Shanghai football is facing major problems and may return to the Shenhua era. This was evident in a Super Cup match between the Shanghai duo. The match showcased the rivalry between Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Shenhua, and the problems and challenges highlighted some of the dilemmas of the current state of football in Shanghai.
First of all, SIPG head coach Muscat tried to introduce Japanese football concepts, but the ability of Chinese players was not enough to adapt, which is a fact that cannot be changed. How to cultivate a group of local players with a higher level of skill and awareness has always been a huge challenge for Chinese football. The introduction of Muscat gave SIPG a new direction, however, the team's performance in this game was not ideal. The Chinese players showed their lack of technical and tactical ability in the confrontation with the Japanese team, and they were not used to the combination of quick passes and multiple passes. This is a huge problem for SIPG's tactical system, because the team's overall coordination and tactical concept construction requires tacit understanding and familiarity between players.
Secondly, the ability bottleneck of local players also limits the development of football in Shanghai. In the game, Wu Lei's performance was mediocre and he could only rely on Oscar's pass to have a chance to threaten the opponent's goal. This raises concerns about whether SIPG has enough options and changes in its tactics on the attack side. Wu Lei, as SIPG's number one striker, should have taken on more offensive responsibilities, but his performance in this game did not live up to expectations. This has sparked a discussion about the balance between individual players and teamwork, and SIPG's attacking ability clearly needs to be strengthened.
Third, SIPG only introduced foreign aid in the winter window, but did not strengthen domestic aid, resulting in the substitute lineup not enough to compete for the championship. This is another problem facing Shanghai football. The quality of the bench is crucial for a top team, as the play of the substitutes will be the key to the team's success in a difficult game. However, in this Super Cup match, SIPG did not have many options in terms of substitutions, and it was far less than Shenhua's deep squad with more young players.
This has caused problems for SIPG, and when the main players are tired or injured, how to maintain the overall competitiveness of the team will become an important issue.
In contrast, Shenhua showed some improvement and strength improvement in the game. They won the game by bringing in young players, and that is what Shenhua did after a difficult time last year. The addition of young players has brought new blood and energy to the team, and they have shown excellent technical and link-up skills. It also proves the importance of developing young players and how to maintain the long-term development of the team.
However, despite a 1-0 win for Wu Jingui's side, we can't afford to ignore SIPG's quality and potential. Both Muscat and his players are constantly working hard and grinding in the hope of finding the best way for them to deal with the challenge. The first 10 rounds of the new season will be the best test, so let's wait and see how Shanghai football can break through the difficulties and return to the top.
The major issues facing Shanghai football are indeed worthy of attention and deep thought. There are a number of potential dilemmas and problems that can be seen in the Super Cup match between the Shanghai duo, which makes people worry about whether Shanghai football will return to the trough of the Shenhua era.
First of all, SIPG head coach Muscat tried to introduce the concept of Japanese football. However, this introduction has been a huge challenge for the Chinese players, as their technical and tactical abilities are far from sufficient to adapt to this new concept. The foundation and training system of Chinese football is not perfect, which is a reality that cannot be changed immediately. So, as much as Muscat may have good intentions and ambitions, it will take more patience and time to actually achieve his goals.
Secondly, Wu Lei's performance in the game was disappointing. As the hopeful star of Chinese football, Wu Lei has always been in the spotlight, but in this game, his performance was mediocre and almost entirely dependent on Oscar's passing.
This gives the impression that SIPG's attacking chances are too reliant on individual players, which is not sustainable in a long game. The team needs a better overall offensive strategy and more active players to improve their attacking strength.
The third problem is that SIPG only introduced foreign aid in the winter window, but did not strengthen domestic aid, resulting in the substitute lineup not enough to compete for the championship. This is a very critical issue because a strong team needs to have a solid bench to deal with injuries and fatigue. Shenhua won the game by bringing in young players, which is also a more sensible strategy. On the contrary, SIPG may miss a player like Javier, who not only knows Chinese football very well, but is also able to provide valuable experience and leadership. It has also raised questions about the club's recruitment strategy and management's decisions.
Despite the 1-0 victory, that doesn't hide the problems faced by SIPG.