As newly promoted teams, Chongqing Tonglianglong and Liaoning Tieren have taken completely different paths this season. Chongqing, under Liu Jianye, have remained unbeaten after eight rounds, effectively securing safety early and allowing room to develop young players and experiment tactically.
In contrast, Liaoning Tieren, led by Li Jinyu, have struggled to adapt to the Super League. Their tactical identity remains unclear, and foreign players have underperformed. Even their wins over Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Beijing Guoan have been questioned in quality.
In their match against Shenzhen Pengcheng, the team’s issues were evident—slow tempo, ineffective possession play, and lack of attacking efficiency. Li Jinyu made early substitutions, including withdrawing underperforming foreign players.
Raphinha, the €4.5 million signing, has been particularly disappointing, scoring just once in eight games. Meanwhile, substitute Chen Binbin showed more energy and attacking threat. Adjustments in the summer transfer window now seem inevitable.
Overall, Liaoning lack a clear tactical identity—unable to dominate possession, ineffective on counterattacks, and weak in aerial play. With only seven points from eight matches, they are not far from the relegation zone.
Looking ahead, they face Henan FC on May 1, followed by tougher matches against Chengdu Rongcheng and Yunnan Yukun.
Pressure is also mounting on domestic coaches like Zheng Zhi and Han Peng. While Li Jinyu is a promotion hero, he must adapt quickly or risk deeper trouble.
