Third time lucky? Hulk wants divine help to deliver Shanghai SIPG’s first title in 2018 after another year as nearly men
Brazilian forward likely to retain his place despite new boss Vitor Pereira having to cut the Chinese Super League club’s foreign contingent
Brazilian striker Hulk will start his third season with Shanghai SIPG next month determined to deliver a trophy to the big-spending Chinese Super League club in the new campaign.
The burly forward signed for a then-record €55 million (US$66.13 million) from Zenit St Petersburg in the summer of 2016 but has yet to claim any silverware during his time in China.
But the 31-year-old is focused on delivering the club’s first trophy in the 2018 season with new coach Vitor Pereira at the helm.
“I’ve been with SIPG for a year and a half now and I’m desperate to win a championship,” he told Chinese media. “I hope we can do it in the new season. I’ll try 100 per cent to help my team and my teammates.”
SIPG finished second behind perennial Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande last season, while they were also runners-up in the Chinese FA Cup and semi-finalists in the Asian Champions League.
Coach Andre Villas-Boas left after just one season and has been replaced by his Portuguese compatriot Pereira, a man Hulk knows from his time working under the 49-year-old at Porto.
“I know Pereira well,” Hulk said. “He’s a very good coach who is ambitious. He has been keeping us on the right track on a daily basis and I hope his leadership can improve our results.