Recently, an official news from Shandong Taishan team caught my attention, which reads as follows:
On January 11th, the first-team of Shandong Taishan is steadily and orderly advancing with their winter training in Shanghai, conducting two sessions of training per day. In the morning session, the players mainly engaged in endurance running, interval running, and sprinting to recover and enhance their physical reserves. The afternoon session focused on passing drills and small-sided games to further refine the team's technical and tactical levels. After dinner, the players voluntarily went to the hotel gym for additional training, demonstrating a positive attitude towards training. Additionally, foreign aid Zeka arrived in Shanghai yesterday to join the team; player Tang Chuang completed the club's physical skills test in the morning and reported to the team in Shanghai in the afternoon.
This message conveys several points: firstly, it informs that the team is currently undergoing winter training in Shanghai and provides a brief introduction to the content of the training. Secondly, it announces that Zeka has returned to the team. Thirdly, new recruit Tang Chuang has completed his physical skills testing and reported to the team.
In fact, there hasn't been any official news from the team for quite some time, leaving fans unsure about the current situation of the team.
However, this message contains an intriguing detail that may have escaped notice: not a single word is mentioned about Choi Kang-hee and the coaching staff, none at all!
Why is this? Normally, one would expect the message to state that the team is actively preparing for the winter training under the leadership of Choi Kang-hee and the coaching staff!
The omission suggests the club's stance towards Choi Kang-hee! It indicates that the club's negotiations with Choi Kang-hee are ongoing, and there will undoubtedly be changes in the future!
Considering previous information, the club initially wanted to terminate the contract with Choi Kang-hee early but had to temporarily abandon the idea due to the high penalty fee. Choi Kang-hee desired absolute power in recruitment, but the club, learning from past experiences, fundamentally disagreed with Choi Kang-hee's choices.
The situation remains at a stalemate! The club proceeds methodically with the winter training but refrains from mentioning Choi Kang-hee, which reflects the club's stance!
It implies that the club still harbors thoughts of changing the coach! Alternatively, using official media announcements to coldly handle Choi Kang-hee, or even in extreme cases, possibly sideline him!
However, judging from Tang Chuang's joining and Leonardo's imminent move to the harbor, it seems that Choi Kang-hee still holds significant influence in the new season's recruitment. Tang Chuang is a tall striker, aligning with Choi Kang-hee's preference for playing without a tall striker! Disliking Leonardo last season, the sentiment remains unchanged this season!
Alas! What will happen to Taishan in the new season is still shrouded in mystery, with many uncertainties present!