At 8:00 PM on August 13th, Beijing time, the revamped AFC Champions League Elite League will hold its playoff matches, with Shandong Taishan facing Thai League club Bangkok United at home. Before the game, Shandong media outlet “Jinan Times” published an article stating that this playoff is a fateful match for both the Taishan head coach and the players.
Shandong Taishan head coach Choi Kang-hee stated in a pre-game press conference: “Having this AFC Champions League playoff amidst the league schedule is very tiring for us, this is an objective situation. But this game is very important for us, the result will decide what level of competition we participate in.”
“Jinan Times” emphasizes that this game is crucial for both Choi Kang-hee and the club players, with the outcome impacting their fates. Choi Kang-hee led the team to impressive performances in the AFC Champions League last season, earning praise from all quarters. However, this season, the team has faced challenges such as injuries and internal questioning, even leading to rumors of Choi Kang-hee’s dismissal. If the team loses again in this match, Choi Kang-hee’s future as head coach might become even more uncertain.
Beyond the head coach and players, the fate of Shandong Taishan is also intertwined with the outcome of this match. While the club’s management mechanism is still not fully clarified, reaching the AFC Champions League Elite League would undoubtedly facilitate the resolution of related issues, given the greater influence of the intercontinental stage. Conversely, if the team continues to struggle, its brand image will further decline, making it less attractive to potential investors.
It’s worth noting that both Shandong Taishan and Bangkok United reached the AFC Champions League knockout stage last season, but both were eventually eliminated by Yokohama F. Marinos.
This article is from a user submission and does not represent the views of Soccer News Pick. If you repost it, please indicate the source: https://www.soccernewspick.com/other/26273.html
