Muscat emphasized in a conversation, "The measure of victory is certainly the trophies, they are eternal and glorious, but team spirit is equally indispensable." These words, from an interview with his compatriot Sasha Pisani, reflect his deep insight into the relationship between champions and teams. At some point, he believes, you will realize that you are forging a footballing force that transcends mere competition. As a coach, his opponents in the Chinese Super League are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with!
Looking ahead to the coming year, the Chinese Super League's "two-horse race" may no longer exist. Shanghai Harbour is eager to defend its title, while Shandong Taishan is striving to revive its former glory! This is not only about the league title, but also the return of the cup championship. Shanghai Shenhua, after a change in management, are also keen to win back-to-back cups and top the league with no regrets for the coming year. Chinese Super League third-place finishers Zhejiang, Chengdu Rongcheng, and Beijing Guoan also have ambitions, and do not want to be a sidekick to others! The competition in the Chinese Super League will become even more heated and the spectacle will be further enhanced.
Four teams in the Chinese Super League to change the managerial storm again, if the old Cui failed to get what he wanted, I am afraid that they will have to find another way out! These four teams are Shanghai Harbor, Shanghai Shenhua, Wuhan Sanzhen and Henan. Don't forget, Dalian Ren has been relegated, and it's not clear whether it will be able to get through the league, or even make it to the Chinese Super League. The likelihood of Dalian Ren head coach Xie Hui staying on is also doubtful. As a result, Dalian are not counted as a managerial change for the time being. As for Dalian, even if it stays in the Chinese Super League, it will only be fighting for relegation.
Wu Jingui led Shanghai Shenhua to win the AFC Cup, but did not get the privilege of being exempted from punishment. According to Russian media, former Russian national team manager Slutsky is about to join Shanghai Shenhua, both sides have signed a contract and he is expected to arrive in Shanghai at the end of December. Wuhan Sanzhen failed to defend their title and Mian Takabatake will be relieved of his duties. The Daily News reported that Sanzhen is interested in inviting former Jeju United manager Nam Ki-il to take charge of the club. The Henan club is also interested in hiring South Korean coach Choi Yong-soo in a bid to make a mark in the Chinese Super League.
In his first public talk since joining Seaport, Muscat revealed that he had been in contact with a number of clubs before choosing Seaport and signing a '1+1' year contract. He said: "I had a frank discussion with the club's senior management, who gave me a detailed account of the club's development over the past four or five years and set out their plans for the next three to five years.On November 30, Harbour sent someone to Japan, and the negotiation, which was originally planned to be a 60-minute session, lasted nearly four hours, with them even reviewing the details of the Yokohama match against Taiyama, which I had led. Details ......"
Muscat emphasized that the seaport was very careful in its choice of coach. He went on to say, "They initially contacted me through my profile and had an in-depth discussion about the style of soccer I adhere to. This opportunity gives us the chance to showcase overall soccer." "I am eager to win a new title in a foreign country. Playing our own soccer will give us the best chance. Of course, challenges are inevitable, but the bigger the challenge, the more we learn. Despite the risks of the contract, this is a rare opportunity in my career."
