Muscat revealed in an interview, "Success is often measured in trophies, which are constant, but team spirit cannot be ignored as well." These words came from a conversation he had with his compatriot Sasha Pisani and reveal a deep insight into the relationship between championships and team spirit. He firmly believes that there are moments in soccer when you will realize that you are constructing not just match soccer, but a more powerful force. As a coach, he has undoubtedly become a formidable opponent on the road to the Super League title!
Looking ahead to next year, the Chinese Super League competition may no longer be limited to a "two-horse race". Shanghai Harbour is trying to defend its title, while Shandong Taishan seeks to regain its former glory, not only in the league, but also in the cup. Shanghai Shenhua, under the leadership of their new manager, are equally eager to defend their cup title and compete for the league title with no regrets. Teams such as Zhejiang, Chengdu Rongcheng and Beijing Guoan also have their own ambitions and are unwilling to be reduced to the company of other teams. The competition in the Chinese Super League is set to get fiercer and the spectacle is set to increase significantly.
Four teams in the Chinese Super League have made managerial changes, with Shanghai Harbor, Shanghai Shenhua, Wuhan Sanzhen and Henan making changes. The Dalian People have been relegated, but whether they will be able to pass the league entry, or even be handed a place in the Chinese Super League, is still up in the air. Dalian People's head coach Xie Hui is also unlikely to stay. For the time being, Dalian People still need to fight for relegation. Wu Jingui, who led Shanghai Shenhua to win the AFC Cup, has not been granted exemption from punishment. According to Russian media reports, former Russian national team head coach Slutsky will take over as Shanghai Shenhua's coach, and both sides have signed a contract, with him expected to arrive in Shanghai at the end of December. Wuhan Sanzhen failed to successfully defend their title and Mian Takabatake will also be fired. According to Daily News, Sanzhen is interested in inviting former Jeju United boss Nam Ki Ik to coach the team. The Henan club is interested in hiring Korean coach Choi Yong-soo to lead the team. In his first public talk at Seaport, Muscat mentioned that he had been in contact with other clubs, but finally chose Seaport and signed a "1+1" year contract. He said: "I had an in-depth discussion with the Sporting Director, General Manager and President of the club, who gave me an overview of the club over the last four or five years and set out their plans for the next three to five years," he said. "Seaport sent a team to Japan on or around November 30th, and the negotiation, which was originally planned to be a 60-minute affair, lasted nearly four hours, with detailed recollections of the matches that I had played in, including the one where I led Yokohama to a victory over Yokohama. , including the game in which I led Yokohama against Taishan, and even quoted some details of the game that I had forgotten ......" Muscat continued, "They initially contacted me through my profile and then had an in-depth discussion based on the style of soccer I have always maintained. This opportunity gives us a chance to showcase overall soccer. I aspire to win another title in another country playing our own soccer and this will provide us with the best opportunity to do so. Of course, challenges are inevitable, but the greater the challenge, the more we learn. Even though this contract is a bit of a risk, it is a fantastic opportunity in my coaching career."
