do you think he is stupid?" Ronaldo sneered.
In the players' rest area, Ronaldo, Carlos, Baptista, Cicinho and others gathered together, looking coldly at the huge crowd passing by outside the window, and all of them had a strange feeling in their hearts.
Isn’t this too outrageous?
The first team was already overcrowded, and now there are more than a dozen people. What does he want to do?
Doesn't he know that no matter how many players there are in the first team, only eleven can be fielded in the game?
"I think he's not stupid, he's foolish!" Carlos replied coldly, "He didn't even know he was being sold, and he still helped others count money."
Regarding the press conference in the morning, Raul did not reveal anything after returning. Most of the players in the locker room basically believed that Gao Shen’s remarks came from the instructions of the management, especially the new chairman Martin.
Because Martin had said something similar before at the board meeting.
In Carlos's view, Gao Shen is a knife held in Martin's hand.
But can this knife really work?
"Could it be that he wants to rely on these dozen little brats to win the city derby this weekend?"
Atletico Madrid's league ranking this season is not ideal. The famous coach Bianchi was sacked in January and was replaced by Atletico Madrid B's head coach Pepe Murcia. The league ranking has improved and the overall ranking is in the upper middle area of the standings.
The Colchoneros not only include a group of Spanish internationals and famous players such as Fernando Torres, Pablo Ibanez, Antonio Lopez, Mario Suarez and Gabi, but also powerful foreign players such as Lucin, Ibagaza, Petrov, Maxi Rodriguez, Galletti and Kezman. Their overall strength should not be underestimated.
It is precisely because Atletico Madrid is strong that they were able to defeat the league leader Barcelona 2-1 at home and 3-1 away.
Although Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0 away from home in the first match of this season, the process was also very dangerous. In the end, they escaped unscathed thanks to Ronaldo's two goals and an own goal by Atletico Madrid's central defender.
Now, times have changed. Real Madrid is no longer the Real Madrid with a harmonious internal atmosphere as it was during Luxemburgo's coaching period. Atletico Madrid's situation has also improved after the change of coach.
When facing an opponent like Atletico Madrid, Gao Shen actually promoted more than a dozen players from the youth team at once. Does he really want to target the superstars?
"Does he really think that he can compete in the league and the Champions League with the help of those little brats?" Carlos sneered with disdain in his tone. He felt that Gao Shen was too naive and ignorant.
But it's normal, young people are ignorant and fearless.
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…
Gao Shen didn't know what exactly happened in the players' dugout, but he guessed that the stars' thoughts would be complicated.
But none of that concerned him.
After handing the players over to captain Raul, Gao Shen went straight to the coach's office.
Before this, he rejected the club's arrangement and did not move into the head coach's office where Luxemburgo and Carlo had worked. Instead, he continued to work in the coach's office, still at his own workstation.
This is also an attitude.
But when facing Maqueda, Gao Shen pretended to be helpless and smiled bitterly: "Maybe I will be dismissed tomorrow, so I don't have to move back later."
Maqueda said something nice with a forced smile, but he didn't force it. It was obvious that he thought Gao Shen was not qualified to move into that office to work.
In fact, he himself is more qualified than Gao Shen.
"Gao, you have promoted so many young players from the second team at once. How do you plan to arrange the afternoon training sessions?" asked Maqueda.
"Others may not know, but don't you know me? What can I arrange? I will do whatever the senior leaders say. I am just watching and learning more now. So, you are still in charge of this matter, and I will learn by your side."
Although Gao Shen spoke very politely, a trace of contempt flashed in Maqueda's eyes after hearing it.
He is indeed a rookie who can do nothing and knows nothing. Why should he be the head coach of Real Madrid?
"Okay then. I'll make the arrangements."
After saying that, Maquida went out without looking back.
"Hey, isn't this old guy too rude?" Fernando Lucas next to Gao Shen was unhappy.
He had been listening from the beginning to the end, and if Gao Shen hadn't gestured to stop him, he would have wanted to say something to Maqueda.
"Polite?" Gao Shen didn't take it as an offense. He looked at Lucas and smiled, "Only when you have strength will others be polite to you. If you don't have strength, why should you ask others to respect you?"
It was like this when I was working, and it is still like this now when I coach Real Madrid.
"Then how are you going to establish your authority as the head coach?" Lucas asked worriedly.
Gao Shen smiled and shook his head. This is actually an illusion for many people.
Whether you are a head coach or a corporate leader, where does your prestige come from?
Position?
There are too many cases where players and subordinates pretend to obey but actually disobey, and even try to get rid of the head coach and leaders.
Many leaders, upon arriving in office, are eager to show themselves and want to establish their prestige as quickly as possible. They believe in the so-called "three great things a new official should do" approach to office. However, before the new things are even finished, they themselves become like the little match girl.
It can be said that most leaders who set fires for the sake of prestige will never have an ideal ending.
Gao Shen is not stupid. He promoted more than a dozen players from the second team at once, which was bad enough in itself. If he continued to blindly stir up fires everywhere, the final result would be that he would be completely finished.
Just like the young coach Villas-Boas who will coach Chelsea in a few years, as soon as he took office, he threatened to take down Lampard, Terry and Drogba, the three big bosses in the locker room, and implement youth reforms. This completely angered the three and chaos broke out in the locker room.
But this was not what really led to his tragedy.
With Boas's status at the time, although not important enough, he was also valued by Chelsea's management. If he gritted his teeth and held on to the end, and after signing three veterans, he improved the team's performance, then he would win.
The terrible thing is that he can't lead it.
What's worse is that after the team's performance declined rapidly, he had to re-employ these three veterans. However, all three veterans were full of energy and performed very well, which made Boas lose all his prestige both in the locker room and in the public opinion circle.
At this point, Boas actually still had a chance, which was to reconcile with the three people as soon as possible and mend their relationship, but he refused to do so. As a result, the final result was that the locker room was completely alienated from him, and he himself resigned in disgrace.
What does this case illustrate?
When a new official takes office, he should not act blindly. First, he should understand the situation clearly. Second, he should have a clear and definite idea.
For example, what tactics should Real Madrid adopt now ?
While ensuring the team's combat effectiveness, which players can be used and which ones cannot be used?
Even if they are superstars, which ones need to be appeased and recruited? Which ones must be given color?
If Gao Shen speaks big in front of the players today, but has to please and compromise for the sake of results tomorrow, where is his prestige?
In an enterprise, being able to improve performance is the bottom line.
In a football team, being able to lead the team to achieve results and win is the most important thing.
The most important thing for Gao Shen now is to have a clear idea of team formation, that is, to determine what tactics are most suitable for Real Madrid now. Only after clarifying this point, and then using it as a basis to select players, and then communicate and appease them one by one.
Gao Shen already has a rough idea about the team's problems and the next tactical play, but it still needs to be continuously improved.
Tonight is the opening time of the Tactical Library. Gao Shen has a strong feeling that many of his current questions will be answered in this library.
He is also looking forward to seeing what kind of help the time traveler's golden finger can bring him.
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When all the players saw Gao Shen bringing in a dozen young players from the second team, they were mentally prepared for his "three major changes upon taking office" in the afternoon training session. Even Raul reminded several local players to be careful with their words.
But what surprised was that the entire 90-minute training session was hosted by assistant coach Maqueda. Gao Shen stood at the sidelines of the training ground from beginning to end, silently watching the training on the court. He even rarely adjusted his standing position, just like a wooden stake.
Oh, no, maybe more like a humanoid surveillance camera.
This made many people miscalculate. Many people had their minds set on watching a sophisticated "good show". But after they had moved their stools and bought melon seeds and peanuts, they were told that the show was not going to be shown. How disappointing!
Not only did he not play the role of a new official, but even after the training session, Gao Shen did not stay on the training ground. He was the first to turn around and leave. Then, as many people expected, he did not rush to talk to the players. Instead, he went back to the office to pack his things and left Valdebebas directly.
Just as the players were about to return to the locker room, they saw Gao Shen's back as he left, and all of them looked puzzled.
Are there any head coaches like this?
Do you really not even want to pretend?
"What is this guy doing? How can he be a head coach? Isn't he too irresponsible?" Salgado was annoyed.
He also has some weight in the locker room, after all, he has played for the team for many years.
"I guess he has given up and knows he won't stay long." Carlos sneered sarcastically.
The other players also burst into laughter.
Letting Gao Shen be the head coach of Real Madrid is a joke and a farce in itself. Who among them would accept this?
Guti, Ramos, Casillas and others were also surprised, puzzled, and even a little annoyed.
Fortunately, Raul had communicated with them before and said that he would cooperate with the head coach, but what was the result?
The head coach did nothing and said nothing, so how could he ask them to cooperate?
Raul was also confused, especially after seeing the puzzled inquiring eyes of Guti and others, the Real Madrid captain also shook his head.
Although they had met twice, Gao Shen's feeling to him was definitely not the same as it is now. He now had no idea what Gao Shen was thinking and what he wanted to do next.
With more than 40 players in the first team, they have to work out a lineup to deal with the weekend's city derby, right?
"Fernando." Raul saw Lucas coming and immediately called out to him.
Raul is Lucas' idol, and the Madrid native immediately ran over happily.
"Where is he going in such a hurry?" Raul asked with concern.
Following Raul's line of sight, Lucas guessed that he was asking about Gao Shen, and immediately replied, "He said he had something to do at Mr. Carlo's house."
Everyone suddenly realized.
It turned out that he had gone to Carlo to seek advice.
But the question is, is Carlo willing to see him?
