On July 18th, 2024, Nanjing City, one of the top teams in the Central League, cleanly defeated Qingdao Hainiu with a score of 2-0 in the 1/8th final of the AFC Cup. After the match, Nanjing City's manager Fabio revealed in a press conference that the team was well prepared for the match and the players' performance was quite eye-catching.
Fabio began his speech with a review of the first half: "Our preparation was thorough and we foresaw some challenges against a solid opponent. We are a team that excels in possession and constantly looked for the breaks. The hard work in training was not in vain and the players were excellent in the first half both tactically and technically. Even with a 2-0 lead, we took some good chances to extend the lead.
At halftime, I reminded the players that the 2-0 scoreline looked solid, but there was a hidden crisis. We then made tactical adjustments. In the second half, we played defense and waited for an opportunity to counterattack. Our players did a great job in defense, effectively blocking the opponent's attack and making sure the score was not changed.
I think our players deserve a lot more credit than that, and a big thank you to the fans who have traveled thousands of miles to support us, including those at home, and to the club management who have consistently stood by us."
