Back to Dapu, Guoan aims for their first victory

Special Contributor / Song Ci In the cold rain of Changchun, Guoan finally achieved a rare victory, but it merely provided a short respite. They still face the AFC Champions League Round 2, the Chinese Super League, and the FA Cup matches ahead. Nevertheless, the club and team share a unified mentality: each game is played for the supporters, and winning is an absolute must. This week, Guoan will host a Hong Kong Premier League team in the AFC Champions League Round 2, aiming to secure all three points.

Due to poor results, attendance at Workers' Stadium has sharply declined. The home game against Haikou drew just under 30,000 spectators. After witnessing Guoan being overturned on the field, many fans angrily declared they would skip the upcoming matches.

However, despite the criticism, the team remains a family. During the away match against Yatai, even with temperatures below zero and rain falling, around 500 Guoan fans passionately cheered without holding back. From start to finish, fans fought on the stands for nearly four hours. While the players were freezing on the pitch, the fans endured even harsher conditions.

The 4-0 victory over Yatai was undoubtedly the best reward for the supporters. After the match, veteran Hou Sen emotionally said, "We are very grateful to the fans for continuously cheering in such cold weather. The team cannot do without your support; we are united as one. We must deliver good results to restore everyone's confidence."

Notably, after a previous training session, Hou Sen even took the initiative to invite fans, saying, "We must come back to Workers' Stadium for the next home game."

Naturalized player Serginho frankly acknowledged the fans’ dedication: "The earlier match results might not have been ideal. But we need the fans' support. Their encouragement stays in our hearts. We also want to repay them on the field, so they don’t leave disappointed. We hope at the next home game they return home with happy smiles."

The Chinese Super League has entered another break, but Guoan still has the AFC Champions League Round 2 this week. On November 6, they will host Hong Kong Premier League team Dapu. After three rounds, Guoan has yet to win an away match in international competition, so they will give their all to secure three points this time.

Recently, the team’s poor form led to a slump. The club management has been in communication with the coaching staff, not only about tactics but also urging them to do everything possible to boost team morale. The squad must remain confident internally despite difficulties. Acting head coach Ramiro has taken responsibility and encouraged players to keep their hunger for victory alive.

In the match against Yatai, Guoan performed excellently, scoring four goals and keeping a clean sheet for the first time in over two months. The club hopes this game marks a turning point to play well in every upcoming match—whether in the AFC Champions League, the final league games, or the FA Cup final. The club demands never to give up chasing wins, and the team must maintain this winning desire until the FA Cup final and the last AFC Champions League match.

Ramiro stated that the team must let results speak and that winning is the best reward: "We need to perform well in every current match and prepare thoroughly for the FA Cup final."

Serginho, who scored the first goal against Yatai, said they must keep up the winning momentum and continue to claim victories. When it comes to the FA Cup final, "we want to bring home the most important win."

The victory over Yatai first shattered the rumor that Guoan would go easy on relegation-threatened teams. Actually, the reason behind rumors that Guoan would consecutively lose to Xinpengcheng, Haikou, Yatai, and Meizhou was largely due to sudden online gossip claiming "Guoan is about to disband, Zhonghe is quitting, and the club owes 8 months of wages." Fans were confused and these rumors spread rapidly, causing some pessimistic supporters to worry they might be true.

Regarding these rumors, insiders from the club clearly stated that "the club disbanding, shareholder changes, and 8 months of unpaid wages" are falsehoods. They urge fans not to believe such one-sided stories. Currently, while seriously preparing for the remaining matches, the club has started work on next season’s licensing with group support, and a series of initiatives to build sustainable competitiveness are underway.

Additionally, at the end of every season, rumors about player departures intensify. There are reports that next year foreign players will be adjusted, with Ngadeu and Guja confirmed to leave, and Fabio possibly being poached. The club insiders responded that player adjustments will be finalized after the season ends. "At present, all these players are under contract, especially Fabio, who both the club and himself hope will continue to fight for Guoan next season."