ZCZC
BSP-04
FBL-ASIA-CHN
Crunch time for Cannavaro’s Evergrande in Chinese Super League
SHANGHAI, Sept 14, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Fabio Cannavaro’s Guangzhou Evergrande
face a critical five days that could go a long way towards deciding who wins
the Chinese Super League’s most closely contested title race in years.
The stakes could hardly be higher for the Italian World Cup winner, as
failure to steer Evergrande to an eighth successive CSL crown would put his
job under severe scrutiny after only a year in charge.
With a third of the season left, Beijing Guoan lead the CSL two points
clear of Shanghai SIPG and three ahead of Evergrande, who both have a game in
hand.
Cannavaro’s side host the capital club on Friday knowing they could go top
with victory, then travel to SIPG on Tuesday.
The title chase is too close to call but Evergrande have impetus after
dragging themselves back into contention thanks largely to the July loan
signings of Brazilian midfielders Paulinho, from Barcelona, and Anderson
Talisca, from Benfica.
Evergrande needed a 91st-minute winner to defeat mid-table Shanghai Shenhua
2-1 in their last match and Cannavaro is pleading for home fans — so used to
success, after dominating the CSL for the best part of a decade — to stay
patient.
“The supporters hope to win every game 4-0 or 5-0,” said the former world
player of the year, after Evergrande’s last-gasp victory.
“But fortunately we are still in the title race and have not been left
behind,” Cannavaro added, praising the unity and will of his team.
– ‘Hear a different voice’ –
Cannavaro, Italy’s captain and defensive stalwart in their 2006 World Cup
victory, will hope that his domestic players do not suffer a hangover from
the international break.
Three of his men started China’s drab 0-0 draw with Bahrain on Monday, a
hugely disappointing result which sparked another bout of soul-searching
about the under-achieving national side.
That followed a similarly demoralising 1-0 defeat to Qatar, but Cannavaro
said in the build-up that playing for China under his fellow Italian coach
Marcello Lippi would be beneficial for his players — “to hear a different
voice other than mine”.
Evergrande go into the clash with Guoan in rampaging form, winning eight of
their last nine CSL matches and averaging nearly four goals per game.
Only Guoan have scored more goals this season but Roger Schmidt’s side are
unconvincing at the back, suggesting that a goal-fest could be in the offing
for an anticipated crowd of about 50,000.
It is then off to Shanghai for Cannavaro’s men and the visit to SIPG, home
of the expensive Brazilian duo Hulk and Oscar.
SIPG coach Vitor Pereira took over from his fellow Portuguese national
Andre Villas-Boas this season, vowing to do what the former Tottenham Hotspur
and Chelsea manager failed to achieve — win a trophy.
The CSL is Pereira’s last chance after SIPG exited the Chinese FA Cup and
the Asian Champions League.
Like Cannavaro, Pereira has little room for further error.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0845 hrs
45 hrs