Reporter Chen Yong brought reports that the 2023 Chinese Super League, the game is intense, the players run more intense, confrontation more and more white-hot. With the exception of a few teams such as Shenzhen, the gap between most of the teams is minimal, often by a single goal, and most of the matches are kept in suspense until the end of the match. In the penultimate round of the league, the championship was already decided, while the final round was about the Champions League seat, relegated teams and top scorers.
At the beginning of the season, all sectors were conservative about the outlook of the league, but in the middle and late stages, the enthusiasm of the fans was high, the matches were exciting, and the overall performance exceeded expectations.
However, the league still needs to improve at the technical and tactical levels, speeding up the pace of the game, increasing the net playing time, and accelerating the game after strengthening the confrontation has become the key. At the same time, the CFA, the Football Federation Preparatory Group and the teams need to strengthen the management of the bench and on-field discipline.
The 2023 season saw a significant increase in the intensity of confrontations in the Chinese Super League: the average number of confrontations in 240 matches amounted to 101.64, much higher than in the previous three seasons. The confrontation figure is slightly higher compared to the Japanese J-League (100.68 times) and the Korean K-League (101.60 times).
The Chinese Super League is close to the Japanese and Korean leagues in terms of confrontation level, but the technical and tactical levels are still lacking. Foreign aiders have said in interviews that the Chinese Super League confrontation is intense.
It is worth noting that the average number of yellow cards in the Chinese Super League (3.79) far exceeds that of the J-League (2.82) and the K-League (3.57). Outside of disciplinary management and violent individual fouls, it is vital to block tactical fouls, which is a reflection of the intense competition.
This season, CFL teams are investing more on the offensive end: 2.77 goals per game, and both chances per game (18.17) and shots per game (24.65) are up 5 to 10 percent from last season.
There have been 67 draws in 240 matches this season, or 27.92%, far more than in the 2022 season. In addition, more matches can be decided by one goal. For example, in 12 rounds, out of 96 matches, 34 matches were drawn and 44 matches were decided by one goal. More than 80% (81.25%) of the matches were kept in suspense until the final match, indicating that the teams' strengths have become more balanced and the matches have become more intense.
In the 2023 season, the average running distance of 213,064 meters was similar to the past, but the high intensity running distance of 15,524 meters was improved. At the end of the 28th round of the league, Shanghai Port was five points ahead of Shandong Taishan, and Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Shenhua, Zhejiang, Beijing Guoan, and Chengdu Rongcheng were all in with a chance of securing a spot in the AFC Champions League.
The champion was announced in the 29th round, with Shanghai Port winning the title. The top four teams in the league were finalized, with Zhejiang ranked third, Chengdu Rongcheng ranked fourth and Shanghai Shenhua ranked fifth. Relegated teams appeared in the last round, Dalian Ren and Nantong Zhiyun were both relegated.
In the league table, there is a clear power gap between the two groups, with Shenzhen and Dalian being relegated as victims of the golden dollar football. The relegation of Shenzhen and Dalian is a victim of gold dollar soccer. 2023 marks the end of gold dollar soccer and the rise of commoner teams such as Qingdao Hainiu and Nantong Zhiyun.
The standings rankings are basically proportional to the strength of the team. 2024 season of the Chinese Super League groups layered clear, Shanghai Port, Shandong Taishan, Zhejiang and other 7 teams are expected to become the upper group.
There is an obvious gap between the technical and tactical level of the Chinese Super League and the Japanese and Korean leagues, especially in the AFC Champions League. Chinese Super League teams conceded goals in positional defense or even bus defense, exposing the lack of overall technical and tactical level.
A high-quality league requires intense rivalry, fast pace and advanced technical and tactical levels. The Chinese Super League has made progress in terms of confrontation, but the technical and tactical level still needs to be improved.
The 2023 Chinese Super League (CSL) season has seen a drop in net playing time and substitution discipline and ground discipline need to be strictly enforced. The CFA and the Football Federation Preparatory Group need to strengthen referee training to reduce misjudgments.
The CFA fined the two clubs 100,000 yuan after repeated disputes between Shanghai Port and Shandong Taishan in the penultimate round of the 2023 season.
In order to further improve the pace of the game, clubs need to work together, such as strengthening stealing, midfield competition, and reducing bad fouls. I hope more clubs will realize the shift to a faster pace, which is both a responsibility to Chinese soccer and to the fans.
