Muscat: Draw Felt Like Losing 2 Points, New Asian Champions League Signings Have Integrated Very Well_ Match_ Attack_ Yan Junling

In the 26th round of the 2026 Chinese Super League on September 5, Shanghai Port hosted Beijing Guoan, with the match ending in a 0-0 draw. Although the game produced no goals, Port head coach Kevin Muscat said at the post-match press conference that he was satisfied with the team's performance.

Muscat first commented on the match, saying: "Actually, I felt very happy today. It seems that this result makes us feel like we lost 2 points, but the team's performance throughout the match was still excellent. From the beginning to the end, the team put in a very good performance." He believed that although the team was slightly lacking in the final attacking phase, the overall display was still worthy of recognition. Muscat said the team is continuing to improve its tactical approach and was very satisfied with the performance on the night.

Speaking about the two newly joined Asian Champions League foreign players, Muscat said: "For the Asian Champions League new signings, their situation is relatively difficult. They did not have the stimulation of matches before, while other players had regular games to play, so they could only maintain their condition through training." He praised the new players for maintaining their physical condition and looked forward to them delivering strong performances in the upcoming Asian Champions League matches.

Muscat emphasized that the team warmly welcomed the arrival of the new foreign players and said their integration over the past period had been quite good. "It is not only about their professional attitude and their attitude in daily training, but also their personalities themselves are very good. We are very much looking forward to them having outstanding performances in the upcoming matches."

When discussing the team's performance, Muscat specifically mentioned goalkeeper Yan Junling. He said: "I can comment on our own players. I will not comment too much on the opposing players. I can talk about our Yan Junling. Although he did not need to make many spectacular saves today, he played a very important role in building attacks from the back." He believed Yan Junling played an important role in initiating attacks, especially with the support of the three center-backs, continuously providing outlets for the team's attacking build-up.

Although the draw left Shanghai Port with some regret, Muscat's positive attitude and confidence in the team have undoubtedly provided motivation for the upcoming matches. As the team continues to improve its tactical understanding and the integration of foreign players, it will face more challenges and opportunities.