In Shandong Taishan, Liu Yang's performance seems to have become the team's hidden pain. In two consecutive seasons, he appeared in almost every game in the national soccer team and club lineup, becoming the most frequent domestic player. However, recently his form has taken a sharp turn for the worse, not only losing his starting position as a left back in the national team, but also making frequent mistakes in the club. In particular, in the match against Zhejiang, a reckless foul by him directly led to the loss of the ball. Head coach Choi Kang-hee has begun to try to adjust the defensive lineup, with Wu Xinghan performing well at left back and Wang Tong making a successful comeback.
With the availability of foreign strikers, the role of local center forward seems to be less necessary. Previously, due to Zeca's long term injury, Bizinho got a lot of chances to play and scored 3 goals in various matches, which was a remarkable performance. But with Zeca returning and getting back to his best, Bizinho's position was gradually marginalized and he may leave the team next year. Taishan still has four AFC Champions League matches to play this season, and the team's goal is to at least get out of the group. With no league to worry about, Cui Kangxi can focus on preparing for the AFC Champions League, and even if he can only command from the stands, he will still be able to take full control of the situation.
Midfielder Peng Xinli scored a crucial goal and Huang Zhengyu delivered a precise assist, both of them are back in form, which plays a positive role in the lineup adjustment for the AFC Champions League. Choi Kang-hee has been extra cautious in his use of players, as Cressan failed to start because of his injury problems, and he is not required to give his full strength in the league stage. The performance in the AFC Champions League group stage will have a direct impact on head coach Choi Kang-hee's contract renewal prospects. In the final round against Meizhou Hakka, players with few appearances such as Zhao Jianfei, He Xiaoke, Jia Feifan and Liu Shibo are expected to get a chance to show off as a way to train young players. Taishan have plenty of time to rest and prepare for the away match against Pohang Ironmen. With the tacit understanding of the foreign trident gradually forming, expect them to make a difference in the AFC Champions League.
