In the second round of the new Chinese Super League (CSL) season, Shandong Luneng hid most of their starters as they faced a powerful Beijing Guoan, who turned their focus to the AFC Champions League knockout stage in order to preserve their competitive strength. Key players such as Peng Xinli, Kazaishvili, Li Yuanyi and Mateus Pato were rotated in this crucial match, while Kressan, who was unable to play due to injury, was replaced by substitutes or fringe players such as Song Long, Bi Jinhao, Zhao Jianfei and Jia Feifan.
However, incredibly, even with Cui Kangxi's massive rotation, one of Shandong Luneng's most decorated veterans was still overlooked as a fixture in the team. The 36-year-old right-wing veteran, as Chinese fans know all too well, failed to get a single minute of action from start to finish of the game, becoming a completely superfluous presence in the team.
Zhang Zhi, the 36-year-old veteran, also failed to get any playing time in the first two rounds of the new season. This shows that, as the years go by, the decorated veteran of Luneng seems to have been reduced to a boring spectator in Cui Kangxi's tactical system.
Zhang Chi, Shandong Luneng's "loyal general", has never left the team since his debut in 2010. From a youngster to the twilight of his career, Zhang Chi has spent 13 years in Shandong Luneng. It can be said that Zhang Chi has dedicated the most valuable youthful years of his life to Shandong Luneng, and he will probably finish his last journey in Luneng. Therefore, it is very likely that he will realize his long-cherished dream of "one man, one city".
As a side defender, Zhang Zhi is not only physically impressive and defensively solid, but also quite creative on the offensive end. He is fast and explosive, and at his peak, he can often create offensive opportunities for the team with his personal breakthrough. So far, he has contributed 10 goals and 10 assists for Shandong Luneng, with a few key passes.
Despite the fact that Zhang Zhi is 36 years old, thanks to his self-discipline, his athleticism has not declined significantly. In his current form, although he may not be able to take up a starting position in the team, he is undoubtedly a wise choice to come on as a substitute. However, Choi Kang-hee seems to have lost faith in the veteran, benching him for two consecutive games and making him a fixture in the team. Such a "loyal minister and good general" can only become a spectator in his later years, which I am afraid is the cruelty of competitive sports.
