Zidane's sons no longer needed to work themselves to the bone or bear the immense pressure of survival.
They could freely enjoy life as they pleased.
Because their father was Zidane.
However, Gao Shen used a child's joke as a starting point to talk with Zidane about the future.
"Have you ever thought about coaching on your own?" Gao asked, revealing his true intentions.
Zidane understood Gao Shen very well, just as Gao Shen understood him.
"I might have had some ideas before, but ever since I became your assistant, I've lost all hope." Zidane threw the question back, giving Gao Shen a smug look as if to say, "You owe me for the psychological trauma."
"How so?" Gao Shen asked with a smile.
"I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't catch up with you. Then I suddenly lost all motivation." Zidane spoke with genuine dejection. He wasn't joking, he was completely serious.
Gao Shen never imagined that his coaching career could have such an effect on someone.
"Actually, you still have a chance," Gao Shen said encouragingly.
"Catch up with you?" Zidane shook his head and waved his hand. "Don't joke around. That's impossible."
After a short pause, he sighed softly. "You're like a monument, so tall I can't even see the top."
Sometimes, being too close can have its drawbacks, especially when you're constantly influenced by the other person's brilliance.
"You won the Champions League and the World Cup as a player, while I…" Gao Shen shrugged.
His professional career was a blank slate.
Zidane frowned, sensing what Gao Shen was getting at.
"One day, I did a little research and realized that there are only five people who've won the Champions League as both players and coaches: Real Madrid legend Miguel Muñoz, Italy's Giovanni Trapattoni, Barcelona's Johan Cruyff, that 'fat Italian' Ancelotti, and Guardiola."
In his previous life, there had been Rijkaard, but he was no longer on the list.
After all, Rijkaard's 2006 Champions League title had been snatched away by Gao Shen.
So, there were only five.
Zidane nodded slightly. He had actually done the same math himself.
"I also counted. There are only three people who have won the World Cup as both player and coach: Brazil's Mario Zagallo, Germany's Franz Beckenbauer, and Didier Deschamps, who just achieved it."
Zidane looked at Gao Shen seriously, since he too had thought about this before.
Gao Shen smiled at him, then asked meaningfully, "Have you noticed? There isn't a single person in history who has won both the World Cup and the Champions League!"
If Zidane had been more familiar with Chinese internet culture, he would definitely have given Gao Shen the middle finger: Get lost!
What Gao Shen said just proved one thing—if you make the title long enough, anyone can be number one in the world.
But the real question was, hadn't Zidane thought about these things before?
Of course, he had.
In fact, he'd considered it long ago and had once been very eager.
For example, serving as Gao Shen's assistant had been his way of gaining experience and preparing for a future head coach role.
When the French media and fans were dissatisfied with Deschamps, Zidane had seriously thought about managing the French national team.
However, with Deschamps leading France to win the World Cup, that opportunity was unlikely to come soon.
But Real Madrid, on the other hand, was still a possibility.
"As for your goals, let's take them step by step. I can't say for sure about the French team, but at Real Madrid, I'll help you build the squad. You can be the head coach and lead the team, while Carlo and I will support you fully. You've got a real shot."
Although Zidane remained seated, he kept adjusting his posture. His thumbs tapped his index fingers nervously. It was clear Gao Shen had hit a nerve.
For a genius like Zidane, it was always all or nothing.
Was Gao Shen's promise convincing?
It didn't even need to be explained—his record spoke for itself.
Back when Gao Shen promised to help Sarri build a Premier League team, he did it.
Later, he told Pochettino he would create a world-class team for him, and he delivered.
From Real Madrid in 2006, to Napoli, to Manchester City, and then back to Real Madrid, Gao Shen had proven he could build elite teams wherever he went, in no time at all.
If it happened once, it could be luck. Twice or three times? That was ability.
Others might have hesitated, but Zidane believed completely.
"Think about it. With Deschamps' current situation, as long as he performs decently at the next European Championship, he'll definitely stay on until the 2022 Qatar World Cup."
Gao Shen had been watching Zidane's reaction closely. When he saw that Zidane was intrigued, he immediately pushed further.
"If—and I mean if—Deschamps is dismissed, and by then you've proven yourself, wouldn't it be natural for you to take over the French national team?"
It must be said, Gao Shen's plan for Zidane was both realistic and incredibly appealing.
Real Madrid and the French national team—both were irresistible.
"France has done a great job in youth development recently. We have Mbappé and Dembélé at Leeds United, both around 20 years old. In the youth ranks, there are Tchouaméni and Camavinga. You know how much potential those two have."
"We also have two promising centre-backs at Saint-Étienne, both performing well this season. And that's just among the players we're in contact with. You can imagine how much talent France has right now."
In other words, the chances of achieving results were high.
"I can promise you this: whether you coach Real Madrid or the French national team in the future, I'll do everything I can to support you." Gao Shen said with a knowing look.
Zidane immediately understood the deeper meaning.
If he could win both the Champions League and the World Cup, he would be the first in history to do so.
At that point, Zidane's name would shine eternally in world football history—perhaps even brighter than Beckenbauer's.
Gao Shen knew when to stop. He had said what needed to be said and left Zidane to think it over.
Actually, it didn't have to be Zidane. But having been his assistant for years, Zidane understood him perfectly. He knew Real Madrid inside and out and could seamlessly integrate data-driven analysis with the manager's role.
He was the best candidate right now.
Moreover, Zidane had immense authority within Real Madrid. If he took charge, Gao Shen wouldn't need to worry about locker room issues at all—a huge advantage.
For Zidane, the benefits were equally obvious.
Within the current Real Madrid team, Pogba played a pivotal role, and his age was a major advantage. Add to that Benzema and Varane. Varane was the defensive cornerstone of France's World Cup win and was also introduced to Real Madrid thanks to Zidane's recommendation.
If Real Madrid brought in Mbappé, they would have four French core players—all in their prime and essential for the foreseeable future.
If things went according to Gao Shen's vision, and Deschamps eventually stepped down, Zidane's rise to the French national team would be unstoppable.
...
After Zidane's cryptic line, "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes," he finally gave in.
The current Real Madrid squad was still very strong.
Unlike Ferguson, who left Manchester United with an aging and depleted team, Gao Shen had left behind a squad that was still at its peak.
Although some players were aging, the younger ones were ready to step up.
The core players included Pogba, Verratti, Toni Kroos, Modrić, Casemiro, and Varane. Behind them were Iñigo Martínez, Marcos Llorente, Ceballos, Asensio, Jesé, Marcos Alonso, Odriozola, and Nacho—all of whom had performed well under Gao Shen.
Jesé, in particular, hadn't suffered the severe injury that derailed his career in Gao Shen's previous life. While he hadn't become a superstar, he was still a Spanish international, at least on par with Pedro.
Some might ask, if Real Madrid's squad was this strong, why were they performing so poorly this season?
The answer was simple: morale had collapsed.
Previously, Nasser once asked Gao Shen a question: if more and more clubs started using his systems, signing contracts, or purchasing his hardware and software services, would that mean players could be mass-produced, creating invincible teams?
Gao Shen's answer was firm: Impossible.
Why?
Because the biggest uncertainty in football lies in people.
He explained that even if a young player with top-level talent receives the most scientific, advanced youth training, there is still no guarantee of success.
Humans are not machines. They have emotions, moods, and psychological ups and downs.
What applies to an individual also applies to a team.
Even if two teams are managed by top-tier coaches, their players' personalities, mentalities, and tactical interpretations can produce completely different results on the pitch.
That's why Gao Shen has always emphasized one thing: talent is football's most precious resource.
Everything he does is designed to maximize the potential of that talent. But even then, no one can be perfect—humans are not robots.
And even robots aren't perfect.
Right now, Real Madrid's biggest problems are psychological and transitional.
In simple terms, the experienced players need to guide the new generation.
In defense, the biggest uncertainty concerns Varane's future.
Zidane felt helpless about his fellow Frenchman.
Varane would only turn 26 in April, yet he had already won almost every possible honor.
But he wasn't someone with an unyielding drive. Calm and introverted, he handled people well, but on the pitch, that lack of hunger made him seem too content.
Even now, both Gao Shen and Zidane believed Varane had not reached the level he was capable of.
That was one of the reasons Real Madrid had signed Van Dijk—to challenge and motivate him. But...
Reports suggested that Paris Saint-Germain was very interested in Varane and had already made contact.
Of course, that would only be the beginning.
(To be continued.)
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◇ 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.)