Why did Muscat leave the center position in the group photo to the cleaning lady? , Half-time champion Shanghai Haigang team fights in the "second half"
On June 26, Shanghai Haigang, the champion of the 2024 Chinese Super League, will enter the "second half" competition - at 20:00 in the evening, they will challenge Wuhan Three Towns away. Earlier, the Chinese Super League officially announced the best coach and best player in May, and Muscat and Wu Lei of Shanghai Haigang were respectively elected. Before the Haigang team left for Wuhan, Muscat specially called the coaching team, medical team and logistics support team to take a big group photo, and gave the C position directly to the team's cleaning lady.
The coaching team led by Muscat has contributed greatly to the fact that the Shanghai Harbour team has become the leader in the first half of the Chinese Super League. However, this bald Australian not only shows excellent character and gentlemanly demeanor, but also uses practical actions to shape the team spirit of a "warm family". Judging from Muscat's action of leaving the center position in the group photo to the team's cleaning lady, Muscat is trying to maximize the team's teamwork concept.
Under Muscat's leadership, Shanghai Port won five consecutive games in the five Chinese Super League games in May and scored 22 goals on the offensive end. It is natural for the Australian coach to be awarded the best coach of the Chinese Super League in May.
Muscat was named the official best coach of the Chinese Super League in May.
Wu Lei performed a hat trick and was named the best player of the Chinese Super League in March, April and May.
At the pre-match press conference of the Haigang away game against Three Towns, Muscat gave a special speech: "First of all, I would like to thank the Chinese Super League Organizing Committee for awarding me this award. I would like to accept this award on behalf of the coaching team, the medical team and the entire logistics support team. I know that no head coach can achieve this achievement alone, so I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank every member of the Haigang team for their outstanding work. This award also truly reflects the contribution and efforts of each member. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you!"
The honor belongs to everyone in the team, and Muscat is not just talking. On the afternoon of the 24th, before the Harbor team set off from the Century Park training base, Muscat took the initiative to gather all members of the coaching team, medical team and logistics support team together, "The honor of the best coach belongs to the whole team, let's take a big group photo together." Just when everyone thought that everyone was there, Muscat touched his big bald head and pointed to a staff member in the distance and said: "Don't forget this important team member!"
Three players from the Haigang team were selected into the Chinese Super League's best team for May.
Before leaving for Wuhan, Muscat also expressed his gratitude to the coaching staff, medical team and logistics support team.
The "important member" Muscat mentioned is an auntie at the Century Park training base, who is responsible for relatively trivial matters such as organizing the base warehouse and cleaning the base restaurant. Under the sincere invitation of Muscat and the coaching team, the auntie, who had originally waved her hands and refused, finally joined the group photo team and stood directly next to Muscat in the "super C position". After taking the group photo, the auntie said a little embarrassedly: "I don't know football, I just do some cleaning and tidying up. The head coach actually asked me to take a photo with him. I really didn't expect it!"
In the second half of the Chinese Super League, Shanghai Haigang, coached by Muscat, will once again face Wuhan Three Towns, whose strength has declined. Wuhan Three Towns was the champion of the 2022 Chinese Super League, but at the beginning of the 2023 season, it encountered a cash flow crisis due to various reasons and could only raise funds by selling some domestic and foreign players. The club's operating route was also downgraded from the original Chinese Super League giants to a civilian team. Even so, Haigang still faces considerable difficulties in challenging Wuhan Three Towns away, and needs to highlight "self-centeredness".
On June 14, Shanghai Haigang player Gustavo celebrated after scoring a goal in the game.
On the same day, in the 15th round of the 2024 Chinese Football Association Super League held in Tianjin, Shanghai Port defeated Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 3-0 away.
In the fourth round of the Chinese FA Cup held in Nanning, Guangxi on June 21, the Haigang team sent out a rotation lineup. Five foreign players including Oscar and absolute main players such as Wu Lei, Yan Junling and Jiang Guangtai returned to Shanghai in advance and got a precious opportunity to rest.
Muscat revealed, "In the past few days, the team finished three consecutive away games and returned to Shanghai. The players can be with their families and recover physically and mentally. This month's away trip is very challenging for us, and different away games bring different challenges. I have played against Wuhan Three Towns head coach Ricardo in the Japanese J League. I respect his coaching of Wuhan Three Towns and his creation of the team's technical and tactical style. I hope that both teams will work together to present a pleasing game to the audience."
On May 1, Shanghai Haigang head coach Muscat celebrated a goal with the ball boy during the game.
On the same day, in the ninth round of the 2024 Chinese Football Association Super League held in Qingdao, Shandong, the Shanghai Haigang team defeated the Qingdao Hainiu team 5-0 away.
After taking over the coaching of the Harbor team, Muscat handed in an excellent report card. In 1 Super Cup and 15 league games, the Harbor team won 12 games, drew 3 games and lost 1 game, with 48 goals, the highest in the Super League, 21.5 shots per game, 492 passes per game, and 83% pass success rate. 15 goals conceded may be a bit too much, but the current style of the Harbor team is to pursue more goals than goals conceded. At present, the Harbor team has created a team record of 8 consecutive wins in the league, and Muscat certainly hopes to continue the original pace of progress.
"Our thoughts are very powerful. One thing is very important. We have to ask ourselves, what is the most important thing to you? Once you know what is most important to you, you will devote all your strength to your family, your team and this goal. We realize mentally that the most important thing is the performance of the team. Only when the team performs well can we win, score goals and set new records. This is the core and the most important thing." Muscat revealed, "Our coaching staff will also prepare for recovery and training based on the team's performance, including when to recover, how to recover, when to train and how to train. Everything revolves around the performance of the team. Only with good performance can we have other things."
