Muscat mentioned, "Measuring success is always through trophies, which are timeless, but we also have to focus on team spirit." This is what he said in an interview with compatriot Sasha Pisani, which shows that Muscat has a clear understanding of the relationship between champions and teams. He believes that there are moments when you start to realize that you are building something that is more powerful than match soccer. As a manager, he is undoubtedly a strong competitor for the Super League title contenders!
Next year, it may not be a "two-horse race" anymore. Shanghai Seaport wants to keep the title, while Shandong Taishan wants to regain the lost honor! This includes not only the league title, but also the cup title coming back to the team. Of course, Shanghai Shenhua has a new manager, and they are eager to defend their cup title and compete for the league title, so that they don't have any regrets next year. Zhejiang, the third-place team in the Chinese Super League, as well as Chengdu Rongcheng and Beijing Guoan have their own ambitions and do not want to be a backdrop for other teams! The Chinese Super League will be even more competitive and enjoyable to watch.
Four teams in the Chinese Super League have changed their manager, and if old Cui doesn't make it, it's a done deal! Those four teams are Shanghai Harbor, Shanghai Shenhua, Wuhan Sanzhen and Henan. That's not counting Dalian Ren, who have been relegated, and it's uncertain whether Dalian Ren will make it through the league's access, or even if they'll be able to make it to the Chinese Super League on a recurring basis. It is also unlikely that Dalian's head coach Xie Hui will stay with the team. Therefore, for the time being, Dalian Ren is not counted among the teams that have changed their manager. Besides, today's Dalian people are not considered to be "tigers", even if they stay in the Chinese Super League, they are still only fighting for relegation.
Wu Jingui led Shanghai Shenhua to win the AFC Cup, but not for the privilege of exemption from punishment. According to Russian media, former Russian national team head coach Slutsky will be the new coach of Shanghai Shenhua, and both sides have already signed a contract, and he is expected to arrive in Shanghai at the end of December. Wuhan Sanzhen failed to successfully defend their title and Mian Takabatake will be fired. According to Daily News, Sanzhen is interested in hiring former Jeju United boss Nam Ki Ik to coach the team. The Henan club is interested in hiring Korean coach Choi Yong-soo to lead the team in the Chinese Super League.
Speaking for the first time since joining Seaport, Muscat said he had been in contact with a number of clubs but ultimately chose Seaport and signed a '1+1' year contract. He said: "At the end of the day I had a discussion with the sporting director, general manager and president of the club, who gave me an overview of the club over the last four or five years and set out the development plans for the next three to five years... It was a frank and honest discussion... Harbour sent someone to Japan around November 30th and the negotiations, which were originally planned to last 60 minutes, lasted nearly four hours.... They recalled in detail some of the matches I've played in, including the one in which I led Yokohama against Taishan, and quoted some details of the match that I had forgotten ......"
It is evident that Seaport recruited Muscat very carefully, Muscat continued, "They initially reached out to me through my profile and then had an in-depth discussion based on the style of soccer that I have always adhered to. This opportunity gives us the chance to play total soccer." "I'm hungry to win games and win another championship in another country. Playing our own soccer will give us the best chance. Of course, there will be challenges, but the bigger the challenge, the more we will learn. Even though this contract is a bit risky, it is a very good opportunity in my coaching career."
