After advancing from the group stage, Gao Shen's mood improved significantly.

At the subsequent press conference, he responded to every question.

On one hand, according to UEFA regulations, attending the press conference is a responsibility of the head coach. On the other hand, Gao Shen was genuinely happy about qualifying and was also eager to face those media reporters who had previously criticized Real Madrid.

For a gentleman, revenge is never too late.

Gao Shen did not believe Real Madrid's advancement was down to luck.

"It would be a shame if people only see it as luck."

He explained the dramatic situation Real Madrid had faced in the group of death, emphasizing that the key issue was injuries.

He stated that Real Madrid were still dealing with injuries even now. For instance, Marcelo was still in recovery after surgery, and it remained uncertain whether he would be fit for the knockout stages.

"I've never been one to shift responsibility, but the fact is, injuries had a huge impact on us."

However, Gao Shen quickly pivoted and pointed out that despite the injuries, the team still managed to qualify, and that was due to the efforts of everyone involved.

Especially the young players.

"I'm very happy to see the development of our young players, such as Carvajal, who was our Castilla captain. I think he has the potential to become a top right-back."

"Nacho and Marcos Alonso also have great potential, as do Jesé, Morata, Isco, Vázquez, Varane..."

"I would say that our qualification came not only from our regular starters, but also from the strength of our bench, including this group of young players who represent the future of our team."

Gao Shen reiterated that Real Madrid would be a team full of potential, and that this group of young players had grown significantly from the group stage experience.

"I don't think the difficulties in the group stage were entirely a bad thing. On the contrary, under intense pressure, our team quickly came together. We worked as one and played with unity and cohesion."

"In the coming period, my assistants, the players, and I will carefully review and analyze the schedule, consolidate our strengths, and improve on our weaknesses."

"At the same time, we'll continue to help our young players grow and develop."

"I believe that when the Champions League resumes, we'll be stronger than we were during the group stage."

During the interview, a reporter brought up Kaka.

Gao Shen said that Kaka was still part of his plans.

"He's always known that he plays an important role in my system and that we're all supporting him."

Gao Shen admitted frankly that Kaka had encountered some issues, some of which were complicated and beyond anyone's control. "But he really gave everything he had. I can't ask for more from him."

"I've always believed that his experience and ability can still help the team."

Finally, Gao Shen again emphasized his previous stance that Real Madrid would have enough energy and depth to continue competing in both La Liga and the Champions League.

"I have complete confidence in my players!"

…

Real Madrid narrowly advanced!

News of their qualification spread across the globe within a short period, triggering widespread discussion among media outlets and fans.

Many people were puzzled as to why the powerful combination of Gao Shen and Real Madrid had almost failed to qualify.

But many respected media outlets and analysts praised the team. Advancing from such a difficult group while dealing with an injury crisis was no easy feat.

The team flew back to Madrid from Porto, Portugal that very night.

At Madrid-Barajas Airport, Real Madrid were warmly welcomed by fans and the Spanish media.

They were greeted like heroes returning in triumph.

Gao Shen and the players briefly interacted with fans at the airport, then boarded the bus to Valdebebas, where the squad disbanded.

The following day, nearly every major media outlet in Spain and across Europe reported on Real Madrid's dramatic qualification.

Gao Shen's side had snatched qualification from Dortmund at the last moment, and their entry into the knockout rounds had the potential to reshape the entire Champions League bracket. Especially since Real Madrid would advance as runners-up in their group.

This was obviously bad news for the eight group winners.

Just as Gao Shen had said in the post-match press conference, professionals and pundits widely acknowledged Real Madrid's performance, and most agreed with his assessment that the team had long-term competitiveness.

This also meant that by the time the Champions League knockout stage resumed in late February, Real Madrid would be even stronger than they were during the group stage.

And when that moment came, among the eight group leaders, aside from Barcelona and Manchester City, who could not be drawn against Real Madrid, which of the other six would not fear this Real Madrid side?

L'Équipe even suggested that Real Madrid could become the biggest wildcard in the knockout rounds.

"As the most successful manager in Champions League history, Gao Shen's performances in knockout competitions have always been remarkable."

"With a winter break to correct issues and improve the team, the second-half version of Real Madrid could be the most exciting team in the tournament!"

That was essentially the consensus among mainstream media.

Kicker magazine asserted that Real Madrid's ability to escape the group of death showed they had what it took to reach the quarterfinals, or even the semi-finals.

"They played Manchester City with a depleted squad, but Real Madrid did not perform poorly."

Kicker also advised Bayern Munich, as group winners, to be cautious of drawing Real Madrid.

If possible, avoid them altogether.

…

As for Gao Shen, he was mostly amused by the media coverage and even felt a bit proud.

A man's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.

Both Gao Shen and Real Madrid should feel honored to be so highly regarded by the media and their opponents.

After qualifying, the players' mental state improved noticeably.

This was clearly reflected during the morning's recovery training, where all the players trained with focus and effort.

At the end of the session, Florentino arrived at Valdebebas with José Sánchez, Butragueño, Valdano, and others.

The Real Madrid president went directly to the locker room to greet the players.

Everyone at the club was thrilled about making it to the knockout stage.

This wasn't just about pride. It was also about tangible financial benefits.

For Real Madrid, reaching the knockout rounds of the Champions League meant tens of millions of euros in extra revenue.

Who wouldn't be excited?

Florentino spoke warmly with the players, especially Casillas, Ramos, Ronaldo, and several young talents. He had individual conversations with each of them, offering his praise.

From a results standpoint, Real Madrid had room for criticism. But from the perspective of player development, especially among the youth ranks, the team had clearly made progress.

Carvajal, Nacho, Marcos Alonso, Varane...

Casemiro was also stepping up. Young players like Jesé, Morata, Vázquez, and Isco had all been given chances and delivered notable performances.

Now, the public's perception of Real Madrid's youth talents had changed significantly, and Gao Shen's reputation as a talent developer was being widely praised.

Players like Jesé, Morata, Isco, Nacho, and Varane were already known or showing promise, but what about Carvajal, Marcos Alonso, and Casemiro?

These three had really come into their own, especially Carvajal and Casemiro, who were starting to stand out.

Real Madrid not only had a squad filled with star players, but its youth ranks were also progressing rapidly. This was definitely something to look forward to.

Florentino told the players the board was very pleased with the team's qualification, but he stressed that this was only the beginning. He hoped they would perform even better in the knockout rounds.

It was worth noting that Florentino had long conversations with Casillas and Ramos, but his exchange with Ronaldo was brief, which left the Portuguese forward feeling uneasy.

The main issue was Ronaldo's contract renewal.

Negotiations weren't going smoothly. Mendes was proving very difficult to deal with, and while Ronaldo had been outstanding on the pitch and was clearly the team's star, the club had its limits.

No club would want to lose a player of his caliber.

But realistically, where else could a star like Ronaldo go besides Real Madrid?

Like it or not, the two La Liga giants were the top destinations in world football, and every superstar wanted to play for them.

Ronaldo was asking for a very high salary, but more importantly, he wanted full control of his image rights.

Florentino's position was firm: the current model would remain. The image rights would stay at 50-50, and salary could be negotiated, but not excessively high.

His reasoning was simple. Real Madrid was not Barcelona.

Barcelona could offer massive wages to Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta. Real Madrid would not.

Especially considering the higher tax burden involved with a contract renewal.

Naturally, this created friction and made meaningful dialogue difficult.

But Ronaldo remained very professional.

He left the contract talks to his agent. On the pitch, he continued to perform at a high level to improve his bargaining position.

This was a wise move.

After meeting with the players, Florentino and his group left the locker room and visited the coaching office. He chatted briefly with Zidane, Hierro, Carlo, and others.

Finally, they entered Gao Shen's office.

Gao Shen had accompanied them throughout the visit, but he knew Florentino wasn't just here for a casual chat.

Sure enough, once Florentino stepped into his office and closed the door, he got straight to the point.

Real Madrid had ample funds available for the winter transfer window.

It was time to reinforce the squad.

"Tell me. Who do you want to buy?"

(To be continued.)