Three years later, the Super Cup returned as promised. On April 8, Shandong Taishan lost 0-2 against Super League champions Wuhan Sanzhen, missing out on the first trophy of the new season. Although there is a gap between Taishan and Wuhan Sanzhen in terms of technical and tactical layout, personnel and individual form, the loss is not entirely regrettable, but rather a sign that the journey of the new season will be full of challenges.
Although Taishan put a lot of effort into preparing for the Super Bowl, the team chose Delgado as a replacement in the absence of Cressan, and he made it into the starting lineup without a hitch. In order to strengthen the defense, Coach Hao Wei activated three center backs in an attempt to solidify the defense. Early in the game, Taishan had a slight advantage on the field, but it didn't last long. In the 10th minute, Wuhan Sanzhen broke the deadlock with the excellent play of the two newcomers. Wei Shihao's breakthrough created a scoring opportunity for Aziz, and Taishan fell behind 0-1.
The loss of the ball seemed to disrupt Hao Wei's pre-match deployment, and Taishan struggled to organize an effective attack on the offensive end. Although Chen Pu got a chance to shoot through a steal, Taishan still had difficulty in breaking through Wuhan Sanzhen's defense. After the 30th minute, Taishan started to pass the ball continuously, but the midfield was suppressed by the opponents, and it was difficult to start the attack. Hao Wei replaced the underperforming Delgado early, but the score was still 0-1 at the end of the first half.
In the second half, Hao Wei made a succession of substitutions, with players such as Wang Tong, Liu Binbin and Fellaini coming on to the field, and the formation was adjusted to a four-quarterback in an attempt to strengthen the offense. Unfortunately, the adjusted tactics had not yet been implemented, Wuhan Three Town scored again, Xie Pengfei and Stanchou's connection to extend the score to 2-0. Then, Taishan team relied more on the bottom of the pass play, hoping to use Fellaini's physical advantage to find a goal opportunity, but Liu Yang and Fellaini missed a good opportunity. Taishan made a mistake in possession which led to Liu Bin using the ball inappropriately.
Throughout the game, Taishan had a clear gap with Wuhan Sanzhen in many aspects. First of all, tactically, Taishan still switched between 3 center backs and 4 backs, which seems to be a flexible strategy, but it reveals the lack of clear tactical thinking. On the other hand, Wuhan Sanzhen maintained their usual intensity and pressure on the offensive side, and the addition of new players did not change this style. Coach Hao Wei needs to find the team's characteristics and play to their strengths in both offense and defense.
In addition, Taishan's creativity and sense of responsibility on the offensive end of the field also had a gap with Wuhan Sanzhen. In the absence of Cressan, Taishan lacked a single point of breakthrough, and players such as Moises, Chen Pu, Delgado and Liu Binbin performed poorly in the half-court. Breakthrough is the key to create chances, and Taishan team is difficult to compete with Wuhan Sanzhen in this aspect. Wuhan Sanzhen has the ability to make breakthroughs, whether it's from foreigners or domestic players.
In the new season, Taishan team not only has to face Wuhan three towns, but also has to deal with Shanghai seaport, Beijing Guoan and other strength-enhancing opponents. Compared with last season, Taishan team is facing more pressure and challenges. With only one week left before the opening of the league, it is difficult for Taishan to realize a big change in a short period of time. In the long season, they need to quickly find the best solution to solve the offensive and defensive problems and make timely adjustments, as well as help the new recruits integrate into the team as soon as possible. The road ahead is still long and full of challenges.
