Shandong Taishan hold the initiative to qualify for the AFC Champions League, however, they still need to go all out in their away duel against Yokohama Marinos, aiming for at least a draw to secure the top spot in the group, which will be beneficial for the subsequent knockout stage. While the Chinese Super League teams have been on vacation, Taishan opted for extra training overseas to prepare for the upcoming crucial match. They flew en masse to Jeju Island, South Korea, to get ready for their AFC Champions League group stage final round opponents and use it to warm up for the new Chinese Super League season.
Manager Choi Kang-hee is fond of the training camp on Jeju Island, which not only makes it easier for him to look for new recruits in South Korea, but also allows him to plan his team's itinerary well in advance of the FA Cup final. Early in the morning, Choi left his base in Jinan and arrived in Jeju Island via a flight from Shanghai, where he was expected to arrive in the afternoon. One of the objectives of the trip is to warm up with the South Korean team to make up for the scarcity of opponents after the end of the domestic league. Thanks to Choi's reputation in the Korean soccer world, Taishan is expected to play against local teams within a week. After a week of closed training on Jeju Island, the team will fly directly to Yokohama to minimize travel fatigue. On this trip to Korea, Taesan is also looking at potential transfer targets, with Pohang Iron center forward Zeka almost confirmed to join the team, with players hinting at the happy news on social media. In addition to Zeca, Ulsan Hyundai midfielder Kazaishvili has also emerged as a potential target for Taishan. The Georgian international, 30, is known as an attacking midfielder with a style of play quite similar to Moises. Kazayishvili has made 130 appearances since joining the K-League in 2021, contributing 35 goals and 10 assists. Both Zeca and Kazayishvili have made a name for themselves in the K-League and play for top teams in the K-League, which are not to be underestimated. Among them, Zeca is a strong contender for the K-League's best foreigner this season. Ulsan Hyundai, as the leader of the K-League, has already locked up the title in advance. Kazaishvili's outstanding performance also earned him the honor of the best foreigner this season. Taesan is on an upward trajectory and the team is expected to surpass this season in the new season. The joining of Zeca and Kazayishvili will not only improve the overall strength of the team, but also optimize the age structure. The performance of Taishan will undoubtedly be in the spotlight in the AFC Champions League knockout rounds and the new Chinese Super League season. Let's expect Taishan to perform well in both tournaments.
