Gao Shen had granted Robben a two-week vacation, with the only requirement being that he report back to the team before the fifth round of the season.
Not only that, but Gao Shen had also arranged round-trip flights and hotel accommodations for Robben's family, allowing them to enjoy a trip to the Middle East.
These perks came as part of Gao Shen's benefits as a brand ambassador, so he simply took advantage of them.
During this time, Gao Shen made a trip to London to attend the English Football Association's annual coaches' conference.
He had initially looked forward to the event, but after arriving, he found himself somewhat disappointed.
Most of the Premier League's active head coaches either skipped the event entirely or only made a brief appearance before leaving. The ones who were most engaged were either retired managers with ample free time or young, up-and-coming coaches.
For someone at Gao Shen's level, the conference felt dull.
However, from another perspective, holding such an event still had value, particularly for the development of young coaches.
One noteworthy moment during the trip was when Gao Shen met a young Chinese coach who had come to study at Loughborough University.
The aspiring coach admitted that he had chosen to study in England because of Gao Shen's influence and hoped to stay and work in European football in the future.
Gao Shen naturally offered him some encouragement, even giving him his private phone number in case he ever needed guidance.
At the end of the day, they were fellow countrymen abroad, helping each other was only natural.
Gao Shen didn't stay long at the coaches' conference before receiving an invitation from Ancelotti.
Not for a card game—this time, it was dinner.
Several London-based Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Fulham, and West Ham, hosted dinners and invited attending managers for a casual gathering. This had seemingly become an annual tradition.
In truth, the Premier League was now packed with high-profile coaches.
Fulham was managed by Roy Hodgson, a man who had coached Inter Milan twice and later managed both Liverpool and the England national team.
West Ham's manager was Italian legend Gianfranco Zola.
Wigan Athletic was led by Roberto Martínez, who would later replace Moyes at Everton and make a name for himself with the Belgian national team.
Alongside them were other well-known figures such as Moyes, Martin O'Neill, and Mark Hughes.
The Premier League was brimming with managerial talent.
Gao Shen, however, stood out as the most unique presence in the room.
Looking around, he saw mostly men in their forties, fifties, sixties, and even seventies.
At not even twenty-nine years old, he was like a fish out of water.
Still, aside from Mark Hughes, who clearly felt uncomfortable around him, the rest of the managers were warm and welcoming.
On the pitch, they were rivals.
Off it, they were not necessarily enemies.
From a competitive standpoint, Gao Shen was undoubtedly an opponent, both in team performance and job security. But in the bigger picture, there were only 20 managerial positions in the Premier League.
At Gao Shen's level, he was only ever going to manage one of the top clubs.
He was at Manchester City because of the massive financial backing of the Qatari owners.
As long as these managers were competent and could adapt to modern football trends, they didn't need to fear unemployment.
Especially now, as even many Championship clubs were being taken over by wealthy investors.
With that in mind, the dinner had a lively and relaxed atmosphere.
At the end of the night, Ancelotti attempted to convince Gao Shen to stay longer, but he declined immediately.
It wasn't hard to guess—the Italian just wanted a card-playing partner.
…
Upon returning to Manchester, Gao Shen dove back into work.
Even though the squad was away on international duty, he closely monitored their training sessions and matches.
He kept in constant contact with the players, tracking their every move, so much so that even a sneeze didn't go unnoticed.
What he didn't expect, however, was that Robben would return early from vacation.
Of the two weeks off, the Dutch winger had only taken one.
When Gao Shen saw Robben back at Carrington, he gave him a long look, examining his face, his expression, and his eyes.
Something was different.
Even Carlo and the other staff members noticed it.
"What's going on? Did you meet a beautiful woman in the Middle East?" Gao Shen joked as he invited Robben to sit down.
Robben scratched his bald head and laughed. "Boss, what kind of beauty would I meet on a family trip? I just completely relaxed and let myself go for a while. Now, I feel much better."
"Good!" Gao Shen nodded approvingly, noting the genuine ease in Robben's demeanor.
"Now that you've recharged, it's time to get back to work. Next week, we're playing Arsenal!"
At the mention of Arsenal, Robben's face turned serious.
"Boss, don't worry! I won't let you down this time!"
Gao Shen had invested a lot in Robben not just in time and effort but also financially.
The entire cost of Robben's family's trip to Dubai—flights, hotels, food, and entertainment—had been covered.
Although it was technically a sponsorship benefit, it was still a personal gift from Gao Shen.
And Robben hadn't forgotten that.
Now that his break was over and he was back in training, he knew it was time to repay the trust.
If, even after this, Robben still couldn't deliver for Gao Shen, then all of the coach's efforts would have been in vain.
"Don't stress yourself too much. Just prepare well," Gao Shen encouraged. "I need you in the Arsenal match!"
Robben nodded firmly and left.
…
After the Dutchman departed, Gao Shen, the coaching staff, and psychologist Ferrucci gathered to discuss his condition upon returning from vacation.
The signs were encouraging.
In the past, Robben always carried a look of deep frustration and bitterness, his face perpetually clouded, as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. But now, things were different. There was a spark in his eyes, an eagerness, a hunger to get back on the pitch.
That was an excellent sign.
It meant that Robben had truly managed to clear his mind and was returning in the right mental state.
"In the coming weeks, make sure to closely monitor his physical condition and mental state," Gao Shen reminded. Robben played a crucial role in his tactical system.
The coaching staff and Ferrucci all nodded in agreement.
Ferrucci's role at Manchester City was to oversee the players' psychological well-being and emotional stability. During her time in Naples, she had been incredibly effective, achieving impressive results. But at Manchester City, her challenges were on another level.
Here, she had to deal with players like Robinho, a volatile talent with attitude problems; Robben, a big-name star with a fragile mentality; and Suarez, who carried psychological scars from his difficult childhood.
It was a new challenge.
Not just for Ferrucci, but for Gao Shen as well.
Every season was a fresh start, and this year, the pressure on Manchester City was immense.
But if they succeeded, the sense of accomplishment would be unparalleled.
…
With Robben back in the squad, Gao Shen continued running training as scheduled, incorporating tactical drills and specific preparations for the upcoming match against Arsenal.
During this period, Henderson and Adam Lallana were two of the key players he focused on developing.
Meanwhile, players like Gareth Bale and Sturridge were away on international duty with their respective senior and youth national teams.
From the feedback during training, Robben's performances were excellent.
According to him, even while on vacation, he had trained daily in the hotel gym to maintain his fitness. As a result, his condition had not deteriorated. If anything, he looked even sharper, more energized, and more determined.
Three days before the fifth round of the Premier League, the league officially announced the Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards for August.
This was a long-standing Premier League tradition—every month, the league recognized the best manager and best player based on their performances.
Even before the official announcement, the media had been buzzing with speculation.
Judging by the standings, Gao Shen was the clear favorite.
However, favorites didn't always win.
After all, four teams had recorded four consecutive victories in August. Other managers had also performed well and were strong contenders.
Still, it was Gao Shen's first season in the Premier League, and he couldn't help but feel a little anticipation.
In the end, he was officially named Premier League Manager of the Month for August.
The Premier League's official explanation was clear:
In four matches, Manchester City had scored 18 goals and conceded only one, making them the best-performing and most consistent team.
Moreover, their attacking football was the most aesthetically pleasing in the league.
"Gao Shen has delivered on his promise since taking over at Manchester City, leading this rising powerhouse to play an exciting brand of offensive, technical football. Under his guidance, Manchester City's style has become a unique and eye-catching spectacle in the Premier League."
The league statement also noted that although only four rounds had been played, Gao Shen had already proven his coaching ability through both results and performances.
"He and Manchester City have the potential to become the biggest dark horse in the Premier League this season."
…
The competition for August's Player of the Month was just as intense.
Liverpool's Gerrard and Torres, Chelsea's Essien and Drogba, and Tottenham's Defoe had all performed exceptionally well, making them strong candidates.
But in the end, Manchester City's Luis Suarez won the award.
The reasoning was simple.
In the first four league matches, Suarez had scored seven goals.
On one hand, this reflected Manchester City's attacking style.
On the other, it highlighted Suarez's individual brilliance.
Beyond his goals, he had also contributed several assists.
"Suarez plays a pivotal role in Manchester City's advanced tactical system. He has been instrumental in their four-match winning streak and has stood out as the best player in the Premier League over the past month."
"More importantly, Manchester City only spent €15 million to sign him—an absolute bargain!"
"Suarez's success is yet another testament to Gao Shen's ability to identify, develop, and maximize young talent. His rapid rise makes him one of the most exciting players to watch this season, and many believe he will be an essential weapon in Manchester City's pursuit of glory."
(To be continued.)
***
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