On social media, veteran media figure Bing Bing gave his opinion on the second round of the AFC Champions League group stage. He pointed out that the three Chinese Super League (CSL) teams lost in the tournament, a phenomenon that reveals the decline of the overall strength of the CSL. If this trend continues, the Chinese Super League in the AFC Champions League seats will face the threat of shrinking, which is inevitable.
Specifically, Shandong Taishan lost 0-1 at home against Yokohama Mariners, Wuhan Sanzhen defeated Pohang Tie 1-3 on the road, and Zhejiang lost 1-2 at home to Melbourne. In response, Chill described it this way in the comments:
On the second day of the Asian Champions League, the top three teams in the Chinese Super League suffered consecutive losses. They lost to teams from Japan, South Korea and Australia in the Asian tournament, which undoubtedly exposed the reality of the level of the Chinese Super League. Gone are the days when they were known as the four major leagues in East Asia alongside Japan, South Korea and Australia, and now the level of the Chinese Super League seems to be similar to that of the top teams in Southeast Asia.
If there is another mass departure of super foreigners next year, the Chinese Super League will be further weakened. To maintain its position in the top league of Asian soccer, the Chinese Super League cannot afford to indulge in the huge investments of the past. Continued losing could lead to a reduction in seats, and could even lead to the dilemma of not being able to participate in the elite AFC Champions League, which would be an unprecedented challenge.
