In the AFC Champions League arena, can Guoan end their away losing streak?

Special Contributor/Song Ci Following a 1-2 away loss to Xinpengcheng, Guoan has endured four straight away defeats across all competitions, a run last experienced in 2019 when coach Schmidt was relieved of his duties mid-season.

Guoan switched coaches during the break, but the problems clearly persist. On October 23 at 18:00, Guoan will play their AFC Champions League 2 match away against Hong Kong Premier League team Tai Po. Will they be able to stop the downward spiral and recover?

From a crushing 0-6 away loss to Taishan to a 0-3 defeat at Macarthur in AFC Champions League 2, Guoan fans have grown furious. Yet no one expected another loss in the Chinese Super League against relegation-threatened Xinpengcheng. Although the result did not greatly affect league standings, the performance sparked widespread dissatisfaction.

On the night of the loss to Xinpengcheng, anxiety ran high within the team. Despite the match ending early, many players, coaches, and staff found it hard to sleep late into the night, with almost everyone discussing the same question on WeChat: What is wrong with Guoan? How did it come to this?

Indeed, how did Guoan end up like this? Undefeated in the first 16 rounds and crowned half-season champions, the second half saw them lose to almost every opponent, becoming an easy target. An insider said, “The team spirit has always been there; no one ever thought about giving up or not fighting. Even under Setien, every match was played with full effort, and he never lost control of the team. Regardless of the lineup or tactics, players executed decisively. As for why it’s like this now, perhaps opponents have figured us out and targeted us. Previously, we dominated regardless of the opponent; now, opponents strike from the shadows while we are exposed, so ambushes are inevitable.”

Regarding the match against Xinpengcheng, players admitted the team is undergoing tactical adjustments. Although the style hasn’t changed much, Ramiro demands faster attacks, requiring them to double or even triple their previous tempo. With only two weeks of training and one match played, everyone, including foreign players, needs to adapt to this new pace.

“Of course, we can’t shirk responsibility for this loss, but it should be acknowledged that our attacking options have become much richer, including many threatening shots from numerous corners earned in the front. As for why we didn’t score, it’s not about bad luck; we just need more training and continuous improvement,” said one player.

The club cares more than anyone about the team’s issues but insists that the coach and players’ efforts should not be dismissed based on a single match. “The team is still moving in a positive direction. We hope the coaching staff and players have enough confidence, seriously review and prepare for upcoming games, and especially maintain the spirit of fighting until the last minute. No matter the result, the energy and mentality must stay strong,” an insider stated.

After losing to Xinpengcheng, Guoan has now suffered four straight away losses in both the Chinese Super League and AFC Champions League, indicating that their decline has not yet bottomed out. How deep the abyss is remains unknown; Guoan can only rely on themselves.

Guoan is currently at a critical juncture—after losing all hope in the league title race, the FA Cup final remains their last chance. Every match before that is a battle for self-redemption, making the October 23 away AFC Champions League 2 game against Tai Po especially crucial.

Guoan has historically performed well in the AFC Champions League, even recording classic wins against Japanese and Korean clubs. However, in AFC Champions League 2, they currently sit last with one draw and one loss in their first two games, a situation nobody expected. Before departing for Shenzhen, the club reiterated to the coaching staff the importance of fully committing to the AFC Champions League 2 matches.

Since the team has not played in Hong Kong for many years, the club sent an advance squad days earlier to prepare. After the first team’s match against Xinpengcheng, they remained training at the Zhaoqing Sports Center to better adapt to the Greater Bay Area’s climate. The plan is to train in Zhaoqing until the 22nd, then travel to the away venue.

During the recent break, the coaching staff began studying Tai Po’s tactics and personnel. The team unanimously agrees that this Hong Kong Premier League side should not be underestimated. Their home victory over Macarthur shows strong fighting ability. Since Guoan will be playing away, they must mentally prepare for all possible challenges.

Acting head coach Ramiro commented on the upcoming match: “We will prepare seriously. Losing to Xinpengcheng hurt everyone, but now we need to lift our heads. I believe in every player. Their attitude is good, they work hard, fight hard, and have shown good performances. But that’s football. Moving forward, we need to regain confidence through winning. Right now, our focus is on how to win.”