Guoan's consecutive losses drop them to third place; how can Setién turn the situation around?

Special Contributor/Song Ci "Scattered like sand, a disgrace," on the evening of the 26th, after Beijing Guoan lost 0-2 to Chengdu Rongcheng in the 18th round of the league, the traveling Guoan fans finally erupted in dissatisfaction with the team. At the post-match press conference, the media from the capital posed sharp questions to head coach Setién. Indeed, after suffering two significant losses in the league, Setién, as the head coach, must take responsibility for the issues facing the team.

After losing at home to Shanghai Shenhua, although the fans were very disappointed with both the process and the result of the match, they still encouraged the team as usual after the game, cheering for the players who came to thank them with shouts of support. The reason for this was to hope the team could rally and not be disheartened by the loss to Shenhua.

Unfortunately, whether in the FA Cup against Qingdao West Coast or in this league match against Chengdu Rongcheng, Guoan's performance showed little improvement. In the FA Cup, they relied entirely on goalkeeper Hou Sen's heroics to get through. In Chengdu, despite the opponent missing key players like Wei Shihao, Guoan still performed poorly, managing only two shots on target compared to the opponent's nine. This match can be considered a complete defeat for Guoan.

Guoan not only lost the match and was outperformed statistically, but what frustrated the fans even more was the team's failure to demonstrate a fighting spirit on the field. It was precisely for this reason that the traveling fans erupted in anger, shouting "Scattered like sand, a disgrace."

After the match, the media did not hold back in asking Setién why the team's fighting spirit was inferior to that of their opponents. Setién explained that it was due to a lack of focus at times, which he attributed to fatigue.

Such an answer clearly did not satisfy the media, who immediately followed up with questions about whether the two consecutive losses were due to inadequate preparation during the break and whether there would be a change in tactics moving forward. Setién seemed somewhat irritated by this line of questioning, retorting, "If you think we didn't prepare well just because we didn't win, that's somewhat offensive to us, as we all work hard."

Fans and media clearly could not accept Setién's response, as the team's performance and results were evident. If these issues are not resolved quickly, the pressure on Setién will undoubtedly increase.

Despite his previous success coaching Barcelona, Setién has not received full recognition from the fans since joining Guoan. Particularly after the three draws at the start of the season, he faced considerable criticism, as those draws were largely attributed to luck, with two away games against Shenhua and Tianjin Tigers ending in stoppage-time equalizers, and at home against Rongcheng, the team was thoroughly suppressed in the second half. Even the away draw against Wuhan Three Towns, where they conceded a 4-4 tie, led many to believe that Setién was being overly ambitious by substituting key players while leading.

Of course, Setién had previously explained those early-season matches by saying the team was still in the process of adjustment and that being pegged back from a significant lead was entirely unexpected. While this explanation may seem a bit forced, Guoan managed to overcome a trust crisis after a 6-1 home victory over Shandong, followed by a series of wins and subsequent unbeaten matches. However, this merely masked underlying issues. Setién's unchanging three-defender tactic had already been figured out by opponents, which is why every match after the five-game winning streak became increasingly difficult, with even home victories relying on sheer determination.

In this match against Rongcheng, Guoan's strength was already not superior to their opponents, and playing away added to their challenges, especially given the high physical demands. Yet, Setién still opted for a three-defender formation. It's no wonder that even fans and media had to question: why not switch to a four-defender setup, especially since avoiding defeat is now the top priority? As a result of this loss, they not only dropped to third in the standings but also found themselves just one point ahead of Rongcheng.

Since taking over at Guoan, Setién has insisted on a possession-based style of play and emphasized that defenders, including the goalkeeper, should not blindly kick the ball long but must organize play from the back. At the start of the season, when Guoan's fitness was still decent, they could rely on everyone's running and support to break through the opponent's pressing. However, as they entered the hot summer months, Guoan's fitness noticeably lagged behind that of their opponents. Their slow possession play failed to threaten the opposition, and when the opponents had superior stamina, Guoan frequently found themselves countered and caught out of position, leading to inevitable goals conceded.

The next challenge is whether Setién can make changes, both in tactics and personnel. Guoan has been familiar with a four-defender system, and Setién has also preferred four defenders during his coaching career in Spain. He must consider whether to change formations and avoid pursuing unnecessary possession, both of which are crucial for him to contemplate.

After two consecutive league losses, many believe Guoan has essentially lost all hope of winning the championship. If Shanghai Shenhua wins this round, they will lead Guoan by six points, a gap that seems quite difficult to overcome. However, within Guoan, there remains a resolute attitude of not giving up.

After the 0-2 defeat to Rongcheng, head coach Setién stated, "What we need to do now is to try our best to win the remaining matches. If Shenhua wins this round, they will be six points ahead of us. What we can do is reignite the players' fighting spirit and prepare for the upcoming matches. We need to use all means to rekindle the team's determination."

Forward Fabio clearly stated in an interview, "We are still near the top of the standings; no one should give up on us, and we must not give up ourselves." When asked whether the two consecutive league losses indicated issues with preparation during the break, Fabio responded, "There may indeed be many voices from the outside suggesting problems within our locker room, but we will overcome all difficulties. We don’t need to respond to such speculation; we just need to perform on the field."

So, what are the voices and speculations from the outside? Among them are rumors regarding "salary arrears," but the reality is that Guoan has consistently paid salaries on time this year, with no instances of wage delays. Chairman Zhou Jinhui's previous efforts to retain players like Li Lei also reflect a strong commitment to competing for the championship. Therefore, for Guoan, it is crucial not to give up on any match, and especially in challenging times, everyone must unite as one, with each person doing their job well. It is essential to perform strongly in the next 12 matches and the FA Cup to restore the fans' confidence; this is the most important thing.