The curtain has come down on the Chinese Super League, and Shanghai Port has been crowned with glory, becoming one of only two Chinese Super League champions in history. The joy was overwhelming, and for several days they basked in their victory, organizing celebration after celebration. No matter what, we should not overlook the remarkable qualities that they have shown, and it is these qualities that have allowed them to sit on the throne of Super League supremacy.
Fans in the Chinese Super League, however, had their own taste in their mouths about Shanghai Port's glory and revelry. There was no bigger controversy than their unexpected exit from the AFC Champions League play-offs, where they suffered a heartbreaking home sweep against the mid-tier of the Thai league. The loss was undoubtedly a blow to them.
Meanwhile, the other three teams in the Chinese Super League all won in the last round of the AFC Champions League group stage, which was a strong rebuttal to Shanghai Hong Kong's "give up the AFC Champions League to protect the Chinese Super League" argument. Shandong Taishan swept Incheon United at home with a score of 3-1, and realized a double kill against the South Korean league team, even letting the other team score a goal in the extra time.
Shandong Taishan's controversial performance in the league, but their victory over the South Korean team in the AFC Champions League was enough to clear the stigma of the Chinese Super League and win honor for the league. In contrast, the new Chinese Super League champions' "abandonment of the AFC Champions League" has become the talk of the town.
From the brilliance of Shandong Taishan's two consecutive victories in the AFC Champions League to the clamor of Shanghai Port's celebration of the Chinese Super League title, the fans have their own minds to decide who is the true representative of the Chinese Super League. For those teams that shy away from the AFC Champions League, even if they dominate the local league, they are just frogs in the well. As the fans say, they are fully capable of beating the Japanese and South Korean teams in the AFC Champions League.
This year's Super League title will perhaps be the least gold-encrusted title in history. Numerous points were scored, all stemming from controversial penalties. In particular, a player even insulted his own fans when he spoke out against a Thai team that had lost four consecutive games at home in the AFC Champions League play-offs. Shanghai Port, undoubtedly, is the most controversial team in the Chinese Super League.
