In the 15th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL), which was rekindled on August 26 in Beijing time, Rizhao's home ground witnessed Beijing Guoan going down 0-2 to veteran rivals Shanghai Shenhua.
After the game, Guoan's interim manager Sui Dongliang said: "Early in the game, I thought we could still control the situation, but unfortunately, the gods of fate did not favor us. Our opponents knew our tactics well and counterattacked with determination. The two goals we conceded were both caused by our own mistakes, and the problem of distraction was once again highlighted. I would like to thank the players for their hard work despite their best efforts to follow the established tactics."
Faced with the question of whether there will be adjustments to the center back lineup, Sui Dongliang replied, "There is no shortage of players in our team who can play center back, such as Liang Shaowen and Yu Yang. The key is who is in better shape. Yu Dabao was our main center back before, but he suffered a neck injury in the last game, and today he also came on as a substitute with an injury."
Talking about the three games he coached, Sui Dongliang summarized: "After three games, we got six points and reached the basic goal. I think the most important thing is the change in the team's style of play, getting back to the old small, fast, ground fighting and pressing style of play. I've been telling the players that we have to stick to this style of play and that we are capable of creating many chances. The counter-striking and forward pressing was done well today and that's exactly what we needed."
Speaking about the atmosphere of the crowd on match day, Sui Dongliang said, "I think the crowd was very enthusiastic and they all wanted to see our team show their strength. The support of the fans gave the players great motivation, and unfortunately, we didn't bring them a victory. I hope more fans will come to cheer for Beijing Guoan in the future."
