Starting With Real Madrid Chapter 780: Mourinho's Last Pride

Valdebebas, Madrid.

For so reason, after the match against Getafe, the team took the bus back to Valdebebas and everyone disbanded, but Mourinho chose to stay behind.

He first packed up so things in the office, but his mind was filled with thoughts of the Champions League group stage match in three days.

Before he knew it, he found himself standing at the door of the coaches' office.

From the doorway, he could see a desk that had never been used.

Every desk had a computer and was covered in docunts, but this one had only a computer and nothing else.

The chair that ca with it was always tucked in and rarely pulled out for anyone to sit in.

From Mourinho's very first day at Real Madrid, Karanka had told him that this was Gao Shen's desk when he was in charge of the team.

Yes, that unconventional guy didn't even use the head coach's private office. He worked right here with all the other coaches, sharing this big office space.

Mourinho had heard of Gao Shen's story. He knew the difficulties and challenges Gao Shen faced at Real Madrid. He also knew how difficult it was to achieve what Gao Shen had done.

It was incredible that, even five or six years later, Real Madrid fans still missed him.

And no one dared to sit in that chair!

As head coach, Mourinho couldn't understand how Gao Shen had done it. He admired the achievents, yes. But as the current Real Madrid manager, he couldn't help but feel bitter.

He felt like a stand-in.

Yes, that desk and that chair were always there like a constant reminder to Mourinho.

You, José Mourinho, are just a replacent.

It was like that at Barcelona. It was like that at Inter Milan. And now, at Real Madrid, it's still the sa.

Every head coach has their strengths and style. But Mourinho had the feeling that he had never been the kind of coach Real Madrid truly wanted.

From the president to the staff, from the fans to the players—none of them liked his style.

The only reason they tolerated Mourinho was that they believed he was the coach most likely to bring them a trophy. So, they put up with him.

But what happens when you win the title?

Mourinho often thought that even if he delivered, he'd be cast aside the mont his usefulness was gone.

Like a womanizer who coldly ditches the woman who was madly in love with him.

Truthfully, Mourinho wasn't one to overthink things.

This had nothing to do with being deep or introspective.

But he felt genuinely uncomfortable and unhappy inside.

He had never beaten Gao Shen. Not once.

Sotis, he wondered if it was because Gao Shen knew him too well.

So, he tried to change his approach. But when he did, he lost even more miserably.

And every ti he lost, no matter who the opponent was, the dia would always compare him to Gao Shen and criticize him.

Mourinho once complained about this to Karanka. Do you know what his assistant said?

"This is normal. It's what happens when you manage Real Madrid."

"Actually, your situation's not even that bad. When Gao Shen first arrived, Carlos threatened to fire him the mont he walked in. Can you imagine Cristiano Ronaldo threatening to kill you now?"

"Back then, the dia were all counting down the days until he got sacked. So said one day. Others said two. Three to five days was generous."

"But then he kept winning. Ga after ga. Until eventually…"

There's no denying that Gao Shen's story at Real Madrid was legendary, moving, and full of drama.

But why did it have to be so profound?

Can't we just change the script?

Even if he was the protagonist of an online novel, the author didn't need to spoil him so much.

And if I, Mourinho, am the tragic villain, can I at least win once to make myself a proper antagonist?

If you don't even know how to write a good villain, no wonder your story's a failure!

The more Mourinho thought about it, the more annoyed and frustrated he beca.

Before he took the Real Madrid job, he had ntally prepared himself. But after stepping into the role, he realized just how deeply Gao Shen's legacy was ingrained in the club.

So deep, it had taken Mourinho more than a year just to begin to move past it.

Karanka said it was because Real Madrid hadn't made it past the Champions League round of 16 since Gao Shen left.

Gao Shen represented Real Madrid's last mont of glory.

Even more painfully, many Real Madrid fans had cursed and criticized Gao Shen back then, claiming he didn't deserve the job.

But a few years later, they began to realize, more and more—that Gao Shen was exactly the kind of manager Real Madrid had always been searching for.

"Regret, guilt, sha, longing…"

"Real Madrid's feelings toward Gao Shen are far too complicated. So complicated, they've started to mythologize him."

"Sotis, we feel like he's not just a coach, but a mory, a goal, a standard to aspire to, and an emotional anchor."

Mourinho sneered.

Seriously? That guy really made himself sound like so kind of noble martyr.

Why is it that whatever soone else had is always better?

Even being a scumbag requires so professionalism!

…

"I didn't see you in your office, so I figured you'd be here."

Assistant coach Rui Faria's voice ca from behind, breaking Mourinho out of his thoughts.

Mourinho didn't need to turn around. He knew it was Faria just by the sound.

"What is it?" Mourinho asked in a low voice.

He had been in a foul mood lately, and it showed with everyone.

"I just ran into Zidane. He wanted to talk about the team's current situation. Asked if there's anything he can help with."

When Mourinho heard that, he sneered. "Yeah. He can start by selling Casillas. Or maybe get him to break up with that damn reporter. That'd save a lot of trouble."

Faria smiled bitterly.

That wasn't going to happen.

Casillas and the reporter were getting along very well. There was no chance of a breakup.

And as for selling Casillas… well, while his form had dipped, there was no reason to offload him just yet.

He was only 30. That's still pri age for a goalkeeper.

Of course, Casillas at 30 wasn't as phenonal as he used to be. That was down to a variety of reasons. But still, he wasn't finished.

"They're placing a lot of importance on this season's Champions League. They're hoping to calm things down and reduce the impact on the dressing room. If we don't earn enough UEFA points this season, Real Madrid could fall into Pot 3 next year."

As soon as Faria said that, he noticed Mourinho was staring at him intensely.

"What?" Faria was startled.

"If they want to calm things down and reinstate Casillas, fine. They know where my line is. And Casillas crossed it. I told him to stay away from the Barcelona players. What did he do?" Mourinho was like an angry lion.

Faria understood exactly how Mourinho was feeling.

"He's the Spanish national team captain."

"I know. But why was it leaked to the dia?" Mourinho's tone grew sharper.

That was the heart of the problem.

Mourinho issued a clear directive, and Casillas ignored it. Not only did he go against orders, but the incident was also leaked to the dia.

And what was the purpose of saying that not everyone in the dressing room follows Mourinho?

If Mourinho didn't crack down hard, what authority would he have left?

This entire situation, from the beginning, had spiraled out of control step by step.

"I told you from the start this kind of dia ga would backfire. You just didn't believe ," Faria muttered.

Mourinho waved his hand. "No point saying that now."

The truth was, from the very beginning, when Mourinho started waging a public battle against Barcelona and fueling the so-called "war" in the press, many within the coaching staff opposed it. Even Faria had reservations.

But Mourinho was used to this approach and dismissed the concerns.

He never expected the dia war to spiral like this, and now he had no way out.

Faria didn't say anything more. He knew Mourinho would never admit regret, even if he felt it inside.

And right now, Mourinho was more frustrated than anyone.

"How's Khedira doing physically?" Mourinho asked.

Khedira had played two full matches for the national team, both with full effort. His physical condition was poor, so Mourinho hadn't played him against Getafe and used Coentrão instead.

The Portuguese fullback had been in better form and condition lately.

But Coentrão was still a fullback. Playing him as a holding midfielder next to Xabi Alonso created an imbalance. It disrupted rhythm and made it hard to control the ga.

Real Madrid's No. 10 and Coentrão weren't tempo-setters. Neither were Ronaldo or Di María. That made the team's tempo chaotic and unpredictable.

Khedira was one of the few players who could bring balance to the midfield.

"I spoke with the team doctor and with Khedira. It's not ideal. He hasn't fully recovered," Faria reported. He was now in charge of Real Madrid's fitness departnt.

"Do you think we can use him against Manchester?"

Mourinho nodded as he asked.

"We'll need to monitor him a few more days," Faria replied cautiously.

Mourinho cursed under his breath, clearly irritated.

When it rains, it pours.

At a ti when he needed him most, this had to happen. Who could he bla?

Faria stood to the side, glanced at Mourinho, lowered his head in thought, then looked up again, hesitated, and looked down.

"If you're about to ask to play Casillas, don't say a word," Mourinho cut him off coldly.

Clearly, he had made up his mind.

This was his last pride.

(To be continued.)