Starting With Real Madrid

The reason why a renowned coach becomes renowned isn't because they're particularly brilliant, have special tools, or possess extraordinary qualities.

Often, it's simply because they notice more details and think of more possibilities than others.

It's like students solving challenging math problems. The concepts are familiar, but they just can't figure it out no matter how hard they try. Yet, when they see the solution, they suddenly feel enlightened.

For famous coaches, it's different—they don't wait for the solution to slap their foreheads in hindsight.

Instead, they consider all possibilities beforehand, long before the answer is revealed.

That's exactly what Hiddink did this time.

Facing Napoli, he must have accounted for every scenario during the match.

Chelsea started with two threatening shots and scored early.

But by the 18th minute, Napoli rebounded strongly, forcing Chelsea to adjust.

And what did Hiddink do?

He demonstrated the courage and decisiveness of a renowned coach, attacking aggressively but defending methodically.

After taking a one-goal lead, Chelsea retreated as a unit, with their 4-3-3 formation pulling back across the board.

They relied on the strength of their midfield to shield the vulnerabilities of their backline.

Since Mourinho's tenure, Chelsea had prioritized structured football, especially defensively. This defensive cohesion had become Chelsea's hallmark. They frequently showcased this strength when facing Barcelona, always managing to deliver disciplined performances.

Defense had always been Chelsea's sharpest weapon, and tonight, Hiddink picked it up once again.

…

Napoli didn't manage their first shot of the game until the 18th minute, a long-range effort from midfielder Rakitic.

However, that shot marked the beginning of Napoli's response. From that point on, they shifted from passivity to actively countering Chelsea. But Chelsea's retreating defense was meticulous, making it difficult for Napoli to create meaningful threats.

Moreover, Chelsea still had Drogba up front. Even as the team sat back, the Ivorian remained a constant menace, waiting for opportunities.

Drogba had become a nightmare to deal with.

Early in his career, under Mourinho, Drogba burst onto the scene as a dominant force, tactically invaluable but rough around the edges, with poor shooting technique.

The British media once mocked him, saying he couldn't hit the side of a barn from 20 feet away.

The humiliation was severe, but Drogba took it to heart. Through hard work, he improved his technique. As his physical prime passed, he leaned more on his skills and awareness. By 2009, Drogba had become a well-rounded striker, equally balanced between physicality and technique.

Now, he was incredibly difficult to defend and posed a constant danger.

Gao Shen couldn't risk committing too many resources to Napoli's attack while Drogba was prowling up front.

As a result, the first half ended with Napoli trailing 0-1.

…

Back in the locker room, Gao Shen praised his team's first-half performance.

He genuinely believed they had played well.

As for Drogba's goal—what could they do?

"Chelsea will definitely attack again in the second half," Gao Shen said with certainty.

When Chelsea retreated after the 18th minute, Gao Shen had already guessed that Hiddink would push forward again in the second half.

"What does this mean?" Gao Shen asked, looking at his players with a serious expression.

"It means we were right. I told you the winner would be decided in the second half, near the end of the match. Hiddink has reached the same conclusion. He's worried he won't be able to hold the lead."

"1-0 isn't safe for him. He'll want to score another goal."

Taking a deep breath, Gao Shen continued, "So, our task at the start of the second half is clear—defend steadily."

Even if they conceded another goal, it wouldn't be the end of the world. The priority was to score in the second half and secure an away goal.

A 1-1 or 1-2 result would be favorable for Napoli.

With the experience from the first leg, Gao Shen planned to make tactical adjustments back at the Sao Paulo Stadium. He was confident of scoring at home.

More importantly, apart from the conceded free kick, Napoli's defensive setup against Chelsea had been effective. Even Drogba hadn't had many chances in open play.

The only truly dangerous moment came when David Luiz blocked Drogba's shot.

Beyond that, Drogba's opportunities had been limited, proving that Napoli's defense was well-targeted.

In the first half, Napoli's most promising attacks came from the left flank.

Interestingly, Chelsea had focused their attacks on Napoli's left, with Kalou and Bosingwa leading the charge.

But this focus left Chelsea's right flank exposed, creating opportunities for Napoli to counterattack.

As Gao Shen returned to the locker room earlier, he had spoken with David Luiz, Thiago Motta, and Bonucci about Chelsea's tendency to start plays from the right.

"In the second half, we'll adjust our defensive strategy on the left. Let them cross from the wing, but control the landing points in the center. Focus on Drogba and watch for Ballack and Lampard's runs."

This adjustment addressed some of the issues Gao Shen had identified during the first half.

At times, Napoli's defense had been stretched too thin while trying to block crosses from Kalou and Bosingwa.

With three tall defenders in the center—David Luiz, Bonucci, and Thiago Motta—Napoli had enough presence to challenge Drogba.

When Gao Shen asked if they were confident, all three players answered affirmatively.

Having faced Drogba for 45 minutes, they now had a better understanding of his movements and believed they could handle him.

Gao Shen chose to trust their judgment.

More importantly, Napoli would be more aggressive in the second half, using the flanks to generate attacking opportunities.

"Ashley Cole hasn't been himself tonight," Gao Shen pointed out. "He's been hesitant to push forward because of Sanchez."

Lucas nodded in agreement. "Cole hasn't made much of an impact offensively. He's barely crossed the halfway line."

This presented another opening for Napoli.

"When attacking in the second half, we should consider shifting our focus to the right flank."

With time running out, Gao Shen finished his tactical adjustments.

"Everyone!" he clapped his hands, gathering the players around him.

The Napoli squad stood up and surrounded their coach.

"This is our first Champions League knockout match. It's also your first. I'll say it again: trust me. I'll lead you out of Stamford Bridge, and we will advance to the quarterfinals!"

"Chelsea is strong, but Napoli isn't weak. We fought through the group of death—what else is there to fear?" Gao Shen said, looking each player in the eye.

"Play steadily. The game is in our hands."

He extended his right hand, and the players followed, stacking their hands atop his.

"Come on, Napoli!"

…

The second half began, and Chelsea launched another ferocious attack.

Hiddink's intentions were clear—he wanted another goal.

This time, however, Chelsea shifted their focus. Instead of attacking Napoli's left, where Kalou and Bosingwa had been active in the first half, they moved Lampard to the left wing.

Just three minutes into the half, Lampard exploited the space created by Anelka's off-the-ball run, cutting inside to receive a pass. He delivered a dangerous cross, but David Luiz was first to the ball, heading it clear.

Ballack pounced on the loose ball and attempted a long-range shot from over 20 meters, but it flew over the bar.

It was clear Hiddink had made tactical adjustments during the break, trying to open up attacking lanes on the left while maintaining pressure on the right.

The next two Chelsea attacks followed a similar pattern.

However, Ashley Cole remained hesitant to push forward, preoccupied with defending against Sanchez.

By the 51st minute, unable to create chances on the left, Chelsea shifted the ball back to the right. Bosingwa surged forward, dribbled to the byline, and sent in a cross.

Drogba rose to meet it, but under pressure, he couldn't angle his header and sent it wide of the goal.

On the sidelines, Gao Shen exhaled quietly in relief.

His halftime adjustments had proven effective.

The "questionnaire" he had given David Luiz, Bonucci, and Thiago Motta was paying off. The trio had managed to control Drogba, keeping him from causing further damage.

Now, Gao Shen only had to wait.

Once Hiddink had played all his cards, it would be Napoli's turn to strike.

Gao Shen's ultimate goal was simple: secure an away goal.