"I think Darwin's theory of evolution also applies to the world of football."
At the dinner hosted for Nasser and Blanc, Gao Shen, along with Lucas and Borrell, discussed his ideas for forming a team with the Paris Saint-Germain management. It was also a way to promote mutual understanding.
"Survival of the fittest?" Nasser asked, quite surprised.
How could evolutionary theory relate to professional football?
"Yes, survival of the fittest, not survival of the strongest." Gao Shen picked up where Nasser left off, emphasizing the point.
Seeing Nasser's puzzled expression, Gao Shen smiled and elaborated further.
"Survival of the fittest means nature eliminates species that cannot adapt to it, while survival of the strong suggests nature eliminates the weak. These are two completely different concepts."
"Let me give you an example. Dinosaurs were powerful, while ants are weak, right? But the fact is, nature eliminated the dinosaurs, while ants have survived to this day. We can't say ants are stronger than dinosaurs. It's just that ants are better adapted to their environment."
This profound example was simple and easy to understand.
"So, what you mean is that to survive and thrive in professional football, one must adapt to the changing trends of the game. Is that it?" Blanc asked, trying to guess.
"Yes, but I also want to express another point. When building a team, we don't always need to chase after the strongest players, but rather seek out the right ones."
Gao Shen's words made Nasser and Blanc fall into deep thought.
Lucas and Borrell exchanged a glance, both noticing the hidden smile in their colleague's eyes.
They had worked with Gao Shen for many years, so they naturally knew that he always had his own unique way of speaking and acting.
Right or wrong, he always managed to stand on the moral high ground. Most importantly, people were always convinced by him and followed him without question.
It had to be said that this was a form of high-level personal charisma.
Just like now, Nasser and Blanc were clearly reminded of PSG's transfer operations in recent years.
A lot of money had been spent, but what had the team really achieved?
Success, yes, but only in Ligue 1.
Over the years, the conflicts and contradictions within Paris Saint-Germain had only intensified, and the internal power struggle had become increasingly uncontrollable. Both the Qatari consortium behind the club and Nasser himself had suffered as a result.
Not long ago, Tuchel said in a media interview that he felt more like a politician than a head coach.
The implication was clear: he was dissatisfied with the team's situation, especially the management.
German sports magazine Kicker once reported that former AC Milan and Inter Milan coach Leonardo, former Porto director Antero Henrique, and former Reims sporting director Olivier Létang were all once in charge of transfers at PSG.
This alone showed the chaos within the club's management.
In daily operations, Nasser maintained close contact with Neymar. This kind of relationship that bypassed the coach was undoubtedly a major taboo in football management and made Tuchel's position incredibly difficult.
Neymar was the most expensive signing in football history and a top superstar. Whether for the promotion of the Qatar World Cup or because he was the team's star, it was understandable that the Qatari consortium treated him differently.
But the problem now was that no one in the club could control Neymar.
There had also been previous conflicts, like the one between Ibrahimović and Cavani, among others.
Paris Saint-Germain was very similar to the first Galácticos era that Gao Shen once coached. They had many star players, but they were never able to become a cohesive unit. The whole team was a disorganized mess.
In Ligue 1, they dominated due to their superior strength. But in the Champions League, they were repeatedly eliminated in the round of 16.
This was the issue Paris Saint-Germain was currently facing.
Both Nasser and Blanc were well aware that the club's problems were long-standing and deeply rooted. Only radical reform could fix it. Otherwise, PSG would continue to sink deeper into the mire.
This was why they quickly hit it off with Gao Shen.
It wasn't just because of Gao Shen's coaching ability, but also because of his prestige and status. Once he stepped in, he could take full control of the situation. Even Neymar would have to behave in front of him.
"Before we officially begin our collaboration, I need to know: do you want superstars, or do you want results?"
Before Nasser and Blanc could respond, Gao Shen continued, "Undoubtedly, superstar status is temporary. To put it bluntly, whether it's Neymar, Ibrahimović, or Cavani, their popularity has all declined significantly since joining PSG. Have you ever wondered why?"
The influence of Ligue 1 was a factor, but that was a systemic issue PSG alone couldn't solve. It could only be addressed gradually.
More importantly, PSG consistently failed to deliver results. It gave the impression of being a rich club with no coherent tactical system.
"You signed Neymar, and now you want to sign Mbappé. I want to ask, do these two players actually work together?"
That question left Nasser and Blanc speechless.
The conflict between Neymar and Mbappé wasn't just about positioning, but also about clashing tactical styles.
The Brazilian superstar represented a typical Latin American ball-control playstyle, while Mbappé relied on speed and explosiveness. Neymar was more like Messi. Mbappé was more like Ronaldo.
So how do you activate Messi and Ronaldo on the same team?
If you don't believe it, just look at Real Madrid and Barcelona. Were their lineups and tactics ever the same?
In his previous life, Paris Saint-Germain had been trapped in this contradiction for several years. As Mbappé's rise threatened Neymar's position, the conflict only became more evident.
If Neymar was comfortable, then Mbappé wouldn't be, and vice versa.
The goal was to activate two star players at the same time, but the midfield was in complete disarray.
Another issue was the outdated idea of building a team like assembling a jigsaw puzzle.
As Gao Shen had said before, PSG still used a piecemeal approach to team-building. But this caused problems, just like their current midfield.
Rabiot, Kanté, Jorginho, Lass Diarra, Paredes...
Do you see the problem?
They were all role players.
It's worth noting that back when Ancelotti was in charge, there were players like Pastore, Lucas Moura, and Ménez, who could carry the ball and break through. But now?
Everyone had noticed that once Neymar got injured, PSG lost its soul. No one else could carry the ball forward.
For that reason alone, PSG should be thankful just to make it to the knockout stage.
And this wasn't a problem exclusive to PSG. Many top teams faced the same issue.
Take Manchester United for example.
In his previous life, after Manchester United signed Pogba for a record fee, shouldn't they have built the team and tactics around him?
Later, when Pogba had a falling out with Mourinho, and Mourinho was sacked, didn't that mean Pogba's role should have been further solidified?
So why didn't they?
If United didn't want to build around Pogba, why buy him in the first place? Why sack Mourinho?
This brings us back to Gao Shen's theory of evolution: survival of the fittest.
Suitability should always be the first consideration in team sports.
Whether it's Mbappé or Ronaldo, they could both be the leading scorer and attacking spearhead of the team, but neither should be the tactical core on the pitch.
When Gao Shen led Real Madrid to six straight Champions League titles, the tactical core was always in midfield. Whether it was Kroos, Modrić, Xabi Alonso, or Casemiro, the heart of the team was never in the forward line.
On the contrary, the first thing Gao Shen did after taking over Real Madrid in 2012 was to sell the attacking midfielder and move the tactical core to midfield. That decision led to Real Madrid's brilliant achievements in recent years and also revitalized Cristiano Ronaldo.
Players like Messi, Neymar, Hazard, Pogba, and Modrić could all serve as the tactical core, but the system had to be built around them to maximize their value.
"What I mean is, don't buy Mbappé. Build your tactics around Neymar. We need to strengthen the right winger position. Draxler can play both flanks, but that's not enough."
"We also need a midfielder who can control the game and carry the ball forward."
In attack, PSG had Cavani, Choupo-Moting, and Nkunku. That was enough.
At center-back, they had Benatia, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, and Kimpembe.
In goal, they had Buffon, Areola, Trapp, and Navas.
From any angle, Paris Saint-Germain had a strong, well-equipped squad. If they could address their weaknesses through signings, stabilize the locker room, and make full use of existing resources, Gao Shen believed the team could deliver results.
More importantly, PSG faced far less pressure in Ligue 1, which allowed them to focus more on the Champions League. That was a major advantage.
Other clubs in top leagues still had to deal with domestic competition, so they must have been envious of PSG.
However, a lack of competition in the league could also lead to players becoming complacent and lazy.
Everything had its pros and cons. How it turned out depended on the person in charge.
Nasser had been involved in professional football for several years. Blanc had over a decade of experience. Both clearly understood PSG's current problems. Gao Shen's casual remarks had hit the nail on the head, pointing straight at the club's core issues.
It made Nasser and Blanc even more confident in Gao Shen's capabilities.
"After hearing all this, we feel even more at ease entrusting the team to you," Nasser said with a sigh of relief.
"From now on, you take care of things at Paris Saint-Germain. We'll just sign the checks."
In other words: Don't worry, we've got the money. Buy whichever one you like.
(To be continued.)