In a recent interview with Oriental Sports Daily, Shanghai Port striker Wu Lei shared his thoughts on the current form and his impressions of the new head coach Muscat. Wu Lei said he may have faced some challenges at the start of the new season, but then quickly regained his form and has been outstanding in recent games, notably scoring a brace with an overhead kick against Guoan at Gongti. He believes that Muscat's tactical style of play suits him very well, and stresses that the accelerated pace of the Super League game is beneficial to the national football team.
Wu Lei mentioned that the new coach Muscat has emphasized the offensive play and pressing tactics of the whole team, which are very suitable for his personal characteristics. His fitness was well maintained, thanks to a team performance and tactical set-up that put the opposition under intense pressure in the late stages of the game, creating opportunities for him to finish in the final moments of the game, as he did against Singapore and Guoan.
Looking back at the early encounters between Wu Lei and Muscat, their deep contact can be traced back to the 2018 AFC Champions League, when Shanghai Port were in the same group as Muscat's Melbourne Victory. Wu Lei's performance of 1 goal and 1 assist in the first leg of the group stage clearly impressed Muscat. Wu Lei recalls that both he and the Harbour team had an understanding of Melbourne Victory's style of play, while Muscat also had a clear understanding of his ability and performance.
This early experience showed that Wu Lei's talent has long been recognized by world-class coaches, and his outstanding performances on the international stage have made him a force to be reckoned with. Muscat's subsequent appreciation of Wu Lei was not accidental, but based on long-term observation and full recognition of his abilities. The fit between Wu Lei's current situation and Muscat's coaching philosophy indicates that Shanghai Port and Wu Lei himself may usher in more brilliant achievements in the future.
Wu Lei's current form and the tacit cooperation between him and Coach Muscat not only reflect his personal growth and progress, but also demonstrate the good integration of Shanghai Port's tactical system. With the pace of the Chinese Super League picking up, Wu Lei and the Harbour team, under the tactical guidance of Muscat, look forward to continuing to show more wonderful performances and contribute to the development of Chinese football. (Lao Qiu Super League Ball Review)