The day after arriving in Cape Town, South Africa, Manchester City officially began their pre-season training.
For the demanding and fast-paced schedule of the Premier League, summer training is undeniably crucial.
Gao Shen and his coaching staff had meticulously prepared for the training camp, ensuring the team reached peak condition during the month-long summer period while refining their tactical cohesion.
The training schedule consisted of two sessions per day, not as long as some teams that train three times daily but the intensity was incredibly high, pushing the players to their limits.
To make matters worse, after the training sessions, Pintus would lead the squad on long-distance runs to further improve their physical endurance and mental toughness.
This was a method Gao Shen had successfully implemented during his tenure at Napoli. He found that under Pintus' rigorous training approach, the team's focus during matches, their resilience when physically exhausted, and their execution of movements all remained at an exceptionally high level. Moreover, this kind of training significantly boosted overall fitness.
Gao Shen merely set the training program, but the players were the ones suffering.
For players with weaker physical endurance—like Robinho, Hazard, and Lallana—it was pure torture.
Robinho, in particular, couldn't even last through the full 90-minute session. After just ten minutes, he was already asking for a break.
But when the Brazilian saw Gao Shen standing nearby, watching him with a cold and indifferent expression, he felt a chill run down his spine.
"I wasn't asking for a break, just needed a sip of water," Robinho quickly clarified.
Saying that, he jogged to the sidelines, pretending to take a drink, before reluctantly running back onto the pitch.
Gao Shen scoffed inwardly. Come on, it's already 2009, and you're still using such lame excuses?
"If I catch you slacking again, you're dead, Robinho!" Gao Shen warned, pointing at the Brazilian.
Back when Gao Shen was in charge of Real Madrid, Robinho had already experienced firsthand what it was like to be under his command. Though Gao Shen usually had a friendly demeanor, once he got serious, no one in the Real Madrid dressing room dared to cross him.
Now, Gao Shen was a world-renowned manager, his aura even stronger, his authority even greater.
Robinho immediately ran back onto the pitch.
In reality, if he had just gritted his teeth and pushed through, he could have lasted longer. But he was simply too used to comfort, unwilling to endure hardship.
Seeing the team's star player publicly called out like this left many on the squad stunned.
"Look at Luis! Learn from him! Especially you, Robinho!" Gao Shen shouted again.
Robinho was on the verge of tears.
Boss, why do I feel like you're always targeting me?
I swear, I've never done anything to offend you!
Meanwhile, Suarez was going all out in training. Ever since Gao Shen had praised him, making him the coach's "model student," he had been working even harder, like a man possessed.
This made Gao Shen chuckle to himself.
Suarez had spent years being criticized at Ajax. Now that he was receiving recognition, his motivation was through the roof.
"Come on! Push through! Don't give up! Tell yourself you can do this!"
Gao Shen clapped loudly on the sidelines, encouraging the players.
After the grueling 90-minute session, the players collapsed onto the grass, only for Pintus to drag them up for another long-distance run. By the time they returned, they were completely drained.
Seeing the exhausted and despairing looks on their faces, Gao Shen was very satisfied.
…
After the lunch break, the team had a tactical session in the afternoon, led by Gao Shen and his coaching staff.
Over his three years at Napoli, Gao Shen had perfected the process of instilling his tactical philosophy and training principles into his players.
His approach emphasized understanding and independent thinking.
Football is unpredictable. If players simply follow instructions mechanically, knowing what to do but not why, they will struggle when the game becomes chaotic.
Only by understanding why they are making certain decisions can players remain composed, adapt on the fly, and maintain tactical cohesion even as situations change.
For this first session, Gao Shen focused on the importance of rotation.
To illustrate his point, he used Suarez as an example.
Whether playing for Uruguay or Ajax, Suarez was always active, relentless in his pressing, always on the move. While this work rate was admirable, Gao Shen believed it was reckless.
"There's a saying: running is the easiest thing to do on the pitch. The hard part is knowing how to run intelligently."
"This is a science—it's about properly managing your energy levels."
Gao Shen played a few video clips, pointing out that while Suarez's high-intensity pressing was a positive, he needed to learn when to retreat.
Retreating wasn't just about defending, it was also a way to rest and conserve energy.
When Suarez dropped back, other players had to step in and cover for him when necessary.
The left winger, the right winger, the central midfielder…
"Think of it like a fist," Gao Shen said, raising his right fist and stretching it straight forward before shaking it in place.
Everyone watched closely.
Then, he pulled his fist back, wound up, and threw a powerful punch.
"You see? If my fist just stays extended, it can only keep stirring—like a spoon. But when I pull it back and punch again, it's faster, stronger, more explosive, and more unpredictable."
"Our attack works the same way. Movement, passing—it's all about rhythm and timing."
Keeping possession was like pulling back a fist, continuously building up power. Horizontal passes stretched the opponent's defense, creating gaps. And once a gap appeared, the team needed to strike with lightning speed.
If there were too many horizontal passes, the game would become dull, like Barcelona's later "boring" style of play. But blindly forcing vertical passes was also ineffective, as it just handed possession to the opponent.
So, knowing when to switch gears and how to rotate positions was a science.
From an individual player's movements to the team's overall tactics, everything was interconnected.
Gao Shen also explained the principles of pressing:
Why pressing was necessary
How to execute it properly
When to initiate pressure
What to do when pressing successfully won the ball
What to do if pressing failed
Bit by bit, he broke down his tactical philosophy, ensuring that even the most complex ideas were digestible.
Lucas had even edited extensive video footage to supplement the lecture, making it easier for the players to grasp the concepts visually.
Among the squad, Rakitic and David Luiz were the most familiar with the system. Over the past three years, they had developed under Gao Shen's philosophy, fully internalizing its principles.
Other players, like Felipe and Robinho who had briefly worked with Gao Shen at Real Madrid still had much to learn.
After all, the Gao Shen of back then was just a promising young coach, still refining his ideas.
Now, he was a world-class tactician, with a clear and complete footballing philosophy, one that had already conquered Europe.
The concepts covered in the afternoon tactical session were immediately put into practice during the evening training session.
This approach reinforced the players' understanding, helping them grasp the head coach's tactical intentions more quickly.
All training programs were meticulously planned by Carlo and the rest of the coaching staff, ensuring they were highly targeted and incredibly intense.
After another exhausting training session, the "demon trainer" Pintus reappeared.
By the end of the first day, Pintus had already become the players' worst nightmare.
Even those who were familiar with his methods, like Rakitic and David Luiz, found the training overwhelming.
After all, the intensity and demanding schedule of the Premier League were far beyond those of Serie A.
During this period, Lucas and his analysis team were also hard at work.
In fact, they were among the busiest members of the staff, as they had to prepare detailed reports after every training session. These reports allowed players to clearly identify their mistakes and make necessary adjustments.
By nightfall, every player dragged their exhausted bodies back to the hotel, looking like zombies straight out of Resident Evil.
Pain and fatigue were written all over their faces.
However, Gao Shen wasn't a tyrant. He had also arranged various entertainment activities in the evening to help the team unwind.
After all, they were young men in their twenties with remarkable recovery abilities.
After dinner, their energy levels rebounded quickly.
Regarding Gao Shen's first day of training at Manchester City, the players generally agreed—he lived up to his reputation.
They had heard about his infamous "devilish" training methods before, but now they had experienced them firsthand.
Despite the grueling intensity, the players also recognized the high quality of his training sessions.
Robben told the club's official website, "He's the best coach I've ever worked with. His preparation is meticulous, and his tactical philosophy is truly unique. It's only the first day, but I already believe he will succeed at Manchester City!"
Hazard admitted that he was completely drained on the pitch, but added, "I actually enjoy this feeling of exhaustion—it's fulfilling. After every session, I can tell that I'm improving. That's what really matters."
David Silva confessed that he was still struggling to adapt to the high-intensity training but was confident he would adjust.
"As for Gao Shen…" Silva continued, "A lot of what he said in the tactical session resonated with me. I think I'll be a great fit for his system. I can't wait to fight for a place in the starting lineup."
During interviews with the club's media team, most players could only give short, weary responses.
They were simply too tired.
Robinho, who had worked with Gao Shen three years ago, had mentally prepared himself for this kind of training.
But when he actually stepped onto the pitch, he was shocked to find that he couldn't even last ten minutes.
"I have no idea how I managed to finish the session. My mind is still blank, and it feels like my body isn't even under my control anymore."
Reading the players' interviews, complaints, and comments, Gao Shen simply smiled.
"The real devil training hasn't even started yet."
(To be continued.)
***
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