Shanghai Port won the Super League title, Shanghai Shenhua took away the FA Cup trophy, both participated in two games, both contested the last game of Shandong Taishan, it is difficult to win the title. Runner-up in the Chinese Super League, runner-up in the FA Cup, and runner-up in the Super Cup at the beginning of the year, Shandong Taishan has been mocked by some fans as the "King of Three Asias" this season. This scene is like a harbor of frustration.
Seeing this scene from Shandong Taishan, Shanghai team reporter Liu Wenchao had something to say. He was sarcastic that some team fans have double standards, his home team came in second place and said they were full of gold. The Shanghai team, also runners-up, smiled and became "average champions".
It's about how the "average champion" storyline came about.
Shanghai a champion in 2017 is hard to find. At that time, Cheng Yaodong, who still holds a position in the Shanghai club, openly defended the team's poor performance. He argued that if the average score of the Chinese Super League + AFC Champions League + FA Cup is added up, Shanghai is the first in the Chinese Super League, not Guangzhou Evergrande.
Current Olympic head coach Cheng Yaodong's interpretation was called "SIPG is the average champion" by fans back then.
So far, the term "average champion" has been officially born.
Honestly, Shanghai being mocked as "average champions" is a total good look. It's either a champion or a champion. Ranking by three points is unheard of in the world. If it's Shanghai fans making fun of themselves, then it's the special status of Cheng Yaodong, which has a different reality.
Nonetheless, journalist Liu Wenchao expressed his dissatisfaction (below).
At the time, the phrase "best overall performance by the third line" was over-interpreted as "average winner"," he wrote. Now fans of some teams laugh and say their two runners-up are full of gold. Sometimes you don't know how the repetition works."
At first glance, the reporter's argument makes sense, both runners-up. Why do you mock me as an "average winner" when I'm runner-up, while you claim to be a gold medalist when you're runner-up?
In fact, there's a suspicion of confusion: confusing the claims of club official Cheng Yaodong with the banter of fans, because there's no comparison at all.
Is "average champion" a past interpretation? It doesn't seem to be, because Ching Yiu Tung did say that the average score of Hong Kong is the first meaning.
Then the reporter recalled the record of "Sanya King" in Hong Kong, said what was the competitive environment, and what is the environment now, "on the way to influence the strongest Evergrande, you usually think of Hong Kong, Guoan, Suning".
The reporter just did not mention Shandong Taishan, also implied that this year's "three Asian king" gold content is not as high as that year's Hong Kong.
Finally, Liu Ji said that every team has difficulties, hoping that the Chinese Super League team can play a good runner-up, and also hoping that "some fans of that team can treat themselves and their opponents correctly".
It's easy to talk about others, but hard to improve yourself. I hope Liu Ji, when convincing fans of other teams, won't forget to convince Shanghai fans to treat themselves and their opponents correctly, and also convince his home team officials to have the right outlook on results.
