Sept. 8: Let Young Players Take Over Beijing Guoan’s Remaining CSL Matches; 0-0 Draw with Shanghai Port Shows Their Potential

Setien really went for it! With only one foreign player against Shanghai Port, he relied on a group of players in their early twenties to last the entire match. Who could have expected such a scenario?

Using only one foreign player and eventually holding Shanghai Port to a draw, the young players turned a difficult situation into reality.

The wind at Workers’ Stadium was a little chilly that night, but names like Wang Yu and Deng Jiefu were probably remembered seriously by many veteran fans for the first time. Without support from star foreign players, a group of young players developed through the club’s own youth system managed to prevent Shanghai Port’s attacking unit from gaining an advantage. This was more than just a draw; it felt like an unexpected reward. The match was exciting and also showed that Chinese young players can perform well when given real opportunities.

Montgomery, a coach with Premier League experience, may not adjust during matches as well as Lippi, but he does have effective methods for handling Chinese Super League games.

We should not portray him as a savior. Montgomery is not a so-called elite manager, having neither won the Champions League nor managed a major club. However, he experienced competition in the high-intensity Premier League environment and has seen top-level battles. His experience remains valuable against CSL opponents. His judgment on selections and substitutions may not be as precise as Lippi’s, but it is already effective enough. At least he has the courage to place his trust in young players, which deserves more recognition than relying only on veterans.

Guoan currently has limited pressure in the league, with no major concern over Asian competition qualification or relegation, making this a golden period for developing players.

Speaking frankly, Guoan’s league situation this season is largely settled. The team does not need to fight for Asian competition qualification and does not need to worry about relegation, while its mid-table position is somewhat awkward. But from another perspective, this is also a valuable chance to develop players. Key players can recover or rest, while remaining matches can become a testing ground for young players. Instead of focusing heavily on the AFC Champions League and FA Cup, developing these youngsters first may be more practical. The league is the best training platform: losses provide lessons, and wins are extra rewards.

Someone will eventually need to succeed Zhang Xizhe and Zhang Yuning, so now is the right time to identify technically capable young players.

Zhang Xizhe is getting older, and Zhang Yuning has also been affected by injuries. This is the reality. Guoan’s midfield and attack will eventually need renewal. Players around 20 years old, such as Jia Feifan and Cheng Xi, may not yet be fully developed technically, but their attitude, fitness, and tactical execution stood out in the match. With good coaching, young players can improve very quickly. Finding future successors now is more important than waiting until veteran players decline before making changes.

The club’s debt problems are like a ticking time bomb; the enthusiasm of young players should not be affected by management issues and restrictions on recruitment.

However, relying only on young players’ effort cannot solve the club’s internal problems. If the team frequently faces lawsuits and recruitment restrictions, development will be affected. Young players have energy, but if the club cannot maintain a stable squad, continued improvement becomes difficult. Hopefully the club can resolve its debt issues soon and prevent off-field problems from affecting performances on the pitch. Without solving these issues, even talented young players may be limited.

Whether Setien’s decision is a smart move or a risky gamble will be answered by time.

Setien’s decision to use young players in an important match carried risks. Success would show his courage, while failure could be viewed as a poor judgment. But at least he was willing to give young players opportunities, which is more positive than overly conservative choices. Whether this group can truly take responsibility will depend on future matches. If they develop successfully, Setien may become the person who helped Guoan discover new talent; if not, it could be seen as a failed attempt. Football is full of uncertainty.