Unsurprisingly, Yokohama Mariners helmsman Kevin Muscat took over the helm of Shanghai Harbour, the new Chinese Super League juggernaut, after the final whistle of the AFC Champions League group stage. Following Javier's departure, public attention immediately focused on Muscat's coaching style and leadership abilities. After all, steering a newly honored team is challenging, and any mistakes are hardly forgivable. The difficulty of sustaining brilliance in the midst of fierce competition cannot be overstated.
Muscat became the new coach of the Shanghai team in large part due to the fact that they offered a salary package that far exceeded that of other clubs. As previously reported, a number of teams, including clubs in Australia and Japan (notably Yokohama), had expressed interest in Kevin, but Shanghai's sincerity ultimately impressed him and led to the partnership. Muscat is equally passionate about coaching the Chinese Super League champions, and his tactical philosophy and strategic planning seem to coincide with the club's vision.
The addition of La Liga caliber players such as Oscar, Wu Lei and Vargas has added wings to Shanghai's attack. This advantage is further emphasized by the solid backline support of the national team. Therefore, Muscat gladly accepted the offer, as his team is in dire need of reliable scorers to enhance its efficiency, and the Shanghai team can undoubtedly provide a strong guarantee in this regard. In addition, Muscat's expertise in the development of foreign aiders is something that I believe Shanghai has already taken into consideration when discussing the cooperation between the two sides, in terms of bringing in foreign aiders for the new season. I believe that the cooperation between the two sides in this regard has already been accomplished.
For Muscat, joining the Chinese Super League has both similarities and differences with the K-League. The similarities lie in the fact that the Chinese Super League emphasizes relationships and has a Chinese martial arts style of play, something Muscat seems to have grown accustomed to. He is also familiar with the youth development policy. The difference is that South Korea's youth training at all levels is probably more specialized, so Muscat visited the local youth training base soon after taking up his post in Shanghai.
According to local media reports, Muscat spoke highly of Shanghai's youth training efforts. He believes that the Shanghai team's youth training level has exceeded his expectations. After watching the U21 team play against the first-tier reserve team, Muscat praised the team's performance and was able to remember the name of every player who performed well, which demonstrated his dedication as a professional.
For the Harbour, they have high hopes for Muscat. As a Porstegru disciple, he possesses a mature tactical style and character with a philosophy in line with world soccer, which will be beneficial to the reform and development of the Super League champions. What's more, his vast experience in the K-League and Asian competitions gives him a good understanding of the realities of the game. After winning the Super League title, their goal is undoubtedly the AFC Champions League. Muscat's arrival will be crucial in achieving that goal, and it will undoubtedly be at the heart of his task.
After announcing his acceptance of the post, Muscat is said to be enjoying a short vacation to spend Christmas with his family, before quickly returning to the club for training and coaching. He'll be working his magic, but whether he can lead the Shanghai team into a new chapter or face some integration problems, only the actual game will reveal. Muscat's time to lead the team is about to start, and the warm-up match in Haikou will be an opportunity to test it.
