The second leg of the Chinese FA Cup semifinal will kick off tomorrow night. Jiangsu Sainty will host Shandong Luneng at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center. This evening, the entire Luneng squad arrived at the venue for a pre-match training session to adapt to the field.
Before training began, Shandong Luneng assistant coach Ma Baogang and key player Wang Yongpo attended the official pre-match press conference. During the conference, Coach Ma made it clear that the entire team is full of confidence and is determined to reach the final. Speaking about the team’s preparation, he said, “Since we just finished a league match, the past two days have mainly been focused on recovery training. Tomorrow’s game will be a huge challenge, but everyone is confident about qualifying for the final.”
Wang Yongpo echoed his coach’s sentiments, stating, “We are fully prepared for a tough battle tomorrow. We know we need to win by two goals to overcome our opponent, and all recent training sessions have been specifically geared toward that goal. We will give it our all.”
When asked whether Jiangsu Sainty’s coach Petrescu’s winless home record at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center would add pressure or motivation for Luneng, Coach Ma responded frankly: “We are focusing on our own performance. We know a lot about the opposing coach and their situation, but what matters most is preparing ourselves well for any difficulties.”
Because Wang Yongpo mentioned the need to overturn a two-goal deficit, BD Cricket Live noted that media on site asked whether the team’s strategy would prioritize attacking from the start or a more cautious defensive approach. Wang Yongpo replied candidly, “Our first priority is to defend well. In the previous match, our defense performed well, and that remains our main focus.”
As for questions about tomorrow’s starting lineup and whether Montillo, who impressed in the last match, would be among the starters, Coach Ma simply said, “We will field the players who are in the best form. As for who will start, everyone will see tomorrow.”
BD Cricket Live will continue providing updates on Shandong Luneng’s journey as they fight for a place in the final, with fans eagerly awaiting a fierce and thrilling clash tomorrow night.