Guoan beat Dalian Ren by two goals and the players celebrated the victory with the fans. Even though it was only a regular league match, the atmosphere was as warm as the season finale. Zhang Xizhe, who had been suspended for seven months, returned to the field and fought alongside his teammates, and the spirit of unity at this moment was far greater than the victory itself. Guoan's actions illustrate the close connection between players and players, players and fans. Currently, Guoan has 45 points with 12 wins, 9 draws and 6 losses, only 3 points behind third-place Shenhua, and in the remaining three games, the fight for the top three is still variable.
Before the joy of the back-to-back wins dissipated, four Guoan players - Li Lei, Li Ke, Gao Tianyi and Fang Hao - were called up by the national team. Among the midfielders who are regulars in the national soccer team, 23-year-old Fang Hao's selection came as a surprise. He moved to Guoan six months ago and has become an integral part of the team. Although Fang Hao was only a substitute at the beginning of his career at Guoan, he contributed three goals and one assist in 17 games, winning the recognition of the coaching staff for his efficient play. In the Asian Games, Fang Hao even created opportunities for his teammates, and his individual breakthroughs were also very threatening.
Fang Hao's journey to the national team at the age of 23 is unusual but highlights his strength. Guoan's discerning eye has transformed Fang Hao from a reserve player to an international player, which is not only an affirmation of the player, but also a reflection of the value of Guoan's platform. Fang Hao's selection is a triple harvest for Guoan.
First of all, Fang Hao transferred to Guoan at zero cost and became an international player six months later, which is an example of how players and clubs grow together. Guoan's platform allowed Fang Hao to gain more attention, and the player's performance returned the club's trust. Secondly, Fang Hao's selection made Taishan regret that he was a target of Taishan Football School, but Taishan failed to keep the potential star. Finally, Fang Hao's future potential is huge and Guoan should not give up, his growth will bring more impact to the team.
Guoan's signings are classic, especially the baby that Taishan grabbed. Fang Hao needs to keep a low profile and continue to work hard. His technical characteristics are similar to Yan Xiangguan's, with a small stature and swift speed, and he is expected to become the team's mainstay in the future. Guoan in this season's signings, Han Jiaqi, Li Lei, Yang Liyu and other players performance is noteworthy, Feng Boxuan and the introduction of the summer window Zhang Yuan also showed strength. Guoan still needs to work hard on bringing in foreigners, with the departures of De Souza and Ademi providing financial support for signings in the winter window.
Fang Hao's success will provide a lesson for more domestic young players, and his joining is a wise choice for Guoan. Guoan, as a traditional Chinese powerhouse, should shoulder the responsibility of developing young players.
