Fall of Slutskiy from the Chinese Wall. "Shanghai" failed one round before the finish
What happened?
Shanghai SIPG lost to Beijing Guoan 0-1 in the 33rd round of the Chinese Super League on behalf of the guest team. The team also failed to qualify for the AFC Champions League. Shanghai SIPG coach Slutskiy said after the game that he will officially leave the coaching position of the team next week.
Since the second stage of the Chinese Super League was held in the Suzhou Division, Shanghai SIPG suffered a wave of injuries. Among them, Oscar and Ahmedov were absent for a long time due to injuries, and the team's record has declined significantly. In this game against Guoan, the Shanghai team tried their best to attack in the second half, but failed to equalize and eventually lost the game.
What does it mean?
Shanghai SIPG missed the AFC Champions League. According to the rules of the AFC Champions League, the top three in the Chinese Super League can qualify for the AFC Champions League. Currently, Shandong Taishan, Changchun Yatai and Guangzhou FC are temporarily ranked in the top three. SIPG currently ranks 4th in the standings with 55 points, and the points gap between it and Guangzhou FC is 5 points.
In addition, it also means that Slutskiy's coaching career in Shanghai SIPG has come to an end. After the game, Slutskiy confirmed that he will leave the team next week. It is reported that Slutskiy's next stop may be Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian Super League giants.
What's next?
There is only one round left in the Chinese Super League, and Shanghai SIPG will face Shenzhen FC next. The game will be held in Suzhou on January 3, 2022.
Conclusion
Shanghai SIPG's failure to qualify for the AFC Champions League is a big blow to the team. The team has invested a lot of money in recent years, but it has not been able to achieve good results. Slutskiy's departure is also a loss to the team. He is a very good coach and has helped the team improve a lot. I believe that Shanghai SIPG will face a lot of challenges in the future, but I also believe that the team can overcome these challenges and achieve success.