Yang Zexiang, a left back standout, has had a turbulent soccer career due to the tactical arrangements of former Shenhua head coach Wu Jingui. However, since Russian coach Slutsky took the helm, Yang Zexiang has earned his trust through his relentless struggles and outstanding performances on the pitch. Under Slutsky's command, he has made 13 appearances in the first 14 rounds of the Chinese Super League, starting every game and becoming an indispensable core force of the team.
Compared to his national teammate Liu Yang, Yang Zexiang may be a bit inferior in terms of offensive support and stimulating side attacks, but he has a clear advantage in terms of passing accuracy and defensive stability, with a far lower error rate than Liu Yang. In the face of such a strong opponent as Thailand, coach Ivankovic may rely on Yang Zexiang, who is selected for the national team for the first time, to stabilize the defense as a strategy, leaving the experienced Liu Yang on the bench.
In the upcoming match against the Thai men's soccer team, the Chinese men's soccer team must remain calm and avoid complacency. Perhaps, Chinese fans will witness a surprise: the responsible Yang Zexiang playing a key role in Jankovic's tactical system.
