Two players whose performances have been widely discussed on the international soccer scene are Han Pengfei and Huang Zhengyu. Han Pengfei, the player forgotten by Ivankovic, whose situation seems self-evident. After all, he has yet to reach the level of a national team starter and has not performed well in the Chinese Super League.
However, for Shandong Luneng Taishan's central midfielder Huang Zhengyu, his abandonment by coach Ivankovic is particularly puzzling. Although he was born as a center back, he has successfully transformed into an outstanding back under the tutelage of Coach Choi Kang-hee.
Not only does Huang Zhengyu excel on the defensive end with his blocking and stealing abilities, but he also has the ability to attack in front of the net. His diligence and hard work set an example in the team. Despite the fact that Huang Zhengyu's ability does not occupy a clear advantage over Wang Haijian in the same position, Ivankovic's neglect of Huang Zhengyu is puzzling. It is undoubtedly frustrating that this player, who is capable of both attacking and defending, was abandoned by the coach in favor of the mediocre Wang Haijian. It is not too much of a stretch to say that this is a baffling decision by Ivanovic at this stage of the game.
