On the evening of April 6th, at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
The players from both teams had finished their pre-match warmups and returned to the dressing rooms.
By this time, the stands at the Allianz Arena were already packed.
Tonight, 66,000 fans had poured into the stadium to support Bayern Munich.
Even though Van Gaal's side had struggled this season, the fans continued to stand behind their team.
The match hadn't even started, but the atmosphere was already electric.
In the diehard fan sections, flags waved furiously and chants rang out through the stadium.
With the Bundesliga title out of reach and their German Cup hopes also dashed, the Champions League was Bayern's only remaining objective. Naturally, the fans hoped the team would continue its run.
Unfortunately, they had drawn the formidable Manchester City.
Everyone knew Gao Shen was a master of cup competitions. And Manchester City were, without question, one of the most dominant teams in Europe this season.
That cast a shadow over the home side's chances.
Up in the presidential box, Bayern's senior executives had solemn looks on their faces. Their usual confidence was gone, replaced by tension and anxiety.
"Van Gaal is too stubborn!" Hoeness muttered, already aware of the starting lineup.
"Still refusing to make changes?" Rummenigge asked.
Hoeness let out a cold laugh. "You're thinking too much. He never compromises."
Stubbornness can be a virtue—if one is right.
But when a person refuses to change even in the face of clear evidence, it becomes a fatal flaw.
Van Gaal was that kind of person. He never backed down.
"Before the game, Lahm spoke with him on behalf of the squad and pointed out the issues with the defensive setup," Hoeness added helplessly. "But Van Gaal still wouldn't budge."
It was a worrying sign.
Everyone in football knew how terrifying Manchester City's attack was.
Even at home, Bayern's shaky defense made this a dangerous fixture. If City scored an away goal—or worse, opened the scoring—Bayern would be under immense pressure.
So whether it was Hoeness, Rummenigge, or the players in the dressing room, the consensus was clear: Bayern needed to prioritize defensive stability.
But Van Gaal had other ideas.
He always believed in outscoring the opponent.
"Do you know how I feel right now?" Hoeness asked with a bitter smile.
"Conflicted," Rummenigge answered.
Hoeness nodded.
Rummenigge was feeling the same way.
Why did they hire Van Gaal?
Because Gao Shen turned them down.
Why did they want Gao Shen?
Because Bayern had realized their system needed to evolve.
After witnessing the tactical revolutions sparked by Klopp at Dortmund and Tuchel at Mainz, Bayern's leadership recognized that football had entered a new era.
They brought in Van Gaal to modernize the team.
And to his credit, Van Gaal had delivered.
Bayern played with more control, more possession, and more attacking flair than before.
But the cost was a fragile defense.
Last season, the problems weren't so apparent. That squad still had Demichelis, a solid ball-playing centre-back who brought balance.
But he had clashed with Van Gaal and forced a move to Malaga during the winter transfer window.
Now Bayern were without him, and the problems had become obvious.
The top brass at Bayern found themselves in a dilemma.
They wanted evolution, and Van Gaal had given them that. But now they wished he hadn't gone so far.
Only Van Gaal wouldn't take a step back.
"You know," Hoeness sighed, "he gives me the feeling of a dictator stuck in the early 1990s."
Back then, football was simpler.
Head coaches gave instructions, players followed them without question. The manager's authority was absolute.
But things were different now.
Since the Bosman ruling, players had gained more freedom, more influence, and stronger personalities. Coaches couldn't just bark orders and expect full compliance.
Modern coaching required communication.
The best managers led through personal charisma and strong communication skills, earning trust and buy-in from their players.
Van Gaal, though, seemed stuck in the past.
That wouldn't be a problem at a smaller club like Alkmaar, where the players were humble and obedient.
But this was Bayern Munich.
"If only we had tried harder to sign Gao Shen before Manchester City did," Hoeness sighed. "Things might have been very different."
"Not might. They absolutely would've been," Rummenigge agreed.
But there were no ifs in football.
…
In the players' tunnel, both teams were lined up and ready to walk out.
Gao Shen exited the visiting dressing room and descended the stairs.
At the end of Bayern's line, he spotted Van Gaal with his staff. Gao Shen smiled and nodded.
The Dutchman acknowledged him with a faint smile.
They weren't close. They hadn't interacted much.
Still, Gao Shen held deep respect for Van Gaal. He had read his books in the tactical library and admired the Dutchman's insight into the game.
In that regard, Gao Shen looked up to him.
Van Gaal was undeniably a great coach.
Just… a bit too rigid.
Gao Shen had noticed that many tactical theorists shared this trait.
Van Gaal, Bielsa, Guardiola…
Though many described Gao Shen as an intellectual coach, he wasn't dogmatic.
In his player relationships, he was more like Ancelotti.
That's also why the two got along so well—they could talk for hours.
Though, as Ancelotti would jokingly say, Gao Shen was far better at "talking football" than he was.
Tonight, Bayern stuck with their usual 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper: Kraft.
Defense: Pranjic, Badstuber, Tymoshchuk, Lahm.
Midfield: Gustavo and Schweinsteiger as the double pivot, with Ribery, Müller, and Altintop ahead.
Striker: Gomez.
No surprises there.
This had been Van Gaal's preferred lineup all season, barring injuries.
But he did include both Breno and Van Buyten on the bench.
That suggested he hadn't made changes to the starters, but part of him was still unsure.
Manchester City, by contrast, sent out their full-strength lineup.
Goalkeeper: Neuer.
Defense: Felipe, David Luiz, Kompany, Lichtsteiner.
Midfield: Javi Martinez in the holding role, Silva and Rakitic in midfield.
Attack: Bale, Suarez, and Robben.
Robben had just returned from injury.
Gao Shen wasn't hiding anything. Even away from home, City were coming to score.
Van Gaal surely understood that.
…
Led by the Spanish referee, both teams emerged from the tunnel.
The Allianz Arena erupted.
Bayern fans were always passionate, and the stadium had been designed with a steep seating angle to amplify the atmosphere.
As Gao Shen stepped into the technical area with his staff, Van Gaal approached.
They hadn't spoken earlier, but as per tradition, the home coach came over to greet the visitor.
They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
They had crossed paths before, but anyone familiar with Van Gaal knew he wasn't the easiest to get along with.
That was just his personality.
After the greeting, Gao Shen walked toward the sideline, watching his players settle into formation. He offered a few gestures to key players—nothing verbal.
They had worked together long enough that a single gesture was enough to convey his meaning.
The opening moments would be crucial.
Gao Shen had a hunch: Van Gaal would never sit back. He would go all-in against City, even if it meant conceding an away goal.
Van Gaal was the type to die on his feet rather than live on his knees.
Gao Shen couldn't help but wish he could one day witness a clash between Van Gaal and Capello.
Now that would be a spectacle.
…
The referee blew the whistle. Manchester City kicked off.
Suarez and Bale passed the ball back, and Bayern immediately pressed high.
City moved the ball quickly, trying to push forward. Suarez received it with his back to goal, but before he could turn, Gustavo and Schweinsteiger closed in and won possession.
Turnover!
City responded instantly, pressing high themselves. They forced the ball out of bounds.
Lahm tried to clear, but it deflected off Gareth Bale and rolled out for a throw-in.
Manchester City continued pressing. They weren't sitting back.
That much was clear—Gao Shen had come to win.
"Both managers are renowned tacticians, and both have adopted attacking setups tonight. I think we're in for a thrilling offensive battle. Will Van Gaal come out on top? Or will the younger man prevail?"
Gao Shen couldn't hear the commentary. He was focused on player movement and overall shape.
He closely observed the positioning during their press.
City were systematically trying to force Bayern to play the ball back, to the center-backs or the goalkeeper.
If they could pin Bayern back, the tactical trap Gao Shen had prepared would be sprung.
(To be continued.)