Guoan still hasn't emerged from its slump; can Setién truly remain in his position?

Special Contributor/Song Ci From being ranked first three rounds ago to now sitting at fourth, Beijing Guoan has yet to recover from its low point. On August 3, facing Tianjin Jinmen Tiger at home, Guoan failed to secure a victory, ultimately drawing 2-2 with their opponent. In a way, this point might help Setién avoid an immediate dismissal. However, during this hot summer, if the team continues to struggle with poor form and injuries without winning matches, they will soon lose their chances for the championship. Can Setién truly remain in his position?

After two consecutive losses, Setién finds himself under unprecedented pressure. Even with the glory of having once coached Barcelona, the fans in the capital are not convinced by him, and even within the club, there is dissatisfaction with his stubborn tactical arrangements. After all, results are what truly matter; during the 16-game unbeaten streak, despite many ineffective passes and a three-defender formation, no one was willing to publicly point out Setién's issues.

As teams study Guoan more thoroughly, especially competitors like Shenhua and Rongcheng who have directly defeated Guoan, alarms have sounded for Setién's position. This was evident in the recent press conferences, where questions from the media were sharp both before and after matches. Before the match with Jinmen Tiger, when repeatedly asked whether he would adjust his tactics or how to improve offensive efficiency, the Spanish coach patiently explained. Yet, he knows deep down that no amount of talk is as valuable as securing a win.

In the match against Jinmen Tiger, Guoan's playing style underwent some changes, particularly when trailing. The team abandoned their previous ineffective passing from defense to midfield and instead began crossing from both flanks. This change proved effective, as the crosses and corner kicks allowed Guoan to win the first touches in front of goal, creating significant threats for Jinmen Tiger, with both goals scored in this manner.

In fact, this tactic is not something Setién frequently emphasizes or practices during training, which indicates that the players are trying to make changes on the field. After all, solely relying on short passes to penetrate the defense has become increasingly difficult. When straightforward tactics like crossing become highly effective, players on the field will naturally choose this practical approach without hesitation.

If Guoan were to lose at home to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, would Setién be immediately dismissed? Or would he be released before the next match? Fortunately, Guoan managed to equalize. However, the fans made their feelings clear, as chants of "sack him" echoed around the Workers' Stadium after the 2-2 draw with Jinmen Tiger. This time, Setién did not join the players in acknowledging the fans.

Guoan fans haven't expressed their dissatisfaction with their coach so directly in many years. This time, it can only be said that they have reached their breaking point. Although many fans understand that losing to Shenhua and Rongcheng isn't exactly a shock, what bothers them is not just the match results but also the performance and process. Hence, they shouted "a disjointed team, embarrassing" in the last round.

In this match, a total of 54,649 people attended the Workers' Stadium to watch the Beijing-Tianjin derby, indicating that fans still hold expectations for Guoan. They hope Setién can make changes and that the team can achieve victory at home. Yet, Setién continues to insist on a three-defender formation, even with foreign player Spajic injured for the season, Wang Gang suspended for accumulating yellow cards, and Wu Shaocong absent due to injury. He still managed to field three center-backs, placing veteran Li Lei as left center-back and young player Fan Shuangjie as right center-back. It's no wonder fans are saying: "If we can't even field center-backs, why stick to three at the back? Why not play four at the back?"

As a result, Guoan's first goal conceded came from three center-backs pushing too far forward without creating an offside trap, allowing the opponent to exploit the space behind for a clear scoring opportunity. This is currently the most effective way for other teams in the Chinese Super League to break through Guoan's defense. A former Guoan player helplessly remarked, "Now other Super League coaches see the issue with Guoan's defense; does Setién really not notice it?"

Setién continues to emphasize luck. After the match, when asked why they didn't win, the Guoan coach responded, "Although I don't like to attribute wins and losses to luck, perhaps if we had a bit more luck today, the result would have been better. Setting luck aside, we controlled the game and created more chances; we deserved to score another goal."

Setién might believe that the Jinmen Tiger goalkeeper saved many dangerous shots, but consider how many crucial goals Guoan's goalkeeper Hou Sen has previously saved against other teams? So, luck is fair. When luck isn't on their side, Setién may indeed face a crisis in his position. The pressing question is, how much longer can the stubborn Setién remain in charge of Guoan? Given the current situation of the team, the club cannot afford to ignore necessary contingency plans. Results cannot afford to dip; both the club and Setién himself will struggle to withstand external pressure.