Gao Shen could tell that Tuchel had been suppressing his emotions for a long time.
This German, who usually wasn't very talkative, spoke nonstop for nearly two hours, venting his frustration and expressing deep dissatisfaction with the daily operations and management at Paris Saint-Germain.
He felt that dealing with the club's management structure was consuming most of his energy.
While coaching PSG, he didn't feel like he was leading a football team in training and matches. Instead, he felt like he was playing a political game, constantly maneuvering against other departments, locked in a web of backstabbing and infighting. Even the staff at the training ground weren't there to serve or assist him.
"I'll give you the simplest and most ridiculous example," Tuchel said bitterly, as if he were ready to resign on the spot.
"Coke. Everyone knows what that is, right?"
Gao Shen had just scolded him, but now he listened seriously, nodding in response.
"Have you ever seen any top team today openly allow Coca-Cola to appear on players' tables?"
"They even include it on the team menu."
"Really?" Gao Shen frowned.
"Yes. Anyone can choose it, anytime, whether they're in the first team or the youth team."
"You didn't try to stop it?"
"I did, but they don't see it as a problem. More importantly, they said it's always been like this, so why change now?"
"And then?" Gao Shen narrowed his eyes.
"I went to Leonardo and others. They told me it's complicated."
"How complicated?"
"Exactly what I asked. What's so hard about it?"
"They said Coca-Cola is a global sponsor and has been working with PSG for 20 years. That's how it's always been. The club needs influential partners like Coke, and you know why."
Gao Shen nodded.
The reason was simple.
PSG had been investing heavily for years. Everyone knew where the money came from. But finances couldn't be run purely on capital injection. It required multiple revenue streams and commercial sponsors.
Which brought them to this issue of image.
If all the sponsors were tied to Qatar, it would look bad. So having a global brand like Coca-Cola gave PSG legitimacy, allowing them to claim they had top-tier partnerships.
Naturally, this meant Coke received preferential treatment, like being included on the team menu. In 2019, no other top club in Europe would allow this.
What followed was endless internal passing of the buck.
Tuchel thought it was unacceptable and brought it to Leonardo. Leonardo probably took it to the business department, where they complained about how difficult it was to secure world-class sponsors like Coke.
Finally, the problem landed back on Tuchel's desk.
Sorry, sponsors are the real bosses. We can't upset them. Figure it out yourself—just stop the players from drinking it.
The Coke remained on the table.
Gao Shen could imagine the scenario with very little effort. It was all too familiar from his corporate days.
This kind of bureaucratic blame-shifting was common in poorly run organizations.
Paris Saint-Germain had handled many things unprofessionally.
Since being taken over by the Qatari consortium, PSG had spent a lot of money, but they lacked professionalism in areas like team building and internal management.
This was actually common in many clubs backed by capital.
But for Gao Shen, it was also an opportunity—for himself and for the club.
He could bring a complete, professional management system to clubs like PSG.
But of course, it had to come at a cost.
...
Beyond Coca-Cola, there were plenty of other issues. Sponsors, staff, and internal operations.
Cavani was the team's top scorer this season, but he had suffered six injuries, missing 153 days and 25 matches. Half of those were hamstring and muscle-related injuries.
And then there was Neymar.
At the end of February 2018, he fractured a metatarsal and missed the rest of the season.
This season, he missed matches due to various muscle problems, then suffered an adductor injury, and in January 2019, he fractured the same metatarsal again and still hadn't returned to play.
Why did PSG exit the Champions League in the round of 16 this season?
Tuchel's voice was heavy with resentment. "Because both my top scorer and my star player were out."
He listed a long list of injuries PSG players had suffered. Many people blamed the fitness coach, but Tuchel believed the real problem was PSG's lack of professionalism in its support departments.
There were issues in all areas: training, recovery, medical care, physical exams, even diet.
Even the sanctity of the locker room was constantly violated.
The club's training base was outdated. PSG had bought land in Poissy, near the A13 and A14 highways, to build a new base, but construction hadn't started.
At the current facility, equipment was outdated, and staffing was a mess.
For example, players' rooms could be entered without their permission while they were resting.
During team meetings, unrelated people walked around freely.
Even the locker room had outsiders coming and going.
These were the consequences of years of loose internal control, but they also exposed serious problems in PSG's management structure.
"I'm just the head coach, damn it!" Tuchel roared.
"But I spend most of my time on these petty matters, wasting hours dealing with these people, getting angry, losing focus..."
Gao Shen listened quietly the whole time, only occasionally interjecting a word or two.
He wanted Tuchel to fully vent.
Not just to let him release his frustration, but also to better understand the situation at PSG.
It turned out, things were worse than Gao Shen had expected.
Ten years ago, such chaotic clubs were everywhere.
But since then, football management across Europe had improved.
Clearly, Ligue 1 had not caught up.
The arrival of the Qatari consortium had poured money into PSG, raising their profile and squad level. But it also attracted many vested interests looking to benefit from the team.
That was inevitable.
Whether a wealthy individual, a corporation, or a country owned the club, they couldn't avoid these problems. All they could do was implement better regulations.
As Gao Shen listened to Tuchel, a book popped into his head: Is Paris Burning?
At this point, he had to ask: Is Paris in chaos?
...
Once Tuchel finished speaking, Gao Shen finally responded.
"Thomas, I understand everything you've said."
Gao Shen knew that since Tuchel had come to him, he had to give him an answer.
"Let me make my position clear. I will take strong action to fix the issues at the training ground. I can't guarantee everything else, but I will have full authority over the training base."
"From now on, you report directly to me. You give feedback on anything and everything, and I'll handle it. I will make sure you have a quiet, focused coaching environment, and I will provide as much support as possible."
Then he changed the tone, looking directly at Tuchel.
"But I have something to say too. Don't act impulsively, and watch your temper—especially with the players. I'll be pushing for a full-scale data reform at the Paris training base. Trust me, it will help both you and your coaching staff."
"Is it the same model as Leeds United?" Tuchel's eyes lit up.
He was so familiar with Gao Shen that he had long been envious of Leeds United's training system.
He even suspected that Pochettino had refused to leave because of how good the data system was, especially when it came to making tough decisions. It had proved invaluable.
"Yes. But it also requires full cooperation from your staff."
Germany was the heart of Europe's industrial system, and German football had long emphasized data. Coaches like Klopp and Tuchel were strong supporters.
Gao Shen, and later Klinsmann, had been early pioneers in this area. Klopp and Tuchel followed that path, so there was no reason for them to oppose Gao Shen's new system.
"Don't worry. I'm fully on board."
Gao Shen smiled, nodded, then stood up.
"When you get back, write a full list of all the problems you've encountered at the training base and the club, and email it to me. I want to get a clear picture of everything."
As he spoke, Gao Shen walked to the side of the room, pulled out his briefcase, and found a USB drive. He walked back and handed it to Tuchel.
"I know Dani Alves is leaving, and you've been struggling with the right-back position. This has some data on a young Ajax player, Mazraoui. Take a look."
Tuchel took it immediately.
In his tactical system, both full-backs were crucial.
PSG had Bernat and Kurzawa on the left, but no real options on the right. Veteran Alves was too old, and Meunier didn't suit Tuchel's system.
Right-back had long been a headache for him.
"Before I came, I specifically watched the Champions League quarterfinal between Ajax and Leeds. Mazraoui isn't lightning fast, but he's technically sound and makes smart runs. He loves to cut inside. He's your kind of player."
Tuchel could feel Gao Shen's sincerity and understood what was being entrusted to him.
He held up the USB, nodded firmly, and promised to study the player carefully.
"Don't worry. This summer, I'll build a squad that satisfies you!" Gao Shen promised.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)