Opinion | Hulk to the rescue: could Shanghai SIPG be ready to break the bank to save Sven’s skin?
Eriksson’s men are losing ground on the league leaders as rumours swirl that SIPG are ready to break the bank to land Brazilian international
Svexit! That’s the burning issue hanging over the Chinese Super League after Shanghai SIPG dropped yet more points at home this weekend, squandering chances to put the game out of sight before allowing Tianjin TEDA to net a late equaliser. So the question is: will Sven-Goran Eriksson stay on as SIPG head coach or will he be asked to leave?
The fans voted with their feet. Some even filing out before the final whistle – which rarely happens – with others following immediately on full-time, when they would normally applaud the team on its lap of appreciation, played out to the Shanghai SIPG theme song.
The normally unflappable Swede even lost his trademark cool on Saturday, swinging his foot at a water bottle when the equaliser went in. He knows the pressure is on. His side are 12 points off Guangzhou Evergrande, who are already six points clear at the top of the table, and they are five points behind Jiangsu Suning in third place and the all important AFC Champions League spot.
It’s now no wins in five games for SIPG, including a loss to Jiangsu Suning. Both Jiangsu and second placed Hebei China Fortune FC lost this weekend, giving the perfect opportunity for the Shanghai side to gain ground but they could only manage a draw. Again.
WATCH: Highlights of Shanghai SIPG’s draw with Tianjin TEDA
The last five games have seen SIPG pick up four points. In the same period Jiangsu have taken eight and Hebei CFFC have ten, despite those losses this weekend. Five games ago those three teams were within one point of each other.