Evidently, the drums of war in the Chinese Super League (CSL) have come to a halt, as Shanghai Port was crowned with glory, winning the second CSL Gold Cup in the team's history. The joy is so great that they are rumored to have organized a series of celebrations in the near future. Either way, we're going to be consistent in extolling our glory and highlighting the fact that we've become the kings of the Chinese Super League.
But fans of the Chinese Super League may not buy Shanghai Port's glory and jubilation so easily. The most immediate trigger was their unexpected defeat in the AFC Champions League play-offs, swept aside by the unusual Thai league side on home turf, a loss that undoubtedly cast a shadow over the joy of victory.
What's even more remarkable is that the other three Chinese Super League (CSL) teams won the last round of the AFC Champions League (AFC) group stage, completely shattering Shanghai Port's lie of "abandoning Asia to protect the Super League". Shandong Taishan swept aside South Korea's Incheon United 3-1 at home, not only realizing a losing streak against South Korean league teams, but even letting their opponents score a goal in extra time.
It must be said that despite the controversy surrounding Shandong Taishan in the domestic league, beating the South Korean team in the AFC Champions League was enough to reshape the image of the Chinese Super League and save face. The new Chinese Super League champions' move to "abandon Asia to protect the Super League" is destined to become a topic of discussion among fans for a long time.
Therefore, from Shandong Taishan's AFC Champions League winning streak to Shanghai Port's Super League celebrations, the fans have their own judgment as to who really represents the flag of the Chinese Super League. For a team that cowers in the AFC Champions League, even if they dominate the domestic league, it's just a momentary "nesting". As the fans say, they are fully capable of conquering the Japanese and South Korean teams in the AFC Champions League.
This season's Chinese Super League (CSL) championship is undoubtedly the one with the least amount of gold in it, with controversial penalties abounding behind the many points. In particular, Shanghai Seaport has undoubtedly become the most controversial team in the Chinese Super League after losing four consecutive games at home to a Thai team in the AFC Champions League play-offs, and even having a player out and out insulting the fans.
