As June 3 approaches, the new Chinese Super League season is about to kick off. Defending king Shandong Taishan will challenge Haikou on the road in the first stage, and an op-ed in the Qilu Evening News provides an in-depth analysis of the direction of the Taishan team in the new season, pointing out that whether or not Sun Junhao will be selected for the World Cup roster will be a key uncertainty for the team's ability to go the distance.
Taishan's lineup was basically solid during the transfer window, with five foreigners, Sun Junho, Jadson, Fellaini, Cressan, and Moises, forming the team's main framework. It is worth mentioning that Delgado did not register for the first phase of the competition. In terms of domestic players, apart from Liao Lixiang, who replaced Xu Xin, and Guo Tianyu, who has yet to return, the rest of the lineup is comparable to that of last season's title contenders.
In addition to the core players, the team's reserve force should not be underestimated. The addition of young players such as Yi Xianlong, Liu Guobao, Lu Yongtao and Fang Hao has brought fresh blood to the team, and their performance is also worth watching.
However, on the way to the top of the championship, the Taishan team is not without worries. The number of matches for Son Jungho will be the biggest uncertainty. It is reported that Son Joon Ho will go to Japan in July to join the Korean national team for the East Asian Cup, which means he will miss most of the matches from mid-July to mid-August. At the moment, it seems difficult for the team to find a suitable replacement for Son Joon Ho.
If Sun Junho manages to be selected for the World Cup, he will probably not be able to return home before the World Cup. This means he will miss all the remaining matches of the Chinese Super League and the AFC Cup. Only after the conclusion of the East Asian Cup will Taishan be able to determine their final response strategy, which will undoubtedly be a test of the team's resilience.
