Journalist Lu Mi reports On the afternoon of June 20, in the FA Cup fourth round, Wuhan Three Towns, using an all-Chinese lineup, faced Qingdao Red Lions. The game was tied after 90 minutes, and Three Towns prevailed 4-3 in a penalty shootout to progress. This marked Suarez's third match since taking over, and, consistent with the first two, it ended all square after regulation time.

During this break, Suarez's priority has been to rebuild the backline. Having previously failed in a relegation rescue mission at Changchun Yatai last year, Suarez, now back in charge at Three Towns, cannot afford another misstep this time.

Consensus reached on eradicating defensive flaws

This FA Cup match served as a valuable opportunity for Suarez to thoroughly assess Three Towns' local players, as they were restricted to an all-Chinese lineup against Qingdao Red Lions. The opponent, ranked eighth in the northern group of China League Two, was not particularly strong, yet Three Towns managed only a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes before scraping through on penalties. Since taking over, Suarez has quickly abandoned the high-possession, passing-oriented style that did not suit the current squad, shifting to a counter-attacking approach. He has significantly increased defensive drills and fitness training in practice, trying to patch up weaknesses through tactical adjustments, but the existing local defenders lack rotation depth and are weak in one-on-one situations—issues that cannot be fully resolved by tactical changes alone. Therefore, strengthening the defense during the summer transfer window has become the only viable solution.

The club's recruitment efforts are precisely focused on the defense. The first summer signing is full-back Xu Haofeng, who joins on loan. In the 2025 season, Xu played under Suarez at Changchun Yatai and earned the coach's trust, meaning he can integrate quickly into the tactical system without a long adaptation period, directly addressing Three Towns' lack of toughness in wide defensive areas. Meanwhile, Three Towns is also pursuing Li Ang, though negotiations are ongoing. By adding a wing-back rotation player while simultaneously aiming to bring in a central defender, the club is reinforcing the defense on both flanks and centrally, demonstrating a clear consensus between management and Suarez on solving defensive issues.

Regarding foreign players, the fate of defender Bevais remains uncertain. The club has not decided on a replacement plan, which will depend entirely on the injury recovery situation within the team during the break. Three Towns' logic for squad reinforcement is clear: with Kadees—the top scorer on the Chinese Super League (CSL) scoring chart—already on the roster, there is no need to worry about scoring. As the team with the most goals conceded in the CSL, everything is prioritized around shoring up the defense.

Avoid the "Yatai nightmare" at all costs, no matter how great the difficulty

That relegation experience has become an indelible mark on Suarez's coaching career. In the fiercely competitive CSL coaching circle, a firefighting coach who fails twice to keep a team up will suffer severe damage to his professional reputation, making it extremely difficult to secure desirable contracts in the future. From a career perspective, Suarez cannot endure a second failure in a relegation battle. This contract with Wuhan Three Towns is both an opportunity to redeem himself and a critical match to preserve his coaching prospects in the CSL. Fortunately, compared with last year's Changchun Yatai, Wuhan Three Towns enjoys unique objective advantages. The most crucial difference is the stable financial situation: the club has no wage arrears, players maintain stable morale, and training and logistical support are complete. There is no risk of players being distracted or underperforming due to unpaid salaries. Moreover, Three Towns is willing to invest in summer reinforcements, whether it is the acquisition of local defenders Xu Haofeng and Li Ang or adjustments to foreign players—all in full support of Suarez's tactical needs. The coach has ample room to make adjustments, a condition that was not fully available during his time at Yatai last year.

Similar relegation struggles but vastly different external environments. Suarez holds better cards now, yet the challenge remains daunting. Three Towns is currently not far from the CSL safety zone, with a gap of just two points—equivalent to the difference a single match can make. Learning from his failed rescue mission in Changchun, Suarez has made improving the defense the core of all work since taking over at Three Towns. He is using the nearly month-long break to meticulously refine the defensive system, integrate new signings simultaneously, and specifically address persistent issues such as second-half physical collapse, weak set-piece defense, and poor wide-area coordination.