Shandong Taishan, despite holding the initiative to qualify for the AFC Champions League, will still have to fight for the best possible result in their final away match against Yokohama Mariners, at least a draw to guarantee a first place finish in the group, which is also more favorable to the situation in the knockout stages later on. Most of the teams in the Chinese Super League are on vacation, and the Taishan team has conducted overseas training for the match against Yokohama Mariners in a few days. The Taishan team will collectively travel to Jeju Island in South Korea for training to meet their final opponent in the AFC Champions League group stage and prepare for the new Chinese Super League season.
Head coach Choi Kang-hee wanted to go to Jeju Island in South Korea to train and also facilitate Choi to find new assistance in South Korea. Before the FA Cup final, Choi Kang-hee decided to go to Jeju Island to train, planning his trip in advance. He departed from his base in Jinan in the morning and went to Jeju Island after connecting in Shanghai, and was expected to arrive in the afternoon of the same day. One of the purposes of this training trip to Jeju Island is to warm up with the South Korean team. The domestic league is over and the teams are basically on vacation, making it almost impossible to find opponents. However, the Korean league is not over yet. With Choi Kang-hee's appeal in Korean soccer, Taesan should be able to play local teams in the coming week.
After a week of training in Korea, the team traveled directly to Yokohama before the start of the AFC Champions League, which would reduce travel fatigue. Another purpose of training in Korea was to investigate signing targets to facilitate transfer negotiations. Pohang Iron center forward Zeca is basically confirmed, and the players themselves have hinted via social media that they are on the verge of joining Shandong Taishan. Aside from Zeca, Ulsan Hyundai midfielder Kazayishvili is likely to be the second signing target for Taishan. Kazayishvili, a 30-year-old Georgian international, is an attacking midfielder who plays a similar role to Moises. Kazayishvili joined the K-League in 2021 and has made 130 appearances in four seasons, scoring 35 goals and assisting 10 times.
Both Zeca and Kazaishvili are top foreigners in the K-League, playing for teams that are also top giants in the K-League, at a level probably higher than that of Taishan. Among them, Zeca is one of the candidates for the best foreigners in the K-League this season. Ulsan Hyundai is also a top team in the K-League, leading second place by as many as 10 points with one round left. It has locked up the K-League title early. Kazaishvili has made a great contribution and can compete for the best foreigner of the season.
The Tayside team is now on the right path of development, showing upward momentum. Looking at the level of signings in the squad, the new season will be no worse, if not better, than this one. Looking at the age factor, Zeca and Kazaishvili could also go a long way in reducing the age of Fellaini and Moises. The AFC Champions League knockout rounds and the new Chinese Super League season will be even more interesting to watch. Expect Taishan to do well in the AFC Champions League and the new Chinese Super League season.
