John Aloisi’s hopes of beginning his Chinese coaching adventure with a title have spectacularly failed after his side capitulated on the final matchday of the Chinese Super League (CSL) season.
The Socceroos legend was looking to become the next Australian to guide a team in China’s top league to a championship after Kevin Muscat led Shanghai Port to glory in 2024 and 2025.
Aloisi’s Chengdu Rongcheng were in the box seat to do so, leading the competition by 14 points with five rounds remaining and needing just to pick up one point to secure a maiden title.
The Sichuan club had also been top of the standings since the opening day, but things began to unravel when they lost three consecutive games while their main chasers Dalian Yingbo, who boast former Wanderers boss Marko Rudan as their assistant coach, had recorded three successive victories.
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Going into the final matchday on Sunday, Dalian began three points behind Chengdu and defeated Tianjin Jinmen Tigers 3-1 in front of 60,000 fans.
Aloisi’s club still only needed a point, but by 63 minutes in, their opponents Shandong Taishan were 3-1 up.
Brazilian forward Wellington Silva did pull one back for Chengdu but they couldn’t find the all-important equaliser, and Dalian claimed the title.
While Chengdu had a superior goal difference, the Chinese Super League prioritises head-to-head records between teams and Dalian had won both meetings between them.
“We are indeed very disappointed not to have won the championship. We are in a very despairing state. There is nothing else to say,” Aloisi told local media via a Chinese translator.
“I want to say sorry to everyone. We certainly know that our fans have travelled a long way to fight alongside us and support us.
“Right now, my only feeling is one of great dejection and disappointment, because we could see the trophy right in front of us, but could not get it.”
Aloisi came to the Chinese Super League in January hoping to replicate the success he found with Western United in the A-League having led his former side to the Championship in the 2021/2022 season.
He brushed away questions about whether he would resign because of the failure to secure the title in China.
“Now is not the time to talk about this,” Aloisi said.
“As a team, together with the club and everyone, we need to review where we fell short in our past five matches. We need to face our problems, and then work on those aspects.”
