Do you still remember, why did Cui Kangxi return to the Chinese Super League again?
Previously, his coaching experience in the Chinese Super League was not glamorous, whether it was the earliest Tianjin Quanjian Football Club, or later Shanghai Shenhua and Dalian Yifang, he had left his figure. However, as a meritorious coach in South Korea and a well-known coach in Asia, it is difficult to leave outstanding results in the Chinese Super League. Because of this, Cui Kangxi once lost interest in coaching in the Chinese Super League.
But when Shandong Taishan sent the invitation letter to Cui Kangxi, the old coach who was disappointed in the Super League directly denied his previous ideas and decided to return to the Super League again to realize his value.
You must know that at that time last year, the situation of the Shandong Taishan team was not better than now, and various off-the-field factors overwhelmed this old powerhouse, and the record was even more of a mess. On top of that, there's no guarantee how long that situation will last and how many players will be involved.
But after a little hesitation, Cui Kangxi still accepted this challenge! If nothing else, just for the signboard of "Shandong Taishan Team"! (In Cui Kangxi's words, "That's Shandong Taishan Team"!)
Yes, I am familiar with Asian football and Chinese football, and of course I know what kind of level Shandong Taishan team is. Whether it is the strength of the players, or the management of the club, including the supporting facilities and youth training, it can be called the best in Asia.
Therefore, even if the team is in a slump, Cui Kangxi believes that he will definitely get this giant back on track! Therefore, with such a belief, Cui Kangxi returned to the Chinese Super League again.
And Cui Kangxi also fulfilled his promise, and after taking over the Shandong Taishan team, he opened a series of open and hanging modes! The league has been advancing all the way, forcing Shanghai Port, which has a 15 or 6 point advantage, into a desperate situation! If it were not for the multi-front battle, the players' physical fitness would have been greatly challenged, and Cui Kangxi would have succeeded in counterattacking.
In addition to the league, in the AFC Champions League group stage, Shandong Taishan let the Asian powers re-examine the Chinese Super League!
Due to the previous seasons, almost all of the Chinese Super League teams played as substitutes or youth teams, which not only led to very poor results, but also worsened that the tactics of the Chinese Super League teams have been seriously out of touch with the Asian giants!
In the group stage, in the face of the joint encirclement and suppression of the South Korean powerhouse Incheon United and the Japanese giant Yokohama Mariners, Shandong Taishan went against the current and formed a three-country chain with these two powerhouses. In the end, he qualified for the second place in the group, which gave the sluggish Chinese Super League a new vitality in the AFC Champions League.
Then in the 16th into 8th, facing the invincible K League mighty Kawasaki Frontale, the two-legged magical reversal and strong promotion to the quarterfinals!
This is Cui Kangxi, who brought Shandong Taishan, who was sluggish last season, to the second place in the league, the second in the FA Cup, and the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League!
Whether you are a fan of Shandong Taishan team or not, in the face of such results, I believe you will also send a round of applause for Cui Kangxi.
Let's make another hypothesis, if it wasn't for Choi Kang-hee to take over last season, what would happen to the Taishan team? Although the league will not be relegated, it will probably end as a mid-table team, and as for the FA Cup championship, don't think about it, because the team's energy may be focused on the league, or even rush to relegation. And the AFC Champions League will inevitably lose in the group, how can there be a later quarterfinals.
Cui Kangxi once said: Shandong Taishan's team, vision and strength, must be placed at the Asian level, not just staring at the domestic league.
We can also see through the short introduction above that Shandong Taishan led by Cui Kangxi has indeed reached the level he wants.
Unfortunately, the results are gratifying, but without a championship, it always seems unconvincing.
Therefore, when the AFC Champions League stopped in the quarterfinals, Cui Kangxi gave a promise to the media, that is, the Taishan team will win the championship of the domestic league!
Since Cui Kangxi made an oath, it has been more than a month now, Shandong Taishan is not only brave in the past, but the state is sluggish again, the league is winless, although it will not say goodbye to this season in advance, but it is extremely difficult to compete for the championship. (PS: Facing Chengdu Rongcheng in the next round, as long as you can win, you can still maintain the possibility of competing for the championship, and there is basically little hope once you lose)
Cui Kangxi probably never dreamed that this season's Shandong Taishan would be so difficult from the start, even more difficult than when he first took over last season!
There are two main reasons, but more importantly, these reasons are beyond Choi Kang-hee's control.
First of all, there is the well-known issue of injuries. Without too much to say, we all know very well that from the beginning of the training injury of new recruit Zeka during the winter break, until now, the injury list is as long as 145 people, and the main lineup is almost completely wiped out!
Injury issues, resulting in no one available. This is the direct cause of the decline in performance, after all, there are people who have achievements, and no one relies on who to play the game?
What is the reason for the large-scale injuries in the team, the way Choi Kang-hee trains is problematic? The team has been playing continuously since last season and has no time to rest? The squad is aging?
Another reason is the inaction of the club's management. I believe you have heard this through various channels. The most direct reason is that the stock improvement process is slow, or basically no progress.
The major shareholder Cultural Tourism is in a state of rottenness, although it wants to make the club better, but it has no choice but to be shy in his pocket, and he inexplicably uses up 5% of the dividend. Even if he wants to leave quickly, I'm afraid the club, the power grid and Luneng will not agree. After all, you left a lot of messes, you can't just pat your ass and leave, you have to take some action, or give everyone an explanation.
If there is a problem with the rear support, it will directly affect the overall planning of the team.
Although the Taishan team will not have the problem of salary arrears, since the cultural tourism took office, there has been a rare delay in the payment. This kind of problem is normal in other clubs, but it is very abnormal in the Taishan team! From the establishment of the Taishan team to the time when the team took office, when did the team delay the payment of salaries? Although it was sent down soon, the nature has changed.
Without the basic club budget to ensure it, it is difficult for the team to achieve breakthrough results.
It's also clear that since the departures of Moises and Marouane Fellaini, everyone can see that the team needs a high striker and a tough midfielder. Choi Kang-hee's best tactic is also a high-school striker, and if you want to improve your performance again, you must buy a strong back.
It is reported that during the second registration period of the league, the team will replenish Zeka and remove Pato. As for the back, I still don't have the money to buy it.
Therefore, on the whole, injuries + the inaction of the club's shareholders have dragged down Choi Kang-hee's ambitions.
Last season, Cui Kangxi chose to return to the Chinese Super League again because of the business card of "Shandong Taishan". And now, if Cui Kangxi chooses to leave, it is also because of the business card of "Shandong Taishan", but it is not the team, but the chaotic operation of the club, which disrupts his ambitions, and finally becomes depressed, and leaves a long sigh.