With the dust settling on the policy for the new Chinese Super League (CSL) season, the registration quota for the first team is locked at 30+5, an adjustment that has caused many players to breathe a sigh of relief and lessen their worries about being eliminated from the team. Beijing Guoan's preparations are on a tight schedule, as they have already left for Hainan to start their winter training, becoming the first team to prepare for this season's Chinese Super League campaign in a different location. Many Chinese Super League teams will also choose Hainan as their preparation base and are expected to play warm-up matches here. Guoan officials also synchronized the release of the team's training photos, most of the main players are listed, however, Zhang Yuning due to the recovery in Europe is not yet ideal, failed to accompany the team to travel.
U21 players will be the center of attention in the new season. Among the players returning from loan such as Yang Fan, Jiang Wenhao, Leng Jixuan and Li Boshi, Yang Fan's future is still uncertain and Guoan has not yet decided whether to keep him or not, while Tian Jin Menhu is interested in bringing in Yang Fan. Yang Fan's stay or departure will depend on the signings made by Guoan this season. Meanwhile, center back Yu Yang has left the team and Guoan is facing a vacancy in the center back position, with Yu Dabao and Bai Yang's form not ideal last season.
The other three loan returnees also face challenges, having failed to show superb form, let alone make the U21's, with all three over the age limit and needing to be in contention for a place in the 30-man squad. Performance in winter training will be crucial, with head coach Stanley Menzo placing three major demands on his squad - discipline, attitude and unity - emphasizing that meeting training standards will directly enhance match performances, and that Guiao's winter training will be crucial.
Although Stanley Menzo lacks rich experience, but as a young coach, he is mainly aimed at young players to coaching after taking office. The new season will be added to the Chinese Super League U21 League, Guoan and U21 team also went to Hainan to prepare for the game, aimed at preparing for the U21 League, and select 5 U21 players registered. In the training list, Yu Dabao, Wang Gang, Gao Tianyi, Zhang Xizhe and other people have names, Li Ke also returned to the team.
Li Ke has completed his return to training and has fully recovered from his injury. As a naturalized player, he was plagued by injuries last season, and his return to the field now means that Guoan has renewed his contract. The performance of local players has become more and more crucial after the end of the era of gold dollar soccer. If Li Ke returns to his best form, there will be no need to bring in foreigners in the midfield, and the trio of Li Ke, Gao Tianyi and Ji Zhongguo are expected to become the new core of Guoan. Stanley Menzo will conduct a comprehensive inspection of Guoan's new lineup.
Currently, only one foreigner is returning, Adebenelo is performing positively and will stay in the team with Kang Siang-woo, and Dabbro has a loan program. Therefore, Guoan will need to bring in at least three foreigners for the new season in order to strengthen the striker, center back and forward positions. After taking over the team last season, Stanley Menzo changed Guoan's ineffective ball-control play, and the team's style became more hard and efficient. During the winter training period, the competition between Guoan players will become more and more intense, although the team lineup is old, but the growth potential of young players should not be ignored.
