Guoan: Urgently Needs a "Booster Shot" to Enhance Combat Power

Guest Contributor / Song Ci As 2025 nears its end, Guoan still has one last challenge: the FA Cup final on December 6. Although Guoan was once the mid-season champion in this year's Chinese Super League, they eventually lost the title and settled for fourth place. Their early exit from the group stage in the AFC Champions League secondary competition was also a letdown. For Guoan, winning the FA Cup is the only way to erase all previous shadows.

Carrying a heavy fatigue, Guoan arrived in Suzhou on November 29 to prepare for the FA Cup final. This preparation plan was arranged well in advance. Considering Beijing’s cold weather, the coaching staff and club jointly decided not to return to Beijing after the match against Hanoi Police of Vietnam. Accordingly, the club secured training facilities at Suzhou Yangcheng Lake Peninsula Football Park for the team’s final practice before the FA Cup.

Due to flight schedules, Guoan rested in Hanoi for a day, then flew directly to Shanghai Pudong Airport on November 29, followed by a bus ride to Suzhou. With a week remaining before the FA Cup final, acting head coach Ramiro did not impose a tight training schedule. The coaching staff understood better than anyone that the players needed time to mentally adjust. Therefore, no training was arranged on November 30, and the team held an internal bonding activity that evening.

Before facing Hanoi Police, Guoan had just regained some confidence from recent wins. Additionally, the entire team united in the final league round to help Fabio secure the top scorer title. Thus, before heading to the AFC Champions League secondary tournament, the team was relatively optimistic. Their plan was that a victory in Hanoi would secure early group qualification and allow them to prepare for the FA Cup in peak condition.

In fact, judging by the first half of the match against Hanoi, Guoan had a chance to win. However, just like many times this year when mistakes occurred in the second half, the nightmare struck again after halftime. Think of the second halves in away matches against Wuhan Three Towns and home games against Qingdao Hainiu—almost identical scenarios. The night Guoan lost to Hanoi was especially gloomy; although everyone gathered for dinner, few had the appetite. While outsiders couldn’t understand how they lost to a Vietnamese team, Guoan’s internal reflection focused on where they went wrong.

Regarding the match itself, both players and coaching staff admitted the Vietnamese team played well in the second half. However, it’s important to note that before the equalizer, Guoan had at least two clear scoring chances. Serginho and Zhang Yuning missed prime opportunities—mistakes uncharacteristic of these players. Why did their actions falter? The only explanation is the pressure was overwhelming. It wasn’t just those two; everyone on the field was desperate to score quickly and seal the game. Ironically, this impatience led to missing all those golden chances.

Because of this, the team’s most urgent need now is to rebuild morale and confidence. If they continue with the mindset of trying to finish off the opponent in one go, low-level mistakes may reoccur in the FA Cup match. If that happens, winning would be out of reach, and collapse could follow.

One undeniable fact is that Guoan is currently in a desperate state. Every situation has two sides: being in a slump means Guoan could either become a stepping stone for opponents to make history or muster their last breath to stage a surprising comeback when no one expects it.

Judging by Guoan’s current condition, losing the FA Cup wouldn’t be a shock. Yet Guoan possesses a unique spirit—the “never-give-up attitude.” Historically, Guoan has repeatedly proven that when underestimated by outsiders, they can deliver unexpectedly strong performances.

How to demonstrate this “never-give-up attitude” under present circumstances is not just about slogans. First, the team must show a willingness to fight to the death. On this point, both coaches and players have openly stated: there will be no holding back in this battle; they will fight until the very last minute.

Of course, at this moment, what the team most needs is a booster shot from the club. The club understands better than anyone what the FA Cup championship means to Guoan. It is reported that senior leaders from Guoan, including officials from the Beijing Sports Bureau and Beijing Football Association, will attend the final in Suzhou. Before the decisive match begins, the club must use the most effective methods to ignite the players’ fighting spirit.

Besides this, the indispensable “12th man” behind the team is the Guoan fans. Although the team’s performance has often disappointed them, most fans who have purchased tickets for the final say they will still attend to support Guoan, standing shoulder to shoulder with the team. As long as the players show a fighting spirit, the fans will accept any final outcome.