Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port announced a major personnel change on the evening of December 17, with former Yokohama Mariners coach Muscat taking over the reins of the team, and the decorated coach who has been successful in the Asian arena has high hopes from the Harbour fans. Harbour's foreign line-up will be undergoing a major change, with Pinco, Joao and Cuarón confirmed to leave, while Oscar and Vargas will stay. Faced with three foreign player vacancies, the club will work with new manager Muscat to find a suitable candidate. The midfielder and center forward positions are the focus of recruitment, and the selection of foreign center forwards is already eyebrowed, and his style is especially worth looking forward to!
Sports Weekly reporter Wang Xiaorui pointed out that Muscat's requirements for new signings are very clear. He wants to bring in a center forward who is good at pressing up front, emphasizing the importance of "hard-working" foreign players. As a result, João, who is deemed not to meet this criterion, is likely to be abandoned. It is understood that before leaving Japan, Muscat had already started relevant investigation work. The Harbour team's first goal is to bring in one foreign player each in the No. 9 and No. 6 positions.
Among them, the requirements for the No. 9 position, that is, the center forward position, are extremely high. Unlike previous introductions such as Arnautovic and Lucas Joao, the new coaching staff has set the standard of being fast, able to run, and good at pressing high up front. In contrast, the stump center is not considered. Considering Muscat's 433 offensive coaching style and the introduction of the No. 9 foreign center, people can't help but think of the successful lineup when Lippi coached Guangzhou Evergrande.
If the new signings of the harbor can be as fast as Muric or Exxon, then he will be expected to form a high-speed trident with Wu Lei and Vargas to replicate the miracle of Guangzhou Evergrande. However, such expectations are not without their challenges. Bringing in the right foreign players is not an easy task and requires them to be able to integrate into the team quickly and play their due role.
Overall, Harbour's new centre-forward selection will undoubtedly be a big attraction next season. If they can find a player with speed, skill and hard work, then Harbour's attacking power will be greatly improved, and it will be expected to create new brilliance under Muscat under the leadership. However, all this will take time and actual combat to test, so let's wait and see. (Lao Qiu Super League Ball Review).