Although Shandong Taishan has held the initiative to advance to the AFC Champions League, but facing Yokohama Mariners in the finale, still need to fight for the win, at least the war square for the top of the group, the top of the group is more conducive to the layout of the knockout rounds. While many teams in the Chinese Super League have been on vacation, Taishan has been training overseas for the showdown in a few days. The team will assemble and head to Jeju Island, South Korea, to prepare for the final match of the AFC Champions League group stage and to build up their strength for the new Chinese Super League season.
Head coach Choi Kang-hee expects to train on Jeju Island in order to look for new recruits in Korea. On the eve of the FA Cup final, Choi has planned his trip, departing from his base in Jinan in the early morning and connecting via Shanghai, where he is expected to arrive in the late afternoon. The trip to Jeju, aimed at warming up with the South Korean team, the domestic league has been suspended, but it is difficult to find opponents, while the South Korean league is still continuing. With Choi Kang-hee's influence in Korean soccer, the Taishan team is expected to cut a deal with the local team within a week.
After the training in Korea, the team will travel directly to Yokohama to minimize the travelling. Another purpose of the training in Korea is to scout potential candidates for transfer negotiations. Pohang Iron center forward Zeca's arrival is basically finalized, and the players have also hinted on social media that they will join Taishan soon. In addition to Zeca, Ulsan Hyundai midfielder Kazaishvili has also become a potential target for Taishan. Georgian international Kazaishvili, 30, specializes in attacking midfield, similar in style to Moises. He joined the K-League in 2021 and has made 130 appearances in four seasons, scoring 35 goals and assisting 10.
Zeca and Kazayishvili are both top foreign aiders in the K-League, and the teams they play for are also league giants, and their strengths may be suspected of surpassing that of Tarzan. Zeca is one of the best foreign aid candidates in the K-League this season. Ulsan Hyundai, as the top team of K-League, has locked up the league title in advance, and Kazaishvili's contribution is remarkable, so he is expected to compete for the best foreign aid this season.
The Taishan team is steadily developing and showing strong momentum. The new season is expected to surpass this season's strength and the age structure will be rejuvenated by the addition of Zeca and Kazaishvili. The AFC Champions League knockout rounds and the new Chinese Super League season will be even more intriguing. Expect Taishan to perform well in both tournaments.
