Behind this player selection list is the hard work of Ivanovic's assistant coaching team. They have not only watched many Chinese League matches, but also witnessed Shandong Taishan's style in the AFC Champions League. Every player on the list was carefully observed and considered. The team of assistant coaches was divided into groups and analyzed the matchups of the major teams in depth. The best of Chinese soccer were almost invariably on the scouting horizon, but despite this, there were a few players off the list, such as naturalized player Alan, who has hit the post twice, and the scrappy Luo Guofu, whose absence sparked heated debate.
Nonetheless, many showed their satisfaction with the list, including players such as Zhao Bo and Cheng Jin, whose inclusion was an eye-opener. The participation of Li Ang and Li Shuai added a few more expectations. Most excitingly, Fernando and Li Yuan were selected by Shandong Taishan, and Chengdu Rongcheng's Eckerson also managed to make the list. This result, at least in the eyes of netizens, is an upgrade from the previous national team, with a satisfaction rate of 80%.
Huang Qiang's views on the list are controversial, arguing that coaching changes have become the norm since the FA announced that Ivanovic was in charge of the national team, and that the passion of new coaches is often accompanied by disappointment. While confident, Ivankovic and his team have spent the past few days observing multiple matches in groups in the first round of the Chinese Super League, as well as Shandong Taishan's AFC Champions League campaign, and have been impressed with the performances of Li Yuanyi and Fernando, hence their inclusion in the list. At the same time, they also do not forget to pay attention to the young power, such as Wang Zhenao, Zhao Bo, Cheng Jin, etc., the figure of the hopeful star jumped off the page. Although this list gives hope, the absence of naturalized player Alan is a bit regrettable, and it is widely believed that Ivankovic will not ignore any of the outstanding players.
