Completed "self-redemption" in the rain? The most controversial man in the Shenhua team
On the evening of June 26, Shanghai, which is in the plum rain season, welcomed the start of the second half of the Chinese Super League with heavy rain. With foreign aid Malelai scoring twice and Xie Pengfei scoring a header, Shanghai Shenhua defeated Meizhou Hakka 3-0 at home and ranked second in the standings with a 2-point disadvantage, continuing to follow Shanghai Haigang.
As Shenhua head coach Slutsky said before the game, "Every game from now on is crucial for us. Whether it is for the standings or for the fans at home, we should make our best efforts." After playing against all the teams in the Chinese Super League, Shenhua's technical and tactical play has been studied by opponents, which has forced Slutsky to take the initiative to seek change. He hopes to try different tactics.
In this game, Xu Haoyang was replaced by the left back position and sent a precise through ball in the second half, assisting Malele to score. After the game, Xu Haoyang gave himself a passing grade, "It is a good thing that the players can play in more positions. I hope the team can maintain the momentum of winning."
Slutsky concluded after the game, "We played a good game and controlled the tempo of the entire game. We showed good control on both offense and defense. I am satisfied with the performance of the players."
Yu Hanchao got rid of the cross and Xie Pengfei scored with a header
Talking about Malele who scored in four consecutive games, Slutsky said, "To be honest, I am not surprised by Malele's performance, because if he stays away from injuries and can maintain his condition, his tactical role will be obvious."
The "treasure" in the eyes of the coach cannot satisfy all fans. Due to Malele's "unstable" performance, when the summer transfer window opened, there were voices that Shenhua should introduce stronger foreign aid in the forward position.
In the 2023 season, Malele joined Shenhua and became the team's offensive fulcrum. Malele's professionalism on the field is obvious to all. It is because of his unremitting running on the field that he created shooting opportunities again and again. But as a striker, he squandered many excellent scoring opportunities. Goals are the ultimate result of whether the team's tactical system is effective. In high-level competitions, continued failure to score will wear down the team's fighting spirit. During the summer transfer window last year, some people in the circle believed that Malele's position needed to be adjusted.
In the 2024 season, under Slutsky, Malele continued his "happy football". When you think it is a must-goal, he can miss it; when he is not on the court, the attacking power of the front court is sharply reduced. This season, Shenhua has a new look and has shown its strength to compete for the championship. Malele's visibility as a striker is more likely to touch the sensitive nerves of fans, "Isn't the role of a striker to score goals?"
As a championship team, Malele's ability is indeed a breath away. But it is too heavy for Malele to bear the honor and disgrace of a team. This season, he suffered a series of changes such as injuries and the death of his mother, which also caused his state to fluctuate. Malele has distinct personal characteristics. His footwork is not delicate, but he can break through and run. By attracting defensive players, he can also leave space for other offensive players. Recently, due to the poor state of his striker partner Luis, the chemical reaction between the two did not occur, and Malele had to take the lead alone.
With the intensive schedule and hot weather, Shenhua will face more difficulties. The joining of Hong Kong player Chen Jinyi is expected to ease Shenhua's need for left-wing players. Slutsky has previously stated that foreign players will not be replaced during the summer transfer window, and he will also achieve the purpose of adjustment by tapping internal potential.
Malele's future is still undecided. But objectively speaking, among foreign players of the same price, Malele is still a qualified player.
