Guangzhou has suffered its worst start since returning to the Chinese Super League in 2011 with only one point in the first two rounds of the league. Such a start is undoubtedly an unacceptable blow to a team and fans who have been accustomed to winning.
Compared to last season, the biggest change in Guangzhou's current lineup is the replacement of the "Pagoda Combo" of Paulinho and Talisca with Golat and Allan. It may seem like a small change, but it has a far-reaching impact on the team.
(Alan (in yellow) scrambling with Shandong players)
Paulinho was the tactical centerpiece of Guangzhou's team in the past two seasons, with both offense and defense revolving around him, while Talisca was also the front-field scorer that Cannavaro relied on. Golat and Alan in the field position, technical characteristics, playing style and other aspects are very different from the "Paulista combination", replacing them is actually equal to the Guangzhou team's tactical system rebuild.
Such reconstruction requires a process, and even more so, it needs to be tested and honed in actual combat. At present, it seems that the road of reconstruction is not smooth. Guangzhou's two consecutive games, although the possession rate is superior, but the substantial threat is minimal.
If the replacement of players affects the technical and tactical level, the decline in the position of the first team after the adjustment of the Evergrande Group's soccer strategy has an inescapable impact on the psychological level of the team, and perhaps even a deeper impact.
When Evergrande Group first entered the soccer world, the goal of winning the championship was announced in a high profile every season. Powerful reinforcement guarantee, unique overall strength, high-level coaching team, professional and competent logistic support, efficient and effective execution, so that the Guangzhou team invincible, "three years to win the Super League" "five years to win the Asian Championship" ambitions realized in advance.
(Son Jungho (left) and Guangzhou player Zheng Zhi (right) scramble during the game)
With the importance attached by the top management of the group, sufficient financial guarantee and outstanding strength of the team, the "Evergrande Dynasty" rose rapidly in a short period of time. At that time in the Chinese Super League, all the opponents would be timid before meeting Guangzhou Evergrande, and Evergrande team had absolute psychological advantage.
But with the Guangzhou team for two consecutive seasons reinforcements "only out not in", this psychological advantage gradually disappeared. In terms of strength, Guangzhou is no longer the number one favorite to win the Chinese Super League.
Prior to the start of this year's league, major rivals such as Shanghai Harbour, Shanghai Shenhua and Shenzhen held grand galas, attended by top executives from the parent companies of these clubs, to cheer their teams on in their quest for a new season.
The "Chinese Super League eight champions" Guangzhou team is exceptionally low-key, not only no longer mention the goal of winning the championship, head coach Cannavaro even admitted for the first time is no longer the favorite to win the championship, the championship is not the goal of this year.
The impact of such psychological explicit or implicit on the team cannot be ignored. The players certainly do not want to give up, but the impact on their heart, morale and determination is inevitable, and the resulting difficulties are greater than expected.
Today's shutout by Shandong Taishan will not be the last. But after all, Guangzhou is the experienced "eight champions of the Chinese Super League", low profile, accelerate the integration, still have the ability and strength to kill back to the opponent.
