ZCZC
BSP-19
FBL-ASIA-CHN-SOUSA-POR
Portugal’s Sousa departs Chinese strugglers Tianjin
BEIJING, Oct 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa left
relegation-threatened Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian on Thursday
after less than a season in charge, the club said.
The 48-year-old former international midfielder has been unable to arrest
an alarming slide by the big spenders, who are just five points off the
relegation zone with six games left.
Sousa, brought in last November when Fabio Cannavaro left for reigning
champions Guangzhou Evergrande, departs by mutual consent, Tianjin said in a
statement.
The Portuguese, whose previous managerial roles include stints at Swansea
City and Leicester City, inherited a Tianjin team boasting Alexandre Pato,
Axel Witsel and Anthony Modeste.
The club finished third last season under Cannavaro, qualifying for the
Asian Champions League for the first time.
Sousa took ambitious Tianjin to the Champions League quarter-finals, but
prior to the tie they lost Belgian international Witsel to Borussia Dortmund
and French striker Modeste has been absent as he attempts to quit the club.
Without them, Tianjin were thrashed 5-0 on aggregate by Japan’s Kashima
Antlers.
Tianjin’s form has also dipped worryingly in the Super League, where they
have lost their last three games without scoring a goal.
The last straw was a 3-0 home defeat to fellow relegation strugglers
Chongqing Lifan on Sunday.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1240 hrs