In the few games since his return, Zhao Mingjian has performed well, with both goals and assists, and seems to have become the core of the team. However, after an intermission, his fitness problems gradually emerged. As a right back, he often struggles to return to defense after attacking. Guangzhou has more young players who are able to maintain high intensity running for 90 minutes, which made Zhao Mingjian's defensive problems more and more prominent and eventually forced him to return to the bench. As a substitute wingback, Zhao Mingjian was able to take full advantage of his strengths when playing in the halves, reducing the pressure on the defense.
Three rounds of victories are not a coincidence. The main reason why Dalian Imbo was ranked first in the first half of the season was defense, not offense. Zero opponents have become the norm. But with all the goals conceded in the last five rounds of Central League matches, multiple rounds without a win are justified, and it's time to put Li Guoxu to the test, with the next match against Guangzhou. One is a chaser with high morale, and the other is a team that has held the lead for many rounds and suddenly has a sense of crisis. In the match against Guangzhou, Dalian Yingbo at least waited for a guaranteed point and would not shorten the gap.
Five rounds ago, Guangzhou was in the middle of the table and now it has become a super team. Guangzhou team has a stronger desire to go beyond. Only when they enter the Super League will they have more hope of sponsorship and survival. Young players also want better avenues for upward mobility. Dalian Yingbo is dominated by veterans, and as their physical fitness declines, the injury factor will plague the team, with Zhao Mingjian and Fei Yu both playing with injuries. Mao Weijie and Zhu Pengyu, two young players, have entered a short trough. The tactics of the whole team should be clearer to avoid playing too chaotic and dropping the chain at critical moments.
