This evening, the spring city of Jinan is about to welcome a heavyweight matchup in the quarterfinal knockout round of the AFC Champions League. Shandong Taishan and Yokohama Marinos, the best of the Chinese Super League and the J-League, are in direct confrontation, undoubtedly the focus of attention. Personally, I think Choi Kang-hee's personality is like the sword of Tarzan, with two sharp edges, which will determine the direction of this battle.
Looking back on last season, Taishan team suffered a stormy time, Choi Kang-hee in a critical situation, leading the team quickly back on track, not only in the league and the Cup to win the runner-up, but also in the AFC Champions League to enter the quarter-finals. Cui Kangxi left a distinctive tactical mark on the Taishan team. Even in the Chinese Super League, there are very few teams that can compete with Taishan. And Cui's composure and tenacity on the sidelines have given the Taishan team a new vigor.
But there are always positive and negative sides to things. Choi Kang-hee's stubbornness and attack-oriented strategy has also exposed weaknesses in the backline of the Taishan team while they have a great record. He is known for his ball-stealing tactics, a style that is okay in the Chinese Super League, but in the AFC Champions League, we need to look at it dialectically. Against Yokohama Mariners, Lao Cui won't change his tactics easily. It is expected that Taishan will still stick to the high ball grabbing, but will this be able to cope with the opponent's fast passing? If they can't control the whole field, how will they cope?
The key to dealing with this game is two things: mindset and tempo. First, the mindset needs to remain calm and the opinion needs to be moderate. Abandon the aura of being the only team in the Chinese Super League and see Yokohama Mariners as a stronger opponent. Secondly, high ball grabbing needs to be moderate to avoid too much emptiness in the midfield. At the same time, it is important to observe the positions of teammates to ensure adequate protection when stealing the ball, and not to be adventurous. We need to avoid being beaten by our opponents and minimize unnecessary fouls and turnovers in sensitive areas. In terms of tempo, it is important to build on our strengths and avoid our weaknesses, so that the midfield does not have to get too entangled. We can combine speed and skill on the wing to show exciting prospects.
The strategy of the masters is to avoid harm, contain the opponents and counteract them. Fortunately, Yokohama Mariners' coach has not been on board for long and the team is still in the process of bonding, which is a big plus for the Taishan team.
