In this season's Chinese Super League (CSL), the fierce battle between Shanghai and Shandong ended in a draw, but the victory was already decided. With the relentless struggle of Wu Lei and Oscar, Shanghai regained the Chinese Super League crown, which not only shone on the Bund, but also made their business strategy widely praised. For an up-and-coming team to win the Super League twice in the past seven years is not easy, especially in the unstable green environment of China, and to maintain the team's strength and stable development is even more precious.
Although Shandong Taishan finished as runners-up, their performance was equally praiseworthy. The addition of Korean coach Cui Kangxi has revitalized the team and significantly improved their overall strength. This is the result of the team's joint efforts. Although the team failed to touch the trophy, it is a good result for the team's starting stage. Shandong fans also expressed their acceptance of the result and paid tribute to the players.
Choi Kang-hee made it clear that this season's journey for the Taishan team is not over. They will go all out in the last remaining round of Super League duels. At the end of the season, they will also meet the challenges of the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup. Especially in the AFC Champions League, the strong Shandong team is expected to go farther, which is also the goal they are pursuing. The road of "winning the championship" that Shandong fans are longing for will be the players' unswerving pursuit, even if the road ahead is long.
The FA Cup has always been a strong point for Shandong. They have already reached the final this season and are expected to win it again. If they can achieve good results in the Asian Championship and win another title in the FA Cup, then this season will undoubtedly be a success for them. This is also the basic recognition of Shandong fans to Cui Kangxi and the whole team.
However, crisis awareness is indispensable. Facing the challenges of the next season, Shandong is facing a lot of difficulties. After all, the departure of captain Fellaini has left a void in the team's offensive line. The coaching staff and players need to think deeply to find out the core of the team's reconstruction. This not only means the departure of star players, but also a strategic overhaul. With the support of tall players, Shandong has created opportunities, but how will the winning strategy be adjusted in the future?
Should we continue the current strategy and look for a new Fellaini to fill the void? Or completely overthrow the current layout and explore a whole new tactical system?
