Talking Football: Tang Tian, This “Sweetness” Is Truly Sweet (Part 1): Taking Charge in Crisis and Delivering a High-Scoring August Report Card

Poster News reporter Zheng Hao reports.

On July 28, Shandong Taishan officially announced that Tang Tian would become the interim head coach of the first team, taking over the team in a crisis situation. At that time, the team was facing a difficult situation: large-scale national team call-ups, injuries to several key players, and the physical demands of competing in both the Chinese Super League and the CFA Cup caused significant pressure, while the league trend had become unstable. Previously, Han Peng had briefly led the team, stabilizing the dressing room atmosphere and daily training rhythm, but he could not continue in charge of the first team due to professional coaching qualification restrictions.

Many fans will not forget that during Choi Kang-hee’s tenure, Tang Tian, as an assistant coach, stepped up to direct difficult matches and left behind the memorable “Tashan Blocking Battle” quote: “The order I have received now may be that we need to hold Tashan tomorrow.” “There is a classic line in the Tashan Blocking Battle — ‘I don’t want the number of casualties; I only want Tashan.’”

That difficult defensive stand made everyone remember his tough and resilient coaching character. This time on July 28, however, he was no longer just a substitute assistant coach stepping in during an emergency, but was taking full responsibility for the first team. Another “Tashan” challenge of his own was already in front of him.

After taking over in an emergency, Tang Tian relied on the existing squad and proceeded steadily. In August, the team produced a highly valuable run of league results, while also restarting fan open days to bring the club and supporters closer together. Step by step, he stabilized the league position and reshaped the team’s competitive spirit, eventually producing a solid and impressive interim report after a 1-1 home draw with Shenzhen Peng City in Chinese Super League Round 26.

August’s results sheet was impressive (image source: statistical data).

Taking charge in a crisis situation

This season, Taishan only competed on two fronts: the Chinese Super League and the CFA Cup. The multi-front schedule created significant physical demands. Several young key players were called up by national teams at different levels, sharply reducing the available first-team personnel. Rotation options became limited, and the team’s competitive form fluctuated as a result.

Tang Tian, who took the interim head coach position on July 28, has long been part of the Taishan coaching staff. He is familiar with the club’s overall operating system and understands the technical characteristics and personalities of the domestic players in the squad.

At the beginning of his tenure, Tang Tian did not choose to completely overturn the existing tactical framework. Instead, he worked with the current squad and adjusted basic areas such as training details, tactical discipline and execution on the pitch. Rather than pursuing an aggressive tactical overhaul, he prioritized stabilizing the team’s foundation, raising its competitive floor, unifying tactical ideas and organizing preparation rhythms.

The widely circulated quote that excited fans — “In my heart, we need to wait for the appearance of one person. This person must sacrifice himself and burn himself out, perhaps only then can he send the other brothers into the top four” — was not said during the league stage. It came from the pre-match press conference for the CFA Cup quarter-final on August 31, where Tang Tian appeared with foreign player Zeca to preview the single-elimination showdown against Shanghai Port at home on September 1.

This passionate expression showed his expectations for the players to fight to their limits and also created major suspense ahead of the CFA Cup clash. Although the team lost at home to the opponent, the entire squad only fell short on the competitive level — in other words, they could be defeated, but they could not be “frightened away.”

After a month of adjustments and refinement, Taishan, which had been in a period of fluctuation, quickly returned to a stable and orderly path, laying a solid foundation for the recovery of its August results.

August highlights: a strong recovery

After taking over the team, the effects of the adjustments quickly appeared on the pitch, with August becoming an important points-gathering period for Taishan this season.

Throughout August, Shandong Taishan played five Chinese Super League matches and achieved an excellent record of four wins and one loss, with an 80 percent win rate. Compared across the entire CSL, the team’s points-gathering efficiency during this period ranked among the league’s top group. During the same period, many title contenders experienced inconsistent form, with some stuck in a draw cycle and others losing more games due to the burden of multi-front competition. Under the objective difficulty of widespread player call-ups, Taishan’s performance was especially valuable.

This run of results carried significant weight, including major away victories such as a 1-0 win over Shanghai Port and a 3-2 comeback win against Shanghai Shenhua, as well as consecutive victories over Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. The only defeat came in the Qilu Derby away match, where the team lost 0-2 to Qingdao West Coast and registered no shots on target throughout the game. The previous three-match winning streak ended, and a confrontation near the end of the match resulted in a red card, becoming a glaring blemish in this points-gathering month. In the other four tough matches, the players carried the spirit of the “Tashan Blocking Battle” onto the field, fighting relentlessly for three points.

Off the pitch, the coaching staff restarted fan open days. During a difficult period for the team, they proactively opened training sessions to supporters, bringing the club and fans closer, showing a down-to-earth preparation attitude, building fan support and demonstrating the local coach’s understanding of the football market.

The quote “Even if we are not champions, we will find a way to win the championship” still resonates strongly today.

Tang Tian is also known for his genuine personality (photo source: Zhang Xu).

Later, in the Chinese Super League Round 26 match against Shenzhen Peng City, Cryzan received an early red card, leaving the team with one fewer player for nearly 60 minutes. The entire squad held on with determination and secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw, showing that under Tang Tian, the team’s defensive resilience, mentality and discipline had all improved in a tangible way.