(베스트 일레븐)
“최강희는 ‘최강’의 감독인가요?”
최강희 감독의 상하이 선화는 지난 23일(이하 한국 시각) 벌어졌던 2021 중국 슈퍼리그(CSL) 개막전에서 베이징 궈안을 2-1로 제압했다. 베이징 궈안은 CSL 내에서 강력한 팀으로 손꼽힘에도 불구하고 강력해진 상하이 선화가 1라운드부터 위용을 뽐냈다. 시즌 초반부터 놀라운 결과가 나오자, 중국 언론 '시나스포츠'는 2라운드(29일 오후 7시 VS 우한 FC)를 앞두고 최강희 감독의 능력에 아낌없는 박수를 보냈다.
중국 최대의 스포츠 포털인 '시나스포츠'는 “최강희는 ‘최강’의 감독이냐”라는 헤드라인과 함께 CSL 내 다른 팀과는 다른 상하이 선화만의 ‘라인업’을 주목했다. 상하이 선화는 외국인 선수의 개인 기량에 의존하는 타 클럽들과 달리 중국 선수들의 활용도를 최대한 끌어올렸다는 평을 받는다.
'시나스포츠'는 “최강희 감독은 주력과 비주력을 구분하는 방식 대신 선수들을 계획적으로 배치한다. 나아가 중국 선수들과 외국인 선수들의 경계까지 허물었다”라며 변화가 최 감독 덕이라고 설명했다.
최강희 감독은 부임 3년 차에 놀라운 진화를 이끌어냈다. 베이징 궈안전의 두 번째 골 장면은 압권이었다. 김신욱과 지오바니 모레노의 패스워크를 우시가 마무리하는 모습은 CSL에서 쉬이 찾아볼 수 없는 ‘조직된 팀’의 이미지를 자아냈다. 상하이 선화를 향한 기대감은 더욱 고조됐다.
'시나스포츠'는 “올해는 최 감독이 상하이 선화를 담당하는 세 번째 시즌이다. 최 감독은 CSL을 더욱 깊이 이해하게 됐다. 팀은 최강희 감독의 단련을 통해 점차 한국 축구와 닮은 스타일을 만들어가고 있다. 클럽 고위층의 신뢰와 함께 이젠 한국 사령탑이 힘을 보여줄 시간이다”라는 전망을 전했다.
최 감독은 베이징 궈안전 이후 가진 인터뷰에서 “우리는 매우 좋은 분위기와 자신감을 얻었다. 다만, 선수들이 안일해지지 않길 바란다. 우한은 상대하기 어려운 팀이다. 경기를 진지하게 받아들여야 한다”라고 상하이 선화가 베이징 궈안전 승리에 도취하지 말 것을 당부했다. 항상 차분한 최 감독의 특징이 잘 묻어나는 멘트였다.
CSL의 패러다임을 바꿔간다는 이야기를 들은 최 감독이 과연 중국인과 외국인을 골고루 섞는 방식으로 이번 시즌 유의미한 결과를 만들어낼지 주목된다. 그렇게 되면 지금보다 더한 찬사가 쏟아지는 건 물론, 중국 클럽들에 명확한 비전까지 제시할 수 있게 된다.
Jamie Maclaren became Melbourne City's record scorer as his double sealed a 4-1 win for the A-League leader over faltering Adelaide United.
The Australia international went past Bruno Fornaroli by reaching 58 goals for Melbourne, who extended their lead to 11 points at the top of the table.
Maclaren's late penalty and close-range finish followed earlier strikes from Scott Jamieson and Scott Galloway, with Ben Halloran fleetingly giving the visitors to AAMI Park some hope early in the second half.
Adelaide, though, is now without a win in five games and missed a chance here to move second in the table.
Jamieson marked his 100th appearance for Melbourne with a goal against one of his former clubs, making the breakthrough after eight minutes when his 22-yard strike deflected past James Delianov.
Galloway then capitalised on a clever corner routine just before the break, charging into the penalty area and rapping a fierce left-footed shot across goal and into the bottom-right corner.
Halloran netted from a tight angle early in the second half to trim the lead, but Melbourne was awarded a penalty in the 71st minute after Stefan Colakovski was scythed down by Joshua Cavallo.
Maclaren cracked the spot-kick into the left corner, before sealing the victory and the club record in the 82nd minute when he slotted in from Marco Tilio's low centre, delivered from the left.
Shanghai Shenhua announced six new signings, including three foreign players, as the club looks to be among leading title contenders for the 2021 Chinese Super League, which is scheduled to kick off next month.
The newcomers are: Poland midfielder Adrian Mierzejewski, 30-year-old Croatia defender Matej Jonjic, Cameroon winger Christian Bassogog, and domestic players Wu Xi, Wang Yi and He Longhai.
Mierzejewski, 34, has represented his nation at senior level since 2010. Having played in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he joined CSL side Changchun in 2018. The midfielder then moved to Chongqing and Guangzhou R&F before coming to Shanghai.
“I’m already informed of the fact that I’m the first foreign player to have played for four CSL clubs,” the Polish player said. “These clubs want me, which means I’m doing a good job, so I’m not stressed. I’m an experienced player and expect to show my ability when working with my new teammates.”
Jonjic is no stranger to Asian leagues either, having played in both the K league and J League before coming to China.
“I know Jonjic well when he was playing in South Korea and Japan,” said Shenhua’s South Korean head coach Choi Kang-hee. “After I came to China, I always wanted to introduce him. We got the chance this year; we hope he can help bolster Shenhua’s defense.”
Bassogog, 25, joined Shenhua from another CSL side Henan and Choi hopes he will improve the team’s right wing.
“The introduction of the new players has raised fans’ expectation about the team’s performance in the new season,” said Choi. “We will do our best for good results this year.”
According to Choi, the next three weeks of closed training will be crucial in deciding the team’s form for the new season.
“Last year the biggest regret was foreign players’ injuries, which limited our squad arrangement,” he said.
“But we improved on defense last year compared to 2019. This year, the new players will enhance the midfield. If we can avoid injuries, we should be able to compete for the championship.”
Club president Wu Xiaohui was also optimistic about Shenhua’s title chances.
“Choi is a champion coach, so I believe we share the same hope (of winning the league title),” said Wu.
“The minimum target for the 2021 season is to get into the ACL (AFC Champions League). Under CSL’s new policies, the operation of a club has become more difficult than before. We hope the fans and society will continue to support the club, coach and players.”
Midfielder Wu Xi is a former Shenhua player, who joined the club in 2009 and left for Jiangsu in 2013, with whom he won the CSL title last season. With Jiangsu FC no longer able to operate due to financial reasons, Wu is making a return to Shanghai.
“Jiangsu FC’s issue in the past few weeks affected my training as a professional player,” said Wu. “I still have an emotional bond with Shenhua, so I decided to return at President Wu’s invitation.”
Shenhua finished seventh in last year’s league. The 2021 CSL is expected to kick off on April 20 in the two cities of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, and Suzhou, neighboring Jiangsu Province. More details are yet to be announced.
Jamie Maclaren's 22 regular-season goals helped the Melbourne City striker on his way to claiming the Nike Golden Boot for a memorable 2019/20 Hyundai A-League campaign.
Maclaren collected the award at the Hyundai A-League's edition of the Dolan Warren Awards, hosted online on Thursday night.
His 22 strikes included two hat-tricks, five braces and six individual goals as the 27-year-old led City to their best-ever finish of second on the table with a club-record 47 points for the 2019/20 season.
Of all the goals he scored on his way to collecting the Nike Golden Boot, however, Maclaren says his least memorable finishes are his favourites.
"My favourite goals are probably the ugliest goals," Maclaren said.
"I pride myself on making sure the move is finished when the ball is in the back of the net, I like to follow up on every single action and be pessimistic in the sense that I’m always preparing for the worst situation and preparing for mistakes.
"I pride myself on that and I’ve worked on it, some of my game is based on instinct and like I said my team-mates have produced some great crosses and some great through balls for me too."
