Dalian's road to relegation
On the road to relegation, Dalian people walk alone. In the Chinese Super League, there is no help from friends. In the battle of Shandong Taishan, only one point was gained, while against Beijing Guoan, they were unable to regain the wings of victory. With Nantong Zhiyun side by side, who first lost points, the other team's confidence will be shaken. In the final round of the Chinese Super League, every game is like a duel, and they have to put their best foot forward. Xie Hui's use of personnel and tactics is no longer critical, and victory or defeat often depends on luck and details, and Dalian seems to have a slight advantage.
The performance of foreigners is crucial for teams in the Chinese Super League, whether they are competing for the title or relegation. Dalian are reliant on their foreigners and only have four of them this season. Manzocchi is star-studded, while Tesonev struggles to be the centerpiece. Mamba shuttles between striker and defender. Bosanjic, however, is relegated to a fringe player. Relegation teams don't need foreigners? Except for Xie Hui. Bosanjic had rave reviews and was seen as a strong foreigner for Dalian.
Early in the season, Bosanjic was a shaky starter. In rounds five to twelve, he returned to the starting lineup, but failed to maintain a full game performance. In July, injuries caused him to lose his starting position and he even struggled to make the roster for some games. In the last six games, he only played 14 minutes as a substitute in Beijing Guoan, completely losing Xie Hui's trust. At the back, Xie Hui trusts local players such as Wu Wei, Lv Peng and Wang Yu.
Relegation or not, Bosanjic's departure is a foregone conclusion. Lack of physical fitness and general confrontation are not in line with Xie Hui's tactics. Xie Hui's tactics are not in line with Xie Hui's strategy. Wu Wei and Wang Yaopeng, who were hidden at the beginning of the season, were activated in the second half of the season and proved their strength. Despite being close to relegation, Dalian has more international players, such as Wang Zhenao, He Yupeng, Lin Liangming and Huang Jiahui, than many top 8 teams.
This double-edged sword both proves the strength of the Dalianese roster and exposes the team's woes. Many players are worth waiting for, but Dalian people are difficult to retain the talent. Last season, Dong Yanfeng, Tong Lei and Lin Liangming left the team. Once out of the country, other Chinese Super League teams have been poaching. Dalian people can only rely on work and relegation to retain players.
During the off-season, the Dalian people regrouped after a week's vacation to prepare for the game. The battle for the three towns of Wuhan is the top priority. Three games in the final round, each must fight for three points. Lin Liangming is recovering well from injury and national players are returning. Dalian people are ranked ahead and are expected to overwhelm Nantong Zhiyun. The road to relegation, they are full of confidence. Veteran Yan Xianggong, Zhu Ting, Lv Peng, etc. become special advantages for relegation.
