Rumors of poaching continue! Muscat's statement is as significant as the 3 points

Written by Cheng Shan Although there were ongoing rumors before the match that Muscat would be poached by Rangers, Shanghai Port did not lose their composure. Despite an early setback of conceding a goal, they won 4-3 in an intense away scoring battle, continuing to hold their advantage over Chengdu Rongcheng. After the game, Muscat’s statement reassured Port, confirming that even if he leaves to coach Rangers, he will first fulfill his duties with Port and lead the team through the entire Chinese Super League season.

Although Qingdao Hainiu lost all their last five matches against Port, conceding an average of 4 goals per game, they still showed an impressive fighting spirit while struggling in the relegation zone, contributing to a five-goal spectacle within the first 40 minutes of the first half.

In the 11th minute, Qingdao Hainiu’s three foreign players combined for an attack, with Rankelzer firing a volley with his left foot, putting Port behind 0-1 at the start. Three minutes later, Li Shuai crossed from the left, and Gabriel headed in to equalize. Rankelzer was undoubtedly Hainiu’s biggest offensive threat; he then capitalized on Jiang Guangtai’s back pass mistake to the goalkeeper by pressing forward. When Yan Junling tried to intercept, Rankelzer fell. The referee initially awarded a penalty, but after VAR review, it was judged a dive, and Rankelzer was shown a yellow card.

At the 30th minute, Vital broke through Hainiu’s defense with a long pass, and Leonardo lobbed the ball to regain the lead. Seven minutes later, Rankelzer fired consecutive shots to level the score at 2-2. At the 40th minute, Melendo took a front-field free kick; Hainiu’s defense cleared it only to Leonardo’s strike, putting Port ahead again. Leonardo scored twice in this match, raising his league tally to 21 goals, equaling Beijing Guoan’s foreign player Fabio and just one behind top scorer Kazayishvili. The Brazilian has been in excellent form recently, scoring 8 goals in the last 4 matches, making him the key contributor to Port’s lead.

However, Port wasted several scoring chances in this match. In the second half, Gabriel missed two good opportunities and failed to secure the win earlier. It was not until the 89th minute that Leonardo assisted substitute Li Xinxiang’s goal, securing the 3 points. But in the 5th minute of stoppage time, Hainiu’s Song Wenjie scored a consolation goal, finalizing the score at 4-3. Port continues to maintain their lead in the title race.

After the match, Muscat admitted that Port could have performed better in some aspects, especially in taking chances. He emphasized that the coaching staff had anticipated Hainiu’s aggressive second-half attack, but Port’s defense was too conservative, retreating too deep and giving Hainiu more opportunities. He also confirmed the team will rotate players in the AFC Champions League to prepare for the away match against Shandong Taishan on the 26th.

Of course, the public was more eager to hear Muscat’s response to the Rangers’ poaching rumors. Muscat did not respond directly but stated he will give his all with the Port team to fight for the championship: “We will work together with the team to strive for the title.” This statement is undoubtedly a bigger reassurance for Port than the 3 points. On the very day of the match, British media such as BBC, Daily Mail, and Glasgow Sun reported that Rangers and Muscat had agreed on personal terms. Given Muscat still has over a year left on his contract with Shanghai Port, Rangers would need to pay a compensation fee of £1.5 million (about 14 million RMB) to secure his transfer.

Muscat’s commitment to leading Shanghai Port through the remainder of the Chinese Super League season may delay his arrival at Rangers by about five weeks. He could miss up to 8 matches for Rangers during this period, with the team being managed by an interim coach. Rangers have confirmed that Steven Smith, the U19 team head coach, will serve as caretaker manager until Muscat officially takes charge.

If Muscat completes the final three Chinese Super League matches before moving to Glasgow, it would be a win-win situation for both him and Port. Port would not have to worry about losing their head coach during the crucial title defense phase, allowing the entire team to remain focused on the championship. Meanwhile, Port would receive a compensation fee exceeding ten million RMB. For Muscat, leaving behind a second Chinese Super League title as coach would be a perfect farewell gift.