This season, under the leadership of the new coach Muscat, Shanghai Port has played a more stable state than in previous seasons, the first 6 rounds of the Chinese Super League, they won 4 and drew 2, undefeated, and accumulated 14 points, although ranked 3rd in the standings, but only 2 points away from the top Shanghai Shenhua. There is no doubt that they have become the favourites to win the Super League title this season.
The reason why Shanghai Port is in such a bright and stable state is mainly because the new coach Muscat has a very right tactical play, which is very suitable for the current Shanghai Port team. To put it bluntly, the players under his command, Muscat can try to make the best use of his talents and materials. As SIPG striker Wu Lei said recently, under Muscat he has more sense of playing. He feels like he's a perfect fit for Muscat's current style of play.
Wu Lei has scored 7 goals in the first 6 rounds of the Chinese Super League in the new season, and his goal efficiency is higher than that of any previous season. It can be seen that Wu Lei said that he is very suitable for Muscat's current tactical play, which is absolutely from the heart. In addition to Wu Lei, his former Espanyol team-mate Matthias Vargas is at home under Muscat.
Last season, Vargas was so depressed under former coach Javier that he didn't even get consistent playing time. But after Muscat arrived, Vargas's fortunes in SIPG were completely reversed. In the first 6 rounds of the Chinese Super League, he started almost every game, and this last season's SIPG chicken ribs have been transformed into the new core of today's front-court attack overnight.
Of course, Vargas did not live up to the importance of the new coach Muscat, in the first 6 rounds of the Chinese Super League, in addition to contributing 1 goal and 1 assist, he also sent threatening balls to the team's front court many times, as if he has become a new trump card in SIPG's frontcourt offensive system. It is no exaggeration to say that in terms of tactical value, he is already close to catching up with the team's number one "superstar" Oscar. And Muscat has established Vargas's new core position in SIPG's frontcourt.
Recently, news about Oscar's possible departure from SIPG after the expiration of his contract has been constantly exposed, although Oscar himself has repeatedly come forward to publicize rumors. But to be honest, his refutation of rumors has always been a bit ambiguous, so that SIPG Club has never been able to eat a reassuring pill.
Now, with the outbreak of Vargas's new season at Shanghai Port, gradually playing the role of the new offensive core of the frontcourt, the hanging heart of SIPG Club can finally be put down. Vargas is only 26 years old this year, and he is in the prime of his career, and if Oscar does leave, Vargas is the best successor to Oscar. Therefore, as for whether Oscar will really leave the team after the contract expires, Shanghai Port is probably not worried.