Last season, Manchester City's leadership structure was a mess.
This had a lot to do with Mark Hughes' management style.
As Gao Shen had pointed out before, Hughes simply wasn't equipped to handle a team like Manchester City.
The club's last two captains were both central defenders—first Sylvain Distin, who later moved to Everton, and then Richard Dunne. Last season, academy graduate Micah Richards served as vice-captain, while Petrov was the third-choice captain.
Surprisingly, even Robinho and Kompany had worn the captain's armband at various points.
This inconsistency was a direct result of the managerial situation. In fact, in Gao Shen's previous life, when Manchester City signed Tevez from Manchester United, they immediately handed the captaincy to him and Kolo Touré from Arsenal.
It wasn't that new signings couldn't be captains, but Manchester City's handling of the role had been chaotic.
Now, Gao Shen had to decide who would wear the armband.
Richard Dunne and Petrov had both been sold. Micah Richards, while physically gifted with strength and speed, had poor technical ability.
His skillset was raw, not in the way that players like Jordan Henderson or Giroud were still developing, but fundamentally rough in a way that limited his effectiveness.
In other words, none of last season's captains were viable choices.
As for Robinho, Hughes had given him the armband simply because he couldn't control him. Was that really necessary?
From Gao Shen's perspective, he wanted someone he could trust. The ideal candidate in his mind was Rakitic.
The midfielder was professional, hardworking, and had already earned the respect of his teammates despite being at the club for just over a month. In terms of attitude, ability, and work ethic, there was no question about his suitability.
Most importantly, he understood Gao Shen's tactics and could serve as a bridge between the manager and the players on the pitch.
But as head coach, Gao Shen had to consider the bigger picture.
If he handed the armband to Rakitic, how would the club's longer-serving players react?
Rakitic was new to the team, had no prior standing within the squad, and lacked the necessary experience to command instant authority. Could he handle it?
Gao Shen had no doubts about Rakitic's ability, but he ultimately decided it wasn't the right move at this stage.
After consulting with his coaching staff, he made his choice.
…
"We all agree that, at this moment, you are the most suitable person to be captain."
After training, Gao Shen called Vincent Kompany into his office and delivered the news personally.
Kompany was visibly surprised.
Although he had worn the armband at times last season, it had been sporadic. With Richard Dunne as captain and Micah Richards as vice-captain, Kompany had mostly been a stand-in.
Even during pre-season, Gao Shen had rotated the captaincy, sometimes allowing players to request it themselves. This had fueled speculation that he would choose one of his own signings, perhaps Rakitic or David Luiz.
Both players were direct beneficiaries of Gao Shen's trust and were among Manchester City's most valuable assets.
David Luiz, in particular, was central to the team's defensive stability.
"Boss, I..."
Kompany hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Gao Shen reached out, signaling him to listen first.
"Vincent, this decision was made after careful consideration by myself and the coaching staff. First and foremost, you are a long-standing member of this squad. You know Manchester City, Carrington, the Premier League, and our fans. Having you as captain gives us a sense of security."
Micah Richards, as an academy graduate, had an even deeper connection to the club, but he wasn't a guaranteed starter anymore. That made him an unsuitable choice.
As for Napoli, Gao Shen had appointed Montervino as captain back then but that was out of necessity.
Manchester City now had staff dedicated to handling off-field player matters. There was no need for the captain to take on extra responsibilities beyond leading the team.
"Secondly, I can tell you clearly that, barring unforeseen circumstances, you will play a key role in our defense this season. Your game time will be stable, and your influence will grow. Considering all factors, you are the best fit."
Kompany nodded, beginning to understand the reasoning.
"Boss, who will be the vice-captain?"
"Rakitic," Gao Shen replied without hesitation. "Luis Suárez will be the third captain, and I'm considering Zabaleta as the fourth."
Kompany was slightly taken aback.
Rakitic was Gao Shen's trusted lieutenant, so his appointment as vice-captain wasn't surprising. In fact, Kompany believed Rakitic could have easily been named captain outright.
But Suárez?
That was unexpected.
Seeing his confusion, Gao Shen explained.
In terms of seniority, Suárez wasn't yet established enough to be captain. He was crucial to the team but not irreplaceable. He had only just joined the club.
"Before pre-season, I didn't even consider him for the role," Gao Shen admitted. "But after watching him in training camp, I realized he deserves recognition. He brings energy and passion to the squad. I want him to drive the team's atmosphere. I love his hunger and desire to win."
Kompany understood immediately.
Whether in friendlies or training, Suárez always gave 100%. Even in the gym, where many players tended to slack off, he was relentless.
Of course, Gao Shen's constant praise and encouragement played a role too.
Young players thrived on recognition.
During training, Gao Shen often held up Suárez as an example, urging others to follow his lead. This only fueled the Uruguayan's drive, making every session feel like a high-stakes competition for him.
As for Zabaleta, he had been with the club since last season and was more than qualified to be the fourth-choice captain.
"Boss, what do you need me to do?" Kompany asked, eager to fulfill his new role.
Gao Shen was very satisfied with Kompany's attitude, it reassured him that he had made the right choice in appointing him as captain.
"I don't need to say much about the captain's responsibilities. I trust you to do a good job. Just lead with confidence—I'll back you up. If you ever need anything, you can always come to me."
Seeing Kompany nod in understanding, Gao Shen got to the point.
"Beyond that, I want you to set higher standards for yourself and your teammates."
Kompany listened attentively, taking every word to heart.
"We are no longer the Manchester City of the past. We now have clear ambitions. The captains and the dressing room must raise their standards accordingly. I'll make it clear, our goal is to win the title. If we fail to finish in the top four this season, it will be a failure of duty!"
The failure Gao Shen spoke of wasn't just on him as the head coach—it extended to the locker room and the leadership group as well.
Of course, if things went wrong, blame would have to be assigned based on the specific circumstances.
"I want you to hold yourself and your teammates to the standards of a Premier League champion, or even a top European club because we are a team aiming not only for the Premier League title but also the Champions League!"
"Vincent, do you understand me?"
Kompany looked at Gao Shen, his eyes filled with disbelief, surprise, excitement, and ambition.
He didn't doubt Gao Shen's ability to achieve this, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon or be stated so boldly.
More importantly, he was now the captain.
A year ago, how had he ended up at Manchester City from Hamburg?
Because of a dispute over his participation in the Olympics, he had fallen out with Hamburg and left in frustration, eventually being sold to City.
If someone had told him back then that Manchester City was aiming for the Premier League and Champions League titles, he would have laughed it off.
Even now, if any other manager had said the same thing, he would have been skeptical.
But because it was Gao Shen, he believed it!
The Belgian center-back took a deep breath, stood up from his seat, and gave his solemn assurance.
"Boss, don't worry. I promise to do my best to help you manage the locker room!"
His way of addressing Gao Shen had also changed from the formal boss to the more respectful big boss.
Gao Shen was pleased with this shift.
…
After sending Kompany away, Gao Shen called Rakitic into his office.
He didn't need to say much to the Croatian, he already knew that Rakitic would accept any decision without question. But that wasn't what Gao Shen wanted. He still took the time to explain.
He made it clear that he highly valued Rakitic and had initially considered him for the captaincy. However, after consulting those around him and considering Rakitic's status as a newcomer, Gao Shen had reluctantly decided to appoint Kompany instead.
Rakitic had always respected Gao Shen, and hearing this explanation only made him more appreciative. On the spot, he declared that even if he weren't vice-captain, he would still be Gao Shen's most loyal supporter.
…
Next was Suárez.
But Gao Shen took a different approach with the Uruguayan.
"I'm making you the third captain as a sign of my encouragement and expectations for you," he told Suárez. "I want you to continue setting an example, just like you do in training. I want you to bring that same energy onto the pitch and inspire your teammates."
Suárez was visibly moved.
Even though he was only the third-choice captain, this was the first time in his career that he had been given such responsibility.
"I believe this will help you mature and allow you to lead the team in the best way you can, by pushing them to win!"
Suárez was deeply touched and immediately vowed not to let Gao Shen down.
…
Finally, there was Zabaleta.
Gao Shen offered words of encouragement and appreciation, explaining why he had chosen him as the fourth captain and how he expected him to support both the coaching staff and his fellow captains in managing the dressing room.
Zabaleta also expressed his gratitude, promising to do his best to live up to Gao Shen's trust.
At this moment, Gao Shen finally felt at ease.
(To be continued.)
***
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