This evening, the spring city of Jinan will welcome an exciting battle - a key matchup in the quarterfinal knockout round of the AFC Champions League. Shandong Taishan, the only team in the Chinese Super League, and Yokohama Mariners, the only team in the J-League, are going head-to-head, and will undoubtedly be the center of attention. In my opinion, Cui Kangxi's personality is like the double-edged sword of Taishan, and its qualities will determine the direction of this battle.
It must be admitted that at the beginning of last season, Taishan team was once shaky, but after Choi Kang-hee took over, the team quickly got back on the right track, not only in the league and cup to achieve the second place, but also in the AFC Champions League to enter the quarter-finals. Cui Kangxi brought a unique tactical branding to the Taishan team. Even in the Chinese Super League, there are very few teams that can compete with Taishan. And the old Cui on the sidelines of that calm and tough image, but also let the temperament of the Taishan team has a qualitative leap.
However, there are two sides to everything, Choi Kang-hee's stubbornness and attacking style has allowed the Taishan team to have a great record, but it has also exposed the holes in the back line. For example, Choi Kang-hee favors a high level of ball grabbing tactics. This tactic and the thickness of the Taishan team in the Super League is okay, but in the AFC Champions League needs to be viewed dialectically. Facing Yokohama Mariners, Choi will not adopt conservative tactics. Unsurprisingly, Taishan will still stick to high steals. However, in the face of the opponent's fast and accurate passing, if the whole field can not be effective stealing, how will it be dealt with?
So how do you deal with this matchup? The key lies in two points: mentality and rhythm. First, the mindset needs to be stabilized and public opinion needs to be calm. Put aside the glory of being the only team in the Chinese Super League and see Yokohama Mariners as a stronger opponent than Kawasaki Frontale. Secondly, there is a need to be moderate in high tackles to avoid being too easy in the midfield. At the same time, it is important to observe the position of teammates to ensure timely steals under protection and avoid taking risks. Not only do we need to avoid being beaten by our opponents, but we also need to minimize unnecessary fouls and turnovers in sensitive areas. In terms of tempo, building on our strengths and avoiding our weaknesses, we don't have to get too entangled in the midfield. We can emphasize speed and attacking outlook in the side and side combination.
The master's strategy lies in the tendency to contain and counteract. Fortunately for the Yokohama Mariners, their coach has not been on board long and is still in the bonding stage, which is a big advantage for the Taishan team.
