In Gao Shen's past-life memories, his father had always been an honest man.
He lacked career ambition, struggled with socializing, and never found a way to make money, which meant his professional life never progressed. He was well-liked by his neighbors, but that was mainly because he tolerated a lot. He would often return home frustrated, vent his anger in private, and then go back outside, acting as if nothing had happened.
Gao Shen's mother often quarreled with him over these things, though they were just minor arguments.
It wasn't until Gao Shen was about to leave home that he and his father sat in the yard one evening and had a long conversation. Among the many things they discussed, there was one sentence his father said that stuck with him even now:
"If we lose money, we can earn it back. If we lose a job, we can find another one. But if there's a hole in our heart, there's no way to mend it."
That sentence had a profound impact on Gao Shen. Whether in school, work, or his coaching career after traveling through time, he had always lived by that principle. No matter what he did, he made sure to act with a clear conscience.
From Real Madrid to Napoli and now to Manchester City, he had always maintained a few specific habits in his approach. One of them was personally speaking with players who were left out of the squad, explaining the reasons behind his decision.
Even for those included in the squad, Gao Shen would take the time to clarify why they were starting or on the bench.
Over the years, he had stuck to this practice, always handling things in a straightforward and transparent manner.
Because of this, even when players were dissatisfied with their playing time, no one in the locker room or club management ever accused him of favoritism or hidden agendas.
On the contrary, most people praised his honesty and directness.
Over time, Gao Shen realized the biggest advantage of this approach, it eliminated unnecessary misunderstandings and prevented countless headaches.
…
Robben on the bench!
Gao Shen's decision caught the coaching staff off guard.
On one hand, Robben was eager to play. The Dutchman looked to be in top condition, and benching him carried risks. What if City started strong and went up by two or three goals in the first half? How would Robben feel coming on in the second half with the game already decided?
On the other hand, what if the first half didn't go well? If Arsenal took the lead, maybe even by two or three goals how much pressure would Robben be under when he entered the game?
And from a purely tactical standpoint, it was unconventional to bench one of the team's best players.
Your best weapon should always be on the field, not hidden away.
But Gao Shen stood by his decision.
His reasoning was simple, he believed Wenger would play more conservatively, possibly even using three defensive midfielders.
"I can't use my best weapon to bash against their iron wall."
Robben was like a razor-sharp dagger. To maximize his impact, it was better to wait until Arsenal's defense showed cracks rather than bluntly trying to cut through it from the start.
Not only that, but Gao Shen also instructed Lucas to inform the media team of his plan to provoke Arsenal at the pre-match press conference that afternoon. If he could bait Wenger into playing more aggressively, that would be the best possible outcome.
The coaching staff didn't fully agree with Gao Shen's approach, but they trusted him and gave their full support.
After the meeting, Gao Shen returned to his office and asked someone to call Robben in.
He sat on the couch, thinking about how to break the news.
Robben was eager to play—desperate to prove himself. His competitive spirit was undeniable, and Gao Shen wasn't entirely sure how he would react.
If Robben's desire to start was strong enough, Gao Shen was willing to reconsider his decision.
After all, it was the players who ultimately had to execute on the pitch.
…
"Boss, you wanted to see me?"
Robben knocked on the office door, walking in with a smile.
Seeing that expression, Gao Shen suddenly hesitated.
He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Robben smile like that.
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
But his intuition and analysis told him, against Arsenal, bringing Robben off the bench would be the most effective approach.
"Arjen, come sit down," Gao Shen quickly motioned.
He poured Robben a glass of water and started with some small talk—his training, his return to the team, how he was feeling.
They talked about various things, but eventually, the conversation felt forced.
"Boss, is something wrong?" Robben finally asked, sensing the awkwardness.
This wasn't like Gao Shen at all.
Gao Shen nodded, then got straight to the point.
At first, Robben's reaction was intense. He repeatedly assured Gao Shen that his condition was perfect, that he felt better than he had in the past year. He insisted he could start and play the full 90 minutes.
But Gao Shen remained calm, patiently explaining his reasoning.
Gradually, Robben began to understand.
But understanding didn't mean accepting it easily.
"Boss, I get what you're saying, but even if I start, I can still be just as dangerous in the second half. You have to trust me!" Robben argued.
"I do trust you," Gao Shen nodded. "But Arjen, my analysis tells me Wenger will approach this game cautiously. In the early stages, when both sides are physically fresh, the match is likely to be a stalemate."
"If Arsenal plays with three defensive midfielders—Denilson, Alex Song, and Diaby—you'll have almost no space to work with. My plan is for you to sit on the bench during this attrition phase, study their movements, and when the game reaches its breaking point, that's when you come on and make the difference."
After a pause, Gao Shen added, "Don't think Wenger will sit back and defend for 90 minutes. I guarantee he won't. He'll be hiding his best weapon too, waiting until we're drained before using it."
"So when that moment comes, your impact will decide whether we win or lose."
"You're on the bench, but all of my bets, all of our hopes are on you!"
Hearing those words, Robben felt the sincerity in Gao Shen's voice.
Gao Shen could have sugarcoated it, come up with a more diplomatic excuse, but he had chosen to be brutally honest instead.
"Boss, how confident are you?" Robben asked.
Gao Shen thought for a moment before answering.
"Seventy percent."
Seventy percent?
That was high enough!
No one could say for certain whether Gao Shen's judgment was correct, but given his conviction, it was only natural for him to make such a decision. Robben understood his reasoning.
"I trust you, and I'll follow your plan," Robben said with a smile.
Gao Shen was momentarily surprised.
He hadn't expected Robben to accept it so easily.
He had anticipated a long conversation, perhaps even having to convince him twice.
But looking at Robben's face, he saw nothing but trust and a genuine smile.
Maybe the Dutchman truly believed in his instincts and tactical judgment.
The coaching staff had never doubted Gao Shen's decisions, but they had worried about a potential conflict with Robben over this.
As a head coach, Gao Shen always had to consider multiple factors.
Now that Robben had agreed, everything became much easier.
…
That afternoon, Gao Shen attended the pre-match press conference at Carrington and announced the 18-man squad for the match against Arsenal, which included Robben, Adam Lallana, and others.
As for the starting lineup and substitutes, those would only be revealed at the last moment.
During the press conference, Gao Shen deliberately provoked Wenger, claiming he expected an exciting game because Wenger was not a conservative manager.
"This will be a clash between the two most powerful attacking teams in the Premier League!"
He even "predicted" a high-scoring battle.
On the same day, Arsenal's captain, Cesc Fàbregas, had given an interview to The Guardian, where he expressed great confidence in Arsenal's strength, citing their recent draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
"Some teams try to prevent us from playing our style with questionable tactics, but we won't be intimidated by that. Our draw proved that no one can bully us."
Fàbregas had used the word bully.
While he was referring to the match against Manchester United, his words also seemed to be aimed at the upcoming showdown against Manchester City.
In response, Gao Shen publicly agreed with Fàbregas and supported his remarks, saying he hoped both teams would stick to their attacking philosophies and deliver a thrilling spectacle for the Premier League and fans worldwide.
"So, Wenger, shall we go all-out on offense? The first one to play defensively is a coward!"
But then, Gao Shen subtly shifted the topic.
He first expressed his respect for Wenger but added that he didn't believe the Arsenal manager would actually take such an aggressive approach in an away game against Manchester City.
"Let's wait and see," Gao Shen said with a confident smile.
The media then brought up his infamous statement from his time at Napoli when he declared he would show the world how to beat Arsenal—only for his Napoli side to thoroughly dismantle them.
"Now, Mr. Gao, you've come to the Premier League. We're all looking forward to it. Do you still have the confidence to show the world once again how to beat Arsenal?"
Gao Shen had anticipated this question.
"You're obviously a London-based journalist, but why do I get the impression that you have a deep-seated grudge against Arsenal and are eager to see them lose as badly as possible?"
Laughter erupted in the press room.
After all, stirring up controversy was part of the media's job.
"The first two times I beat Arsenal, I did it with two different teams, using two different tactical approaches. Now, at Manchester City, I'll be demonstrating a third way, so watch carefully!"
The reporters instantly became excited.
Different ways to destroy Arsenal?
Just the thought of it was thrilling!
(To be continued.)
***
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