Beijing Guoan and Chengdu Rongcheng Settle for a Draw in Tense Super League Clash

Fang Hao from Beijing Guoan competed for possession against Yahav Gurfinkel of Chengdu Rongcheng in a tightly contested match on March 29, 2025, at the Workers' Stadium, which attracted a crowd of 52,982. In a game that ended in a 1-1 draw, Guoan faced the challenge of playing with ten men for nearly half an hour yet only managed two shots on target compared to Chengdu's ten. This performance fell short of the expectations set for the new season under the leadership of Quique Setién, who aims to enhance Beijing's possession-based style of play.

Assistant coach Ramiro Amarelle expressed that there have been observable improvements but emphasized the necessity for greater consistency in their game. After facing tough opponents in their opening matches, including a win over Yunnan Yukun and a draw with rivals Shanghai Shenhua, Amarelle noted the physicality of the Chinese league, highlighting that both local and foreign players need to be physically strong to compete effectively. He also mentioned that foreign coaches bring valuable experience and perspectives that can improve overall competition standards.

As the 2025 season progresses, several clubs, including Guoan, are being led by foreign coaches, with many hoping to enhance youth development and player opportunities. For instance, Raul Caneda of Zhejiang FC aims to prioritize the growth of younger players, as demonstrated by 18-year-old Wang Yudong, who recently scored his first CSL goal, becoming the youngest in the league’s history for Zhejiang.

Amarelle, who previously coached the Chinese national beach football team, believes that addressing coaching qualities, infrastructure, and player development will be key for China to elevate its football standards. He stressed the importance of setting high demands and learning from successful global examples to foster development in the sport.

With the national team's performance in the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers also struggling, Amarelle highlighted the imperative of building a solid project to bridge the performance gap with stronger teams in the league. He reiterated that the objective is to improve both defensively and offensively, stating that while they are in the early stages of establishing a systematic approach to ball possession and tactical play, there is a positive outlook for the team's journey ahead.