On the night of August 31st at 19:30, a much-anticipated bye in the 12th round of the Chinese Super League was staged at the Jinzhou Stadium in Dalian, where Shanghai Shenhua narrowly defeated Shandong Taishan by 2-1 margin. After the match, Shenhua's team leader Wu Jingui appeared at the press conference.
Speaking about the game, Wu Jingui said with emotion: "I would like to thank the players for their tireless efforts on the pitch, they showed the spirit of Shenhua and Shanghai. We all understand that this is a challenging match, especially with the frequent injuries, but we still work together and believe that our efforts will be rewarded. As a result, every player was fully committed to the tactical arrangements. We were also lucky to have a little help in the game, and managed to withstand the onslaught of our opponents. Although we were down by one goal in the first half, we were able to lay the foundation for a comeback in the second half. On the defensive end and collaboration, the players performed excellently. On the offensive end, we made careful deployment for the speed of the defensive counterattack, and it was not easy for Yu Hanchao and Wu Xi to grasp the key opportunities. Overall, everyone's play was outstanding, and we thank our opponents for bringing us a great matchup."
In the face of the team's injury problems, Wu Jingui emphasized: "I have told the players that as long as they give their best in training, every player is an integral part of the team, and in the coach's mind, they are the best, and need to be at their best at all times. Despite our injury challenges, every player can make a difference on the field. Each player has a unique value in the tactical system."
Regarding the injuries of Cao Yunding and Bassogo, Wu Jingui revealed, "Cao Yunding has only started joining the team for training today, while Bassogo needs more time to rest and recover."
