After the Champions League semi-finals, Gao Shen began preparing wholeheartedly for the Champions League final.
As the active manager who has led his team to the most Champions League finals, Gao Shen knew better than anyone that a final is a completely different contest from any other match, even from the knockout rounds.
It would be tougher, more intense, and far more unpredictable.
Especially between two familiar rivals like Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, who knew each other inside out. Before the final, both sides had already set aside the league and domestic cups, focusing entirely on one single objective. That would make this match even harder.
Gao Shen could already imagine Simeone meticulously working on his tactical plans, plotting a surprise for the final.
Of course, Gao Shen was doing the same.
As the stronger side, Real Madrid had to find a way to contain Atletico's tactics and break through their defense.
It was anything but easy.
So, after the semi-finals, Real Madrid's training sessions were fully focused on preparations for the Champions League final.
Fortunately, the remaining three league matches were relatively manageable.
…
In La Liga's 36th round, Real Madrid hosted Valencia at the Bernabéu.
Thanks to goals from Ronaldo and Džeko, Real Madrid defeated the Bats 2-0 at home.
Valencia tried to exploit Real Madrid's fatigue and packed schedule to snatch a win at the Bernabéu, but Gao Shen made decisive rotations and employed a more pragmatic strategy. In the end, Real Madrid secured the victory with two goals.
After the match, Gao Shen granted the team two full days off.
Since the winter break, Real Madrid's schedule had been packed, leaving players with almost no time to rest.
One match after another, facing increasingly stronger opponents, every player—whether starter or substitute—had been on edge, unwilling to relax even slightly.
Both Gao Shen and the coaching staff, along with the team's psychologists, felt this constant tension was unsustainable and harmful to performance. So Gao Shen decided to let the players recharge with a short break.
However, he also repeatedly emphasized that their focus and intensity must remain high leading up to the Champions League final.
A week later, in the 37th round, Gao Shen sent his main lineup to face Celta Vigo away.
With goals from Ronaldo and Di Maria, Real Madrid secured another 2-0 win.
The team performed steadily, maintaining rhythm and composure throughout the match. Gao Shen was satisfied with both the performance and the players' condition.
After the Celta Vigo match, Gao Shen gave the team another day off.
The final league round would be played at the Bernabéu against Espanyol. It was not only the last La Liga match of the season but also the home match where Real Madrid would officially lift the league trophy.
In the following week, the Bernabéu was decorated and prepared for the title ceremony.
However, Gao Shen had already informed the club that there would be no celebration after lifting the trophy. The real celebration would come only after the Champions League final.
This decision reflected both Gao Shen's and the team's determination.
They were fully focused on defending the Champions League title in Lisbon, winning the trophy, and celebrating Spain's first-ever treble together.
This would mark the dawn of a new Real Madrid dynasty.
…
Around the same time, the Premier League season came to an end.
Leeds United suffered a crushing 2-4 defeat to Manchester City in Round 33, marking Pochettino's biggest loss since taking over the club.
The media and fans began to worry whether Leeds would collapse in the final stretch.
But to everyone's surprise, Leeds responded brilliantly, winning their final five league games in a row.
They beat Cardiff at home and Aston Villa away, both 1-0 victories.
Then they defeated Everton 2-0 at home, Swansea 1-0 away, and finished the season with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Elland Road.
Five straight wins at the end of the season stunned everyone.
No one expected that after being beaten by Manchester City, this young Leeds side would go on such an incredible run.
With this five-match winning streak, Leeds United overtook both Tottenham and Manchester United, finishing level on 72 points with Everton but securing fifth place thanks to a superior goal difference.
It was a shocking achievement that caught the attention of the entire football world.
Few believed Leeds could perform better after selling so many key players. Yet not only did their results improve, their performances showed clear progress.
Their defense, led by José Fonte, De Vrij, and John Stones, had become solid and mature, with their understanding improving dramatically.
Keylor Navas kept 19 clean sheets, the highest in the Premier League, earning him the Golden Glove award.
In attack, after Icardi's move to Arsenal, local striker Harry Kane stepped up.
The 20-year-old homegrown forward exploded onto the scene, becoming Leeds United's top scorer with 23 league goals, surpassing Gareth Bale in the scoring charts and finishing second only to Suárez, winning the Premier League Silver Boot.
Across all competitions, including the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League, Kane scored 35 goals, 7 of them in the Europa League.
In Europe, Leeds advanced from the group stage before eliminating Dynamo Kyiv, AZ Alkmaar, and Basel to reach the semi-finals.
Unfortunately, they lost 0-2 away to Sevilla in the first leg. Despite a 3-1 victory at home, they were eliminated on away goals.
In the FA Cup, Leeds reached the final after defeating several top teams, drawing 3-3 with Arsenal before losing on penalties and finishing runners-up.
Fifth in the Premier League, FA Cup runners-up, and Europa League semi-finalists—Leeds United's performance was remarkable.
In Pochettino's first season managing in the Premier League, he led the club to an extraordinary campaign that once again drew Europe's attention to Leeds United.
The White Rose not only proved their sharp eye for recruiting players but also for selecting managers.
Even more impressive, Leeds United's new training base was completed and set to officially open in the summer.
Gao Shen, busy preparing for the Champions League final, couldn't attend the opening ceremony, much to his regret. But Su Qing represented him, traveling to Leeds and bringing back detailed updates.
Everyone at the club, including Lucas and Borrell, was thrilled with the new facility.
Officially named the AXA Center, the training base received worldwide praise. It was not only one of the most advanced but also one of the most comprehensive facilities in football.
This summer, Leeds United, in cooperation with UEFA and FIFA, would host the first-ever Sports Technology Innovation Seminar at the AXA Center, making it a focal point of European football.
During the opening ceremony, Su Qing also announced on behalf of Leeds United that preparations for the new stadium were complete and construction would begin soon.
Designer Norman Foster declared with pride, "I promise it will be the most fantastic stadium in the world."
These major developments made Leeds United the center of global attention once again.
With their players performing brilliantly and the club expanding rapidly, Leeds became one of the most discussed teams in world football.
As the transfer window approached, many clubs began eyeing Leeds United's top players.
But Gao Shen instructed Lucas and Borrell that all transfers involving players participating in the World Cup should be postponed until after the tournament, especially regarding Navas and De Vrij, who were expected to be in high demand.
Harry Kane also attracted interest from Premier League giants, but Leeds had no intention of selling. They renewed his contract before the season ended.
Other key players, including Salah and Felipe Anderson, also extended their contracts.
Leeds United decided to maintain stability, build depth, and continue strengthening over the next two to three years.
…
While Leeds captured the football world's attention, La Liga concluded its final round a week later.
Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 4-0 at home, securing one last victory to end the league season on a high.
After the match, a grand trophy ceremony was held at the Bernabéu, with over 80,000 fans in attendance.
Captain Iker Casillas lifted the La Liga trophy on behalf of the team, marking Real Madrid's long-awaited return to league glory.
Vice-captain Ramos held the Copa del Rey aloft, proudly displaying it to the jubilant supporters.
On the podium, club president Florentino Pérez addressed the crowd, praising the team's achievements and urging them to stay focused on the upcoming Champions League final, aiming to complete an unprecedented treble.
Casillas and Ramos both took turns speaking, vowing that the team would bring home the Champions League title from Lisbon and calling on fans to travel and support them.
Throughout the celebration, Gao Shen remained low-key, but the players dragged him onto the podium. Standing before the roaring crowd of more than 80,000 fans, he couldn't hide his excitement.
"A week from now," Gao Shen said, "we'll be celebrating the 12th Champions League title in club history and the first treble in Spanish football history!"
His words ignited thunderous cheers from every corner of the Bernabéu.
(To be continued.)