In recent times, the most eye-catching team in the Chinese Super League is undoubtedly Shandong Taishan. In the last round of the league, the Taishan team drew 2-2 with Henan with difficulty when playing 1 more player at home. After the game, head coach Cui Kangxi exposed the conflict within the club, which made many Shandong fans worry about the future of the Taishan team.
The complexities of the team's off-field issues are more intractable than the brief setbacks on the pitch. From tax controversies to suspension of training to rumors of shareholder changes, Taishan Club has encountered a series of challenges in a short period of time. Thankfully, these issues have been dealt with one by one, training has returned to normal, and the players have a fresh mental outlook, laying a solid foundation for the rest of the league.
And just as the team is gradually returning to the right track, there is another news on the Internet that Luneng Football School may face sale due to financial troubles. Recently, a well-known Shandong football media person has continuously posted articles suggesting that Luneng Football School may be sold by Taishan Club, which has once again aroused the attention of fans.
In the face of surging speculation and doubts, Shandong media quickly responded, showing the unshakability of Luneng Football School as the soul and core of the club. They stressed that since 2021, the club's three major shareholders - Jinan Cultural Tourism, Shandong Electric Power and Shandong Luneng - have always invested a lot of effort in the club, especially the latter two major shareholders, who have invested nearly 1.8 billion yuan in the past three years, which is the top in the Chinese Super League, far exceeding other clubs.
Although the huge investment of Taishan Club has reached the upper limit of the Football Association's investment in the club, the determination and courage of the shareholders have not been reduced. They are well aware that only a continuous and stable injection of funds can ensure that the club remains competitive in the highly competitive Chinese Super League and defend Taishan's leading position in Chinese football.
Although there are differences of opinion on the necessity of the reform and adjustment of Luneng Football School, the consensus is that the purpose of any change is to activate the potential of assets and optimize the allocation of resources, not to package and sell the football school. In the process of reform, the club will inevitably involve the redistribution and adjustment of interests, which may cause a certain degree of confusion and misunderstanding in the outside world. However, the original intention of the shareholders of Taishan Club has never changed, that is, based on the long-term, with Luneng Football School as the cornerstone, inheriting the profound cultural heritage of the club, and providing a steady stream of power for the sustainable development of the club.
Although Shandong Taishan has suffered a setback recently, the investment of up to 1.8 billion yuan in three years by the club's shareholders not only shows their firm confidence and grand vision for the club's future, but also more effectively refutes the groundless speculation that the so-called "Taishan has no money" and "Luneng Football School will be sold".
For Taishan Club, stable management and a united atmosphere are the basis for good results. In the face of the current challenges and difficulties, the club should actively respond, strengthen communication between shareholders, resolve conflicts, and ensure that the team can maintain a stable competitive state.
At the same time, Shandong's fans and media should also give the club enough support and understanding to jointly contribute to the development of the team. Only in this way can the Taishan team achieve ideal results in the next league and continue to attack the Chinese Super League champion.