Whether Giampaolo and his Cagliari could maintain their defeance for the full y minutes, Gao Shen didn't know, but as of the sixtieth mihey were still holding firm.

  It had to be said, this team was well-prepared.

  From the beginning of the sed half, Napoli kept pushing forward, tinuously applying pressure on Cagliari and wearing down the oppo, but Cagliari remained disciplined, making no signifit mistakes and giving Napoli no clear sg opportunities.

  The score remained a frustrating 0-0 after an hour of py.

  Iands, the Napoli supporters tio cheer oeam, their voices rising in fervor.

  This was Napoli's first Serie A game in six years, a day full of profound significe. Every fan iadium was hoping the team would mark their return with a victory.

  But unfortunately, they were up against a defensive wall like Cagliari's.

  The passionate fans uood that the pyers were giving their all, but they still yearned for a win, shouting themselves hoarse, refusing to give up.

  ---

  Gao Shen stood at the edge of the teical area in front of the home bench, his eyes on the clock. He scratched his dry lips with his left hand, sighed inwardly, then turo the bend grabbed a bottle of water from a staff member.

  "They're extremely well-prepared. Based on the flow of the game, their stamina has started to drop somewhat, but if we 't ramp up the pressure on them, I'm afraid…" Lucas trailed off, shaking his head.

  He had a full suite of software to analyze the game iime, usirics such as pyer running stats, activity levels, and pass accuracy to infer each pyer's overall performand physical dition.

  At the moment, Cagliari was clearly ier shape.

  Napoli had pyed two extra cup matches before this, while Cagliari had been carefully preparing for the start of the new season. The circumstances were clearly different.

  Gao Shen dowhe etle of water in one go and cursed under his breath: Damn Juventus! Damn Italian Football Federation!

  Those two extra cup games had taken a toll on Napoli, as Gao Shen was unwilling to forfeit the cup petition.

  Even at home, fag a stubborn team like Cagliari roving to be a headache for Napoli.

  From the data and the overall game dynamics, it was clear Giampaolo nning to dig in for the ech.

  Of course, Gao Shen uood that Napoli would o try everything to break through.

  Both teams were pying with a cautious mentality, which meant Napoli wasirely safe either.

  This was why Gao Shen had beeant to take too many risks.

  To make progress while maintaining stability, the foundation o be secure first.

  Giampaolo and Cagliari were likely waiting fao Shen to make some substitutions, preferably bolder and mgressive ones.

  The mgressive they were, the more likely they were to make mistakes, which would give Cagliari the opportunity to exploit.

  After taking a sip of water, Gao Shen said nothing, but everyone on the bench had their eyes on him.

  He was the head coach. Some decisions only he could make.

  No one could take his pce.

  Gao Shen thought for a moment, then g the clock again. It was already the 63rd minute.

  They couldn't dey any longer.

  "Send Pastore to warm up!" Gao Shen ordered.

  The coag staff exged surprised looks.

  The 18-year-old Argentine had shown potential and talent, but it was still surprising to see him included in the squad so soon. Most had expected him to get a run-out in less critical moments onapoli had secured a fortable lead, just to get him used to the pace of Serie A.

  Now, it ivotal moment.

  "Or…" Carlo hesitated. "Maybe Parejo would be worth a try?"

  He had performed well off the bench three days ago.

  "We don't have a choice. This substitutioo make an impact, and Parejo might not be able to."

  "Is Pastore really ready?" Carlo voiced his s.

  He was always cautious, even a bit servative.

  This was the Serie A debut, and a crucial game at that. Was it wise to throw an inexperienced youngster into the fray to ge the course of the game?

  "He give us something no one else ," Gao Shen said firmly.

  Carlo studied Gao Shen's expression for a moment before nodding heavily.

  He had voiced his opinion, but he would fully suppao Shen's decision.

  ---

  The movements of the coag staff did not go unnoticed by the bench.

  When they overheard Pastore's he pyers all turo look at the young, slightly nky Argentine.

  He was tall but slender.

  Pastore himself was just as surprised as everyone else.

  He khe importance of this game, the teate of py, and the significe of a substitution at this moment.

  But he had never expected the coach to choose him!

  "Javier, hurry up a warmed up!" Carlo shouted.

  Pastore sprang up almost reflexively, hurriedly taking off his jacket and heading for the warm-up area.

  "Hey, kid!" Carlo stopped him.

  Pastore paused and turned back to face the assistant coach.

  "He's pg all his hopes on you. Don't let him down, got it?"

  After hearing this, Past the head coach, who had returo the sidelines, and he nodded resolutely.

  ---

  Three mier, Pastore returned from his warm-up.

  "e here!" Gao Shen beed.

  The young Argentine quickly approached, bending over to adjust his socks and shorts.

  Gao Shen gave him a quick rundown of the tactical adjustments and how the roles and responsibilities of other pyers would shift.

  "I know you're probably feeling nervous and under pressure right now, but don't be afraid."

  Gao Shen's gaze fixed on Pastore, his tone clear and firm.

  "Once you get och, you'll have oask. Just one. Fet everything else."

  Hearing this, Pastore straightened up, his eyes locked on Gao Shen, and nodded firmly.

  "Do what you do best. When you get the ball, take it straight towards their penalty area. I don't care if you use triagic; just get the ball into the box and deliver it. That's all I need from you. If you do that, you're the best!"

  Napoli's biggest issue was that Cagliari's defensive line was yered and dense, with far too many pyers clogging up the space.

  In such a sario, her passing nor off-the-ball movement was effective enough.

  What they needed was someone who could take the ball forward, pee into the danger zone, and deliver a decisive pass.

  This was the key role of dynamic midfielders like Modric, Mousa Dembele, or Kaka.

  Within the Napoli squad, only Pastore had the ability to dribble trally.

  Di Maria and Sanchez o stay wide to stretch the opposition's defense, creating the space Pastore would need in the middle to make his run. If the opposition colpsed too tightly, it wouldn't matter who was in the middle.

  Of course, this also required effective horizontal passing and ball trol to stretch Cagliari's defense. Napoli had worked on this in training, and during the match, but without a pyer who could pee trally, it hadn't been enough.

  Hamsik had solid passing and shooting ability, and he tributed defensively, but he cked the necessary explosiveness.

  Parejo was a skilled passer, while Pastore excelled at driving fao Shen's trarategy was deliberate, not random.

  "Don't worry about the pressure, Javier." Gao Shen gripped Pastore's shoulders.

  The kid was actually taller than him, just far too skinny.

  "Look, more than 50,000 fans are here tonight, pinning their hopes on us. Right now, all our hopes of winni on you. Just py yame and do what you do best. Uand?"

  Pastore nodded firmly. "Boss…"

  "Speak," Gao Shen saw the hesitation in his eyes.

  " I nutmeg someone?" Pastore asked hesitantly.

  He remembered how Gao Shen had lectured him when he first arrived in Naples, insisting that some of the fshy habits picked up in South Ameri football o be curbed, especially nutmegging, which could be seen as disrespectful. Gao Shen had warned him that doing so could lead to harsh lessons.

  So now, Pastore wasirely sure.

  "Do it. Go for the nutmeg. If you pull it off a few times, I'll give you the Nutmeg King award after the match!"

  With that, Gao Shen pyfully ruffled the boy's long Argentine hair.

  At this point, who cared about nutmegs?

  As long as it led to a goal, he wouldn't mind if Pastore went as far as pulling down the oppo's shorts!

  Pastrinned, ughed, and nodded eagerly.

  "Remember, be mindful of when to pass. Make the final ball t, okay?" Gao Shen urged.

  Pastore nodded with determination and jogged to the sidelines.

  Gao Shehat it was unrealistic to expect Pastore or Parejo to py at the level of Zidane uti.

  Young pyers often cked sistency, and mistakes were iable.

  But right nooli was in a tight spot.

  This substitution was indeed a bit risky.

  But football, by nature, is a game of risks.

  ---

  "Napoli is making their first substitution."

  "Let's take a look at this pyer a young 18-year-old frentina's sed division, named Javier Pastore. He's never pyed in Argentina's top flight before and has only made five appearances in the sed tier."

  "He did participate in a warm-up match for Napoli, but we don't have aailed performaa from that game."

  "Right now, we only specute that he's a young talent with signifit potential."

  "But we also have to question, what does Gao Shen hope to achieve by bringing Pastore on at such a critical moment? Does he believe that what other pyers couldn't aplish, Pastore ?"

  "Pastore is ing on for Rakitic."

  "Is Napoli switg to a single defensive midfielder?"

  "We see that after Pastore hugged Rakitic, he ran onto the pitd immediately begauring, unig with his teammates, clearly reying Gao Shen's test instrus and tactical adjustments."

  "Biglia is now occupying the deeper midfield role, while Pastore has taken a more advanced position, simir to where Rakitic was earlier. It still appears to be a cautious, banced setup."

  "After all, this is Napoli's first game ba Serie A after a six-year absence, so it's uandable that they're pying it safe."

  "But time is running out for Napoli."