On the football field, a seemingly uneventful game hides a mystery. On the evening of October 18, 2024, a contest in the 28th round of the Chinese Super League started in Jinan. Shandong Taishan hosts Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, the result of this game may not seem important, but it reflects the current situation and future of Chinese football. With a temperature of 15.3 degrees and a 99% probability of rainfall, the cold weather seems to indicate the cold winter of Chinese football. In such an environment, a thought-provoking question arises: why is the pace of the Chinese Super League so slow, but it is difficult for the national football team to make a breakthrough in the Asian arena?
After the start of the game, the performance of both teams was disappointing. In the first ten minutes, there were very few shots on goal. Although Shandong Taishan had a brief offensive climax, it soon calmed down. Tianjin Jinmen Tigers also failed to show the fighting spirit they should have. This slow-paced pace of the game is in stark contrast to the top international leagues. Could this be the true level of Chinese football? Or are there other factors influencing the players' performance?
Just when people thought it would be a game without bright spots, in the 17th minute, the Shandong Taishan team suddenly broke out. Cressan's breakthrough was like a sharp knife, piercing the Tianjin Jinmen Tigers' defense. Huang Zhengyu's long-range shot was even more powerful and shocking the audience. Liu Binbin scored the first goal of the game for Shandong Taishan team in one fell swoop. This goal not only broke the deadlock of the game, but also served as a wake-up call to wake up the sleeping Chinese football.
This wonderful scoring process shows the strength of Shandong Taishan team as an AFC Champions League team. Cressan's breakthrough pinned down the opposition's defence, Hwang Jung-woo's long-range shot showcased the midfielder's skill and vision, and Yoo Binbin's follow-up shot showed the striker's sense of smell and ability to take chances. This kind of cooperation is reminiscent of the cooperation of top international teams.
Such wonderful moments are so precious in the Chinese Super League. Why can't we see this in every game? Is it the quality of the players, or is there something wrong with the atmosphere and system of the league as a whole? What's even more puzzling is why a player as good as Huang Zhengyu was not selected for the national team? These problems not only plague fans, but also the entire Chinese football community.
Halfway through the game, the performances of both teams returned to lackluster performances. The scramble between the players is no longer ferocious, and even a little lazy. This state of affairs is in stark contrast to the performance of the national team in the round of 18. In the international arena, the Chinese team often seems to be unable to adapt to the high-intensity rhythm of the game. In the domestic league, however, the players are unable to maintain a high level of performance. This contradictory phenomenon may be the key to the difficulty of Chinese football.
Although Shandong Taishan team is fifth in the standings, it has no desire this season. They can only hope for the FA Cup to renew their AFC Champions League qualification. Tianjin Jinmen Tigers are in sixth place, and the battle between the two teams is a battle for five or six places at best. How can this kind of lack of passion and motivation produce good players? How can you attract a larger audience?
More worryingly, this situation is not unique. Since the start of the 2019 season, Shandong Taishan have been unbeaten in the past six Chinese Super League meetings, especially at home, and have won all of them since the 2017 season. Does this long-term dominance reflect the decline in the overall competitiveness of the Chinese Super League?
Just when people thought the game was going to end in a dull one, a startling fact emerged. It turned out that this seemingly ordinary Chinese Super League has become the focus of attention of FIFA. It is reported that FIFA is paying close attention to the development of Chinese football, especially the quality and competitiveness of the Chinese Super League.
This news was like a bombshell, which instantly detonated the Chinese football community. Some people believe that this is an opportunity for the development of Chinese football, and they can take this opportunity to learn from advanced international experience; There are also concerns that this could lead to more external interference and affect the independent development of Chinese football.
With this, a bigger question has emerged, and what is the future of Chinese football? Will it continue on the current path, or will it need to be overhauled? Will it focus on developing local talent, or will it bring in more foreign players to improve the league? The answers to these questions will have a direct impact on the future direction of Chinese football.
At a time when all parties are hotly discussed, a practical problem that cannot be ignored has emerged. The number of spectators in the Chinese Super League is declining year by year, and the enthusiasm of the fans seems to be fading. Even a traditional powerhouse like Shandong Taishan struggled to attract a full audience. This phenomenon not only affects the atmosphere of the game, but also directly relates to the economic income and sustainable development of the club.
More worryingly, the development of youth football talent is also facing huge challenges. Due to the uncertainty of their career prospects, more and more young people are choosing to abandon football in favor of other careers. This phenomenon of talent disconnect may deal a fatal blow to the long-term development of Chinese football.
The competition in international football is becoming increasingly fierce. While the rest of Asia is improving the level of football, Chinese football seems to be standing still. If a breakthrough cannot be found as soon as possible, the status of Chinese football on the international stage may decline further.
After watching this game, the current situation of Chinese football is indeed poignant. We have so many football fans, so many clubs that have invested so much, but why can't we play well? Is it really because our players are not talented enough? Or is there something wrong with our training system?
To be honest, seeing those foreign players galloping on the field, while our local players seem so powerless, I really have mixed feelings. Haven't we been emphasizing the need to develop local talent? But why is there no visible progress?
Looking at the empty stands, one can't help but feel nostalgic for the grand occasion when the stadium was once full. Can the current Chinese Super League really attract audiences? Or have our fans lost faith in Chinese football?
In the face of the current situation of Chinese football, do you also feel helpless and disappointed? But if we give up, where is the future of Chinese football? Shouldn't more patience and support be given? Or is it time for drastic reforms? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area, let's discuss the way out of Chinese football together!