The international break is finally over, which means Changchun Yatai can return to the monumental task at hand — avoiding relegation.
Prior to the break, Xie Hui’s side hit a mixed patch in league play. Two strong showings at home against Cangzhou Mighty Lions (1–0) and Wuhan Three Towns (2–0) were packed between three hugely disappointing losses.
Losses to Shenzhen Peng City (2–1) and Meizhou Hakka (2–1) have really altered the relegation battle picture in the Chinese Super League, while the 4–0 loss to Chengdu Rongcheng was both expected and disheartening in nature.
The home wins are certainly positives for the team to build on, which is likely the only real positives the team can grasp at the moment after talismanic forward Tan Long was ruled out potentially for the rest of the season with a facial fracture, and influential import midfielder Peter Zulj was handed a three-match suspension after receiving a red card against Wuhan Three Towns.
Couple that with the season-ending injuries to Wang Jinxian and Guilherme, as well as Cui Qi’s long-term absence, and Changchun Yatai are really grasping at straws for a competitive first-team starting eleven.
The one saving grace is that their return to action comes against the only team they must feel confident in defeating — Nantong Zhiyun, who are firmly cemented at the foot of the league table and look almost assured of being sent down to China League One for 2025.
Nantong have been the worst team in the league for months now, and Changchun have put in some strong performances in front of the home crowd at Nanling Stadium, which makes this Saturday’s return even more important.
Three points against bottom of the league would do much to create some space between the team and the drop zone, and would give fans hope that the team can retain their top tier status for another year.
Four Changchun Yatai’s last six matches are to be played at home and it’s imperative that the team makes that home advantage count for something — although they face tough opposition in Shanghai Port (21/9) and Zhejiang (2/11) along the way.
Nantong, Qingdao West Coast and Henan present the best opportunities for Xie Hui’s team to pick up valuable points and push themselves away from the relegation zone, while Beijing Guoan will also be a highly anticipated match given Changchun’s surprise victory over them earlier this year.
The international break will have helped Changchun Yatai players to recover from any issues they may have been battling and the team should be 100% fit and ready to take the challenge to their opponents as best they can.
Time for the players to show they deserve to stay in the top tier for another season, giving the manager an opportunity to build a team in his own image with effectively the entire current cohort being Chen Yang’s signings.
It all starts against Nantong this Saturday.