Even after the departure of Fellaini and Moises, Shandong Taishan urgently signed Kazaishvili in order to improve the strength of the attacking end, but it is undeniable that the team's ability to attack in the penalty area is still lacking. Especially in the crucial moment of fighting for set-pieces, the team had to rely more on the temporary striker Jadson. However, in the match against Kawasaki Striker, Shandong Taishan showed more abundant offensive means, which is undoubtedly a great news. Coach Choi Kang-hee will need to analyze how to effectively contain the Yokohama Mariners' offense, especially focusing on the movements of Elbe and Lopez.
Not to be overlooked is that the compact schedule poses a serious challenge to the physical fitness of the players. The Chinese Super League will kick off on March 1, and Shandong Taishan's first match will be on March 3 against Changchun Yatai. The team will host Yokohama Marinos just three days after the first game of the Chinese Super League. Immediately after the second round of matches with Beijing Guoan on March 9, Shandong Taishan will have only two days of rest and recuperation, and then need to urgently fly to Japan to participate in the second round of the duel. Four consecutive matches in just 11 days will be a great test for the players' fitness.
It is worth mentioning that the schedule of the new season of the Chinese Super League shows the good intentions of the Football Association. In the first five rounds of matches, Shandong Taishan will enjoy the treatment of three consecutive home games. Obviously, the FA has foreseen the possibility of Shandong Taishan advancing to the last eight of the AFC Champions League, and therefore deliberately reserved space in the schedule to avoid the unfavorable situation of the team continuously running between home and away games. In this regard, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Association for their meticulous arrangements.
