Starting With Real Madrid

Before anyone realized it, he was already in his third season with Napoli.

Sometimes, Ivan Rakitic couldn't help but think back to the first time he met Gao Shen in Möhlin, a small town on the outskirts of Basel.

Back then, he could never have imagined that he was about to experience the fastest growth of his career—three years of incredible progress.

Before representing Croatia in the European Championship, Rakitic gave an interview in which he reflected on Gao Shen's impact on his career. He highlighted one thing in particular: Gao Shen was unlike any other coach he had worked with.

"He has a unique vision. It's as if he can see what makes each player different, identifying their potential and strengths, and then integrating those into a cohesive tactical system."

This, more than anything else, defined Rakitic's impression of Gao Shen.

When Rakitic first arrived in Naples, he was full of doubts and apprehension.

He couldn't help but wonder: what could this newly promoted Serie B team possibly offer him? How realistic were the ambitions Gao Shen had outlined? Was this young coach, barely older than himself, even trustworthy?

Three years later, those doubts had long been dispelled.

Rakitic now believed joining Napoli was one of the wisest decisions of his career.

The past three seasons had been transformative. Not only had he developed a clear identity as a player, but his technical and tactical traits had also become distinct. At just 20 years old, Rakitic already possessed a comprehensive skill set that stood out in modern football.

Gao Shen himself once commented on Rakitic during an interview.

"If I had to pick one player who epitomizes the characteristics of a modern football midfielder, it would be Rakitic. He's incredibly versatile and can adapt to almost any situation."

Defensively, he wasn't as aggressive as Vidal. As a playmaker, he wasn't as refined as Biglia. And offensively, he couldn't match Hamsik's explosiveness.

Yet Rakitic had cemented his position as a core midfielder.

Why? Because he was versatile. He could do everything—and do it well.

As Gao Shen often emphasized, modern football demands midfielders who are well-rounded.

Specialists, those who excel only in one area, are becoming increasingly marginalized.

Looking across Napoli's midfield, almost all players were two-way contributors, capable of both attacking and defending. The difference lay in how much emphasis they placed on each role.

Napoli's midfield setup reflected this philosophy.

This was something Gao Shen had discussed with Rakitic early on.

If you watched Napoli closely this season, you'd notice Gao Shen's preference for the 4-3-3 formation in the Champions League. The midfield trio often consisted of Thiago Motta sitting deep, with Biglia and Rakitic supporting him.

This combination wasn't chosen at random.

During pre-season, the coaching staff had experimented with various midfield pairings, but the results were inconsistent.

By contrast, Biglia and Rakitic offered the most stability when paired together.

Their roles, however, differed significantly depending on the formation.

In the 4-3-3 system, Thiago Motta operated as a shield in front of the defense. His primary responsibility was to break up attacks and distribute the ball effectively, a role akin to Barcelona's iconic number four position.

Rakitic had tried playing this deeper role but struggled to adapt.

Biglia, on the other hand, was the team's rhythm-setter. Calm and composed, he controlled the tempo, organized play, and initiated attacks during transitions. While Biglia occasionally delivered incisive forward passes, his movement was mostly lateral, providing support and maintaining balance.

Rakitic, by contrast, was more vertical in his approach. He surged forward to join attacks, broke into dangerous spaces, and took long-range shots. Defensively, he worked tirelessly to track back and support the back line. This dynamic style allowed him to refine his ability to unleash powerful long-distance strikes.

Rakitic once debated with his teammates why Gao Shen consistently paired him with Biglia.

Vidal? Hamsik? Nainggolan? Parejo? Pastore?

Why not any of them?

At first, no one understood. But after testing various combinations in matches and analyzing the results with Gao Shen, the reasoning became clear.

If you paired two Rakitics in midfield, Napoli would lose its structure entirely. Both players would push forward simultaneously, leaving the defense exposed.

On the other hand, pairing two Biglias would slow the game's tempo, eliminate midfield depth, and reduce the team's overall coverage. This would ease the pressure on opponents.

It was through trial and error, adjustments, and persistence that Gao Shen refined Napoli's system and players.

Rakitic knew he wasn't the same player he had been in Switzerland. Likewise, Biglia had evolved tremendously since arriving in Naples. Both had been shaped into exactly what the coach envisioned.

This transformation was one of the greatest benefits of working under Gao Shen.

Not only had their performances improved, but their reputations in European football had grown significantly. They now had clear identities and career trajectories, setting them up for long-term success.

Rakitic, in particular, understood that everything he had achieved so far was thanks to Gao Shen's guidance. At just 20 years old, he was already making a name for himself across Europe.

His rise had even attracted the attention of several major clubs—something he could hardly have imagined three years ago.

To repay Gao Shen's faith, Rakitic gave everything in every match. He pressed forward relentlessly, took every opportunity to attack, and executed the coach's tactical plans without compromise.

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From the very start of the game, Napoli pressed high, forcing Zenit into mistakes. On the right, Di Maria pulled defenders out of position while Cavani applied pressure to the center-backs. Recognizing the opportunity, Rakitic surged forward without hesitation.

This was his role, and he knew it well.

Biglia delivered a precise pass to Cavani.

The Argentine midfielder's vision and accuracy were impeccable. Cavani, shielding the ball with his body, brought it down with his chest. He attempted to turn and shoot but found himself tightly marked.

Without panicking, Cavani held the ball and heard Rakitic's call.

Having played together for over two years, they understood each other's movements instinctively. Cavani passed the ball to the edge of the box, where Rakitic was charging forward.

Without breaking stride, Rakitic struck the ball first-time.

Cavani's pass had been perfectly weighted, and Rakitic's shot was clean and powerful.

The ball rocketed into the bottom right corner of Zenit's net.

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"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"Less than two minutes into the match, Napoli takes the lead!"

"Cavani's assist set up Rakitic's brilliant long-range strike. What a way to start!"

"That shot was pure class—a textbook finish. Rakitic has given Napoli a dream start."

"One-nil!"

Rakitic, overcome with emotion, sprinted toward the corner to celebrate as the crowd erupted into cheers.

The Stadio San Paolo was electric. Scoring so early was the perfect start Napoli needed.

On the sidelines, Gao Shen leapt into the air, clapping and shouting his approval.

Rakitic's goal couldn't have come at a better time.

Breaking the deadlock early had been one of Gao Shen's key instructions before the match. With the lead secured, the rest of the game would become significantly easier to manage.

But Gao Shen wasn't one to let up. After the celebrations, he stepped to the edge of the technical area and shouted for his players to press even harder.

Napoli had the advantage in both quality and momentum. Gao Shen wanted to seize this opportunity to overwhelm Zenit before they could respond.

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Despite conceding so early, Zenit showed no signs of retreating.

Under Advocaat's guidance, they were as aggressive as ever, even as the away side.

In the fourth minute, Denisov delivered a cross into the box, but Handanovic confidently came off his line to claim the ball.

Napoli immediately countered. Vargas sent in a cross from the left, which Sanchez collected. The Chilean cut inside, creating space to curl a shot toward the far corner.

The attempt sailed just wide, but it was enough to make Zenit nervous.

Napoli, buoyed by their home crowd, ramped up the pressure, launching wave after wave of attacks.

In the 11th minute, the midfield pressed high, with Biglia and Rakitic pushing into Zenit's defensive third.

Biglia received the ball and threaded it to Sanchez, who broke into the box from the left. The winger's shot, however, was too central and was saved by Zenit's goalkeeper.

Napoli didn't back down.

A minute later, after regaining possession in midfield, Thiago Motta slowed the tempo momentarily before delivering a grounded pass to the right edge of the penalty area.

Di Maria, cutting inside, controlled the ball and unleashed a left-footed strike.

The Zenit goalkeeper fumbled the save, spilling the ball into Cavani's path. The Uruguayan reacted instantly, pouncing to smash the rebound into the net.

Two-nil!

The Stadio San Paolo erupted into a frenzy.

With barely 12 minutes on the clock, Napoli had scored twice, leaving Zenit shell-shocked.

For the fans at the Stadio San Paolo, this was a dream start.

Just over 12 minutes into the game, Napoli had already established a commanding lead.

But the way the match was unfolding, it seemed inevitable. Zenit had never been able to settle into the game, never managed to control possession or dictate the tempo.

From the very first whistle, the match had been played entirely on Napoli's terms.

The crowd roared in anticipation, urging their team forward, their chants growing louder with every passing moment.

They didn't just want a win. They wanted more goals.

Goals. The more, the better!