Recently, Guangzhou Football Club announced the termination of contracts with five naturalized players including Axon, while drastically reducing the salaries of the first team, with a salary reduction rate of more than 90%. This move has triggered people's concerns about the living environment of Evergrande football in the future, and has also aroused the attention of some foreign media, and the South Korean media "Newsis" has bluntly said that according to the current strength, Evergrande has become the weakest team in the AFC Champions League group.
Over the past decade, Guangzhou Evergrande has been a rival of South Korean teams in the AFC Champions League, but this situation has slowly changed in the past two years. With evergrande's first-team squad declining strength and no time to take care of the AFC Champions League matches, Evergrande's limelight on the intercontinental field has been completely stolen by South Korean teams.
"Newsis" wrote: "Since 2010, Guangzhou Evergrande, which dominates Chinese and even Asian football, has almost collapsed. They recently terminated their contracts with five naturalized players who were originally seen as China's aces in the 2022 World Cup, but eventually terminated them all because Evergrande's financial resources could not maintain the club's operations. In addition, due to financial income, Evergrande facilitated foreign aid and head coach Cannavaro to part ways as early as last year. ”
"Considering the current situation of Guangzhou team, in the new season they can only use the all-Chinese class, playing without foreign aid or naturalized players. Evergrande, which used to be the strongest team in Asia, no longer exists, so considering this situation, Evergrande is now considered the weakest team in the AFC Champions League group stage. If they make it through the play-offs, Ulsan Hyundai and Kawasaki forwards will also be in this group. The media said.
In fact, it is not strange that the South Korean media said it badly, considering the schedule of the new season, Evergrande is almost certain to send the second team to participate in the AFC Champions League, considering that Evergrande also sent the second team to participate in the AFC Champions League last season but failed miserably, they will be considered the weakest team, in fact, it is reasonable. However, the top giants who used to dominate Asia have fallen to the point where they are now, which cannot but be lamented.