In the midst of the shifting soccer scene, the fate of two international players has sparked heated debate: Han Pengfei and Huang Zhengyu. Han Pengfei, a once highly regarded player, has been marginalized in Ivanovic's tactical blueprint. This choice, while regrettable, is not entirely unjustified - Han Pengfei has clearly failed to reach the level of a starter for the national soccer team, and he is not as well known as he should be in the Chinese Super League.
However, another midfield centerpiece Huang Zhengyu's encounter is puzzling. The Shandong Luneng Taishan midfielder, though originally positioned as a center back, has quietly transformed into an outstanding back under the tutelage of South Korean coach Cui Kangxi. Huang Zhengyu not only solid defense, interception and stealing ability is outstanding, but also has a certain offensive threat, can be called the team model.
Despite the fact that Huang Zhengyu is slightly less capable than fellow position player Wang Haijian, Ivankovic's tactical choices are confusing. The coach seemed to favor the mediocre Wang Haijian, while ignoring Huang Zhengyu's all-round attributes. It's a decision that is undoubtedly frustrating. It would not be an exaggeration to say that giving up on Huang Zhengyu was the most confusing choice in Ivankovic's coaching career.
