With poor preparations, Shanghai Seaport, who cost 29 million euros, started the season with two consecutive defeats and only managed to turn things around with a 2-0 win over Hebei in the current round. In the Chinese Super League price list, they are followed by defending champions Shandong Taishan (15.9 million euros) and newly promoted Wuhan Sanzhen (15.25 million euros). Currently, Wuhan Sanzhen is in second place in the table, while Shandong Taishan is in sixth place with two wins and one loss. However, the season is long and the final result depends on a number of factors, such as how long the "low-cost team's" comeback will last, and whether the "all-Chinese team" can be effectively strengthened in the summer transfer window in August, which have become the focus of the league's attention.
Homegrown young manager brings surprises
Nowadays, there are no more foreign coaches in the coaching table of the Chinese Super League, and 8 local coaches are in charge of the team, accounting for nearly half of the total number of coaches. The performance and results of the teams in the first three rounds show that Li Jinyu (head coach of Wuhan Changjiang) and Xie Hui (head coach of Dalian) have become the highlights of the local coaches.
Wuhan Changjiang reached the top of the table after winning against Shanghai Seaport, Hebei and Guangzhou. Although Shanghai Seaport had yet to make adjustments, and Hebei and Guangzhou were both playing with "full Chinese teams", Wuhan Changjiang showed impressive competitive content. Li Jinyu, who replaced Li Xiaopeng midway through last season, is revolutionizing the team, and Wuhan Changjiang is now focusing on the ground, with significant possession in all three matches. In the first match against Shanghai Seaport, Li's instruction to his players "not to delay" was appreciated, and he emphasized: "I just want my players to play well, and I don't want to choose other means to win. I told them that we have to take the game seriously and send positive energy. In any case, I don't want the players to delay."
The Dalian native, who had previously been preparing for battle in the Central League, brought a new look to the Chinese Super League. "Just press and play" and "play fast to adapt fast to play faster" are the high level pressing and fast offense and defense conversion that Xie Hui brings. Under his guidance, rising star Lin Liangming, Yan Xianggong who returned to the Chinese Super League, and veteran Shang Yin who made his debut in the top league all contributed goals to the team. By building an unassuming individual into an excellent whole, young manager Xie Hui is breaking the stereotype of local coaches.
