Everyone says the league relies on offense, and the cup relies on defense.
That's not entirely true, but it does reflect the fact that league and cup competitions are two completely different beasts.
In my previous life, some people used to ask: why do Guardiola's teams always perform so well in the league but often get eliminated in cup competitions?
The answer is actually quite simple. The challenges presented by the league and the cup are completely different.
The league is more of a test of a team's overall strength. It spans a long period of time, and players are bound to get injured or experience fluctuations in form, so someone must always be ready to step up.
Cup competitions are different. The outcome is often decided over two legs, or even just one match. It's a direct test of the manager's tactical deployment and the team's weaknesses.
It's just like the bucket theory: the shortest plank determines how much water the bucket can hold.
Teams like Barcelona under Guardiola can be extremely strong overall, but they may have some fatal weaknesses.
In the league, these flaws don't have a major impact. But in high-intensity cup games, especially against equally strong opponents with well-prepared tactics, these flaws can become decisive. The team might even get completely taken apart if the opponent exploits those weaknesses to the fullest.
Guardiola's teams, including the Barcelona team after his departure, had a serious issue: their defense.
It was really, really rough.
Gao Shen didn't notice this before. But after spending three years in Italy, when he looked back at Barcelona, he realized how weak their defense actually was.
However, their defensive shortcomings were masked by their exceptional midfield control and firepower in the final third. Coupled with relentless high pressing, these things concealed Barcelona's defensive issues.
Now, as the pressing and mobility of the midfield and front line declined, those problems were immediately exposed.
If it were a cup match and Gao Shen led Manchester City against Barcelona, he was confident he could win 10 out of 11 times.
But whether he could win the league title was another matter entirely, because the league and cup competitions test different aspects of a team.
So, how do you beat Barcelona?
Compress the space near the halfway line, organize a compact defense, and focus on counterattacks.
When Real Madrid was being assembled in 2009, their target was clear—beat Barcelona.
Knowing that Barcelona's defense was poor, the plan was to focus precisely on that weakness.
Shrink the midfield and defensive lines to disrupt their build-up and penetration. Then, the moment possession is won, launch fast counterattacks.
Isn't that exactly what Xabi Alonso's long passes and the speed of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Di Maria were built for?
But here's where it gets interesting.
Under Pellegrini, the team actually did quite well. Although they were often on the back foot against Barcelona, they could still grind out some results.
From Gao Shen's point of view, if they had just sacrificed one of Ronaldo, Kaka, Di Maria, or the striker, reinforced the midfield defense, and continued with that playstyle, they could've beaten Barcelona consistently.
But what no one expected was the arrival of the German number 10 in 2010.
What's the main trait of a number 10 from Germany?
Deadly passing.
Where does he play?
Well, obviously in the number 10 role.
And where is that on the pitch?
In an advanced central attacking position.
So, what are Ronaldo and Di Maria's strengths?
Speed. The whole world knows that.
And what does speed require?
Space. Without space, what's the point of sprinting forward?
If your attacking midfielder is so far forward, then by the time he delivers the ball and Ronaldo or Di Maria picks it up, how much space is left for them to use?
See the problem?
From a tactical standpoint, once the attack starts from the number 10 position, Ronaldo and Di Maria don't have much room to work with.
So, playing a number 10 conflicts with Ronaldo and Di Maria's strengths.
What did Ancelotti do when he took over?
He brought in Modric.
He brought Modric into the lineup and pushed the team's build-up play further back from the number 10 area.
Now, Xabi Alonso and Modric were in charge of initiating attacks.
That gave Ronaldo and Di Maria the space they needed to sprint down the flanks.
More importantly, these two midfielders complemented each other perfectly.
That's how Real Madrid won La Décima, their 10th Champions League title.
…
To a certain extent, the problem Bayern faced was quite similar to Real Madrid's.
In his previous life, Heynckes had two explosive wingers, Ribery and Robben. He needed a center forward, Schweinsteiger was a lock in midfield, and a holding midfielder was also essential, leaving just one spot open.
Toni Kroos or Thomas Müller?
This question dragged on for years.
From Van Gaal to Heynckes, fans and media alike—both in Germany and abroad—debated who among the two rising stars should start.
They even tried Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos together as double pivots, but it didn't work out.
After Heynckes took over, he strongly supported Toni Kroos—his protégé from Leverkusen—and played him as a number 10 in the 4-2-3-1 setup.
But Bayern quickly ran into the same issue Real Madrid did. The attack started too high up the pitch, which didn't suit Ribery and Robben. Plus, both of them liked cutting inside from the wings, and Toni Kroos' presence limited their space.
Thomas Müller didn't have that problem. He focused more on movement and support.
So, during the 2011/12 season, Bayern often dominated matches but couldn't score, even while controlling the game.
After Schweinsteiger got injured, Toni Kroos moved deeper to take on more responsibility, and things improved.
Then came the 2012/13 season, and things changed again.
First, Robben got injured, so Müller shifted wide and clicked with Lahm, bringing the best out of Bayern's captain on the right flank. Then, Schweinsteiger got injured.
In the Round of 16 against Arsenal, Bayern won 3-1 away in the first leg. Back at home, Schweinsteiger was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, so Heynckes used Martinez and Gustavo as the double pivots, with Kroos as the playmaker.
What happened?
They lost 2-0 at home and nearly got knocked out.
But here's the twist—Kroos got injured early in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Juventus. Robben came on as a substitute.
Bayern adjusted, with Schweinsteiger and Martinez as the double pivots and Müller playing the number 10 role.
And the result?
They beat Juventus 2-0 in both legs. In the semis, they destroyed Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate. In the final, they beat Dortmund 2-1.
Why?
Because without Toni Kroos, Bayern's build-up play shifted back to the double pivot.
That gave Ribery and Robben the space they needed to be dangerous.
Gao Shen believed that Bayern's management understood this very clearly. They knew that as long as Heynckes remained in charge and the team's tactical system stayed the same, the conflict between Kroos, Schweinsteiger, and Müller would persist.
But these three players were the future of the German national team.
So, what did they do?
They chose Guardiola.
Who would've thought? Right after Toni Kroos got injured, Heynckes' Bayern took off.
Mind you, Guardiola had already signed with Bayern in January. Six months later, Heynckes' team won the treble.
…
Gao Shen always felt that Toni Kroos was a strategic player, like Xabi Alonso or Modric. Real Madrid's iconic midfield trio would go on to become a classic combination remembered for years to come.
But in Bayern's system, Kroos was surplus to requirements.
He had too much in common with Schweinsteiger, which led to positional overlap. But he couldn't replace Schweinsteiger—he wasn't as good defensively, and he didn't have the same status in the team.
That's why Bayern's top brass eventually sold him.
Some people asked, why did Guardiola like using Toni Kroos?
Simple—because in Guardiola's system, Kroos didn't play as a number 10.
From Kroos, you can clearly see how a small shift in a player's position or role can create massive tactical differences.
In this Bayern team, he was like a dragon trapped in shallow water—restricted and unable to stretch out.
But even so, Bayern continued using Kroos as a number 10, with Schweinsteiger and Gustavo behind him.
With Robben absent, the conflict between Müller and Kroos disappeared. When Müller moved to the wing, his partnership with Lahm worked wonders, helping the Bayern captain deliver his best performances on the right.
But without Robben, Bayern also lost a key weapon for counterattacks.
So, heading into this match—Manchester City vs Bayern—Gao Shen's tactical approach was already clear.
Take inspiration from Klopp's Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final: transition quickly between attack and defense, press high in midfield and the final third, and have defenders step up aggressively.
The key targets: Toni Kroos and Schweinsteiger.
…
After finishing his meeting with the coaching staff, Gao Shen called Neuer in for a private chat.
He could clearly see Neuer's internal conflict.
After reaching the Champions League final and returning to Germany, it was a triumphant homecoming. But like all Germans, Neuer had a deep emotional connection to Bayern.
Germany's national team had always drawn its main goalkeepers from Bayern Munich, but Neuer was an exception.
Once upon a time, he too dreamed of becoming a Bayern and Germany legend like Kahn.
Gao Shen said he understood how the player felt.
"I also believe you'll handle your emotions well—because right now, you're a Manchester City player."
He even joked that if Neuer really wanted to go back to Bayern someday, he had to win the Champions League final first.
"Do you think they'll respect you if you go back as a loser?"
Those words really struck a chord with Neuer.
The German keeper nodded with a smile, clearly agreeing with Gao Shen.
Whether he returned or not, that was something for the future.
But even if he wanted to go back, he had to win this title first—return as a champion.
That would be a proper homecoming.
(To be continued.)
***
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