Wuhan Three Towns: Adjusting Focus on Midfield and Defense

Report by Lu Mi Wuhan Three Towns' current season resembles the previous one, with immediate relegation concerns emerging. Mora left his post after a 1-3 home defeat to Qingdao Hainiu. Deng Zhuoxiang led the team for three games, resulting in three consecutive stalemates. Suarez then took over on an emergency basis, making him the league's second interim coach. In May, Suarez oversaw only two matches, both draws, and the packed schedule gave him little opportunity for major overhauls. Nevertheless, he made efforts to adjust personnel arrangements and shore up the defense during his brief tenure.

On the tactical front, Suarez abandoned the high-pressing possession style that didn't fit the squad, switching formations flexibly and pulling the defense back to cover gaps in the channels, which stopped the team's worst run of frequent goals conceded in the CSL and made the attacking and defensive flow more balanced. In terms of player usage, Suarez introduced more flexible rotations and redefined the roles of foreign players. Most notably, Cardis continued his hot streak (scoring in seven straight matches) and now leads the mid-season scoring charts with 12 goals. Moreover, Suarez unlocked Shaor's playmaking ability, preventing him from being isolated and improving his link-up with the forwards, resulting in several crucial assists and making him Cardis' ideal partner. Domestic players such as Ming Tian, Zhong Jinbao, and Xiong Jizheng also showed signs of recovery.

Throughout May, Wuhan Three Towns failed to secure a single victory. In the recent five-game draw streak, persistent problems like defensive fragility and poor fitness remained evident, issues that Suarez must address during the break.

In terms of summer transfer window recruitment, the club is assessing players across all positions, with particular focus on the midfield and defense. However, the limited number of players available on the market works against Three Towns. Regarding the foreign players that have drawn outside concern, the club stated that discussions are ongoing, and whether to make changes will require further observation and deliberation.

During this break, Three Towns will not travel for training but will stay in Wuhan to accelerate integration with the new coaching staff. They also plan to play a friendly against Henan in Wuhan on the 13th.