With three wins in the first three rounds and Shanghai Seaport at the top of the league on goal difference, Shanghai Shenhua's away match against Shanghai Seaport on April 30 could be the most talked about Shanghai derby in recent years.
Looking ahead to the upcoming derby, Shenhua head coach Wu Jingui was full of confidence at the pre-match press conference. "I am very confident in the team. Although the players are young, they can all execute the skills and tactics of the manager, especially the spirit of active running and fighting. Tactics and discipline are executed like never before. So I feel more confident leading the team than ever before."
In addition to Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, Xu Haoyang and other young players who have performed well, the united coaching team is also a source of confidence for Wu Jinguide's game. "Every position in the team is very important. Although it's a pity that assistant coach Li Chengming was sent off for impulsiveness in the last game, he did a lot of work both on and off the pitch. I am very satisfied with the coaching staff, they are all at their best age. Besides Li Chengming, Zheng Kewei, Li Shuai, Maeda and Mao Yijun are all young and strong. Our coaching team is very united and we believe the power of unity is unstoppable."
Shanghai Shenhua are at a disadvantage in terms of personnel compared to Shanghai Harbour's squad. Many players, such as Basogo and Liu Ruofan, were injured but missed the Hanchao match due to fever. However, Wu Jingui revealed in the press conference, "We gave him a break for the last game. After a few days, he recovered well. Today, he also came to the stadium with the team."
The importance of the Shanghai Derby cannot be overstated, both for the players, the team and the fans. Wu Jingui said: "We know very well what the derby means and we know how to deal with it. We will face the game with a positive and open attitude."
Although Wu Jingui is confident about his team's performance tomorrow, as the head coach, he knows that a good mentality will be very important for the young players' performance. Before the match, he constantly warned his players to calm down. "The derby comes after the completion of the first three games. I told the players that everything will be fine only if they have a good mentality. The players were very excited to walk into this venue. I told them to make good adjustments and save their best for the game. I hope Derby play their best in Shanghai. Our team is ready for it."
