In the 24th round of the Chinese Super League, Dalian suffered a 0-3 defeat against Zhejiang. According to Dalian's local media, Peninsula Morning Post, the loss widened the gap between Dalian and the higher-ranked Qingdao Sea Cowboys to five points, putting the relegation situation in jeopardy. Dalian, who were shut out by three goals in two consecutive matches, were overstretched on the offensive end and full of holes on the defensive end. Head coach Xie Hui is again facing the crisis of dismissal. Last year, despite the pressure, Xie led the team to successfully complete the relegation task. However, in the new season, Dalian's main players have left the team, and the club's limited funds and inability to bring in new recruits has led to a decline in the team's strength. Although Xie Hui is a woman, there is nothing she can do in the face of this predicament.
Although it is rumored that Xie Hui may be dismissed due to poor performance, Dalian is at a critical moment in the relegation process, and dismissing Xie Hui at this time may affect the team's morale. At the same time, it is difficult for Dalian to find a suitable replacement. If the team is relegated, Xie Hui may become a symbol of the team's failure. Perhaps, he is not willing to honor himself by coaching in China's first division. Despite his poor performance this season, Xie Hui's coaching ability has improved significantly over the past two seasons, making him one of the youngest coaches in the Chinese Super League. After leaving Dalian, I'm sure he'll find the next right stage to continue his coaching career.
Personally, I think Xie Hui's former owners Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Harbor could be his ideal next home. Currently, Shenhua's Wu Jingui and Harbour's Javier are both at risk of being dismissed. Xie Hui played for Shanghai Shenhua for a long time when he was a player. After his retirement, he worked as an assistant coach for Shanghai Seaport and helped them win the Chinese Super League title. However, after leaving Seaport, Xie Hui lost his job for exposing the inside story of the championship win while drunk. Given his feud with Seaport, he may not return to Seaport.
Dalian's attacking core Lin Liangming could be Xie Hui's welcome gift to Shanghai Shenhua. The domestic striker, who used to play for Real Madrid B, has become an attacking weapon in Xie Hui's tactical system. With his outstanding performance in the Chinese Super League, he managed to make the national team's training list and scored goals. If Dalian is unlucky enough to be relegated, Lin Liangming is likely to join Shanghai Shenhua with Xie Hui and become the 36-year-old's successor as the mainstay of Shenhua's offense.
