August 22nd, afternoon. Etihad Stadium, Manchester.
In the third round of the Premier League, Manchester City hosted newly promoted Wolves.
Just three minutes into the match, Robben pressed high on the right, forcing Wolves' left-back Ward to pass back to center-back Craddock. Suarez immediately charged at him at full speed, forcing a rushed pass to the other center-back, Mancienne. However, the ball was deflected off Suarez's leg.
The intended pass never reached Mancienne. Instead, the ball changed direction and landed in front of Mancini.
The Wolves' defense was caught off guard and quickly retreated.
Robinho was the first to react. He sprinted forward, collecting the ball and driving at Mancini, pushing him back step by step.
The Wolves' defenders kept retreating until they were deep inside their own penalty area with no room left to fall back.
Just as Mancini tried to force Robinho wide, the Brazilian suddenly stopped and flicked the ball behind him to the right. In a swift motion, he darted past Mancini like a slippery eel, cutting inside before unleashing a right-footed shot…
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
"Robinho! Robinho!!"
"Just three minutes into the game, Manchester City take the lead against Wolves with a goal from Robinho!"
"One-nil!"
"We can see Gao Shen applauding from the touchline—what a fantastic goal!"
"Manchester City's high pressing forced Wolves' center-back into a passing error. Robinho seized the opportunity and launched a decisive counterattack. Using his individual skill, he dribbled past Mancini and found the back of the net!"
"Gao Shen can breathe easy now."
…
In the 10th minute, Manchester City's midfield won possession, and David Silva quickly spread the ball to the left.
Felipe surged forward, dribbling into Wolves' half. Seeing Robinho positioned out wide, he passed to him before making a diagonal run toward the middle.
Robinho understood the movement, controlled the ball, and then played a horizontal pass into Felipe's path.
The Brazilian left-back initially feigned a left-footed shot, drawing Wolves' deep-lying midfielder Carl Henry towards him. But at the last moment, he shifted direction, took a step to the side, and laid off a pass to the unmarked right side of the arc.
Rakitic had already been making a run down the right channel. Arriving at the edge of the box, he met the ball in stride and struck it cleanly with his right foot.
The shot was like an arrow, slicing through the air at lightning speed, curling beautifully before nestling into the right side of the net.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
"Two-nil!"
"Ten minutes into the game, and Manchester City have doubled their lead!"
"The Croatian midfielder, Ivan Rakitic, with a stunning strike!"
"Manchester City's attack is relentless. They look unstoppable!"
"In their first two league matches, they crushed Blackburn 5-0 and demolished Everton 6-0. Tonight, at the Etihad, they've already put two past Wolves in the opening ten minutes!"
"Mick McCarthy needs to be careful!"
"Manchester City are on fire tonight. This could turn into an all-out attacking spectacle. Let's see if Wolves can adjust quickly."
…
"Look at this quick counterattack from Manchester City—again, it's played out to the left."
"Felipe sprints forward, delivering a pass to Robinho on the left edge of the penalty area."
"Robinho, with his signature stepovers, shakes off Stearman before cutting inside and crossing into the box."
"Suarez shields the ball against Mancienne, controlling it with his foot before laying it off."
"David Silva arrives… David Silva, he strikes… and it's in!!!"
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
"Three-nil!"
"Wolves are collapsing under the pressure!"
"In the 18th minute, Manchester City score their third!"
"Right from kickoff, City have been relentless, especially down the left flank. Robinho is far more involved tonight compared to the first round. He's become City's most dangerous attacking threat on that side."
"And what a smart assist from Suarez! Mancienne, still young, managed to prevent Suarez from turning, but he couldn't stop the Uruguayan from setting up Silva perfectly."
"Manchester City's entire attacking unit is in full flow!"
…
"Robinho again on the left, taking on two defenders at once, forcing his way through with the ball!"
"A beautiful cross into the penalty area."
"The ball is deflected out for a corner."
"Robinho's outstanding performance earns him a standing ovation, and Manchester City win a corner on the left."
"David Silva steps up to take it."
"City's tall players are moving forward."
"David Silva swings in the corner—it drops right in front of goal! Suarez rises… and heads it in!!"
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
"Four-nil!"
"In the 33rd minute, Manchester City score their fourth goal of the game, a header from Suarez!"
"That's also his fifth Premier League goal of the season!"
"What a performance!"
"In just over 30 minutes, Manchester City have launched a relentless attacking assault. Wolves are completely overwhelmed, unable to do anything but watch their defense get torn apart time and time again."
"Mick McCarthy looks devastated."
"Before the match, he confidently claimed his team could leave the Etihad unscathed. But now, after conceding four unanswered goals, there's almost no way back for Wolves tonight."
…
When City scored their fourth goal, Gao Shen turned around, grinning, and high-fived his assistants one by one in celebration.
But soon after, he turned back toward the pitch, applauding David Silva's contribution while reminding the players to stay focused and not let their guard down.
Even though Wolves were a newly promoted side and not particularly strong, caution was still necessary.
"Robinho is playing brilliantly today," Sarri said with a smile.
Gao Shen nodded. "It's all thanks to Lorenzo and Antonio."
Both fitness coaches waved their hands modestly, but everyone knew their work had made a significant impact.
Robinho's current weight was actually similar to when Gao Shen first took over, but if you compared his physique now to his pre-training photos, the difference was striking. His body was much stronger.
Of course, he wasn't built like a powerhouse, but for his style of play, this was a major improvement.
The benefits were obvious—his speed, explosiveness, and flexibility had all improved, and his footwork had become even sharper. In his goal earlier, he executed a sudden stop, shook off Mancienne, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful, fast shot.
Last season, Robinho had scored plenty of goals, but most were finesse finishes or penalties. Goals like tonight's, where power and speed played a major role were rare.
All of this was a result of the specialized training he had undergone with the fitness coaches.
"Honestly, if he's in the gym, that's our credit. But more importantly, he's the one willing to put in the work," Pintus chuckled.
The group burst into laughter, knowing exactly what Pintus meant.
Truth be told, Gao Shen didn't do anything extraordinary, he just used simple but effective methods.
For instance, competition.
One of the reasons Hazard wasn't against gym work was that Gao Shen often, intentionally or not used his girlfriend as motivation. It lit a fire under the Belgian, and while he wasn't a training fanatic, he still worked hard.
As a direct competitor, Robinho naturally refused to be outdone.
And tonight, Robinho's explosive performance likely stemmed from a conversation he had with Gao Shen the night before.
By now, most people at Manchester City and even back in Naples—knew the pattern: when someone delivered an exceptional performance, it usually meant they'd had a chat with the boss beforehand.
"So, tell me—what did you say to him last night?" Carlo asked, curious.
He wasn't much of a talker himself, so he admired people who could inspire players with words.
Lucas and Sarri exchanged amused glances before laughing.
In truth, the trick Gao Shen used was nothing new.
He deliberately left his office door slightly open. When Robinho arrived, the coaching staff spoke just loud enough for him to overhear.
They discussed how everyone believed Hazard should keep his starting spot, while Gao Shen found himself in a "difficult position" because he had already promised Robinho a start. But in the end, he insisted on giving Robinho a chance.
Afterward, the staff left, and Gao Shen had a private heart-to-heart with Robinho, saying things that couldn't be shared with others. Then, he gave the Brazilian a few motivational speeches.
If Robinho lacked ambition and was content with mediocrity, it wouldn't have mattered. But Gao Shen knew he had awakened the Brazilian's competitive spirit.
How could he let himself be overshadowed by a kid from Ligue 1?
Losing to Messi was one thing—at least Messi was Messi!
But losing to a player from the French league? That was unacceptable.
No matter what, he was still one of Brazil's biggest stars!
And so, tonight, Robinho erupted.
When Carlo asked again, Gao Shen simply smiled.
"Honestly, I didn't do anything. The key is the players' own drive and self-discipline. That's what really matters."
After all, as a man of integrity, Gao Shen would never use any psychological tricks on his players.
That just wasn't the kind of person he was!
…
As Wolves dropped deeper into their own half in the second half, Manchester City eased off the attacking intensity.
Gao Shen, however, made a deliberate shift, focusing more on the right side to help Robben regain his rhythm.
Though the Dutchman's performance tonight hadn't matched Robinho's, Gao Shen could see him gradually finding his form under pressure.
Hazard, Robinho, Sturridge—they had all experienced breakthroughs. There was no way Robben wasn't feeling the heat.
For players at their level, this kind of competition wasn't destructive, it was fuel for motivation.
Gao Shen firmly believed that Robben's moment was coming.
(To be continued.)
***
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