The closer the finals came, the more rumors spread.

  All kinds of news as, like snowfkes, rushed in from all dires.

  Rijkaard had been following Gao Shen's every move closely.

  He clearly remembered how, at Camp Nou, Gao Shen had outsmarted him using Ronaldo. This time, he would never allow himself to be outmaneuvered again.

  Various analyses emerged from the media, and a mainstream opinion suggested that Real Madrid was likely to give up the st round of La Liga and focus entirely on the Champions League. The reasoning was simple: for Real Madrid, the risk in the final round was too high and the probability of success too low.

  Even if they won against Sevil away, they would still depend on Bara slipping up, which seemed unlikely. Therefore, it made more seo abandon La Liga and focus on the Champions League final.

  Real Madrid had alrioritized the Champions League over La Liga. If Gao Shen decided to do so, it wouldn't be surprising.

  Rijkaard often put himself in Gao Shen's position, sidering what he would do under simir circumstances.

  The team was at a disadvantage in terms of strength, physical dition, and schedule. What would he do?

  Making appropriate sacrifices and fog on one front seemed wise.

  But would Gao Shen really do that?

  Rijkaard couldn't be sure.

  ...

  **knooock**

  Rijkaard heard a kno the door. He looked up and saw Ten Cate walking in with a report.

  "The test information from Madrid. Real Madrid's schedule has bee."

  Ten Cate spoke in a hurry, handing the report to Rijkaard.

  The two La Liga teams meeting in the Champions League final meant not just a test of strength and tactics, but also a test of logistics. Both sides were well-prepared.

  Bara's itinerary was set. They were staying in a luxury hotel verted from an old monastery in the Versailles district of Paris to avoid disturbances.

  A rge truck full of team supplies had already set off from Bara to Paris, carrying everything from training equipment te bottle of champago celebrate their hoped-for sed Champions League win.

  Real Madrid was simirly prepared.

  The report detailed every move of Real Madrid, including their hotel, supplies, and team members.

  What caught Rijkaard's attention was Real Madrid's schedule in Sevil.

  That is, the thirty-eighth round of La Liga, Real Madrid's away game time.

  "What's going on?" Rijkaard asked with a frown. "Is the information accurate?"

  "It's firmed. It 't be fake," Ten Cate replied fidently.

  The report showed that Real Madrid flew to Sevil iernoon and came ba the middle of the night.

  The st round of La Liga was a unified kickoff time, scheduled for 2:00 in the evening, ending around midnight. This meant Real Madrid hardly inteo linger in Sevil.

  They arrived iernoon, pyed the game after a short rest, auro Madrid right after. The erip might take less than 12 hours.

  It was hurried and didn't look like a team meticulously prepared to win.

  Given the risks of such a rushed schedule, it seemed they weren't taking the game seriously.

  "Real Madrid's ma is excellent in logistics, but this is too rushed and very risky. Just to save a bit of time, is it worth it?" Ten Cate was skeptical.

  Rijkaard agreed but thought of another possibility.

  "Is there a ce they didn't take this game seriously at all?"

  Ten Cate fell silent; it was indeed possible.

  There had beeion that Real Madrid would likely give up on the league and focus on the Champions League, given the low ces of reversing the league standings.

  If that's the case, then Real Madrid's hasty schedule makes sense.

  But would Gao Shen really do this?

  "Henk, sider the possibility: if we exert ourselves in Bilbao and Real Madrid doesn't take Sevil seriously, saving their energy for the Champions League, then..."

  Rijkaard stopped mid-sentence, but the implication was clear.

  Bara still had the advantage, but Real Madrid's ces in the Champions League final would signifitly increase if they served their energy.

  Especially sidering their defensive improvement sihe Camp Nou enter, Bara would have to be cautious.

  If Real Madrid really gave up La Liga to focus on the Champions League, then Bara had to be vigint.

  Rijkaard sighed heavily, feeling caught in a dilemma.

  If only they had maintaiheir lead in the league, they wouldn't be in this tough spot now.

  Of course, he bmed the ing ese manager who had miraculously revived Real Madrid, f Bara into this aosition.

  Pying their best against Athletic Bilbao would certainly impact the Champions League final three days ter.

  But holding back would be risky too, potentially losing points away.

  Rijkaard was torn.

  "Henk, what do you think?" Rijkaard asked with a sigh.

  Ten Cate uood Rijkaard well. He khe coach was often torween pursuit and caution, striving for perfe in every aspect, but sometimes struggling to make decisions.

  "We have the advantage in strength and a higher fault tolerae. We afford to gamble. What are you afraid of?" Ten Cate was fident.

  Rijkaard looked at his assistant deeply but didn't express his position on the spot.

  His biggest with Ten Cate was his gambling nature.

  As the team's head coach, Rijkaard had to sider everything prehensively and find the best bance.

  "I'll think about it again," Rijkaard said.

  Ten Cate saw the ge in Rijkaard's expression, knowing he would ponder for a long time, so he didn't push further.

  ...

  Real Madrid's away schedule was decided by Gao Shen, firmed with Bueura and the team doctor, and deemed feasible.

  It was an hour flight from Madrid to Sevil, with minimal time lost in travel.

  The main purpose was to maximize preparation time in Madrid and to fuse Bara about their real iions.

  Including the questionnaire surveys ducted by AS and Marca, it art of Gao Shen's pn to influend interfere with Bara.

  If Bara went all out against Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid's ces of winning the league were slim. Therefao Shen's interference aimed to fuse Rijkaard.

  These tricks, small as they might be, were part of Gao Shen's strategy.

  Ultimately, the oute depended on Rijkaard's choices.

  Gao Shen disliked feeling that his destiny was trolled by others, but at this moment, he had no choice.

  Who made that damned Luxemburgo lose so badly at the Bernabeu?

  At the same time, Gao Shen is also carefully preparing for the game against Sevil.

  To put it bluntly, no matter how Rijkaard chooses, Real Madrid only wile if they beat Sevil.

  Otherwise, everything Gao Shen did would be just a joke after all.