Time flies, a Super Cup final is ignited again, and the confrontation between Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua makes fans' hearts beat faster. However, the end of this match was regrettable, SIPG lost to Shenhua in the 90-minute battle, and lost the chance to win the championship.
SIPG's brilliant results last season seemed to be short-lived, as they set the longest winning streak in the Chinese Super League, but as time went on, the team fell into a slump. Problems at both ends of the pitch were highlighted, with inefficient attacks and frequent mistakes at the back, which undermined the team's overall performance. With Xavier leaving and Muscat taking over, fans are hoping that the new coach will lead the team out of the slump, but the truth is a bit disappointing.
The Super Cup may not be the most important event for the team, but in the high-profile situation, this game has become a "debut" for SIPG. However, the team's performance was like a replica of last season, with plenty of possession time on the offensive side but few chances created, while on the defensive end, the backline was repeatedly infiltrated by opponents, and Yan Junling made ridiculous mistakes. Such a performance makes people wonder, what went wrong?
Perhaps, the problem lies in the team's winter transfers. SIPG did not replenish it in time, and still continued the main framework of last year. In this game, some of the players who performed well last year still occupy the starting positions, however their form has dropped significantly. New signing Yusa even received a red card in his debut, which made fans even more frustrated. The strength of the team does not seem to have improved, but there have been shortcomings in some key positions.
This defeat may only be a Super Cup, but it has a lot of significance for SIPG. Losing their first trophy of the season against their local rivals may be a warning that the season's journey may not be easy. Judging from this game, SIPG's competitiveness is far from being as strong as people expected, and perhaps this year's Chinese Super League will usher in a new champion.
SIPG's predicament has fans wondering if it's time to make some adjustments and changes. In the journey to win the Chinese Super League and the AFC Champions League, the team needs more stability and strength improvement. Perhaps it's time to revisit the squad and consider bringing in some new forces to give more opportunities to the younger players. In modern football, change and adjustment are inevitable, and SIPG may need to make some brave decisions at this time.
Either way, the Super Cup loss is just the beginning, not the end. SIPG still has time to adjust and emerge and show a truly strong strength. The expectations of the fans are still there, and they are looking forward to seeing even better performances in the coming games. The world of football is full of uncertainties, so let's all look forward to seeing this team emerge in the new season and create more brilliance.