This afternoon, the 2022 Asian Champions League group draw ceremony was officially held. Chinese Super League champion Shandong Taishan was placed in Group F, in the same group as urawa Red Diamonds, Lion City Sailors, and Daegu FCVS Buriram United winners. The Chinese Super League runner-up Shanghai Harbour was grouped in Group J, in the same group as the winners of Chiangrai United, Jasch, and Kobe Victory Vs Sydney FC/Shan Confederates. Guangzhou, the 3rd place in the Chinese Super League, was placed in Group I, in the same group as the winners of Kawasaki Forwards, Johor and Ulsan Hyundai vs ThaiGang. Changchun Yatai will decide a place with the Australian Football Association Cup champion team to participate in the AFC Champions League.
As the highest level of competition for Asian clubs, the Asian Champions League is the dream goal of all Asian clubs. Looking back at the 2013 and 2015 seasons, the Chinese Super League team Guangzhou Evergrande won the championship twice, sensationalizing the entire Chinese football world. Even the CCTV news broadcast also reported on Guangzhou Evergrande's victory. However, in recent years, the AFC Champions League seems to have become less attractive to Chinese Super League teams.
First of all, after a series of salary restriction policies, the Chinese Super League has no strength to compete for the AFC Champions League. Secondly, after the Chinese Super League teams go abroad due to the epidemic, they need to go through a long period of isolation. As a result, the Chinese Super League will be greatly affected. In the absence of the strength to compete for the AFC Champions League, the Chinese Super League team had to make a choice and adopt the method of losing the car to protect the manager. Just like the 2021 season, send reserve teams or lower echelons to compete in the AFC Champions League.
As far as the current global epidemic situation and China's epidemic prevention policy are concerned, the four teams in the Chinese Super League 3+1 in the new season will most likely send youth troops to compete in the AFC Champions League. In order to ensure that it can still have a strong competitiveness in the Chinese Super League. As a result, the AFC Champions League is no longer attractive to Chinese Super League teams and Chinese Super League fans. It can be said that although the Chinese Super League still has a 3+1 AFC Champions League quota this season, it can basically be determined that 3+1 ≈0. To be able to score a goal in the group stage is worth it. If you can win a game, it is an unexpected surprise.
Therefore, the news of this year's AFC Champions League group draw has not attracted much attention in Chinese football. Li Xuan, a well-known media person, said: I am not looking forward to this lottery at all, let alone looking forward to the next game. And the fans are even more direct, saying: The AFC Champions League is not about themselves, and there is not much connection with the Chinese Super League, because we are about to send young players who have not even played in the Chinese Super League.
Some fans even said that the current AFC Champions League is really a pity for the Chinese Super League team.